Killjoys...

Yesterday I spent four hours performing strolling magic at a mini festival in the town of Dreghorn, near Irvine. This was my second year performing at this event and both times, it has been a great day, full of fun, sunshine, music and magic for all ages. However, it brought about an interesting discussion point which I thought I would address here.

At this event, at weddings, Hen Parties, staff night's out... basically any event where alcohol is served, there are a number, albeit a very small number, of people who do their best to ruin any chance of magical enjoyment for anyone else around them. Now, I genuinely don't mind if I hear someone say 'He already knows which card you've picked' or some other comment like that. Really; I'm used to it and it's pretty much harmless... I'm experienced enough to work with that. However, when someone is intentionally trying to make my job harder than it is, and even worse ruining the magic for the other spectators then I have to take issue. I know that in groups, and not just groups of younger adults, there is often someone (often a female... but not always) who will make a huge issue of saying that magic isn't real, etc. And there are people (generally males... but not always) who want to make themselves the centre of attention by 'upstaging' the performer. And then, there are those who, for whatever reason, just do not like magic.
And that's fine.
If I approach someone and offer to share a piece of magic with them and they say no, then I will literally tell them that that is no problem, tell them to enjoy their day and I will move on. The first two groups though, caused me to give the subject a bit of thought. I think, particularly when fuelled by alcohol and therefore having lower inhibitions, that if a 25 year old male (for example) is standing in a group and the performer approaches, he instinctively see's it as a challenge, especially if there are females in the group. So, instead of just enjoying the free show, or even staying quiet until the magician leaves, he feels that he can make himself look good by making the magician look bad. This is usually done by sabotaging the trick, or by just disguising abusive language in the form of humour. It can be frustrating, and I know that many performers will quietly finish the trick they are doing and then leave this group. It is what I used to do, but now I have found that if I persevere and show consistently great effects, then this Alpha-male is eventually hushed by his friends, or is forced to concede that 'Actually that was a good trick,' and I leave with a handshake. When it comes to the fifty year old woman (for example), it is as simple as repeating the famous phrase 'For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice.' And by repeating this, literally or in your own words, making sure that the whole group hears it, you have pretty much done enough for her to, at least remain quiet and let her friends enjoy the show.

That was just something that was in my head today, and I hope it makes sense. Thanks for reading.