Eye Contact, tell them and point!

Eye Contact, tell them and point!

Veronica and I have just returned from performing at a festival which was great fun. I was performing my Comedy Magic Show and Veronica was balloon twisting and story telling. We are now pleased owners of a fab new to us Camper Van. Which is perfect for such events,  festivals, and shows which have booked us this year. The bottom line here is Veronica and I love to travel even its just up the road and parking up on a beach – whatever the weather!

 

One of my observations at the last festival was performers that used or did not use rope! IE Rope to define the performing pitch on in witch one intends to perform their show.

Over the years I have performed with rope and without a rope. I have used a chain instead of rope, chalk, and even water. The Dynamic with out rope is huge in my mind. The rope is a physical barrier that you lay down and in some ways, you have to break. I think if you don’t need a rope lose it, whats it doing there anyway. Yes, there is a tone of stuff you can do with rope but it does not have to form a barrier.

Now working without a Rope may not be for the newbie if they are working for big crowds because you will need strong command over you spectators soon to become audience members this comes with experience! Working with out a rope just opens up your whole stage to the whole street if you like there is no boundaries, The World indeed is your Stage! Intimacy is forged in the early stages of your show as they can see your vulnerability. It is easier for walkthroughs and spontaneous responses all of which can make up a great show.

If you work with out a rope you will need to be clear with your audience what it is you want them to do.

For example, itsIf you stood afar of from me and I was to say come closer with out defining it well that is just open to interpretation.
What is CLOSER an inch or six meters so close we can now kiss?
So when you ask them it is small groups at a time or even individuals you ask politely yet with command!
(you knit’sin their best interest if they like to watch the show)! ie this is not an option, “if you want to watch my show I like you to stand/hear” At the same time showing them where you like them to stand, one is to point to the very spot as you deliver your command which not only shows them where to stand, it enforces the command. So eye contact, Tel them, Point!

 

 

Setting your aims high!

Setting your aims high!

What Veronica and I have achieved in the last year, never mind the last five years –  takes my breath away!  We have moved back to Cardiff whilst maintaining an International Presence. We sold our humble Motorhome and invested everything we had into our business. We opened our studios – The Magic Centre – here we have taught  students from all types of disciplines of performing arts – Magicians, Actors, Comedians, Dancers, Circus Performers as well the corporate world of Directors, Teachers – people from all walks of life who have one thing in common –  they want to improve their skills in public presentations. The School of Showmanship provides training that achieves this.   If you want to improve your skills in show business, public speaking,  or if you want to develop greater self-confidence and achieve more out of life and business then you have to invest into it.  Most of all we all will have to invest hard work and time into our goals and aims.

In the last year alone we have run

  • Two Magic of Public Speaking events;
  • One School of Busking course;
  • Two School of Showmanship Courses;
  • Youth Magic Course
  • and private tuition

 

In addition, we have performed a host of shows –  mainly stage and street theater.  In the last twelve months, we have performed all over the UK  and  Spain, Italy, Germany and the USA as well as public speaking engagements! It really is possible to set out goals and achieve them.

By creating a positive working environment and having good mentors that you respect and admire, of  hard work and clear aims and objectives  we all  can achieve anything.   This year in April  – Friday the 13th  – we launched our Twilight Cabaret which SOLD OUT we will be continue Twilight  in September.

The best part of our work is that it involves people and other performers and through our work and contacts we are  building up a strong team.

Now lets look at the future!