Fantastic wedding gig in Colchester Minories

Last night was my first ever solo wedding gig. It felt odd planing the day without having my fellow magicians in Colchester on hand. The brief for the gig was to provide entertainment for the kids at the beginning of the party and then move on to entertaining the grown ups. This would be very interesting. The last time I did this at a wedding the grown ups were a little shocked. They first saw me as a kids magicians and hence thought I wouldn't be very good. Of course I know I'm good enough for the grown ups, and in fact personally don't see any difference in skill level between performing for adults and performing for kids, at least not the way I perform for kids. So either I would be fighting against the presumption I was no good which may negativity colour my efforts, OR I would have the element of surprise! I felt confident it would be the later.

 Preparations. 
I knew I would only have to keep the kids  quiet for a little while, so I practised  Once Upon A Time", "Cup &Balls" ,"Crystal Tube and Hankie Tie". I was very annoyed with myself as I love my favourite thumb tip and hanky and had to buy replacements on the day. I took along a few toys, the "Magic Flying Wand" and some magnets left over from the kids show.

For the grown ups I made a strong decision not to be carrying hundreds of decks with me. I had strayed away from my initial idea of 2 decks, one set up for mentalism type effects and the other for gambling. I've returned to this idea. Tricks with gaff decks to have a LOT of punch BUT normally take a while to set up again and can't be used for anything else. I came to realise I was hiding behind these decks, afraid my own personality was not enough to drive  the magic. I had lost confidence and if I did not do something about it my magical career would be sliding down the path of becoming a "co co the clown with his amazingly dull self working tricks". However it would be foolish to ignore these effects interiorly. I became to see these effects as "smart bombs" or "Special Weapons" from the old computer games. Powerful tools that invariably had a cool down time, or a very small limit to the number  you had. In short these effects would be my secret weapons, only one carried at a time in my back pocket, and brought out when needed.

Red pack of cards in the RIGHT pocket for RAPPORT style effects.
Set for
"Here then there", "Do as I Do", "Direct mind Reading" With my Invisible Deck ready and Cartomancy set up in my Waistcoat pockets

Blue Deck, Left Pocket Gambling magic

Four Site, Big Deal, Aces High. (then ambitious card)

Secret Weapons. Cheek to Cheek, Serial Killer, Dark Side, Twilight Angels.

And then in my card clip as an ice breaker, Wee Wee mentalist.

The Event.

I arrived 40 minutes before the guests and set up. The kids came first. They were well behaved and VERY excited to have a real magician there. I quickly realised long effects were out, they wanted to see a quick trick, run around and then see another (they were outside). If we were indoors then I think a more organised magic show would be best BUT in this environment I was acting like a regular close up magician. |They ALL Loved "wee Wee Mentalist" and "twilight Angels" they really wanted the signed cards. They also played with my Juggling Balls. Speaking of balls, the Cups and Balls were well recived, but they were all too hyper for the longer effects.

The grown ups.

 This was an amazing night for my magic :) I introduced myself to 3 people standing, kicked off with wee wee mentalist. They were enthralled. A couple on a table near us were watching, So I brought them in onto the act, using the rapport deck. Started with here then there, then Do as I do, Decided against mind reading and went straight for "Out of This World" Minds Blown.

Next  up a group of younger guys. They loved wee wee mentalist. I decided to go for direct mind reading before the gambling deck. I realised that I never use the gambling deck really apart from ambitious card so decided to give it a go. I was quite insecure and actually said they may be able to work it out, but it's a neat way to cheat at cards. No worries, they were blown away as well. Finished with ambitouse card, again freaked out.

Thus it went on, people happy to take what I gave them, the young guys loving the gambling and the more challenge type magic (ambitious card for example) the girls loving the rapport. Cartomancy was used twice, both times loved. As the evening went on I switched to the Special weapons. Serial Killer actually freaked out 2 girls (they dropped the card in shock). I made up for it with Twilight Angels which was universally accepted as a purely lovely effect.

Round up. Performed for many types of people and had "something for everyone" .

I lost my juggling balls. Point of interest, they don't cost much BUT I am in business now so can't afford to treat loosing £5 lightly. Must have a better system for storing magic if there are kids about.

 Need to sort out how I get paid well in advance.

I no longer fear your ladish type guys. They want to see something cool. I can deliver with ease.  

The idea of treating a trick deck as a special weapon works. They are great to use after I've been around with regular decks for a while and have already introduced myself.

I am not "being humoured" people were genuinely thrilled and amazed and enchanted. I can perform MY kind of magic, people respond well to it

Over all. Bloody amazing night