Thursday, December 29, 2011

Here are six tips that I find are the"secret" to effective close-up magic presentation (and most any interaction in life). And it's easy to remember using "SECRET" as an acronym.

S - Smile
A smile has more power than you think. More than naturally raising your likability factor and opening up an extra degree of connection with your audience, it is a useful tool to camouflage your moves. Think about it...it's hard to concentrate AND smile at the same time. Just look at Auguste Rodin's famous statue The Thinker. So, enjoy yourself and smile through your magic, and it will diminish the perception that anything sneaky is going on.

E - Eye Contact
Please don't stare at your cards the whole time. Lock eyes with everyone in your audience and you'll "touch" them.

C - Commit
Don't just recite your lines; stand behind every word. David Regal is one of my favorite performers. He makes even the simplest items shine. The secret? He "COMMITS." Every word & action is used to make the impact as clear, compelling and entertaining as possible. Great rules to follow

R - Respond
Listen to both verbal and non-verbal gestures...and look for opportunities to respond and interact. Magic is about dialogue - not monologue.

E - Express Yourself
Don't let your props upstage you. Create opportunities to be YOU and express the wonderful, unique qualities only you have.

T - Transport Them
Magic is about taking your audience to a different place...a different state of mind. If your magic does not transport them, that it falls flat. Look for ways to elevate presentation and meaning in your magic.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

New Website - www.MagicJohnG.com

I'm excited to announce the launch of MagicJohnG.com. This website highlights my work as a professional magician and my love of the arts overall. I hope you have fun exploring. Let me know what you think and how I can keep the website fresh, informative and a fun place to visit.

HOME - The homepage is designed to be uncluttered, easy on the eyes, and give you quick access to anywhere on the site. You'll be greeted with a random photo each time you visit. You'll get a visual overview of the five latest news headlines, and you'll find one-click access to my Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and magicians blog sites.

ABOUT JOHN - Learn more about me, my approach to magic, how I got into it, and what others are saying about my magic.

BOOKING - What sets my magic apart? What can your guests expect? The Booking page describes my brand of magic and how it can help make your event as memorable and effective as possible.

NEWS - Read about my latest magical adventures, and explore other topics such as tips on hiring a magician and magic history. You can subscribe to the RSS feed, leave comments if you wish, and easily share any article via Twitter, Facebook or Email.

GALLERY - See the magic in action through photos and video clips. And if you'd like to see more videos, my YouTube page is just a click away.

PRODUCTS - For magicians, the Products page features my professional DVDs, lecture notes, books and more. Explore the contents of each product, read expert testimonials, and easily add items to your cart.

ARTS - In addition to the art of magic, I am dedicated to the art of design and music. Go "beyond the magic" and explore my art portfolio and listen to some of my original guitar compositions.

CONTACT - Have a question or comment, or just want to say hi? The contact page connects your inquiry directly to me.