How do you present yourself at a small stage show? Like what do you do and say when you first go on stage?
-Tyler

That's a really good question, but it's a bit too broad to answer unless we know more about YOU. A lot depends on your personality and performing style.

The best answer to your question is from bibliographic references :


Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms

Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber

Find the Stuff That's You by Chris Carey


These books on presentation and developing one's own character/style ought to be in every magician's library.

Are these available at Penguin?

No, and therefore, they don't really exist. QED.

Robert V Frazier

Uh, oh. I'm a dead man now.
This is like the Ministry of Magic under Fudge and Umbridge .

I'll be shipped off to Azkaban for sure .


Support DA .

This is only my opinion.
A good first impression is best. Look professional. Groomed. Stand up straight.
Have a good opening effect. I produce my assistant.

Stage is a totally different fourm. When people see someone on a stage, they expect to see professionalism.

Bruce

What do you say? Do you just go into your first trick or do you say something about you?
-Tyler

Someone awnser him...I wantta know the awnser

Every aspect of your show, including your introduction, must support the character and atmoshpere you are trying to generate and maintain. For instance, in my "Oriental Show" (I'm chinese and wanted to draw on that distinction), I come out in chinese costume and pulling an oldfashioned rickshaw. My rickshaw not only holds all my props, but is an illusion in and of itself.

I actually have an assistant playing the role of an interpreter. The interpreter introduces me to the audience and welcomes them to the "Magic of the Orient". I bow to the audience without saying a single word and then start into a manipulation routine with balls and silks. Chinese instrumental music is playing in the background throughout.

The show continues with the assistant continuing to play the role of the interpreter. The really nice thing about this is that the interpreter secretly helps out with several of the effects without the audience ever knowing about it.

As the finale, I rotate the rickshaw completely around and then climb into the carriage. The assistant draws a curtain around the carriage. The curtain is almost immediately opened and I am found to have exchanged places with the interpreter.

Only then do I take my bow and thank the audience in English for attending the show.

If I start with an illusion with music, I perform it and then afterwards, thank everyone for comming. I introduce myself and say I am greatful to be here with the (whatever organization). I invite them to come with me to the world of magic and illusion, and then go into my first routine/trick.
This is not always the same, but close to it. For birthday parties I say different things. For adult audiances it is different than for kids.
Good luck!

My act revolves around comedy....so I start out with making people laugh. This accomplishes a few things....one....creating a repoire with the audience and two....eases tention.

I have to openings/intro.

As I quote Hebrews 13:1-2 ("Keep on loving each others as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it.") I do my little rope thru body routine, which really gets their attention.

I say "Well before I begin I want to give everyone a little eye test." as I introduce my dots next effect.

p.s. I get introduced at most of my stage performances so I don't introduce myself again.

I start by using some sort of trick that allows me to interact with the audience. I agree Dots Next is great, and I will also do a comedy routine inwhich I sort of get the audience comfortable with me, and myself comfortable with my audience.