Everyone has a personality. It is your personal set of characteristics, the totality of your attitudes, interests, behavioral patterns, emotional responses, social roles, and other individual traits. It is the result of your life to date, traits that you have acquired through experience, environment, and a multitude of factors. It has been evolving from the time you were in diapers and continues to do so. However, the basis for your personality was probably formed at a very early age. The person that was arrogant, conceited or a bully in grade school, probably still is. Our perception of a person is usually formed very quickly and is based on their personality. First impressions are lasting impressions and although we may change our opinion of a person after getting to know them better, it’s much easier to start out on the right foot in the beginning.

The first thing you want to do, as a magician is to make your audience like you. If they don’t, it will definitely be an uphill battle to entertain them. Their negative state of mind will prevent them from enjoying your performance regardless of how skilled or proficient you may be. If they don’t like you, they won’t like your magic. Your personality or the personality that you portray (persona) is very important.

Unfortunately, not everyone has what is considered a “good personality”. Or maybe they just make a bad first impression. Your wife, kids and dog love you, but will your audience?

As individuals we all have our own distinct personality made up of desirable and to some extent undesirable traits. I’m not suggesting that anyone should try to change his or her personality, or that it‘s even possible. In fact the people that would most benefit from changes in their personality are the ones that are least likely to change. However, you can change your persona, that image of your character and personality that the audience perceives. Actors do it everyday. They take on the traits and personality of the person that they are portraying. Accomplished actors do this very well. They totally immerse themselves in the character. They become that character.

For the most part, it is not necessary for magicians to go to such great lengths. Nor do most magicians have the necessary knowledge or experience in the dramatic arts to do so. Those magicians that succeed in creating interesting and entertaining characters usually retain a certain portion of their true personality, which accounts for their originality. Taking on the task of creating a persona that is far removed from your real personality requires more dramatic skills than a character that possesses many of your actual traits.

Something that the magician must be conscious of is that the general public does not think of a magician as a dramatic artist or actor.

When people watch a show on TV, movies or a play, they’re well aware that what they are watching are actors. Generally speaking when an audience watches a magician perform, they don’t think of him as an actor. If he does his job well, they consider him a performer but not necessarily an actor. Of course, if you have a definite character such as a wizard, clown etc., you are obviously playing a part. The fact that they think they’re seeing the real you can be an advantage or disadvantage. If you act like an arrogant jerk, they may think you really are one.

Here’s an important fact. If you really are an arrogant jerk, it would be to your advantage to develop a character or persona that hides that part of your personality. Here’s another important fact. Arrogant jerks don’t consider themselves as such. Their arrogance prevents them from seeing themselves as others see them. Actually some of the magicians that I have seen that appear to come off that way are actually very kind and pleasant people. It’s not until they get on stage and start trying to portray the all mighty magician that they become a pompous ass.

So how is a performer suppose to know how others view him since his opinion of himself is obviously prejudice.

It’s really not that difficult. Find someone you trust and ask them to help you. It doesn’t have to be a magician. In fact, I would suggest a non-magician friend. A person that will view your performance as a lay person rather than thinking about the mechanics of the magic. You should have the mechanics of your performance down pat before you perform anyway.

Have them view a tape of your performance. Then go back and start breaking it down and analyzing it. Never ask general questions such as how did you like it overall, or was it entertaining. Asking questions like this will put your friend under undue pressure to be complimentary. Simply tell your friend that you are wanting to improve your stage presence and ask him if he will help you go over your routines and see if there is any way you can make them more audience friendly and improve your rapport with the audience.

If your friend is serious about trying to help, it is much easier for him to make little suggestions or answer specific questions honestly.

Analyzing a taped performance is much better than simply going over a script. Your script may be fine but the manner in which you present it will make a big difference in how it is accepted. “It’s not what you say, but how you say it”.

For instance, you’re performing and your volunteer cracks a funny line. You come back with the line, “ Hey, If you don’t mind, I’ll make the jokes”. If you say this in a manner that your audience even suspects that you’re serious, it will immediately turn them against you.

Of course you don’t have to take all of your helpers comments as gospel. However, by discussing the things you say and how you say them will at least give you an idea as to how other people could view what your saying and how you say them.

You may want your character to be sophisticated, humorous, or maybe even a little crude, but it is still important that your audience likes you.

Another important thing to remember is that your, persona, and character must be suitable for the venue. This is something that is frequently ignored by magicians. Actually this is something that is not only ignored but also blatantly abused on a regular basis by far too many magicians. Not just beginners and amateurs but also those that are suppose to be professional and know better. I have some definite opinions on this subject and will elaborate on it in a separate article next month.

By Ed Williams