4 Tips to be interactive and Connect More with Your Virtual Magic Show Audience (for magicians)
4 Tips to be interactive and Connect More with Your Virtual Magic Shows Audience (for magicians)
One of the most difficult challenges magicians face when performing virtual magic shows is keeping their audience’s attention and finding ways to connect through a computer screen. Many prestidigitators dislike virtual magic because they feel that energy and audience interaction is lacking. Perhaps you’ve experienced this; it can sometimes feel less like a conversation or exchange and more like you’re doing magic AT your audience instead of FOR or WITH them. It becomes a two-dimensional, one-way experience for you and the participants. Fortunately, this can easily be remedied. There are a few simple effective tips and tricks you can implement in your virtual show to increase the interactions, audience connection and impromptu feel of your show. This will make your virtual magic more enjoyable for both your audience and you.
Controlled Chaos and Group Interactive Moments in your virtual magic show
Asking your participants in a virtual magic show to use the mute and unmute button is a no-brainer when doing virtual performances, but you may also consider sprinkling moments of group vocal participation or what I call “controlled chaos” throughout your show. For example, you might say “On the count of three unmute yourselves and shout your favorite magic word” or “shout your favorite TV show.” Once they’ve all spoken for a few seconds hit the mute all button, gain control and jump back into your script. You could also try repeating some of the responses for a laugh. Just parrot back what you were able to tease out from the chaos. Acknowledging a few of their live responses makes people feel “seen” and “heard”. It seems impromptu and makes your virtual magic show feel like more of an exchange.
Virtual magician hack: Hand Gestures and Physical Group Interaction
When designing a magic routine there is the option of the virtual magician making the magic happen or having the spectator(s) create the magic with you. For virtual, the latter is often better. Obviously, this is character dependent, but it can be engaging to give power to the audience instead of doing the magic yourself or performing at them. Getting the participants involved with a magic gesture or phrase can keep them focused and puts the effect in their hands. Whether children or adults, everyone gets Zoom fatigue but studies show that encouraging people to move around or engage physically helps hold attention longer. There are many opportunities for physical interaction that you can include in your show. From high-fiving you through the screen to wiggling fingers, raising hands when doing a quick group poll, dance breaks etc. These gestures can be as important and specific to trick execution as one person holding an invisible card and throwing it through the screen to appear. The interactions can also be more passive and group oriented. These gestures don’t have to be silly, only for children or patronizing. They can be more subtle and dignified for mature audiences. For example, if you have a prediction for a corporate client you can say “Have you all noticed this mysterious envelope next to me? Nod your heads if you’ve noticed this envelope behind me the entire show.” There’s a wide range of choices you can make and it's easy to insert these moments in any existing performance.
Mentalism and Value Based Judgments for Virtual Magic Shows
Virtual Mentalism is ideal magic for working online. Performing tricks that are visually appealing are equally important for the virtual sphere but despite that, mentalism tends to be the most popular type of virtual magic. That is likely because it’s something that your audience can directly participate in and control, which makes the outcome more satisfying. When doing virtual mentalism it’s often best to create routines where the participants have the opportunity to make value based judgments or choices that reflect their opinions and personality: instead of their role being a “card-picking machine” or “number picking machine: ‘Name a card’ or ‘Pick a number between 1-100’ ” it can be more engaging to have them give you an opinion about which outfit to wear, or think of their favorite Christmas memory. Mentalism is already super-duper interactive but going the extra mile to focus on these types of personality and choice-driven plots can make tricks more unique and personal for the volunteers and that makes them more invested in the final outcome.
Crowd Work and virtual magicians
Throughout your online show you can insert improvised moments of crowd work where you call out a person or acknowledge something about their clothing or background. Asking for a physical response or when you see reactions are great moments for crowd work. You may find yourself performing a lot of Virtual Holiday Shows this month and calling out funny backgrounds or festive hats is a fun way to make your audience feel seen. When the show begins you could say something to the effect of “I’m noticing a lot of really crazy backgrounds, Chris has an awesome Christmas tree, Sarah looks like she’s in the snow.” etc. You can also incorporate this into magic tricks and other physical gesture moments. When you ask questions like “Raise your hand if you . . .”; you can say “Oh I see Anthony does. . . .and Janet does. . . .“, etc. These little nods at individuals take only a few seconds but add a wonderful conversational and interactive tone to your show, making it feel like a party instead of being a passive experience.
If people have their cameras on it is because they want to be seen and if they have gone that extra mile to wear a costume, cocktail dress, or have a fun intentional background. It’s really rewarding for them to be spotlighted or mentioned (even if it’s just for a second). Audience commitment and engagement should be praised and encouraged. When you point someone out who’s being a great audience member it makes others want to interact or bring something to the table as well. It’s a win-win for everybody.
Bottom line, there are a myriad of ways to engage your audience during a virtual magic show, from having them write in the chat, to answering a poll, going to a specific web address on their phone, having physical objects (previously mailed to them) to handle and engage with during the show - the possibilities are endless and stretch way beyond the tips this article mentions. The most important thing is to think outside of the box and imagine yourself in your audience’s shoes. Be creative, remember what gets you focused and feeling connected during a virtual event and go from there.
