Hey Magician! Head’s Up!
Some Guy: Hey remember that one guy that did that one thing that one time on that one T.V. Show?
Other Guy: What guy did what when?
Some Guy: You know the guy with the Liver spots on the top of his head!
Other Guy: Oh yeah. That guy! The one with the big ruby in his belt buckle?
Some Guy: Yeah . . . that guy. He was awesome . . . He made a card . . . um . . . disappear . . . or something.
This Guy: Don’t be that guy!
Jeff McBride calls it Head’s Down Syndrome in chapter 1 of his latest book, The Show Doctor>. The article originally published in Magic Magazine’s column of the same name is a brief discussion about the magician who only shows the top of his head and/or his crotch . . . very flattering.
Root:
Let’s remember our roots. This month’s root is honor your audience. Hey magician! Head’s Up! If you do restaurant work, unless you’re 2 feet tall, the table you perform at is about crotch-level, and your audience’s eyes aren’t much higher. To make things worse, when you perform down at the table level you’re directing your attention to said crotch area. Additionally, even if the audience does look up, they’ll see the top of your head because you’re looking down at your crotch where your hands, cards and magic is supposedly happening.
I said it once, and I’ll say it again . . . don’t be that guy!
Branch:
Let’s build our branches. For the next 30 days, I want you to take at least one effect from your repertoire and elevate it. Bring the action and focus area out of your crotch and up to your chest or face area. You may have to completely relearn certain moves – An Elmsley Count is not easy in front of your face with the cards facing your audience rather than the floor. You may even have to learn to do the moves without looking at the cards . . . look at the audience. Practice this simple technique until you’ve completely rebuilt at least one effect in your arsenal to be performed in this manner. You won’t regret it.
For even further advice on this subject, refer to the aforementioned chapter of McBrides’s book The Show Doctor>.
Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.