A good friend Johnny Fox
http://www.johnnyfox.com who is an incredible performer (and one of the few performers I admire) spent significant time and effort speaking with me about performing and how/where to improve, grow and so on
A few things he suggested is video taping myself and then watching just the video with no sound, then just listening to the sound with no image to see/hear my timing and cadence and where to improve. To be my own toughest critic
He also told me who else I could learn from via books, DVDs and videos and where time would be better spent in my quest for knowledge
Told him I wanted to work Jackson Square as that is the toughest crowd I could think to play for, he also suggested Washington Park in NYC and working Comedy Clubs
Another good friend is a local comedian (he's in the finals for Baltimore's Last Comic Standing) and hosts 2 nights a week at a comedy local club, one night (Tuesday Night) being open mike night and he's been asking me for a while to give it a try
I did tonight
Went over pretty well, was fairly well received by the crowd. Coming off stage the other performers congratulated me (which really doesn't mean much to me to be honest) but the bartender said he couldn't believe it was the first time I worked comedy and the crowd took time to say hi and thanks.
I mixed illusion (one really funny illusion bit with a growing dildo hanging out of my pants) with comedy. Not the greatest thing ever, not going to make any one forget Dave Chapell .... yet, but satisfied with the results
Can see where I can improve but overall am happy with tonight even though it was only an open mike night
Overall I'd rather be doing paid shows as an illusionist but this helps me grow. A few comics started out as magicians, even though I don't think comedy is my strongest suit
If you look at Johnny Fox's website you'll see mostly sword swallowing but he is one of the best at cups and balls and is a walking encyclopedia of who's who in illusions and an immense and unbelievable resource, a walking fountain of knowledge
I am incredibly/amazingly fortunate to be one of the people who he has shared his knowledge with