Magic for the Deaf at a Wedding
I was performing close-up magic at a wedding last weekend and I was beckoned over to a table where about half the audience were deaf.
I haven’t a huge amount of experience performing for the deaf, but I have learnt to adapt my normal style a little. I try perform more visual magic which doesn’t involve too much talking and, when I do talk, I try to explain things as simply as possible and a bit slower, so that someone can sign for me and it makes lip reading easier.
So, I started performing for the deaf half of the table with someone very kindly signing and they really enjoyed it. I moved around the table and started performing for the other half of the audience and, without thinking, asked the person who was signing to help me.
This proved to be a bit of a mistake because without the signing, and with me probably gabbling on too much, the deaf part of the audience started to really burn my hands. And I mean really burn, they didn’t take their eyes off them. This puts a lot of pressure on your sleight of hand, which to be honest, I’m not used to because you learn to rely on presentation and misdirection.
Without being too obvious I went back to involving the deaf people again and relieved the pressure, which I’m sure only I was aware of.
It’s made me wonder whether my magic could be performed silently, without the misdirection provided by talking. It’s something I might work on when practising, because I’m sure it would improve my general performance.
July 26th, 2006 at 9:18 am
I’ve had a similar experience.
I perform in a children’s home a couple of times a year and the first time I did it it was difficult to contect with some of the audience who were deaf.
Before I went back I chenged the presentation of my effects so they included more mime and some sight gags.
I have to say - pretty dumb asking the signing person to help you!
July 26th, 2006 at 9:58 am
In my defence, it was going well and I’d forgotton the signing was happening.
But, yes dumb is the word!