E-Club ProThe Comedy Zone
The Ultimate Guide To.....Attending A Clubroom Lecture
Many of us belong to the local magic club, but it seems to me that there are countless numbers of magicians who have little or no concept of how to behave when attending the lecture of a visiting speaker. Hopefully, I will now be able to put that right by explaining some of the ground rules.
It is important for any lecture-goer to arrive early. Not so early that you get volunteered to help put out the chairs or fill the kettle with water for the half-time tea, of course, but early enough to reserve a front seat by placing a copy of Tarbell Volume Four on it.
When the lecturer arrives try to be one of the first to race up to him and shake him by the hand. Do make sure you get the correct person however. Enthusiastically greeting the caretaker who has popped in to drop off the keys would not be an auspicious start. The lecturer can usually be spotted because he will look tired and stressed after spending an hour driving round trying to follow your club President's carefully hand-drawn map.
Correct behaviour on spotting the lecturer is to offer to help him carry in his cases or boxes from the car. Incorrect behaviour would be to open the cases and start rummaging through the contents in the carpark - particularly if it's raining. After all, you don't want to get yourself wet.
Once inside along with all his props, the lecturer will want some tables over which he can spread any lecture notes and other saleable items. It is only polite to show him where the tressle tables are kept. Don't offer to carry them in or put them up in case you get a splinter off the wood or catch your finger in a rusty hinge. You have to look after yourself or you won't be in any fit state to take notes during the lecture.
While the guest is setting his lecture it is a good idea to make him feel welcome by talking to him non-stop. Tell him about the history of your club going back to 1924, and if possible get him to look at the 8 scrapbooks of memorabilia and press cuttings the club has. He will undoubtedly enjoy this welcome distraction from getting his lecture ready.
If you hold a position of responsibility in your club, such as being the Treasurer or even better the Secretary, you have an ideal opportunity to show the visitor how efficient you are and how well run the club is by having a 45 minute business meeting immediately prior to him starting. Also if one of your elderly members has recently passed away, this would be a good time to tell everybody as it sets the mood for the evening.
So, with all the business out of the way and the lecturer ready to begin, you will then get the opportunity to introduce him to the other members. If you know a little bit about your guest, or think you might have read one or two snippets in a back issue of an old magic magazine, trot it all out - well, the bits you can remember anyway. If not, just say, 'Right, our guest tonight needs no introduction, so I won't give him one (snigger, snigger). No, seriously folks, we are delighted to have him here tonight, 'cos there was nothing good on the telly (snigger, snigger), so please give a warm welcome to er ... er .... er ... our lecturer.'
Because you have saved your place in the front row, you are in the perfect position to make a good impression on the lecturer. Laugh loudly at all the funny bits, and whenever he needs a volunteer to help with an effect, jump up straight away and offer to assist.
If the lecturer asks if there are any questions following an explanation, always make sure that you do ask one. It doesn't matter what it is, or whether it is in any way relevant to the trick that has just been performed, simply ask a question. After all, it looks so rude if the visitor gives everyone the chance to ask a question and nobody bothers.
If you can't think of any suitable questions, here are a couple of unsuitable ones you might like to use. 'Did you use the M6 and then the A463 over the viaduct to get here, or did you go right round on the motorway and come into the city from the other side via the roadworks?' Alternatively, you may care to use the ever popular, 'Just going back to the previous trick, what did you say the set up was on the top of the deck?'
When the interval comes remember to strike up a conversation with the lecturer again. After all, he won't want to spend all his time just selling lecture notes and props, he wants to enjoy the social side of the evening too. Do bring him a cup of tea and a biscuit and then take the opportunity to discuss with him a new move you are currently working on and which you can't quite do yet. This will let him see that you are creative.
At the end of the lecture it is customary to give a vote of thanks. It is best if you do it because you won't want anyone else to get any of the limelight. You don't have to overdo the praise, but try to mention one or two of the tricks that he did in the lecture, although I wouldn't recommend mentioning a whole load of tricks which he didn't do. Finally lead the applause and then shake him by the hand.
Let the lecturer pack up and carry his own stuff back out to his car - after all, you don't want to get in the way by helping do you. In fact, the best thing is to tell him where the caretaker lives and to leave altogether, asking him to lock up, switch the lights off and take the key back. This has the double benefit of you avoiding getting into trouble with the caretaker for overunning the club's allotted time, and it also means you will be back home in time to watch the football on the TV.
