TimDavidMagic.com

My “Business Tip” For Anyone Who Does XCM

This is going to be a quick post…I’ve got a diaper to change, so I’ll get right to the point.

Anyone who is any good at XCM (Extreme Card Manipulations) can create an assembly program to bring into schools.

Basketball tricksters do this all the time.

They go in, they blow the kids away with amazing tricks, then they talk about the importance of hard work.

They motivate the kids to achieve their dreams.

I don’t see why an XCMer couldn’t do the same thing!

Schools pay good money and you can even get grants for this sort of thing.

What do you think?

Magic Business Advice | | March 2, 2010 9:42 am

10 Comments

By Dave, March 2, 2010 @ 10:38 am

That’s a good point about school assemblies. I have seen school assembly programs and would argue that XCM probably wouldn’t work very well in that environment. For the audience to be able to see and understand what is being presented, your cards would have to be a lot bigger which negates using XCM (these programs would be more like stage work). I have seen grade school programs done by a motivational magician and everything he did was large and interacted with the kids. He would bring up volunteers and keep the kids involved. I’m not saying it couldn’t be done, only that there are better options for assemblies. I still think the best use of XCM from an entertainment point of view is to incorporate some of the moves sparingly into some magic tricks or illusions.
By li w h, March 2, 2010 @ 10:42 am

no comments and agreed with you….
By Brian Voiles, March 2, 2010 @ 10:56 am

I think this is frickin’ brilliant! Makes me want to hone my chops again. This really is a KILLER idea Tim.
By Charlie, March 2, 2010 @ 11:05 am

Schools are an excellent place to start. Also there could be other possibilities such as at a business convention booth to attract crowds, or as a warm-up act for just about any type of performance, or perhaps as an introduction to a motivation presentation.
By Franklin, March 2, 2010 @ 11:46 am

I agree with Dave, for the most part. A school assembly environment would seriously reduce the effects. I think that it’s still possible to produce an awesome an effective show under some limitations. Firstly, the younger the grade level, the bigger the trick has to be. Kids are into the flashy stuff. XCM would work better with a high school crowd; younger students may not understand what’s happening or that it’s cool (I say this from experience). Also, XCM isn’t good for stage, so you’d have to do XCM that really moves the cards in a wide area (frequently). So, maybe a bunch of tweaked out boomerang tricks and other tricks that move your hands around a wider space. Just my opinion…
By Pastor Charles Rice, March 2, 2010 @ 1:54 pm

There is a Gospel Magician who already does that in many Shools up north and in Canada He keeps his presentation secular (IE no mention of religion) and he is making a very good living at it. So Mr Davic you have a good idea it just isn’t as new as you though. But yes magic can teach and be the memory hook that Children and adults need to remeber important things be it school saftey, School work or even bible truths.
Magic can be a very special way to help get many ideas and thoughts across to other people.
If you can REACH and TEACH the go for it.

God bless
By timdavid, March 2, 2010 @ 2:57 pm

Hey Dave, thanks for posting.

I think that those things can be worked around. First of all, I don’t see an XCM presentation going over well for elementary school students.

I see it more for middle and high-school kids.

Regarding size, you may have to invest in a camera and projector to “blow up” your hands for all to see.

Another way to make the show “bigger” is to add high-energy music and move your body while you move the cards.

But remember, in schools the focus is not on your skill anyway…It’s on the message you bring to the kids. That’s what’s really important.

Pastor – Yes, there are many MAGICIANS who do school assembly programs (I’ve done hundreds of them myself) – But I’ve not seen any XCM-ers present school assembly programs. Is that what this gentleman is doing?
By Don, March 2, 2010 @ 3:47 pm

I am for anything that will lead a reluctant student toward realizing the importance of having a goal. If flourishes capture attention and hold interest long enough to enable one to see the value of persistence then use that method. I feel, however, that acrobatic card moves, regardless of the great skill involved, need “more meat” in some form to get points across. Nothing in that problem cannot be solved. Your followers will eventually provide the answers. You do excellent work. Keep it up.
By Magician Sandeep Tailor, March 4, 2010 @ 6:19 am

Your Idea is Very Best.
By suhaas, March 23, 2010 @ 9:33 am

good idea