Here is an interesting and thought-provoking article you should read before going into my ramblings: http://blog.simplease.at/2014/02/dont-please-your-clients/
Good thought, right?
For a designer, this is simply a truth. The quality of the relationship customer/designer depends on how good the designer is finding out what the customer really needs.
In magic, we might have a similar situation. The professionals will know. Most of the times the only thing of importance is what the customer needs when hiring the magician for his event.
But many magicians ignore this completely and base the choice of material and their attitude on what they personally like to perform. Being people that love their toys, gimmicks and fancy magic stuff, they tend to oversee what is important to their clients. Too much boasting here.
Consequently, their choice of material is made from their perspective, a perspective that has been shaped over the years attending conventions, lectures and magic club meetings. The viewpoint is that from a magician, an insider, a freak sometimes. Barely nothing a ’normal‘ person can relate to.
Developing a set of questions might help in choosing the right kind of material. Instead of asking ‚Will this kill them?‘ questions like ‚Why should they like this?‘ or ‚Will they have a sort of benefit when seeing this?‘ might be of better help.
I that context, Tamariz’s Seven Veils of Magic come to my mind. Paramount is that the audience likes you genuinely. For this to happen, all the seven veils must be fulfilled. And then, even if there is no other benefit, the audience will enjoy a performance of a person they really like, which makes a good emotional impact.
This might look like being not too much, but then it is better than having them sit through a rude show-off.
Pass it on!
