Performing for the Deaf

I have been cruising The Magic Café and someone was talking about performing magic for a deaf audience.

One person’s concern was would they be able to misdirect them since they would lose the power of sound and their voice to direct the audience’s gaze at their hands. And to be honest, deaf people are the easiest to misdirect since most of the time, in order to understand what you have to say they can do one of two things; read lips or watch the person off to the side signing what you are saying.

I personally have had a blast performing for the deaf. Many moons ago I was asked to perform for a group of children years ago and really had a good time.

Throughout the show I would make fun of the situation, being concerned if the person signing what I had to say was really signing what I was saying.

I told the kids, “I could really be saying everyone here looks happy and smart today, and what they could be signing is ‘Hello, everyone! Don’t I look like a monkey?”

Of course the kids smiled and laughed and had a good time.

One thing I’m not particularly proud of, but it was still a lot of fun for the kids is I would say words just to be curious on what the sign for it would be.

I called the translator a cheater when she used sign language to spell out the word “booger.” I then showed the kids what I though the sign for “booger” should be. I’ll leave that to your imagination. Needless to say the children had a great time.

I guess the lesson here is to know your material so well that you can pay attention to your audience and your environment so you and your crowd can have a lot of fun together.

And a more important lesson is kids are kids, no matter what their situation is.

I was doing walk around magic at a restaurant and there was a family. I approach the table and asked if could perform magic for them. The couple mentioned their child was deaf. I thought nothing of it and told them it wasn't a problem.

I didn't really change my act, just did some fun sleight of hand stuff. Afterwards the parents came up to me and told me thanks and that it meant a lot to them that I did something for their little girl. They explained to me they felt she misses out on a lot because people don't know how to handle the fact she was deaf.

I just laughed and told them it was the other people missing out, not their little girl.

Always wishing the best,
Adam White

Ebook