Being A Natural

 

I was honored to teach and perform at the recent FCM Convention in Indianapolis this summer. What a wonderful group of variety artists, entertainers, and ministers. After one of my evening presentations, someone gave me one of the highest compliments. He said, “You’re a natural.”  Wow. I really appreciate that!

Years ago I did a presentation of my old man clown character, Mr. Oxford P. Nutts (whom I also presented at the 2019 FCM convention).  My mother was there. Afterwards, she meekly smiled and shared how much she enjoyed the program. She then said the same statement I heard at FCM, “Randy, you’re just a natural.”  I remember turning to my mother and saying, “Well, thank you so much. I’m glad that after working hard at this for 18 years, it’s FINALLY starting to look natural!”

I know people intend that statement as a compliment – “You’re a natural.”. And I take it that way.  But, no wonderful performance ever happens by mistake or as a result of natural ability. There’s no such thing as a great show that happens by chance.  It takes work…and a lot it!

I juggle.  I’ve never met a natural juggler.  Every person starts at the beginning.  Every future juggler begins by dropping…and dropping and dropping.  And that’s where a decision has to take place.  Is that person going to go through the work and effort and discipline to learn the technique or are they going to quit?  If the person will focus and practice and work they will gain control, master the method and build muscle memory.  Once that person puts in enough time, that juggler will be able to do it without even thinking about it…and that’s when it appears “natural.”

Musicians have the same challenge.  No one begins as a good violinist!  No one begins as a good pianist! No one plays banjo by accident or some mystical natural ability.

Magicians have the same challenge learning a new routine, handling a new prop, or practicing a new sleight.  Often, these “magic moves” feel awkward at the start.  Work. Work. Work. Develop the technique.

Storytellers and verbal communicators do well if they have a script which is worded effectively. That script is memorized so they can do it without hardly even thinking making the presentation appear effortless and natural.

At the recent FCM conference I also taught a class on mime concepts and physical communication.  We all have body language. We communicate through gesture, posture, movement and facial expressions.  We can learn to move and position ourselves intentionally to communicate a message or emotion to our audiences without even a word, but that takes work too.  Many rely on their normal habitual physical posture and expressions. But, if one will study body language and physical communication, then one can choose to move a certain way or assume a specific posture that will communicate thought and emotion to an audience.  I work on this and strive to master the techniques so they will appear natural to my audience.

So, let me bring this to a close by saying, “Keep working on the technique. Give focus to the specifics and do them over and over again.  Work on your presentation until it becomes natural. You may then relax with confidence, trusting the work that you’ve put in…and you too will hear people say, “That performer’s a natural.” 

*This article originally appeared in "The Voice" - the official publication of the International Fellowship of Christian Magicians.

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