Imagine you're at some public event. Any place with a large crowd and live entertainment. Just to toss a few examples out, maybe you're at a town festival, fair, concert, bar with live band, amusement park, or other such gathering.

You're not hired to be there. You're just there for whatever entertainment they are providing, just like everyone else. Suddenly someone approaches you, and for whatever reason they know you're a magician, and ask if you could go up to the stage and do a performance. You didn't bring any of your real props with you. You might have a couple of props in your pocket such as a T-Tip, but you weren't planning on putting on a show that day.

Now you have two options: The most obvious option is to say NO. After all, you have no obligation to perform. Your other option is to say yes, and put on a small performance. Which you choose is up to you, but I can think of quite a few reasons I would want to say yes. I might just be in the mood for it; being with a crowd sometimes has that effect on me. I won't fall for their gambit if they tell me "It'll be free exposure," but I might come to that conclusion myself.

Here's the question: Would you be able to put on a show for a large audience with only a few minutes preparation? Would you be able to put this act together in about 15-20 minutes?

Seems like a scary scenario, doesn't it? This kind of thing has happened to me a number of times. Sometimes I say no and sometimes I say yes. When I do decide to do it, I don't tell them so until I've worked out my act though.

What I usually do is scan the room and the objects around me. For example, my mind might say this as I scan the room:

"I see a pile of napkins over there. That'll give me some material such as torn and restored, napkins over head, and some sponge ball type routines. I don't have a deck, but I saw a group over there playing cards. Maybe they'll let me borrow theirs. Wow, there's a pile of rope over there. I've got my T-Tip and there's a salt shaker on every table. Heck, I've got a 20-minute act already. More then enough!"

I suggest you work out some routines that you could do at any moment’s notice and with objects that you're sure to find where ever you are. You can always turn down these requests but sometimes there are benefits from these kinds of situations. One time this happened to me and I ended up on TV by a news crew that covered the event. You just never know! But don't do this impromptu performance unless you can give them a good one, for that can do more harm then good. You'll need the experience and equally important is the knowledge of the basics for it's the basic methods of magic that are usually most useful. You never know what's going to happen, so those basics are what will save you. Be prepared!

Now, let’s imagine an extreme case and say you have absolutely no props on you at all. You don't have your close-up case in your car, and for some reason you don't have any of the props you use in your pockets (No T-Tip or anything).

How about first performing some routines that require no props at all. I would probably open with something like the arm puzzle. This is great because it gets most of the audience involved right away. This can be stretched anywhere form 15 seconds to a few minutes. This is also a good closer trick because after they try to do what you do you can have them applaud, "Now hold your hands out like this, now put your hands together, then apart, then together again until we hear a clapping noise. Thanks you very much!" and end your show while they are clapping.

There are always objects you can do a torn-and-restored effect with such as napkins, dollar bills or even a sheet of paper. The same object can be used for an over-the-head routine. I'm sure you'll be able to find at least a roll of toilet paper!

A magicians’ force is possible with any object. This would require good presentation skills to keep it entertaining, but it's yet another tool in the toolbox that can be done with no prior set up.

Learn some comedy. It can make a good filler to stretch the time, preferably a good and funny story.

For the most part two or three tricks and a lot of sight gags or comedy bits will easily fill a 15-to 20-minute spot. You'll never want to do an impromptu performance any longer than that.

If you can work out a routine like this then you'll always be ready even if you have no props on your at all.

I also suggest knowing routines that require no props in close up. If you can do a good routine with no props, it looks much more professional then stalling time while you search your pockets. If you're nicely asked by someone to perform, you can do something right away with no pause and no hesitation. When someone asks me if I can show them something, I immediately hold my hand out with a missing finger and say, "Oh, I can't right now. I lost one of my fingers". I go to my pocket and pretend to pull a finger out and put it on my hand. "Oh, there it is".

So be prepared for the unexpected. It's not uncommon for a crowd to grow in a close-up performance. You could start out performing for just a few people then suddenly a crowd gathers and you'll basically have to start doing a parlor act. If you can put on a performance for a large audience with no preparation then you'll always be ready!