Dovetailing off of the last blog, I have found a conflict among magicians. After viewing a trick, spectators often ask, how'd you do it?
Some magicians say something along the lines of "magic" or "very well", etc. I understand the "Don't reveal how it's done" philosophy. But Penn and Teller have a different philosophy.
Are you sitting down? There is no such thing as magic. Magicians are regular joes who know a few cool tricks.
Now that the line is drawn in the sand, we can focus on entertaining you. I am still advocating doing magic with everyday objects. But under the guise of "magic" most people will watch a trick, knowing that what they are seeing is a trick. It might be a great trick, but it's still a trick.
To convince people otherwise is insulting. In the age of Harry Potter, if what you are doing is REAL magic, why does it involve cards and spongeballs? In the realm of anything is possible, the performer settled for changing the color of a scarf?
My point is, more magicians need to accept that it is a trick, and focus on the entertainment aspect.
Lesson: Magicians are among all walks of life, they just know a few cool tricks.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Jugglers, and Mimes, And Magicians, Oh MY!
In the last blog, I mentioned that magic as an art is linked to mimes and juggling as an art. I'd like to extrapolate it a bit.
While juggling requires skill, the professional jugglers (as seen in higher end events, trade shows etc) are out of the public's eye. When you think jugglers you may think county fair, or passing the hat at something like a street market. And there are varying degrees, of which I always seem to catch some of the, well...they could use some practice.
Mimes? Well....enough said.
As for magic, a search on youtube brings up many tweens and teens "performing" and they either accidentally expose the effect.
So, juggling at the county fair, with names that are just horrible (reddian fit), and 14 years olds who learn a trick and 5 minutes later have a video of it on you tube.
I can see how they are linked in the public's mind. I hope a few big hitters keep the art alive.
Lesson: Your passion for anything is fantastic, but before you show it to anyone outside of immediate family, make sure you are 1) entertaining and 2) technically proficient.
Someone who drops juggling clubs is on par with a magician who can't shuffle.
While juggling requires skill, the professional jugglers (as seen in higher end events, trade shows etc) are out of the public's eye. When you think jugglers you may think county fair, or passing the hat at something like a street market. And there are varying degrees, of which I always seem to catch some of the, well...they could use some practice.
Mimes? Well....enough said.
As for magic, a search on youtube brings up many tweens and teens "performing" and they either accidentally expose the effect.
So, juggling at the county fair, with names that are just horrible (reddian fit), and 14 years olds who learn a trick and 5 minutes later have a video of it on you tube.
I can see how they are linked in the public's mind. I hope a few big hitters keep the art alive.
Lesson: Your passion for anything is fantastic, but before you show it to anyone outside of immediate family, make sure you are 1) entertaining and 2) technically proficient.
Someone who drops juggling clubs is on par with a magician who can't shuffle.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What is that?
Often times, I see magicians on tv doing some grand illusions, or even smaller stage props, the likes I've never seen before.
"Here I have an ordinary pitcher full of milk". Wait...time out.
What makes it ordinary? Because you said so? Why would I think otherwise? But more importantly....
I don't see milk pitchers a lot of places any more. Some restaurants will provide a pitcher of water, and some places also serve beer in smaller pitchers, but I have never, EVER been to, let's say, a Denny's, ordered some milk, which was brought out in a pitcher. EVER! And if, in some weird world, my hypothetical milk was brought out in a pitcher, it sure would not strike me as ordinary.
Which brings me to my point. Magic, as an art is likened to jugglers (big movements, but run of the mill), or even worse, mimes. There is nothing wrong with either one of those, but they are far from culture, or high brow art.
I'll get into what I believe to be a few reasons magic isn't respected in the next few days, but magic done with weird objects (boxes with oriental symbols, large silver balls and scarves, etc) which are then put away is not very impressive.
While I believe magic should be done with common place objects, or at least a rational explanation of any given prop, too much is done with weird props no one has ever seen, and then put away. Ummm....wow?
Why was David Blaine successful? He did magic with everyday objects, and showed everyday people, in common, everyday environments. Vanishing quarter under your nose, goes a LOT further than a convoluted box that makes scarves appear.
Tomorrow, a look at suspension of disbelief, and really "selling it".
Lesson: Magicians showing 10 or more tricks with objects no one has seen outside of a magic shop is not impressing anyone except the self esteem of the magician.
"Here I have an ordinary pitcher full of milk". Wait...time out.
What makes it ordinary? Because you said so? Why would I think otherwise? But more importantly....
I don't see milk pitchers a lot of places any more. Some restaurants will provide a pitcher of water, and some places also serve beer in smaller pitchers, but I have never, EVER been to, let's say, a Denny's, ordered some milk, which was brought out in a pitcher. EVER! And if, in some weird world, my hypothetical milk was brought out in a pitcher, it sure would not strike me as ordinary.
Which brings me to my point. Magic, as an art is likened to jugglers (big movements, but run of the mill), or even worse, mimes. There is nothing wrong with either one of those, but they are far from culture, or high brow art.
I'll get into what I believe to be a few reasons magic isn't respected in the next few days, but magic done with weird objects (boxes with oriental symbols, large silver balls and scarves, etc) which are then put away is not very impressive.
While I believe magic should be done with common place objects, or at least a rational explanation of any given prop, too much is done with weird props no one has ever seen, and then put away. Ummm....wow?
Why was David Blaine successful? He did magic with everyday objects, and showed everyday people, in common, everyday environments. Vanishing quarter under your nose, goes a LOT further than a convoluted box that makes scarves appear.
Tomorrow, a look at suspension of disbelief, and really "selling it".
Lesson: Magicians showing 10 or more tricks with objects no one has seen outside of a magic shop is not impressing anyone except the self esteem of the magician.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Less is More
You've heard the phrase "Less is more". I put it into practice with my magic. When people discover that I am a magician, I am asked to show a trick. I decline. Please indulge me.
Many years ago, I had a bag of tricks (I have since graduated to a nice fancy case, but I digress) and would show my friend trick after trick after trick. If one was good, ten must be great. My friends were too polite to tell me they had seen enough, and oblivious I would do make multiple people select cards. Even if people didn't ask, I would use the worst segues to open the opportunity to perform.
Flash forward to present. Perhaps it's the pendulum swinging the other way, perhaps I don't want to be the proverbial monkey who dances on cue. Whatever the reason may be, I love performing for the public. Performing for friends is fun too, I will decline for awhile, and once I know you are ready, I'll let you pick a card.
Lesson for you: If a magician performs without you asking, or does more than a trick or two. Or even worse, comes to hang out, and you see sponge balls...RUN!
Many years ago, I had a bag of tricks (I have since graduated to a nice fancy case, but I digress) and would show my friend trick after trick after trick. If one was good, ten must be great. My friends were too polite to tell me they had seen enough, and oblivious I would do make multiple people select cards. Even if people didn't ask, I would use the worst segues to open the opportunity to perform.
Flash forward to present. Perhaps it's the pendulum swinging the other way, perhaps I don't want to be the proverbial monkey who dances on cue. Whatever the reason may be, I love performing for the public. Performing for friends is fun too, I will decline for awhile, and once I know you are ready, I'll let you pick a card.
Lesson for you: If a magician performs without you asking, or does more than a trick or two. Or even worse, comes to hang out, and you see sponge balls...RUN!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
From my Side of the Top Hat
When I perform, people think they are original in asking for some of the same things. So, on behalf of myself and other magicians....
No, I can not make your wife/husband/boss/kids disappear
Every famous magician (meaning, in the public's mind) has their strengths and weaknesses. My favorite is still David Copperfield, due to his longevity and his variety of material.
If you ask to see a magic trick and a magician brings out a deck of cards, do not automatically assume you know how the trick is going to play out.
Not all magic is the same. Just as you would not hire Criss Angel for a Corporate gig, and would not hire David Blaine for a kid's birthday party, do not assume that just because you see a magician at a restaurant, they would be perfect for your cocktail party. You would also not hire Frumples the Clown for your Bar Mitzvah.
As always, have a great rest of the day, and even better evening!
No, I can not make your wife/husband/boss/kids disappear
Every famous magician (meaning, in the public's mind) has their strengths and weaknesses. My favorite is still David Copperfield, due to his longevity and his variety of material.
If you ask to see a magic trick and a magician brings out a deck of cards, do not automatically assume you know how the trick is going to play out.
Not all magic is the same. Just as you would not hire Criss Angel for a Corporate gig, and would not hire David Blaine for a kid's birthday party, do not assume that just because you see a magician at a restaurant, they would be perfect for your cocktail party. You would also not hire Frumples the Clown for your Bar Mitzvah.
As always, have a great rest of the day, and even better evening!
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