Audition

I'm at a crossroads. I have been asked to audition for a show locally which may lead to a great run in late June. I have been developing a few new routines but they have only been workshopped.

My apprehension lies in this. As I intend to perform the new pieces in the show (should I get it), would it be appropriate to demonstrate those? While some of the classics (Julie, Odd Couple mind reading...) are fun.....perhaps I need to push myself.

Lesson: Take chances and show everyone something. If you build it....they will indeed come.

Is it worth it?

Sometimes as I sit, working on a new routine, or idea for a trick it gets frustrating at some point of the process. It's easy to forgo and idea and just settle for something a little easier.

There is a card routine I have been working on for the past month or so. I was asked to do something for a client, and the trick did not go so well. I'm not sure if it was because it was the first real person to see it, or if it was not yet ready.

Learning from what I deemed to be the mistake, I did the same trick last night with a couple of friends and it killed. Once you have something ready, don't wait for it to be "perfect", the feedback you get will help you learn what works and what doesn't.

This applies to performance artists, comedians, and tactile artists as well.

Lesson: If you have an idea for something. Become proficient, but if you wait for it to be PERFECT, you will be waiting to show it someone. Waiting...waiting....waiting...

Interactive Magic

After magic is on tv, some people ask me if I can do such and such a trick. I'm somewhat insulted. If you hear a symphony you wouldn't ask your piano teacher to play to the same scale.

I'm also happy as I am one of the go to sources of magic. As such, David Blaine has been making the interactive magic popular as of late, and that I can do.

That being said.....

Think of any number....go ahead, I'll wait.

Now add 1 to that number.

Now subtract 1 from that number.

You are now thinking of your original number.


No lesson today, just a trick you can try on your friends.

Audience Apprehension

My act consists of many routines using audience participation. This makes me appealing to bookers, as an involved audience is a happy audience. A happy audience makes the booker/coordinator look good.

However, audiences for the most part have had limited exposure to live magic. David Blaine, and Criss Angel they've seen, but live, not much. The random person may have seen a clown perform, or a really bad cliched magician, who may have even insulted an audience member.

This results in an apprehension of volunteers as they feel they may be embarrassed, harassed, or possible even harmed. There is nothing I can say to the crowd... "trust me, I won't hurt you or embarrass you". So I must act the part.

I try to make the show sarcastic, and enjoyable, and if there is any jabs, it is at my expense. (I have no problem looking bad to make sure you shine).

Lesson: On behalf of all magicians, please don't be afraid to join us onstage.

Hecklers?

While I perform both closeup and Stage magic, most of my stage shows are well received. Closeup though...everyone's a critic.

My beef for the most part is people who feel the need to watch me perform, then the need to show me the 21 card trick, or something else they learned from their uncle. If you have seen magic, or know a trick, that's really cool. Show your friends.

As a professional though, I have been hired to entertain you. And while it might be fun for you to try to call me out, and do the "trick your way", it is indeed frustrating. Even if it's not mean spirited, trying to show up a magician, or insert certain comments, not always well received.

Lesson: The 21 card trick, 4 robbers, and 52 card pickup are not entertaining, to anyone, no...not even the dog.

How'd you do that?

Ok,

So part of the fun of magic is not knowing the secret. I touched on this a little bit in the last blog, but there is no such thing as magic, and magicians are just people who know a few tricks.

That being said, the reason magicians are so hush hush is a couple fold.

1) It's boring. If you know how something is really done, it's either really technical (hold a break second from the top then do a double undercut), or you may think less of us for the work we put into something to make it look impromptu.

We do put a lot of work into making it look smooth and amazing you. Sometimes there are lots of arts and crafts involved for 30 seconds of amazement. Trust me though, it's worth it!

2) Showing you a trick and then telling you how it's done robs you. As much as you might want to know, trust us, it's not as fun. Ignore the man behind the curtain. However, it should be "that's not possible" not, "How did you do it?"

Any magician who presents it as a puzzle for you to figure out, or even worse, as an unintentional challenge to see if you can catch how it was done is acting in bad form.

The above is just a preface to the point of my post. That is exposure for exposure's sake, and exposing stuff that is not yours.

The masked magician was offered a lot of cash to tell how certain tricks were done. Magicians got upset, and the public at large wanted to see what all the upset was about. Magicians gave the show ratings. By decrying it. Simply stupid.

The tricks exposed could have been found in many books in the library, and some used VERY outdated props, and were effects you don't even see anymore. That having been said, Mr. Mask said he wanted to show audiences that it is the performance, not the tricks that make a good show.

If that's true, then a) give back the money and b) why not teach effects not just expose them?

I teach magic with every objects at various community centers. Teach...not expose. All of the students are taught in step by step directions how to do magic for their friends, and they are given the resources and know how to do so.

Lesson: Teaching magic to someone is ok as you are granting them a new skill set. TEACHING is good. Exposure just for exposure's sake is WRONG.

Suspension of Disbelief

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.