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MortenN Veteran user Norway 338 Posts |
If YOU do magic and the spectators say....hmmmm, how do you do that, it is impossible to disappear e.g a coin, you are a "real" magicans.
If e.g David Copperfield try to do magic and the spectators say.....hahaha, did you see the card in her palm, he is not a magicans. So simply! -Morten- |
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Anthony Black Special user Tamworth - Albion 855 Posts |
Hi,
I think there is a difference in performing 'tricks' and 'magic'. Once you stop ''doing'' tricks and start performing beautiful, mysterious magic. that's when you become a magician. Magic is always evolving, I know I have a huge amount still to learn about its many delicacies. We are always students of magic, it does not matter how long we have been performing. We can always learn more, perfect our craft and hopefully become the magic ourselves. :) |
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jcigam Special user Bellevue, Nebraska 512 Posts |
In my opinion, if you do your part in magic (hobbyist, amateur, professional, etc.) without being an embarrassment to the fraternity of magic then you should feel comfortable calling yourself a magician.
Of course, the only way you are going to know for sure is if you put what you do out in front of your peers for them to judge. Some people will disagree and say you don't need anyone elses approval (of course we probably would'nt be discussing this if that were true). The question of approval in this case is like the question..."If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" confucious say... Jered
"The mind has exactly the same power as the hand, not merely to grasp the world, but to change it."
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
So...maybe there are two questions here.
"When are you worthy of being called a magician?" and "When are you worthy of calling yourself a magician?" Since most creative people are thier own worst critics I think the second one is tough for them. |
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Sword of the Soldier Elite user 437 Posts |
I agree that the second of your questions is the one that bothers me. Many people know I do magic, and freely joke with me "Marvelous Magic Man" and the "Mathemagician" and this never bothers me. Rather it's that internal struggle over whether I have proven myself-to my standards-to be able to proudly wear that title.
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Steven Youell V.I.P. 3866 Posts |
After having thought about it for a day or so, here is my answer:
When you can keep an audience completely engrossed in a presentation plot for 10 minutes and the ending effect is worthy of that presentation, then you are a magician. The end result of that 10 minutes should be that the audience is equally impressed and remembers the presentation plot, the actual effect and you for several months. (Assuming they didn't know you before your show.) I would also say that you have to understand the Ron Bauer Axiom: You have to fool 'em to entertain 'em. Finally, when the fact that your audience was able to forget their problems and worries for the entire time of your show is more important to you than how good they thought you were-- you've reached the Zen Master Level. Please understand that this would not be my complete answer-- it's a complicated question that cannot be answered in less than a book... Steven Youell Quote:
On 2008-10-22 14:32, Jaz wrote:Since most creative people are thier own worst critics I think the second one is tough for them. It's been my experience that if the majority of magicians were their own worst critic, the quality of magic we see today would be exponentially higher. Unfortunately, there are very few magicians in the world who are their own worst critic. But opinions vary... Steven Youell |
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T. Sebastian Loyal user Ozark Mountains, USA 223 Posts |
I seem to fit the criteria. I do shows for people with great regularity. They get really stoked about what I show them. Getting them stoked gets me stoked. I can easily improvise or cover accidents. I study the history. The methods. The performance philosophies. And I even get paid. My mother introduces me as a magician. And I don't feel like one. I think it has to do with Jaz's comment. I am most definitely my own worst critic. It's never good enough for me. Having said that, I am not great. I am not an innovator. I am a guy with a good work ethic and enough guts to get up in front of people.
Introspection aside, I think that all who endeavor to mystify and succeed can call themselves magicians. You don't have to be a full-time pro to wear the badge. I think it comes down to one question. "What do you want to get out of it?" Do you want to be a magician? Yes? Then be one.
So sorry I soiled your precious eyes.
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Mihai Iacob New user 15 Posts |
For me, there are two types of magicians. Those who perform for laymen and those who perform for magicians, being "underground".
The magicians who perform for laymen don't necessarily have to be the best workers, although they need to have the charisma and "the thing" to perform for audiences, to entertain them. The others are probably sleight-geeks, they impress with the ability of executing flawless sleights. Fooling other knowledgeable magicians is a nice goal for them, also produce new concepts and material. Of course, there are card-workers who perform for both magicians and laymen, but their style of performing might vary when performing to either. That's just my view for that, but in a basic sentence, I would say a magician is one who could leave you speechless, who would make you say "Do that again". Mihai |
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holycrikey New user 53 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-27 05:07, Mihai Iacob wrote: I do so agree with that. That is my sentiment exactly. For as long as you can do 'true' magic (to amaze and entertain) sufficiently that the audience thinks of you as a magician, you are then a magician. As for when you yourself think that you are worthy to be called a magician, I would think that that is subjective to each and everyone. There cannot be a true consensus on it. |
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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
I think most of us will agree a magician is someone who does magic.
With that in mind, the question isn't "What makes you a magician", but rather "what is magic?". Whatever you decide is what you need to do to be considered a magician. Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
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trickychaz Special user West Virginia 549 Posts |
I have been pondering on this recently. I think to myself anyone can go out there and buy these tricks and with a little practice and some "GUTS" get out there and perform them.
Then I think on it again, and to most that watch us "our audience" they don't have the burning desire to spend the necessary time involved to perform tricks. It is this group of people "our audience" whom allow us to sense enjoyment from what we worked so hard at. Everyone has their profession, and aside from that "hobbies" that they do to keep themselves entertained. My father is a log buyer "his profession" and loves to hunt and fish. He has spent many of his earnings from his profession on boats, fishing gear, guns, ammo tournament fees. If he didn't have a high paying profession in log buying then he would not be able to fuel $$$ for his hobbies that keep him happy. P.S. The fishing has been horrible lately, and both he and my brother want to call it quits....just like many of us do in magic. I hope this makes sense Chaz |
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The Amazing Noobini Inner circle Oslo, Norway 1658 Posts |
To me this is in a way a cultural issue. Here, people would snicker at people who seems overly self-assertive and go around telling others that "I am a..." if he really is just a hobbyist. If you say "I am a magician", then you better be ready to answer questions on how much money you make on it or how many times you have been on TV.
Here people will tend to say "I work with..." or "I dabble in..." even if they do actually do it for a living. More low key. It is ordinary to say "I am a..." with the old status professions, like Doctor or Lawyer. Things you aren't allowed to call yourself without paperwork. But you wouldn't say "I am a taxi driver", you would say "I drive a taxi" or "right now I drive a taxi". Further plans are alluded. One group who will use "I am a..." are all the people who have completely meaningless, superficial or possibly dishonest professions. "I am a senior pogo teambuilding consultant". Never ever ask someone in Oslo for details if they start by saying "I am a...", followed by something you cannot immediately identify. Or you will have to endure an incomprehensible monologue about either crystals giving off cosmic energies or about huge sums of money that only exist on paper. All accompanied by a flashy cocky smile. Shudder. When I was in South America I noticed that the people there (in Chile) identified themselves by academic feats if they had them. For instance the woman I lodged with was educated as a teacher but had worked as a secretary for maybe 15 years. She would still introduce herself as a teacher and everyone else would also think of her as that. I made the faux pas of calling her a secretary, which didn't go down well at all. Myself I kind of like the idea of going by where one's heart lies in cases where a formal education isn't required. But I don't like being labeled as anything because I feel that emphasizing one thing reduces me from whatever else I am interested in. It is difficult when I am asked what I do/am because I don't have a simple answer. And nobody is interested in a long rant (like this one, sorry). But at least it is clear to me that I will not ever refer to myself as a magician. Because I am not, unless you add the words "amateur" or "hobbyist" in front of it.
"Talk about melodrama... and being born in the wrong part of the world." (Raf Robert)
"You, my friend, have a lot to learn." (S. Youell) "Nonsensical Raving of a lunatic mind..." (Larry) |
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