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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
This is an interesting little snack.
5 Reasons Why Enthusiasm is Better than Confidence wishfulthinking.co.uk
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Thank you, Tommy. Excellent and thought-provoking argument.
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Great Article.
Good Post. Thanks. To the Top.
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
I have a different opinion.
Confidence - real confidence, not just egotism - comes from knowing your craft and practicing it until you know it inside and out. I've seen a lot of enthusiastic amateurs who have no idea what they're doing. They muff tricks, show angles, and expose methods, and in the end do not deliver anything you could remotely call 'magic.' I've always enjoyed watching a skilled, confident magician. One who's merely enthusiastic? Not so much.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
It is a great thought provoking post, but I think it sets up a false dichotomy. As Airship has so rightly noted enthusiasm without skill (and confidence in that skill) can be one of the most painful of viewing experiences.
There is also a logical fallacy in the statement that Confidence is inner directed and enthusiasm is outward. That 'may' be true, but it is certainly not always true, maybe not even mostly true. For instance, I personally, want to confidently make sure that my audience has the best time possible. My clients get the best products and help possible, etc. You can have the confidence of the true narcissist or the confidence of the person who will spend his life in service to others. What we want as entertainers is confidence in our ability and the enthusiasm to share it with others in a way the enhances the both their lives and ours also. Best,
Brad Burt
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Quote:
However detrimental to a performer may be the fault of self-conceit, it is scarcely more so than the failing of self-consciousness. Of course, when a performer is naturally self-conscious, he must remain so to the end. He may in time gain great control over his self-consciousness, but he cannot expect to destroy it. Yet, however heavily he may be handicapped by this defect, he must prevent the public from knowing how much he is overweighted, or he will never gain the confidence of his audiences. -Maskelyne- It might help those who are self-conscious.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
This reminds me of a class that I took in college called Assertiveness Training. The point of the class was to teach managers how to be assertive, instead of being aggressive.
Now, I don't think enthusiasm is better, nor is it a substitute for confidence. Take an F1 driver for example. He has to be confident and in control throughout the entire race. An enthusiastic move could wreck the car. Enthusiasm comes after he has won the race and is being showered with champagne. I wouldn't buy from an enthusiastic salesman as readily as I would from a confident and knowledgeable one. Remember how excited/enthusiastic the world was before the revelation of the Ginger (Segway). So excited were those in the know, even Pres. Clinton told us that this invention would revolutionize the way cities are built. Both confidence and enthusiasm were used to sell the Segway. Enthusiasm is an emotional tactic often employed to inspire congregations and followers; "This can be done if..." Confidence is the general on the battlefield who is working from a plan "This will be done when..."
POOF!
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
A telling analogy. It tells me that some magicians are unreasonably fearful of making mistakes. The reality is magicians are not F1 drivers, at least card guys are not. Why should a card guy worry so much about making mistakes, after all he will not get mangled in an F1 car wreck if he does. We can be prepared to take a chance and not worry about getting it wrong, we can be creative when we take chances. Think Lennart Green “I don’t do prestige.” Magic does not “have to be” so uptight. Free your mind!
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/lenna......gic.html Isn’t he a daisy?
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
I love Lennart Green. Remember when the dunces (snobbish judges) at FISM thought he was using gimmicks and cheats to accomplish his incredible card work.
POOF!
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-24 13:13, tommy wrote: Yes, he is. BTW, that expression, "a daisy" appeared in the Wyatt Earp movie with Val Kilmer. It was only popular for a few years in this country around 1880, when the so-called "Gunfight at the OK Corral" was fought. "He ain't no daisy" is similar to another phrase from the same period that I really like: "He ain't so warm." Showed some great scholarship in the writing. "Daisy BB" guns got their name in 1886 when Lewis Cass Hough shot the new invention by Clarence Hamilton and then declared "Boy, that's a daisy!" I also loved the phrase "I'll be your Huckleberry," which appeared in the film, when Doc snuck into Wyatt's place for the gunfight. I had first thought this a reference to Huckleberry Finn, as in "I'll take that raft ride down the river with you..." Turns out that a "huckleberry" was originally a special, little skill--like mixing plaster, cuttting shingles, or so on--and later, by extension, the one, exactly right man for the job--the guy with just the right set of skills. |
Cohiba Special user Michigan 749 Posts |
I'd say go for confidence AND enthusiasm.
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a brown 1968 Elite user 470 Posts |
An excellent thread .
My thoughts are , unless you are enthusiastic about magic , you will not put the time and effort in required to develop the techincal and perfomance skills which, form the foundations of confidence. Yes you can be enthusiastic and be a poor performer but to be a good performer somewhere along the journey they would have and still may do enthusiasm for magic. Therefore enthusiasm nust come first and confidence second Andy |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Orrrrrrrrr....if one lacks confidence that he or she CAN acquire a skill then they will probably not do so. I have seen this hundreds and hundreds of times behind the counter in a magic shop. A LOT of folks really do think that magic is a skill that is almost impossible for the 'normal' person to learn, etc. Thus work had to be put into moving them from that state to one in which they did believe it was possible. NOT simple or easy. Possible.
Ergo...one needs confidence first to gain the skill which as they find they are succeeding produces the enthusiasm to move them further in the journey which produces more confidence which produces more enthusiasm, etc. So...confidence must come first or many will not make the initial attempt at acquiring the skill. ;-) Best,
Brad Burt
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
By the way....I think that both A Brown and myself are correct...not just because we have covered about every contingency between us, but because in fact folks enter into the learning process via different paths. The two directly above are the most common. Regards,
Brad Burt
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
If you are enthusiastic about doing a trick, but, are lacking confidence, nervousness can sneak up and sabotage your presentation; dropped props, forgetting moves, and so on.
I've read for parts (with other actors) when the other person is full of enthusiasm, but, their ability to perform gets lost and they lose the part, because they came off like a jumping bean. If they didn't have the right look for the part the casting director wouldn't have called them in to audition. Whenever I audition for a role I wear the hats of a businessman during introductions and a performer during the read. You need both, one is not more important than the other. Confidence is the foundation, enthusiasm is the curb appeal.
POOF!
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Kregg's post is the exact reason that I always started off my shows with 1-2 routines that I could do no matter how nervous...and, I am one of those guys who is always nervous before a show. Once the initial routine is done though I'm generally just fine...unless everyone is just staring at me soundlessly their lips pulled back in a drooling rictus, their eyes gleaming and bloodshot. I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about. Weeeeelllll, that's a circumstance that can really throw off your game. Best,
Brad Burt
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-23 13:30, Brad Burt wrote: Confidence without skill (and enthusiasm in that skill) is pretty painful too. |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Let's not conflate confidence with competence.
working with the same magic-shop skill set; a performer who exudes confidence will get a different reaction from his audience than one who exudes enthusiasm. Audiences expect competence. What makes the show work for audiences is more, IMHO, an emotional connection than a rational appreciation of skill which the performer apparently believes (confidence) he has.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-24 19:26, Cohiba wrote: Enthusiastically confident.
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
A performer CAN be supremely confident and yet project NO enthusiasm for what he is doing. But, can a person be truly enthusiastic without confidence in what they are doing? I don't think so. Their confidence could be in error. They might in fact be fairly ineffectual technicians, etc. and yet 'feel' that they are doing great.
I have had a number of friends that were top stand up comedians and magicians for fun. They all without exception noted that a really bad comedian just wouldn't make it through the vetting process of other performers critical review without either actually getting better OR leaving the field for other work. The trick is not to necessarily 'like' criticism, but, perhaps to hate it, but listen and then make change anyway. If you can accept it with elan, so much the better. Enthusiasm frequently bridges the gap between where we are as a performer and where we wish to be. It can sustain one in the hunt. But, if it substitutes for actual progress it is mere self delusion and will eventually lead to mediocrity if not failure.
Brad Burt
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