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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
A couple of years ago I made a post in this section of the board titled So you want to make a living doing magic huh?. In that discussion I talk about how important it is to go as far as you can with your education. Even if what you have in mind is to do magic for a living.
I'd like to go a little deeper into that because from my own experience I know how much it can effect you and your magic (read the other discussion for more on that). I sit here and think about what would have gotten through my thick skull back then when I dropped out of school. I'm willing to bet that there are many in here (especially this section of the board) who are of school age and have wondered if they should keep going with school or drop out and focus on just magic. So I'm going to try and explain why it's so important and give more reasons to stick with your education and go as far as you possibly can with it. I recently watched the movie "The Aviator". I know it's been out for a while but with me being deaf I'm kind of out of date on movies (No closed caption on most theaters). After watching the movie, which I really enjoyed by the way, I decided to do some research on Howard Hughes and all his accomplishments. I don't want to go to much into his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) here because that's not what this post is about. Although I'm convinced that had something to do with his accomplishments (He was obsessed with getting things done because of it). The point I want to make is this. If you look at all the things he created and accomplished. If you look at the advances he made with aviation and all those other things he did. The one thing that all those things took was imagination. In fact when I look at the advances he made they where mostly in the area of common sense. When he made the helicopter it was common sense. If the propeller can pull it forward then a propeller on top will lift it up. If the air is slowing the plane down then a design that will cut down on air flow will prevent that issue. Now as someone interested in magic I'm sure you pride your own imagination and creativity. But is that enough? I'm telling you right now that it isn't enough. Someday down the road you're going to have some ideas for tricks, move, props and presentations. I'm willing to bet my right arm that you'll need more then imagination and skill in sleight of hand to make those things a reality. Going back to Howard Hughes for a moment. Without his knowledge in aviation, machinery, business and so forth. Not to mention the money. There's no way he would have been able to accomplish all those things. The ideas would have left his mind as soon as they came because another part of his brain would have told him he doesn't have the knowledge to make it work. Right now I have ideas for magic things that if I could afford to make them. If I had the skill to make them. They would take me places. Those "big time" magicians on TV and in Vegas and Japan would be buying them from me and using them. But I only have a few choices with those ideas right now. One is to just leave them in my note book and hope someday I'll have the money to make them and the skill to make them (or the money to find someone to make them). For instance some of these ideas would require welding, I don't know how to do that, They would require mathematics, problem solving, research skills, business skills. All these things I probably would have learned in school. So it's not just a matter of how smart you are. How much imagination you have or even how good of a performer you are. Or even how much skill you have that'll help make you a success in magic. It's a matter of how much you've learned. It's true that you'll learn a lot from real life performing. But you'll only get so far before you'll need other skills. If you talk to any successful magician I'm sure they'll tell you that their road to success took a lot more then perfecting their acts. Those things are important as a performer but they'll only get you so far. Learn as much as you can about everything you can and the best place to do that is in College. And believe me while you're there in college you'll also have plenty of opportunity to work on your magic at the same time. Don't drop out! It's very important not only for the rest of your life but for your magic as well. You'll never know what you'll need down the road and you'll be much more likely to succeed no matter what you're trying to accomplish. The best thing is you'll have another method to make money so you can put your life in a situation that'll allow you to work out your ideas and put yourself where you want to be. Many successful magicians have other careers. In fact in many cases the other skills they live with where what allowed them to succeed in magic because they where able to focus instead of struggle. You will struggle without a fair amount of education I can guarantee that. Ron Jaxon |
TannerJade Veteran user Canada 307 Posts |
Mr. Jaxon,
What a great and inspiring "to keep going" post that was... I hope even though it is more than 200 words, everyone takes the time to read this that is still in school (or want to look back) Awesome post, thanks very much for your insightful essays Magically, Tanner J |
Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
Ron
Considering you were not a good student, you've become a very good teacher. |
circuskevin New user Birmingham, UK 62 Posts |
Howard Hughes was both a high school dropout (he was better at golf than classwork) and a college dropout. He took over the family business age 19.
Kevin |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
Key words: "Family business"
How many of us could have been extemely successful if only we had a family business to take over (Think Donald Trump). Jim |
DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Awesome essay Kudos to those who heed these wise words of advice.
Thank you. Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
The deeper I delve into magic, the farther I find myself pulled into:
- math - science - psychology - English - sociology - business - economics - music - theater - art - shop Ye gads! I'm back in school 30 years after graduating! Ed |
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
So true Ed.
That's why I wish I had learned of all those things back then when at the time I didn't think I'd need them. That's a problem with being young. We have no idea what we'll need later and we don't listen to older people who've already been down the road we are traveling. It's too bad here in the USA that we can legally drop out of school at the age where we think we know it all but we actually know less then we'll ever know. I'm the perfect example of that. I'll never again be as dumb as I was when I dropped out. I hope my post will at the least get someone to think about that. Ron Jaxon |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
Before you know it, Ron, you'll be wearing your pants hiked up to your armpits and yelling "You kids get off my lawn!"
Like I do.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-25 15:36, Jaxon wrote: Hi Ron, Very motiviating essay and I hope all those thinking about dropping their education to do magic think twice. My question is to you Ron. Are you or have you gone back to school yourself? In the U.S. this is doable and many do it. Even though we make mistakes when we're are young, it is never too late to fix 'em.
To Find Me On The Pitch, Follow me :On Twitter
Checkout my pseudo blog : The Sidewalk Performers Forum "I intend to live forever, or die trying" - Groucho Marx |
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
You're right.
I did go back and got my GED and went to some job training school. Basically it's a school for people with disabilities. I did that about 12 years ago. It's a long storey but the skill I learned there where good (Cabinet making) but only good for industries. IN other words they didn't teach how to do the things unless you had the big tools that a large company would have. I didn't use a hand saw once in the 2 years I went there. Unfortunately there aren't many places in the field in my area anymore. The one that was in my area is no longer in business. I'd love to go to College but there are money issues to that. I am searching out ways to do it though. I never felt comfortable using my deafness to get things free but I'm starting to think the heck with it and go for it. 36 years old. I should have stuck with it when I was young and I wouldn't be thinking "I want to". I'd be saying, "I did it already". Ron Jaxon |
airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
It's never too late, Ron.
And there's a reason we have those programs. It's so that people who qualify can USE them. You pay your taxes, right? So do I, and if I ever need to use some government program, I won't think twice about it. Neither should you.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-25 22:56, Jaxon wrote: Ron, airship said it...use it or lose it. I'm 36 myself and still going to school. Grant it, it is slow/demanding process while working full time, but I'm doing it. I too wish to say, "I've done it", and have it out of the way. I see all the smart young people doing the right thing and encourage them to keep going. There all sorts of resouces out there. Isn't there a scholarship for Magic ?
To Find Me On The Pitch, Follow me :On Twitter
Checkout my pseudo blog : The Sidewalk Performers Forum "I intend to live forever, or die trying" - Groucho Marx |
Thetruthteller New user 93 Posts |
Graduated from High School with a C minus average. Never spent a day in College. School taught me very little and everything important I've needed to know I've taught myself. I'm an IT professional and learned it all from books and on the job experience. The few classes and seminars I've attended have been a huge waste of time as they are geared towards passing the certification exams and not imparting any actual useful information one would use in the day to day operations of an IT department.
Granted, people of average IQ should stay in school for as long as one can and try to squeeze as much knowledge out of it as possible. It can be a good resource and often schools have tools and equipment you can use for free. But all in all it's pretty much a wash as teachers often have to hold the whole class back when they pander to the lowest common denominator. Most of my school time was spent being bored beyond belief and most everrything I was taught was useless in the real world. How often does one really have to compute the square footage of a circle? Few of us live in yurts. |
Suppo Regular user Indianapolis 101 Posts |
Excellent Essay...
Programs are available for good reason, use them. The world isn't fair, use whatever advantage you have. Madonna doesn't wear big dresses that hide her figure and cover her ankles... There are always the ones who see college as a waste and that might be true for them for now or forever. Some people find a niche and ride it never looking back. Those people are the exception, not the rule. For the rest of us, getting a degree allows life to kick us in the groin a few times and ride the pain till it passes, coming out on top. |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-26 14:24, Thetruthteller wrote: Please, IT is a different story as there was a big bubble that had bursts. More and more corporations are looking for qualified people (i.e. people with degrees). The few of us who got lucky and leveraged the IT market during its day are an exception to the rule. Today it is different and now the you need schooling (i.e. college) to compete. But this is off subject...sorry. I just don't want any younger readers to be mislead by the above statement.
To Find Me On The Pitch, Follow me :On Twitter
Checkout my pseudo blog : The Sidewalk Performers Forum "I intend to live forever, or die trying" - Groucho Marx |
tpax Elite user Columbia, Maryland 443 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-26 14:24, Thetruthteller wrote: Basic geometry is used all the time in the construction industry. Every carpenter, carpet installer, tile setter, knows the Pythagoreans theory. Every estimator has had to estimate the square footage of a circle. If you are serious about magic you need an understanding of chemistry, physics, geometry, theater, marketing, psychology, and industrial arts. Schools not for everyone, but you should never take the close minded view that Thetruthteller does. The most successful man I know didn't go to college, he went to VoTech and became a plumber just as our area started to experience a housing boom. He was in the right place at the right time. He worked his butt off and when his business grew he surrounded himself with the smartest, most educated staff he could find. That's a smart guy. |
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-28 11:50, tpax wrote: True, but I'll wager most of these guys learned how to do this on the job or through an apprentice program. Most everyone I know who went to college ended up in a completely differnt field than what they went to school for. Unfortunately education is generally wasted on the yong and the things one really needs to learn to get by in the world are learned outside the classroom. Quote:
I have an fairly good understanding of most of these subjects but learned very few of them in a formal education enviroment. Granted one should stay in school and use the resources there to their fullest. One should just not expect the education system to do all the work. After all you only get out of school what you put into it.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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MindMyst New user Connecticut 32 Posts |
There is a saying that goes like this... When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Attending school, and learning are discrete activities. If you go to school, you'll "take" a calculus class. But, if you wish to learn Calculus, you will find yourself in a pleasurable, lifetime pursuit. A pursuit, not unlike Magic, that includes, foundations, written correspondences, creative projects, and surprising applications to the everyday life.
As in the development of one's knowledge, whether academic, craftsmanship, or artistic, ... the pursuit of one's market, whether by hunting, by fishing, or by farming, ... success comes only from dedication to one's vision. So, if you haven't yet used a hand saw, I suggest you get to your local Home Depot, or Lowe's, buy yourself a skill saw, and sign up for some practical teaching. A plumber can teach you how to weld. Stay dedicated. Follow your vision. Joe
The Truth Will Set Your Fee
http://mindmyst.blogspot.com/ |
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