...a cynic or a skeptic? And why?

Would college students be both?

Maybe skeptics would be more fun for sucker type tricks and cynics might enjoy story routines. IE to use their disposition/motivations to enroll them into the performance.

Definitely a skeptic. Skeptics are fully capable of appreciating and enjoying magic. Cynics are usually just annoying. In fact, I'd rather perform for a skeptic than a non-skeptic. Consider Whit Haydn's classic dilemma that, when good magic is performed well, "impales" spectators -

1. There is no such thing as magic.
2. There is no other explanation.

If one isn't a skeptic, though, premise 1 doesn't apply, and there's no dilemma. I'm reminded of the experience of a good friend of mine, Ken Sands. Inside a magic shop, Ken was performing for a woman and her daughter, who was about 4 or 5 years old. He vanished a quarter, to the astonishment of the mother. The daughter, however, was not visibly moved. The mother said to her, "Honey, wasn't that amazing? The quarter just disappeared!" The little girl shrugged her shoulders and said, "That's why they call it the magic shop!" The mother (the skeptic) knew that quarters aren't supposed to just disappear, even in a magic shop. The daughter did not, and as a result, was less astonished. I prefer Whit's devilish grin, which seems to say, "Now, we both know that can't happen...but it did! You saw it," and plays perfectly well to skeptics and true believers alike, than the David Blaine "deep," "mysterious" stare that says, "I really have secret powers," and plays very well to the true believers, but leaves many skeptics saying, "What a cornball."

Unless you're a child, most people are skeptical. Give it time ... or move to NYC.

Do you truly understand the meaning of the word sceptic?

Many people claim to be a sceptic, when in fact they are just a cynic, and a cynic is much easier to con than a true sceptic.


According to some psychic. Or is it psychiK, but I don’t know.

The skeptic because I think they would tip better than a cynic.

It doesn't matter to me as long as it is a paying gig.

I think you is another psychic but I didn't take note.

"Psychik" would be a direct translitteration from the Greek. "Psychic" is the anglicized version and considered the correct form in English.

I knew you were going to say that, but I still don't trust the force.

Both

Really depends on the Cynic and the Skeptic. Those particular personality types do not, in and of themselves pose a threat to what we do. I have performed for may cynics and skeptics who truly enjoyed my work. I have performed for others who were unable to enjoy the work of any magician. Those are the ones I send on their way. The people who think of magic as an afront to their intelligence, the ones who don't get what magic is, and is supposed to be. The ones who are compelled by their egos, not only to deduce what is happening, but to blurt it out to all present, be their explanation right or wrong.

Who's smaller? I would perform for the little guy so that I could resort to violence, because well... you know.

I am not sure I can say either skeptic or cynic. They both represent a challenge, and are both potentially hostile, though not necessarily so. Most importantly they both require your best performance. Something we should all be striving for in any setting.

Uh...what Drew (JackScratch) said...

Um ... I thought a cynic was someone who believes everyone is motivated by self-interest. Whereas a skeptic (not septic!) is someone who would prefer to call 'magic' either 'science' or 'superstition'. The first shouldn't be a problem and the second can be as delighted with an illusion as the next man or woman. Routines with ridiculous 'cause and effect' plots are great with both these guys. I agree with Mr Scratch above that it's the 'Alpha-ego' type stuck in adolescence that closes down the show.