As a spectator I have lost interest in magic trick shows,
I have seen some f/x, and have heard music that was magical, and -even a couple of segments of magic shows that were "Magical". Has anyone seen a show lately that was magical?

You already hit the nail on the head, mostly what we see out there now are "magic trick shows". A series of tricks that doesn't engage the audience emotionally. Nor do we become attached to the magician. We are in an age where anyone that can afford some f/x, a few illusions or a series of tricks thinks they are a magician. I just recently saw a large production show that displayed everything that is wrong with magic performances today. This guy had dancers, plenty of high dollar illusions, classical effects and his show was an embarrassment to the art. I wonder how many people like you we lose every day because somebody thinks being magical is about performing tricks.

I can see where one could lose interest after seeing what I recently saw. The last performance I saw that was magical was actually just a guy doing walk around at a benefit function. He performed just a few simple effects but engaged the audience so well and had them laughing so hard that yes..it was quite magical! Instead of trying to impress people with "his magic" you could tell that he had learned just a handful of effects so well he could do them in his sleep. This allowed him to concentrate on his performance and the engagement of his audience. I hope that I get similar feedback in my upcoming performances.

I think most of the arts are suffering the same dilemma these days. I have stopped going to the movies for the most part because they insult my intelligence. Hollywood and Vegas style magic shows rely way too much on special effects to give us our eye candy...while our brains starve.

Mac King.

IMHO all magic on TV is not magic and only live magic is our art.

Hey John B, I havn't lost interest in magic, just the the type of shows you described. I have been designing and constructing new magical theatrics, and I'm sure there are many other creative minds doing the same.

John, spot on . . .

Andy, "spot on..." ???

A case in point - Cirque du Soleil. In the round, they engage the audience in surprising ways that are magical in the very mode of engagement, such as the performers leaping from row to row from the stage, as they deftly step on the back of your seat! Like spiders gently invading the audience's "turf". Much of their performance is magical, but has nothing to do with magicians. So entertaining!

Oh, you mean a "magic geek" show?

AKA "magic hackers".