|
|
john scot Special user brighton, uk 585 Posts |
Hi all,
I have a friend who's very new to magic and he's learning sleight-of-hand but will only perform simple, self-working tricks that he can rely on until he's proficient at the sleights (can’t knock him for that). He said that because he's doing such easy, simple tricks he feels like the audience should know just how easy they really are and he’s surprised that such ‘glaringly obvious’ tricks work. Needless to say his presentation leaves something to be desired… As a magician, is it in any way wrong to profess a skill you don't have just for the entertainment and enjoyment of others? I thought that's what conjuring is supposed to be, illusion or mimicry of things that are difficult if not IMPOSSIBLE! Cheerio, John |
The Burnaby Kid Inner circle St. John's, Canada 3158 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-01 14:20, johnscot777 wrote: If it's within a theatrical context, I say no, whether you're falsely claiming magic, mentalism, or even something believable like a gambler's skill (doing a false demo of a center deal, for instance). Within the theatrical context, it's the equivalent of Tom Cruise saying he's a secret agent. Magic and regular dramatic entertainment don't always have the same aims, but really, in my opinion, things only get sticky when you take any belief that you've built and use it outside the show for ulterior purposes. Also, tell your friend not to feel guilty about using a self-worker. A lot of us want to be able to make all our sleight-of-hand effects look similarly moveless.
JACK, the Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery, a free card magic resource for beginners.
|
Mr. Mystoffelees Inner circle I haven't changed anyone's opinion in 3623 Posts |
Agree with Andrew.
Actually this helped me a lot when I first got into magic. If I had to wait until I was proficient in difficult sleights, I don't know if I would have lasted. It's way more fun to practice the hard stuff when you have some easy ones you can do. Funny thing is, I enjoy, and use, some of those self-workers to this day. I lost my guilt about doing this when I got totally fried by a well-known magician who used a one-way deck on me! Jim
Also known, when doing rope magic, as "Cordini"
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Quote:
He said that because he's doing such easy, simple tricks he feels like the audience should know just how easy they really are and he’s surprised that such ‘glaringly obvious’ tricks work. As you've observed - your friend has not yet settled with the idea that just because he knows something and it was easy to understand, that others might not know it yet or even want to know it at all. It's a cognitive step in discovering ones selfhood. IMHO you are better off letting your friend remain innocent. The gift of guile may not be ecological for them a this time.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
It's So Easy a Child Could Do It!
It’s so clever that it must have been thought up by a genius!
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Doing magic tricks doesn't make you a magician.
Anbody can buy a magic trick and learn to do it. The magician part comes from the ability to entertain with the trick and have your audience want to see more. That's the real magic... The ability to not look like a dork with a magic trick, but to be an entertainer. So if his presentation "leaves something to be desired" as you say... Then he is not a magician and it's not so easy a child can do it. Tell him... magic is much more than the trick in his hand. Randi |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-01 14:20, johnscot777 wrote: The alternative being to confess that what you are doing is not special?? The question kind of answers itself, I think.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
“The future of our art, then, rests with the Normal Artist. Upon him depends the ultimate development of magic. If he is not true to his art, the false artist will in the end reign supreme. In such circumstances, magic must relinquish all hope of attaining a position among the Fine Arts. It must be relegated to the position of a mechanical art--an inferior mechanical art--lower even than that of a circus juggler.
This is obvious, because, from the standpoint of mechanical art, the juggler's attainments are far higher than those of a magician. The .latter can only take a higher place by realizing that he has to depend for success upon his brains, rather than upon his hands. In manipulative skill, he is hopelessly outclassed by the juggler. The amount of practice and physical training he requires cannot in any, way be compared with that which is needed by the juggler. If, therefore, the Normal Artist in magic insists upon regarding his art as a mere congeries of mechanical accomplishments, he must be content to occupy a position inferior to that of a skilled mechanic.” -Nevil Maskelyne - It’s magical that the only film of Nevil Maskelyne that exists is of him juggling in 1896. Considered by magic historians to be one of the very best magician that ever lived it is like he left us looking for what is missing namely the art.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Mr. Mystoffelees Inner circle I haven't changed anyone's opinion in 3623 Posts |
Nice quote, Tommy. One to copy down...
Jim
Also known, when doing rope magic, as "Cordini"
|
john scot Special user brighton, uk 585 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-02 00:19, randirain wrote: I absolutely agree! The thing is, he says he realizes that 'presentation is everything' and like myself he is interested in acting technique as it applies to the art. He certainly does NOT consider himself a magician. He is a charming fellow and I think in time he will develop a unique character and style. I have respect for him in that he's not in a hurry to go out a show off unpolished sleights or moves. Ta, John |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Food for thought » » It's So Easy a Child Could Do It! (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |