I just saw the inner workings of the Square Circle shown on a Bewitched episode flipping through the channels. It would be a better use of energy to concentrate on doing as Gaddy suggests & being more entertaining than sweating exposure.

I remember that.

Magicians still use the squared circle.

Gaddy is right. The very worst exposures are from inept bunglers who underreheasred efforts cheapen all magic.

Lets not go overboard here. Compare the size of the audience that the Masked Magician gets to the size of the audience a beginning magician gets. And there is something to be said about intent. Isn't intentionally being unethical worse than being stupid?

"Exposure has not hurt me"
"Exposure has hurt me"

The only relevant responses to the question of exposure. People tend to equate their experience with everyone else's.

People who say: "If you just do magic better exposure won't hurt you" are unaware of the utter foolishness of their comments, as are those who say "Exposure will destroy magic". But it will go on (here) forever.

Well said. Technically, if you think about it, every public library offers exposure.

I remember the very first Masked Magician episode, in which he exposed the linking rings and the levitation. The very next night, I had a show for Roadway Express. I was setting up the show, when the first spectator came in. He sat right down by the riser and started the conversation with, "I'm gonna sit right here. I know how all that stuff works. I saw the Masked Magician last night."

"Really? Do you think he actually exposed the real methods?"

"I didn't think of that."

"Do you think ANYONE would actually use a forklift for a levitation? That's pretty cheesy, isn't it?"

"Yeah, you're right. Nobody would do that. But I know how that linking ring thing works."

"Good. Then when you see the things he did, just nod at me."

Of course, Valentino didn't expose the oversize ring or the locking gaffus. And when I did my three ring routine that used both, well, our truck driver was completely bumfuzzled.

I made sure he got a really close look at the rings, too.

I enjoyed the HELL out of it. But I still have a seething hatred for those people who sell us out for a few shekels.

BTW, how many of you reading this remember the big scandal that broke when a certain couple that does a really fast Metamorphosis were going to do a benefit for the Ouatagamie County Museum, which had a Houdini display that exposed a packing case?

I sent a formal complaint to the Magic Circle of London because of that. According to their minutes, they decided that there was no violation. So, as promised, I ate crow.

I learned "the rest of the story" from Ali Bongo. It almost made me want to puke.

What is the rest of the story? Can you tell us without violating any confidences?
:question: