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mrbungle Regular user 149 Posts |
What is the point of doing magic? Attention, chicks, fun? What's your thrill? Be honest!
Grandia Enterprises inc. 1974
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Stephen Long Inner circle 1481 Posts |
That's an excellent question.
To which the obvious answer for me is because I enjoy it. Ask me why I enjoy it and I'd fumble for an answer. I suppose it's mainly a love of people and interacting with them - very often you are able to tell exactly what kind of a person you are dealing with from their reaction to your first effect. This, in turn, can teach you a lot about knowing how to recognize different types of people and about how to address them both when performing and when not performing magic. Also, although this is not the reason I started it, there is something alternatively "cool" about having magic as a hobby (or, for a lucky few, a profession). It also gives me the ability to dish out those moments of astonishment that I enjoyed before I got into magic. From the above statement, you may have guessed that I'm something of a Paul Harris fan. You'd be right. Which is why I'm going to let him finish this post for me: "The magic arena is a place of infinite possibilities and there's room to play whatever game you want." - Paul Harris thanks Gonz :carrot:
Hello.
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Magic is a mystery, a puzzle, a challange, it offers one the opportunity to let out that hidden comedian, serious minded, and allows one who could never be an actor in a play, or broadway, or in the movies to act.
Magic offers those with a need to be the center of attention a way to release that penned up feelings. Yes it is attention getting. A study of personalites will reveal some very interesting facts. There is a large group of people who are extroverted and people oriented. These persons are socially oriented love crowds and love being on stage, the center of attention. For them magic is a release just like fishing is contentment for the introverted persons who enjoy the solitude. Get Chicks, well, it sure is a conversational piece. If done right, yes it can pick up chicks, if done wrong...well there are other fish in the lake. I did magic when I met my wife. When I met her, she smoked and there was no ash tray around, she asked me if I knew where an ash tray was (I just happened to have a cigrette pull hook-up) I vanished it and we struck up a conversation. Presentation is the key. Not "would you like to see a trick" Fun, well that a yes. The laughter of a child is one of the most precious things out there. And most importantly, if it is not fun, then why do it? Is fishing fun, Is football fun, Is chess fun? What is your "cup of tea" may not be the next person's! In today's fast paced society, bringing joy to another and getting a smile is a wonderful thing. It is not for everyone. Recognize, not everyone likes magic, but everyone likes to laugh, and they like good clean fun. Keep in mind, not everyone likes sports, popcorn, and american pie! You like to fish, I like to do magic, You like to listen, I like to talk, you like to control, I like to help. This is what makes the world go round!
Dennis Michael
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
To pay the bills and be able to eat.
Paul Hallas. |
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Platt Inner circle New York 2011 Posts |
Great question.
I have no idea why I'm fascinated with practicing this odd art. I have figured out why I like performing for individuals. I'm fascinated with people's reactions. It's a study in psychology. I still, however, can't put my finger on why some people can be utterly fooled and can just move on, while others stare into the abyss as their mind spins out potential rational possiblities of how I appeared to break the laws of nature. I definitely fall into the second group. At first, I thought it was simply an intellegence thing: the intellects would ponder what they saw. The idiots would rather not hurt their brain. Not the case. I've performed "vanishing nickle" (a magic trick with absolutely no possiable explanation) for some very intellegent friends, only to have them respond: cool, you want another beer? Others bang their head against a wall. Okay, so that's why I like performing. Any thoughts as to why, assuming you've completely fooled someone, the different reactions?
Sugar Rush is here! Freakishly visual magic. http://www.plattmagic.com
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
To educate through entertainment.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
It's fun!
And it impresses girls . . . which is . . .fun! And you can make money . . . which can also be fun . . . |
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Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
I do it for the pure enjoyment of seeing excitement and wonder on a person's face.
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RangeCowboy Regular user Long Beach 198 Posts |
I mulled this question over a while before I replied.
My answer is - none of the above. My dad was an engineer and was always repairing stuff for neighbors so I got to see how it worked when it was dismantled for repair. I think that led me to being interested in physics/chemistry/mechanics and yes magic - to see how it works. And isn't it fascinating stuff. The first time a new variant on an illusion is presented we all flip one way or another. Either it is Gosh thats Magic! - I have no idea how he does it. or Gosh thats convincing - Now If I did that what would I need? I am definitely the latter and often get it wrong. My thought-up gimmick to reproduce an illusion is usually over-kill and when I see the actual gimmick its like being re-born again. You add that information to your magical knowledge to build for the future. The presentation? Yes thats fun too but I would get as much kudos for singing or telling a story. |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
I can't sing; I can't dance; I have no useful skills.
What else was there to do but be a magician? cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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Mandrake New user Germany 66 Posts |
Hmm, I often get asked the same question by my spectators. Over the years I kept thinking about it. This is what I came up with:
1) I love Magic, because it fascinates, it puts all the experiencened laws upside-down, not in an argueing way, but in convining, visual and direct manner. This puzzles our brains, for we do know better. Also this causes inspiration, daydreaming and... laughter. For humans laugh when something unexpected happens. 2) I love to DO magic, because I suffer from a slight cause of vanity (I admit) and I guess a lot of us do (or at least did). Over the years, you may lose this reason, for changing your attitude, but in the beginning this vanity and the love for watching other magicians got me started. I've hardly ever met a fellow magician, that stated, starting out in magic for the sake of knowing how it works, you have to be much more fascinated by it to sit down and practice performing it. Building props or illusions, yes... but.. Well RangeCowboy, you are a rare bird to me, Welcome! Cheers, Mandrake
the truth "lies" in the eye of the beholder
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RangeCowboy Regular user Long Beach 198 Posts |
Trust me - I meant it.
A few months back I ordered Milko by mail order. Effect: There are two glasses and the liquid in the upper glass magically transfers to the lower glass. In the few days it took to arrive I pondered the solution and kept coming back to a solution like a toilet cistern with plugs and pipes and chains! What a pleasant and wonderful surprise to see the gaffe. It's one of my favorite visual illusions now - well worth the price. |
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I have loved magic since the age of five. As soon as I saw my first magician at a friend's party I knew I had to do what that man was doing. I also love writing and acting. There was a dark period in my life where I thought it was best if I dropped it all and did something "normal". I became a respiratory therapist and for the three years that I tried to stay away from all performing art forms I was miserable. I have never felt so bad. I started it up again and suddenly my life was happy. So why do I do it? Because it makes me happy.
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Mandrake New user Germany 66 Posts |
Best reason and nicest reply on the whole topic!!!
It even makes me happy to hear that. Greets Mandrake
the truth "lies" in the eye of the beholder
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Mike Robbins Elite user Anchorage, Alaska 447 Posts |
It's one of my creative outlets. There's so much that can be done with it (certainly more than what most magicians do with it).
I don't think I'll ever hit a dead end on possibilities. I view magic as only a portion of what I do. It is one of the tools in my toolbox. I also act, write scripts, and play the fiddle very badly. How can you beat a combination like that? Mike
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
Shakespeare |
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thelastdoctor New user Dayton Ohio/USA 70 Posts |
I agree with Mike. I probably play the fiddle even worse... ah, but the Irish Harp.
I have always loved magic. It started when I found an uncle's old trunk of magic props. I sat there and figured out a change bag. (I was about 7) Something I love to do. I also like to perform, entertain and yes sometimes just plain fool people. I love to use magic and origami in my story telling. Anyway, thanks for the great thread. The Last Doctor ?who? :stout:
The Last Doctor
?who?:stout: I’m always looking for the perfect pint or sugar free Jelly Babies... |
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ColinB Regular user 129 Posts |
I don't know.
We can all dream (literally) of having supernatural powers. When we make someone (briefly) believe that we may indeed have such abilities, we feel truly magical for a moment... Or just maybe, as Nick Drake sang, "I was made to love magic." |
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DarryltheWizard Loyal user 238 Posts |
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.
I wish I had said this. I didn't. It was Albert Einstein in his 1934 book, "The World as I See It." Darryl the Wizard
DarryltheWizard
"Life without mystery is like a candle with a snuffed out flame." Albert Einstein |
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
"Why do you do magic?"
Quite simply, because I can!
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
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Mr. Ed Veteran user California 337 Posts |
Why do I do magic?
Sometimes it seems like an ego thing, I can do something you can't. That was never the case with me. I picked up magic just a few years ago as an adult. I was a Marine, and a rock climbing instructor, 60 pounds ago I COULD do things that few others could. When I started out it seemed that all was wrong in the world. Personal tragedy was all about. People were dying, bills were piling up, everything was going wrong. It seemed everyone was having a terible time of things. Friends kids getting really sick, people loosing jobs, just bad times it seemed. Then a friend of the family came to visit, and with a D'lite made all the kids laugh and smile. I saw all that a little magic could bring. I felt alive again. I vowed that never again will I let the world get too serious. Hence my signature. Sorry to be so dark and gloomy. But, I'm all better now! Let's dance
He who laughs, lasts.
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