Okay, Mindpro and Danny, I see your point and thank you.

Here's a story, one of many I've collected over the years, about success -- which have convinced me that "your" biggest obstacle to success is "you."

Back in the 60's, we got to know a family who had immigrated from Mexico. The guy barely spoke English, but he knew what he wanted: to support his family. So for several years he worked two jobs: early in the mornings he was a garbage collector, and then he went to work at a shop that made ornamental iron. Fast forward a few years, he had his own ornamental iron shop, he had a beautiful house, he sent money home to Mexico, and, to top it all off, he was a heckuva nice guy. And "all" he did was work for it. He knew what his goal was.

I feel the same point of your story is the approach anyone serious should have about magic or any type of performing. It should be put your head down and do the work. Yes, it can be fun, and it can have such a great and positive affect on people (very rewarding), but hard work is what creates the success and achieves goals.

It seems today people try to put their efforts into cutting corners, shortcuts, and doing anything possible to avoid putting in the hard work. Many seem to be looking for a quicker, easier way for everything. Much different work ethics.

I'm also glad we got to the topic of what else is considered the entertainment business. Yes, magic for sure, but there is so much more that entertainment business encompasses. The entertainment industry offers so many opportunities, full-time or part-time, as a job, career, and of course as an excellent business opportunity. It really can be one of the most cost-effective types of business to start, and today there are education and training opportunities that simply weren't available in past generations.

In this day and age where so many are seeking side-hustles, and their own business opportunities, it is so surprising to me that entertainment gets overlooked. Part of the reason why is because today's generations are not being raised on live entertainment as in previous generations (everything is electronic entertainment) which lack of interest in performing is a result effect of that.

Oh yeah, and don't get me started on AI. Yes it has its uses, but it's so easy to fall back on it for shortcuts. Nothing more than laziness.


I have found this fascinating for many years, how people will watch a movie or a TV show and never think about what went into it besides the "glamorous" parts of acting and directing. A few years ago I "unretired" for the second time when I was invited to teach production design at a local film program for adults. I was there for five years and worked with twenty or so full-time instructors during that period, most of whom were film school grads. None of them had been exposed to production design or art direction in school or had any idea of how much work goes into it. Made me wonder how they thought the spaceships, costumes, props, and such in sci-fi movies, or even the local cantina in a cop show came about.

I wrote about this in my blog a few years ago, so, rather than take up the space here, I'll just post a link to it:

https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2......-part-2/