I've read through the posts, agreeing with some and questioning others, it's almost half past midnight two nights after my 21st birthday, and I'm going to make this post as coherent as possible. I don't promise anything.
What are magicians most lacking in performance?
Most lacking?
In a stolen word, Humanity.
Humanity sums up the lack of character, emotional hook, and originality missing in performances today. Robotic hands executing sleights to meaningless words all building up to a sub-standard climax. If you want to claim you can do miracles you have to first believe miracles exist.
What can we do to enhance our presentation?
Start believing in miracles.
Too much? You're probably right. Not everyone can do the same thing in order to grow as a performer. However, everyone can take a look at who they are and why they perform magic. Most magicians started learning after another magician influenced their life. How did they, the famous magician, do that?
How can we do that?
It varies from performer to performer, but creating something worth holding onto is a good start. Russian roulette, for example, is a good concept; it grabs attention with the immediate danger, creates empathy as the odds of failing increase, and when done blindfolded (or with cookies) becomes more than just smoke and mirrors (even if it is, in fact, just smoke and mirrors).
But I don't want to put my, or my spectators, hand at risk. Okay, create a different emotional hook. Use real mythology or modern spiritualism to create interest in your deck of cards. Talk about celebrities or American Idol if that's what you (and your audience) are interested in, I know I'm not. Anything impossible done in a spectators hands, or mind, is better than the majority of what is seen by aspiring magicians recently.
Further, how can we - as magicians - change the public's perception of magic, through presentation?
Bad magicians presentations, or lack of, is what's killing the perception of magic right now.
Too often people forget that the best defense is a good offense.
By identifying the problem we can make strides towards fixing it. The general public has a skewed vision of what magic is-either based on bad performances or even good performances of bad, corny, magic.
How do you combat this?
You keep the video cameras for practicing and professional promotions and start performing for real people. Not your mom and dad, not your best friends little sister, and not other magicians.
Go out and find a stranger.
Spark a conversation, ask them if they believe in whatever the hell it is your hook is.
Proceed to blow their mind.
Don't have a hook? Get one.
Afraid of people? Get over yourself, they already love you-and don't you go forgetting that.
Can't find any strangers? ...you have deeper issues to conquer before you get onto performing.
Steerpike said:
The first step in making a presentation yours is to first step out of your own head, consider your target audience, and realize that they're all asking, "What do I get out of this? What's in it for me?"
I am what some people call a social butterfly. Go me. -does whitest dance in the world- (no really, I can't dance...)
I make friends with 90% of the people I interact with, the other 10% are people who are inherently bitter or just don't want to be my friend (their loss I suppose).
From the old man who was hitting golf balls beside me at the driving range to the the tellers at the bank, I make new relationships wherever I go. I talk to everyone, get comfortable with people who are intelligent and engaging, and then I create moments of magic out of natural, sometimes influenced, conversation.
I once asked someone I had met, and done a quick mind reading routine for, if he enjoyed what had just happened. He said something to the effect of
"Yeah man, I'm here making conversation thinking you're quick witted and then come to find out you were cheating, reading my mind so you could prepare all these little comments."
He was sincerely perplexed, and even said in jest had an air of truth to his statement. He never said he believed, but never doubted my power to read minds. He's still on the fence about it, as he's seen more magic and only dug himself deeper into the rabbit hole.
He has gotten my friendship, and everything that goes along with it, as well as some sort of inquiry into what could be. I keep telling him there are no such things as psychics, and he keeps telling me that real psychics would only tell everyone that no such thing exists. Again, doesn't think I'm psychic, but he wouldn't doubt me if I told him I was.
I have no idea if what I just said answered either of your questions.
And with that I'm done for now. Feel free to ask questions or challenge my post.
-Rik