Before I go any further, I'd like to note out that most of you are going to heavily disagree with what I say in this thread. I know that my views are most likely going to be seen as wrong in your eyes. That being said, I'll get down to the point of this thread.
I hate it when magicians start potential negative post with disclaimers...actually I hate it when magicians give disclaimers before performances, whether it be magic, mentalism or seance work. Just get on with the talky! With that said, I generally agree with some of the things you've said Mr. Slade. However, I disagree with some of the things you have said in your initial post.
Basically, I started doing magic to get attention. I'm not going to BS anyone here. Now here are a few ulterior motives that I and Zac Eckstein came up with:
You do it to get attention.
You do it for the money (Zac does this)
You do it to try to feel different than others.
Alright that is a semi good list but it isn't the end all. One of the most major things I feel that should be mentioned instead of these is that magic is FUN! Whether you are performing, creating or watching, its just fun. I was an odd child when I started magic, my love started in special education class when I wanted to be a real wizard like David Copperfield. My entrance into magic was completely selfish and to fill the illusion that I could really be a wizard or perform miracles. It was fun to be able to pull a red silk from an invisible hole in the palm of my hand; whether I had an audience or not heh.
I also saw a forum user on the cafe. He did gospel magic. What is his motive? Not to make people happy. He outright said it was to spread the word of God.
But gospel magicians and the word of the God, make some people happy...*ignores the religious wars at this time*
Basically, I haven't met one magician who does magic to truly make someone happy. I really hate seeing that statement all over the internet. Honestly, whenever I read that sentence, I think that people say that to make themselves feel better inside.
Anyway, post away. Flame me if you want. These were just my ponderings.
I'm going to echo someone previous to my post. I think you've exaggerated the amount of usage of the reply, “I do it to make people happy.”. I've known no one to who has said something as blunt as that. I've heard people tell me stories about how they enjoyed watching the expression on the faces of their participants and it kept them going to see that moment of wonder over and over again. I've also heard that they just enjoy socializing and entertaining people. I know whenever I perform magic, I usually talk a whole bunch before a single piece of magic occurs. Do I perform to make people happy? Well, yes I do. But I cause happiness indirectly, by making friends with them. Being accommodating, kind, approachable and making my participants or guest's experience something strange and hopefully stimulate the thought that there are principles that they don't understand yet.
Going a lil off topic for a line or two. If you traveled back in time to 1950 America with a wireless computer with internet, could you play yourself as a magician? It's amazing what dreams are now reality in the present, it happened almost like magic. Is it really hard to believe now a day that a person could vanish from one box and appear in the other, a teleportation?
Last edited by a moderator: