Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (December 6, 1805 – June 13, 1871) was a French magician who changed the way the looked at the performing magician. Until Houdin came along magicians were still wearing conical hats, looking like Merlin or some other exotic Asian or east Indian character. What Houdin did was unique. He dressed in tux, tails, and a top hat. This wasn't because he was being classy. This was because he was dressing just like everyone else in the audience. In essence, he was setting himself at the level of every other Joe out there, yet he was still able to do miraculous things.
Since then the classic image of the stereotypical magician has shifted. Now the classic image has shifted. Now the classic image is tux and tails, not the Merlin esc or exotic Orient. Yet every hack and a lot of other legit working acts still dress in what? Tuxes or exotic costume pieces that looks like it crawled out of Jeff McBride's wardrobe closet. -Myself included in that statement.
Magicians as a group seem to be slow to adapt to changes in culture, and those early adapters in our numbers don't seem to get enough support or respect for what they're doing. The concept of looking like a normal person, and performing miracles with objects that are common place in our society is one of noted study. When we can connect with someone on such a personal level and make a miracle happen with something they are infinitely familiar with it really does something powerful for them. Why use a silver dollar when a quarter is more common? Why use custom decks when everyone and their sister have seen bikes? Why indeed? Is it prestige? Class? Quality? Character? Personal tastes? Or is it because everyone else is doing it? If you can't provide a suitable reason to justify or explain why your using things that aren't common to your audience maybe you should consider making a shift to doing so?
The modern image today of suits and ties have been adopted by a lot of adult performers, Penn & Teller being two of note. They've always said their decision to go the three piece suit route is because Houdin dressed like everyone else in the audience, so they wanted to as well. Even the Magic Castle in Hollywood strictly enforces a dress code that echos the suit and tie look. However even that is changing. I've for a long time stood opponent on this forum, and others like it, to what I've come to call the "David Blaine Jeans & T-shirt" look. I've slammed young magicians for dressing alike all cookie cutter, but with meditation and reflection comes wisdom. Maybe they've got a point? If Houdin was right, you should look like your audience, and for you teenagers NO ONE is going to be wearing a tux outside of Prom, and few will have a suit in their closet that isn't worn only to church. So what SHOULD you wear? Well if you're going to look like everyone else, that's jeans and a T-shirt. Now this could open up a world of discussion regarding what kind of jeans and shirts. Do I wear a band shirt? Don't I? Do I wear a shirt with my own logo on it? Hell maybe do I sell these shirts so all my friends advertise my brand too? but perhaps that's better saved for future replies to this thread. The bottom line is The face of magic is changing again. We have a lot of younger blood coming up, and the urban look is in. Suits and Ties may be impractical, but you certainly SHOULD be thinking about your look, and everything should be done for a conscious reason.
I'll leave you with this final thought; If you are going to do magic then you should be dressed at least 10% better than everyone else in the room - however that means. Since most of the working force in the world are doing the suit thing, then there you go, UNLESS you have a character. If you are branding a character then stay true to your brand.
What say you?
Since then the classic image of the stereotypical magician has shifted. Now the classic image has shifted. Now the classic image is tux and tails, not the Merlin esc or exotic Orient. Yet every hack and a lot of other legit working acts still dress in what? Tuxes or exotic costume pieces that looks like it crawled out of Jeff McBride's wardrobe closet. -Myself included in that statement.
Magicians as a group seem to be slow to adapt to changes in culture, and those early adapters in our numbers don't seem to get enough support or respect for what they're doing. The concept of looking like a normal person, and performing miracles with objects that are common place in our society is one of noted study. When we can connect with someone on such a personal level and make a miracle happen with something they are infinitely familiar with it really does something powerful for them. Why use a silver dollar when a quarter is more common? Why use custom decks when everyone and their sister have seen bikes? Why indeed? Is it prestige? Class? Quality? Character? Personal tastes? Or is it because everyone else is doing it? If you can't provide a suitable reason to justify or explain why your using things that aren't common to your audience maybe you should consider making a shift to doing so?
The modern image today of suits and ties have been adopted by a lot of adult performers, Penn & Teller being two of note. They've always said their decision to go the three piece suit route is because Houdin dressed like everyone else in the audience, so they wanted to as well. Even the Magic Castle in Hollywood strictly enforces a dress code that echos the suit and tie look. However even that is changing. I've for a long time stood opponent on this forum, and others like it, to what I've come to call the "David Blaine Jeans & T-shirt" look. I've slammed young magicians for dressing alike all cookie cutter, but with meditation and reflection comes wisdom. Maybe they've got a point? If Houdin was right, you should look like your audience, and for you teenagers NO ONE is going to be wearing a tux outside of Prom, and few will have a suit in their closet that isn't worn only to church. So what SHOULD you wear? Well if you're going to look like everyone else, that's jeans and a T-shirt. Now this could open up a world of discussion regarding what kind of jeans and shirts. Do I wear a band shirt? Don't I? Do I wear a shirt with my own logo on it? Hell maybe do I sell these shirts so all my friends advertise my brand too? but perhaps that's better saved for future replies to this thread. The bottom line is The face of magic is changing again. We have a lot of younger blood coming up, and the urban look is in. Suits and Ties may be impractical, but you certainly SHOULD be thinking about your look, and everything should be done for a conscious reason.
I'll leave you with this final thought; If you are going to do magic then you should be dressed at least 10% better than everyone else in the room - however that means. Since most of the working force in the world are doing the suit thing, then there you go, UNLESS you have a character. If you are branding a character then stay true to your brand.
What say you?
