Magic or Misdirection?
Which should we do?
I started this thread because I was watching d+M artist diary and some of Wayne's videos on his site, then a thought occured to me:
Daniel says that when he's watching something like an ACR routine, he doesn't want to be told that the cards "magically" rise to the top. He wants to hear that it's not magic, it's sleight-of-hand.
He also states (and I completely agree with this part) and I quote, "If somebody says, 'This guy's a magican,' everybody straightaway thinks that this guy's gonna pull out a magic wand or pull a rabbit out of a hat or something."
I believe that Madison is right in saying that when someone hears that, "This guys an underground magician" they wouldn't immediately think of a top hat or a tuxedo, they would ask just like Madison says, "What is that?"
He couldn't be more right in saying that Underground Magic is a lot cooler, respectful to the spectators and a lot more intelligent.
However, Madison seems to think that telling your spectators impossible things is wrong and just not close to reality at all, which is true, completely.
However, what I disagree with is that he says that if he's watching a trick, he wants to be told that it's sleight-of-hand.
For a magician maybe, that shows that you're being honest with other magicians.
On the contrary, if you're doing an effect to a spectator, doesn't saying that it is just sleight-of-hand make it sound like you're saying that you are just a person with cool skills, rather than a magician?
Wayne puts it best, "Magic happens in a spectators mind." Simple enough here, that really needs no analysis in my opinion.
So here is my view:
When doing an effect, you should give your audience an experience that they'll remember. Not just a neat little thing you can do with your hands, you should be entertaining them to the full.
However, you DEFINTELY should not lie to your spectators by telling them impossible things, you should be honest with them.
For example, if you're doing an effect, I believe it's best to not say that it's sleight-of-hand or magic, just do it and entertain them. You're giving them a memory they'll never forget, not an explanation of what they're seeing. You are a magician,and an entertainer, not a college professor.
If anyone has any different opinions, please, I would be glad to hear and discuss them with you. After all, we are all performers.
Just my view of other people's views of magic.
Which should we do?
I started this thread because I was watching d+M artist diary and some of Wayne's videos on his site, then a thought occured to me:
Daniel says that when he's watching something like an ACR routine, he doesn't want to be told that the cards "magically" rise to the top. He wants to hear that it's not magic, it's sleight-of-hand.
He also states (and I completely agree with this part) and I quote, "If somebody says, 'This guy's a magican,' everybody straightaway thinks that this guy's gonna pull out a magic wand or pull a rabbit out of a hat or something."
I believe that Madison is right in saying that when someone hears that, "This guys an underground magician" they wouldn't immediately think of a top hat or a tuxedo, they would ask just like Madison says, "What is that?"
He couldn't be more right in saying that Underground Magic is a lot cooler, respectful to the spectators and a lot more intelligent.
However, Madison seems to think that telling your spectators impossible things is wrong and just not close to reality at all, which is true, completely.
However, what I disagree with is that he says that if he's watching a trick, he wants to be told that it's sleight-of-hand.
For a magician maybe, that shows that you're being honest with other magicians.
On the contrary, if you're doing an effect to a spectator, doesn't saying that it is just sleight-of-hand make it sound like you're saying that you are just a person with cool skills, rather than a magician?
Wayne puts it best, "Magic happens in a spectators mind." Simple enough here, that really needs no analysis in my opinion.
So here is my view:
When doing an effect, you should give your audience an experience that they'll remember. Not just a neat little thing you can do with your hands, you should be entertaining them to the full.
However, you DEFINTELY should not lie to your spectators by telling them impossible things, you should be honest with them.
For example, if you're doing an effect, I believe it's best to not say that it's sleight-of-hand or magic, just do it and entertain them. You're giving them a memory they'll never forget, not an explanation of what they're seeing. You are a magician,and an entertainer, not a college professor.
If anyone has any different opinions, please, I would be glad to hear and discuss them with you. After all, we are all performers.
Just my view of other people's views of magic.