We perform for intelligent people. People who are at least as smart as you are. Do we expect them to believe we are performing real magic? If we are, wouldn't it be immoral to claim something that is false like that?
First rule of magic, always be the smartest guy in the room.We perform for intelligent people. People who are at least as smart as you are.
Yes, of course you want them to believe what you are doing is real.Do we expect them to believe we are performing real magic? If we are, wouldn't it be immoral to claim something that is false like that?
First rule of magic, always be the smartest guy in the room.
-Jay Daniel Atlas (Now You See Me)
First rule of magic, always be the smartest guy in the room.
-Jay Daniel Atlas (Now You See Me)
Yes, of course you want them to believe what you are doing is real.
If you see it as immoral, I think you're in the wrong profession.
So when people go to a magic show just by buying the ticket they give the magician permission to mess with their mind for a couple hours. If the magician puts across what they do as real magic then what they do extends beyond the theater. They, in essence, break that agreement. When this happens they cross the line, from entertainer to charlatan. Right?
No. Some people want that feeling of being a small child again and seeing something wonderful and amazing. They want to feel that joy. Some people go because they enjoy watching a skilled practitioner work his craft. This is why people will stand around and watch a guy with a chainsaw make ice and tree stump art. There are many reasons someone goes to a magic show. There are many theories on how to present said show. Go back and see what others have said. Watch how Copperfield or Henning worked Watch Slydini. See the different styles.
It seems like you have just found these Penn Jillette videos. What you have to remember is Penn and Teller are not a traditional magic act. You also have to understand what they put out for the public at large is for the public at large and not really for magicians. When they first came to New York they never said they were a magic act. It wasn't in the press releases. it wasn't in their bios or press kits. They wouldn't say magic act when they gave radio interviews. They have this persona of being debunkers and bad boys of magic. The outsiders. It's what they do. Remember this when you listen to their talks they give.
First rule of magic, always be the smartest guy in the room.
-Jay Daniel Atlas (Now You See Me)
Yes, of course you want them to believe what you are doing is real.
If you see it as immoral, I think you're in the wrong profession.
The reason of why you are going isn't the point. Everybody goes for different reasons. When they watch the show though there is an understanding that what they are seeing isn't real. If we as magicians claim otherwise it is wrong.
How do our suitcases always know where to meet us at?
We perform for intelligent people. People who are at least as smart as you are. Do we expect them to believe we are performing real magic? If we are, wouldn't it be immoral to claim something that is false like that?
You asked about people going to the show. I answered that question. Magicians play a role.
Our role is someone who lives in a world where magic is real. We are putting on a show. What people want to think is what they are going to think. There are people in West Virginia who claim I am demon spawn because i can make a key roll over in someones hand. i can make that same key roll over in my hand that they are holding still, then that key stand up right and floats off of my hand. I never say I have powers. I simply play my part. What they take away from it is up to them. But for that time they are watching me I'm a magician and magicians let people see the magic in their minds. Magic only exists when we have someone other than ourselves to see it to see it. We need their mind and eyes to make the magic happen.
Also It was Their agent who said no mention of magic
and the minds behind Penn and Teller is Teller and Johnny Thompson.
Also if you want to get into some real nitty gritty performance theory then get Five points of Magic and anything Eugene Burger has written.
The answer is going to vary widely from person to person.
What our audience is going to think should be at the for front. What we want to convey as performers helps us chose material, scripting and venue. It is one of the most important things we can ask. Unless you'd like this forum to not go any deeper than "Who's your favorite magician?", "What's the best deck of cards?" and "Why isn't this magic gimmick working why how it was advertized?"This type of question is a rather silly thing to ask on a magic board and is better off left in the wind.
Because it doesn't really improve anything when it comes to performing, it just makes the person look like they are trying to make themselves look smarter than they are. But actually ends up looking incredibly pretentious.