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Dressing up your negative thoughts in pretty words doesn't make them any less negative. We can pretend that calling someone a "myopic egotist" is more civil and polite than calling him a "jerk-off" but the sentiment is exactly the same. I'm saying that you shouldn't call someone rude while...

I let them tell me about and get them talking. They have a story they want to tell. Who the hell am I to interrupt them? Besides, if they're telling you this story it means they're interested. Or I just avoid wasting my time and move on. Much less stressful than making like a Southern...

Consider a few things you've said about me. Glass houses, friend. Maybe so, but my point is more whether or not it's practical. If we go with the idea of the Far Eastern adventurer, even that has a number of ways it can be done, especially when you go into the details. But there is going to...

Well in that case let's add an extra qualifier, shall we? Write one that wouldn't make me chew my own leg off and try to escape like a badger or fox in a trap.

And the topic becomes that much more complex, chasing off the wannabes in the process (I hope). Hence my own assertion that a performer adopting a more complex persona as described in the original post really needs to do his homework Doc Shiels in The Shiels Effect describes the creation...

No argument here. Anything is better than listening to more flower-child babbling about smiles and altruism or variations on the pseudo-intellectual "dream the impossible dream" crap about perfection. I haven't read any of Goffman's writings in ages, so you'll forgive me if my memory is...

My initial reaction: Why not just bend a damn spoon with your mind? Or levitate something? You can write all the pretty words you want, but it misses the point that just because you can doesn't mean you should. To people actually acquainted the Indian culture, that might come dangerously...

Okay then. Suppose we have someone playing the part of an adventurer/yogi who has traveled extensively to the Far East and frames his effects as ancient secrets of yogic disciplines, meditation, and martial arts. Now give him a reason to do a sponge ball routine.

That was a rather tortured comparison. Unfortunately, you're missing a point. There are five steps to mastery of a skill or skill set. 1. Imitation 2. Understanding 3. Evaluation 4. Variation 5. Innovation You have to follow it in that order for it to work. Your analogy tells me...

Because real jokes are harder to write. In regards to the effect, I didn't actually watch the video. I was told Katy Perry was in the video and on the off chance that it's possible to catch a venereal disease from YouTube, I didn't want to risk it. However, I have seen variations on this...

You're splitting hairs. Morgician's point was that the trappings of your image communicate certain things about you. A lack of paraphernalia communicates something all its own. He was in no way saying you need things like a deck of cards or some coins. It's amusing to me that you are quick...

But your first instinct is to judge by appearances. That is the way the human brain is wired, and anyone who claims otherwise is lying through their teeth. The best you can do is to second-guess those assumptions, hence the interview you spoke of. And to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of...

Too true. Sure, you'll occasionally get the one spoiled brat, but those are the aberrations and not the norm. Much like the drunken frat boys who try to snag your props out of your hands when you're not looking. Just learn how to handle people and quit whining. I would not do linking...

Jung's writings of the shadow self had a profound effect on me. Hence my bias. That said, I would argue that self-interest lies at the root of most actions. However, that is not to say the individual receives sole benefit. Why do so many people faithfully recycle? What's good for the...

I question whether or not they'll attempt to argue it because it still puts them in a rather uncomfortable place. I myself believe people are selfish, but for the most part they are inherently good. Performers aren't bad people, they're just egotistical. They have to be to live such a...

And thus the shadow self is finally brought out into the open. This can go one of two ways. Indignant denial, or the complete death of the thread from this point on. Let me join you in the honest minority and confess that I'm a complete egomaniac and my endeavors in magic and my production...

I only do that for the sponge ball routine, actually. So my guess is that you didn't watch the whole video. Regardless, I don't see what that has to do with the content of the book. Incidentally, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I really hate the word patter. What is it...

Kenton Knepper described in Mystery by Association an interesting presentation involving producing small oranges from a tree that had none, turning them into orange sponge balls, and going from there.

Nevertheless you bring up some good points. What I'm about to say might raise a few eyebrows, but I consider Copperfield's brand of magic to actually be rather hit-and-miss when it comes to artistry. He's exceptionally good at what he does, no denying, but I don't believe he thinks of magic as...

And on that consideration, I would like to once again offer to introduce everyone to two young men of my own creation. I think it could bring something interesting to the table.