I would like to start that say a lot of people will not understand what I am trying to say. I am fully aware of that and the people who read and understand this I hope will take something away from this post.
I hate to say it but everyone in some way is selfish, as humans we are concerned with ourselves and what can benefit our lives. And to perform magic for them in any way usually serves nothing more than entertainment. Whilst this is what they expect especially if they come to see your show or request your services at a restaurant or bar. However, being entertained is all that they will experience, they may wonder for a few days or be amazed or in awe of the talent from the performer.
I feel that magic can be used for so much more, and to achieve this we can use Tommy Wonder's Ham Sandwich Theory. Briefly if the performer produces a sandwich whilst it is clever and and amazing it is something that is lacking something. On the other hand if someone states that they are hungry and you produce the same sandwich you have a miracle on your hands. I suppose that this can be closely linked to what W:H said in the SNC the other day. If we had powers what would we use them for?
If we were to use the example of an ACR (as almost everyone has done it). What is the point of making the card come to the top and more importantly how is it useful. The same point can be made about the cutting a lady in half, although serial killer going through an identity crisis may find it useful it could hardly be considered practical. Showing the latest colour change to people may be amazing however hardly useful (except to other magicians.)
While we can stand around waiting for someone to ask for a sandwich that we have body loaded. This would create a miracle but not in the most practical of methods. A lot of mentalist choose to close their shows with displays of skill more so than that of 'powers'. Bob Cassidy has a very 'psychic' persona yet he will often close this show with a card memory demonstration. He does this for a multitude of reasons but one of the most important ones is that people can relate to having memory problems. He also explains how mnemonics work, much the same way that Derren did in his blackjack demonstration. Whilst this is not the actual method to the effect it is plausible and accepted by his audience.
After hearing Bob talk about mnemonics and demonstrating how they 'work' a few members of his audience may actually look into them and help better their lives. If we can take this a step further we can get our audiences to want to see an effect. And by giving the audience the 'method' and demonstrating something that is amazing with it they will most likely want to watch it and be drawn into it. If they can use it in their day to day lives why would they not want to see it.
In summary we should all try to create the desire for our spectators to want to see our magic. Once we have that we should try to keep them interested and accepting of what we are doing. Also we should help them the experience more than just sheer entertainment and make it personal for them.
I hate to say it but everyone in some way is selfish, as humans we are concerned with ourselves and what can benefit our lives. And to perform magic for them in any way usually serves nothing more than entertainment. Whilst this is what they expect especially if they come to see your show or request your services at a restaurant or bar. However, being entertained is all that they will experience, they may wonder for a few days or be amazed or in awe of the talent from the performer.
I feel that magic can be used for so much more, and to achieve this we can use Tommy Wonder's Ham Sandwich Theory. Briefly if the performer produces a sandwich whilst it is clever and and amazing it is something that is lacking something. On the other hand if someone states that they are hungry and you produce the same sandwich you have a miracle on your hands. I suppose that this can be closely linked to what W:H said in the SNC the other day. If we had powers what would we use them for?
If we were to use the example of an ACR (as almost everyone has done it). What is the point of making the card come to the top and more importantly how is it useful. The same point can be made about the cutting a lady in half, although serial killer going through an identity crisis may find it useful it could hardly be considered practical. Showing the latest colour change to people may be amazing however hardly useful (except to other magicians.)
While we can stand around waiting for someone to ask for a sandwich that we have body loaded. This would create a miracle but not in the most practical of methods. A lot of mentalist choose to close their shows with displays of skill more so than that of 'powers'. Bob Cassidy has a very 'psychic' persona yet he will often close this show with a card memory demonstration. He does this for a multitude of reasons but one of the most important ones is that people can relate to having memory problems. He also explains how mnemonics work, much the same way that Derren did in his blackjack demonstration. Whilst this is not the actual method to the effect it is plausible and accepted by his audience.
After hearing Bob talk about mnemonics and demonstrating how they 'work' a few members of his audience may actually look into them and help better their lives. If we can take this a step further we can get our audiences to want to see an effect. And by giving the audience the 'method' and demonstrating something that is amazing with it they will most likely want to watch it and be drawn into it. If they can use it in their day to day lives why would they not want to see it.
In summary we should all try to create the desire for our spectators to want to see our magic. Once we have that we should try to keep them interested and accepting of what we are doing. Also we should help them the experience more than just sheer entertainment and make it personal for them.