I Want To Be Like...

[Luis Vega]

Hello...

So it´s been sometime since I posted a thread regardless of a Journal or just showing something...

This has been on my mind lately and more that I am creating a serious stand-up show..that really identifies my persona and intentions...so I got to research some magicians that had influence my magic career and after some time I decided that my main influence is Jeff McBride...not because I met him and I am glad to have learned a lot from him personally...but because his magic doesn´t require you to speak the same language and it´s extremely visual and everything has a purpose and a meaning behind...

Now...what I am saying this...is because the lack of respect I see here an there for old magicians...I don´t like that everyone wants to be like Wayne Houchin, Daniel Madison and lately other young magicians...now..don´t get me wrong, they are great magicians...but I don´t like the fact that so many young magicians some of them with less than a couple of months in magic start copycating (does this word even exists?) them in order to achieve the same a them....reactions, creativity, persona...etc..


Now...I am not unfamiliar with copycats...I use to be one of them...I also think it´s OK to copy some of your favorite artists in order to find your own style...it´s essential in some ways to experiment with the kind of personas that they have until you find the elements you like from all those styles and then create your own...to see how it feels to be misterious, funny, sarcastic, mistifyng, etc...but it´s different to copy to actually become one of them...and also continue to being another person...even to copy their mannerisms, haircuts and clothes...this actually happened a lot with D+M...

My point is...I used to actually reject classic magic...but from some months from now I am fascinated for it...when I see a video I always learn a little something...a great joke, a great patter, an awesome misdirection, body language, some great concepts...it has been an awesome learning experience...and I encourage you to do the same...to learn from the classics and use that knowledge to push magic to the future...


I would like to write more...but I am eager to hear comment about this...and then discuss...

 

[Jack]

I like this post. I agree that copying can be a great pitfall for young magicians or worse not knowing or bothering to learn from the classics. I got back into magic a few years ago. I originally started in middle school with stage/prop magic. The first book I had was "Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic" and I wanted to be like David Copperfield. Then I got into high school and my focus shifted away from magic. In fact magic became cheesy to me. All I and ever really seen of magic was a couple David Copperfield TV specials and some really lame birthday or special even magicians with colorful ties. Then David Blaine came along and made me feel that sense of wonder and excitement again but only as a spectator. It wasn't until I was out of college and working that I really got back into it. I'm an actor and I was auditioning for a role that required the character to vanish a coin. I ended up getting "Modern Coin Magic" but in researching I came across these two twin brothers that were about to release a 3 DVD set of stuff I didn't know was possible with cards. I also heard of a site called Theory11 that these two were going to be a part of along with some other great magicians. I bought the "Trilogy" and quickly realized I was way out of my league! However, this got me thinking. Where did these guys learn what they know? Who were their influences? How did they get so damn good!?

That's when my real journey into magic started. From being in theater I was already a confident as a performer being myself so I never set out to dress or act like Daniel Madison or Dan and Dave. I didn't want to be like them but I wanted to be able to do what they could do. I went back to researching and then I found Erdnase, Dai Vernon, Hugard and Braue, Paul Le Paul, Paul Harris (holy s---t!), and many others. This planted a seed that grew into a deep respect for the skill and creativity of these pioneers. It was also then that I realized that if I wanted to perform like Dan and Dave or DM I had to study what they studied and learn what they learned. My magic is much more solid than it would have been because it's roots run deep. The more I learned the more I could tailor routines to fit my stye and ability.

I guess what I'm trying to say is some times in order to move forward you have to look back. See you down the road.


Cheers!

 

[Darth Vader]

We are all standing on the shoulders of giants. When you finally realize this and delve deeper to discover those giants, you will know when you have matured within your field of endeavor. Then the real work begins.

 

[SebaMan]

I want to be like Dani DaOrtiz and Lennart Green