Older Magicians - Here's Your Chance

[worldwideme]

for the more mature magicians in our midst. i hear a lot of posts, or threads. about teaching the younger generation, or showing them a thing or two, so on so forth.

and i acknowledge that you most likely know more than most if not all of us younger magicians. so i ask:

what about the magic world, was different back when you were starting as opposed to now?

what about todays modern magic (and the modern young magician) world bothers you the most?

what solutions do you see to these problems?

and anything else you want to say is of course welcome

 

[William Draven]

I normally don't need a soap box, but if you are going to freely hand me over one I'll certainly take it!

First off, I would like to say (if at for nothing more than to ease my own conscience) that I'm not "old". I'm still only 29 physically and a kid at heart. However, I've been performing magic professionally (so much as being paid is the bare minimum requirement for a professional) since I was about 15, and I've been into magic since I was probably close to three years old.

I think the most radical change in how magic was done when I was growing up to today is in the way magic is presented. Back in the 1980's magic was mostly seen (for me at least) on yearly flashy TV specials. David Copperfield seemed to have one a year for quite some time. Cool costumes, big effects, exotic sets, dancers, music, lights, and pyro. What a show! Back in the 1980's and early 90's magic hadn't quite seperated from theater the way it has now. Now days magicians are wearing jeans and T-shirts, and performing "on the fly" for people on street corners, and malls. Magic has become more personal, but in the same stroke more generic at the same time. Look at how many Blaine or Angel wanna-be's and rip offs there are out there in the 8-20 age group. I say magic has become more personal because Close Up magic is replacing Stage shows in popular venues. You're more likely to see a cards across than a tiger transposition.

I think personally the departure from theater, and character, within the context of presenting magic is a bad thing. I hope to see more of a return to theater in presentations in the next 10 years or so. I don't agree with the mentality that the trick makes all the diffrence. It doesn't. You're not being paid to do tricks. You're being paid to entertain (with tricks). It agervates me when I see young magicians and even other working professionals put more emphasis on what they are doing than why they are doing it. For me, entertainment is what our goals should be. To say anything but is a bit arrogant.

The solution of course to the lack of theater and entertainment quality is experience. The more you play with it, the more you'll see for yourself what works and what doesn't. People will realize that it's bloody hard work to go pro doing magic, and those not up to the task will fall to the way side. Those who do want to excell will evolve. That's the beauty of showbiz, it's a constant changing and evolving thing. So let the kids play with their toys. Let them have their fancy cuts and flourishes. I'll only worry about the serious players. They are the ones that can change this art.

for the more mature magicians in our midst. i hear a lot of posts, or threads. about teaching the younger generation, or showing them a thing or two, so on so forth.

and i acknowledge that you most likely know more than most if not all of us younger magicians. so i ask:

what about the magic world, was different back when you were starting as opposed to now?

what about todays modern magic (and the modern young magician) world bothers you the most?

what solutions do you see to these problems?

and anything else you want to say is of course welcome

 

[Morgan B]

Read this:

http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=13200&highlight=Morgician

 

[worldwideme]

i read the whole post, i couldnt make it through the entire thread, if theres something in the comments, i read the question about the three different magicians, but if theres more after that, let me know.

 

[Morgan B]

Just the first post - it gives you a history of the shift in magic.

Now this:

what about the magic world, was different back when you were starting as opposed to now?

- Magic was more secretive, there was a respectful process where information was given to you because you earned it through showing potential...not because you acquired the ability to rip DVD's. It was really frowned upon to even dup information for another...not because the artist lost out on it, but because sharing the secret made it less valuable to you.

I find magicians are quicker at gaining a large arsenal of moves - yet do very few well, and don't understand the theory behind performance and magic to know when to use what move, or why. There is an overall lack of understanding what makes good vs. bad magic. I think this goes back to the post I linked - technology made creators king, and performers took a back seat. This means, Magicians are more interested in the new move, then how it applies to their magic.

what about todays modern magic (and the modern young magician) world bothers you the most?

Young magicians don't seem to be impressed with magic. I think it is because everything is so easy to access. When I was a teenager, I would watch magic just to experience how audiences do, and do my best to forget about method. Younger magicians I have met, though teaching and camps, don't so expression as muchto effects. it was like they were told the truth about "magical things" and it scarred them for life.

I also think that because they acquire this knowledge so fast, they want to do more with it sooner - often before they are ready to perform. They switch from learning mode, to money mode very fast. Ask any pro, he will tell you; once you start working, it is hard to focus on learning more material, as you are focused on your show.

what solutions do you see to these problems?

Ask more questions - take your time - realize that magic is like many other things (Chess, music, art) you can study it's depths forever, and never truly reach the bottom. See magic through the eyes of someone that doesn't know about magic. Have fun. Don't overvalue reactions, as their is more to magic than just how people react. Never stop learning, thinking, growing. It is important you continue to progress, or you will fall out of love with magic. Years in magic doesn't always correspond with knowledge, just like number of tricks known doesn't make you a talented magician. If you want people to see the beauty in magic, you have to as well. This means, you have to treat it with beauty - learn, love, think...critically think about what you show people, and always improve on perfection.

These are my thoughts for now - write soon.

Oh, one more thing - I don't think it is young vs old - I see it as experienced versus new - my essay from that thread discusses the actual changes in the magic scene, but little has changed in the approach...just more magicians in numbers really.

Any questions?

 

[worldwideme]

Years in magic doesn't always correspond with knowledge, just like number of tricks known doesn't make you a talented magician.

this reminds me of something in the preface of my copy of royal road to card magic. something about a magician told an experienced magician that he knew 300 card tricks, and the experienced magician replied "i only know three"

my quote isnt accurate, i havent read the preface since like July. if its confusing, i'll look it up.

but i think this is great stuff, i agree that the less experienced magicians myself included. can no longer appreciate magic, from a lay persons perspective, it's hard for me to watch magic without looking for certain moves i know have to be included, or following the hand that not holding the rabbit, if you get my example. i cant just sit back and watch magic, and watch the performance, to see and learn from how the performer reaches out to the audience, i'm too busy looking for moves i know, or that sort of thing.

 

[Cedric Taylor]

I normally don't need a soap box, but if you are going to freely hand me over one I'll certainly take it!

First off, I would like to say (if at for nothing more than to ease my own conscience) that I'm not "old". I'm still only 29 physically and a kid at heart. However, I've been performing magic professionally (so much as being paid is the bare minimum requirement for a professional) since I was about 15, and I've been into magic since I was probably close to three years old.

I think the most radical change in how magic was done when I was growing up to today is in the way magic is presented. Back in the 1980's magic was mostly seen (for me at least) on yearly flashy TV specials. David Copperfield seemed to have one a year for quite some time. Cool costumes, big effects, exotic sets, dancers, music, lights, and pyro. What a show! Back in the 1980's and early 90's magic hadn't quite seperated from theater the way it has now. Now days magicians are wearing jeans and T-shirts, and performing "on the fly" for people on street corners, and malls. Magic has become more personal, but in the same stroke more generic at the same time. Look at how many Blaine or Angel wanna-be's and rip offs there are out there in the 8-20 age group. I say magic has become more personal because Close Up magic is replacing Stage shows in popular venues. You're more likely to see a cards across than a tiger transposition.

I think personally the departure from theater, and character, within the context of presenting magic is a bad thing. I hope to see more of a return to theater in presentations in the next 10 years or so. I don't agree with the mentality that the trick makes all the diffrence. It doesn't. You're not being paid to do tricks. You're being paid to entertain (with tricks). It agervates me when I see young magicians and even other working professionals put more emphasis on what they are doing than why they are doing it. For me, entertainment is what our goals should be. To say anything but is a bit arrogant.

The solution of course to the lack of theater and entertainment quality is experience. The more you play with it, the more you'll see for yourself what works and what doesn't. People will realize that it's bloody hard work to go pro doing magic, and those not up to the task will fall to the way side. Those who do want to excell will evolve. That's the beauty of showbiz, it's a constant changing and evolving thing. So let the kids play with their toys. Let them have their fancy cuts and flourishes. I'll only worry about the serious players. They are the ones that can change this art.

why don't you post this as an orignal piece of advice...you speak the truth here....