One of the things that has always intrigued me about laymen's relationships with magicians is that the moment they meet a magician and find out their occupation the next line of dialogue is usually "Prove it." or "Oh really? Do something right now?"
Being in this situation several times I created Impossibill exactly for this purporse to give a fully involved seven minute routine that should satisfy them in terms verifying myself as a magician. I also really on some easy "hypnosis" tricks that are pretty reliable. If I'm at a party and asked to prove myself I will rely on my impromptu handling of No Pressure or if I have Kolossal Killer on me I will perform that.
My question is: Why is that as far as I know, only magicians are asked to prove themselves? When someone tells me they are an actor I never ask them to act for me on the spot. If someone is a musician/singer, I never ask them to sing for me right on the spot like that. When someone tells me they are a math teacher I don't ask them to prove it by solving math problems.
My best guess is that laymen are so foreign to magic that they just have to see it right there in that moment. Probably a lot of them have never seen a magic show before and just want to see something they have never encountered before....
But that leads me to my next problem. I was watching the incredible film "Inside Llewyn Davis" and it raised the issue of performing for friends for free. When you are a struggling artist the number one thing on your mind is where is your next payment coming from. So it can often be a little insulting to those that have made a career out of magic to be asked to perform on the spot pro bono.
I'm curious to hear all of your thoughts on this.
Being in this situation several times I created Impossibill exactly for this purporse to give a fully involved seven minute routine that should satisfy them in terms verifying myself as a magician. I also really on some easy "hypnosis" tricks that are pretty reliable. If I'm at a party and asked to prove myself I will rely on my impromptu handling of No Pressure or if I have Kolossal Killer on me I will perform that.
My question is: Why is that as far as I know, only magicians are asked to prove themselves? When someone tells me they are an actor I never ask them to act for me on the spot. If someone is a musician/singer, I never ask them to sing for me right on the spot like that. When someone tells me they are a math teacher I don't ask them to prove it by solving math problems.
My best guess is that laymen are so foreign to magic that they just have to see it right there in that moment. Probably a lot of them have never seen a magic show before and just want to see something they have never encountered before....
But that leads me to my next problem. I was watching the incredible film "Inside Llewyn Davis" and it raised the issue of performing for friends for free. When you are a struggling artist the number one thing on your mind is where is your next payment coming from. So it can often be a little insulting to those that have made a career out of magic to be asked to perform on the spot pro bono.
I'm curious to hear all of your thoughts on this.