I've seen a thread here about old magicians vs. new magicians, and I would like to ask what is the the difference between the two. Is it the way magic is performed or the kinds of tricks employed? This has been bugging me for a while. Thanks!
Styles of Magic
- Thread starter Caladan21ph
- Start date
The magicians before the next generation of magic were birthed in a different society. A society that changes constantly. The "old" magician had a style that fit the society at the time. Now the newer generation have a different style that is acceptable to the society as a whole.
To help settle the muck, older magic had a lot of mystery performers, steam boat gambling cheats, proper society type, etc.
The newer generation has a fascination in technology and sciences. Mystery performers are now masters of psychology/NLP, we still have gambling cheats and we have guys like Dan Sperry who is obviously heavily influenced by punk yet he is doing manipulation of cards just as Cardini once did.
However, the new generation needs to look up to the older guys in magic and pick their brains. These older magicians are the Dai Vernons of this generation.
To help settle the muck, older magic had a lot of mystery performers, steam boat gambling cheats, proper society type, etc.
The newer generation has a fascination in technology and sciences. Mystery performers are now masters of psychology/NLP, we still have gambling cheats and we have guys like Dan Sperry who is obviously heavily influenced by punk yet he is doing manipulation of cards just as Cardini once did.
However, the new generation needs to look up to the older guys in magic and pick their brains. These older magicians are the Dai Vernons of this generation.
I read a great quote in the Coin Magic forum that went something like this "The magicians before us were standing on the ground, while we get to stand on their shoulders."
I can't recall who posted it but, it rings true for sure. We've made so many advances on the simple sleights from Modern Coin Magic and The Royal Road to Card Magic. If Bobo came back today and watched a new magician perform I don't think he would complain with times changing and he would have just as much to learn from newer magicians.
I can't recall who posted it but, it rings true for sure. We've made so many advances on the simple sleights from Modern Coin Magic and The Royal Road to Card Magic. If Bobo came back today and watched a new magician perform I don't think he would complain with times changing and he would have just as much to learn from newer magicians.
Most older magicians want magic to stay the same while younger magicians are doing new thing such as variations, flourishing, ect.
Hmmmm.... I disagree. Do you know what magician and effect this quote is advertising: "MAGICIAN divulges one of his most astonishing discoveries, an exquisite card miracle entitled 'EFFECT.' A revolutionary slight is involved which will be coveted by every magician." HINT: it was put out in the 1940s!!!
Who do you think invented all the card stuff you are learning? It was all those old guys such as Erdnase, Vernon, Hugard, Braue, Annemann, Daley, Scarne, Buckley, Jennings... the list can go on and on. What they did brought card magic to where it is today.
What do I think the difference is? "New" style magicians (age isn't relevant) focus on displays of sleight of hand skill while "old" style magicians focus on patter, presentation and showing people real magic.
If your presentation is limited to saying "look" and then performing or your presentation consists of merely calling the play-by-play ("I'm going to put your card in the deck and it now jumps to my other hand") you are a "new" style magician highlighting you sleight of hand skill. If your presentation includes meaningful patter and you present what you do as magic rather than sleight of hand skill you are a "old" style magician.
Now I think you are going a bit to far in the other direction. Generally I would consider Lee Asher a new style magician and many of his effects are best performed with proper timing and delivery of good patter along side good sleight of hand. Their is also a similar blend of patter and sleight with Chad Nelson's "Free Fall."
I suppose if you considered the XCMers the only example of new style then you might have a point but the whole point of that movement is that it is pure visual style...the modern counterpoint to classic manipulation routines(also generally performed without music BTW)