I don't post on magic forums very often. In fact, I stopped performing magic for 2 years and I'm just now getting back in the groove of things. Oh how I missed practicing The Pass in front of my bathroom mirror for hours on end. It's actually quite funny, the only thing that threw me back into the magic game is after watching an episode of White Collar (A TV show about an ex-con man now working for the FBI to catch other cons.) Since most of my past routines were based on gambling and conning presentations, it reminded me of the many nights I would astound randoms in Starbucks with the Second Deal and the ever so popular 2 Card Monte. After the show was over, I dug up some of my old Tally Ho's and played with The Pass like the good ol' days. However, a lot has changed since then.
It's been about 3 weeks since then. I stopped performing just as Theory 11 revealed their super secret website. I'm glad to see the folks at T11 are still in the game. When I stopped performing, I started focusing on global social and environmental issues and raising awareness about them. I read stacks of books on environmental philosophy (Derrick Jensen) and political theory (Crimethinc.) I learned a great deal. I started a state-wide organization to raise awareness which now has over 300 people, but I have since then resigned due to other projects I'm involved in. I've been featured in two documentaries (Automation Is Here & Our Technical Reality [not very proud of them; my opinion on those matters of technology has radically changed]), given lectures and presentations on these issues, and gone to protests. (Anyone remember G20 Toronto? My right hand with nerve damage definitely does.)
This all occurred in the span of 2 years. It's amazing what you experience in such a short amount of time. All of this has led to this moment. I just ordered 2 red and blue Tally Ho Fan Back decks along with some of Jason England's one on ones (wonderful work by the way) just to touch up on some things.
Sorry for the long introduction, but I wanted to put this post into a little context. Now to the meat.
The biggest hurdle I had as an activist was getting people to listen to me about these issues and some possible solutions. Other than large protests, it's hard to draw people in and get them to listen to you about some of the things happening on this planet that very well affects them. As I sat in my bedroom after watching White Collar 3 weeks ago messing with The Pass, it dawned on me. Yes; "IT".
In my prime, I would get crowds of 25-30 people at a time to watch me perform. It took nothing but a couple coins, a deck of cards, some thread, and some rubber bands. They would listen intently to every word I said about how brains can sometimes emit radio frequencies or how matter cannot be created nor destroyed, but simply transformed. People were captivated not only by the effects I was performing, but the stories that went along with them.
After I finish this post and maybe grab some left over Pizza Hut, I'm going to be putting together 3 or 4 different routines. The presentation for these routines are not going to be something magical or mystic, but rather educational. I'm going to include many of the social and environmental issues into these presentations in the form of stories or simply facts related to the effect I'm performing. One that always comes to mind is Daniel Garcia's effect "Greed". There are so many stories and themes to present Greed with.
This is very interesting to me because I don't think I've seen magicians ever use activism as their presentation, or activists using magic to express their concerns and ideas. To my knowledge, it seems to be uncharted territory. People are entertained and at the same time can come away from it with some information about an issue that they may or may not want to help in solving and take part in changing.
I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. I want to really get a gasp on this concept and mold the routines perfectly before I begin performing publicly again. If you know of any other performers with this kind of style, please let me know so I can get in contact with them and get their input as well.
It seems as though art really is a form of resistance.
It's been about 3 weeks since then. I stopped performing just as Theory 11 revealed their super secret website. I'm glad to see the folks at T11 are still in the game. When I stopped performing, I started focusing on global social and environmental issues and raising awareness about them. I read stacks of books on environmental philosophy (Derrick Jensen) and political theory (Crimethinc.) I learned a great deal. I started a state-wide organization to raise awareness which now has over 300 people, but I have since then resigned due to other projects I'm involved in. I've been featured in two documentaries (Automation Is Here & Our Technical Reality [not very proud of them; my opinion on those matters of technology has radically changed]), given lectures and presentations on these issues, and gone to protests. (Anyone remember G20 Toronto? My right hand with nerve damage definitely does.)
This all occurred in the span of 2 years. It's amazing what you experience in such a short amount of time. All of this has led to this moment. I just ordered 2 red and blue Tally Ho Fan Back decks along with some of Jason England's one on ones (wonderful work by the way) just to touch up on some things.
Sorry for the long introduction, but I wanted to put this post into a little context. Now to the meat.
The biggest hurdle I had as an activist was getting people to listen to me about these issues and some possible solutions. Other than large protests, it's hard to draw people in and get them to listen to you about some of the things happening on this planet that very well affects them. As I sat in my bedroom after watching White Collar 3 weeks ago messing with The Pass, it dawned on me. Yes; "IT".
In my prime, I would get crowds of 25-30 people at a time to watch me perform. It took nothing but a couple coins, a deck of cards, some thread, and some rubber bands. They would listen intently to every word I said about how brains can sometimes emit radio frequencies or how matter cannot be created nor destroyed, but simply transformed. People were captivated not only by the effects I was performing, but the stories that went along with them.
After I finish this post and maybe grab some left over Pizza Hut, I'm going to be putting together 3 or 4 different routines. The presentation for these routines are not going to be something magical or mystic, but rather educational. I'm going to include many of the social and environmental issues into these presentations in the form of stories or simply facts related to the effect I'm performing. One that always comes to mind is Daniel Garcia's effect "Greed". There are so many stories and themes to present Greed with.
This is very interesting to me because I don't think I've seen magicians ever use activism as their presentation, or activists using magic to express their concerns and ideas. To my knowledge, it seems to be uncharted territory. People are entertained and at the same time can come away from it with some information about an issue that they may or may not want to help in solving and take part in changing.
I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. I want to really get a gasp on this concept and mold the routines perfectly before I begin performing publicly again. If you know of any other performers with this kind of style, please let me know so I can get in contact with them and get their input as well.
It seems as though art really is a form of resistance.
