Yes, that brilliant line was uttered by the master comedian, Christopher Titus. I feel it is something we can all really learn and benefit from, especially in magic.
If you dislike reading performance stories, move on to another thread, fair warning.
In January it will be officially 1 year since "The day the earth stood still". No, not the movie, thats what I call my performance at a party last January.
Having done some magic for a girl over Christmas, her parents asked me to perform for her birthday party in mid-January. Wanting to perform more and more often, I gladly accepted.
Leading up to the party I was miserable. I didn't want to perform in the slightest. I didn't even put together a routine until the night before.
As you can imagine, I BOMBED. The effects were poorly done, to technical for youngins (I'm southern, I can say that) to understand.. bah... it was horrific.
I left there feeling horrible and, over the next week of thinking, decided not to perform any more. I put my full heart into music and my drumming, something I thought I was much better at. I figured magic performance was done for me and for good.
Earlier this year my drum instructor moved away and quit teaching. Finding much more free time on my hands I began working harder on magic and my performance ability.
This next January, one year from the performance that nearly ended my magic career, I'm starting over.
My website is up, I'm doing my graphic work now and, when I launch, will have newspaper adds as well as flyers anywhere I can find to put them. I am going to do everything I can to make magic my part-time job. In there, in the trenches, where we should be.
The moral? Failure is not an end, it just shows us what doesn't work. Whenever you fail in life or magic choose to learn something from it. Also understand that times change, who you are or what you do today might not be the same in a year. I most certainly know I am a changed person from who I was just one year ago. Work hard, take your failures, and never give up. If I hadn't given up then, who knows where I could be now. Learn from your failure, and learn from mine.
C
(For anyone who cares for any reason, this is also on the Cafe)
If you dislike reading performance stories, move on to another thread, fair warning.
In January it will be officially 1 year since "The day the earth stood still". No, not the movie, thats what I call my performance at a party last January.
Having done some magic for a girl over Christmas, her parents asked me to perform for her birthday party in mid-January. Wanting to perform more and more often, I gladly accepted.
Leading up to the party I was miserable. I didn't want to perform in the slightest. I didn't even put together a routine until the night before.
As you can imagine, I BOMBED. The effects were poorly done, to technical for youngins (I'm southern, I can say that) to understand.. bah... it was horrific.
I left there feeling horrible and, over the next week of thinking, decided not to perform any more. I put my full heart into music and my drumming, something I thought I was much better at. I figured magic performance was done for me and for good.
Earlier this year my drum instructor moved away and quit teaching. Finding much more free time on my hands I began working harder on magic and my performance ability.
This next January, one year from the performance that nearly ended my magic career, I'm starting over.
My website is up, I'm doing my graphic work now and, when I launch, will have newspaper adds as well as flyers anywhere I can find to put them. I am going to do everything I can to make magic my part-time job. In there, in the trenches, where we should be.
The moral? Failure is not an end, it just shows us what doesn't work. Whenever you fail in life or magic choose to learn something from it. Also understand that times change, who you are or what you do today might not be the same in a year. I most certainly know I am a changed person from who I was just one year ago. Work hard, take your failures, and never give up. If I hadn't given up then, who knows where I could be now. Learn from your failure, and learn from mine.
C
(For anyone who cares for any reason, this is also on the Cafe)
