First off, I think we have a really great thing going on here and alot of feelings and ideas have been expressed. There are several problems we have within our small community. And here are my feelings on the subject:
Exposure: Yes, this is a hinderance to our art, but nothing more. This is more strongly felt by our younger members as they are the one mostly effected by this. As it is the more simplistic effects that are revealed, and those are usually the first ones that we learn. This leads to frustration, in our early progression. We feel that all that we have learned and put effort into has been ruined by some heartless person that has no respect for what we do. but here is my anecdote to this. I was performing for a group of coworkers one night and the subject of levitation was brought up. Several them asked if I could do this, but before I could answer, one of them got up and explained the balducci method, popularized by Mr. Blaine, after this simple explination, I got up and performed the balducci levitation as it should be performed, with my best acting(sorry, I won't reveal my presentation). None the less every person there still believed that I levitated. My point in this story is that, even if the audience is aware of the method, your presentation is what sells the illusion. Remember, it is still an illusion, it is your job to make them believe you.
Mentorship: This is a problem I am dealing with. It is difficult to find a mentor, for many reasons. My issue is that I am in the Army, but I will deal with that on my own terms. As for others, it is very difficult for one to prove themselves, in order to impress a mentor into taking one under thier wing. Many of the older artist see the younger ones, and have preconceived judgements, but the nature of our art is mystery, and the passage of knowledge is difficult to obtain, we can only overcome this by persevering and making ourselves available to all the knowledge and experience we can obtain. If you truly want a mentor, then in due time he will find you. As the adage says: When the student is ready, the master will appear. (Lance Burton don't make me stalk you. j/k)
Artistry: I must agree with Mr. Houchin. It is on the artist to protray what they do as an art. I explain this to people all the time, especially after a mentalism routine. We are skilled at what we do and people should respect that. But, it is on ourselves to earn that respect. What we do is more than just simple tricks and slights, as many people see it now. As we all know, most of what we do is rather simplistic, but it is the presentation that takes the skill of hiding the technique. It is this part of what we do that the laymen do not see, they jsut see the presentation and the effect, but not the efforts taken to make sure they can't see what is really happening. Thus, the true art is hidden. I'm not saying that we should show them how hard it is to conceal our methods, but we can explain to them that we are illusionist and this a great art.
Thus concludes my rant. Good day.
Exposure: Yes, this is a hinderance to our art, but nothing more. This is more strongly felt by our younger members as they are the one mostly effected by this. As it is the more simplistic effects that are revealed, and those are usually the first ones that we learn. This leads to frustration, in our early progression. We feel that all that we have learned and put effort into has been ruined by some heartless person that has no respect for what we do. but here is my anecdote to this. I was performing for a group of coworkers one night and the subject of levitation was brought up. Several them asked if I could do this, but before I could answer, one of them got up and explained the balducci method, popularized by Mr. Blaine, after this simple explination, I got up and performed the balducci levitation as it should be performed, with my best acting(sorry, I won't reveal my presentation). None the less every person there still believed that I levitated. My point in this story is that, even if the audience is aware of the method, your presentation is what sells the illusion. Remember, it is still an illusion, it is your job to make them believe you.
Mentorship: This is a problem I am dealing with. It is difficult to find a mentor, for many reasons. My issue is that I am in the Army, but I will deal with that on my own terms. As for others, it is very difficult for one to prove themselves, in order to impress a mentor into taking one under thier wing. Many of the older artist see the younger ones, and have preconceived judgements, but the nature of our art is mystery, and the passage of knowledge is difficult to obtain, we can only overcome this by persevering and making ourselves available to all the knowledge and experience we can obtain. If you truly want a mentor, then in due time he will find you. As the adage says: When the student is ready, the master will appear. (Lance Burton don't make me stalk you. j/k)
Artistry: I must agree with Mr. Houchin. It is on the artist to protray what they do as an art. I explain this to people all the time, especially after a mentalism routine. We are skilled at what we do and people should respect that. But, it is on ourselves to earn that respect. What we do is more than just simple tricks and slights, as many people see it now. As we all know, most of what we do is rather simplistic, but it is the presentation that takes the skill of hiding the technique. It is this part of what we do that the laymen do not see, they jsut see the presentation and the effect, but not the efforts taken to make sure they can't see what is really happening. Thus, the true art is hidden. I'm not saying that we should show them how hard it is to conceal our methods, but we can explain to them that we are illusionist and this a great art.
Thus concludes my rant. Good day.
