This post is to address the RIDICULOUS number of Youtube magic posts. In this post, I want to first, point out the problems with Youtube magic posts, second, make you change the way and reason you post and lastly, give you some solid advice if you don’t want to stop posting Youtube magic.
The majority of close up magic is not meant to be held under the scrutiny of what has been called “the unblinking eye” of the camera. Allowing Youtube viewers to watch a trick, often done at bad angles, over and over again – breaks the cardinal rule of magic. Never repeat an effect – the first time is a good trick – the second time – a good lesson.
The majority of Youtube posts are done to ask for “advice” or the “how does this look” post. The problem with this is that the shot is at one angle and natural misdirection doesn’t occur in the same fashion when the frame is a computer screen – to really test your material, you must do it for a LIVE audience, not through the one way medium of video. This means that even if you post something PERFECT on your video, that it may not play the same in real world performance, because of different problems like, angles or timing wise, for example. Moreover, this kind of magic exposure is the start of what we are seeing in music – I won’t buy a CD because I can get the music for free – attitude.
Imagine nobody hiring magicians, because they can download magic for free off Youtube. Furthermore, a significant problem with Youtube magic is that it makes magic less impressive – look up Jumping Gemini – not only will someone other that Darwin Ortiz get credited – changing history with inaccuracies – but you will see approximately 500 posts of the same effect, tutorials and the majority have flashes and poor handling.
Which brings me to my next point – tutorials? Many of the tutorial teachers, can’t even do the effect well?! They teach it with poor crediting and poor technique – but what even gives them the right to teach an effect? Did they improve on it? Did they change the handling? No – they have just exposed magic – and as a group we should educate and hold each other accountable for preventing exposure. This is another topic all together, and I know this simple post won’t prevent magicians from posting horrible magic on Youtube – so here are some tips to at least make sure you aren’t one of the magicians that is posting poor quality magic on Youtube.
RULES...X that - A FEW SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR YOUTUBE POSTING:
1) ONLY do effects that can be
REPEATED WITHOUT EXPLANATION – this is where the method is solid enough to withstand being watch again and again by the viewer.
2) Don’t flash – let me repeat that
DON’T FLASH – seems obvious? Well, it must not be – because I have seen very few videos that don’t flash something. The unblinking eye picks up everything, so watch your video with a critical eye – film and re-film until it looks FLAWLESS to the most critical observer.
3) Better than not flashing sleights – do effects that have
NO MOVES – use self working effects or do the dirty work off camera
4)
USE YOUR ADVANTAGES - you are on camera, so use everything to your advantage – edit, angles, gimmicks…whatever, just make sure the magic you do doesn’t reflect the method.
Here is an example of where the switches are done on camera – leading to the method – this guy has posted in this group, so it’s not a personal attack – but remember, you put yourself out there.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yGS1I_VssqY
Here is another example of something you watch once and then again to catch the moves – great magic, ruined by Youtube.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-ohfo7MVh_M&feature=related
Lastly, an example of something you can watch again and again and not know the method if you are a lay audience.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=0JRbhFdMhWQ
Sorry I couldn’t’ find it in English.
In conclusion – please, stop posting videos of close up magic on Youtube – keep the Magicians Oath and if you feel you must post – do it with care and credit properly.
As a reminder:
Magicians Oath
"As a magician I promise never to reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, unless that one swears to uphold the Magician's Oath in turn. I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic."
" I promise I will always guard against exposing the secrets of magic, whether through lack of practice before performing, or through explanation to any person not entitled to know the secrets. I make this promise seriously, realizing that in violating it, I am not only violating my word of honor, but I am violating the trust and rights of all other magicians who, by the very nature of their form of entertainment, are entitled to the preservation of the secrets of magic."
Thanks.
