You’ve Got Talent: Characterizing the Presentation of Magic
(Chapter 9-11 of 15)
IX. Presentation Style
“Hi I’m real, and he’s really fake.” How many times have we heard that line around fellow brethren? This is a constant subject for heated discussions between magicians. That subject of course is the choice to present magic as if it were something you really could do, vs. something that is conceived as a falsehood from the start with no ambition to disguise it as anything but such. Certainly there is merit in both schools of thought, and I as an individual also have my preference. I think though, for the budding character in you it is a critical point to consider before you go rushing out in front of your audience for the first time. So lets take a few minutes and look at each side of this argument before you settle on the side you like the best.
The magic that I perform is as real as I am standing before you! What a powerful statement to make. You are basically claiming in no uncertain words that the acts of the gods, are no different than the feats you can –and presumably will perform before my very eyes. I’m already eager to see what it is you have to offer, what secret sagely knowledge you can impart to me from your years of service and practice, what wonders you can unlock that my mortal mind couldn’t begin to fathom understandings of. And so, has our roles been since magic’s early days some thousands of years ago.
When magic first came about we weren’t really stage performers. We were advisors to Kings and Queens. We were shaman and spiritualists, we were doctors. We were mortal mans connection to the divine secrets of the universe. While we certainly used our tricks and sleights to keep people awestruck by the terrible power we possess it certainly wasn’t for show in those days! And so, the age old tradition of keeping magic’s inner workings a secret to only the few who were initiated began. It wasn’t fear of people not enjoying our show that kept our mouths shut…. It was fear of being exposed as a fraud and losing all power and stature in society!
In modern times I don’t think we have much to gain by maintaining the guise of supernatural power to the point of living it 24/7. I think people are for the most part, and the largest majority, aware that when the stage lights turn off, and the house empties, we return to being a human just like they are. All be it though a human with many secrets. However, during the time that the show is in progress I think it isn’t a reasonable expectation to place on the audience to want them to suspend their belief in the laws of reality, and accept that the character before them truly has magnificent powers that they couldn’t begin to comprehend. After all modern theater does this all the time. If you can believe that a puppet who looks like a monster can sing, dance, and is in essence their own person, such as in the hit Broadway musical “Avenue Q”, then why can’t you believe that Merlin the Magnificent really can bend a spoon with his mind? The leap of faith in both accounts really isn’t that far apart from each other.
However, there is something also that appeals to the intellectual mind when a well dressed, and groomed person walks onto the stage and makes a bold declaration that you are in complete control of your mental faculties, yet despite your vain attempts to compose your thoughts on reality, they will bend, break, and restructure them before your very eyes! And then before you can even object to the statement prove it to you by an awe striking show that leaves you finding it hard to draw breath. It is the age communication. Technology has advanced our lives to the point that holding onto some traditions is seemingly silly, while others are quickly becoming outdated. Claiming that you can bend a spoon with your bare mind to someone who can just take out their cell phone and Google the possible solution before you have the time to finish the effect is a bit unsettling. Perhaps it is better to just admit from the start that you’re a fraud, all be it a highly entertaining one, and call it even. A famous magician Dai Vernon one said “If you can’t hide a move, paint it red.”
Perhaps that holds true of performance characters as well.
I think the solution to the question to which is better, theater or reality in reference to performance style is best described as: “What ever better fits your act, is the one you should chose.” I’ll explain. As discussed above, you really need to have a complete and thorough understanding of your character before you can really attempt to answer this question. That is because your character will define which side of the issue you stand on for you.
If your character is more theater based, with patter plots focusing on arcane power, forbidden knowledge, necromantic powers over spirits, or the ability to affect the reality around you with the simple power of your mind alone, then you’re obviously not going to present yourself as a fraud up front. That would take away from and be counter productive to everything you’ll seek to achieve during your show. Likewise saying you have mystical powers and arcane abilities when in reality all you are doing is just card slights, and gambling demonstrations is equally asinine. No one will take you seriously, and your patter would be better off with a complete overhaul.
Either way you choose there really isn’t anything wrong how you present your magic. So long as your audiences are entertained, then you’ve done your job. Personally, I think it’s a rather egotistical challenge to say that everything you will do is just an illusion, and already from the get-go sets the audience up to attempt to figure you out, disconnecting from your character, show, and message. But that’s just me. Do what ever works best for you.
Of course different styles of magic also lend themselves better to one side or another in this debate. Mentalism will almost always side with the theatricals, while close up magic, cards, coins, and gambling demonstrations play better when presented as skill as opposed to legendary forces of forgotten arcane powers.
I will say that there is a fine line between entertainment and a scam. When magic is used to fool others for the personal gain of oneself is certainly wrong. Spirit mediums like James Von-Praug, John Edwards, and the Psychic Friends Network abuse well known magical methods and cold reading to toy with peoples emotions, and take money from them. This isn’t entertainment, this is a scam. I would even count those who participate in cheats like NIM and Three Card Monte is also included into this shameful bunch. All things done should be done in moderation, including moderation. I think the offense comes when you begin to buy your own marketing, and not know when to turn the act off.
So is there a morality to the ethics of choosing to portray yourself or more to the point your powers as being real? There most certainly is, and with pseudo-sciences such as the developing psychic powers, and large, powerful, and credible organizations such as the CIA’s interests in these subjects it certainly is an easy trap to fall into. I think we should know when to say enough as a performer choosing to pursue the path of presenting our magic as if it was real. Certainly there is an air of safety in developing an act that claims no such power. However I don’t think the maturity of presenting an act based on the assumption that the magic’s power is real is beyond us as a fraternity either. It simply is a subject that must be given careful thought and consideration, perhaps as much so as everything else that is involved with your show. Remember the golden rule: “People want to be entertained.” Just be mindful of how far you take it.
(To Be Continued...)
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