talkmagic.co.uk

Mandrake wrote:(Being a Time Travelling Mod certainly has advantages.... )

The Who meets Doctor Who !

Looks like I'm a little late on this thread but im new to the forum and having a browse. I personally love the term magician and when people ask do I do kids shows (which is my favourite kind of magic). In my opinion magic make us all feel like kids and its that sense of child like wonder which got me hooked on magic in the first place. I recently done gig at a stand up comedy night and only done kids show magic (sponge balls, rope routine and hippity rabbits). It went down a storm!!! They loved it and a few comment after was that it made them feel like kids again too.

does sound a bit kiddy'ish, I always prefer to introduce myself as an illusion artist. That really does stump people. lol!

I used to have this complex about calling myself a magician but a couple of things influenced me the opposite way. One was the intensity of a young man who used to work for me who went on to become one of the most travelled and experienced excellent street magicians in the world. His name is Peter Snow. Even when he was young he was very intense and PROUD to be called a magician and even tried to convince me that EVERYONE loved magic which they certainly don't. But HE loved it with great intensity and it would never have even occured to him to call himself anything other than a MAGICIAN with great big capital letters.

The second thing that happened was when I immigrated to Canada and spoke to the chap at the Canadian Embassy who approved me. He said that magic was an ancient and honourable performing art and my talent would be an asset to Canada. I realised then that I had nothing to be ashamed of despite the awful trivialisation of the art and the hundreds of dreadful "performers" who bring the art down in the eyes of the public.

But that is not the fault of the art itself. I am a MAGICIAN. That is what I am. And I am proud of it and refuse to hide it by calling it various silly names. I refuse to be ashamed of the beautiful art which gives so many people pleasure when done well. No. I am a MAGICIAN and that is what I will proclaim myself loudly to be until the day I die.

I didn't realise how old this thread was! Still, I believe every word I just said no matter how old the thing is!

mark lewis wrote:I didn't realise how old this thread was! Still, I believe every word I just said no matter how old the thing is!

It's never too late to be right.

I presume people who cringe at the term magician have had an experience with a bad one. I really don't trust plumbers because I had one make a complete mess of fitting my bathroom but I' sure there are good ones out there. At this time in my life I've really gone off the whole table hopping/stroll around magic for the very reason I hated having to be the uninvited guest and keep referring to myself as The Magician. I much prefer doing stage shows so the audience have come to watch you without the explanation of exactly who I am and why I've interrupted your conversation.

I don't think we should lose that sense of pride in being magicians though as it really is interesting to people and I'm proud to be one. I think as with all things, if you are good at what you do people will appreciate it.