talkmagic.co.uk

lozey wrote:I think,it can also depend on the scenario.If im doing a trick for people,i want to make sure that they are enjoying it BUT if im at home working on a new presenation or magic idea,then the magic always comes first, its the effect thats all important to me. Its not until the idea is finished that i then think ok, how do i make this entertaining?

True.

I agree

The question puzzles me because it presupposes that being a good magician and being a good entertainer are two separate things.

They aren't. That is because you CANNOT be a good magician unless you are a good entertainer. It is not merely a desirable asset. It is part and parcel of being a good magician. It is one of the tools of your trade just like the prop you are using. Actually it is infinitely more important than your prop.

Being an entertainer doesn't necessarily mean being funny. You can be a perfectly good entertainer if you don't crack a single witticism. David Blaine is a case in point. There are other appeals besides comedy which make you an entertainer. You can be dramatic or you can be artistic in your work. How you become an entertainer is up to you.

However it is not an option. It is a necessity. In fact I would go so far as to say that you are NOT a magician unless you can entertain no matter how technically skilful you are. Unless you can learn to manipulate and hold an audience then I would say that it would be wise to give up and find some other hobby.

The magic is secondary although important. Your primary purpose is to entertain and that must always come first.

mark lewis wrote:The question puzzles me because it presupposes that being a good magician and being a good entertainer are two separate things.

They aren't. That is because you CANNOT be a good magician unless you are a good entertainer. It is not merely a desirable asset. It is part and parcel of being a good magician. It is one of the tools of your trade just like the prop you are using. Actually it is infinitely more important than your prop.

Being an entertainer doesn't necessarily mean being funny. You can be a perfectly good entertainer if you don't crack a single witticism. David Blaine is a case in point. There are other appeals besides comedy which make you an entertainer. You can be dramatic or you can be artistic in your work. How you become an entertainer is up to you.

However it is not an option. It is a necessity. In fact I would go so far as to say that you are NOT a magician unless you can entertain no matter how technically skilful you are. Unless you can learn to manipulate and hold an audience then I would say that it would be wise to give up and find some other hobby.

The magic is secondary although important. Your primary purpose is to entertain and that must always come first.

Thankyou, you have summed it up in a nutshell.

One last thing to add, for anyone who still thinks that entertainment doesn't matter.

You put on a magic SHOW. It doesn't matter if it is on stage, in the street or in the pub. It is still a show. Think about that word.

and every now and again someone comes along who is both a brilliant and skillfull exponent of the magic art AND a brilliant entertainer... entertainment can take many forms, i agree with the earlier suggestion that being an entertainer doesn't "only" mean making people laugh... amazing people, shocking people, surprising your audience can all entertain. but to stand in front of a group of spectators and simply mutter "please watch carefully as i remove a rabbit from this hat... there then... abbracaddabra... a rabbit"... no thanks, i have got some grass i was watching grow...

B0bbY_CaT wrote:....no thanks, i have got some grass i was watching grow...

I hear that's quite the pastime in Aus. Over here we have one or two other uses for the stuff

HA! nice one, perhaps i should have said watch "paint dry"...

B0bbY_CaT wrote:perhaps i should have said watch "paint dry"...

hey - whatever does it for you