talkmagic.co.uk

no instructions for a forcing deck? blimey...

how on earth are people expected to use one without any step by step instructions?

...im surprised they even managed to open the box on their own...

From observation, the 'bedroom junkie' magician's interest will last on average 6 months to a year.

However, for hobbyists, it's in their blood, and I don't think it ever leaves.

Making the transition from hobbyist to pro is a bit of a black area, but I am sure that the point is that creativity and genius, plus the skill and entertainment value of a GOOD performer is what keeps the art alive.

Small example: my now strapping 18 year old nephew used to love magic. I'd show him a trick or two, and he'd be in awe.
This Christmas, I thought he was big enough and wise enough to see some real secrets, so I decided to show him some card tricks while we shared a bottle of wine (yes—he's only 18, but he can drink me under the table!)

So, I started small and showed him an ambitious card routine. He yawned a little, and said 'isn't there anything easier?'.
So, a simple self-worker? How about the 52 to 1 card trick? Hmm, still too boring and complex.

So I gave up.

I showed him a DL, and I showed him some false cuts, but he really wasn't interested and wanted to see something 'easy to remember and do'.

It reminds me a bit of joke telling... some of us are BORN to tell jokes—natural, well-presented and even if you've heard it before, a good presentation can make you laugh all over again.

However, not everyone can remember jokes, or even tell them well. And they normally give up bothering—even though they'd love to join in at the pub when a joke marathon is on.

I think the same is true with magic... some people get all excited about it, buy, download, read, have a go—but ultimately it serves them no purpose as they only ever get to perform to their parents or friends. Which, would surely get boring after a while.

I absolutely adore performing—and if I had the time and energy to put into it, I'd be going for it in a big way. There's a thrill in performance which is very additive. And I don't really care if someone in the audience knows a DL, or what a TT is... it would be my job to entertain, no matter what.

As with the 'joke' comparison, I would quite happily watch and enjoy a comedian on stage, even though I already knew 3 or 4 of the jokes they use... this has happened several times. But it doesn't ruin the enjoyment as a whole.

...very true...it's like music too, all decent guitarists know their pentatonic blues scales...but they all play 'em differently...yes you can tune a guitar to an open E and just strum away and get used to it all..but after a while, you either leave the guitar to cover dust or want to progress and start discovering your own heroes...

infact, where are all the decent inventive lead guitarists these days?

...performing is addictive, i ended up doing around 45 minutes last friday in a pub...it started with someone's small leaving-do of 6 people, and progressed to about 25 people pushing tables together...i was thankful for my pendulum, dunninger's delight, boon and ironically a one way forcing deck (i'd lost the instructions )...

EDIT: you should get amongst it again mr. seige...

Thank you Siege, you have said it all in your last post.

Seige I couldn't agree more with that last post. The urge to entertain people has to be in you and it just happens that we choose to express this throught the art of magic.