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All that practice.
All that time we put in.

Why exactly do we do it?
I'm sure there's a post like this already, so please tell me.

We have these effects, books, DVDs, that we spend money on. We practice until we can perform an effect flawlessly, until we CANT perform the effect NOT flawlessly. All this, for the feeling that we have when we perform. The look on someone's face when they realize that they just cut to the Ace of Spades. Maybe some people do it for money, but my guess is, even if there weren't any money in it, they'd do the magic anyway. It's because when you are done with the effect, we have a feeling of pride, and the thought of the first two sentences of the post.


All that practice. All that time I put in. It worked.

Today, I showed a kid a spec cuts the aces routine I created and he was stunned.

If anyone has another opinion of why YOU do magic, please post it.

I have allways loved magic, I did my first show to nieghbours at the age of 7, I have allways been rubbish at slight of hand but i have skills for mentalism which I use in most tricks. I do not practice because I have no time but in answer to your question, I do it for the reactions 50% and simply because I love it 50%

80% reaction, 20% self satisfaction (hard work etc)

i can see that going into the inuendo thread but you know what i mean when i say it...

Reactions are great but I don't do it to be able to perform I do it just because it's something that I love doing. Even if there were no specs I'd still do magic because it's a great way to pass the time.

Personally, I practice magic to relax.

I perform magic for pleasure.

If I'm not enjoying performing, it's not worth it to me.

For me, it's because I love seeing magic, being astounded and surprised by an effect. That enjoyment made me want to be able to create the same feeling for other people. How much of that then becomes a form of self-gratification, I'm not sure.

Beyond striving to create that magical moment and reaction for a spectator, it is also a great avenue for the creative urge that we all have; trying to make an effect your own in the way you present it and so on.

I like the creative aspect of inventing and putting together effects. For me the single most important aspect of doing magic is creating something that is completely impossible for the spectators to explain. If a clever spectator even have a remote chance of arriving at some kind of partial explanation, I would never include the effect on my repoitoire or I would at least change the presentation dramatically.

I did magic on and off since I was a child. I wish I had more time to practice, but though I occationally perform for money (well paid), I treat magic as a hobby.

Derren Brown is an example of a performer who in my mind is doing very strong magic. I do not personally like the darker aspect of his presentations, but I like to do effects that for the spectators appears as impossible as many of Derrens effects. Many of my effects have a touch of mentalism, though I never have taken the step (except in a few private halloween parties) to become a mentalist. I have however invented a number of mentalist effects I am quite proud of.

Because it is fun, and it makes me happy.

I have put a lot of time into this very question. For me it comes down to a few things.
1st I was born into it but I have put it aside and always come back to it.
2nd. I too find the practice relaxing.
3rd. Doug henning said it best. I love to create that sense of wonder. I find it is missing in so much of our lives.
4th. I find it very freeing. There are no rules (provided you don't tip the secret.) I hate it when some idiot magi tells me that I can't do something a certain way because that is not what the book says. I can dream up an idea and then find a process to make it work.
5th. I also don't like being told I can't do something. Well technically maybe I can't, but perhaps I can make you believe that I can.

I get most enjoyment from the reaction I get from my spectators. To spend you time practicing endlessly to get a routine right and then to see the appreciation on peoples faces is exactly why I do magic.
This is why I will never understand the ego magician who uses their skills to show the audiences how clever they are. They are truly missing out on the best part.

To bring a sense of wonder into people's lives.

And to earn a living.

I forgot to put in that I just love doing it, and that to me, the specs are a small part of it. That small part is huge though. Hope you understand that.

Paul Harris was dead on when describing "Pure Astonishment".

I perform magic to see the look in people's eyes, especially when they have never seen a magician in real life before, when that moment of pure astonishment is sparked inside of them. The reaction drives me 95% and self-satisfaction of pulling something off drives me 5% of the way. You could even go so far as to say I get a natural high when someone is so dumbfounded, that after going through every single one of his "filing cabinets" and left with nothing other than that moment of astonishment, there is nothing left for him/her to do but laugh, relax, and have the most sensational time of their lives for the 10 or so minutes I'm with them.

Also the fact that I can make some money doing it (or at least try to relieve my wallet from my latest CUPS attack) never hurts; although I would do it for no money what-so-ever (Please no innuendo thread... ).

~Magically Dave
www.davidrysin.com

cuz we enjoy the looks on other peoples faces

First and foremost, because I just love it!
Secondly, and almost as importantly, I need to earn a living.