talkmagic.co.uk

This is something I've been wondering about for a while now - what is the general public's view of us as magicians and mentalists and how has this come to be?

For example, there was this Irish comedian on Room 101 a while ago now and he basically described all magicians in a very negative light and it angered me. He clearly hadn't seen much real magic from his comments.

I've found that when performing as a magician people tend to joke around about magic and make fun of it a bit, but their attitudes completely change when they see some magic and they gain a lot of respect for the art.

As a mentalist people tend to take me more seriously.

Any comments or experiences you'd like to share...?

No one within a group or community likes to here the harsh truths that are applicable but statistically even, most who get involved with magic are individuals that are dealing with a hoard of emotional and mental health issues and that's jsut the tip of the iceberg.

Though the whole of the entertainment industry is highly conducive to drug, alcohol and a plethora of other addictions the magic and comedy realms seem to top the hit parade on such. Similarly, we tend to have the more difficult times when it comes with aging, sexual issues (far too many to list) and relationships in general. The fact of the matter is, most of us got into magic because it allowed us to do things others could not and thus, it fed our egos. Whenever this seems threatened, we get bent and don't seem to know how to deal with it.

Sadly, the very thing that helped "save" magic in the 50s & 60s is the primary contributor to what has given us a serious negative image... I refer to teh kiddie show issue generated via the auspices of early Tv personalities associated with magic & puppetry. Then, as we moved into the 70s, the whole "Illusion" angle that further removed from the art, it's sense of mystery and intrigue. This latter action being done so as to apease the current religious right contingent in the U.S. (primarily) who had problems with magic (an issue that's been revived in recent years) and of course, playing cards, etc.

Because of this chapter and our willingness (insistence) to cling to it and our right to do really bad magic with even worse (out of date) jokes, the typical magician has become seen by the layman as being a loser... that is, unless he/she is exceptional.

When I say "exceptional" the first part of this pertains to personality and charm followed by technique and the ability to ENTERTAIN! Once you get over that hump you have a chance at being seen as more than someone that does card tricks (see The Book of Haunted Magick pages 70-73 "Take A look in The Mirror")

Now, if you're doing all the same stuff your audience saw David Blaine do last week on Tv YOU AREN'T EXCEPTIONAL... you're a copy cat and won't go too far as such.

When you consider that less than 15% of us actually make an above average living doing nothing but shows, I believe the reality should be rather self-evedent. Most of us that claim the title "Professional" struggle and rarely break the $35-40k annual gross income marker. The majority of us living like a farmer... equipment & property rich but financially busted for the most part. I remember working my tail off just to cover storage costs on props let alone feeding the family and covering rent.

The other thing that's a turn off to the average layperson is that the typical magician seems to either depend upon a deck of cards or some kind of funny looking box... this has changed recently given the "discovery" of so many, in Mentalism but even in this vein we have certain "common" things people do that becomes a joke in the mind of the public... think of a number between... think of an odd two digit number... etc.

Many years ago Roy Houston told me a very important thing about putting a show together... "Make certian you do magic that the public wants to see not the stuff you like." There's a major difference!

I had a Lights thru Lady Illusion that I absolutely loved but, it never worked well in the show and got very low reactions... I had to take it out of the show even though I thought it was fantastic. This is a harsh reality many of us ignore, but it's an important bit of busines we need to keep in mind. We may be "self-employed" but we still have a big employer -- the lay public! If they don't like what we do, we don't work! If we don't stand out in their mind, we don't work! If we aren't different from all the rest, we don't get paid better than our competitors.

Lots to be considered!

Unfortunately it is true that a very large number of people call themselves magicians because they learn how to do a few tricks which they then go out and slaughter in front of an audience. We get the odd few turn up here, but most of this type are too lazy or big headed to try to improve.

Consider the amount of practice that even the simplest sleight of hand needs to get up to performance standard and ask yourself how many people you know would be prepared to put that much effort in. It's the people who don't bother who get those of us who do take it seriously a bad name, and it seems that a fair few who label themselves as professionals fall into this category.

Craig Browning wrote:

Many years ago Roy Houston told me a very important thing about putting a show together... "Make certian you do magic that the public wants to see not the stuff you like." There's a major difference!

Excellent advice for those looking to start performing!

I have built up a fixed routine that seems to work for most occasions, but I have a gap in the middle where I try new stuff out. Once a day I make en entry in a log book showing which effects I used, where, when, audience reactions, type of audience. etc. Every so often I analyse the log and I often find it is the effects I dont like too much that seem to get the best reactions. I quickly learn to like those effects.

Discombobulator wrote:I have built up a fixed routine that seems to work for most occasions, but I have a gap in the middle where I try new stuff out. Once a day I make en entry in a log book showing which effects I used, where, when, audience reactions, type of audience. etc. Every so often I analyse the log and I often find it is the effects I dont like too much that seem to get the best reactions. I quickly learn to like those effects.

Keep this up, it's a very sound habit.

I've been doing shows since I was about six years old (that's a very long time) and I still give myself a "report card" on each show. I even have a research form that I put out to the audience via our programs, that allows the audinece itself to rate each routine on a scale from 1 - 10 so I know what is working best with which types of groups, etc. It's a never ending practice from which we all benefit from (as does our audience). If more of us used this course of action, I don't think we'd have the negative type-cast image drawn around us we tend to have.

Another thing that would help "correct" this issue is a bit of Honesty vs. the political games we find in our various organizations. In other words, when you see a guy/gal at the monthly magic club meeting do some bad stuff TELL THEM! Don't be cruel, but let them know that they need to do this, that or the other to improve upon what they are trying to make happen. At the same time, if they are arrogant jerks that simply won't listen and insist on presenting magic that is half-baked, give them a swift kick in the rubber parts and tell them to stop ruining magic for their audiences and the rest of the world... shame them into either improving or quitting!

Many years ago there was an Illusionist on the west coast that had more money than God and owned some piss-elegant props built by John Gaughan, etc. BUT, he sucked as a performer and had a squeeky voice and other speech impediments that detracted from what could have been a solid revue show. AFter several years of trying he kindof sortof threw in the towel... he shifted gears and started letting his stronger talents work for him. He no longer performed and yet, most of you have seen his magic.

Why?

Because he became one of the best script writers and consultants for magic and variety shows in the business. He had to find his 'niche' and that is the problem most of us run into... we bust our butts climbing up hill doing the things we "want to do" instead of finding the area we are best suited for. For me, it was a love afair with major illusions even though I had Max Maven and at least a dozen others telling me to get out of the furniture moving business (that's what they call Illusionists) and into Mentalism... well, after several failed shows and dozens of shattered dreams I finally found myself in the position of doing what everyone else was suggesting I do and in nearly an instant, finding a heightened degree of success, recognition and respect from within the industry I'd never before known.

We must learn to LISTEN and take critique even when it seems to go against some of the things we think are right for us. Those watching from the outside can see things we will miss and it's what they see, that proves to be the better road map nine out of ten times.

Nickj pretty much hits the nail on the head when he writes: "Unfortunately it is true that a very large number of people call themselves magicians because they learn how to do a few tricks which they then go out and slaughter in front of an audience. We get the odd few turn up here, but most of this type are too lazy or big headed to try to improve."

That may sound cruel but it's certainly accurate!

Magic has suffered more at the hands of bad magicians that anything else.

No member of the public believes that a magician has "supernatural powers" and yet far too many performers, tyring to astound with the latest piece of plastic junk, claim that very thing. And they are laughable!

Lay adults consider magic fit for kids primarily because that's what so many bad magicians have made it!

Don't blame the public; blame bad magicians!

What a fabulous post craig and a real eye opener for me as I do tend to perform the tricks I like rather that the tricks people want to see.

Certainly allot to think about.

Thank you

Dean

Some thought-proving posts, that's for sure. Don't think I got in to magic because of mental health problems though...was eight at the time

Peter Marucci wrote:No member of the public believes that a magician has "supernatural powers" and yet far too many performers, tyring to astound with the latest piece of plastic junk, claim that very thing. And they are laughable!

That's one of the quibbles this comedian had, about the way magicians reveal cards mystically when they already know what it is. I'm sure the comedian wasn't intending to be harsh - in fact he probably had the right given the poor magic performances he'd probably seen! I think that's why a lot of performers have started to lean towards the psychological side now, so that they can ground their performances in science logic, or at least psuedo-science logic. Trouble is a lot of the time they only parrot stock phrases and don't take the time to learn about psychology and the like.

I have come across many people who know a tiny bit of magic and perform something terribly and then go on to show how it was done. I agree that it is people like this who give magic a bad name - their disrespect for the art rubs off on the public and the whole society looses face. If people who seemingly know about magic treat it without care then so will their audiences.

Don't think I got in to magic because of mental health problems though...was eight at the time

Hey, I was four when I got my first magic kit (my mother still says it was the biggest mistake she ever made... it's been 42 years now that she's not forgiven herself of such things...)

I wouldn't call it "mental health" just psychological quirks more than anything. I know, for an example, in the early research around ADD/ADHD, etc. it was found that young people dealing with this condition were actually drawn to magic, puppets, etc. in part, as a mode of expression and compensation (as noted) but also as a means by which to communicate and, in some instances, escape. Then too, there's the Fruedian paradigm around this magic issue as well i.e. the woman hater (because of how we tend to mutilate the ladies in a show) and of course, the exact opposite of this, the womanizer (or worse, the general run-of-the-mill pervert).

Sadly, this is a very dark and heavy cross we must bare when it comes to the negative image many hold towards magicians and most particularly clowns and "children's" performers... a very gross statistical element sustains the fact that many sexual predators take on this kind of role. It is most unfortunate that this "curse" has been proven more than a few times with some rather noted members of our establishment over the years.

I guess it's part of my quizical mind, but I just have the need to research my own quirks and try to explain to myself why I do certain things or why I am the kind of person I am... it's a peculiar hobby but one that has opened my mind to a most fantastic universe of perspectives and understanding that goes a bit outside the "norm" e.g. I end up with all kind of trivial insights, such as the psychological perspectives shared herein about magic, magicians and of course, the children's entertainer issue.

Ah, right, okay - I see what you mean now.