talkmagic.co.uk

themagicwand wrote:Hopefully, as with all exposure, the actual "secret" will soon be forgotten by the snotty nosed kids who watch the programme. I used to see it all the time when I used to do kids' shows - kids would say "I know how to do that!" I'd ask "Oh, how do I do it then?" and the kids would think and then say "I've forgotten now." One can only hope for the sake of kids' entertainers that the same thing happens here.

This is also another reason why I got out of the kid show circuit. I just don't need the grief. Doing tarot card readings and seance theatre is a lot more civilised. The spirits are easier to handle than most 6 year olds.

This is why I don't not, and never plan on getting in to kids magic, I don't care if it does pay well, it might not, I'm not sure

Why Souceror. Really! WHY? Sourcerees also. It's magician! "Yes Sourceror sir" WTF? Yes sir would be okay, but sourceror, come on!

Hello!

I came across this thread and thought I would post.

I was the magic consultant for this show so wanted to make some comments on here.

To start with, I designed the majority of tricks that were taught and the remainder were public domain tricks. I wanted to use tricks that the average working pro would not use and also make some of the tricks impractical in the sense of not being able to perform them just anywhere. For example, the vanishing coin which had to performed already set up as your opener and could not just done anytime and the mentalism effect with the cups which was very fiddly to set up and had to be done carefully.

Anyway, the point is I wanted to prevent more valuable magic like TTs, DL, card in wallets or special coins etc. The magic had to be fun, challenging and not too professional. I was not the only person up for the position of magic consultant and someone else wanted to use 30 public domain tricks. Who knows what could have been included. I mangaed to get the list to about 15 tricks and some of there were my inventions like the vanishing coin and ring to teddybear and some were tricks I designed specifically for the show - transportation paper ball and both mentalism tricks. The public domain tricks in books or internet are the ones like the floating cup, rising wand or ring on wand etc.

In the rising wand, IT was not used but black sewing thread.

The show is aimed at children. The majority of spectators for a working magician nowadays are adults and at 5pm they would normally still be at work or 8am getting ready to go to work so they I assume would not see this show. The children that do see the shows do not see tricks that the average children's entertainer would see (eg brightly coloured props - run rabbit run) so I don't believe the tricks taught would interfere with working children's magicians either. Kids can't say I know how you did that at a show because they are not the sort of tricks you would see at a party especially as some are mine and never been seen before.

I do agree as does Max that the show would be just as good without the exposure and should there be a second series and should I be asked to work on it again, that would be more of our goal. But the exposure was minimal - either accidental during performance or practice or just to maintain interest. There would have been a lot more but I managed to sit in the edits with the producers to overlook the magic and minimise the exposure as much as possbile. Sometimes I did but sometimes a comprimise was the only outcome with the editors. It could have been a lot worse so I feel it is not too bad an outcome.

I am a member of the Magic Circle and my membership may be on the line. I don't want to be expelled but if that is what happens - so be it. However I do find it fascinating that the consultants for the Quick Trick Show where magic is taught and exposed (and other TV shows where magic was exposed) are still members of the Magic Circle. It seems depending on who you are in the Magic world you can get away with anything. Tad unfair.

The show is about the children and how important and DIFFICULT becoming a magician is. Respect, practice and discipline are just as important as the secrets. There have been hundreds of posts on the CBBC message boards saying how much they are enjoying the show and that is what counts - promoting magic to create new magicians.

These kids on the show had an amazing time. I know because I still keep in contact with a few of the Sorcerees and they are still very much into magic and practicing so it was not just a quick phase of TV exposure for them. The show changed them and we hope it will change the watching kids too!

Best wishes,

Angelo

Wow Firstly, thank for taking the time to visit and put your point of view across. it's easy to criticise when you only see one side and from the little that I have seen of the show I am looking at things in a slightly different perspective now.

I did note (as it was the one full episode that i saw) that IT was not mentionned and it was indeed black thread that was used. I also think that whatever was put onl it can't have been easy to come up with the material.

I'll follow this thread with more interest from now on

Thank you Mr.C. all very much appreciated!

I only managed to see the last two shows. Yes, there is some exposure, but nothing that is going to effect people who take time to come up with their own handling and presentation. Look at some of the items found in magic sets for children. The instructions make it sound as if you can perform magic in 5 minutes after reading them. They go and show someone, do it badly, which causes exposure. This, as in the amount in the show, has got to be balanced to the interest that is generated for the next generation of magicians and also the audience. It wasn't the same as the exposure sites you can find on the internet.

I could be wrong, but the programme was made to aim at a childrens audience, with the magicians aiming to promote magic.

It wasn't made for a bunch of older magicians to watch, just to see if the quality of magic was up to Magic Circle standered.

Instead of writing to the Magic Circle to complain, why don't you see if they can think of the way to carry on the momentum.

There are so many comments that young people just want to be the next Blaine or Angel wannaby. Wouldn't it be great to have then influenced by this show, which showed them coming up with their own patter, using their personalities, to come up with their own performances. The fact that they had to perfoem the same trick as lots of others was a big plus, as it showed how to make a routine, rather than show a trick.

I would say if you really want to complain to the Magic Circle then I can't stop you. However if you feel the series was a good thing for children then please let the Magic Circle know. Maybe they may give me just a warning

Darrel wrote:Instead of writing to the Magic Circle to complain

As far as I'm aware, nobody has actually written to complain, just to ask for their thoughts and comments. Magicians on Secrets of Magic were allegedly expelled from the MC for 'exposing' secrets which they'd created especially for the programme, just like Sorcerer's Apprentice have done and with the same intention - preserving the real secrets. Way too harsh IMHO but that's what they decided. I've had three PMs from working professionals specialising in Children's Magic who are worried (as opposed to complaining) that the effects within their routines are now at risk. One of those guys has just commented that whether black thread or IT is used is largely academic, the point is that the basic idea has been revealed. OK, as with our old pal the Masked Magician, all this will die down, fade away and in about 4 weeks few will remember the details but, it's still a relevant topic worthy of discussion. It will be interesting to see if any follow up programmes are made which see these kids progress and become fully fledged performing magicians. If so, I won't mind eating humble pie, I've grown quite accustomed to the taste!

Can anyone tell me what happened in today's episode of the show? Was it the final? If so, who won? I've watched every one, and this is the only one that I've missed!!
Thanks.

If you watch tomorrow's extra show on BBC2 - 8am I think, you should see a recap of today's final. Judging by your location you should be very happy with the winner

I think the show has done nothing but GOOD for magic! Hugely entertaining (like all good magic!) The kids really CARED about their performance, one little girl in tears etc! I thought it was excellent! WHAT A GREAT SHOW!

Really enjoyed what I saw.........

danata wrote:one little girl in tears

Tears of joy at reaching the next round - I hope!

Through the Studio, I see a few youngsters (not many, I turn many kids away, I can be like the wicked witch of the North!) In the past there has been one or two "Dodgy" type kids that got into magic that entered the Studio, but proved to me their genuine interest in magic, & I helped them.

When in time I have got to know them I've asked them, what they would be up to if they hadn't got into magic. On more than one occasion DRUGS has been the answer!

Magic is like a drug (being an addictive pastime, as we all know!) if a few secrets can generate an interest, a LOVE, & PASSION for Magic that keeps kids OFF of other things, then it HAS to be a good thing! Of course this will not be the case for ALL kids (we wouldn't want EVERY kid to be a "Magician" anyway would we? we'd have no one to "Magish" for!

One child can have a Magic Set for Christmas, & nothing comes of it, another child can have the same set, & it alters the course of their life for ever (I was the latter child!)

This programme will undoubtedly produce a future contender for the Magic Circle Young Magician Of The Year, be it one of the youngsters who appeared on the show, or someone sitting at home after school watching the T.V. & realising that what they saw sparked off an interest.

I say it's a GOOD THING!

Besides If Magicians are relying on the tricks that were shown to earn a living, THEN THEY DESERVE TO BE POOR!

My concern in reading this thread (no pun) is that many of you have slipped into a moral relativism about exposure. There are many great effects based on some really simple principles. I am curious where one draws the boundary in this world view between what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to expose on mass TV? The whole show could have worked equally as well without the exposure, as some posts have already noted.

I entertained 300 people waiting for the Harry Potter book in front of Waterstones last night. That is how you inspire kids (and adults)....

I watched the programme this morning and was completely taken over by the emotion of it all. Frankly I wouldn't have been able to get those 6 down to any fewer than 3 so Max & Co had a very tough job. It's understood that a lot of footage had to be edited down foe each programme and then even more for the 'Extra' versions each morning so the pace was obviously quicker but there were enough quiet moments to provide contrast. I would appreciate knowing which magic routine they used to get all that lovely sunny weather outside - that would be worth a few quid!

The part where I thought all the Brownie points were won was where Max spoke to them of etiquette, manners, communications and all those wonderful social skills so necessary in magic and so often missing in real life. Can Max now do a Jamie Oliver and campaign for a similar lecture in every school please?

As a kids/family entertainer I was at first shocked by the talk of exposure on this program. I did not wish to post as I had not seen it.
Having seen it, and I may say enjoyed it, my opinion is that it will not make one jot of difference to the average kids entertainer. Please keep exposure to the absolute minimum in future programs, but to be honest I get kids shouting out how tricks are done all through my show due mainly to marvin sets.
On occasion this actualy helps me.
For example I do a very short cups and balls routine.
A kid may shout out that there is an ...... ball, but the others are not listening, or the kids explanation makes little sense. Then I go into the section with the FD and the balls dissapearing and appearing in cups of their choice and end with the standard lemon load. This bit blows their mind and they then ask themselves if they actualy diod know how it was done after all.
Fibre optics is the same. the kids shout out they know the prof knight bit, but the slydini count and rest of the routine blows them away. You can actualy see these kids getting more and more confussed, then amazed as you go into it.
Angelo Carbone, in my opinion has done a great job.
Loved the fact as mentioned before about the focus on manners and dissapline required to be a proper magician. The real focus of this show seemed to me to be on performance rather than the magic, which is where the real magic is anyway.
Thanks for posting, I am still worried (I always do) about exposure but I feel my art is in safer hands than two weeks ago.