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Who would you think would make better magicians---thieves or actors? Just some food for thought. Im curious what you guys think.

Actors.

What is it about nicking stuff that would make somebody a good magician?

and why is it a review request?

The confidence it takes a thief

Actors, it's all very well knowing all the complex moves but counts for nothing if you can't present it in a magical way. Even the simplist of tricks can be very impressive with a good and convincing presentation.

estilt9 wrote:The confidence it takes a thief

Okay, well, let's assume that is true:

What about the confidence it takes to be an actor? Especially for the theatre - to be able to get up in front of hundreds of people each and every night and take their audiences on this emotional voyage through the story?

What about an actor's ability to act (hopefully convincingly)? What about their ability to work with their audiences' emotions, to know how to - for want of a better word - manipulate them to benefit the story? These things are more important than confidence in a magician wouldn't you say? They're surely missing from a lot of performances.

Confidence is derived from knowing that you know the material you are performing well, and that you can do it almost flawlessly. Confidence comes to most people in performance - acting ability doesn't necessarily.

very well put cardza---When I meant thieves I meant like professional pickpockets and such----almost magicians in their own right---but I agree with you---Its all about the presentation and therefore an actor would have the edge---thank you for the reply

you make very good points as well lady of mystery

I would say actors. But if you had a pick pocket routine then surely the thief?

All the thieves in my part of the world are smacked up inbreds. Cant imagine that would be fun to watch. And all magicians are actors to some degree.

I imagine that would depend completely on the person. However magicians traditionally make horrible thieves, their ego's get in the way. Magic is acting not thieving, two completely different mind sets.

And while we are at it magicians make horrible gamblers, Daryl being the exception to the rule. And most make even worse cheating gamblers. While we think we know the moves. We don't. We know the magic moves that we call gamblers moves, but they are not, they are magic sleights and nothing more. Cheaters at the table use an entirely different arsenol.

Magicians are actors, full-stop.

Thieves? I've never heard such botox. Magic DEALERS, perhaps , but not magicians.

I've always had the opinion that theives are theives because they have no confidence to do anything more worthwhile.

If you look at the majority of thieves their goal in life is to select the easiest target and then run away for an easy life.

Where's the confidence in that?

Hello all,

So, it depends. If the thief were a pickpocket or a cardsharp, he or she would have an easier time becoming a class-act magician than an actor who would have to learn such sleights. The thief would also have the advantage of a lifetime of studying people in order to know when to do his or her crime of choice, for timing to the thief and the magician as well as attitude, proper use of force, how to use the eyes, motion, humor, conversation, and surprise would all be natural and necessary,, whereas the actor would merely be imitating a magician and thus would have to learn or simply mimic these skills. That being said, a typical actor would possibly be more inclined to be a magician than a thief would be, yet, of course, this is a mere generality and thus carries no weight.

The Magician Thief sounds kind of sexy. What can I say. As an Illusionist, I must say that I could think of many many ways to use Illusions in the art of say, cat burglary, for instance. Now then, as for the perfect outfit, hmmm...

Love,

Amanda Angeli

an acting thieve?
or a thieving actor?
but if you just want one, I'd say an actor. Magicians are actors who do a little more with their hands (Please don't put that in the innuendo thread... please )
If an actor could just learn the sleights, they would be a magician.
If a pickpocket/thief could just learn the sleights, they would NOT be a magician.