watching the YouTube link posted by bmat (under Cringe) has made me think about a few things. I hope you all get something out of the following...I've been performing magic since I was 9 years old. I would perform firstly to family and friends until I was 15 or so, when I started performing semi-professionally in the school holidays doing children's parties, and then after I left school before I started university.
When I was 13 or 14, I used to think I was David Copperfield. It was a good dream, thing was, technically, I was pretty good, I played the piano as well, my fingers were nimble, and my card sleights were smooth. While I was nowhere near as bad as the guy on YouTube, my presentation needed a little work mind. By the time I was performing for money, I was entertaining (I wouldn't say very funny, because that's not me, but charming and personal, maybe), and I finally realised that I wasn't David Copperfield, and didn't try to act like I was.
Despite taking a break from performing, I've never really lost interest in magic, but my focus changed, from performing, to running a website called The Magician's Corner for beginners, while I was at uni, as I didn't have room for a lot of props, or much time for practise. The site, which I originally started when I was 15, had its own domain, and was very popular. So popular, I had to pull it in my last year at uni, because it was becoming too expensive to run, and taking up too much time.
After this point, I was really just watching magic on the TV, and making the odd unequal/equal ropes presentation to anyone who asked me 'what happened to the magic?' I can't explain why I stopped my hobby, it just kind of happened over time, as I had work, uni, girlfriend, you know the script.
Fast forward to this year, I've started the magic up again, and I've noticed a huge change. Firstly, I'm nowhere near as nimble as I used to be, and I'm having to practise very hard with any sleight of hand, because it's coming back slowly. However, the main change in me is my performance. Sure, I'm older and wiser (well, a little bit, anyway), and my hair's going the same way as Paul Daniels', but, the 2 shows I've done so far, which I have videoed to review for future reference, is not the ever-so-slightly rustiness (which I notice, but the audience doesn't really), but the passion. I genuinely look like I'm enjoying myself, and if I'm honest, I really am!
My point is this, as I'm sure you'll know, and as our friend on YouTube has so kindly demonstrated, magic is more than just sleight of hand, and apt technical ability, it's about entertaining your audience, and more than that, genuinely enjoying what you are doing. Someone like David Blaine generally doesn't look like he's particularly enjoying himself, but there's the odd clip of him reacting to a spectator's reaction, and the big smile on his face says it all - he enjoyed entertaining his spectator, which gives me a little more respect for the guy, even although I don't particularly like his presentation.
If you don't enjoy your performing and practising, you'll burn yourself out, and lose interest, as I'm sure will eventually happen to that poor kid on YouTube, once he realises that he's actually rubbish, and once a few people actually tell him that. My wife told me the other night that she could see that 'little red ball scrunched up in your hand', and I realised, that despite practising in the mirror until I thought it was perfect, she was sitting quite low in our sofa, and I was standing, and she could see under, and the sponge ball I was palming. Must practise more, and try harder, I thought to myself, as I looked forward to putting in a bit more practise last night.
Moral of the story? Your audience will enjoy your performance that little bit more if you enjoy it too, and genuinely show it during your performance. Skill and sleight of hand can only take you so far (although, that would be a start for our little YouTube friend). I'm not saying that we all have to be Jay Sankey, but he's another magician, whether you love or hate him (and I think he's great) who clearly has a passion for his art, and loves what he's doing.
I'm sure most of the posters on here probably feel the same about their magic, otherwise, we wouldn't be posting so much on here, but if you're new to the forum, might be worth a thought
