by themagicwand » Apr 2nd, '09, 21:56
I've already discussed the difference between a medium and a psychic, and I think that we can all agree that mediumship is not something that any of us would dream of including in our repertoire. However...
It always amuses me when magicians harp on about mediums being conmen or conwomen, making an easy buck off poor unsuspecting innocents, then driving off in their big flash cars.
I work with a lot of mediums and trust me, if I was a conman the one job I wouldn't consider would be that of a medium. Have you any idea how much balls it takes to stand up in front of 200 strangers in a village hall in some god-forsaken mining village with nothing to protect you from the wrath of your audience but your talents as a medium? Honestly, you really have to believe in what you're doing and believe that your "gift" is real to do that.
Most mediums scrape by money-wise. Most work on the spiritualist church circuit where payment is by donation only - normally £5 per reading. Plus you have to address the congregation beforehand free of charge. Mediums I know travel hundreds of miles to work at a "church" only to do 4 readings and pootle off home in their 20 year old cars having made another loss on the night.
No, if I was a conman I'd sell non-existant property abroad or sleep with wealthy millionairesses. The last thing I would do would be embark on a career as a medium.
They may be misguided, they may be crackers, they may even (who knows) be right, but the one thing most mediums are not is heartless crooks.
We should organise the great Talk Magic mediumship demonstration. We should hire a community hall in, oh, let's say Barnsley. Advertise a "Night of Mediumship" and sell tickets at £5 a pop. Have the bar open from early doors so the audience can get nice and warmed up. Then have a magician who thinks mediumship is easy go out onto stage (well actually there'll be no stage, just the same floor that the audience are on) and show us all what a breeze it is. If the magician gets away with it and manages to fool the audience who go away happy, we can donate all proceeds to charity or even give the audience their money back. If the magician fails, well, Barnsley General Hospital isn't too far away. Any takers willing to give it a go?