talkmagic.co.uk

This article has an interesting perspective on presenting yourself as a magician (or not) from card workers perspective.

http://magicgizmo.com/home/Showmanship/ ... ician.html

That's definitely an interesting point, and - if he felt a perceived stigma - I'd say he dealt with it particularly well. There are other ways around it as well, presenting yourself as an ex-casino hustler and just doing the very specific gambling stuff, but that's an interesting one - especially that it makes no reference to the word "magic".

I never refer to myself as a magician. No offense to all the... er... magicians... on this... forum for magicians... but I find the word has a very cheesy stigma attached. I just "do stuff with cards" if people ask me.

As has been said many, many times, the specs will put the label on you regardless so don't bother giving yourself one.. if you know what I mean...

As the RAF put it.....I am a tosser with no friends except a deck of cards now drop and gimme 50 you (can not finish sentancr due to language used).

Some of the guys on my course thought wow a magician in our room which led to me getting allot of practice but one lad was a knob and ripped the hell out of me for it..

But you are a magician and if you want to get bookings then you need to sell yourself as a magician. I don't understand what the article is getting at, I'd much rather be remembered as a magician because that's going to lead to more bookings than if I'm remembered as that 'guy who does clever things with cards'. Magician says 'entertainer' and that will be remembered by people if they ever decide that they need a magician for a function.

Given the popularity of magic on TV -- even if it is the likes of the Masked One -- and magic-themed fiction (e.g. Jonathan Creek, The Mentalist), not to mention stage shows people are "paying big bucks" to see, it's hard for me to believe the statement "almost nobody wants to admit liking magic any more".

More likely they're just put off by being accosted by a total stranger and asked "Do you want to see a trick?"

When performing professionally, I openly introduce myself as a magician. And yes, there is a cheesey sort of stigma attached to being a magician - people's experience of holiday camp magicians doig tacky one liners can lead to them assuming you'll be just the same.

The thing is though, I'm not the same, I'm a damn sight better, and that leaves people thinking "I've seen some magicians in my time, but this guy was really good". I'm not just bigging myself up here, I'm saying that if people assume you'll be c*** (not the best), it's even easier to look good.

Magicians alone have the problem with being called a magician. The Lay people don't seem to care. Yes there are lame nerdy connotations with being a magician in the minds of a few, but if you play your cards right you can quickly overcome that stigma. I have found that most people become very interested very quickly when they find out I am a magician.

Same is true with card tricks its only the magicians that hate them lay people love them. Further a good magician is a good magician. If you entertain your audience the label and style will mean nothing to the spectator just that you are 'amazing'

Magicians (at least the ones who don't like being called magicians or who don't like card tricks) will tell you different but 30 yrs of experience has proven that those magicians either suck as magicians or don't really perform in front of the lay audience.

I walked up cold to a potential client today and introduced myself as a magician. She said it brought to mind Paul Daniels, which she actually enjoyed watching. I guess only some people have negative stereotypes of magicians

I find that article pretty amusing... "I'm not a magician, I'm an ex-accountant who found I had an uncanny affinity for numbers, and can memorise..." yawn...

I suppose it's become more fashionable for people to call themselves "close-up illusionists", "card sharps", anything but magician, but I really don't think it's necessary. If you feel magic has a negative connotation, why not try to change that by being fresh and original?

And you can't put "I'm just someone who does a few things with playing cards" on a business card, which is why this whole "magicians are cheesy, I'm much cooler" attitude annoys me. Hobbyists making out that they are "cooler" than people who ply their trade night after night for a living.

i've been dabbling with linguistics and peoples concepts over certain words recently..."psychic" being one of them...

but lets not open that particular kettle of worms...(yes i know, a mixed metaphor but the image it conjoured up was most amusing...anyway)...

i think to open up your set with "so then, if i were to say the word 'magic' to you - what would that mean in your experience?"

by starting off with a question, you are already engaging with your little audience...and getting some info back that you can use to your advantage...

whatever they say, you smile and nod - and then just present yourself as either the inverse of that, or a reinforcement of it...

"i just think of people in spangly waistcoats and making rabbits jump out of hats..."

"really? that is interesting - so something from the 80s then, maybe? well, for me - that's really a cabaret style of magic...what if i were to tell you that magic for me means....*insert your viewpoint here*"

and away you go...

no challenge, you get to see things from their view, and you get to explain yours, its all done in under 3 minutes and you're set to go...no confrontation, no arguing...job done...

I agree with most of the comments - your personality and presentation will dictate whether or not you can introduce yourself as a 'magician' doing 'tricks'.
Personally, I don't use this approach. Sure, my business card says 'magician' on it, but my hope is by the time I hand that out it could say 'cow groomer' and they'd still want to book me for their wedding.
When I approach a table casually dribbling my cards from hand to hand I think this lets people know what I am there for. I usually say something like 'Good evening everyone. My name is Billy and I am doing some entertainment in the restaurant tonight. There's no money involved and no one gets hurt... unless it's self defence. Let me show you...'
I use this at almost every table and it works because you're telling people who you are, what you're doing and, most importantly in their minds, that there's no money involved. The 'self defence' gag always gets a laugh and so you're informing your audience whilst disarming them with a little humour.
Just my take on things, but try it - it does work!

Oh- just say you are a magician and be done with it. In fact say it in capital letters. MAGICIAN. It really is something to be proud of. People are impressed by it more than you think.

When I was younger I used to feel a slight tinge of inferiority over the term "magician" I think it stemmed from advertisements in the Stage newspaper saying "variety acts of all kinds required (no magicians)"

Magicians called themselves all sorts of things such as "comedy acts" or "psychic entertainers" or "children's entertainers. Paul Daniels called himself an "unusualist" Anything to avoid the dreadful word "magician"

I think in retrospect I made a mistake by my nervous attitude to the title.
This was brought home to me at the Canadian Embassy in Dublin when an official told me "you are a member of an ancient and honourable profession. You will be a cultural and artistic asset to Canada"

Little did he know of course. However it did bring home to me the enormous respect people have for GOOD magicians. Alas the awful performers out there besmirch our reputation. However if you are GOOD then be proud to say that you are a MAGICIAN.