As you would expect, my interest in magic has inspired a small group of followers. Unfortunatley, try as I do, they are the typical 'ellusionist' type of hobbyists. Very, very frustrating. Any ideas?
It is one of the most cringe-worthy and painful experiences to watch a good trick be absolutley destroyed and exposed by dreadful presentation. How can I try and nudge them to go down the route of studying magic.
''To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in another's.'' Dostoevsky's Razumihin.
Best suggestion I can think of is to show them clips of proper magicians performing good magic. If nothing else it'll give them an idea of how magic can and should be performed.
They will either get better or give up. Once they get caught enough times my bet is give up. Also be better then they are, let them see the reactions you get versus the reactions they get. Also follow the other suggestions on here and remember. some people are never really going to be a magician because they are not going to get passed the fantasy part of creating miracles just by waving your hands around.
I will tell you what it isn't- it doesn't involve youtube or some dodgy 'david blaine revealed' website, nor is it entirely dependant upon gimmicks.
I am trying to get them to appreciate presention, so I taught them a card trick without explaining the presentation and subtleties behind it- I made them go and perform it for someone and it was worked out straight away, so I then performed it to someone and explained how I made it more miraculous, entertaining and baffling. I went to watch them again and they were better, but they were repeating me verbatm. Now I have to get them to be origional, that will be my biggest challenge.
I was almost as annoyed as when I say caught one explaining the miracle change to someone because they hadn't been bothered to learn it properly and instead of practicing it he deemed himself fit to explain it to someone else
''To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in another's.'' Dostoevsky's Razumihin.