talkmagic.co.uk

Lee Smith wrote:Hi guys,

I would love to do this but cant make my mind up at the moment. Some of you will know that I have alot going on at the moment, and with work as well I am not sure I am in the best frame of mind.

Still havent decided tho

Just my opinion but I believe this is an opportunity of a lifetime! The chance to perform to millions in Britain alone. Who knows what doors could be opened after this. As long as you perform well and do it primarily for the audience at home then you'll get great recognition. You have some great material and I think you could kill the audience at home. I think to actually go all out to fool P and T would be a mistake as they are so knowledgeable you would have to sacrifice some great material to fool them. Although doing so would be an absolutely fantastic bonus and should definitely be pursued to some extent, just not go the detriment of the overall magical effect.
Enter at least and get yourself a place booked. That way you can opt out closer to the time if you have to.

I would say to anyone who gets this opportunity, that this is it. Time to get on stage and shine. Millions of people are sitting at home, glued to the screen, just waiting for you to blow them away! How good is that!!

Kind regards
Sean

PS I would give my right leg to be given an opportunity like this (but I don't think that's part of the criteria to get invited)

So who is auditioning for this?

theboss wrote:So who is auditioning for this?

Well after last time I don't think they'll come near me with a barge pole. Gutting really, I have a kicker ending to my metal routine...

I'm afraid I'm not so enthusiastic. If it weren't for the format, I'd be in favour big time of a new style magic showcase. But the way it's presented is, in my opinion, appalling.
In the first place, there was exposure, which I think we all agree, is detrimental to our art...but more than that, the whole tenor of the show isn't about enjoying magic as a performing art, it's about "let's try to work out how it's done". Surely this will mean that audiences in the future won't be just letting the magic "transport" them into a World of Mystery....rather they'll be desperately trying to figure out what you did, and how you did it. I think it's a great shame that this programme has passed the "pilot" test. I sincerely hoped that folks (as I did) would find the format dull and unimaginative.
Frankly, I can't imagine how to put magic in a poorer light. Even though there were some fabulous performances in the pilot, Penn and Teller's comments just brought everything down, and made it a match of wits and turned theatre into competition. I don't see how this will benefit the magic community in the long run, and was sorely disappointed with what I saw.
Someone has just come along and decided that magic can be presented in the same way as "Britain's Got Talent", "X-Factor", etc. It's unimaginative, dull, and ultimately very damaging to our art. In my opinion.

Pirate Potty wrote: the whole tenor of the show isn't about enjoying magic as a performing art, it's about "let's try to work out how it's done".

This isnt the first time this sort of thing has been done. A few years ago there was a show in which a panel of celebrities were shown various magic effects, then had to pick from multiple answers how they thought it was achieved. There was no exposure as the explainations were false, but the show left me cold - didnt like it at all.

jim

Not sure I agree with Pirate Potty on the exposure front. Firstly I feel that P&T worked hard to avoid exposure on the pilot and secondly it seems that it is only magicians that really get worked up about this anyway. Over the past 10+ years that I have made my living from performing there have been a number of exposure shows and articles im papers and none of them have been detrimental to the art. While I agree that exposure is not a good thing I also think that there are some spectators who will naturally be critical in the way they look at magic and others who will simply 'enjoy the experience'. Critical thinkers will always see it as a puzzle to be worked out no matter how well the secrets are kept. The skill is in tailoring your magic to suit te audience. Most of the people who watch the pilot will fall into the latter category. I don't think the format in any way encouraged more people to see it as something to be worked out. I purposely went out the following week and performed the routine done by Richard Bellers that was 'exposed' as a trick deck to people who had seen the show. Not one person made the connection. I simply performed it with my own style. I am sure that Richard has continued to perform it and not been affected by P&T's comments.

I for one am looking forward to the new series and believe it shows modern magic in a much better light than anything else that has been on uk tv. While there will be comments that made by P&T that upset a few magi I doubt wether any lay person will gain any knowledge from what they see. Those that do are probably the sort that will re-watch YouTube clips ad infinitum till they 'think' they've worked it out. In reality they would be baffled by any half decent 'performer' in a real life situation.

What concerns me more are the number magicians who perform with little or no skill that day by day tip audiences to how things are done. Anyone who works the circuits is used to the assumption made by audiences as you approach... 'oh great, another magician! I hope you're better than the last one we saw'.

James Brown

Pirate Potty wrote: Frankly, I can't imagine how to put magic in a poorer light.

Check out BBC's "Magicians".

Erwin wrote:

Pirate Potty wrote: Frankly, I can't imagine how to put magic in a poorer light.

Check out BBC's "Magicians".

Oh yeah! By the way, it wasn't so much the exposure that I didn't like, although I never see the need for this. No, it was the approach, and teaching audiences that magic is enjoyed best when it's seen as a puzzle, and not as entertainment.
I for one would be much happier to see a show presented by one or more personable magicians, which showcases many other performers as well. It's not a "new format", but a tried-and-tested one, which concentrates on providing entertainment.