talkmagic.co.uk

There was a thread recently titled "How many Magic Props?" (ftopic42482.php)

The OP was asking members "...how many items of magic all the collectors have on the site?"

mr invisible wrote:Just for the record, have been collecting for over 10 years now and have filled my entire spare bedroom to the top, just a small example of my CUPS lol.

I find this quite interesting. For many modern hobbyists of the craft, being 'into' magic appears to mean that they see themselves as consumers of magical material (books, props, DVD's etc.) rather than performers of magic. To be fair to the OP, he does self-identify as a 'collector'.

It may be the case that one of the reasons why (and there are many, as concepts like CUPS illustrate) is becasue so much of the vast quantity of material produced nowadays is terrible. It can get very costly wading through a slew of slickly-produced glossy-paged harback volumes with poorly concieved material to try and find the quality material. Most reviews don't really help guide the amateur magi either. Most just jump on the latest shiniest thing, heaping praise on it in seconds (in order to justify their investment and not appear foolish), without even exercising the material.

So, members of TM, What does 'being into magic' mean to you? How would you describe your relationship to magic? Are you a consumer, performer, or a little bit of both? Is it necessarily a bad thing of one is a collector only?

Most magicians hoard and buy lots of things, certainly in the early stages.
Once the initial novelty has worn off, you tend to be much more selective in what you purchase.

These days I tend to go for things I know I can definitely use but still am tempted by those shiny objects that are "nice to have". I have loads of close up gigs coming up and a few seances so have recently purchased items I know I will use in those environments. Even now though, you can still get stung by something that looks and sounds great but turns out to be rubbish or impractical.

is becasue so much of the vast quantity of material produced nowadays is terrible.

This is my experience but not many people come out and say it so I'm glad you have. I'm now starting to be far more picky about what I buy as most of it isn't used.

I'm just starting to come up with my own ideas, I don't just want to impersonate others I want my magic to feel fresh and have some humour to it although at the moment I'm not much of a performer. I'm at a stage now where I'm looking at everyday objects in a new light and thinking, how could I use that?

Lord Freddie wrote:Most magicians hoard and buy lots of things, certainly in the early stages.
Once the initial novelty has worn off, you tend to be much more selective in what you purchase.

I don't quite agree. Those whose focus is clearly on performance right from the beginning tend to buy what they need. But we often don't encounter them because many of them do not join magic clubs, do not join forums, and do not mix with other magicians.

I buy what I need and absolutely nothing more. I am a performer, with zero interest in collecting effects.

I also find that as time goes on I have less and less interest in mixing with other magicians, unless they are my friends, or nice people. I was a member of no magic clubs for several years, and I am thinking of returning to that happy condition.

I think, Tony, in the early stages people do tend to experiment with different styles/genres of magic until they find what they are comfortable with. Of course there are exceptions but most I know have had the "surge" for the first two years before settling into what they are best at.

I understand where you're coming from re:magic clubs. I've never joined a local club or been to a convention. It just doesn't interest me.

TonyB wrote:Those whose focus is clearly on performance right from the beginning tend to buy what they need. But we often don't encounter them because many of them do not join magic clubs, do not join forums, and do not mix with other magicians.

I buy what I need and absolutely nothing more. I am a performer, with zero interest in collecting effects.

I also find that as time goes on I have less and less interest in mixing with other magicians, unless they are my friends, or nice people. I was a member of no magic clubs for several years, and I am thinking of returning to that happy condition.

Thanks Tony, interesting. I like how you differentiate between wants and needs. Maybe it is in the amateur mindset to acquire what one wants rather than that which one needs. Disclaimer, I'm no pro, in that I do not perform regularly to paying audiences, but I do like to think that I take a professional approach to the craft (in that I am performance-focused instead of acquisition-focused).

Since taking up the craft seriously about 15 years ago, I have yet to meet another person (in person, as it where) who shares the same interest. I have yet to join a club. Maybe it's this isolation from the amateur/ consumer side of things that gives me the perspective I have.

I think Tony took up magic later in life if I remember correctly. Most people start when they are in their teens. I think that makes a difference in the pell mell desire to own trick after trick. The enthusiasm and passion is there from the beginning. If you take it up later in life and especially as a profession you tend to be a bit more selective in what you own and purchase.

When I was (very much) younger I bought all sorts of cr@p, but always with the view to constructing specific routines. Cue massive disappointment when reality did not quite live up to the advert! The routines didn't work because the kit didn't work in the way I had hoped. I stopped doing that after a few years.

Then, after a few years off magic, my interest returned and I bought a few books and one or two pieces of cr@p. Then I remembered the bad old days and now I rarely buy anything at all. However, throughout the entire process, now and over 20 years ago, it was always about the performing. I was never interested in collecting items.

T.

I have only been 'into magic' for the last two years and i fit Freddies category perfectly, as i have only recently decided what genre of magic is best for me. I am a bit of a collector, but it is always with the intention to perform. The issue is that apart from a handfull of occasions, i have only performed to family and friends. So i am both a collector and a wannabe performer.

Id say im a performer as I only buy resources when im struggling with a method or want to go more in depth into a subject otherwise Im repeating the same movements for hours on end to perfect what Ive learned.

Actually, Mark, I did my first trick on my seventh birthday, and my first professional gig when I was about seventeen. But then I took ten years off. When I came back at it, it was fairly much immediately as a semi-pro, so I never went through the amateur stage. I skipped the collecting stage. Lucky me.

I vary rarely buy anything new now unless it's something that I think I'm going to use or contains an idea that interests me (I've got quite good at seeing past the marketing blurb)

For me now, the biggest enjoyment for me comes from putting together new routines and writing rather than buying new effects.

i have tons of junk jammed into a cupboard.
Even this weekend i got a load more. Its like a drug. That said, the reason i have the stuff, is simple. I look through Ebay for job lots, with one or two things in it , that i want. either to replace, or as a spare for something ive used over the years. This weekends item, was a supreme whip away vanisher. I have one, bought many years ago from Supreme. But ive always felt that teh fabric didnt look right. I now have one i like the look of. Together with 4 items, i dont want, or need. Jay Sankeys the bigger finish, A spelling thing with drinks, by Mark Leverage, Some card trick using half cards, and a mint condition, never been used Harry Stanley release Premonition, by Eddie Joseph.( which would be a miracle if i could be bothered to learn it)

mostly I enjoy knowing little secrets that drive people mad and their reaction is priceless when you pull the ace of spades from thin air then change it into a totally different card right infront of their eyes.

Nice post this one.. After reading all the comments I must agree that everybody seemed to have there own opinion which matched the topic that was started.. My answer to this post is that I got into magic the same reason most people did I suppose? and that was to entertain a few family members and some friends, and if you was able to take it another level well that was a bonus!! I myself just got caught in the habit of collecting But have managed to gain a good knowledge in 10 years, and will be joining the Derby magic circle very soon to improve even more. But looking back on my journey into this fantastic art the best thing that I have done is getting my Son who is now 18 to continue my love of magic, and watch his skills grow even better than mine, infact he is about to take his final exam in the magic circle in London, which will be a honour as a father to see. Thanks Garry.