by mark lewis » Jul 3rd, '13, 14:02
Of course it is a good thing within limits. I have ALWAYS said that. It makes the performer human. I would far rather be human than perfect. Audiences relate to magicians and others getting things a little wrong. They feel that they are on the same level and they resonate with that. I make mistakes at virtually every show I do and I wouldn't have it any other way providing those mistakes are not too disastrous.
I have seen performers so slick and utterly perfect that there is something missing. It is almost too pedantic and serious. The only exception I think to this is for a silent manipulative type act where the performer does indeed have to be perfect. But if you are talking when performing it is perfectly OK to get something go a little haywire the odd time. This applies to close up magic, kid show magic, cabaret or stage magic and in fact any performing medium.
You don't want to be perfect under any circumstances. You want to be human.