talkmagic.co.uk

what is everyones opinions on the old sharing the secret of the trick
thing

do you think it is good or bad

please reply giving me all the detail you can

i generally hate magicians who reveal the secrets of the trade

and i want to see if im right in doing so

But if magicians did not reveal the secrets to fellow magicians, then how would anyone know magic??????

Joel - why not tell us your reasons, in detail, for hating magicians that reveal secrets of the trade? That'd be the best way to start a debate. Give us your opinions first, and we'll see how it goes from there.

Ok I hope this gets the ball rolling.

My personal opinion is I dislike magicians that give away the secrets and I take it you are talking about the mask magician type shows. For the following reasons:

The secrets them self are not the be all and end all of magic. Often the secrets are relatively simple if ingenious.

Magicians that give the secrets apply that this is all there is to the magic. That all you need to do to improve magic is come up with newer bigger tricks. Where my opinion is that magic is not in the secrets but in the performance, the story, the patter that a magician creates that builds the magic in the minds of the audience. This to my way of thinking is what makes magic, Magic. Not the secret themselves. The secrets being the hidden string that makes the rest possible.

So in the end giving the secret away is depriving people a chance to experience the magic and the wonder,

Also giving the secrets away belittles the work done by the creators of the trick wither they are modern magicians or magicians of the past. The tricks were created to amaze and entertain people not to show them how something could or is done.

Its often stated that this is good for magic as it gets people talking about it. As I said earlier they are not then talking about the magic but how silly or simple something is. The magic is the joy, the excitement, the wonder of seeing something amazing that you know is not possible but secretly have always wished was.

So my message to those magicians that give away secrets in this manor is Stop. Remember what the magic is and its not the secrets themselves.

Paul

most peole wont like what im about to say, but i think that magic is no longer about secrets, they say never give away the secrets, but they are so easy to obtain nowadays.

Anyone can log onto the next, and can find magic shops and secrets with hardly any effort.

I fear that magic is no longer what it used to be, secrets wise.

Of course, the phrase ‘Don’t reveal secrets’ also has the welcome side effect that, when non-magicians hear it, it reinforces the impression that there are hundreds of age old secrets being passed by word of mouth from the skilled to the trusted, carefully concealed and kept within the magic fraternity. A magical Freemasonry if you like. In fact there are probably only a few secrets, the main one is of course Practise, the second one could be Presentation, then we move onto the self workers then to the use of tricks where the effect is stunning but method so mundane that revealing it would result in deep dismay (ID would be a good example here), and then we finally arrive at the actual skills needed to perform card sleights, moves with sponge balls, coins and so on.

Not complying with Magic’s first rule not only gives away the secret, it also destroys the illusion of having such secrets, an illusion which, if carefully nurtured, helps to proclaim ahead of a performance that the Magician is someone worth seeing. Houdini knew the value of all this and I believe he did quite well for himself!

Exactly. I think the secret is in the skill and practice (and of course presentation). In other words, the hard part of performing magic. What most people understand as 'The Secret' is the method. And most times people would be extremely disappointed and probably feel 'cheated' for want of a better word, when they realise how simple often the actual method really is. The missus always used to say, she didn't want to know, because that would "take away the magic". Got her well trained on that one.

Hey Magic Mark

Anyone can log onto the next, and can find magic shops and secrets with hardly any effort.

What is the next, and how do I log onto it! Sorry, couldn't resist!


As far as the secret thing goes.....I think that the occasional "tidbit" gets them thinking. I find that sometimes letting them in on a secret that has little releveance to your routine, or ability (basic stuff for example) can work at times as misdirection for itself......they look for one slight, when you are really using another. I suppose it always boil down to "Why are you considering telling them?"

If it is with a fellow magi and it is swapping tips, etc....then great!

If it is helping a beginner..........then great!

If it is to discredit someone else..........not so great!

If it is to prove you are the man, and no it all..........not so great!

As you can see, I ride the fence on this, as I think that rigid beliefs on this can inhibit your learning, as well as that of others.......it must be a fluid decision, and be done for the right reason!