Magic is Entertainment

[William Draven]

Entertainment

Magic i about entertaining. It is not about the tricks, it's about the experience provided by the performer. People all seem to love a good show. That's why shows like "I Love Lucy" still have a following even 50 years after the fact. It's because of this love for entertainment that some people are drawn to magic. After all, maybe if we learn a little magic ourselves, maybe we too can pull a rabbit out of a hat, make a card change places with another, or cut and restore a rope all to a thunderous applause and the adoration of a loving crowed. Who wouldn't want to perform some mind bending tricks for their friends and family? But I fear there is a huge point that we seem to miss. it's like getting the cart before the horse. Really what our audience wants is entertainment only the magicians seem to know what a reverse double steal magnetic slip dip is compared to an underhanded backward force cut.

I guess what I'm saying is we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the reason why successful magicians are so, is because they are entertaining!

 

[Justin.Morris]

I've been wrestling with some different viewpoints on this concept (at least it is similar). No one would deny that the entertainment value needs to be there, and that both a good effect needs a good presentation.

But what is more important - the trick or the presentation?

A guy like Eugene Burger says keep the trick and method simple so you can focus on the most important part-the presentation.

A guy like Paul Vigil says the magic should speak for itself, and the presentation is secondary. The method should be so strong that the audience experiences the magic (as opposed to say the comedy for example)

Both would not deny the importance of both effect and presentation to successfully deliver an effect. But there is actually quite a bit that can be built on either view - especially in light of magic as an art form.

I have always been more influenced buy guys like Burger, but getting more insight into Paul's mind is challenging the way I'm thinking. (I was reading his guest appearance thread at the cafe).

Any thoughts? (I hope this is still on topic)

 

[AlfieWhattamMagic]

Belive it or not some people dont do a tricks becauase they dont like the method :L

 

[RickEverhart]

People want live entertainment. They want to escape reality. They want to laugh, have fun, and see the unattainable. It is up to us to give them that opportunity.

I have taken some of the most basic techniques and put some killer presentation, patter, enthusiasm with it and it has had outstanding results. I do not try to fool laymen.

 

[Sidekick]

I agree with entertainment for your audience and I try to focus on that, but I also keep a balance between method and presentation.
That does not mean I will stick to basic card technique because I feel in most cases a Side slip would work better than a double undercut. So what I am trying to say I do practice and perform hard sleights and basic sleight both alike and I do care for my presentation.

The audience do not care what sleight you are using, they will never know if you did a side slip or a classic pass, because they are secret moves.
Also when learning a routine with advanced moves, I will try and practice a ton to try and get everything right, presentation and the sleight of hand, and that can take me weeks, even months.

 

[RobAnderson]

Entertainment

Magic i about entertaining. It is not about the tricks, it's about the experience provided by the performer. People all seem to love a good show. That's why shows like "I Love Lucy" still have a following even 50 years after the fact. It's because of this love for entertainment that some people are drawn to magic. After all, maybe if we learn a little magic ourselves, maybe we too can pull a rabbit out of a hat, make a card change places with another, or cut and restore a rope all to a thunderous applause and the adoration of a loving crowed. Who wouldn't want to perform some mind bending tricks for their friends and family? But I fear there is a huge point that we seem to miss. it's like getting the cart before the horse. Really what our audience wants is entertainment only the magicians seem to know what a reverse double steal magnetic slip dip is compared to an underhanded backward force cut.

I guess what I'm saying is we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the reason why successful magicians are so, is because they are entertaining!

I COULD NOT agree more. I take more crap (all in jest) from some of the hardcore finger flickers at the shop I go to because I'll do an act virtually devoid of any advanced sleights, and have people laughing and gawking the whole time. They can't stand that they practice for hours on their underhanded backward reverse slip Vernon/Big Bird pass, and get half the reaction.

This is the same reason that my mentor, Denny Haney will do a self working card trick and have us all ROFLing and/or utterly amazed... it's all in the presentation!!

Cmon folks: it's the one thing the Youtube kids can't steal from us! :-D

 

[TheatreHead]

This is probably why Mentalists get better reactions than magicians.
(Being extremely general, of course)

 

[Luis Vega]

Sometimes I feel both have to be really good...the trick and the presentation...

here things are very demanding, I MUST fool laymen...because if anybody and I mean anybody suspects anything they usually screams things like "it´s in your hand" or things like that...

they are tired of seing old tricks of "pick a card, any card" and usually they want to see something new and exciting....that´s why I use tricks that are out of normal and usually people here haven´t seen it before...

I think it depends of what environment are you performing...it´s not the same for each one of us...my patter is usually very simple and straightforward, because people here that have seen magicians before tells me that they hate when they talk to much of crap that nobody care...that´s why I don´t use patter... the kind of patter that a lot of magician uses...

I also think that some tricks doesn´t require patter....they only require body language..to force a patter in a trick just because....it´s better to not say anything...I also don´t script the whole presentation...I do have a general idea of what to say and how to present the trick but usually my spectators are the ones that lead the presentations in the way that I present my tricks while we are chatting and having conversation, I think it gives the specators a feeling of organic...that´s my signature style...

I know a lot of magicians script the tricks and jokes...but I learn that sometimes you need to have a degree of improvisation...I had this show last saturday, the last of my 4 biggest gigs ever....and the other 3 were great, but it was for people of 18+...and this last show 90% of my audience were kids!!!

So I change the whole presentation of tricks and remove some and add a couple and I talked differently and everything went really great!!! the kids were hooked and laughing!! and I had a great time too!! usually I don´t perform for kids, but I must confess that I enjoyed that...

the improvisation is good as long as you have a good degree of practice and audience management and experience...also it´s not for everyone...but that´s other topic...