Magic... Trick?

[FPS.]

So I've been thinking for a while, we as magicians hear comments ranging from, "Now that is real magic!" to "*insert reaction here* You've gotta have some magic power, this is unreal!!!" - yet when spectators see us, they tell us to "perform me a magic TRICK".

Now the word "trick", why would the spectator use it when they know that everything they see is going to fool them and/or they know it's "not real", but we STILL get the reaction?!

Your thoughts on how spectators perceive magic from THEIR perspective...

...discuss below.

 

[Aaron.Williams]

I think its because they don't know what else to call it. The two questions that I really get are:

1. Can you do a magic trick?
2. Can you do some magic?

Plus, their minds aren't blown yet so I guess they still see it as you fooling them instead of you doing something completely impossible and unreal.

 

[saborfang17]

EDIT: Double post. Can a mod delete this?

 

[saborfang17]

1. People aren't idiots anymore. The world is round, we're not at the center of the universe, etc. Good luck making someone convert religions or something with a trick. I do think, however, that entertaining them is possible. That sh*t about fooling them to the point where they change their entire viewpoint on life? I have my doubts about that.

2. That green font is whack, yo.

 

[FPS.]

1. People aren't idiots anymore. The world is round, we're not at the center of the universe, etc. Good luck making someone convert religions or something with a trick. I do think, however, that entertaining them is possible. That sh*t about fooling them to the point where they change their entire viewpoint on life? I have my doubts about that.

2. That green font is whack, yo.

I never said that magic was in fact real - we know it's not - and who said that I wanted to convert my spectator's religion? :?

 

[imreallybad]

i think that's just the way it is now, people just don't believe in real magic.. personally I don't mind. I think it's better to deceive people who know they're getting 'tricked' rather than going all Harry Potter on those MoFo's.. again just my opinion. We still get the reactions, right?

 

[FPS.]

i think that's just the way it is now, people just don't believe in real magic.. personally I don't mind. I think it's better to deceive people who know they're getting 'tricked' rather than going all Harry Potter on those MoFo's.. again just my opinion. We still get the reactions, right?

Yes, that's what I was trying to say... our spectators act as if we performed "real magic", but in reality, it's just all deceptions.

 

[Aaron.Williams]

I never said that magic was in fact real - we know it's not - and who said that I wanted to convert my spectator's religion? :?

I don't think he meant that EXACTLY. I think he means:

That the main point of magic is to entertain. It really doesn't get that much deeper. People don't usually learn a life lesson or change their veiw on something because of a magician. Its all just entertainment.

 

[saborfang17]

I don't think he meant that EXACTLY. I think he means:

That the main point of magic is to entertain. It really doesn't get that much deeper. People don't usually learn a life lesson or change their veiw on something because of a magician. Its all just entertainment.

Those were my thoughts exactly.

 

[FPS.]

Ah yes, I agree with that. Magic is more of a "on-the-spot" and "at-the-moment" kind of thing... spectators don't think too deep of magic - as you stated - they see it as a form of entertainment. Good call!

 

[YRAMagicMan]

I think the reason that spectators call what we do a trick is because we, as magicians, have used that term since forever ago. Honestly, I think it's one of the best words out there for a layman to use when talking about magic, even though it's not quite accurate. It makes sense in the context it's used. I think we magicians are the only ones who "dislike" the word trick. I know I avoid it, using the word effect instead. Then again, I can't imagine calling a card trick, sponge trick, coin trick etc. anything else. ("How about a card effect?" doesn't roll off the tongue like, "how about a card trick?")

Some may favor the word routine, but in my mind, that doesn't work. A routine is a series of effects put together in a logical manner that builds from beginning to end. You may have an effect that you call an Ace Routine, but in my mind that doesn't work. An Ace Routine is a series of tricks with the Aces.

 

[mehar]

Who cares.. just entertain them the best you can.

 

[ChrisWiens]

I like the term 'Illusion' better, because by definition Magic includes more than what we do.
We create (or try to) illusions, tricking the senses and the mind for the purpose of entertainment.
But who cares how it`s called. Even some of the best magicians in the world refer to their work as 'tricks', and they respect the art of magic more than most.

 

[Jenai]

In my opinion, a 'Trick' is a very often used term and it is a very important ingredient in creating a 'magical' experience, whatever you might define that as. I think spectators perception of magic is that they are amazed at what just happened since they can't imagine how its possible for a series of very ordinary actions to result in something so extraordinary. But they do know it is a 'trick' of some form.