The Sins of Magic

[William Draven]

I stole this topic from another forum, and frankly I think it's a good one. What are the "sins of magic?" They are the performance pho-pahs that we have that are either said or done that take away from the art. For example our first one is doing a "Cooking Show".

Cooking Show: A performance given where the magician narrates everything (s)he is doing as (s)he does it leaving nothing to the imagination of the spectator. This performance style gets its name from cooking shows on the TV where the chef usually does the same bit of narration with what they are doing.

Ex: "Here I have a deck of cards. I'll remove them from their box, and give them a fair shuffle. You can see each and every single card mix with each other right? Now I'm going to reach into the packet and remove a single card...."

What other Sins can you think of?

 

[Steerpike]

Sucking at improv is a big one. I see a lot of guys who don't rehearse and their delivery has more dead air than a catacomb. That's assuming they don't use filler words. If you're presentation is 5 minutes long and three of those minutes are you going, "Uhh..." then something is seriously wrong.

 

[Reg]

Sucking at improv is a big one. I see a lot of guys who don't rehearse and their delivery has more dead air than a catacomb. That's assuming they don't use filler words. If you're presentation is 5 minutes long and three of those minutes are you going, "Uhh..." then something is seriously wrong.

Tying into this is being too stuck on a script. I used to be incredibly socially awkward (why I chose to be a magician was completely beyond me) and had my routines planned out word for word, which is good except for when the audience makes some comment or joke that I couldn't then respond to without panicking about going off script. I'm certain I've lost many audiences because I've been too focussed on what I should be saying and not focussed enough on just having a conversation with them.

 

[Craig Browning]

The Womanizer/Drunk performer. . . one of the biggest things that irks me on the forums is seeing threads about "How to Use Magic to Pick-Up Chicks". On most of these threads I deliberate ask folks "How Would You Feel if Another Guy Used These Bits on You?"

Why?

Because the "predator" magician (a lay person's term, not mine) seriously hurts our reputation as a whole and makes us all look like some kind of parasite that can't control its urge to consume. When we add in the heavy drinking or drug element, we see the sleazy used car salesman. Images that are far, far from that leading man & "Gentleman" image established by the legends like Kellar, Thurston, Blackstone, Mandrake, etc. strong men with intelligence, grace and class.

This is one of the biggest reasons club owners and other facilities are nervous about contracting a table hopper on a regular basis; too many of us fulfill this negative image and unless you're working a low end joint, the management rarely appreciates it.

 

[Steerpike]

The Womanizer/Drunk performer. . . one of the biggest things that irks me on the forums is seeing threads about "How to Use Magic to Pick-Up Chicks". On most of these threads I deliberate ask folks "How Would You Feel if Another Guy Used These Bits on You?"

I often wonder why so many guys do this. Do they think it's expected of them? Do they just lack the imagination to do anything else?

 

[Craig Browning]

I often wonder why so many guys do this. Do they think it's expected of them? Do they just lack the imagination to do anything else?

The single, most clever pick-up line I ever witnessed was when Mike Ammar approached a young lady at the Magic Castle bar, sat an ice cube on the bare in front of her and asked, "Want to break the ice?"

Mike is pure class (most of the time) and he understood that using his magic wasn't always a good thing. . . now I've seen him use magic to lure young ladies (even helped out a few times), but that really wasn't his way of doing things.

The sad fact is, most of those that do magic do so because of a lack of personal confidence; we embraced magic so that we could do something others couldn't and as such, it is our ego that drives us rather than our passion. As Peter Pit used to say, we learn to hide behind out magic.

This is true with the testosterone driven jocks that love to do "betchya" type bits as well as the various nerd types that wish to puff themselves up by "knowing more" than the average peon. . . again, it's ego that drives them. The Nerd/Geek frequently has an alternate agenda, which centers on embarrassing people into thinking more pragmatically, while the Jock simply loves to brow-beat and even take unfair advantage of others. It is however, the introverts and socially backward that rely on magic (and other performance modes. . . some of the best comedians and actors are extremely introverted) because it prevents people from seeing who they think they actually art. It's a sad reality and one that (of course) most would deny but the American Psychiatric Society seems to have looked at things a bit deeper than we, as individuals, are usually willing to do.

If these womanizing types would listen to how the ladies look down at and are disgusted by the "magician boy friend" they might wake-up. Hell, look at how many sit-coms make negative inference about the girl playing assistant to a past boyfriend or how corny Magic is when someone makes it a hobby (not to mention the thousands of dollars in props they frequently show as part of said plots. . . like carrying & giving away $30.00 + dollar sleeve bouquets really happens?)

Fact is, if I used magic (or my knowledge thereof) as a means by which to seduce someone I was attracted to, I'd betray my own sense of integrity in that I loathed the dirty old men of my youth that constantly hit on me and I'm confident no one else appreciates such things either, so I prefer treating others as I'd like to be treated. . . it's a more lonely and difficult way of living life, but it's honest and honorable.

 

[ii3randonmagic]

If you're trying to pick up a girl while doing magic I would give it a max of 2 effects and then but the stuff away and start a conversation with her due to the fact that other's will come over to see what's happening it's human nature. I give it 2 effects and then start a conversation unless she asks to see more.

 

[RealityOne]

To get back on track.... Here are some of what I think are "sins"

~Thinking that the magic is about us rather than the audience.

~Performing magic as a puzzle or challenge.

~Performing without rehearsing.

 

[Toby]

~Performing without rehearsing.

I will add to this, performing without mastering the effect (at least technically). I've seen so many magicians perform with really poor execution, flashing everywhere, giving away the method. Even after the audience calls them out on it, they still don't bother fixing the problem.

 

[KeoSilver]

Sparkling clothing, polyester, fanny packs, tights, and spandex. A carnal sin to any stage performer.

 

[Craig Browning]

Sparkling clothing, polyester, fanny packs, tights, and spandex. A carnal sin to any stage performer.

The "Fanny Pack" or "Pouch" has been typical to the street performing mage for hundreds of years e.g. the "Fanny Pack" might have a bit of proven practicality.

SPANDEX is a crime when worn by anyone over 35 and out of shape . . . as are Jump Suit styled outfits that went out with the 70's but are making a come back of late.

Glitter & Glitz on an outfit is standard fair for a stage performer and expected by the public IF you are performing a certain style of magic and more so when focused on the Family Market. The idea is COSTUME and I really don't think anyone would have told Harry Jr. to not wear his unique glittery tuxedos.

Polyester really depends on the quality but also, how well it breathes. All too often any synthetic fabric causes excessive perspiration that frequently reveals huge underarm wetness. Cotton fabrics or blends are the best all the way around but not always practical when it comes to costumes.

~Thinking that the magic is about us rather than the audience.

~Performing magic as a puzzle or challenge.

~Performing without rehearsing.

AMEN!

 

[Steerpike]

It's been coming up a lot, so I may as well mention it. Magicians who buy a couple of mental magic effects and then declare themselves to be mentalists.

 

[Toby]

It's been coming up a lot, so I may as well mention it. Magicians who buy a couple of mental magic effects and then declare themselves to be mentalists.

I'm actually thinking of making a short video about that, to show the difference between the two. I just need a lot of stuff I don't have (aka. work force).