The Wave of Youtubers

[The Tumbleweed]

I know this argument has been brought up endlessly, but I thought I could express my view on some points. This won't be a huge post like some others, just a quick read.

I've noticed that a really large percentage of forum members here do not perform. Ever. Yet they put up countless videos of barely practiced effects to dodge the simple truth that they themselves are too afraid or nervous to actually show somebody a trick. It's a sad truth that many of us need to fully understand.

Are we magicians, or are we filmmakers?
One more time:
Are we magicians, or are we filmmakers?

If you're the latter, that's great!! But if you are are filmmaker, what are you doing on a magic forum? I'm sure there are forums out there for filmers like yourselves, go mix with your kind, but leave us magicians to what we do best.

Youtube isn't the future of magic, it's a sorry excuse for kids who don't know better.
Posting the odd video now and then, just to get some feedback on how you're doing a move or effect is fine, but if it's your only means of expressing your magic, you've forgotten why you go into magic in the first place.

Think back to when you first got into magic, why was that?
For me it was my maths teacher, he's a professional poker dealer, website designer, and of course, a maths teacher.
He showed the class a few tricks, and when I told him I was interested, he accepted that with open arms and got me started with a few decks and Crash Course 1. The point I'm getting to is that back then, I didn't know there was this type of magic on youtube, I thought it was only for little kids revealing tricks.
Now I've noticed something different, and it shocks me.
Those kids posting explanation videos are much better than those who just post videos of effects.

That's right.

Revealing tricks has a purpose, even though it's an awful one.
Posting tricks does not.

So go out and perform. Will it kill you?
If you just get started, you'll notice that you get much more out of it than you ever could from uploading a video.

So cancel that upload now. I don't want to see your tricks, but I know there are plenty of spectators out there that would. Just give them a chance.

Josh T.

 

[addibs]

the truth has been said! =D

i second that post

 

[shinichikudo992000]

how about being both?

Being a magician and a filmmaker?

 

[The Tumbleweed]

how about being both?

Being a magician and a filmmaker?

Hmmm... that is a good question, but I may have to answer it with another.
Why do so many people get into both?
I'm guessing that people who are into both started with magic, posted videos and developed from that.

If you're both, why not film a live performance? Then everyone wins.

 

[shinichikudo992000]

Hmmm... that is a good question, but I may have to answer it with another.
Why do so many people get into both?
I'm guessing that people who are into both started with magic, posted videos and developed from that.

If you're both, why not film a live performance? Then everyone wins.

I do live performance all the time; anyways, magic is awesome

 

[Fieldininio]

Hmmm... that is a good question, but I may have to answer it with another.
Why do so many people get into both?

Because people, often, like both. And if you want to make a good film, then it's going to be harder to do a quality film from the street with a wobbly camera. People do the magic and perform, like I, however want to make films that aren't with badly filmed footage of them on the street.

Just my thoughts on that question.

 

[The Tumbleweed]

Because people, often, like both. And if you want to make a good film, then it's going to be harder to do a quality film from the street with a wobbly camera. People do the magic and perform, like I, however want to make films that aren't with badly filmed footage of them on the street.

Just my thoughts on that question.

So, what I guess the point in the back of your head is, that if you do both, and are doing them together, you can only do one well.
You have to choose between a wobbly and shaky video of a live performance with real reactions, or a well shot, well lit and edited clip of yourself in a bedroom Hmmm... I'll take the wobbly clip anyday.
If you'd prefer the well shot video, you must prefer making films to performing magic, which is fine. Just let me know before the link is posted so I can gleefully overlook it.
No offense is intended to you at all here, I'm just speaking out generally, but I'm interested in magic, not movies.

 

[Ben_Ionesco]

I know this argument has been brought up endlessly, but I thought I could express my view on some points. This won't be a huge post like some others, just a quick read.

I've noticed that a really large percentage of forum members here do not perform. Ever. Yet they put up countless videos of barely practiced effects to dodge the simple truth that they themselves are too afraid or nervous to actually show somebody a trick. It's a sad truth that many of us need to fully understand.

Are we magicians, or are we filmmakers?
One more time:
Are we magicians, or are we filmmakers?

If you're the latter, that's great!! But if you are are filmmaker, what are you doing on a magic forum? I'm sure there are forums out there for filmers like yourselves, go mix with your kind, but leave us magicians to what we do best.

Youtube isn't the future of magic, it's a sorry excuse for kids who don't know better.
Posting the odd video now and then, just to get some feedback on how you're doing a move or effect is fine, but if it's your only means of expressing your magic, you've forgotten why you go into magic in the first place.

Think back to when you first got into magic, why was that?
For me it was my maths teacher, he's a professional poker dealer, website designer, and of course, a maths teacher.
He showed the class a few tricks, and when I told him I was interested, he accepted that with open arms and got me started with a few decks and Crash Course 1. The point I'm getting to is that back then, I didn't know there was this type of magic on youtube, I thought it was only for little kids revealing tricks.
Now I've noticed something different, and it shocks me.
Those kids posting explanation videos are much better than those who just post videos of effects.

That's right.

Revealing tricks has a purpose, even though it's an awful one.
Posting tricks does not.

So go out and perform. Will it kill you?
If you just get started, you'll notice that you get much more out of it than you ever could from uploading a video.

So cancel that upload now. I don't want to see your tricks, but I know there are plenty of spectators out there that would. Just give them a chance.

Josh T.

Preaching to the choir dude, too right

 

[lunatic core]

Most of the videos don't really have that many views. Most of the people watching them are other magicians. Youtube really doesn't bother me. I think hype is a bigger and less talked about problem than exposure. The petty infighting and tribalization is a real turnoff to true artiests, but attracts the immature group that can't be trusted to move the art forward. These are some of the same problems that originally burned me out on magic when I moved to Vegas. Oversaturation of certain effects, and a certain contempt for younger magicians, and those who weren't following/performing with trends. I guess thats a long story.

 

[lunatic core]

Hmmm... that is a good question, but I may have to answer it with another.
Why do so many people get into both?
I'm guessing that people who are into both started with magic, posted videos and developed from that.

If you're both, why not film a live performance? Then everyone wins.

Well it's probably just a poor reflection of thier idols. They see who ever they idolize performing/teaching on camera and they do it as close as they can. Just because they have a common web cam doesn't mean they are fully equiped for a real world Blaine style street walking production. Also they do it because its easy attention. Some of the worst performaces have more veiwers than I get in real life. With pretty much anything in entertainment some people are doing it for the attention, and not the art.

 

[copperfield 14]

How do you know they don't perform? Maybe they perform on a regular basis but they want to maybe show a sleight or trick they've been working on to other magicians. Maybe for some constructive criticism, maybe to practice editing, etc

 

[The Tumbleweed]

How do you know they don't perform? Maybe they perform on a regular basis but they want to maybe show a sleight or trick they've been working on to other magicians. Maybe for some constructive criticism, maybe to practice editing, etc

I've actually seen people say that they don't perform, only post videos for us to watch.
Others want us to believe they perform, yet I'm sure they perform much less than that if at all.
However most of us are here for the right reason, to perform magic as it was originally intended.
Call me old fashioned, but I feel a bigger sense of accomplishment successfully doing a simple invisible pass for an audience than I ever would doing another ridiculous Tivo for a webcam.

 

[tally-ho]

well, for me, the only reason I post videos are for ideas to show magician friends who do not live near me.I love performing, and my videos will have no patter or anything to make it like a performance. These are my ideas.