Why are you so great.

[Luka]

I have seen a lot of really good discussions on the T11 Forums. I have see a lot of things about presentation. and How to Advance the art. But here is the real questions. Why do you personally do as a magician to advance the art. What sets you aside from the rest. Why are you so great, what makes you different, and why does that difference matter. I am not saying I am anything great. I personally don't think I add anything to Magic, other than taking a trick someone made, and performing it in my own style. I never claimed to be a good magician, but I know that I am a good entertainer, and good performer. So tell me, What do you do.

 

[ajp500]

Truth be told, I have seen most talkers then people who take action. I'm here to have fun disscussions with people not to make a difference and work and ponder thoughts. I do that on my own time.

 

[Shakutau]

One thing i always aim to do whenever i perform is to break the notion of bad magic, stereotypical magic, magic they expect (and also heard of or seen) and to give them a refreshing experience of intimate pieces of strange. Only this time, hopefully, i've managed to send my message across clearly to them.

 

[sourboarder]

I think we need more magicians showing off how to link more effects together. Putting together a seamless routine. I am not saying I'm great by any stretch of the imagination, But anyone can setup card tricks one by one. But I think it takes great skill to be able to get the cards you need when you need them. Yeah there can be initial setup but try to link 4 impossible tricks together. I went to a party one time and set up the deck so I could do 3-4 tricks then if they liked it, could continue easily with impromptu magic. I think that's what it takes to be great. Again not saying I am great, but it depends how you measure success.

 

[MattSmithies]

As an individual magician I can't advance magic as a whole but I polish and improve my own blend of magic every single day. The most I can hope to do is inspire others in the future with my performances, which I realise is going to take a long time if ever to accomplish.

A few months ago I was so focused on getting my ideas and thoughts into the industry. To be honest I'm glad that I stopped when I did and I actually thought about what I was doing after chatting with lee asher.

When I perform I want the audience to always be having fun, always interacting. The main way I attempt this is to create performances that transend the age barrier. For instance my two favourite tricks I love to perform are Doc daley's last trick and chicago opener. I have talked about my version of chicago opener lots here but for those who don't know basically it involves scaring a playing card, turning it white by screaming. This allows all the audience to interect directly to the card effect even though the cards are not in their hands. In my version of Doc Daley's last trick. I try to get the audience to imagine that the four aces are slices of bread. I ask what their favourite sandwich filling is and whether they prefer butter or margerine. Eventually the two 'sandwiches' transpose between the specators hands.

Always with my presentations I try not to confuse the audience I want them to have solid pictures of the effect that just happened and more then anything I want them to have fun and relax. I realise that I need to work hard to get up to the level I what to be but at the end of the day I plan to have no more then 6 or 7 effects that all have this sort of alternative presentation and that I will always be 'fired up' about performing.

At the moment If I were to rate myself out of ten I would only give myself two as like everyone else I will continue to grow, improve and the presentations I use will become more streamlined and interactive.

Matt