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DaiBato Veteran user 310 Posts |
I've always been fascinated by this topic.
My take is that while a classical musician has to have first-rate technique, a magician can have intermediate ability as long as he/she is entertaining. Magicians like to fool one another, whereas musicians just like to jam or play in groups. Magicians seem to be more solitary than musicians on average. What do you all think? Dai Bato |
Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
DaiBato,
Most musicians who form groups lack perfect technique. The same it true of a great many magicians. Both of these have fans, and I happen to like some music groups and some magicians whose technique is less than perfect. Of course, there is a minimum level of technique that any artist has to reach to merit any attention. However, one would not confuse these artists with a fantastic artist. (I’m ignoring the issue that true perfection is a goal that can probably never be reached. Something can always be improved). I'm told Fred Kaps was a virtuoso magician. There are other incredibly great magicians that when compared to run-of-the-mill magicians would stand head and shoulders above them. It would be obvious to anyone watching. The same it true for musicians. Also, while I think it's possible that there might be some magicians who set out to fool other magicians at their club, this has never been my why I attend the local SAM assembly meetings. There, we share ideas and help each other with moves so that we can improve. I also go there for criticism. I can do an entire routine, or just practice a sleight, and learn if I'm flashing, or going to fast, or not speaking loud enough, etc., before I go in front of a lay audience. It's about foiling failing, not fooling! It's about improving, not improvisation! Of course, there can be improvisation in magic . I learned about MagicSports on Tim Ellis’ DVD “Ellis in Wonderland.” A particular set of items, perhaps randomly chosen, are provided, possibly with other restrictions, or a particular set of conditions must be met, and a group of magicians must perform magic with those items and/or meet the specified conditions with only a limited amount of time to prepare. I watched clips of some professionals doing that, sometimes producing some ok magic, and sometime producing some fantastic acts with only 45 minutes of time to prepare! And of course, a magician performing live will often improvise based on audience feedback, or perhaps a fortuitous set of circumstances will provide an opportunity for great magic, or perhaps they have to improvise because of some unforeseen accident. However, being prepared for mishaps is best. A great magician named Paul Chosse, who I'm told is one of the best close-up magician alive today, posted the name of a book for card magicians named "Outs, Precautions, and Challenges", by Charles Hopkins. It’s about being prepared. I have to remember to tell the magicians at the club about this book!
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
Carrie Sue Veteran user Auburn, MI 332 Posts |
As I am both a magician and a musician, my brain is full of ideas on the subject.
I've played guitar for about 14 years, and I've been serious about my magic for about 12, so my development on both levels is well into the intermediate stage. I play for my church’s worship team on a regular basis, and last year I began offering my magic to the public. Sammy Smith told me once at an FCM conference, "Magic is a healing ministry." With regard to music, I think everyone would agree in the same manner. Ken Weber wrote in his book "Maximum Entertainment" a definition, that entertainment is anything that purposefully transports your mind into another world. Classical musicians need first-rate technique, it's true. However, even an intermediate level musician can entertain people to a large extent. The main difference between magic and music can be summed up in these two quotes: A. "Playing music is ... about heart; it's about feelings and moving people and something beautiful about being alive." - Mr. Holland's Opus B. "You're using magical illusions to dissolve culture illusions in order to experience a moment of something real. The art of astonishment ... is the art of doing real magic." - Paul Harris Music can be performed by groups, and in a jam session the music can be felt by all who play as well as those who listen. Contrariwise, magic can only be performed (usually) by one person at a time, and the only ones who experience the magic are the spectators. I think the key word is harmony. Musicians have it, and magicians don't. This is just the nature of the two arts. When musicians get together in a jam session, they can enjoy the harmony of playing songs together. Those with intermediate guitar skills like me can often chord along with expert players who are doing the virtuosic melody lines. Magicians, by contrast, can only experience that which they love so well -- wonder -- by taking the passive role of a spectator. That moment of amazement can only be achieved as they are "fooled" by another magician. Magicians often project a certain smugness, an "I-can-do-this-and-you can't" attitude. Club meetings are crucibles for this. The problem comes when magicians press the mere goal of fooling onto our audiences and forget about being entertaining to them. And actually, this is where the two art forms re-converge. For the magician and the musician, showing off is never wise. Carrie P.S. I'm so pleased with how this post turned out that I am tweaking out for submission a couple of magic magazines. All rights reserved. |
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