Wouldn't it be great if there was a test, issue by the IBM or SAM, or another well know and respectable organization, that could issue tests to access your skill level. That way you can talk with others and say. I am looking for a new effect, then they could ask. what is your level, oh I am a level 4, oh perfect here is some great stuff for you.

Or you could use it to rub in other peoples faces. Like on this forum. When talking to someone who says you should go and learn this or that, you can just say, excuse me buddy I am a level 3...

I think your suggestion is a load of cr*p.

my opinion.

I don't think it would be great. It would just create a whole bunch of people who, as you put it, would rub it in other peoples faces. That would be awful.

Personally I wouldn't waste my time doing magic exams, I'm too busy performing or creating, as are all the pros I know. So the ratings would be worthless.

What would be the point?

How would the skill levels be determined?

Only objective way would be to test someone's knowledge of methods, sleights etc. But that wouldn't mean anything because someone can be skill level 10 and yet a horrible performer.
While someone else with skill level of 3, for example, might be a brilliant entertainer (even though his knowledge is not nearly as vast).
Even if the presentation would be included in measuring someone's skill it would be hard to be objective in evaluating it. Someone might find it incredibly entertaining, while others might consider it lame. (For example, people usually either love or hate Jay Sankey's performing persona)

Magic and Mentalism is an Art. Not a sport.

What he said.

Nope, it wouldn't.
Enjoy your weekend.

There are a lot of problems with determining levels like you said, the most obvious - people rubbing other people's noses in it, has been stated a few times.

The more subtle ones are, in my opinion, more of a problem.

How would the liscensing organization work, neither SAM or the IBM have the resources to rate every magician at the moment. The fees would go up astronomically or you would have to pay for each individual test. A program would also have to be designed for the testers themselves, then who would become the testers? As mentioned above, the real pros are out working and probably don't have time to take much less administor the tests. So...

The testers would be mostly people who race up the levels just to become testers themselves, which means the testers would be people who just had some technical knowledge but little or know performance knowledge. This would not be good at all given that everything in mentalism and good magic is presentation.

Also, what about proof that you're level x, there would have to be a centeralized database which could result in a security headache.

Then there's the issue of competeing agencies and no magic store would actually enforce it leading it into obscurity.

So...overall, not something that would do very well at all.

However, if you are interested in doing something along these lines (and really really obsessed with this concept.) There is something you can do, yourself.

Step 1: Become a well known magician/mentalist

Step 2: Open up a school yourself, design a curriculum

Step 3: Design a Curriculum that can turn people into competant magicans as well as competant teachers of the art.

Step 4: Market the school and produce a few really good professional magicians

There ya go, if you really want, that should keep you busy for a lifetime. If you really do go for it, who knows, you might be the next Tarbell or Corinda.

Um, it already exists. It is called showing your chops.

I may be wrong here, but it seems as if Chad's proposal was asked with tongue firmly in cheek, and was never meant to be taken seriously at all.

Perhaps it was spurred on by reactions to questions Chad posed on other threads that he felt were unwarranted.

Yes, it can sometimes get petty around here, Chad, as it can everywhere else in life. But the wisdom and eagerness to help by the community at large on the Café, is invaluable. Thanks to many, I have been blessed with knowledge I could never have gleaned from books or DVD's.

IMHO, Chad, an integral skill in the performance of our art (if not THE most important) is connecting with our audience, making friends with them, getting them "on our side", encouraging a spirit of cooperation. It's not necessarily easy, but as in any business, it's essential.

Much as it is right here on the Café.

Someone got it.

As a 27th level multi-class FMC...
:dice:

Currently I am at skill level 2578 -

My acquired powers are -

Spell Casting

Mesmeric Gaze

Superhuman Strenght

So, I tell you all to shut up and stop this thread. OBEY! WORK! CONFORM!

;)

So are music and ballet. But guess what?

Furthermore, over at the NOTS forum, I've been determined to be a super-hero, so who needs this? HAH!

John

There is no reason to be so rude. And if you want this thread to stop, you should not have added to it, just brings it back to the top of the list.

I would have thought that the person who started this silly thread would recognize humor when he reads it...

:hmm:

How about a humor test?

Knock, knock

Whos' there?

Dozen