On 2010-09-09 18:41, Close.Up.Dave wrote:
I love this thread. Here's a question:

Does anyone think it wrong, unethical, misleading, etc. for a "magician" (lacking large scale illusions but still performing impossible magic) to call himself an "illusionist"? Should only those who have large scale illusions be allowed to call themselves illusionists? Magicians may know the difference, but not everyone in the general public may. Perhaps bookers and agents might.
...Should be allowed...? Whose permission do you need to be "allowed?" Whether you use Magician or Illusionist or some other title as long as there is no intent to defraud the use of any such title is strictly up to the individual in my opinion.
If you can't make a choice why do so? So and So Master Illusionist, magician, mentalist etc. seems like it might work..
mightydog
David

On 2010-07-30 06:35, Scott Burton wrote:
"Magicians" are always going to have a tough time earning respect and high dollars. Why? Since we are kids, we are taught (in cartoons and popular culture) that magicians are bumbling buffoons who perform at birthday parties to the ridicule of our audiences. Who would pay a good dollar for someone like that?

Try this: don't title yourself. Why can't you just be your name? Why can't you just be who you are and leave it as that? After all, even if they try their hardest, no one I compete with will ever be able to be a "Scott Burton". You then become one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. When they want a "Scott Burton", they have no choice but to come to me. "Magicians" can be found everywhere and can be price-shopped.

Titles don't help us much anyway (they just open us up to value judgments based on a person's previous experiences). There are better ways to communicate the value we bring to a client.

On 2011-01-10 20:11, Steve_Mollett wrote:

Quote:

On 2010-07-30 06:35, Scott Burton wrote:
"Magicians" are always going to have a tough time earning respect and high dollars. Why? Since we are kids, we are taught (in cartoons and popular culture) that magicians are bumbling buffoons who perform at birthday parties to the ridicule of our audiences. Who would pay a good dollar for someone like that?

Try this: don't title yourself. Why can't you just be your name? Why can't you just be who you are and leave it as that? After all, even if they try their hardest, no one I compete with will ever be able to be a "Scott Burton". You then become one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. When they want a "Scott Burton", they have no choice but to come to me. "Magicians" can be found everywhere and can be price-shopped.

Titles don't help us much anyway (they just open us up to value judgments based on a person's previous experiences). There are better ways to communicate the value we bring to a client.

Soooo, Scott...like...what do you do, man? Do you sing; you got a band?
Are ya' a comedian; like ya' do stand-up?
What am I payin' for here? Whaddya do, man?