Should Spectators Be Let In On The Secret Of Magic?
The question of spectators and secrets is a long winded one!! This Magic Article will hopefully give you the information you need.
Whether or not to share with the audience the modus operandi of a magic trick is a dilemma that all magicians face at least once during their career as a performer.
While such a request may not be put forward in a stage show, it is definitely accepted as being expected where personalised events like weddings and birthdays are concerned.
Incorporating a magic show as part of an entertainment package is common and on meeting magicians up close, spectators are naturally tempted to approach them and inquire about the tricks.
Looked at from the magician’s perspective, this situation assumes a delicate nature. Not only does revelation of the manner by which a particular magic trick is performed stand in violation of the code of ethics for magicians, it also puts in jeopardy the livelihood of professionals in this field.
However, at the same time, offending a member of the audience is a complete nonstarter especially since most magicians rely on word of mouth marketing as an instrument of professional growth.
Spectators and Secrets – Disclosure is your call!!
The answer therefore lies in selective disclosure, meaning letting in a spectator on the secret of a particular trick while at the same time safeguarding the sanctity of the professional code.
Is it truly possible to find balance in what appears to be one of the tightest rope-walks?Spectators and secrets is a hard one to balance.
It is, provided you are clear in your mind as to which trick should be revealed to the audience so that both parties stand placated, satisfied and favoured at the end of the day.
Characteristics of such a trick are that it should be simple enough to grasp, impressive enough to satisfy the curiosity of the spectator, while at the same time prevent the core principles of magic being publicly revealed.
Having realised how to handle the situation, the next imperative course of action for the magician entails identifying the kind of tricks which fall into this category.
Something simple like bets placed on the bar counter or passing something through the handle of a coffee mug fits the description quite well.
In addition to being simple enough to teach, it is something that is bound to thrill the onlookers and letting them in on the secret will mean they are totally absorbed.
Do you stand to be indicted for having shared this knowledge? Given that such a trick does not fall within the range of magic in the strictest sense of the word, as a magician you cannot be accused of having sold out your profession and its practitioners.
Therefore, if you wish to indulge in close-up magic or any other performance wherein interaction with the audience is inevitable, you must have a few simple, not too technical or advanced tricks in your repertoire.
Though it might require a certain amount of research, this course of action is bound to pay off since it would enable you to gain popularity with the spectators at large and at the same time maintain the mystic impression and façade that magic enjoys on a universal scale.
