In the current age of information, the fear of uncertainty has naturally grown. In today's growing, modern world we spend less and less time in a state of mystery. It's easier than ever to look up an answer to something we don't know.
Being in the known gives us a sense of comfort, but if we get used to being comfortable all of the time then we become closed off to new experiences, bringing about a sense of isolation.
Magic can connect people with the beauty of uncertainty, allowing us to open to new experiences and perspectives and creating a profound sense of connection.
Magic can also trigger this fear of the unknown causing the spectator to become increasingly critical, grasping for some piece of knowledge to give them solace in the frightful experience of mystery.
Magic can be seen as a challenge to their way of being, their intellect, or fixed perspective on reality.
Though it's not entirely up to us how the spectator responds, we can influence that response by how we offer our craft.
My father-in-law is not someone who likes magic very much. He is a Doctor and a very intelligent human being.
He prides himself on his knowledge and intellect. In my attempts to cater to his interests with thought-provoking presentations, I still failed to help him connect to the magic until... I showed him the little hand.
If you don't know the little hand it's an absolutely ridiculous and extremely fun presentation of a "coin vanish." This is how the moment went down:
I placed a coin on my left hand, the pad of my thumb near my wrist. My right hand is palm down cupped over my left hand fingers.
I glanced up to see a stern and calculating expression on my Father-in-law's face, his eyes not moving from the coin.
Then, from my cupped hands, a tiny arm slowly reaches out and grabs the coin and quickly escapes back out of view.
He erupted with laughter!
His whole body relaxed and the moment left him with a lasting smile.
After this moment I was able to show him another effect to which he was much more open and able to enjoy the magic.
Keep it fun. This is not to say that you can't have serious pieces of magic in your act but do your best to add in some fun and playful moments to help your spectators relax and remember that mystery can be beautiful.
Mystery is innocent, and that innocence in us is what opens us to new experiences. This is how magic can connect us to each other and to our lives.
I don't feel that my way of expressing this fully hits the mark. I don't actually believe it's possible for it to do so.
What I'm speaking of is not an intellectual experience, it's a felt one. I would encourage you to go watch some performances from Mario Lopez or Tobias Dostal. They do a wonderful job of invoking this feeling through their magic.
I'm sure many of you already know this feeling. It's likely what got you into magic but it's important for us to have this experience again and again so that we don't lose site of what we are offering
We don’t have to sacrifice deceptive methods for fun presentations. One of my silliest routines is called "Bubba," and not only does it always get a laugh, but the effect itself is mind-blowing. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll let you see it for yourself. Click the link below and scroll down to view the full performance of Bubba!
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