Picture the event…
130 guests at a ‘Masked Ball’. Two magicians have been hired to perform at the function – the organiser wanted ‘table magicians’.
Now as some of you may know I do not like ‘table hopping’ (I may explore the reasons in a future blog), so as part of the deal I arranged to do my ‘usual’ thing of finding a space in the lounge or lobby of the venue so that interested people could come to me during the evening.
The magician I was working with was doing the ‘table’ stuff.
It was a very challenging venue in terms of table layout so my sympathy was with my magical colleague. In his walk-around ‘set’ he was performing some ‘mental magic’ items and I, even though I wanted to focus on more tradtitional close-up mentalism and bizarre stuff, did include a couple card effects with a ‘difference between sleight of hand and sleight of mind theme’.
As far the organisers were concerned the guests were being entertained and despite initial reservations about not having two ‘table magicians’ the fact that I had a very steady stream of people joining me throughout the evening seemed to validate my insistance that what I suggetsed would work.
In terms of the entertainment and value for money both my colleague and I worked hard and were getting good responses from the guests.
For his part he was walking around tables, and latterly the lounge and bar area sharig his magic.
For my part I was sitting in the lounge with a old oak chest on the table, a well placed close-up mat and a few “mystical magguffins” – pendulums, an interesting stone and a silver talisman…
For his part he was approaching people and offering to amaze and amuse them…
For my part I was sitting in my best ‘Doc Shiels-Burger-esque’ pose and simply talking to people about magical, mystical and psychological things. At no point after the meal were the comfy chairs next to me empty. As one little group left another approached and eagerly sat down.
Now here’s the point.
As we made our way out at the end of the evening we were both getting praise and thanks from the guests. At the lobby of the hotel were the ‘ready-to-depart’ dignitaires who, as we approached were obviously talking about one of the ‘effects’ that I had performed for them.
As we approached the door one of the assembled VIP’s stopped me to thank me again for the ‘thought provoking and amazing evening’ and as they all called out their goodbyes a further voice, that of the organiser called out… “Oh and say goodnight to the magician too….”
The words echoed in my head… “goodnight to the magician too…”
So, I wasn’t a magician?
After a moments reflection I was overjoyed!
For some reason there was the perception that I was doing something ‘different’ to what their perception of a magician dictated.
My colleague had presented ‘magic tricks’ and somehow the frame I was using resulted in the perception of something different… not necessarily better, but certainly different and because of that perhaps more memorable?
That, I guess, is the real difference between magic and mentalism.
The former engages the spect-actor in a willing suspension of disblief or criticism..
The latter asks the spect-actor to extend their belief and challenge their scepticism…
Because of that perhaps the experience of mentalism can be far more personal than the experience of magic (or what has today seen as magic by the public – namely trickery’)
The rea magician, in tradition and in terms of the art, is not simply a trickster. They can be wizard, sorceror, oracle, sage, elder..
If you are a magician and you are reading this then perhaps you would enjoy considering how you want to be perceived.
It’s about ‘performance frames’, the way you want to present your art and the responsibility that you have for the effect your magic has.
Alan
(Before you complain about my spelling I did mean to type ‘spect-actor’ not spectator. If you want to know why read Augusto Boal’s Rainbow of Desire or my forthcoming magic booklet SpellCraft).
