It's been a very long time since I posted anything here so I'll just post my thoughts on magic.

What is True Magic?

Many magicians try to practice magic and perfect that ever elusive sleight or purchase that next big thing in magic props trying to be the best there is. After which they go out and perform it for friends and strangers. But is that all there is to magic?

Nope! Magic is more then just performing a magic effect and saying "Ta-da"! It's the journey in bringing the audience through a ride through the amazing and impossible. This can only be done by having proper presentation.

Having a proper presentation is important. It is a part of the magic routine itself! The way you look and talk, how you present yourself, your charisma and your mannerism. They are all an important factor in doing a fantastic performance.

So in short! I think that everyone should not just focus on magic itself but also focus on improving our vocal skills, presentation skills and grooming skills. All this to improve ourselves into better entertainers. :)

Happy New Year Everyone!

And one of my new year's resolution is to find a vocal class to improve myself. :D

Ah! Well said!

Just to add on a little, my experience at the street magic festival was very inspiring. I learnt alot from watching the many performers. Both the enthusiatic hobbyists and the professionals. The performances are world's apart. Its obvious when you compare one who has years of performing experience to another who merely started out.

It wasn't really really about the tricks. On 2nd thoughts, it is about the tricks. Most hobbyists have a pretty different preference for tricks. Many at times it doesn't play too well with the audiences. Partly because it doesn't really suit their performing style.
E.g. Doing Criss Angel" sort of tricks when they have a Bill Malone performing style.

I have been watching more comedy magic these days by Gregory Wilson, Michael Finney Daryl and so on. What differentiates these guys from many of us seems to be that there isn't one bit of awkward silence in their acts.

Hopefully in time to come, amateurs like myself would learn to find our very own presentation style that actually appeals to our audiences.

Happy New Year!

I do agree with Loyallover on this: it is not about the tricks, yet also about the tricks. As oxymoronic as it sounds, for those who have been into magic for a certain amount of time would know it really makes sense.

As in...

- a bad or poorly constructed effect cannot be salvaged just by good presentation.

- a brilliantly constructed effect can be destroyed by poor presentation.

It is never a either-or situation as what many people erroneously believed ( like I used to be), for which I suspect that most people would sway towards presentation.

It is both good effect AND good presentation.

Just to stay relevant to the topic...

I don't even know how to define that. True in what sense? Obviously, we all know there is no such thing as TRUE magic. Maybe you really meant STRONG MAGIC?