Found this article on the Magic Anarchist site. Quite an interesting read.
Decided to share it here although i'm sure NOBODY in SMC falls under this category ;) B)



Thoughts On Arrogant Magicians - By Jim Coles

Some of the most arrogant people I've ever known are magicians.

This is ironic, because some of the most down to earth and genuinely helpful people I've ever known are magicians as well.

If one looks at magic's place in the public mind with a dispassionate eye, one would have to conclude that magic acts are viewed as only slightly more appealing than clown acts -- I borrow that observation from a very well informed friend. Agents are hardly breaking down the doors of magicians to book them; selling your services as a magician can be a tough proposition indeed, and making a living solely from magic can be like a feat of magic unto itself. This probably accounts for the disproportionate number of amateurs to professionals.

Why then do we have so many arrogant and self-important magicians in our midst?

It never fails to amaze me how some overweight and inarticulate nobody can think himself in league with Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise being that his chief claim to fame is the publication of some weird underground booklet that no one has ever heard of -- and that likely only the guy's parrot has seen... at the bottom of its cage -- or that he's developed some "revolutionary" handling of the double lift.

Again, where does this arrogance come from?

The secrets. I know something you don't know. This is, or should be, the first stage of magic development, and should be a brief stage of evolution. It's been observed that magic often attracts young men and women who are grappling with feelings of powerlessness, and that the learning of secrets supplies them with that which they are lacking. If I know how to make the coin disappear and you don't, that gives me a sense of power over you. True, the power is largely illusory -- after all, how important is it in the grand scheme of things to possess such information -- but for an adolescent in search of something to differentiate him/herself from the world, to supply a small taste of the power they so desperately crave, it can be spiritual ambrosia.

However magic isn't just about secrets any more than music is just about the notes. And it's patently absurd for anyone to feel a sense of superiority over something which is at its heart so mundane -- can you imagine a musician copping a superior attitude because he knows his scales? Yes, we like to make much ado about the secrets of magic and pretend we're dealing with arcane and mysterious bits of knowledge, but when you get right down to it the secrets are, while sometimes very clever, as illusory as the effects they produce. There is no special gadget constructed from the blueprints of a lost civilization that makes the bill float. Only a thread. It isn't some weird and unexplored power that makes the card rise to the top of the deck. Only an invisible transposition of the packets.

Skill is the other major culprit when it comes to spawning arrogant magicians. Well, I've mastered the one hand top palm and the push off second deal, etc. etc. That has to mean something, right?

What does it really mean? That you've devoted some time and effort into mastering some moves. Hopefully you've thought about what you're going to do with those moves, because on their own they're essentially worthless. You don't think so? Trying paying your phone bill by demonstrating the perfect double lift.

If you believe that knowing the secrets of magic or being especially skillful makes you someone unique enough to warrant acting like an insufferable jerk, I'd say to you, Get A Life. The world, aside from others of your ilk, doesn't give a damn.

As bad as such persons can come off in real life, stick a supercilious magician in front of a computer and watch the annoying characteristics multiply tenfold. In a real world situation if someone is pretentious and arrogant, you can ask them very politely to back it up. Let's see what you got. This is usually more than enough to shut up the biggest mouth. Because, not surprisingly, like the schoolyard bully, they really don't have much.

On the Internet, however, anyone can portray themselves as anything they want to be. I've met more card Gods who would put the past masters to shame online in two years than I had in twenty plus years doing magic and not being online. In a very real sense such persons forge their own realties with the sheer depth of their arrogance, letting anyone know who will listen how gifted they are. If they are consistent enough, others will eventually begin to buy into what's being said, or at least begin to wonder.Well if he's that sure of himself, maybe he really is good...

This problem is compounded by the fact that in the magic world a little knowledge -- remember those arcane and mysterious secrets -- can take you a long way. So get an arrogant magician who's half-way literate i.e. reading just above the Bazooka Joe level, and he can parrot the things he's read and make himself sound like Vernon incarnate. Never mind that he's not saying anything he came up with, or that he's invested zero thought into what he's postulating. Never mind that his head would probably explode if he were to catch an errant original thought or any vestige of a creative impulse. Never mind that he's only ever done magic for his poor mother and shakily for a few friends. He's going to by God tell you what to do and how to do it! Not only that, he's going to trash anyone who is succeeding and tell you exactly what they're doing wrong and how he'd do it a hundred times better.

Do I sound angry? If so, it's because I am. I fully believe that most of the problems magic is experiencing are directly attributable to morons such as those I'm describing. Each and every time one of these persons attempts to perform before an audience and puts his/her disagreeable personality on display, another nail is slammed into the coffin. Mom didn't give you enough hugs so you're compensating by acting like a jerk and telling everyone how incredible you are? I don't care -- see a psychiatrist. Very insecure about your intellect so you've set yourself up as some half baked iconoclast because you believe that'll prove how sharp you really are? Get offline and go read some books. Listen to me: I have no sympathy for anyone whom I perceive as a threat to magic. As far as I'm concerned if you're an arrogant magician you can hit the bricks.

Just so you'll get a clear view of the kind of mind set I've been talking about, consider a conversation I once had in an Internet chat room. The young man I was talking to informed me that laymen can't appreciate magic. That's right, only magicians can appreciate magic.

If arrogance is primarily an outgrowth of stupidity and an ego distorted self-image, this has to be one of the dumbest, most egotistical statements I have ever heard. Let's examine this for a moment. Laymen lack the intellectual acumen to appreciate magic. Right. Laymen are only doctors and lawyers and scientists and college professors. Not magicians, who really have it over on everybody else because they know how to palm a coin and shuffle the cards really well.

Only magicians can appreciate magic? No. Only magicians can appreciate your magic you stupid hack -- get over yourself.

I for one think it's time we drew a line in the sand and took a stand against the arrogant magicians who are tainting our art. I think all of us would be wise to remember Nate Leipzig's advice to behave as a gentleman when presenting magic, that ultimately you're in the game of selling yourself. Maybe I'm wrong and there are people out there who want to buy arrogance. But I'd gladly wager they would constitute a meager clientele indeed.



"Thoughts On Arrogant Magicians" By: Jim Coles

yeah while he's at it, why not help all the professional dancers, singers, rappers, artists, jugglers, mimes, clowns, etc write an article too?

Arrogant people sucks period. Why write an article on only arrogant magicians? Silly article.

ZzaG

I don't find this article silly really... If you look at some magician they do get arrogant sometime... its quite sad really to see arrogant magician.. Y magician not others hmmm... think about it... if you can sing well will you be arrogant about it or if you can make something disappear and make people jaws drop you will get arrogant about it... :D

LOL, really long article. I realise I haven't digest a crap after finish reading the entire article...

Just wondering, is this Jim Coles a magician as well? Notice this quote:

It is obvious he is not classifying all magicians as arrogant. Don't be too offended, unless you are one.

this article is quite true, as i've met several arrogant magicians... makes me sick. These people usually don't really know much except for a couple of dls and controls.

There's this sec 2 magican kid who performed in my school's busker's festival(i didn't join at that time), arrogant as hell and even challenged me when he saw my cards. just a simple biddle left him shocked and stunned...even came to me after the event to plead me to teach him...idiots.

well yep I've met a couple of arrogant magicians before. But hey, that doesn't mean much. The next guy might say I'm an arrogant piece of crap.

The truth is, it depends on your view on arrogance. Everyone has different tolerance levels.

Interesting article though.

Other than the knowledge and execution of sleights and by flourishes, i really can't figure out a way where you can 'show off your magic skills'.

Blackwing is right. Have you ever wondered why hecklers exist?

The reason is that they cannot stand having someone who is so-called better than them. So they heckle. In their eyes, you are an arrogant person.

The funny thing is, when you look at the heckler, in your mind you think he's being arrogant because he acts as though he knows everything.

Who cares really? As the ZzaGs say, Arrogance is in the eyes of the beholder.

I'm sorry but I think this article serves no purpose except to tell us what we already know.

Honestly, look at his opening arguments:

What sort of argument is that? Is that even an argument? :lol: I think it applies to all human beings instead of just magicians.

See me try to create a similar argument:

I have seen a lot of rich people who are very very arrogant.
I have also seen a lot of rich people who are very helpful and always donate generously.

I'm not rich though I wish I was. You don't see me writing an article on arrogant, rich people. An article on arrogant, rich people would make sense too since a lot of middle-class people hate rich people even though they shouldn't. They should just hate arrogant and rich people.

Arrogant, rich people are making rich people look bad! There are many many rich people who are constantly donating to charities every month but not many people know about that.

bottom line is:
ARROGANT PEOPLE SUCKS.

ZzaG
Sorry Jim Coles

That's his opinion. And I happen to agree with his opinion too.
Everyone's are entitled to theirs too. No need to get all fired up.

My interpretation of his meaning of "arrogance" is not the "look I can do this" but more of the " holier than thou" type. Plus its not targetted at all magicians...just those who think they have a right to be arrogant because they know more effects...generally giving all magicians a bad reputation they don't deserve.

Just my 2 cents.

just those who think they have the right to be arrogant because they have more money... generally giving all rich people a bad reputation they don't deserve.

get my point now? nobody should be entitled to a silly opinion.

ZzaG

Jim Coles wrote the article from a professional magician's point of view. He's not a professional "all the other occupations you mentioned". It would be silly to write things based on judgement he has no experience with.

He wrote because he can. Calling it silly isn't justifiable.

It doesn't take a professional to come up with a logical argument against arrogant magicians.

For example: I am not rich but I managed to come up with an argument as I have already mentioned above. (by directing copying what he said and changing magicians to rich people)

You want me to mention arrogant Mediacorp actors? I know some names. I also know some very friendly Mediacorp actors too. Am I an actor? No.


The source is the people. Some people are arrogant, deal with it. I do not have the statistics but I am pretty sure the ratio of the number of arrogant magicians to humble magicians is the same as the ratio of the number of arrogant rich people to humble rich people.

Besides, did he in any where in the article mention something like this:
Oh I know of this person who has a kind heart, always humble and loves to help out others. Because of this I decided to teach him magic so he can entertain those old folks he always visits. But after he found out the secrets of magic, he turned into an arrogant beast!

I don't think so. So you guys see,
People don't become arrogant people because of magic. Arrogant people are able to show their true colours through magic. These same people will become arrogant when they become famous actors, musicians, millionaires, etc.

ZzaG

Edit: Some of you will still not get my point. Consider this statement:
Won't it be very arrogant of Jim Coles if he only get rids of all arrogant magicians and not care about other arrogant people giving their respective communities bad reputations?

I don't find it silly at all.

I bet if magic was your means of making a living, and a small group of people was behaving like a$$es, indirectly giving all magicians a bad rep, making it harder for you to make a living, you'd be pissed too.

see it from his point of view. Its his source of income.

everyone is entitled to their opinion, silly or not. unless you're in nazi germany where the gestapo will be hunting you down. :D

peace ZZag. just keeping a healthy debate going. :P

If you have read his post carefully. The reason he does not like arrogant magicians is because of the way arrogant magicians act in front of other magicians.

His source of income in from laymen, not magicians. So I'm sorry but your point is void.

This is the only sentence that came close to mentioning laymen. But for all we know, those audience could be magicians (we have to ask Jim Coles to clarify, but why bother?).

Let's assume these are laymen (so your point is un-void-ed) :P

Then, I'd ask: Will these people stop seeing magic shows after witnessing arrogant magicians? Shouldn't he worry more about those exposure on television?


But the reason why I think the whole article is silly is because he spends 90% of his time saying about the way arrogant magicians act in front of other magicians and in the end, he says: I for one think it's time we drew a line in the sand and took a stand against the arrogant magicians who are tainting our art.

Doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Our art is supposed to entertain laymen, not magicians.

ZzaG

Arrogant magicians. I think this applies for many other professions of work as well. You have arrogant celebrities, arrogant doctors what have you not. The reason to be arrogant is to feed the hungry ego.

It is more on the upbringing of the person than the trade itself. In this case knowing and performing magic.

It all depends what you see arrogance as. Whether it is a bad attitude or just a sheer presentation of true ability. Taking Jose Mourinho ( presently Chealsea Football Coach), his arrogance is being hailed at by some. Simple because he is just plain good at delivering what he is capable of. This arrogance besides bring hatred it brings admiration as well.

Sometimes arrogance is a good thing because it is an effective way of dealing with hecklers or maybe people who are just arrogant without any skills.

Coming back to ourselves. How many times have we mastered a new trick and we are so eager to show it ( or show it off) to other people. This orgasmic feeling of dying to show is a form of arrogance. Are we trying to please an audience or are we just trying to please ourselves ultimately.

It is a relevant topic for magicstry. More often than not among us just by the nature of this trade itself arrogance and ego is the first emotion/attitude that we work on.

sometimes magicians gotta be arrogant to those who talk like they know a lot about the art and shut their gaps with some sweet sleights/flourishes.