Television magic is killing my magic career. How can I revive it?

Question

I have been practicing magic for about 5 years. I have done every possible reading I could lay my hands upon. These include the 8 volumes in the Tarbell Course in magic, Walter Gibson's Secrets of Magic revealed, Works by Herbert L. Becker, Blackstone and many and many more. Indeed I have learnt a great deal from these but unfortunately the audience today craves for more extreme magic, like the ones they see on television (mainly the ones by Criss Angel). I have performed at bars and clubs but I have been booed off stage on all occasions. I do not want to end my magic career before it has even begun. Criss Angel is a brilliant performer but his style of magic is killing many careers of amateur magicians. I know Criss has a camera team and a whole lot of money to build props but I'm sure there are some magicians out there who know how some of his tricks are done and can help me. My love for magic is genuine and I want to make a career out of it; so please help me out

Answer 1

First of all, television is not killing your career. That's like all the amateurs who whined about the Fox special with the Masked Magician revealing the "secrets of magic."

I hope that in addition to those books you mentioned, you've been reading Henning Nelms, "Magic and Showmanship"; Eugene Burger, "The Presentation of Close Up Magic"; Darell Fitzkee, "Showmanship for Magicians" and other books on the presentation of magic. You're not demonstrating refrigerators and even a good refrigerator demonstration takes training.

You should be getting training on how to speak in public, how to move on the stage and other performing basics. Drama books on characterization are also helpful. As Robert Houdin said, "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician."

The Metamorphosis has been seen many times on TV. One night after I finished my show, which finished with the Metamorphosis, a man rushed up to me and gushed, "That was incredible! Amazing! I mean... I've seen it on TV... but that was... that was right here!"

Magic is one of the few performing arts that must be seen live to be truly appreciated. No matter how many times we disclaim camera tricks in videos or on TV, the audience knows that such things are common to those media. A live performance beats recorded any day.

The magic is not the modus operandi of the effect. The magic happens in the minds of the audience when the magician can make them connect with the performance in a meaningful way. It doesn't have to be heavy drama, but there does need to be a connection if the experience is going to be memorable. The ultimate goal is to get them to remember you as a performer, above and beyond your magic.

And for the record, I've been practicing magic for 47 years.

Answer 2

i would try street magic and tsart small but if ur goin to do stage magic go to an online store that sells stage magic tricks and add some commedy into ur proformance also. some good tricks to learn
1 torn and restored paper use large news paper on a stage
2 silk into magic wand
3 growing cane
search youtube for stage magic revealed stage magic how to stage magic tutorials and stuff like that hope it helps

Answer 3

Visit the Magic Castle in Los Angeles. It will expand your horizons!

Answer 4

YOU'RE the Magician! -Make television disappear! Do us ALL a favor... -and you'll be heralded as the GREATEST magician of ALL TIME... (Of course- KIDS will hate you. -But most of THEM need to get outside & lose alittle weight anyway, -so they'll get over it. :) ). :)

Answer 5

Go on American Idol or whatever show does that talent stuff.

Answer 6

So I guess you could say your magic career is uh.......disappearing?