Ethics at a magic performance

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Ethics at a magic performance

Posted On : Nov-24-2009 | seen (690) times | Article Word Count : 585 |

When you attend another magician's show, go with the idea of helping that magician in every way possible. The better he is, the less he will need help; and the poorer he is, the more he will need assistance.

When a real magician comes to town, his brother magicians always make it known to him that they are ready for service. If he desires them to come up from the audience while he is performing, they are ready to do so. If he wants encouragement and appreciation from the audience, they are ready to lead in applause. However, remember that after you have shown yourself ready to cooperate, it is your place to sit back and wait until your help is requested. You must not thrust your help on the performer for he may not require it.

A very serious offense is to try to make yourself stand out in the audience while another magician is performing. The audience came to be entertained by the performer, and they resent disturbance by a spectator. I have sometimes heard a spectator call out during a magic show, "Oh, I know how that's done. I can do it myself." That person thinks he has created a big impression with the audience, but he has only succeeded in making himself an unpleasant disturbing element. The audience is not interested in whether he knows how to do the trick or not. They are interested only in the performer and are antagonistic to anyone who tries to distract their attention.

The performer, too, naturally resents this disturbance. The undivided attention of the audience is necessary for him to gain his greatest success. Anything which draws the attention of the spectators even momentarily away from him hinders his work. Of course, the performer has nothing to fear. He has the upper hand. If he is a good performer, his personality is so strong when he is in action that another personality seems weak by contrast. His regard for the disturbing spectator is nil, and with little effort, he makes this "wiseacre" appear a fool in the eyes of the audience. If the spectator persists in interrupting, he is due for a hard fall in the hands of the experienced showman. It is no trick for the experienced performer to make a laughing stock out of the "wise one."

I have seen amateur magicians go onto a professional stage to assist a performer, and then without warning, start doing tricks themselves. Their object is to get into the limelight. And they do - but with what disastrous results to them! The clever showman exposes their lack of training in no time, and the would-be "smart" amateur is looked upon with contempt by the audience. So you see the grave danger there is to the person who does not keep his place in the magic profession.

There is one other thing I want to impress upon you, and that is—A MAGICIAN IS A BUSY MAN. Do not impose on him by taking up his time and by being in the way. It is perfectly all right for you to call on him. Give him a friendly greeting and an offer of your services, and then leave. Do not stay around his stage while he is setting up his show unless he asks you to. Every magician has his own secrets which he may not want you to know. He has perhaps spent years in working out some of his effects, and he does not wish to impart them to you. The fact that you are a magician does not give you the right to break into the privacy of another's domain.

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<h1>Ethics at a magic performance</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_David Hertz.aspx'>David Hertz</a> When a real magician comes to town, his brother magicians always make it known to him that they are ready for service. If he desires them to come up from the audience while he is performing, they are ready to do so. If he wants encouragement and appreciation from the audience, they are ready to lead in applause. However, remember that after you have shown yourself ready to cooperate, it is your place to sit back and wait until your help is requested. You must not thrust your help on the performer for he may not require it.

A very serious offense is to try to make yourself stand out in the audience while another magician is performing. The audience came to be entertained by the performer, and they resent disturbance by a spectator. I have sometimes heard a spectator call out during a magic show, "Oh, I know how that's done. I can do it myself."  That person thinks he has created a big impression with the audience, but he has only succeeded in making himself an unpleasant disturbing element. The audience is not interested in whether he knows how to do the trick or not. They are interested only in the performer and are antagonistic to anyone who tries to distract their attention.

The performer, too, naturally resents this disturbance. The undivided attention of the audience is necessary for him to gain his greatest success. Anything which draws the attention of the spectators even momentarily away from him hinders his work. Of course, the performer has nothing to fear. He has the upper hand. If he is a good performer, his personality is so strong when he is in action that another personality seems weak by contrast. His regard for the disturbing spectator is nil, and with little effort, he makes this "wiseacre" appear a fool in the eyes of the audience. If the spectator persists in interrupting, he is due for a hard fall in the hands of the experienced showman. It is no trick for the experienced performer to make a laughing stock out of the "wise one."

I have seen amateur magicians go onto a professional stage to assist a performer, and then without warning, start doing tricks themselves. Their object is to get into the limelight. And they do - but with what disastrous results to them!  The clever showman exposes their lack of training in no time, and the would-be "smart" amateur is looked upon with contempt by the audience. So you see the grave danger there is to the person who does not keep his place in the magic profession.

There is one other thing I want to impress upon you, and that is—A MAGICIAN IS A BUSY MAN. Do not impose on him by taking up his time and by being in the way. It is perfectly all right for you to call on him. Give him a friendly greeting and an offer of your services, and then leave. Do not stay around his stage while he is setting up his show unless he asks you to. Every magician has his own secrets which he may not want you to know. He has perhaps spent years in working out some of his effects, and he does not wish to impart them to you. The fact that you are a magician does not give you the right to break into the privacy of another's domain. 
About the Author: David Hertz is a magic tricks enthusiast. Find more <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.magictrickscenter.com/card-magics-revealed"> magic revealed</a>! Visit www.magictrickscenter.com Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Ethics-at-a-magic-performance_5876.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Ethics at a magic performance_5876.aspx</a>

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David Hertz is a magic tricks enthusiast. Find more magic revealed! Visit www.magictrickscenter.com

Keywords : magic tricks,

Category : Arts and Entertainment : Arts and Entertainment

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