So, Where to Begin …..

“A travel of a thousand miles begins with a single step” - Confucius

Regardless of the life activity, we all start at the same place.  Whether parenting, doing homework, cooking, cleaning the house, working on a writing project (like the one I am starting today), or going on a trip to Grandma’s.  It all begins at the same place …… and this is no more true than in Magic …..

In The beginning …..

So, you’ve been bitten by the performance bug.  You’ve witnessed lots of slights (both close-up and afar, in-person and in videos, by professionals and laymen of all shapes and sizes).  You’ve gathered and read some books, and got yourself a pocket full of tricks, all just itchin to be freed and set upon some unwitting stranger.

But there is just one problem: none of it is cohesive.  Its all direction-less.  It’s just a bunch of separate tricks that looked good in the video trailer and seemed to dazzle and amaze.  But now that each is actually in your hands, everything feels stiff and forced.  Random, cold and unconnected.

So what’s a guy supposed to do ?

The magician must develop a “relationship” between himself and the effects to be performed.  Yea, it  sounds a bit strange, but intensive familiarity with each trick is the key to mastering and “pulling off” a performance of any length.  Without relationship, the magician simply has a bag of tricks.

“Hey, you wanna see a trick ?” - beginner.

“Step right up and witness the absolute greatest demonstration of prestidigitations yet seen by mortal man !” - relationship.

I’m not talking about simple practice.  I’m talking about developing a stronger sense of working, and a stronger fundamental understanding of how the entire show fits together.  Much deeper than any single “trick”!

So how’s a guy do that? Well, like everything else in life, and just like every prior performer has done: start with getting to know the basics.

Magic Theory

Magic and Music both share many similarities.  Indeed, most (if not all), professions require “bare necessities” on which skills are honed.  So, to better understand the former, let’s first take a look at the latter.

The word “theory” relates to rudiments and basic structures that must be necessarily understood and followed in order for the “medium” (ie: music, in this case) to be properly performed.

Every musician (from Beethoven to Frank Sinatra to Eddie Van Halen) has had to learn and understand these most basic components of how music works.  They had to learn and understand notes, chords, melody, harmony, staffs, rhythms, measures, accidentals, meter, dynamics, and such like.  Without knowledge of these fundamental elements, musical performance would be virtually impossible.

All of these areas blend and simultaneously work together deep beneath the surface to produce musical entertainment.  The musician’s primary motivation (his aim) is to create beautiful music, not to spend all his time learning about these “building blocks” called theory. But achieving his primary goal of performing greatly depends on how well each of these “fundamentals” are absorbed and mastered; how well he uses them while performing.

In the same way, the art of Magic has its own theory; its own secret, behind-the-scenes structure.  Although every bit has importance, various magicians focus tightly on some, more loosely on others.  It could be misdirection, or practice. It might be patter and timing, or any combination of the dozens of magic theories that each magician has found to be the most useful to solidify and polish his show.

Once magic theory is understood and mastered, all of it synchronizes to greatly enhance showmanship; invisibly raising the levels of enjoyment experienced by the crowd.  That “relationship” can then flourish, and a better magician emerges.

The word “theory” relates to rudiments and basic structures that must be necessarily understood and followed in order for the “medium” to be properly performed.

Let me introduce my project ….

What I’d like to do is ask you, the readers, for help with this.  I would like for you to take some time and identify what specific Magic Theories are important to you in your show.  By replying below, make a single-word list (character, misdirection, practice, etc.) and include some explanation what each means for you. For the sake of simplicity, just identify about three or four areas which you feel most weighty to magicians, like yourself.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll take and compile the lists that I receive in the “REPLY’s” and begin writing, dedicating one article to each theory.  I want to drill down as far as possible with each theory and uncover some solid nuggets that every reader, regardless of present skill level, can take and apply to his magic.

Feel free to add any personal insights, experiences, and lines of thought when replying.  I’m very interested in what you have to say, and I really want this project to encapsulate a good deal of practical knowledge and experience. 

Also, please share this project with magicians within your circle, with whom you bump elbows and ask them to respond with their own thoughts.  I would never presume that I know enough to do a task of this magnitude alone, so please help me with it. The more magicians who reply and “brainstorm”, the better the final publication of this project will be.

A solid legacy can be set down for those who may be coming after.

Boiling it all down

Magic Theory is universal, underpinning everything the crowd sees.  Learning a new effect might add to your repertoire and give three more minutes of wonder.  But mastering Magic Theory forces deep improvements inside of yourself, giving your entire show more wonder.  And not just for three more minutes, but from now on!  For the rest of your career !

And, after all ….. who’s show couldn’t use a little more wonder …… ?

Cheers !!