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Son of Disclosure!
by
David Lang
Tony's article raises some interesting
points. Proportion is indeed the crux of the matter.
It's a valid point that we all had to start somewhere. That 'somewhere' though,
is a different place now, to the one in 1937. Going by the influx of new members
at my local club (the Medway Magical Society) they are starting at a much higher
level than in the past.
I won't say 'younger' members because that isn't accurate. 'New' members would
be more precise. The information available (video's, DVD's etc) and the effects
detailed on them have moved on and are at a much higher level than was
previously available. Internet dealers are legion & manifold.
Good news for magic in my book!
Exposure has also moved on of course. The humble stripper deck may be beloved by
magicians, but it's also been heavily exposed. Covent Garden, Market Stalls, Toy
Shops, Marvin's Magic etc. Using one in a London theme restaurant, especially
for anyone aged 12 - 14 is a recipe for disaster. 10-15% of the audience will
check to see if the deck strips. They also tend to riffle the ends of the deck,
so goodbye Svengali. (Use a Nudist deck or thumb tip with great care!)
Dynamic Coins, Coin Unique etc are widely and easily available in the fleshpots
of London, by mail order in kids comics and over the Internet. The Classic Palm,
Retention Vanish, Shuttle Pass, Roth Edge Grip Display etc however are rarely
sold!
'Finger flinging' seems to be denigrated by many magicians. I suspect that's
because they lack the necessary focus, determination and self belief to master
the sleight of hand that is vital to our craft. Method is the route to effect,
and the more direct that method, the stronger the effect.
Sometimes that method is self working or dealer bought, sometimes it's only
possible by knowledge, practice & work. We need to be able to use both methods.
The continued exposure of 'magic' is to be welcomed if it moves magic onwards &
upwards. I'd actually like to see more of it. A TV program that exposed the
methods behind the entire Marvins Magic series would suit me fine. I'd love to
see lot's of 'do it in minutes, no skill required, no practise necessary, easy
to perform' effects exposed on TV.
It's worth pointing out that 'Finger flinging', or sleight of hand, can't really
be exposed. It's far to complex a subject. Attention control, timing, body
language, covert & overt sleight of hand, psychology, presentation, etc can't be
exposed in a 22/44 minute TV program.
I really don't think we have any need to worry about exposure either, albeit for
different reasons. How many of the people who watched the "Masked Magician" can
still remember how it was all done? Very few. The general 'dumbing down' of TV
sees to that for us.
If we use skill, imagination, subtlety and the things that aren't available from
your local dealer to create truly good magic, then exposure doesn't affect what
we do.
Magic is alive and doing well - and truly good magic (not easy) will always
survive.
© David Lang May 2002