"A Little Respect for Magic Nerds"

While the article talks about the "Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards Show" that is happening this weekend at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the teaser on the front page of the "Calendar Weekend" section of the LA Times states, "A Little Respect for Magic Nerds."

This was used to describe a ceremony that is our "Academy Awards of Magic" and where the art of magic celebrates its finest. But as the headline implies, why does our art receive such public scorn and belittlement?

To start, contrary to the headline, are we magicians untalented nerds who could do no better than to buy a few cheap tricks and ply them on unwitting victims? I think anyone in the public would be hard pressed to call the finest in our industry: David Copperfield, Criss Angel, David Blaine, Lance Burton and more, "nerds" or untalented. Mac King, who's stage persona is that of a nerd, is quickly identified by anyone as a talented and accomplished entertainer.

Perhaps it's the dark legacy of those awful clowns, wizards and "magicians" at the bottom-end of the party market, so called "entertainers" who admit that they aren't magicians, but still ply their awful "magic" on the public and even charge for it. Armed with a cheap plastic ball & vase and a coloring book, these hacks undercut true entertainers in price and do irreparable damage to our art in the eyes of the public.

Yet the public doesn't listen to someone singing and destroying our National Anthem at a baseball game and conclude that all singers are awful. There has to be more.

I wonder if a majority of the public has just seen enough bad magic at all levels to conclude that they hate it. Magicians who simply show off the "cool" things that they can do with little regard to the audience, or the narcissist who performs magic to be the center of attention or uses the power of the stage to humiliate and embarrass volunteers.

I don't think that any group can simply demand respect and expect to receive it. A group has to earn it. And as a group, it's up to us to make our magic as entertaining as possible and make "converts" one group at a time. Enough said.

The article talks about the upcoming ceremony and its performers, and features quotes from Dale Hindman, the show's executive producer.

You can read the story, "Sleight Is a Real Sight," by clicking here.