Protecting Secrets?
I was being interviewed and performing magic on a local television program some time back. As I waited for lights and cameras to be adjusted, I asked which camera I would be performing for. The stage manager laughed and said something about trying to protect my secrets.
I was simply asking about cameras because I wanted to present my routines in the strongest manner. Is this so unusual? And wouldn't any entertainer want to know which camera to direct a performance for the largest impact?
After thinking about this, I concluded that this attitude probably comes from the public’s view of magicians. And more specifically, our protection of magic secrets, almost to the point of obsession, which hurts our standing as entertainers, professionals and artists.
Keeping Secrets
Of course, we have secrets to protect. But I think the public views secrets as a way for us to know something they don't and our wanting to keep it that way. And when we express outrage at exposure on television or the internet, we appear to be crybabies who want to keep secrets to ourselves.
But the public needs to realize that this attitude doesn't give an accomplished performer, who happens to be a magician, credit for being able to captivate and entertain a crowd. A magic secret does not make an entertainer, as commonly demonstrated by all of the awful performances one can watch on YouTube.
Skill In Our Art
So how can we change this? Here are a couple of things that I do when I'm performing close-up (these are the situations where there's more interaction with spectators and secrets are more likely to be brought up).
First of all, I always display some skill, particularly with cards, which I feel raises my stature as an artist. When I perform a difficult, multi-phased cut or other move, the audiences knows that I have spent a lot of time working on my art.
Another thing that a presentation of skill accomplishes is that audiences instinctively know that what they see me do, a difficult flourish, results in equally difficult tasks going on in the background that they don't see or know about. In my experience, audiences often know that there are difficult moves with cards that accomplished magicians practice and perform. I want my audiences to know that I have worked, studied and practiced for my art.
How Did You Do That?
Second, I think we can do a lot better to our response to the often heard question, "how did you do that!"
You know and may even use the standard responses: 1) very well; 2) I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you; 3) can you keep a secret, so can I and more. While these classic responses may get a laugh, I find them arrogant, and worse, I think that they reinforce the notion that magicians are obsessed with secrets.
Here's what I do that works for me. I say "I cheated, but I hope you had fun." The answer is always "yes" and delivered with a smile, nod and/or small laugh. I've told them the truth and reinforced the fact that they were entertained. This allows me to leave the group or table on a positive note as I wish the audience well and make my exit.
Perhaps this approach can work for you as well.
