Readers Respond: Readers Respond to "YouTube Magic Exposure is No Problem"

Responses: 7

By Wayne Kawamoto, About.com Guide

Readers respond to my story about magic exposure on YouTube. Share Your Thoughts

Good stuff! I have been doing magic in all kind of venues for 40yrs. I have heard there are more books on magic than any other art. Now it's available on the internet with the secrets exposed etc. I became a magician because of exposure that enabled me to progress and learn the art of entertaining. I have seen magic done and was fooled even after I knew the secret! Why? I became intoxicated with the performers personality and caught up in the mystical atmosphere.This is what magic is about as an art and not the secrets. Yes,I protect these secrets and they are important. Good magicians know about exposure and have alternate ways to present them to throw off what others think is the solution. Most audiences have not seen these exposures anyway so I'm not concerned. If a trick appears to be compromised then a twist is added to overcome it and those that think they are "in the know" are left bewildered.
—Guest MLO

Exposure on Youtube is not a problem. THe true art of magic is the presentation. I have performed 'exposed tricks' and discovered that it made no difference. THe audience did not recognize it in the context in which it was presented. Many people know how the great magicians trick works but continue to be entertained because of the unique style of the presenter. Penn and Teller expose tricks. Who cares. We are entertained by their presentation.
—Guest Doug

Most people don't watch magic on youtube. And even if they did somebody who is skilled and entertaining in real life can still amaze; and that even includes magicians watching! Magic will not die because of tutorials and expose's. If you are a magician who has the attitude "Join me in watching the impossible happen" you will always have a grateful and happy audience, no matter what they've seen or know. But if you are a magician who has the attitude "I'm superior to you; I can fool you because you are stupid" then you will not be appreciated, and your audience will fight you to detect the secrets and will lose the whole point of being amazed. Not a reputation to strive for. Watch Doug Henning to see how to treat an audience right. Yes, he's on youtube! People enjoy being "mis-directed" and amazed by him. Doug never had to prove anything to people; yes he was skilled, but people just watched WITH him as the magic happened. Something to think about!
—Guest Miss Direction

Most of the you tube magic I have seen is performed by kids who have no idea how bad it looks to others. Not only is the performence done badly but the camera work is terrible. The camera wanders all over the place and the the performer is mumbling so that you can hardly hear him. This makes for bad and boring magic I am not against performing and revealing magic on you tube but at least make it entertaining and interesting so that any one watching might want to learn more. That is where our future magicians will come from. here are a few rules to follow. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Also know something about the effect you are showing and know how to show it on you tube. In other words, camera work and sound. Make the trick interesting. When I was a kid, I saw a street magician performing the ball and vase. It was the first magic trick I had ever seen. He performed it so well that I was mesmorised. I got a vase of my own and that is how I got into magic 55 years ago and still going
—Guest cardcltr1938

I think the real problem is when people see a magician and then they go on YouTube to find out how it was done. However, I still don't think it's a problem, because if somebody is interested enough to want to find out how something was done on YouTube, that means they were intrigued enough by the magic to Want to look it up. So in a way, the magician has still succeeded. The worst response of magician could get from a spectator is say "ho-hum" response.
—TimArends

I perform on the streets and have several young "future" magicians who come see me everytime I'm out performing. They want to know if I saw the latest "TV magic" show last night. In the case of "exposed" effects, they want to know if I saw the effect and do I know how it was done. Most times I answer "Yes, I saw it and I know how it was done, but have you seen this ..." I then perform the same effect with my "patter". Simply adding a story line, eye contact, and a little mis-direction and the same effect they saw last night on TV becomes a new mind blowing experience. Most times they don't even realize they are watching the same effect. I do "Teach" while I'm on the street, but it is always one for one. You show me one and I'll show you one. And I want to know what the effect is called and who originated. I try to instill the importance of originality and magic history into these up and comings. One day several of them are going to be excellent magicians. Yep, No Problem!
—Guest Mr. George

For me, i like people who are sharing magic videos in youtube.. why? it's because i simply learned the secret behind those mysterious thing's done by those magician's, illusionist or whatsoever.
—Guest RAMP