Magic is a Drug and Drugs are Dangerous
A couple weeks ago, Derrick Welling and I were sharing 42 pounds of pig and beef at Famous Dave’s; as often happens when two Magicians share 42 pounds of pig and beef at Famous Dave’s, the subject turned to magic. But this time was different. I had an epiphany of sorts. I found an interesting connection between the development of a magician and drug addicts. You’ve seen it . . . First it starts with maybe a cigarette or a swig of beer or a hit from a joint . . . then . . . next thing you know, it’s heroin, cocaine, crack, meth . . . Not only that, but it takes more and more of the drug to feel normal.
All kidding (or seriousness) aside, there is a pattern here that I think you’ll recognize in magic. Think back to the first time you were fooled by a magic trick (before you were “into” magic). My guess is that it was something simple like a vanishing coin, or the classic, “coin from the ear.” Or maybe it was when you were a little bit older and someone nailed you with the glide or magician’s choice or a double lift or maybe even the 21 card trick.
Root:
Let’s remember our roots. This month’s root is . . . wait for it . . . “remember our roots.” That’s right, the ultimate in self-referential self references. Follow me here. When you first got into magic, you did the glide trick where you have a card selected . . . shuffled in the deck . . . show the audience four cards that are not the selection (using the glide) . . . have them hold the four cards between their knuckles in a fist . . . slap the cards and bam . . . their card is staring them in the face . . . or the variation where you use magician’s choice to force their card of the four on the table. And it fried people. It fried you. Yeah? When’s the last time you did the glide? Have You Forgotten? (Thank you Avril Lavigne.)
Then you learn about Marlo’s Miracle Card Moves and Snap Changes, and because you saw it done at just the right angle, you were convinced that this was the next big thing that you must learn. Then you went straight for the hard stuff . . . Extreme Card Manipulation . . . dun . . . dun . . . dunnnnnnn.
Don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with XCM. The point I’m getting at is that many magicians go down this path where they constantly have to add more flourishes, moves, sleights, etc to feel normal. Just like the drugie who can’t feel normal with one line of coke per day . . . he now needs two or three or ten . . . The magi has (like the junkie) become jaded due to exposure to meth(od). Too much method makes it harder and harder to feel normal. By normal, of course, I’m referring to that beautiful moment of astonishment that you felt when the coin literally (in your mind) came out of your ear.
Now it’s not astonishment . . . now it’s a finger palmed quarter. Well that’s lame. I need more to be fooled . . . show me the latest trick on the market. Show me a move I’ve never seen. Show me a trick that’ll fry me. Oftentimes we get to the point where the trick ONLY fools the magician, and leaves the audience wanting. Magic is a Drug and Drugs are Dangerous.
Like a junkie, we become obsessed with ourselves and not those around us (family, friends, audience members). We are more interested in what pleases us (heroin, 23 phase ace routines) and we forget what matters . . . the audience. We need to get back to the roots. What sparked this whole thing was Derrick telling a story of an old trick that he thought was child’s play and does not belong in the repertoire of a pro.
Yet a pro (who shall remain nameless) was using them all the time and totally nailing people with it. By “nailing” I mean, of course, creating moments of astonishment. Needless to say, Derrick added this old “piece of junk” trick back to his repertoire. And I want you to do the same . . .
Branch:
Let’s build our branches. For the next 30 days, I want you to go back to The Royal Road to Card Magic
Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.