Remember the Feeling

Recently I was listening to an old episode of The Magic Newswire podcast where they interviewed Kozmo. Before I get to that point, let me point out that if you don’t subscribe to that podcast, stop reading this article and go subscribe. The interview with Kozmo was awesome. I’m a big fan of him, his magic and his magazine, Reel Magic Magazine.

It’s pretty much the best value in magic today. During the interview with Kozmo, he made a statement that really struck a chord with me and is this month’s subject for Roots and Branches. Kozmo said that magicians don’t remember what magic looks like. He is so right.

Those of you who’ve ordered products from my site will know that I sign all of my packing slips with this little note: “Remember, Astonishment Over Moves.” I’m a huge believer in trying to capture that feeling. In fact, as many of you know, I’m in the middle of writing a humongous book right now. It’s about this very subject, so Kozmo’s message was very timely for me.

Root:

Let’s remember our roots. This month’s root: Remember the Feeling. What was it like the first time you were astonished by a magic trick? Do you remember that feeling? I’m not talking about the time that you saw a trick that you “had to know how to do it” or the trick that made you feel stupid or the trick that made you mad because you couldn’t figure it out. I’m talking about when something really made you feel like a little kid again . . . or maybe you were a little kid when it happened. Remember that feeling? Where is it now?

Branch:

Let’s build our branches. Try this exercise . . . in the next 30 days, go back and read the December 2007 Roots and Branches article called Astonishing Connections. Then go on a quest for your own sake to find astonishment again. It doesn’t have to be from magic. You need to feel that feeling again. If you don’t remember it, how can you help your audience experience it? You can’t. You must remember the feeling. Go watch Lennart Green on YouTube. That might do it for you. Maybe not. Search the net for phrases like “Unbelievable Technology” or “Technology of The Future.” I work in the I.T. industry and some of the new technology coming out even blows my mind. Please, for the sake of yourself and your audience members, do what ever it takes to remember the feeling. Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.