If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that question……….
Well, I still wouldn’t be wealthy, it takes a lot of nickels to make a person rich, and I’m sure I would’ve spent those nickels buying more magic so I’d have something new.
As most magicians know, just because it’s new magic doesn’t mean that it’s good magic and most “new magic” is a variation on an effect that has been around for ages. However, that doesn’t keep us from having to know what’s new. Curiosity has inspired many a young magician. It seems that every magician claims that his interest in magic was sparked by the magic kit he received when he was a kid. But actually, it was his curiosity that probably impelled him to put magic at the top of his Christmas list. Every magician should know that it’s not the secret but the presentation and the magicians ability to entertain that makes a really good effect. However, we all seem to keep searching for that perfect effect, one that is better than the ones we have and better than anything ever presented. We know that’s unlikely. But we continue to search for “What’s New”. No matter how much we learn, there is always the possibility of something coming along that will fool us and then our curiosity kicks in just as it did when we were kids.
Trust me, there’s enough magic on the market, in books, and on videos that if the creation of new magic was banned today, the art of performing magic could continue into the next century with no problem.
A few years back, I was attending the Magi-Fest in Columbus, Ohio. The featured performer that year was Michael Ammar. Certainly, anyone that has been into magic for any length of time is familiar with Michael.
His books, videos, convention appearances, lectures etc. have made him a star among the magic community. He is one of those magician’s magician. He teaches other magicians how to do magic and is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of the art.
On this occasion, he performed an afternoon show. For me it was the highlight of the convention because it was not at all what I expected and it confirmed my belief that good magic doesn’t have to be the latest and greatest magician fooling effect. It’s all in the presentation.
He started by producing a wine bottle via a topit and then performed the Coin in Bottle effect. He ended the show with Bill In Lemon. Wow! This stuff has been around for ever and here is Michael Ammar performing it for a few hundred magicians. They loved it. I’m sure that most of the audience knew how the effects were accomplished, but they didn’t care. They were entertained. With all the tools Michael has in his arsenal of amazing effects, he chose to perform Coin In Bottle and Bill In Lemon.
The sad part is, even though the audience had just thoroughly enjoyed an entertaining presentation of some classic effects, the majority of them probably headed straight for the dealers area to find out “What’s New”.
Of course, things aren’t going to change and it would probably be bad for the magic dealers if they did. Magician’s curiosity is going to continue to drive them to the magic shops, websites, and magazines to check out the latest offering, but don’t forget that the classics are classics for good reason. They have stood the test of time, have been entertaining audiences for ages and will continue to do so. Although they may not amaze you anymore, try to remember your amazement the first time you saw them performed and you’ll be digging those old tricks out of the back of the closet. After all, you don’t perform your magic for your entertainment, you perform it for your audiences entertainment.
Or do you?
By Ed Williams