Politics, Science, Art & Magic

POLITICS, SCIENCE, ART & MAGIC

“It’s not the job of the artist to give the audience what the audience wants. If the audience knew what they needed, then they wouldn’t be the audience. They would be the artists. It is the job of artists to give the audience what they need.”  

— Alan Moore

 

Greetings to you my friends,

I do not watch TV… but I do read and search out good news sources. Oh, and I also read the works of Alan Moore!

Lately, I’ve been thinking deeply of how I can better serve our magic community with my performances and teaching. One of the questions that keeps popping up is….

What is the role of a performing artist in our society?

Something I’ve been talking about these days is the limits of magic as an art form. Some people feel that magic performance is only for entertainment — to help people forget their worries. Others feel that theater is a place for speaking out on many immediate concerns of the day. I hear this struggle often with performers young and old. Many of my students want to add more meaning to their magic, and they want to be more that a mere trickster.

 Photo by Navarro

IS it possible to stop a revolution with magic tricks? Yes!

Many great magicians have woven important and topical themes into their magic. Legend has it that the “Father of Modern Magic,” Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, was famous for weaving theater, politics and magic together. The history books say that Robert-Houdin was responsible for quelling a revolution in Algeria with his scientific magic inventions!

For the fascinating story of how Robert-Houdin did this go here:

https://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/millennium/m1/teller.html

What makes magic “Theatrical Magic?”

When I work with students, I often ask them a few questions. Today I will ask those questions to you for your consideration!

• What makes your show MORE than just a “normal magic show?”
• Who are YOU on stage?
• What kind of character do you play?
• How is your presentation unique?
• What is the script for each effect in your act?
• Why should people watch your performance?
• What is the audience’s  “take-away” from your performance?

ART + SCIENCE = MAGIC?

So, where can magicians go to learn, in depth and detail, how to effectively create these important theatrical elements?

You can find new ways to present your magic here!

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events

The Big 3: Presentation, Character & Script

These are what I call “The Big 3.”  They are the essential elements for creating magic experiences with strong and meaningful impact.

Some theatrical stories do not even have words! The Ranimaker is a piece I perform that has a “silent story.” My presentation is ritualistic, the character I play is “The Shaman,” and the script is about a man who is thirsty and conjures a rain spirit… with unexpected results! I’ve only taught this performance piece to a few of my students. Recently Jeff Christensen won top honors with his new version of The Rainmaker!

Jeff C. said, “I was very pleased to receive two gold medals for my recent performances at the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. I won a gold medal for Mentalism and for Parlor. A huge thanks to my friend and magic teacher Jeff McBride for all of his guidance and support with my magic.”

Congratulation on your awards, Jeff, and thank you for the kind words!

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/masterpieces

Taking risks and standing out

George Carlin was a hero of mine. In junior high school, I would listen to his recording of Class Clown, and I memorized many of his comedy routines. I remember chunks of those routines to this very day! I never expected that one day I would be his opening act at THE SANDS HOTEL & CASINO in Atlantic City! What an honor it was to be in his company!

That is why people so love artists like George Carlin and other masters of political satire! Carlin was one of the rare artists who not only entertained us, he also enlightened us! The performance art of magic does not have to be political to be effective theater… as my friend Master Payne reminded me when he said, “Magic needs only to be relevant.”

Politics & Magic

For all my friends and fellow magicians that are having a hard time deciding if entertainment, art, politics and magic can fit together. I offer you the next few examples.

The Amazing Jonathan takes on Trump!

You never know what will happen at WONDERGROUND.

Last month The Amazing Jonathan took the stage and was about to perform his new “Lance Burton Dove act”, when suddenly “The Donald” rushed onto the stage and hilarity ensued. Hats off to Rudy Coby for his dead-on impersonation of Trump! Every month we have surprise celebrity guests!

The Amazing Jonathan gets “Trumped” at WONDERGROUND!

Photo by Sheryl A. Garrett

Wonderground News

December 15, 2017

7:30  – Strolling Magic with Miguel & Will

 

8PM -  Abigail McBride – Master of Ceremonies

Miguel Ramirez – An Expert of Reality Manipulation

Lion Fludd - Prepare yourself for “The Hustle!”

Brian Arkell - Unique Vegas Magic

Joan DuKore – Feminine Mystique!

Scott Steelfyre – “Making a point with magic!”

 

9PM – Strolling and close up magic

Miguel Ramirez – Mago-Deluxe

Bizzaro – Innovative Illusions

Lion Fludd – “The Hustle”- Close -Up Deceptions!

Joan DuKore – A Sensational Sorceress

 

10PM – Tim Wise – Master of Ceremonies

Circe! – From the TV show “Masters of Illusion”

Will Bradshaw – Theatrical Conjuring

Bizzaro – for him, normal is just a setting on the dryer

Jarol Martinez  -  “Illuminations,” the magic lamps act

PLUS:Photography by Sheryl Garrett.

Bar Magic with Zack Pattee, Scott Steelfyre, and Iam Creed. NWR Belly Dancers: Abigail, Megan & Deborah, Psychic Sideshow with Mulee Pete and Alan Scott, live art with Areeya – and many more surprises and special celebrity guests!!

Now let’s all get off email and Facebook and go see a live show and support performers who not only entertain, but also enlighten!

Best wishes for the holidays!

 

Friends and Family

Dear Friends:

This month, we get to hear from our Dean, Eugene Burger.

It is December, a month of holidays and time spent with friends and families. And it is also a time when we are asked — or wish — to perform some magic for them. I have definite thoughts about these shows. They are not always easy; in fact sometimes they can be very difficult! My essay is drawn from a new book I am presently completing, which I hope will be published in 2017. The current title of the book is, Teaching Magic: Personal Reflections for Students and Teachers.

One of the grim facts of life that students of magic — especially amateur students — must recognize, is that friends and family are usually the most difficult audiences on the planet! There are exceptions, of course. If your friends and family are exceptions to this “rule,” be grateful, because you are truly blessed. For most of us, the reverse is true: while strangers can be easy audiences, friends and family can be the most difficult.

Why is this true? One reason is that friends and family feel they can interrupt us during our performances. Another reason is that sometimes they don’t want us to be the center of attention because they want to be the center of everyone’s attention.

Is there anything that can be done about this? Honestly, I am not sure that there is. At the same time, I have had some success by approaching the problem directly in the following way. After I perform my first effect (as Jeff McBride would say, “Magic First, then talk”) I say…

“You know, we can watch a performance of theatrical magic in one of two ways. The first way is with an analytical frame of mind, trying to figure out how the magic is accomplished. This is the way many people watch a magic show. Another way to experience magic is to watch it through the eyes of a child, a child who appreciates the experience of wonder. If I were given the choice, I would hope that tonight you would experience my magic in the second way, as a child appreciating the wonder in the world. Later, of course, on your way home, you might want to get analytical and try to figure it all out. Then you can be my guest. But for now, let’s relax and enjoy the magic!”