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Jeffrey Tong

Card Magic Vs. Card Trick

When one performs, he/she tend to say card tricks, while performing magic. This seems very ironic for me. So, do you still call your card effects tricks?

P.S. to me, tricks seems like a devious word that is there just to fool someone, not really mysterious. But then again, once you start performing, the audience totally forgets you've every said trick or magic.
BrianMillerMagic

I call everything I do tricks and I don't care about saying tricks.  People associate magicians with tricks and, let's face it, that's what we do.  I view it as my job to show people just how entertaining tricks can actually be.  We sound like pompous a******s when we correct people by saying "effects" or "illusions".  Our venue of entertainment is built on deceit* so we might as well be honest about it.

*I say deceit instead of lying because while lying may be a component of decent, it isn't necessarily.
Michael Kras

I never correct my spectators on these sorts of things for the reason Brian stated above, HOWEVER from that point on if I ever refer to a "trick" I call it an effect. As many magicians have said in the past, calling an effect a "trick" can sometimes belittle the effect and bring it down to just puzzles and fast hands. If you call an effect a "trick" in front of your spectators, it's possible they might take it as a challenge.
Ben Train

One of the things I sometimes discuss in more formal instructive sessions is Ascanio's concept of magic-magic versus pseudo-magic.  I highly recommend you pick up book one of Ascanio's series and reading it cover to cover.

I also highly recommend getting Burger's "Experience of Magic".

"As a professional magician, it is my work to perform for real people from all walks of life, and to bring to them the experience of magic.  But what IS the experience of magic?

In this century, conjurers have produced a literature larger in size, perhaps, than any other creative art or craft, yet there is surprisingly little written in it about important questions such as these: what is the experience of magic?  How does this experience differ from other experiences - most especially, from the experience of being amused, or the experience of being puzzled, or the experience of being frightened, or even the experience of being fooled?"
- Burger, The Experience of Magic

What is the difference between a "trick" and "magic"?  What is the "experience of magic?  Why do I always answer questions with other questions?  Wanna check out a sick video?

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/3873567/10559053
Jeffrey Tong

Ben Train wrote:
One of the things I sometimes discuss in more formal instructive sessions is Ascanio's concept of magic-magic versus pseudo-magic.  I highly recommend you pick up book one of Ascanio's series and reading it cover to cover.

I also highly recommend getting Burger's "Experience of Magic".

"As a professional magician, it is my work to perform for real people from all walks of life, and to bring to them the experience of magic.  But what IS the experience of magic?

In this century, conjurers have produced a literature larger in size, perhaps, than any other creative art or craft, yet there is surprisingly little written in it about important questions such as these: what is the experience of magic?  How does this experience differ from other experiences - most especially, from the experience of being amused, or the experience of being puzzled, or the experience of being frightened, or even the experience of being fooled?"
- Burger, The Experience of Magic

What is the difference between a "trick" and "magic"?  What is the "experience of magic?  Why do I always answer questions with other questions?  Wanna check out a sick video?

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/3873567/10559053


That's some messed up video Ben. Looks like something from the Simpsons. When I get enough money, I'll check out those books.
Liam

I call them tricks for a few reasons
1) As brian said, thats what they are.
2)its alot easier to gain a report with your audience if you start with something they know is true
3) if i claim it to be magic, it sounds like a challenge
Jeffrey Tong

Liam wrote:
I call them tricks for a few reasons
1) As brian said, thats what they are.
2)its alot easier to gain a report with your audience if you start with something they know is true
3) if i claim it to be magic, it sounds like a challenge


To me, saying it's a trick sounds more like a challenge. Though I do agree with you're points.
Michael Kras

Ben Train wrote:
One of the things I sometimes discuss in more formal instructive sessions is Ascanio's concept of magic-magic versus pseudo-magic.  I highly recommend you pick up book one of Ascanio's series and reading it cover to cover.

I also highly recommend getting Burger's "Experience of Magic".

"As a professional magician, it is my work to perform for real people from all walks of life, and to bring to them the experience of magic.  But what IS the experience of magic?

In this century, conjurers have produced a literature larger in size, perhaps, than any other creative art or craft, yet there is surprisingly little written in it about important questions such as these: what is the experience of magic?  How does this experience differ from other experiences - most especially, from the experience of being amused, or the experience of being puzzled, or the experience of being frightened, or even the experience of being fooled?"
- Burger, The Experience of Magic

What is the difference between a "trick" and "magic"?  What is the "experience of magic?  Why do I always answer questions with other questions?  Wanna check out a sick video?

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/3873567/10559053


*Sigh* just when I thought the mutated madness was over...

Ben spent last night sending me these disgusting videos and photos of mutated animals and people. This wasn't even the worst.
BrianMillerMagic

Jeffrey Tong wrote:
Liam wrote:
I call them tricks for a few reasons
1) As brian said, thats what they are.
2)its alot easier to gain a report with your audience if you start with something they know is true
3) if i claim it to be magic, it sounds like a challenge


To me, saying it's a trick sounds more like a challenge. Though I do agree with you're points.


I humbly disagree.  The word 'trick' respects the audience's preconceived notion of what it is magicians do in an honest way.  'Magic' is something that most people do not believe in, do not believe exists at all, and in fact most people believe that magicians are merely "professional liars" because they claim to do something that is impossible.  The word 'trick' respects the audience and simultaneously lowers their expectations, which  is something that a competent magician can seriously take advantage of.
Michael Kras

Sure, the word "trick" is more universal... if you ask to show a spectator an "effect" they will have no idea what you're talking about in most cases. However, in saying "trick" they know what to expect. It also sets the magician up quite nicely for the kill.

Even for laypeople, "trick" is a word associated with the minor magic Uncle Jimbob pulls off at family get-togethers. So, when you do some mindblowing Ben Train effect, they are off-guard and shocked. It could be a great way to hold interest.
BrianMillerMagic

Even the word 'magic' throws people off, at least in strolling situations.  At a restaurant when I get to the part in my intro, "Would you like to see a minute or two of magic?", often times the people at the table will shoot each other some nervous looks to which I'll immediately respond, "Bad experience with a magician?  I saw that look.  Don't worry, nothing serious or life threatening - just some silly things..."  It gets laughs, diffuses tension, and then lowers expectations which only works to my advantage.

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