The Magicanada Project

Michael Kras · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

Please explain why not, Brian!

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Michael Kras
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

In brief it is simply because they are all expecting you. I know that you are jazzed about the fact that you're popular as a freshman in a new school, but if you get it in their heads that you will do what they want and when they want it, you can forget about enjoying being a magician any longer, and you can certainly say goodbye to your credibility. This is yet again the subject of an essay in my manuscript (it's as if this forum is reading my mind): Thoughts of Impromptu Performing.

In addition to that, it's a levtation. Levitations not only come with angle issues and all kinds of gimmickery that is not conducive to a school environment no matter how much you believe that you are in control of it, but they also come with certain baggage. Anyone that wants to see you levitate has certainly seen Blaine, Angel, or both do it on live television. They have expectations of what to expect that you cannot possibly hope to live up to due to certain techniques as used on tv magic shows. This should make sense even though I'm being very vague.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:22 pm Post subject:

Sounds good, and I didn't levitate at all. I will just keep up with performing card, coin, ring stuff!

So, invoking wonder... if you can make a spectator think, you've done your job and done it well... if the spectator thinks up any sort of method, no matter how wrong it may be, the illusion is lost for them because they have discovered a logical way of accomplishing the impossible feat you have just presented.
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Michael Kras
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

I can make my math students think, so did I invoke wonder properly? Do you see what I'm getting at? There has to be something about wonder or something beyond wonder that is at the essence of magic. Keep thinking about it.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:54 am Post subject:

First of all, you have an excellent point Brian. To wonder with the only possible thought in your mind being that what was just witnessed was real magic.

Second of all, you teach math??
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Michael Kras
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

I am in college studying a dual major in Secondary Education and Math as well as a minor in Philosophy.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:29 am Post subject:

Interesting!

So lets discuss this... if you perform a logical yet magical routine, for example a Poker Deal or mental effect, what do you pass it off as? Do you pass it off as magic? An aquired skill? Sleight of hand?
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Michael Kras
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

I never ask anyone to believe what I'm doing is real. My present card magic is a pure demonstration of sleight of hand/gambling techniques. The stuff I used to use was more storytelling audience participating card magic. The mentalism that I perform, both close-up and on stage, is presented as "The Illusion of Mindreading." I make it absolutely clear that I don't believe in mindreading, but what I do believe in is creating the illusion of mindreading through suggestion, persuasion, and psychology. And that's not how I pass it off but it's really how I do it. Non-card magic that I do is basically given as an acquired skill based in math and being "geeky." My character is very complicated and difficult to describe in text online.
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Michael Kras · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:38 am Post subject:

Interesting path that really defines "entertainment" and I love how you take the road less travelled. However, what you say gives a vibe that the basic idea is to lecture to a lay audience that mentalism isn't real. Wouldn't that ruin the reputations of those that are actually trying to pass off as real mentalists such as Uri Gellar?
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BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

Does it seem as though Uri is having problems because of me and others that don't claim what we do is real? I don't believe that an entertainer should claim his/her trickery to be real. It is insulting to an audience's intelligence, and those who believe it are being wrongfully duped and forming false beliefs of their own world. That is an abuse of power as a performer. This is obviously my personal opinion and I don't expect anyone to agree with me or act in accordance to my opinions. But this is how I think of it.

I gain more respect from an audience by being honest with them. Instead of asking them to believe in something supernatural, I am merely asking them to admire my skills and allow themselves to be entertained.

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