Do you ever wonder why we do not see many magic TV shows? How about theatre magic shows? Why are the magic clubs dwindling in membership? Why does a magician (I use that word very loosely) who exposes magic effects get more TV time than all the great magicians? Where did the magic go?
We will try to shine a little light on this dilemma.
I think most of these questions have a common answer; too much pressure to be bigger and better. There will never be showstoppers like the Blackstone’s, Keller, Thurston, and etc. We are lucky that we still have a lot of good magicians still around, but they do not perform on TV much anymore.
This is a personal opinion from me and no one else. I think the cost of out-doing (one upping) the last magician on TV and the availability of being able to duplicate what you did on TV, is shrinking the acts on TV. Lets take that one step at a time. The first magician levitates and flies over the Grand Canyon, the next magician must out do that and so on. The cost of this extravaganza is astronomical and each time another magician does a TV show the costs rise enormously. The sponsors are backing out because of the high costs. Once a magician does a show on TV and he hits the road for tour shows it is very difficult to duplicate what he did on TV. I am not saying that the “new day” magicians are using any TV trickery (well, maybe I am) but the amazing things they do on TV just cannot be done in the public arenas. Between the camera editing and time delays, magic has been decaying and losing the audiences’ appeal for some time now.
With all the production costs, labor, props, and the wear and tear on the equipment, costs are astronomical and in order to survive the performer must do bigger and more extravagant shows. It has gotten to the point where you just cannot do anything impressive enough to get sponsors or a decent TV audience share. Can you imagine how much it must cost to put on a TV show now days. No wonder magicians today use camera tricks and TV editing to make their shows look spectacular and over the top.
I think (and hope you all agree) this is killing the magic community. I hear stories every day from magic friends who tell me their show was cancelled because it is just not spectacular enough. I even heard one magician say he was let go from a very good long-term deal because he could not do a building-to-building walk like a TV magician did.
I just cannot believe what is taking place today in the magic world. It is no wonder the magic clubs are losing members and new members are far and few in between. The old timers are leaving this world at an increasing rate and the now day magicians do not have the time to mentor others. It is a miracle we have any magicians at all.
What would happen if magicians went back to doing the classics and tried actual showmanship without all the TV trickery? Where would magic go or what direction would it head. Don’t get me wrong I love magic, but I like to see a great sleight of hand show or a good manipulator. There is nothing better to see than a magician who goes to the audience and knocks them dead with cards or coin sleights. Even better, is a show in which a variety of manipulation techniques are being demonstrated.
How long has it been since you have seen a magic show at a major theatre or auditorium? Can you remember a great magician coming to your club and just talking to the locals? When was the last time you helped or mentored a young magician? Where has the magic gone? Will it ever come back? What can be done to help bring it back?
All right, before you answer those questions I guess it is only fair that I answer them first. Before attempting to answer the posed questions, I feel it is necessary to explain that I consider myself a little different then most magicians/mentalists; that is, I can go and watch a show just to be entertained and not want to see how it is done or try to catch them at something. With that said, the last time I saw a full-length magic evening show was 9 years ago and it was David Copperfield. He actually did some fantastic magic and it was not of the “sensational” kind. I especially enjoyed his interaction with a few audience members. I cannot remember a great magician ever coming to a magic club (not getting paid to) just to say hello or talk to the locals. I help “Make a wish” with kids who want to learn magic and I teach almost anyone who really wants to learn. I do think magic will make a comeback, just not soon. We all can help bring magic by insisting our shows are legitimate and honest. It always helps to promote good quality magic and teach it that way.
I wanted to mention that I saw Harry Blackstone Jr. at least 5 times and never once got bored or see anyone in the audience get up and leave or wonder why he did not go outside and fly. In the 1980s our Town would put on a two weeks of magic. The Mayor would declare magic weeks and a lot of the schools would hire the locals to perform. Then came the last weekend; starting Thursday, all the locals would entertain and teach at a local Center for the Arts inside and out. The evening would bring a show from some of the local magicians. Friday would bring another day of entertainment.
That night was a semi-formal party, with food from the surrounding 4 and 5 star restaurants and libations galore. The party would have several tents with auditorium style seating for 20 people, and a top notch magician putting a half hour show for a buck and the last 10 minutes was the how. The night ending with a full 2-hour evening show by people like Blackstone Jr., The Left-Handed League and others. Those were the days of magic.
I know, I left a question unanswered; where did the magic go? In my humble opinion, it has gone to Beelzebub in a hand basket. It has gone by the wayside and it just left the building.
I do wish we could send the TV producers a message that we will not do sensational magic anymore. The audiences will not believe that we can fly across the Grand Canyon, walk on air or water, and certainly not teleport people through a TV camera. We need to get back to the classics; they are the bread and butter of magic.
Bono Fortuna
Massimo
The Mental Institution™