I recently attended a magic club banquet banquet. The sad fact was you had to sit at the kiddie table if you were under 60. (Actually, I guess you have to be over 50 to recall the kiddie table!)
At the risk of sounding like some old fart longing for the good old days – I really hate to see the demise of magic as a hobby and a classic art slip into oblivion. I’m told that the Internet has taken the place of personal interaction and that’s sad – especially since we supposedly practice and study an art which is rooted in entertainment.
Why has magic lost its relevance and appeal? When is the last time you saw magic on TV? Chris Angel has as much to do with magic as the Roadrunner.
As far as I can recall, Jason Randall, with his periodic appearances on Letterman, is the only regular magician we see on TV.
Personally, I don’t count Derren Brown – quite an entertainer, but not a magician. Why have Henning, Copperfield, Burton et. al. vanished?
Mike Close put it best on one of his L&L DVDs – people don’t want us to do what we want to do.
I know it is popular to say that people have a low opinion of magic because of the inappropriate actions of some magician. I’ve really begin to question that. Hell, I don’t even think Uncle Harry is doing the 21 card trick! Just think, when was the last time you actually saw a working magician in your every day life – or even a simple trick being performed by anyone? I’ll bet you can’t remember.
Is it 9-1-1? Is it political correctness? Have we just lost our ability to have fun? I wish I knew.
I wish I knew.
Take care………
