Special Features

How to Watch a Magic Show

I think there are two ways to watch a magic show. Some people see it as a challenge – a problem to be solved.  They are more interested in finding out how a trick works than enjoying the effect.  In some cases, they may even try to mess up the trick in order to find out the secret.  A good magician should plan for all these situations, and still be able to put on a good show, but it is not as enjoyable for the magician or the audience.

The spectator may feel pleased with themselves for a few moments if they have caught out the magician and get a little satisfaction from knowing (or thinking they know) how the trick worked, but this satisfaction only lasts a short time.  Knowing the secret of a trick is often a big disappointment.  The magician may also feel that he or she has failed to give the spectator a good show.  Ultimately it leads to disappointment all round.

Now let’s look at the alternative.  When you watch a good magic trick, you get the chance to witness something that should be impossible, and it can give you a feeling of wonder and amazement that you nay have not had since childhood.  And this feeling can last for some a long time.  People often want to tell friends about the amazing things saw.  You can see their eyes widen and their jaws drop at the moment the magic happens.

I have performed magic for a very long time now and so don’t often get to experience that feeling of amazement any more because I can usually work out what is really happening.  I do, however, try to watch every magician I see without thinking the secrets and when I do see a really great trick that I just can’t figure out I try to enjoy the moment and make it last as long as possible.

So how do you want to watch magic?  I know which way I prefer.

January 25, 2007