I noticed a little debate over yonder about exposure. As always, the following is one man’s opinion, rather than an expression of a say all end all mind frame.

Exposure to me is very simple.

Exposure is when something that should be kept within a group of the same interest is instead transcribed in some form the general public can see… at it’s darkest without them “asking” in the first place.

As brainless as the above is, it really has more perplexity than perhaps the word deserves.

The best way possible to expose is using hype, promote and sell. Put a peso amount on the exposure product and it will mostly be accepted by the circle at large. Hell, I’ve seen clones of certain items go for months before anyone simply states historical data. Usually these items I’ve caught come from old monthly’s.

Anyway. The above is the hottest exposure on the scale. Yet usually not looked as such.

Second is the debate that brought about my humble post hither. Exposure not as a product for the circle, but just to expose for vanity, or a mind set that “magic is for everyone”. This can be from magi and laymen alike. I doubt many of the large stage illusions exposed came from magi, but laymen as a problem solving task, which may link with vanity.

With that I can’t much think of any other categories, unless we wanted to nit pick. No matter how one would try to convince me that DVDs etc are not as exposing as open videos online for the general public, it would be a losing battle to shift my opinion.

Exposure does not, and will not ever effect me. Isn’t that the point of being a prime magician? At absolute worst the most exposed move or gadget is a small gamble a laymen will call one out. 99 percent of the folks your going to meet casually have never seen a decent card effect, much less research on our most basic 101.

To a degree the whole time I’ve been leading to a purist state of mind. I like and respect the gaffers. But it is all at your own risk. A purist’s only true risk is flashing or lack of analization on angles with poor execution. We should always be aware that even online magic shops show items in the wide open for sale.

We like to think in life certain things are sacred. But the nature of reality is that nothing is sacred unless one makes it so. We can’t be surprised when others take what we look upon as sacred as a nothing.

Point is, in a way I care, but I refuse to let things effect me, unless I allow it to. My chances are near 100 percent exposure will not effect me being I don’t allow for over use of anything, much less some item that can be called out or lack of understanding to what and how I’m using my resources of knowledge.

Exposure sucks. But if it’s effecting you personally it may be time to go back to the drawing board. If one shows a coin, clutches, and in relaxation a different coin is seen, and someone expresses something verbally, that’s just…..too bad for that guy. If you can’t allow inspection most of the time, your in a world that frankly I want no part of. Should we blame exposure? A loose lipped magi? A laymen with problem solving skills stating the obvious? I’m really not sure. The only thing I know is it doesn’t effect me personally on any level when I perform.

Purist is not an elitist term. Just a frame of mind. Which extends over gaffs themselves and more about end results with little to no explanation, even if the explanation is all over the web, or some “hot” product. At least for me anyway. I’d even say, though against the grain, if you use a “special” something and are always prepared to be called out, and in the end, all is as it should be, at heart your a purist.

Best rule as always. If you want to keep a secret, put it in a book. The best usually have boring names, few pictures, and are from someone that is less of a salesman and more of an enigma.

Enjoy the confusion. It’s the chaos that’s amusing. If you function as if you have no problems in exposure…..you don’t have any problems.