I’ve always thought about such a simple, fair, if not most obvious question. Yet, it may be rare we actually think about it much. As per myself, whom I could ever only truly speak about, I tend to lean towards the following:
-No cheese. I don’t do comedy bits, I don’t give stories about marriages or use any pop culture references. As stated quite a bit I dislike gimmicks (again, not “devices”) with a passion, and in such, I don’t feel that I am the minority. Cheese has more elements than meet the eye. I feel for the most part many use it for lack of actual persona. Through time all trends fade. The ones that outlast are the guys, and art that feels as if it’s not thrust in the face, or needs some kind of pop outline.
-I have a penis. Society has made men rather strange this day in age I think. Unfortunately when one says “alpha male”, for most a jock type image, of a jerk nature usually comes to mind. To me men should be proud to be men and not be persuaded by what a producer in Hollywood tells you is charming. Real life dictates the lovable looser doesn’t get the girl, the nice guy doesn’t attract (that’s not to say cruel does either), he’s comfortable in his own skin, and never apologizes for what he stands for. When we look at women we love it when their essence of femininity flows. Oddly though it seems men are somewhat askew in the same. If you want people you meet to look at you differently, instead of chasing and “trying” put on the proper aura that your the one that’s “got it going on”. It’s not about having that jock ego, it’s more about knowing you’ve done things you are proud of, though you see most as your equals inside you know you got something inside a little larger than life. It’s far from a delusion….we all have such, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Problem is no matter how one states it many will translate it as pompous. The best I can say really is watch a male that is mostly admired by society, which usually in the case here is somewhat of a sex icon. Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt. They are proud to be male. Taint nothing wrong with that. Make the penis sexy again.
I still like what I perform-When I perform Slo Motion Aces I still feel a real respect inside of the technique. Most of the magic I do, no matter how many times I do it a voice inside goes “brilliant”. It need not be horribly complex per say, but admired. This may play a huge roll in my distaste of something new marketed every day. If your happy with your Corvette, what do you care about the new VW.
My voice is fairly soothing-I get the “you have a radio voice” quite frequently. Truth is I have two voices. I higher pitched one when I’m really hyper, pissed, excited, not really paying attention etc, and the lower bass from the balls. Thing is the lower took time and work. It was always there but not something I was use to before I paid attention to it. Never underestimate the power of our vocal chords and the lower tones.
I dress better than most everyone-I’ve stated this more than need be I’m sure. Fickle society, yet looking good feels good. If your in your 20’s it’s about time to hang up the baseball cap and T-shirts as your main wardrobe. Yes. This indeed does apply to people liking your magic because….
It’s not about the magic in the end, it’s about the man-One of the best things we can do for ourselves is realize that people at first will say “I like the magic”, to “This guy is really magical”. You can apply this to any art you like. At first you liked the tune, then you began to look at the band as talented, same in comedy, painting, you name it.
Trial And Error-Speaks for itself. There are routines I think are brilliant, but in the end laymen just didn’t care as much as they should. I hate to say it but after getting really good at (the real) ACAAN most were not as impressed as we may think. Card called to top, Open Prediction, or just CAAN in my travels worked to better fruits. Sometimes it’s hard to accept, but in trying variants that have the same feel, one may find the most complex may not get proper rewards.
Direct-Well, at least mostly. Laymen aren’t there to work, or figure out what 1,728 minus 852 is. Magic should be relaxing yet exciting. Explain if need be but avoid Captain Obvious. Which expands to:
Treat my laymen as intelligent- I suppose for me anyway this is why Slydini pissed me off. Though it was not his intention, it’s no excuse. There is never a reason to even hint anyone is a dip shit between the lines. Yes I’m watching, don’t fucking tell me I wasn’t.
On my own time- Talked about this in the past. But in essence “show me something!”=no. Anything that comes across as a true “please” I can never resist. Dancing monkey’s are never respected. Besides, as far as I’m concerned they are there to amuse me also. It’s just rapport. Demanding to be amused is a society trait for the self absorbed.
Why don’t some like my magic- Be kind to these folks. They just don’t care for it. Simple as that. Or look at what your doing from a 3rd person perspective otherwise.
I smile- yes! Who would have thought I smile. Ever notice many magi don’t smile? Not cheesy fake shit. More like the kind that you just got a blow job and life is good, and gosh darn it, I’m having fun.
I don’t act like a magician- what the fuck is that anyway? And how is it you know what I’m talking about. Keep feeding the lame persona for people I meet later…..thanks.
Constantly reshaping- Much like trial and error, but more personal. If you think your one thing…..why is that? If you think your shy, are you really? Are we really set as any handle we give ourselves? Only if you look at yourself as stagnant, rather than one that can give himself his own permission to be as he wishes.
I realized a golden rule-I am a professional. Professional means you take something seriously, are educated well on it, and others recognize your blood, sweat and tears. When another says professional is one who does it for a living, wrote a book, and has X years, you have my permission to laugh at them inside. This is an insecurity in them, not you. They need to self validate themselves or their peers. Professionals can be in any situation. I worked with a world renouned opera singer selling home theaters. He didn’t need the money, he just loved the equipment. I worked with one of the “Excell” original creators painting houses. Ramsey was a grocer. Hamman was a Brother. When your good….your good. Stating one has been in magic 30 years may mean nothing. One that has been in magic 4 years and practices 6 hours a day may be something. The most secure, yet talented SOBs I’ve ever met are…….well…..go watch Good Will Hunting again. Aren’t they so right to state what a professional is! /sarcasm
That’s a long list and I could go on. But, some things are deeper than we may think.