This time in Chatter I thought I would do something a bit different and pose a few rhetorical questions based on the premise of ‘is there any point…?’ Read on to see what I mean.
Is there any point in learning a trick if you never actually perform it? Magic is basically a performance art and so you could argue that learning magical secrets is a complete waste of time if you don’t then take that knowledge and translate it into a performance of some sort.
However, there are plenty of magicians for whom the assimilation of knowledge and the discovery of methodology is enough, and they don’t feel any need to then take what they know and do anything with it. That’s why you will get some members of magic clubs who attend every meeting but who never get up and perform anything.
Is there any point in reading a magic book if you can’t remember anything about the contents shortly afterwards? I was looking at my bookshelves the other day and studying all the different titles that make up my collection, and I realised that with at least 75% of them I would struggle to recall a single item that was in them!
I suppose that the truth is books contain such a wealth of knowledge that unless a reader is meticulous and makes extensive notes while reading, it’s inevitable that most of the contents will be impossible to remember. Personally I find reading magic books more helpful for the trains of thought that the information sparks, rather than the actual material itself.
Is there any point in attending a lecture on mentalism if you never do any mental magic? Unless your range of magical interest is extremely narrow and focused, I would suggest that exposing yourself to material that is not in your normal domain can open your eyes to new principles and ways of doing things which can then perhaps be translated into the branch of magic that you do perform.
For instance, I would suggest that there could be plenty to interest the close upper in a lecture on parlour or stage magic, because often the effects can be customised to suit the close up environment. And I have certainly used mental routines in my children’s shows by adding presentations that appeal to young audiences. So if you don’t delve into areas that are perhaps normally outside your realms of interest, you can miss out on some good material.
Is there any point in asking for magic advice if you never act upon it? We can all benefit from some knowledgeable feedback, especially when we are working on something new. But if the suggestions you receive contradict what you believe to be right, there is a temptation to simply ignore the advice and carry on as you were. But is that wrong?
Well, if you ask for help and never accept any of the comments almost on principle, then it is a waste of time. But I don’t think you automatically have to agree with every suggestion just because it’s been offered in response to your enquiry. The main thing is to ensure that the advice given at the very least makes you consider critically what you are doing, as someone else’s opinion may open up pathways that you hadn’t thought of, even if ultimately you decide not to adopt them.