From: alvalent@husc9.harvard.edu (Alvin Valentine)
Newsgroups: alt.magic
Subject: On discussing how tricks are done
Date: 10 Sep 92 01:13:22 GMT
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

I hear time and again people saying it's not the "how it was done" but 
"how it was performed" that was important.  I can't say I really agree with
this totally.  I watch Copperfield in AWE, and get in a really lousy mood
with people in the room blathering and saying (hey, I think I got him
this time), 'cause all they want to know is how it's done so they can feel
self-righteous.  I have always been an amateur, and am more a student of
magic than an actual magician, because I would have driven my parent into
an early grave if I'd said "Hey, Ma, watch this!" one more time.  Still,
I've been reading magic books and talking to magicians since I was 6.

I like to know how the trick was done, 'cause I like to watch a magician
whose good at presentation, but I like to see just how good.  I saw a 
guy do a trick the other day, and everyone else was blown away with the
"Gee that was neat" phenomena.  I knew what was going on, and had
been only mildly entertained until I knew he must be second dealing, but
his method was so smooth that I couldn't follow it.  I was struck with
"by the gods that man can second deal like a monster."

I see street performers in Harvard Square all the time and know that they're
better than I am, but with a week's practice solid, I could be in their
league with no prob (I lose out a lot, 'cause I lack time to practice
seriously, but have the time to enjoy a good show or practice back
palming which is my favorite sleight by far).  Reason is, is even though
I don't practice, these guys are within easy reach 'cause they're sloppy.

I saw Jeff McBride back palming decks of cards and producing them one at
a time.  One at a bloody time.  Then fans, then more fans.  He was AWESOME.
It was great knowing what he was doing and how (or at least going under
the assumption that he was back palming, due to the maneuvering of his
hands through textbook back palm angles), because I didn't sit there and
think, "Neat, but he must have used mirrors or trick cards." Instead I was
flabbergasted by the man's dexterity and the # of hours of practice that
he must have put in to do that one effect.

I keep 2 or three VERY basic tricks that you could find in a kiddy magic
book that I'm willing to show to people.  I showed an actor one this summer
plus a sleight and in exchange he taught me some stage knife handling
that looked very impressive and I thought about working up a routine for
the knife stunts.  I kept my trap shut about anything that I thought he
would have to actually be interested enough to research, but...  It drew
the kid into the other side of the table.  I think he was then more
impressed by the execution than the "how."  He couldn't back palm a card.
Still he went off and practiced.  I think that the law of magic is sacred,
and I do not ever show effects casually to people who are smart asses 
who want to "know how its done," but still, I've learned all I know from
talking to magicians and reading books.  If magicians hadn't put the stuff
down for me to read it, I wouldn't know what I know today, and I wouldn't
continue to practice back palming, and picking up yet another sleight
from Expert at the Card Table that I didn't know before.  

Darn, folks, you have to learn magic from somewhere to be a magician.
I think a mailing list is a good place.  Still, although I'm not a part
of the list there, the person who said you had to prove a magician to get
in....   Please, how the hell are the new kids supposed to learn everything.

I don't suggest we post secrets here all the time or even ever for that matter,
but rather when someone suggests that they're interested that we don't tell
them all the bloody time "don't worry about how."  When people who are
obviously non-magicians come here to ask about Copperfield, I'm like....
"PLEASE!"  But when the guy writes a really serious letter about an effect
and wants an answer, talk to the guy via email, but don't just be lazy
and post "It's not important how it's done."  Where the heck did you
learn magic from then? Are you the proud originator of 5000 never before
seen tricks and sleights?  Bravo!  Come on.

I don't suggest that we post any secrets here.  Email is fine by me.  But when
someone asked about "Silk Suspensions" heck the term comes out of magic
texts, not off the street.  I took the discussion to email, and enjoyed
myself to no end.  I didn't tell the guy who was interested, "Sorry, but I
know, and you don't, and there's that never talk about magic thing."

I think the spirit of the magician's code is very important.  The letter
is another thing.  There must be some format for learning.  Books are fine,
but discussion with another human being always works better for me and I 
learn in half the time.  If someone has a pet effect, I don't expect an
answer if I ask how it's done.  But if I ask someone to show me how
to second deal as well as he did and they refuse...  Ticks me off a bit
at times.  It's not the how that's important here...heck, I know more or
less how to do a lot of things, but the execution is sometimes better
demonstrated or described by someone who can answer questions that you have.

Heck someone showed me a simple one ahead card stunt when I was 8, and it's
been a staple of mine ever since.  If he'd told me, go away kid, you bother
me....

So keep the secrets that should be secrets.  But if someone looks like
they are genuinely interested, give them a simple trick and show 'em how
it's done and let 'em practice.  If their interest lacks, no major harm...
They looked interested, but really weren't too concerned.  On the other
hand, if they practice it and ask for another effect, I say give it to 'em.
Don't hammer 'em.

Sorry for rambling, I'm just kinda ticked.  We aren't the first magicians.
We won't be the last.  But I agree with you, I hate those losers who
sit around feeling self-righteous every time they see Copperfield, 'cause
they think they're the smartest in the room.  If someone seems like that
you you, ignoring them is not a bad thing in the least. 
 

 
Later,
 
Lee Valentine