From: batten@kodak.kodak.com (James Batten)
Subject: Re: To reveal or not to reveal...
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 17:55:42 GMT

In article <1egchuINNj2k@agate.berkeley.edu> bh@anarres.CS.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey) writes:
>mike@vpnet.chi.il.us (michael kamlet) writes:
>|In article <BARNETT.92Nov18090435@grymoire.crd.ge.com> barnett@crdgw1.ge.com writes:
>|>In article <1ebdl6INNmc8@agate.berkeley.edu> bh@anarres.CS.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey) writes:
>|>>>People don't want secrets. They think they do, but they really want mystery.
>|>
>|>>Imho, saying this to 13,000 non-magicians does more harm to the magic community
>|>>than revealing secrets.  "I know what you want better than you do" is pretty
>|>>insulting.
>|>
>|>How do you figure this does harm? If the audience knew how every trick
>|>worked, there would be no reason to see a magic act. [...]
>|
>|I couldn't agree more.  I have explained how some stuff works to a few people
>|and EVERY time the person is now unimpressed & disappointed.  [...]
>
>I've already replied to Mr. Barnett by mail, but several other people seem
>to have misunderstood what I intended to say in the same way, so let me say
>it to all of you:
>
>My original message quoted above was *not* intended as an argument for
>revealing secrets.  *All* I meant was, it's really rude to say "I know
>what you want better than you know what you want" to anyone.  You can
>find ways to explain and defend your policy on secrets that do not
>use this offensive tone.
>
>For example you could say "I recognize that you're curious about the way
>this is done, but I feel that you'd be disappointed if ..." or you could
>say "I recognize that you're curious about the way this is done, but my
>continued ability to present this effect requires..." or lots of things
>that don't suggest that the person asking doesn't "really" want to know.

I'm sure you simply misunderstood the original posting.. however; this seems
to be a common thing for people on the net. Any personal comments in this
posting are meant for the professional 'whiners' who seem to lurk on the
net, and not yourself... unless you happen to like to whine about how unfair
life is.   

I don't see any one saying "tell your audience ' I know what you want better
than you do' ". The original writter simply stated what his personal experience
is. This is also the same true and tested experience a writter in the Linking
Ring related to us just last month.

   You can tell your audience ANY thing you want to.. you can be as paternizing
to them as you want to be and go into a long explanation as to why you cannot
or will not explain how a trick is done. You can... but if you are doing table
hopping and you have 15 more tables to get to before their dinners arrive,
or they have finnished eating and are waiting for you as an after dinner 
treat.. and the waiter is chomping at the bit to move them out so he can get
the next paying customer in... well  you might find your self out of a job
right quick.

   You have to be VERY polite (unless you are a Don Rickles type of entertainer)
, and ENTERTAINING... but you are not an instructer nor are you performing a
lecture. You have to get in, entertain, and get out. That's your job, and
most people understand that. If you just say, "I'm sorry but professional
standards don't allow me to explain how that is done" that should be all,
and usually is. 

   Again, no one told you to SAY that you know what they want better than
they do... you were just given this wise person's reason why he doesn't do
it. INHO you are all very lucky to have the wise sage's give free lectures on
the philosophy of magic here on the net. Unfortunately to many of you want
to nit pick on the slightest thing and miss out on the best of advise.

   What really kills me is often times I'll start up conversations with some
of you who read this group who express a real interest in magic. Many of
you really do seem to be interested and I've established some nice relations.
On the other hand... every once in awhile I'll come across a complete novice
who gleams a few names of professional performers and slights from me. 
Suddenly they reappear on the net, taking my letters almost word for word
to establish themselves as a long time performer and try to make the case
for 'enlightening the masses'. Don't you guys have some class you would be
better off studying for? Go out and get a life, if you want a crusade there
are plenty of REAL issues out there for you to fight over.
Newsgroups: alt.magic