The First "Magician"
 

Wouldn't it be neat if America had a position know as the "first magician". Just to set the standard. As it stands know we just have a free for all of Magic. If this were an actual job either elected by the people or appointed by the first lady, Doug Henning, maybe there would be less Divination failures.

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?p=779598#post779598

Penn and Teller would be the judges of all candidates.

Nailed it.

The candidates would be referred to as Bullwinkles: "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."

"But that trick never works!"

And here's something we hope you'll really like...

Magicians are creepy.

Like mimes or ventriloquists.

Agreed... Mimes are sort of a silly fun, same for jugglers.
But ventriloquists are just deranged, same for sword-swallowers.

Magicians are NOT creepy.
Not the very good ones anyway.

One of my personal heroes is Derren Brown. He can be unnerving, or sinister, but not creepy. Okay, he does collect taxidermy animals. And have a parrot (parrots are vile creatures). But he is intelligent, funny, ginger and self effacing. And exceptionally talented.

Seen him live twice, would do again.

I think I don't like them because I'm not even remotely inclined to suspend disbelief and think it's real.

It is amazing coordination, at best.

I believe in ghosts and aliens, so if someone wants to mystify me then sawing yet another assistant in half isn't going to do it. Get me back to my home planet or take me to a haunted house.

Magicians ARE creepy. All quick hands and the obligatory dark penetrating gaze (I don't know what spice that is.) And a cape. ;)

Yawn.

:D

Magicians are not entertaining to me. I would rather go grocery shopping than watch one.

It's a trick!

I like Derren Brown because he obsfuscates.
He's pretty much convinced everyone that he uses psychology, NLP, face reading etc, when the vast majority of his tricks are standard magician fare. But that's cool, because you don't have to believe in magic when you watch him, you just assume it's the work of a master in another field.

He admits before his programmes that he uses a blend of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship. But so many people want to believe he has real powers of mind control, when most of it is simply the last two.

Psychology is the new magic.

I am a great fan of prestidigitation and legerdemain.
It's a skill. It's not magic of course, but it is clever.
I'd rather watch a close-up magician than a juggler.