The First "Magician"

Spexxvet · 12-12-2011, 11:30 AM

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

Lamplighter · 12-12-2011, 01:00 PM

Penn and Teller would be the judges of all candidates.

Griff · 12-12-2011, 06:03 PM

Nailed it.

sexobon · 12-12-2011, 07:26 PM

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

Lamplighter · 12-12-2011, 08:27 PM

"But that trick never works!"

ZenGum · 12-13-2011, 01:40 AM

"Okay, watch me pull a hare out of my ass!"

Lamplighter · 12-13-2011, 01:49 AM

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

infinite monkey · 12-13-2011, 09:40 AM

Magicians are creepy.

Like mimes or ventriloquists.

Lamplighter · 12-13-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

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.

Sundae · 12-13-2011, 11:43 AM

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.

Lamplighter · 12-13-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae

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

<snip> Okay, he does collect taxidery 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.

Spexxvet · 12-13-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae

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

It's a trick!

infinite monkey · 12-13-2011, 11:46 AM

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.

monster · 12-13-2011, 11:54 AM

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

Sundae · 12-13-2011, 12:13 PM

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.

12-12-2011, 11:30 AM	#1
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	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 __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

12-12-2011, 06:03 PM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Nailed it. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-13-2011, 01:40 AM	#6
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	"Okay, watch me pull a hare out of my ass!" __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

12-13-2011, 11:43 AM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	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. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 12-13-2011 at 11:58 AM.

12-13-2011, 11:54 AM	#14
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Magicians are not entertaining to me. I would rather go grocery shopping than watch one. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

12-12-2011, 01:00 PM	#2
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Penn and Teller would be the judges of all candidates.

12-12-2011, 07:26 PM	#4
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	The candidates would be referred to as Bullwinkles: "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."

12-12-2011, 08:27 PM	#5
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	"But that trick never works!"

12-13-2011, 01:49 AM	#7
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	And here's something we hope you'll really like...

12-13-2011, 09:40 AM	#8
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Magicians are creepy. Like mimes or ventriloquists.

12-13-2011, 11:46 AM	#13
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	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.

12-13-2011, 12:13 PM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	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. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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