Respecting the Art of Magic

Magic is one of the oldest performing arts in the world. When you spend a lifetime developing a career within such an established artistic field, you find yourself using old things in new ways.

That’s the nature of the beast.

One day you create an illusion that you think is entirely original. The next day you learn you’ve independently created something that’s been used by magicians for hundreds of years. It happens over, and over, and over.

Creativity and originality in magic is a fragile conversation.

Respectable magicians want proper crediting to occur, and nobody wants to be seen as an intimation. We’ve dedicated our lives to ensuring one thing: Presenting a mystifying performance that respects the art of magic – past and present. It’s a never-ending balancing act.

Creativity and originality in magic isn’t a topic magicians discuss in the presence of “laymen.” However, it is, has been, and always will be, one of the most controversial conversations held within the shadows of the magical arts.

And yes, laymen is the actual nomenclature used to identify people that aren’t students of the arts. It’s the equivalent of muggles from the Harry Potter series. It’s not a phrase used to belittle spectators; it’s a word we use to identify non-magicians.

Nonetheless, creativity and originality is an oddly interesting topic within the world of magic. Magicians take crediting more seriously than university professors take citations in an academic research essay. It’s a world of implied respect within a small community of performers. Once you violate the magician’s code of honor, it’s nearly impossible to recover to the same position of respect.

The obvious isn’t always as obvious as you’d expect.

Online tutorials expose magic secrets, and people tend to wonder if this is killing magic. “Yes or No” will always be open to debate. The dark arts teaches things that can’t be learned online. Fake students of magic and “teachers” exposing magic online are hurting themselves more than the art.

A LOT more.

When you become a proper student of magic, you learn the history of what you perform. The historical timeline of the effect becomes a part of your performance. You become well acquainted with the creators and inventors that’ve contributed to the modifications which led to your performance. Then, you’re able to make new changes that are justified when questioned by masters of the craft. No websites teach this specialized knowledge or replaces the process.

We respect the art.