Jan 19 2009
Random - Magic Contests and Personal Wins
I’m a member of the Society of American Magicians - a magic club that has branches all over the US (naturally). Last night we had an “Installation Banquet” for the new officers, and the “Stan Kramien Excellence in Stage Magic” competition.
This was also my very first magic contest. Well, the first one I participated in.
Magic contests are funny things - basically you get X number of minutes to go out there and amaze and amuse. The judging is almost always done by fellow magicians.
I was number 8 on your program - but really only the sixth entry due to two scratches. All the acts before me used many props - boxes and balls and scarves and birds and a sword basket and appearances and disappearances…
Me, I went out and did my version of the Mongolian Pop Knot. Me, a rope, a pair of scissors, and the full brunt of my personality.
I didn’t win.
I wasn’t surprised by that, really. First off, my act isn’t geared toward winning contests. Just as there are ways to “study to the test”, there’s creating an act that’s designed to win contests. The Pop Knot isn’t really a “contest” bit.
But…
I got an amazing amount of positive feedback from folks at the banquet - including a lot of people, magicians, spouses and families telling me they voted for me.
“Thanks for involving everyone in the audience!”
“It was great how you held the stage with so few props!”
The best kudo came from the man himself, Stan Kramien . Now, Stan is one of those guys who “got the money” doing shows all over the US for a lot of years. He’s never been known to pull punches (heck, the first time I cited Dai Vernon at an SAM meeting he called the guy a bastard)… after the contest, I went to thank him for letting me play in his sandbox, and he said to me,
“You’re really good. You’re really entertaining. I mean that.”
… as far as I’m concerned. That’s a win.
Congrats on the Real win.
I have seen some of the Winning performances of some contests. As a magician I am impressed. But as entertaining performance most leave alot to be disired.
I always say I am the Magic, not the trick.
You say cheap Magic rules.
Nobodies cheaper than us. It’s a two-fer.
Congrats again.
I am so proud of you. I love you. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself and had an answer to every objection I brought up against entering the contest. Congratulations.