Page 369 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
P. 369
CHAPTER 11
Tricks and Puzzles
“There ain’t no such animal.”
—Farmer, on seeing his first giraffe
A good magic trick is about deception on the surface might get from being able to “trick” people. You’ll
and a sense of wonder at heart. When, after patter find that the delight is addictive, so you’ll practice
and prestidigitation, the magician presents you with to make your illusions effortlessly convincing, just
an absolute impossibility, you are taken right out to help produce that delight.
of your everyday, everything-has-an-explanation Some audiences are kinder than others. If some-
world, if only for a moment. one is intent on interrupting, trying to expose your
If you are the magician, and if you’re paying technique, they’re missing the point; try to see it as
any attention to your audience at all, you will find their problem. No matter how kind and appreciative
that simply being around delighted, mystified peo- an audience is, resist the temptation to repeat these
ple is far more gratifying than any ego boost you tricks more than once; illusion is a fragile thing.
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