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The Magic of Joe Ferranti
Have you ever heard, “The hand is quicker than the eye?” Well, this “myth” was most likely started by a magician for “misdirection.” Which is another term that is misunderstood by laymen, and many magicians as well.
Some magicians still promote their skills with hype such as, “The fastest hands in magic.” Good and great magicians will fool you because everything they do appears natural. Speed plays no part.
The late, Rene Lavand was famous for a trick he called, “It can't be done any slower.” Although, magicians generally don’t challenge their audience... repeating a trick will get your audience to pay closer attention to “catch you.”
Renee would repeat the same trick several times. Each time performing the trick slower, emphasizing the fairness of every motion. There was nothing to see, just “magic.” BTW, Renee performed with only one hand. He lost his right hand in a car accident at nine years old.
BTW, repeating a trick or challenging an audience to “catch you” breaks proper magicians' conduct. As a seasoned performer you know when and how you may ignore the gospel.
You must be a great magician if you can fool an engineer
Sounds like another “magician’s myth.” One might assume that the more intelligent a person is, the less likely they are to be deceived by a magician’s tricks.
However, we’ve all had a lifetime of learning/understanding how the world works. We are conditioned mentally, especially through vision and sound, of what is real. Our brain fills in gaps based on experience and expectation. These are core beliefs that are no different if you are a rocket scientist or a janitor. (I was a janitor who studied magic. Go figure?)
In one of the tricks I perform, I explain how when we focus on a small detail, we miss the bigger picture. On the other hand, when we look at the bigger picture, we are missing the details. We simply can’t do both at the same time. “Multitasking another myth.
Sleight of Hand
(the following is AI generated)
AI “Hours of practice go into mastering the subtle movements that deceive the eye and the mind. These moves are executed with such precision and naturalness that even attentive viewers, including those with high IQs or scientific backgrounds, are deceived. There is simply nothing to see. AI
While it is true that unimaginable hours of practice are required, no one will be looking with scrutiny when a “move” occurs. ‘There is simply nothing to see.” Trust me, I know more than AI
As a magician, you will know when you reach this level when spectators will tell you they were watching but didn’t see anything.
To Fool or not to fool
OK, let’s get this out of the way...there are two dirty words I’ve been using. It’s time to address them. They are “fool” and “tricks.” As magicians, we use these terms with other magicians to discuss our craft. But who really feels good about being fooled or tricked?
Many magicians refer to themselves as “illusionists.” Think in your mind's eye of both. When you picture a magician, you most likely envision a man in a top hat holding a rabbit. I’m not sure what you imagine when you think of an illusionist...but it’s likely more dignified than a man in a tuxedo with a bunny.
Who cannot be fooled?
As humans, we have an innate curiosity to understand our world. Of course, this is not an easy task if we are truly sincere in our search. There are those who “need to know” and often the shortest route is to invent solutions that quickly satisfy our ego.
True Story:
I was once performing for an individual who told me that she was very smart and proceeded to tell me how I performed my “illusion.” (See what I did...?)
Her explanation couldn’t have been more wrong, but I didn’t tell her she was wrong. I merely praised her intellect and moved on to other people waiting for a little magic.
Why didn’t I tell her she was wrong? Simple, I had nothing to gain by proving her wrong. She had missed the opportunity for a “nice feeling.” At this point, I couldn’t deliver that. You cannot fool someone who “knows the secret”, so don’t beat yourself up.
The Simple Truth
Any audience that comes to “play the game” or “dance the dance” will be delighted to interact with a good or great magician. The laughter comes naturally as they enjoy the surprises. (The surprise is the “fooling” part...it’s fun!)
An interview: Joe Ferranti visits Hotel D'Amico
www.ferrantimagic.com 339-927-4710
