So who really cares about we get up to during the day.
Lately after performing on SA's Got Talent a few people seem to. I've been stopped in shopping centers, Pick 'n Pay's and petrol stations. I'm now referred to as the "magic girl", "Mystique" or "Where did she go?"
Funny enough the magic community's response to this has been some what surprising. There has been many congratulations, well done's and smiles but a few to many frowns. Some say being a magician's assistant is sexist, patronizing to women. Magician's use women to pretend their magic is real, woman are just objects to be disappeared, cut in half and levitated. Now I of all people now that things are sometimes said in the wrong context purely out of the miss understanding of once own emotions. Seriously... being an assistant is being seen as an object???? So using a bunny rabbit in a show is against all animal rights and using woman is sexist. So, I ask you what is left. If nothing real can be used to illustrate the art of magic how could magic possibly exist. maybe it doesn't even exist to start with. Who would know. All I can do is but ask that community of people who believe magicians are sexist and cruel to animals. Please you stand up and show me magic is real.
Magic
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
My life in a Box
Shortly before I turned 16 years of age I met a guy. Young, blond and 20 years old. A magician or like he put it, an Illusionist. He introduced me to the art of physical Illusion. Something I quickly learned is not easy and painless. Being a student magician myself at that time, this opportunity to play with the 'big' tricks seemed like a dream come true.
I quickly mastered the art of the Metamorphosis, the illusion that made Harry Houdini famous. Next up was the notorious "cutting in half". Soon we where performing in shopping centers and small towns like Pikketsburg.
What I learned in my years with him was lessons no money could buy. I was taught how to do certain things and also quickly learned that there are ways that things should not be done. Those where the most valuable of all.
Being a magician myself and graduating from the College of Magic as the student of the year somehow applied some pressure to do my own show. After college, majored in a dance degree, I decided to take on the world and perform to kids. Kids are sometimes some of the most difficult audiences there are. They will rat you out the moment they notice something funny, they will make your life a living hell while you standing in front of them and they will make you feel like a million bucks when then run up to hug you before you leave.
I took it a step further and branded my car.My advertising advisers suggested I have a special catch. No clue where to start finding this they took the time to find it for me. Next thing I know on the back of my car there is a picture of me next to the word's "South Africa's number one female magician." Now I will be lying if I said this rather bold statement was taken quietly. There was an uproar among magician's on why I could take on this title without formally being given it, but to this day I'm still waiting on someone to rival me on it.
I'm an established children's magician but still my hunger for the stage and the 'big' tricks grew.
A few months ago I was approached by this now older young blond magician to help out with a few shows. As partners, two magician's working together. Sounded good. Well, in the end of the day I still ended up in the box and the bruises multiplied. Couldn't say I didn't expect it but a part of me couldn't stop it.
I fell for the lights, costumes( sometimes I still think we look like something out of the rocky Horror Picture Show, not a good thing) and the 'big' now rather posh imported tricks.
Not long ago I got shoved in a box called the Origami. A panic attack and hot flush later I was starting to doubt whether I was still cut out for this. Squeezing into a box only big enough for a pair of shoes is not easy. It's sweaty, hot and damn uncomfortable for sure but the swords being thrust through yours legs are the worst. You can't do anything about it and if something goes wrong you can't fix it. You helpless lying there, feeling the frustration of the magician when the swords won't go through the first time, wishing the moment was over and dreading ever agreeing to this form of punishment. Then you hear the crowds applause you jump out the box seemingly perfect and inside something tells you it's all worth it.Well, it's not.
Magician playing assistant is not rewarding at all if you trying to build your own career.
It's like living in the shadow of an older brother or sister. You will never quiet measure up to what you feel inside and most of the time the magician doesn't really care what you are going through inside that box. As long as you pop in and out quick enough, smile, mince, present and stand, they normally couldn't care less. Unless you get it wrong. O might the Lord be with you dare you get it wrong. Death will rise up and kill you till you're dead. That's worse than really dying because they kill you from the inside. I've been told that if I get it wrong my body will be cut up and sold on the black market and then he wouldn't even have enough money to buy a new box because his tricks are more valuable than my life. I've had to balance horizontally on a sword once in order to fix a trick. I started seeing black spots and asked to please be put down because I might faint. I got the response," then faint it's fine". Appreciated, I think not. Then there was the day when I forgot who the boss is and was told I like to make excuses. Now you see because I know magic I have a clear idea on what might work and what most probably won't. Giving away the secret to a brilliant illusion is not an option for me and I always gave my advise in order to protect our heritage that is magic. If they where perceived as excuses they could only be looked at by an eye who has clearly not seen the inside of a box. That's how this constant emotional struggle, playing tennis with yourself, between doing what you love and what is right starts. You give advise to protect a heritage or do what is expected of you by an untrained mind. There is no I in team but there is no L in boss either. That's because in this industry you need a leader not a boss as the magician. You need a team not an I in Illusions.
When you no longer enjoy doing something, then stop. I always thought that to be true. Recently though I learned it's more complicated than that. We all grow up with bills to pay and people to impress including ourselves. So we end up doing something we use to love just because we have to survive. We loose out on great opportunities to further our careers at the expense of the boss' and we go to sleep wanting more than the bright lights and costumes. That deep need for self respect and your name in lights.
I quickly mastered the art of the Metamorphosis, the illusion that made Harry Houdini famous. Next up was the notorious "cutting in half". Soon we where performing in shopping centers and small towns like Pikketsburg.
What I learned in my years with him was lessons no money could buy. I was taught how to do certain things and also quickly learned that there are ways that things should not be done. Those where the most valuable of all.
Being a magician myself and graduating from the College of Magic as the student of the year somehow applied some pressure to do my own show. After college, majored in a dance degree, I decided to take on the world and perform to kids. Kids are sometimes some of the most difficult audiences there are. They will rat you out the moment they notice something funny, they will make your life a living hell while you standing in front of them and they will make you feel like a million bucks when then run up to hug you before you leave.
I took it a step further and branded my car.My advertising advisers suggested I have a special catch. No clue where to start finding this they took the time to find it for me. Next thing I know on the back of my car there is a picture of me next to the word's "South Africa's number one female magician." Now I will be lying if I said this rather bold statement was taken quietly. There was an uproar among magician's on why I could take on this title without formally being given it, but to this day I'm still waiting on someone to rival me on it.
I'm an established children's magician but still my hunger for the stage and the 'big' tricks grew.
A few months ago I was approached by this now older young blond magician to help out with a few shows. As partners, two magician's working together. Sounded good. Well, in the end of the day I still ended up in the box and the bruises multiplied. Couldn't say I didn't expect it but a part of me couldn't stop it.
I fell for the lights, costumes( sometimes I still think we look like something out of the rocky Horror Picture Show, not a good thing) and the 'big' now rather posh imported tricks.
Not long ago I got shoved in a box called the Origami. A panic attack and hot flush later I was starting to doubt whether I was still cut out for this. Squeezing into a box only big enough for a pair of shoes is not easy. It's sweaty, hot and damn uncomfortable for sure but the swords being thrust through yours legs are the worst. You can't do anything about it and if something goes wrong you can't fix it. You helpless lying there, feeling the frustration of the magician when the swords won't go through the first time, wishing the moment was over and dreading ever agreeing to this form of punishment. Then you hear the crowds applause you jump out the box seemingly perfect and inside something tells you it's all worth it.Well, it's not.
Magician playing assistant is not rewarding at all if you trying to build your own career.
It's like living in the shadow of an older brother or sister. You will never quiet measure up to what you feel inside and most of the time the magician doesn't really care what you are going through inside that box. As long as you pop in and out quick enough, smile, mince, present and stand, they normally couldn't care less. Unless you get it wrong. O might the Lord be with you dare you get it wrong. Death will rise up and kill you till you're dead. That's worse than really dying because they kill you from the inside. I've been told that if I get it wrong my body will be cut up and sold on the black market and then he wouldn't even have enough money to buy a new box because his tricks are more valuable than my life. I've had to balance horizontally on a sword once in order to fix a trick. I started seeing black spots and asked to please be put down because I might faint. I got the response," then faint it's fine". Appreciated, I think not. Then there was the day when I forgot who the boss is and was told I like to make excuses. Now you see because I know magic I have a clear idea on what might work and what most probably won't. Giving away the secret to a brilliant illusion is not an option for me and I always gave my advise in order to protect our heritage that is magic. If they where perceived as excuses they could only be looked at by an eye who has clearly not seen the inside of a box. That's how this constant emotional struggle, playing tennis with yourself, between doing what you love and what is right starts. You give advise to protect a heritage or do what is expected of you by an untrained mind. There is no I in team but there is no L in boss either. That's because in this industry you need a leader not a boss as the magician. You need a team not an I in Illusions.
When you no longer enjoy doing something, then stop. I always thought that to be true. Recently though I learned it's more complicated than that. We all grow up with bills to pay and people to impress including ourselves. So we end up doing something we use to love just because we have to survive. We loose out on great opportunities to further our careers at the expense of the boss' and we go to sleep wanting more than the bright lights and costumes. That deep need for self respect and your name in lights.
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