Two Things

[Rick Schulz]

In the spirit of starting a thread that does not pertain to selling magic "stuff", I offer the following. On another web page I found this story:

The Story of the Two Things

A few years ago, I was chatting with a stranger in a bar. When I told him I was an economist, he said, Ah. So what are the Two Things about economics?

Huh? I cleverly replied.

You know, the Two Things. For every subject, there are really only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of those two things, or just not important.

Oh, I said. Okay, here are the Two Things about economics. One: Incentives matter. Two: Theres no such thing as a free lunch.

Ever since that evening, Ive been playing the Two Things game. Whenever I meet someone who belongs to a different profession (i.e., a profession I havent played this game with), or who knows something about a subject I'm unfamiliar with, I pose the Two Things question.

So, what are the Two Things about Magic? ;)

[Jim Maloney_dup1]

1. If they like you, they'll like what you do.
2. Don't run when you're not being chased.

-Jim

[Jonathan Townsend]

Originally posted by Rick Schulz:
...So, what are the Two Things about Magic? ;)

Here are two things. There are probably more :)

What you perceive is not the same as what is real.

What you believe greatly affects what you perceive.

[David Regal]

1. You can charge a lot for cups, wallets, coin gimmicks and knives.
2. Don't ship until the check clears.

[Jeffrey Cowan]

1. If they don't like you, you have no chance.

2. Skill matters.

[Steve Mills]

1. Magic without a "surprise" element isn't good magic.

2. Assume the person you are talking to has NO idea what they are talking about (A general rule applicable to all endeavors)

[Steve Mills]

Originally posted by Rick Schulz:
Oh, I said. Okay, here are the Two Things about economics.

Rick,

As I was reading this, I would have bet you would have said:

1. Supply
2. Demand

Come to think of it, not bad for magic either!

Steve

[Guest]

1.) Create a fantasy...
2.) Fulfill it!

Best, PSC

[Pete Biro]

Make it fun
Spread the joy

[BlueEyed Videot]

1. Oh!
2. Ho!

(With respects to Okito)

[Bill Duncan]

The whole idea that anything of any signficance can be broken down into only two important points is absurb in the extreme but since we're calling it a game...


1. Deep down, they know that you are lying.

2. Your job is to do it well enought that they don't care (or better yet that they wish you weren't).

[Brian Marks]

1. Rules are made by the powerful.
2. F the rules.

[Bob Coyne]

1. People like being fooled
2. People don't like being fools

[Eric Rose]

1. Give more than you take
2. Do it for the audience, not for yourself

[Guest]

Originally posted by Jonathan Townsend:
What you perceive is not the same as what is real.

What you believe greatly affects what you perceive.

Suddenly, magic and life have a lot in common!
;)

[Carl Mercurio]

1. If they like you, they'll like what you do as long as you do it well.

2. You're not competing against other magicians; you're competing against the dancing bear.

[Guest]

I'll go with Elmsley:

#1: Can the audience appreciate the effect?
#2: Is something of interest happening all the time?

For more info, check out "The Automatic Producer" in vol. #1 of the Collected Works of Alex Elmsley.

PS: #1.5 (my addition) = Can the audience appreciate you?

[Bill Mullins]

Ramsay's take:

1. If you want them to look at it, look at it yourself.

2. If you want them to look at you, look at them.

[Rick Schulz]

Great replies, everyone -- thanks and keep 'em coming! Yes, it is only a game and rather absurd to think that topics as complex as economics or the dynamics of this art we all love can be reduced to just two elements. On the hand, it is useful, I think, to give some thought to this subject and analyze it terms of what is really and truly important and what is not. My own contribution is:
1. Make the audience like you by the way you interact with them, and
2. Entertain, amaze, entertain, amuse, entertain, mystify and above all entertain the audience.

Just my two cents (both copper Indian head pennies) worth... :D

[Guest]

Magic transforms audiences into children;
Play with them....

opie

[cataquet]

Here are my two:
1. It's the effect that matters; not the method
2. The simplest method is often the best

[Pete McCabe]

1) A magician is a performer who gives the audience the experience of having witnessed something magical.

2) There is no second thing.

[Frank Starsinic]

I've been meaning to chime in here for several weeks but have forgotten until now.

The day after I read this thread my wife and I hosted a wine-tasting thingy.

Out of the blue, one of the gentlemen at the thingy said that the easiest job ever is being a Dermatologist.

He said you only need to know two things to treat someone with a skin problem:

1. If it's wet, make it dry.
2. If it's dry, make it wet.

So those must be the two things about dermatology. How funny is that.

Frank