Have you met any great characters in magic???

[Tarotist]

There are indeed characters in magic but not as many as there should be. I don't regard it as an optional extra-----it is a tool of a magician's trade, more important even than the tricks he does. I find the majority of magicians have dull uninteresting personalities especially compared to the pitchmen/grafters I have known. If you do not have some sort of charisma when performing then you are merely a presenter of puzzles.

[Tom Frame]

Back in the 70's in Ohio, there was a guy named Professor Weirdo or Dr. Weirdo. I never knew his real name.

He was a terrible knife juggler. His palms were hideous to behold. Covered with scar tissue, no pink, plump flesh remained.

I had the unfortunate experience of dining with him at some pizza joint, along with Tim Deremer and other local Ohio magi. When the pizza arrived, he ate the napkins and wiped his mouth with a piece of pizza, that he put back on the plate, to be savored by others.

This is one of the many horrific, youthful experiences that determined my vocation as a psychotherapist, and made me the jubilant, cranky magician that I am today.

[Q. Kumber]

I suspect the magicians I've admired the most would have revelled in knowing Dr. Weirdo.

[Tom Frame]

Indeed!

Thanks, Quentin.

[MagicbyAlfred]

Thinking about this thread over the last few days, it occurred to me that, in magic, "character" can have more than one meaning. There are magicians who are characters simply as a consequence of their unique personality, i.e. by virtue of who they are intrinsically, without creating or adopting an external persona. And then there are those who take on a character other than who they are naturally, for example, Chung Ling Soo, who was actually a British magician named William Robinson and who is said to have inspired the Bambergs to tour as Asian performers.

Back in the 90's when I was doing a lot of special events in South Florida, one of the party planners who used me for pretty much all the events he planned, called one day and said his client wanted to know if he could get a magician who could perform at the upcoming event as "Merlin." I had never done it, but the idea appealed to me, and I said I would give it a go. I rented a costume (including hat, gown, wig and fake beard) from a local costume shop and, with wand in hand, showed up as Merlin. Now, as I'm sure a good deal of the members here know, working special events or in restaurants as a strolling close up magician entails approaching people cold, introducing oneself, and asking them if they would like to see some magic. And the answer isn't always yes. But as Merlin, pretty much from the moment I arrived, people were constantly approaching me and either asking me to perform for them on the spot, or to come over to their group or table. They called me "Merlin" and it was as if these sophisticated adults had been transformed back into children. It was really quite something to behold. And I really didn't alter my repertoire at all - still did my usual tricks, such as the Professor's Nightmare, the Chop Cup, Matrix, CSB transposition, Color Monte, the Invisible Deck and the signed Card on the Ceiling. These tricks usually got very good or great reactions, but somehow, doing them as Merlin, elevated them even higher. In fact, one of the guests engaged me to perform as Merlin for his birthday party the following night.

From time to time through the years, I have thought of adopting the Merlin character and specializing in performing as "Merlin." I honestly don't know why I haven't done it. It would be great fun, quite remunerative, and I'd never have to worry about any awkward or apprehensive moments approaching strangers or fearing or enduring rejection again. I still think about it to this day. Now that I'm in the twilight of my life, with plenty of natural grey hair, and a beard that grows much faster than I would like it to, this would probably be the time to take the plunge and just do it...

[Edward Pungot]

In regards to donning the character of Merlin, it’s a bit like the judge wearing a robe or the clown in face paint and red nose, if you don’t do it they won’t take you seriously. You would look too much like them and your role would be questionable.

When I used to do security work at a hospital I noticed this as well. When visiting hours were over, the nurses would often have to page me because the visitors would not leave the rooms. I had no gun or mace or even the ability to issue tickets of any kind. I only had my uniform and patches on my shirt a wake-talkie and my words which they often took as authority.

Interesting observation Alfred. Thanks for sharing.

[MagicbyAlfred]

My pleasure, Edward. And your story of your experience as a security guard highlights how outward adornment, a costume, as it were, whether in the realm of magic or otherwise, can very significantly influence paradigm.