Magic is a higher form of learning || Thought by Lee Asher

[cogginsmp3]

Great message Lee. I met your dad at his home in south Florida doing work as an insurance claims adjuster after hurricane season in 2005. I was over the top impressed by his museum of magic props and memorabilia. As a lifelong magic enthusiast myself it was a great pleasure to meet and talk with him. Of course he remarked fondly and at length over you and your career, and also gave me a copy of Losing Control which revolutionized my study of sleight of hand. Keep up the great work!

[MagicHobbyist]

Well put, sir.

[magomagrin]

Don't do magic, let it flow through you.

[jackleg693]

Enjoy the higher form of learning... Not the lower form of deceit

[1313Dennis1313]

Read...Read...Read

Remember...THINK...Apply

Repete as often as possible!

[1313Dennis1313]

Read...Read...READ !!!

[BTdeception]

As a magician your job is to inspire, in order for the art to live on great people have been inspiring audiences for century's. It is important to remember these people and what they have done in order for them to gain the respect and admiration they deserve. You will gain respect by creating in your audience what past genius' created in theirs. So study hard and inspire. The magic of inspiration is a beautiful thing

[creedworks]

(cont from below) ... the underlying reasons we invest in this process is what I believe your video is about... we MUST be "others oriented" in our approach to this art form ... soooo many are "me oriented" in their motivations for what they are doing ... making a buck, fanning ego, etc. ... it seems that those who really care about our audience ... what they experience ... ultimately invest in the next generation because of this "others oriented" approach... BEST WISHES TO YOU on the path

[dezrah]

@creedworks Perfectly said. I love how you put it: "others oriented" vs. "me oriented". Among my magical friends, we have a term for anything that's not specifically for the audience, "magical masturbation". Magic, (and any performance art), is about making a personal statement, and ultimately it's about presenting that to the audience. If you're only "self-oriented" then the entire exercise becomes an ego-stroking waste of time. We can all think of performers who have fallen into that trap.

[creedworks]

Lee states in his text info along with this quick video of inspiration... "We need to use the tools of today, to teach the youth of today -- why the magicians of yesterday are worth knowing." ... Love the idea... might I suggest a slight change to it though... "We need to use the tools of TOMORROW, to teach the youth of TODAY -- why the magicians of YESTERDAY are worth knowing."... constantly adapting to new storytelling tools will help our magic culture of tomorrow more and more..(cont)

[mrmoshiman]

Like many other forms we stand on the shoulders of giants....

[dezrah]

@mrmoshiman Well put, but of course you should keep in mind that some people think that when Newton said that he was actually making a "short" joke at Robert Hooke's expense. :)

[NightMonkeyJunior]

No one is better than anyone else. some may be more experienced but you can also get the experience and become other worldly in a particular effect. the only thing better than being fantastic at one persons effect is being fantastic at your own trick. Pass that on and be kind and family like to other people. make them part of the family of your trick. Magic is a family, growing through others

[magomagrin]

Debating is one of the most important tools in learning, so please don't get the wrong idea about what I'll say Lee. In the video you sayd " why contribute something if it's not beautifull?" I have to disagree with that statement, but only regarding that ANY contribution is valid, even if you do not have the necessary experience to make it beautifull. Thousands of people have thousands of ideas, but are afraid to put them up because they have not yet been mastered or engeneered correctly.

[dezrah]

@magomagrin I think the idea is that one should take pains to create something as good (beautiful) as one is capable of. Half-formed notions and unfinished ideas are great fodder for brainstorming sessions with other creators, but to put something out (for sale, etc) to the larger magical world, it's your duty and responsibility as an artist to make it as good as possible, and as true to your vision as you can. To do anything less is a betrayal of your own standards and the art as a whole.

[magomagrin]

@dezrah I agree. When I sayd "put out there" I did not mean for sale and etc, in fact I'm against the vulgarization of magic just to earn a buck. My point was that people have ideas but sometimes have no mens to share because of the rawness of it. The idea of putting it out in public (for magicians) is so that new aproaches can be acknowledged, and all and any is welcome, and allready beautifull in itself.

[NightMonkeyJunior]

Magic is a family, growing through others

[NightMonkeyJunior]

Practice hard. People don't want to see things that are amazing if you do them in a way that doesn't do it justice. Magic is one of the only art forms that has been happening since 5000BC. that doesn't mean that there is nothing to produce. the possibilities are endless. Think of something that has never even been dreamed of. Over all don't try to be someone else. you might be amazing at something but you are not being who you are. Don't keep things to your self. pass them on and watch them grow

[dezrah]

I'd also add that creating magical effects and routines just for the fame and acclaim of your fellow magicians seems at it's core wrong-headed. Magic is for the audience, it's about entertaining people and making a statement by creating the emotion of wonder.

I think that one should concentrate first on creating an amazing experience for your audiences, then if magical fame should arise from that, it's an extra bonus. Simple grabs for attention and fame are transparent and ultimately empty.

[germanarciniegas]

Creativity, inspiration, motivation and respect. The five commandaments for very strong magic.

Every single well-respected proffesional magician give this advice to beginners: be original.

[NightMonkeyJunior]

To be recognised triggers a domino effect. If you have a new change or effect then get it out there. Write a few pages on it or make a dvd. pass it on to your piers. send it to a publisher and kiss their ass until you have a deal. Once you do and you make it big, don't get cocky. If you have something beautiful DON'T STOP THEIR! Make something twice as beautiful. dream the impossible and make it the reality. Make people love you for you. Magic is a family, growing through others

[magomagrin]

In the matter of higher learning, no other industries has to know more than the magical industrie. The theories and realities in which we have to burry ourselves into as magicians involve the most intrinsicate studies of the major articles at hand, having to break all barriers in phisics, biology, psicology, math, chemistry and social behaviors generaly. We are obliged to be more then well rounded in most, if not all of the above, because the astuteness of the audience is evermore growing.

[mfcno1]

Every trick or every style that we see influences what we do. Every single time we see someone perform we see the good and bad parts of the performance and it therefore influences everything we do. If someone fails to take away something from a performance then it is a waste of a good oppurtunity.

[abazabaman]

the video itself IS the insightful comment, I hope it inspires people to truly care for not only their magic but magic as a whole. Respect yourself, respect others and those who have come before you, and respect magic.

[abazabaman]

the video itself IS the insightful comment, I hope it inspires people to truly care for not only their magic but magic as a whole. It comes down to respect, because if you don't respect others and those who have come before you, who will do it for you?

[magomagrin]

In the era of information it becomes everyday more dificult to pay the necessary respects to the ones who realy deserve it. The new generation thinks that its all up for grabs and whomever comes faster gets the most, but the real issue at hand is the importance of what those repercussions will have in the future. My greatest fear is that in the next few years information will be so negligible that people will ignore the importance of what it realy means to come up with something on their own.

[NightMonkeyJunior]

That is am amazing point. Your saying that if someone wants to make it big then you have to accept and progress on people's contribution to your effect. As a kind of ricochet kind of thing, if you are respectful to who you are trying to impress, they well be respectful to you. If you have a dazzling new idea, feel free to express it and try to get it out there and when the time comes pass it down to who you trust thus extending the arm of your magic. Magic is a family, growing through others

[magomagrin]

Higher learning, that says all! The ethics involved in magic are beyond all other kind in any other job. A real magician will not only have the trouble of paying respects to the originators of the principles, but feel the desire to keep all that is inate and beautifull in its rightfull place. It is not a matter of kindness, but pleasure in knowing what is priceless. Respect above all, and as our good friend and teacher Mr. Ammar says "always strive for perfection". Hope the new generation agrees

[dezrah]

@magomagrin "The ethics involved in magic are beyond all other kind in any other job" That's an interesting point, I think you may have made the case a little too strongly for my tastes (I'm guessing Drs. therapists and religious leaders have some ethical doozies to deal with. ;), but your point stands. I think it's crucially important for magicians to have a solid grasp on their art and their ethics.

[shermantaiweiliang]

a simple yet inspiring short video this is.

it really voice out to many magicians out there including me as well.

is time to educate yourself people:)

[dezrah]

It seems that as a culture we're wrestling with a generation that feels it deserves acclaim and fame merely for showing up. There is little respect given for those who have come before and even less understanding of the hard work and effort it took the giants of the past to become giants. Fame is seen as something given, not earned.

In addition, for those few truly creative minds, a magical education is crucial so they can avoid wasting their talents and time re-inventing the wheel.

[creedworks]

@dezrah - love your first comment (2 hours before mine) ... thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts :o)

[GordonBean52]

Excellent job, Lee!

[RichmanMatthew]

Amen.

[briandavidphillips]

Wow. That is very very well done. I taught a series of hypnosis seminars last month in India and was pretty much a broken record repeating the very same concepts you put so beautifully here. Well done.

[hhh4scu]

Great stuff Lee.

[alecmagician]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiice ! (^_^)

[ShazaamBamMagic]

Well said Lee!

And you were really cute as a kid!

[bluca92]

well said ;)

[smappdooda]

Magic is an institution and some of us should be institutionalized.

[smappdooda]

We live in a world where imagination and creativity are not as encouraged as they were in the drug addled past of our predecessors. Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in and stand out.

"I pledge allegiance to the underworld

One nation under dog

There of which I stand alone

A face in the crowd

Unsung, against the mold

Without a doubt

Singled out

The only way I know" - Green Day

Thanx for the verbal kick in the ass Lee.

[dimabbq]

That was crap...hey i'm being "original"

On a more serious note, that was a very thoughtful little reminder to why we all became magicians in the first place. Let's keep making magic a better art and never forget those who were responsible for what we today, take for granted.

[nickandelliott]

i second that

[nickandelliott]

three cheers for Lee!

Horray!

Horray!

Horray! ;)

[barrydegooijer]

Amen to that! Respect!

[Robnjans]

Wow really love it, thank you Lee!

-Robin

[harapanong]

Hell yeah!

- harapan. magic!

[forsakenmagic]

well said

[bingbangtube]

Let's send this to Dave J castle!

[TrickyMagic]

Lol, not a bad idea... :P Anyways, great video with an awesome message.

[GergHoffman]

finally someone taking resposibility for the preservation of common sense in magic. Thanks Lee,

From all of us who did magic before youtube

[MagicianMarkTirone]

Although it was a short video, It had grace and meaning.

[bingbangtube]

why is it spam?