There's a quote I remember from elementary school that says, 'You can go anywhere in the world with your imagination and a book.' I wish I could remember who originated it and who introduced me to it. I'd like to thank them both because I've had a love affair with books ever since. All kinds ... novels, how-to's, biographies. All genres ... science fiction, tear jerkers, comedies. There are so many good books out there that I must admit I'm behind in my reading. The books I'm currently reading have been touted as classics for many years. I'm just getting to them now. That's fine, because like good food, they can be ingested any time and still be tasty.
Recently, I finished reading 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' by Philip K. Dick. A fabulous science fiction story of the bleak future. After finishing it, I immediately rushed to my local mom-and-pop video store and rented the movie version (movie title changed to 'Blade Runner'.) I was elated with the set design and look of the movie, but it seemed to lack the depth and many layers that the book had. After reading Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,' I was thrilled with its underlying message of man's dark side, his unconscious ability to perform the most horrific acts and then revert back to his so-called civilized self. (Was this symbolic of chemical dependence, or a throwback to our early beginnings as cave dwellers? The great thing about books is that each reader has his own interpretation, whereas with movies it's the directors vision.)
Upon rushing home from the very same mom-and-pop video store (they love me there, as does my local mom-and-pop bookstore ... always support the little guy!) with Hyde in hand, I was only slightly disappointed that the scenes didn't hold up as well as the pictures I already had in my head from Stevenson's words. It seems that a movie a director makes is only a synopsis of the book an author writes. As I've already suggested, a movie is the director's interpretation of the author's written word. Like Frank Sinatra performing someone else's song, it was his interpretation of the lyrics. He molded someone else's words to suit his style and personality ... and what a job he did! When Sinatra sang your song, it became his song! It seems that magic books are, or should be, the same way ... just a synopsis of the author's magic effects. Just a smidgen of something you take and make your own.
After all, how can a magic student copy exactly an effect that was created for the originator. My contention has always been this: There are no bad tricks, the originators can perform them flawlessly. Why? Because it was created by them, for them. Maybe the size of their bodies, or the shape of their hands, or the little idiosyncrasies of the creator were the inspiration for why an effect's method was used that way. Of all the magic books I've ever read, there haven't been many routines that I've performed as written. What usually happens is, between the time I read the effect, practice it, and get a grasp of the concept, I either change it to fit my personal style, or find an easier way to execute it for me (as opposed to the creator.) Most of the time I enjoy just reading the effects and not the methods. If I like the effect, I'll come up with my own method that fits me better than the originator's method that fit him. Off the rack magic, or tailor fit? It is you who are performing. Let your personality shine. Some moves (or script) that are easy for some finger flingers (or chatter boxes) might be hard to grasp or perform for others. You might find a totally different and/or easier way to perform a certain effect. Do not hesitate to switch, change, or expand any move in any book to suit your personality.
Your goal is to sell yourself, not some other magician whose personality and style might be totally wrong for you. The purpose for all this, is to get you to use your own personality and imagination to feel comfortable when performing magic. This is a realistic goal to strive for.
Yours Magically
Solomon
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