Magic has always been an interest of mine, since I can remember I was mystified by the magicians and illusionist that appeared on TV when I was a child. It brought me great joy to imagine that I too could be able to do the impossible feats they would accomplish, that if I learned what they knew I could become a some sort of superhero that could save the world. Those dreams faded for a while but later I got my first glimpse at the art of magic. My uncle taught me 3 card tricks he learned from a friend, and I was hooked on magic, I wanted to learn more. Anytime I showed someone the card tricks I knew I asked if they knew one and if they did I would ask them to perform it so I could watch it and learn. I started picking up sleights tricks and illusions over time. When I was around 12 I got my first magic kit and I started to learn about mentalism and other effects with more props. I always liked doing magic for someone, the reactions of amazement always gave me great satisfaction. but I wasn't until many years later when I realize just how powerful magic was. I knew it was fun and entertaining but I had not grasped the value of magic till that night.
Not long after I graduated high school I took a job as a busboy at a Mexican restaurant in the town I live in. Even though I was there for a very short time I started studding the times where the restaurant was very busy and when the restaurant had very few people. So I asked management if I could perform magic to the guests when the place was not busy. I told them how it would improve costumer satisfaction and that I wouldn't be charging anything at all, of course they said yes.
One of those nights I approached a family, there was a mom, a dad, and 3 children, the mom and the dad looked absolutely drained from a busy day. You could tell the dad and the mom had been at work all day and they decided on going to a restaurant in order to not worry about cooking and cleaning up, the kids where a bit loud and it seemed like the parents could hardly stand them at the moment. Not because they were bad parents, they were just exhausted, as I can imagine many people reading this can relate after a hard day at work.
I approached the table, introduced myself, and right before dad could turn me down I added that it was absolutely free and that it was entertainment for the kids. He said sure a bit hesitant, so I began doing magic, I cant even remember exactly what effects I performed but when I left that table I realized how powerful magic was.
When I left that table the dad, the mom and all 3 kids were smiling, they where all talking to each other about what they had seen, there was actual eye contact between the family, an actual connection between them that I had created. Soon after I left their table could hear the parents asking how their kids day had been at school and I could hear the kids excitedly tell them about their day.
Till this day, that performance is one the most important, because I realized that what I do "matters" so much more than what people tend to realize. Its not a silly trick, illusion, or manipulation, what I'm doing, it is the joy and happiness it that I am leaving behind in the lives of those who I perform for.
To some people magic is about entertaining others, for some is making people laugh, to others is figuring out a trick or what the magician is doing, to some magic is for fame, to others is a means to make money, to some is a way spend time, and to some even a way to scam. To me... Magic is about that lasting impression it leaves on the soul... the connection it creates between human beings, the inspiration to believe in the impossible, the realization that your dreams are not unreachable, the motivation to become better person every day because you understand that when you experience the impossible, you become an unstoppable force that knows no limits, that you will reach whatever goals you place in front of you because you create your own reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment