Yes, I have read it and your compliment worked ;-)...and I may still be holding back some tears. I feel like I've gone on this journey with you, and to hear you put all this into words makes me very emotional. I'm so glad you pushed yourself, and I hope it keeps inspiring you, after all magic only happens outside of your comfort zone.
Here's something you already know. You haven't lost that magic. It's still there. Ready to soar if you so wish. There are a multitude of things that may prevent that from happening. C'est la vie, my friend.
So glad you did that guest post, which brought me here as if by magic!
I have never practiced magic but this essay resonates so much. There are things we let go over the years. They are there waiting for us...but can we do them as well and does it bring us much joy when we see we could do them better? Or is it too painful to see the crash? I'm so happy you were able to overcome that fear both for yourself and your niece.
You marry/merge so many of our shared yet personal thoughts (scattered in time and space), that I/we (your readers), glimpse sparkly psychic pictures of the inner and outer world we share.
Huge sigh. What an ungainly sentence, but I hope you get my drift ...
Yep, more than a coincidence. It IS a good feeling, getting to the other side of trying something new, or uncomfortable. Great story! Gotta pull out that guitar now.
Yes, big Cooper fan. That reminds me, you posted a vid of him and explained the mechanics/name behind the type of joke he employed. I'd love to read more of those breakdowns of comedy. I.e. more please ;)
RE: patter. Yes, and no. The best magic should absolutely have an underlying script. There's wonderful work written by scriptwriter Pete McCabe on this (https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/scripting-magic-volume-1/), which even if you're not a magician is a fascinating read.
The "no" part to my answer being that I don't do this enough and that I'm also a big fan of a type of magic that is more impromptu and jazz-based (a term coined by others, not me), that involves a lot of branching paths and thinking on the fly. Whilst there are general script ideas that go with that, it doesn't have a hard script that more routined routines should have.
Yes, I have read it and your compliment worked ;-)...and I may still be holding back some tears. I feel like I've gone on this journey with you, and to hear you put all this into words makes me very emotional. I'm so glad you pushed yourself, and I hope it keeps inspiring you, after all magic only happens outside of your comfort zone.
Here's something you already know. You haven't lost that magic. It's still there. Ready to soar if you so wish. There are a multitude of things that may prevent that from happening. C'est la vie, my friend.
So glad you did that guest post, which brought me here as if by magic!
I'm very happy to have tricked -- err, I mean guided -- you here to this post 😉
But seriously, thank you for the lovely comment! 🤗
I have never practiced magic but this essay resonates so much. There are things we let go over the years. They are there waiting for us...but can we do them as well and does it bring us much joy when we see we could do them better? Or is it too painful to see the crash? I'm so happy you were able to overcome that fear both for yourself and your niece.
Thanks, Kate. It was a real joy and thrill to get back to, albeit briefly.
You marry/merge so many of our shared yet personal thoughts (scattered in time and space), that I/we (your readers), glimpse sparkly psychic pictures of the inner and outer world we share.
Huge sigh. What an ungainly sentence, but I hope you get my drift ...
Lovely comment Dorinda, thank you. Totally get your drift :D
Yep, more than a coincidence. It IS a good feeling, getting to the other side of trying something new, or uncomfortable. Great story! Gotta pull out that guitar now.
Do it!!
Fantastic writing. Your tone is wonderful and honest to the way you truely sound. The meandering ponderings of your writing is a delight to read.
Thank you my lovely man, that means so much.
Amazing. I knew someone who did close-up magic and no matter how closely I watched him I could never see how he was doing it.
I loved this piece: very evocative and honest.
The loss of confidence thing has happened to me, but in my case in relation to playing music. I wonder if it's a variation of imposter syndrome.
I hope you will take the kick up the butt of the wedding to start performing again.
I presume you're a fan of Tommy Cooper then? 🤣
Thanks Terry, too kind.
Yes, it's been a lovely kick up the butt.
Yes, big Cooper fan. That reminds me, you posted a vid of him and explained the mechanics/name behind the type of joke he employed. I'd love to read more of those breakdowns of comedy. I.e. more please ;)
https://terryfreedman.substack.com/i/102126525/tommy-cooper
I think the thing about Cooper's jokes was that often they depended on word play and interpretation. Such as:
I went to Margate for the summer season. A friend of mine told me it was good for rheumatism. So I went there and I got it. 😂
I also think that his jokes, which he constantly interrupted, were a way of ensuring that you weren't paying attention to what he was up to!
But you're the magician, so you tell ME! Do you have patter going on while you're doing your tricks?
That's the one!
RE: patter. Yes, and no. The best magic should absolutely have an underlying script. There's wonderful work written by scriptwriter Pete McCabe on this (https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/scripting-magic-volume-1/), which even if you're not a magician is a fascinating read.
The "no" part to my answer being that I don't do this enough and that I'm also a big fan of a type of magic that is more impromptu and jazz-based (a term coined by others, not me), that involves a lot of branching paths and thinking on the fly. Whilst there are general script ideas that go with that, it doesn't have a hard script that more routined routines should have.
Sounds fascinating, Nathan. Fancy writing a guest post for me about jazz magic? I ain't never heard of it till now 😃
Sure. That'd be awesome!
I feel you, man! So so pleased there was whisky that day.
Heh, me too.
So many fond memories of our uni gigging days together :)
You are a master of the dash!
Also, it's a strange thing, to have been good at something and then to have lost the talent through lack of use!
😅 I love a good dash. Perhaps too much.
And yeah, I know, I think it became a vicious circle, plus stupid brain not helping.
And thanks for your comments and likes, Jillian. It means a lot.
Of course! You’re a great writer!