I strongly believe this is why we should call magic, magic, not tricks or illusions, quote from SorenErich's thread:

"When you are a magician, people are always asking you how you did an effect. They ask in amazement, not really wishing to know how a trick was done. They ask trying to calm their mind or hoping to see the trick again. But most of all, they ask hoping to hear something that will give them hope in a world full of pain. They are not asking you to teach them how to do the effect. What they are asking is for assurance. They are asking you to give them something that nobody else can. They are asking you to tell them that there is still something magical left to believe in. "

and for those simple minded people who accuse us of witchcraft and such, I say let them go ahead and live a life without knowing the awe and comfort of magic.

Sebis I was being sarcastic, and was trying to imitate a Dr.Phil or Oprah type response to the question. Of course I think it should be called magic. As I said in my previous post calling it an illusion immediatly makes a spectator look for how it's done instead of apreciating a good trick.

Yes, but Fritz Perls, a noted psychologist, always pointed out, my needs are food, water, shelter, and perhaps clothes depending on the climate. Everything else is a desire.

If people want to believe I am a witch I can't stop them. I will continue to make my living performing for other people. In the bible belt of the United States you will run across that attitude, so perform at other places where the nuts don't hang out. they have their superstitions and I have mine we just don't try to convert each other.

oh ok, I seem to be unable to pick up sarcasm in the past few days...

You could always bring a bottle of Holy Water and when they claim you are a witch or a servent of Satan, you could magically produce it, tip it on your head and say "Happy ?"

Maybe thats why Criss Angel wears so many crosses around his neck, so people do not think he is some kind of evil demon.

I hate it when someone comes up to me demanding to see a "trick". I hate when they say that because in my mind they think its just fake.

I don't mind 'trick', because that's what it is. In my case anyway.

When someone wants to "see a trick" I explain the dogs and hookers do tricks, I am a magician, I perform effects.

Another line is "I am a magician, I magish, aren't you glad I'm not a wizard."

The spec isn't supposed to know that my friend.

I don't get that line, can you please explain since my brain seems to have shut down

First, let's get the permissions out of the way:

This line is copyrighted by Bill Palmer and cannot be used without permission. Permission is easy enough to obtain if you're polite enough to ask the owner. Stealing a line from a performer is as bad as stealing money from somone.

Now on to the explanation.

Think about it: If a magician "magishes" what would a wizard do, "wizz?"

ah okay thanks, My mind seems to have frozen lately I would NEVER use a line anyway unless I was sure someone has never used it before or I had permission

I don't mind calling them "tricks" or having other people call them that. After all, that is what they are. I never understood the whole concept about being so hung up on making sure they're called "illusions" or "effects" or whatever. And I've never gotten insulting people or demeaning them by exclaiming "Kids do tricks, I perform magic" or something like that. I think we're taking ourselves way too seriously if we're doing that. I know they're tricks, the spectators know they're tricks. So why not call them that.

Because some people want to believe there is something magical left in this world, and we as magician's can show them that, even though we know they are tricks, if performed right they may see it as far more than that.

I did not know that it was Bill's line or that he had copywrited that line. I will contact him for permission. Thanks for telling me.

Peter