Writing Your Own Material

Transcript

Hello and welcome back, fellow magicians and magic fans. Today we are diving deep into the world of creativity, and exploring the importance of a concept that is often overlooked in our community - writing our own material.

It's quite common, especially for beginners in the world of magic, to copy existing material. Let's be honest, we've all been there. We see a magician perform an incredible trick, maybe drop a witty one-liner that has the audience in stitches, and we think, "I could do that." And often, we do. We "borrow" those lines, sometimes even whole routines, because they work. But, let's be honest with ourselves, it's not borrowing is it? It's stealing.

That's a path we need to tread with caution, not only because it's an unethical and unfair way to treat other performers, but also because it makes you a worse performer. If you are or intend to do magic professionally, then it's my opinion that that hurts your business. Remember my saying, "we build a better business, when we become better performers."

So at this point, I want to look at another group of performers who always write their own material - stand-up comedians. A comedian wouldn't dream of using someone else's joke in their set, at least not without asking that other performer first. As I've just said, it's not just about legalities or ethics; it's about authenticity. Each joke is crafted with the comedian's unique perspective and style, and it's that personal touch that really connects with the audience.

So, why should magic be any different? As magicians, we are not, or at least we shouldn't be, merely taking tricks off the shelf and demonstrating them. Instead we're creating experiences, sharing a part of ourselves. Magic is a way to communicate with the world, to say, "Hey, this is me. This is who I am, and what I believe in, and what I like to do outside of magic!" So, it's crucial that we bring our unique flavour to our performances, and one of the best ways to do that is by writing our own material.

Unfortunately, the magic industry has become flooded with pre-packaged routines complete with scripts that you can buy off the shelf.

It's convenient, I'll give you that. But ask yourself this: when you perform a routine straight out of the box, whose voice is the audience hearing? Whose style are they experiencing? The answer, is not your own.

Writing your own material allows you to express your unique voice and perspective. It enables you to connect with your audience on a deeper level because you're sharing something of you, something personal, something original. And that's what draws people to the arts. It's you they want to get to know, not some pre-packaged persona.

So, how do you begin to write your own material? Firstly, start by identifying your unique voice. You might not think there is anything, but I promise you there is. What is it about you that sets you apart? Are you witty, dramatic, lighthearted, or serious? Your material should reflect that.

This stuff is not easy, and that might be the reason why many magicians default to the easy option, but I want something better for the listeners of this podcast. Don't take the easy route. Instead I encourage you to really put some effort in to this. Find a friend, and sit down and talk this through with them. If they are another magician you can help each other. If not, just buy your friend a drink and chat through things in a bar or a coffee shop.

You know it's also really important to consider your audience. What kind of material will resonate with them? A joke that has teenagers rolling in the aisles might leave a corporate crowd scratching their heads. Tailoring your material to your audience is key.

Now, I'm not suggesting you throw out all your existing routines and start from scratch. Not at all. Start small. Tweak an existing script to better suit your style. Add a personal anecdote. Change a line or two to something that feels more "you". That's how I started. I took out a line from the tutorial and added in one of my own. Eventually I built up a routine that really feels like mine. Even the smallest changes can start to bring a routine closer to your own voice.

As you grow more comfortable writing your own material, you'll begin to see the benefits. Your routines will feel more authentic, your connection with your audience will deepen, and your performances will become more enjoyable, not just for your audience, but for you as well. Hopefully, you'll also find it easier. You'll start to make more connections and make them with less effort. You might even be able to string together an act or a show that feels really personal to you.

And the real benefit of that, is that you become un-copyable. Magicians certainly won't be able to copy your routines, because they aren't you, and they don't have your experiences, but also your audiences will say things like, "I've never seen magic like that before."

So, my challenge to you, fellow magicians, is this: write your own material. Don't merely be a vessel for someone else's words or routines. Don't be a cover band. Be your authentic self on stage. Let your audience experience the magic of you.

The journey to authenticity might not always be smooth. There will be hits and misses, applause, and silence, if you like. But stick with it. Trust in your voice, your style, your magic. After all, as we often say in this world of illusions, the real magic lies not in the tricks we perform, but in the experiences we create.

I'll link to a few extra resource in the further notes section for this podcast, including some books that I recommend. For now though, as ever, you can find every episode at edsumner.com/magicians, and please subscribe and share the podcast with anyone you think would find it useful.

Thanks for listening and I'll see you next time.