Interview: Magic, Inc. and Jay Collen - A Slice of Everyday Enchantment - Page 3

And now, my interview with Jay Collen.

What do you think are some of the underlying reasons that more people are interested in magic, both as audience members and practitioners? Is there a cyclical element to this interest? And if so, why do you think this is?

All magic tricks create the illusion of impossibility, and humans find impossibility to be just fascinating. Why? Because I think our large brains spend a lot of time trying to order our world and create reliable expectations about its behavior. Magic tricks seize the attention of both magicians and lay people because, in the first instance, they seem to violate or defy the way we believe the world has to behave.

I think, however, that audiences enjoy magic most when it is presented not merely as a stunt or as a puzzle, but as something having aesthetic, dramatic, and even emotional qualities. When these features are combined with a magic effect, the audience can have an enjoyable experience and not be aggravated by having been "tricked." As for magic going in cycles, it does seem to wax and wane in popularity. I think a lot of that has to do with magic being novel for each new generation.

Talk a little about your own calling to become a magician. What kind of qualities do you feel it taps into? In a related vein, how would you contrast your style to what is a more aggressive carnival-style approach?

At a narcissistic level, we all tend to be interested in what we do well and, if I may say so modestly, I do have a bit of a flair for magic. At a more altruistic level, magic is a means by which I can help bring a little joy, entertainment, and distraction to other people. When audiences have fun, I know that in a small but meaningful way, I'm helping bring a little bit of good into the world. Magic taps into a lot of different parts of me — I like performing live and personally for others, I like working with my hands, I like the discipline and challenge of the enormous amounts of practice I do; I like the learning the enormous body of magic knowledge. As for my "style" — I try to be warm, approachable, very respectful, and sharing. Magic works best as a kind of joint play with the audience and the magician cooperating to enact a fantasy, and I want my style not only to reflect the better parts of me but also invite and enable audiences to play along. There are, unfortunately, some magicians who come off as oily, smart-alecky, or smug. I don't think those are traits of mine, but if I were to construct a character with those traits, I don't think my tricks would be as effective or entertaining.

What makes the ideal audience for a magician?

Article Author: Lisa Alvarado

Lisa Alvarado is a poet, novelist, and performance artist. She is the author of The Housekeeper's Diary, Reclamo, and Sister Chicas. In 2007, Sister Chicas was the 2nd place winner of the Mariposa/International Latino Book Award for Best 1st Novel in English. …

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