I taught a twelve week magic class at a community college in the late 1980’s. It’s said that if you want to learn a skill, teach it to others and my experience agrees. Through some trial and error, I built a solid progression for the participants from no skill effects to effects requiring beginners sleights and practice. We used the Mark Wilson Course of Magic – a stand-out volume of magic. The class was small with twelve or less students. This allowed for individual attention, coaching and encouragement.
Recently I watched a YouTube video that listed the creator’s top ten favorite magic teachers on YouTube and TikTok. Of the ten, I recognized three names because they have released products through the dealer system. The others may have shown up on the algorithmic feed, however I don’t view them as I don’t want to reinforce its behavior.
I find the teaching of magic on YouTube and TikTok puzzling. Maybe a little troubling.
My first reaction to watching the top ten was best said in the classic comedy, Annie Hall:
“You know, we had a saying, uh, that those who can’t do teach, and those who can’t teach, teach gym. And, uh, those who couldn’t do anything, I think, were assigned to our school.” ~ Alvy Singer
I realized this sounds like a crazy old man yelling at the neighborhood kids to stay off his lawn. It’s not a good image.
I know that there are people who want to learn magic and don’t have available resources. YouTube is easily accessible and offers free tutorials. I’ve used it myself for a quick way to gain some knowledge about a subject. Aside: I’ve always wanted to counter this with “what about your local library?” This would likely lead to the rebuttal that they’re “visual learners” – the learning styles argument. I have some thoughts on this and will share in a future post.
The issue with the algorithm is that if someone watches a Fool Us performance, it will recommend other magic videos. Most likely there will be teaching videos included. Wanting to watch a great performance and wanting to watch a teaching video are different, much different. We find ourselves dancing on the edge between teaching and exposing. Where that edge is? I suppose if I am looking to learn magic, it’s teaching but if I’m not, it’s exposure.
Another issue is about ownership. In teaching magic, is it mine to teach? In my classroom, we learned from the Wilson book. It does a good on crediting. Copies were purchased by the students. In the videos, what is the source? An old book that’s now public domain or from another creator’s work? There are a few YouTube channels that share their own work, however most are borrowed from others. My question: is this okay?
Additionally, where is the mentorship, the coaching, and the feedback? I count myself fortunate to have had mentors in magic. All have passed on but their influence is alive in me.
Skill development is a stepped process. It begins with unconscious incompetence – we don’t know what we don’t know. Without direction, we flounder and become discouraged. As we are exposed to new information and knowledge, we become consciously incompetent – we know we don’t know. As learn through the application of the knowledge and practice, we become consciously competent – we know what we know. The key here is application. Without it, it’s just knowing about. With continued learning and practice, we reach unconscious competence. The skills and knowledge are knitted into our being. We can perform without thinking about performing.
Watching videos isn’t enough to become a competent magician. If that was the case, we’d all be police officers and lawyers after 22 seasons of Law and Order. It takes study and effort plus a little patience.
I have many questions and concerns about this method of sharing and learning magic with no reasonable solution. The horse has left the barn. As long as the channels get likes and followers, they will continue.
