Rule 18: Don't Ruin it by Talking
In 1911 Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant, two of the premier magicians of the day, published Our Magic. In the first section, The Art in Magic, Maskelyne outlines 24 rules for magic performance. After well over 100 years, are these rules still relevant, and do they apply to more than magic/
18: In each presentation, the procedure should lead up to a culminating point of interest; at which point the magical effect should be produced, and after which nothing magically interesting should occur.
Magicians think of their performances very differently to someone delivering a speech. To us, an act is a series of presentations, or routines. Especially 100 years ago, where each presentation would have a very clear start and finish. Compare that to a speech, which is designed to flow together seamlessly. Does that mean that this rule, which very clearly states that things should be broken up in order to make the most of each magical moment, not apply? Far from it.
No matter what your presentation is, it’ll contain those ‘magical moments’. A best mans speech has thank yours, separate anecdotes, and then the toast. A comedian has their gags. A business presentation will contain key notes. No matter what it is you’re presenting, there will be magical moments.
Identify them.
Now, use the rules we’ve been talking about to make each one as magical as possible. Understand that to make each one as powerful as possible, they need to be presented as well as possible. This is what is meant by ‘the procedure should lead up to a culminating point of interest’. This may be a few words or a ten minute speech, but the point is to peak an audiences interest. It is then that you deliver your ‘magical moment’. If you have another, that’s fine, time to invest in more procedure, this time with the knowledge that your audience will be a little bit more invested.
On a related note, pause! Something many magicians forget to do is to let their audiences know it’s time to clap. Just give your audience a moment to catch up with you, realise what’s happened. Don’t bundle into another point straight away.
So rather than seeing your magical moments as a series of distinct, separate entities, let them become waves, each one connected to yet distinct from the previous one. Give each one the time it needs to flourish. With that in mind, you can begin to ensure that each gets the energy it needs to be as powerful as you need it to be.