Occasionally, someone in our office stumbles across the blog of another who has written about their experience at one of our performances. Such was the case last night when I was given a link to a blog written by Meredith Sue Willis and her comments about our show at SOPAC in South Orange, NJ.
I had to smile as I read her opening remarks – “I don’t care so much for illusionists…” – which kind of set the tone for the remainder of her words. But I think she had a good time and she wrote that she enjoyed being there. She just couldn’t understand the point of “illusions.”
I would offer up that the “point” of any art form – magic, music, theatre, dance, whatever – is to challenge the audience and to evoke some sort of emotional response. But I think our show gives people something else – the opportunity to share in an experience that transcends age, race, economic status and cultural demographics. In the case of Meredith and her son, Andy (whose urge to see the show brought them to SOPAC in the first place), I think it was also an opportunity for them to share in a common experience and then discuss it later (as they clearly did when they tossed around theories about how the “magic” worked). I’m not sure there are too many entertainment options these days that allow us, as a family unit, to share that experience.
Now, I’ll be the first to say that we are not the only type of show that does this. And I’m not giving myself or our team undue credit for “bringing people together.” All I’m saying is that art – good art – should do those things.
I smiled again when she wrote “The show was the usual sawed in half ladies and escaping from a can of water…” but she failed to recognize many of the unique illusions in our show like Walking Through A Brick Wall (the only one in the world); Windshear (rarely performed on a stage in the U.S.); No Feet (an exclusive illusion created by Andre Kole with a limited number of performers in the world doing it). I was very encouraged, however, that she thought I was “engaging” and that I had a good personality. Overall, I think she liked me – and that surprised her because she doesn’t really like illusionists.
Her closing comments are something that we hear often – “I wonder what kind of a living these people make– four people who show up on stage and at least one driver for the semi they travel in.” I will tell you that we are blessed. We have the privilege of performing around the world in some of the most interesting and beautiful venues ever built. Do we also get into some rough places? Absolutely! But that’s life on the road. I have much for which to be thankful. I work with great people. I am living my childhood dream of being a magician and sharing that experience with the person I love most in the world – my wife. Can there be anything better than that?
You can read Meredith’s full blog about her experience with us at SOPAC: http://meredithsuewillis.blogspot.com/2007/03/busy-sunday.html
And if Meredith would drop us an email with her address, I’d love to send her a DVD of our tour in Asia. I think she and Andy would enjoy watching it – together.