Astonishing Essays - Joshua Jay (Volume 10 , (Instant Download)
Description & Effect
Redefining Magic Through Audience Perception
Are you truly connecting with your audience, or are you operating on assumptions about what makes magic impactful? For too long, magicians have relied on internal beliefs about their craft, often overlooking the crucial perspective of those who watch. In 'Magic by the Numbers,' the final installment of the acclaimed 'Astonishing Essays' series, Joshua Jay challenges magicians to confront these deeply held notions and embrace an evidence-based approach to performance.
The Groundbreaking Research Unveiled
This groundbreaking essay delves into an innovative research study commissioned in 2014, where Joshua Jay collaborated with statisticians to uncover the objective truths of audience perception. Moving beyond anecdotal evidence, 'Magic by the Numbers' explores what spectators genuinely like, dislike, and remember about magic effects. The initial findings, first published in 'MAGIC Magazine', were revelatory, prompting some magicians to question their long-standing methods while inspiring others to fundamentally reshape their material based on surprising, often counter-intuitive data.
New Insights for the Modern Magician
Eight years later, Joshua Jay returns to this pivotal research, offering a significantly expanded version of the original article, complete with never-before-published material. This volume isn't just a reprint; it's an evolution. Joshua discusses how the landscape of magic has shifted, incorporating insights from new studies and experiments that are immensely valuable for the modern performer.
Actionable Answers to Critical Questions
You'll discover practical answers to critical questions: Which card force consistently proves most effective? Is it better to have props examined before or after an effect? Do audiences perceive a thought-of card as stronger than a selected one? How accurately do people recall details within a magic routine? 'Magic by the Numbers' distills complex academic findings into actionable advice, making them accessible and applicable to your everyday performances. This unique 'moneyball' approach to magic theory, pioneered by Joshua Jay, offers a refreshingly scientific perspective on an art form often shrouded in mystery. 'Astonishing Essays - Volume 10: Magic by the Numbers' is an indispensable resource for any magician committed to elevating their craft and creating truly unforgettable, audience-centric magic.
Original Specs
Astonishing Essays - Joshua Jay (Volume 10 , Instant Download )
As magicians, we deceive our audiences. But, are we also deceiving ourselves? Are there things—big things—that we get wrong about our craft? More importantly, are these things that our audience could identify, yet we never think to ask? The answers, it turns out, are “yes,” “yes,” and another resounding "yes.”
Offered as the final installment in the massively popular Astonishing Essays series, Magic by the Numbers by Joshua Jay examines an innovative research study about how magic is perceived and explores how much has changed in the years since it was commissioned.
Magicians have spoken at length about what they believe makes for a good magic trick. Yet, they almost never explore what audiences look for in a magic effect. In 2014, Joshua collaborated with a team of statisticians to step into the minds of people who watch magic.
He wanted to find the real answers to questions that magicians think they already know the answer to. How much do people actually like magic? What kinds of tricks are most memorable to an audience? What do people like most about magic? What do they like least?
The answers were surprising, shocking, and sometimes even slightly depressing. Some magicians took issue with the findings and questioned the collection techniques when they were first published in MAGIC Magazine. Others used the unexpected results of this wide-ranging survey to reshape their material. It was undeniable though that this was a thought-provoking and invaluable resource for becoming a better magician.
Now, eight years later, Joshua Jay sheds new light on this groundbreaking research with the Magic by the Numbers Astonishing Essay. The first half dives into an expanded version of the original article that includes previously-unpublished material. Joshua then discusses how our craft has evolved in recent years, sharing insights from new studies, experiments, and information that are immensely beneficial for the modern magician. Even if you loved Josh’s original essay and research, you’ll find lots here that has never seen print before.
This captivating essay explores the most interesting and applicable results of these studies, distilling down the lengthy academic texts into concise summaries that answer our most burning questions. He discusses important ideas like which card force is most effective, whether having items examined is better before or after an effect, whether an audience perceives a thought-of card or a selected card as stronger, and how well people remember details in a magic effect.
Offering a detailed look at the "moneyball" approach to magic pioneered by Joshua Jay, Magic by the Numbers is unlike any magic book or essay ever published. It is a must-read for any magician looking to improve their overall performance.
