Jay Sankey - Q & A

[Alex Hess]

Hello everyone,

I have been in contact with Jay Sankey and he has told me he would love to do a Q & A for us.

So for the next couple days I want you guys to post your questions for Jay Sankey. We will be picking out the top 12 and sending them to Jay for review.

Let the questions begin!

Not sure who Jay Sankey is?
Subscribe to his youtube: YouTube - SankeyMagic's Channel
Check out his website: Magic Tricks, Magic Trick, Learn Magic Tricks, Street Magic | Sankey Magic Inc.
Follow his twitter: Jay Sankey (jay_sankey) on Twitter

[[RH]magician]

H*** S***. sorry. just had to say that.
Will he be on tinychat?

my question is. what does he think about the state of magic today? with youtube magician's, LMT, ripoffs. and how does he think magic can recover.

[Alex Hess]

Originally Posted by [RH]magician

Will he be on tinychat?

At this time no. When I spoke with him, he said he was extremely busy and would be unable to schedule a chat/video meet-n-greet.

However, I don't see why it can't be a possibility in the future

[Sam Hindrichs]

I know I'm staff but I want to ask a question too.

How important is comedy to his actual magic? Without the jokes, would Jay's magic still be as strong?

[Misjief]

Wow!

How the hell did you run into him? With your Buick? Say ... I will pull my car off you IF... kinda thing?

LOL

That is pretty wild!

-misj-

PS- Ask him if he misses his hair... LOL I really not familiar with him and that is ONE comment I heard several of you say.

[squidgie]

Jay Sankey is absolutely amazing!
In my opinion, he is the king of close-up magic. Every product on his site is astounding and so simple to learn and he even teaches people how to do tricks from time to time.
His standup comedy isn't too bad either lol.
My question:
Why did you choose to specialize in close-up magic, and would/have you ever done grand illusion stage magic?

[chriswiehl]

this is great.
umm
you have soo much practical magic you have created. what is your process of creating? and your tricks seem very simple that many magicians are not fooled, but do you think that they are good for spectators, or with magic being exposed more and more and more people are understanding slights, that your magic may be getting weaker?

[Just1pin]

Hey Alex,

Thanks for the opportunity.

For me one of the things that really defines Jay's magic and creations is practical, simple, visual material for the professional performer. He talks a lot about how magic has to function in the "real" working world. He seems to focus on this in most of his work i.e "within the first 5 seconds of walking up to a table the spectator has to see magic"

...but there are other approaches to magic. There is magic as a profession and how we define success as a professional. There is also magic as an art and how do we define success from that view point? Someone like Paul Harris would say that the moment of astonishment is the goal, that is the art. Can this be better achieved in in a casual, non-performance environment?

I would love to hear Jay's thoughts on this. Magic as a profession and how that shapes the magic that is created, since professional, working magic has certain criteria. Then there is casual magic, magic that does not happen in a professional, performance environment and this magic has different limitations, different criteria. How are they similar? Different? How do we define success in each?

cheers,
J1P

[Brendone Caulfield]

I don't really have a question, but I'd like to throw up this new link of his.

YouTube - JaySankeyShow's Channel

It has a trick up there from his Boris Pocus DVD also.

[[RH]magician]

too bad he won't be on tinychat. but nice one alex. *clap*. I now have something to get excited about. lol

[Alex Hess]

We need more questions,

Keep up the comments and questions

[lag]

Hi Alex,

Here are some of my questions. =)

1) What tips does he have on finding a persona for oneself. e.g freaky, mysterious, comedic? Or does the persona one adopts when performing vary according to the type of magic and environment it is going to be performed?

2)As magicians, we usually know how an effect maybe achieved. This would definitely reduce the 'wow' factor for us. So, how can we gauge the 'wow' factor for the lay audience?

3)Anyone with an internet can easily search the net for methods to how an effect is done (thanks to sloppy performances and reveals by young kids who just bought the trick). This has led to lots of methods being exposed and these people usually have no interest in performing magic but just want to know how it is done and later brag it to all. Can this phenomenon be happening due to magic being too commercialised and maybe a process of the 'cheapening' of the art?

4) How can a person make magic a sustainable hobby? (other than going professional)

[[RH]magician]

Yes one more question.
Does he have any tips on how a magician can be his self while performing, It's just hard. Doing all the sleights having to patter, or having a script that does not match your personality. Can he share his views on how to overcome this, or has he experienced it and if he did experience it how did he get over it?

[Rozzerdog]

I actually have quite a few questions, so please feel free to pick and choose the best ones that should be asked rather than some of the others:



1. I've been told that if you are performing in a restaurant, that you should never start with a "Pick a Card Please" type of trick. So what would be the best way to "prove yourself" to the spectators that you're not the stereo-typical magician they think you might be, performing some card trick they saw their Uncle (or whomever) perform which was never exciting to them?


2. When going through all the possible magic effects you'd like to perform as a routine, should you follow a general theme so that each effect follows a pattern, almost like you're telling a story? Or when you're almost half way through a performance and the theme you wanted to convey starts to make the spectators lose interest, is it best to just wing it and perform something you think they might enjoy instead?


3. This might sound like a confusing question, so I'll do my best to simplify what it is I am asking. Even though, we as Magicians are performing "magic tricks" what is the best way, or if there even is a way, to make performing the magic effects we're performing, more than just a magic trick?


4. With so many different types of decks out there besides Bicycle, being the most recognizable deck brand in the world. Do spectators act differently or get suspicious when they see you performing with a different type of deck other than what they are used to seeing? I have a some what large collection of different cards that I both collect and also practice with and have mainly used when I perform for friends and family. So if I were to perform with: Tally-Ho, Bee Stinger Backs, Arrco U.S Regulations, Dan & Dave's Smoke & Mirrors (Luxury Edition or the new Green v4 deck) or Aladdin's or even Lee Asher's Fournier 605 cards. Even though they have white faces and they look the same as Bicycle cards on the face, but with different back designs, do spectators who have never seen or heard of those brands, is there a good possibility they might think, "I've never seen those before, they must be some special, gimmicked deck".?


5. Sorry for so many questions, this will be my last one and I'll make it short!
Since I have not tried Busking to perform for tips, what would you suggest to be the best way and also the most in-direct way of performing and hoping to get some tips after performing a routine or two that the spectators really enjoyed?