In every art form, from theater to clowning to fine art, there’s always an element of play at work. Some artists, like David Choe, make it their bread and butter: Their entire process includes play until the final piece emerges from the wreckage. Others, like yours truly, merely toy with it. But regardless of the situation, I think “play” is one of the most important aspects of art-making that I often see lacking in magic.
On the surface, it seems like we are playing. Otherwise there wouldn’t be D’lites, Sylvester the Jester, or even Tobias Dostal. But I don’t see a lot of play happening around amateur magicians’ tables, or even a majority of professional shows. Unfortunately we have a tendency to often confuse practice with play. So let’s take a step back and ask: “What is play?” “How do we play?” And, “Is there a right or wrong way to play?”