The Skill Sheet
By Scott Wells
As a follow up to last monthÃs article on the Hierarchy of Magic, I have prepared the following questions to help determine where, in my estimation, that you rank. This will only be helpful if you are brutally honest with yourself. DonÃt worry about sharing this information nor the results with anyone else. You may keep it as secret as you wish unless you choose to expose it to a fellow magician (just like a trick.)
Before you begin filling out the Skill Sheet, take a moment to decide where you honestly see yourself. Using the criteria set out in last monthÃs article, are you a Neo-Magician, an Amateur, a Amateur Magician, or a Complete Magician. After completing the sheet, the best way to total your score would be to put the answers in the appropriate blank spaces by each question then adding the numbers of the ones that you checked. Compare your results with where you thought you were before you took the test.
I hope that some of you find this helpful. Next month I will explain why I have geared this article and questionnaire towards the performer.
1) What area(s) of magic interest you the most?
____ close-up
____ parlour/stand-up
____ stage illusions
____ manipulation
____ childrenÃs magic
____ mentalism
____ livestock
____ escapes
2) Which area(s) do you feel proficient?
____ close-up
____ parlour/stand-up
____ stage illusions
____ manipulation
____ childrenÃs magic
____ mentalism
____ livestock
____ escapes
3) How much time do you spend practicing magic?
____ less than 1 hour per month
____ between 1 to 4 hours per month
____ about four hours per month
____ more than one hour per week
4) How many tricks do you perform that includes patter straight from the instructions with little or no change?
____ none,
____ all of my patter is original
____ some
____ most
____ all
5) How many magic magazine subscriptions do you have?
____ none
____ one
____ two
____ three
____ four
____ five
____ more than five
6) How much time do you take to read magic books, journals, magazines, etc.?
____ less than one hour per month
____ one to two hours per month
____ two to three hours per month
____ more than one hours per week
7) How many books do you have in your magic library?
____ less than 50
____ 50 to 100
____ 100 to 200
____ more than 200
8) Have you read every book in your library?
____ no
____ yes
9) Have you read the majority of your books more than once?
____ no
____ yes
10) Do you frequently refer to books in your library or to books owned by other magicians?
____ no
____ yes
11) Have you cataloged your library?
____ no
____ yes
12) Have you cataloged your tricks and routines?
____ no
____ yes
13) Do you have a set routine and do you know how long your routine is when you perform or do you “go with the flow?”
____ I have never timed my show
____ I customize my routine to the audience sometimes improvising during my shows
____ I have a set routine that is timed to within 15 minutes
____ I have a set routine that is timed to within five minutes
14) Do you constantly update your routine with new tricks?
____ I rarely update my act with new tricks, but the presentations may change
____ I add one or two tricks to my repertoire each year
____ I add several new tricks to my repertoire each year
____ I add several new tricks to my repertoire each month
15) How much time do you spend rehearsing your act?
____ maybe a total of a half hour per month
____ less than ten minutes per week
____ ten minutes to an hour per week
____ I get enough rehearsal during my performances
16) Do you buy the latest tricks advertised because
____ you want to fool someone
____ you want to entertain someone
____ you donÃt need the trick at all
____ you think that it will fit into your routine
17) Do you carry a trick in your pocket, wallet or otherwise on your person most of the time?
____ no
____ yes
18) Are you prepared to perform at any time in nearly any situation?
____ no
____ yes
19) Do you perform a trick in an impromptu situation when:
____ you want to
____ you are asked to
____ someone persists in wanting you to
____ the time is right
20) How many magic conventions have you attended in the last five years?
____ none
____ one or two
____ three or four
____ several
21) Have you ever competed in a magic competition?
____ no
____ yes
22) How many awards, trophies, citations, diplomas, or other means of recognition have you received from the magic community?
____ none
____ a few
____ several
____ a lot
23) Have you ever performed or been asked to perform for a magic convention?
____ no
____ yes
24) How many magic club meetings have you attended over the past year?
____ one or two
____ about half
____ seldom miss
____ never miss
25) How often do you perform at magic club meetings?
____ rarely if ever
____ occasionally
____ frequently
____ whenever called upon
26) Have you ever held an office in a magic club?
____ never
____ I have served on a committee and/or held an office
____ I have served every office
____ I have served every office more than once
27) How often have you performed in the past year (includes ONLY prepared and impromptu unpaid performances for groups of four or more . . . eg. charity groups, lunch/dinner parties, friends, etc.)?
____ few if any
____ several
____ a lot
____ almost too many to count
28) How often have you performed in the past year (includes only paid performances)?
____ few if any
____ several
____ a lot
____ almost too many to count
29) Has performing magic taken you out of your immediate area over the past couple of years?
____ everything has been in and around my home
____ some shows have taken me out of the area
____ some shows have taken me out of the state
____ some shows have taken me out of the country
30) Most of my audiences have been (may check one or more):
____ children
____ corporate clients
____ college shows
____ comedy club audiences
____ cruise ships
____ nursing homes, hospitals and/or the elderly
____ friends, relatives, and/or business associates
____ other
31) I am the busiest performing:
____ not very busy at all
____ during the Christmas holidays
____ throughout the year but mainly during the end of the year
____ always busy
32) Have you contributed any of the following to the magic community (check one or more):
____ original tricks which may include props or other apparatus
____ magic books
____ lectures and/or lecture notes
____ published articles on magic
____ taught magic lessons either privately or public
RANKING
| 1) |
1-3 choices 4
4 choices 3
5 choices 2
6-8 choices 1
|
| 2) |
1-2 choices 1
3-4 choices 2
5-6 choices 3
7-8 choices 4
|
| 3) |
1,2,4,3
|
| 4) |
4,3,2,1
|
| 5) |
1,1,3,4,4,3,2
|
| 6) |
1,2,4,3
|
| 7) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 8) |
1,2
|
| 9) |
3,4
|
| 10) |
2,3
|
| 11) |
2,3
|
| 12) |
2,3
|
| 13) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 14) |
4,3,2,1
|
| 15) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 16) |
1,3,2,4
|
| 17) |
3,1
|
| 18) |
2,4
|
| 19) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 20) |
3,4,2,1
|
| 21) |
1,3
|
| 22) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 23) |
2,4
|
| 24) |
4,3,2,1
|
| 25) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 26) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 27) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 28) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 29) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 30) |
1-2 choices 1
3-4 choices 2
5-6 choices 3
7-8 choices 4
|
| 31) |
1,2,3,4
|
| 32) |
0 choices 1
1 choice 2
2-3 choices 3
4-5 choices 4
|
If your total is less than 45, then you are a Neo-Magician.
If your total is between 46-80, then you are an Amateur Magician.
If your total is between 81-100, then you are a Developing Magician.
If your total is more than 100, then you are a Complete Magician.
|
