I love amazing people. I love dazzling them. That's why I think performing magic is one of the greatest things a person can do.
Ricky JayRead
For me, the most exciting thing is to create good magic that's entertaining for an audience, and it would be lovely if a magician was fooled as well.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creating art that entertains both the audience and the creator is a thrilling pursuit.
In this quote, Ricky Jay expresses his passion for the art of magic, emphasizing that the excitement lies in designing performances that captivate an audience while simultaneously engaging the magician's sense of wonder. This dual experience, where both the performer and the spectator can be amazed, illustrates the unique beauty and challenge of the magical arts.
Themes
MagicArtEntertainmentAudiencePerformance
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a magic convention, one might reference this quote to emphasize the creative challenges faced by magicians.
More from Ricky Jay
All quotes →Dai Vernon, the greatest sleight of hand figure in the history of the art, rarely performed. But he invented magic and had an enormous influence on the whole range of sleight of hand. And so often, the magic he was doing was to fool other magicians.
Ricky JayRead
I'm much more interested in lesser-known eccentrics and characters and performers. Like Matthew Buchinger, who was born in Germany in 1674, had no arms or legs and yet did magic, and had 14 kids, and made the most extraordinary calligraphy.
Ricky JayRead
Like every art form, there are jealousies and angers and competitiveness in magic. But there's camaraderie among magicians, whether you perform it for a living or you're an enthusiast.
Ricky JayRead
I grew up like Athena — covered with playing cards instead of armor — and, at the age of seven, materialized on a TV show, doing magic.
Ricky JayRead
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