Parents buy magic props, only choosing the cheapest, Nien Li-jen laments customers are untouchable
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Parents seeking inexpensive magic props for a child's talent show expressed a desire for simple, impressive tricks.
- Magician Nien Li-jen emphasized that even simple props require practice to be effective.
- The parents' focus on cost and immediate use over practice highlighted a perceived lack of value placed on the child's performance.
A well-known magician, Nien Li-jen, expressed dismay after parents sought out the cheapest magic props for their child's upcoming talent show, which was scheduled for the very next day. The parents approached Nien's shop looking for something "very simple, that can fool people," explaining it was for a school talent performance.
Is there something very simple, that can fool people? It's for a school talent performance.
Nien explained that sufficient practice can make any magic prop astonishing. However, the parents reiterated their need for something that looks impressive but requires minimal effort. This prompted Nien to question whether magic is as easy as they imagine, especially given the tight deadline.
When asked about the performance time, the parents replied, "Tomorrow!" This left Nien bewildered. He explained that while magic is an illusion, basic practice is essential. He noted that even simple props require smooth operation and engaging patter to be effective, qualities that cannot be achieved without preparation.
If practice is sufficient, any magic prop can be astonishing!
Despite his explanations, the parents' primary concern remained the price, asking, "Which one is the cheapest? Because it's only for a short performance..." Nien lamented that the parents seemed to be merely fulfilling a teacher's requirement rather than valuing their child's talent development. He stressed that practice takes time and cannot be done spontaneously.
Just something that can make people look very impressed, and the key is it must be very simple.
Nien concluded that while he cannot afford to offend customers, he felt a sense of helplessness. He believes that purchasing a magic prop does not equate to being a magician. Regardless of the trick's simplicity, he reiterated that thorough practice is indispensable.
Although magic is fake, basic practice time is still necessary.
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.