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Wikinews interviews President of the International Brotherhood of
Magicians
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October 9, 2013
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_interviews_President_of_the_International_Brotherhood_of_Magicians



October is National Magic Month in the United States. ''Wikinews'' spoke
with William Evans, president of the International Brotherhood of
Magicians, about the current state of magic and what its future looks
like in the world of entertainment.

 For how long have you been involved in performing/studying magic?  
::'''William Evans''': Over 50 years.  I am 61 now so I really started
when I was about 10 years old even though I had seen and worked with
some basic tricks a few years earlier.  I remember going into Hollywood
Magic and wanting that big red box with the dragons on it and I didn't
even know what it did.  The magician behind the counter was wise enough
not to sell it to me, but instead sold me two books which I still own
today  --  "Scarne on Card Tricks" and "Scarne on Magic Tricks".  That
started me out on books and I have amassed quite a few since then.  My
major influences on performance are Eugene Burger and Michael Skinner.
 
 October is National Magic Month in the US. Do you think magic is alive
as a viable form of entertainment today?  
::'''WE''': Absolutely.  There are more magicians working today than
ever before.  There will always be an audience for good magicians doing
good magic.

 Has the internet helped or hurt magic?  
::'''WE''': Both.  I think it has helped draw younger people to magic as
a hobby, but I think it has hurt the ability of young magicians to think
because so many rely on the internet for everything and they aren't
reading the books.  We have to have knowledge of the history of magic
and what has been done before.  Moreover, seeing someone perform on the
internet takes away the use of our senses, originality and imagination
that reading and thinking about magic can produce.  Anyone can become a
monkey; it takes serious study to become a magician.

 Do you travel much in your current role?  
::'''WE''': Yes, I am traveling quite a bit.  After I was inducted as
International President in Phoenix in July, I have been to the Jeff Mc
Bride Experience in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Magic Live in Las Vegas,
The Midwest Magic Jubliee in St. Louis, the TAOM in Dallas, the British
Ring Convention in Buxton, England and the Magic Circle in London.  I am
going to Las Vegas and Los Angeles next month, Italy in November, back
to Las Vegas in December, Mexico in January, Magi-Fest in February, the
Winter Carnival of Magic in Tennessee in March, Eureka Springs Cavalcade
of Magic in March, and the FFFF in April.  That's as of now.

== Sources == 



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