Shake it baby...

I went to a burlesque show this weekend and observed something amusing. These gals have the exact opposite problem as magicians.

They have the moves and the look, but can't handle props very smoothly. Magicians can handle the props, but lack the moves or presence.

Of course this is not a blanket statement about everyone, but a good majority of what I have seen. I believe the reason lies in the fact that if you believe you have "mastered" one aspect of your performance, you think you can master the rest yourself. Many dancers I have spoken to about using a director have said, "I do all my own choreography". That's fine but let me tell you something, DANCING IS DIFFERENT THAN CREATING A ROUTINE WITH PROPS!! You need to consult someone who knows what they are doing when you have limited knowledge in that area. You can be the best dancer in the world, but if you don't know how to sit in a chair properly, it can look clumsy and awkward.

The same goes for magic. Just because you can do card manipulation doesn't mean you know how to put an act together. Don't be so damn stubborn that you won't look to someone else who has expertise in the area of structuring routines. It is an art in itself to create a pleasing flow that combines movement, prop management, and skill.

Art should learn from art.