EDITOR'S NOTE: Kyle Peron is a professional magician who lives in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He and his wife appear in "The Magical Illusions of Kyle and Kelly," primarily in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia. He also is a professional graphic designer and illustrator, specializing in designing logos, business cards, etc. He was featured in "Silent Magic," by Simon Carmel, biographies of magicians who are deaf or hard of hearing. He is a longtime columnist in Alan Watson's electronic newsletter, "Magic New Zealand." I was touched by his latest column (9/23/11) and know you will be, too. We reprint it with his permission.
A Tough Choice - #226 - Kyle Peron
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Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com
I was recently at a festival event and was packing up the show when out of the corner of my eye, I see a lady with a young child walking towards me with a smile on her face. Always being in the professional mode, I smiled back and stopped what I was doing to
address myself to her.
She was wondering when the show was going to start and was excited about it. I immediately felt bad inside as I knew my last show was over and I was packing up to go home. I was feeling really sick with a bad head cold and just really wanted to get home and rest after being there most of the afternoon.
But then it dawned on me as it often does. I realized what I told myself when I left the house that morning. I promised myself that sick or not sick, I was NOT going to give anything less than 100% effort on all shows. I was not going to allow my feeling lousy to
change the way I do things or how I present a show to anyone and everyone.
Although I was done and I did my contracted time, I had a decision to make. I had a decision to make much like all of us do at times. That decision is to stick to my contract and just say I am sorry, apologize and head home. Certainly nothing wrong with
that. I would have been nice, polite and done what I was told to do.
However, the little voice inside of me realized that is NOT good enough. This person came over and came to the festival to see a magic show. It is not her fault that maybe she read the show times wrong or maybe someone told her the wrong times. No matter
what the reason, I had a choice. I had a choice to either ignore the situation or do what I thought was right.
Suddenly at that very moment I was taken back in time. I was a kid again and I was at a summer camp approaching a magician to say thanks and ask how I could get started in magic. I recall he was also packing up. But I remember that old man taking the time
out to talk to this young boy. THAT conversation sparked my interest in the art of magic. That man did NOT have to spend time for me....but he did. He did not have to stop what he was doing, delay his departure to show a genuine interest in ME...but he did.
I suddenly realized the ONLY solution right in my mind was to perform for that young girl. I went back and got my jacket on and put back on my prop bag. I walked back out of the tent and spent 15 minutes performing a private show for that girl and for her mom.
As I performed the girl smiled ear to ear and laughter filled the air. Her giggles made me laugh and her smile was contagious. As much as I was working magic for her, she worked magic for me. I saw myself in her and I realized that magic and my performance
meant something to her even if she may not have been able to express it in words.
I shook her hand and I began to stand up. I looked over at the mother wiping tears from her eyes as she mouthed to me a huge "THANK YOU!". The eye contact and the expression on her face was all I really saw as she did not speak a word. She looked at her child and looked at me and smiled ear to ear. She walked away and as she turned I could hear her daughter saying how she got to meet the magic man and how cool it all was.
You know, we can be sick and we can be tired. We can have things we would rather do and places we would rather be. We certainly do not have to do more than what is asked of us. But you know, we are magicians. We are lucky to have an art form where we CAN make a difference in the life of a child.
I have no idea if I was the first magician this young girl ever saw. However, I can sleep better tonight knowing that I made that day for that young girl. I can rest easy knowing that 15 minutes was worth it to that parent.
We all have a gift and we have a gift far greater than most of us know. Next time you have a situation like this, I hope that you will choose to take just a few more moments of your time to reach out and share the gift of magic to someone else. For without our
audiences, what are we really.
As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you.
- "Blue and Gold! The Complete Guide to Working The Scout Market!" is now available as a soft cover printed book as well as an ebook download.
http://kpmagicproducts.com/Blue_and_Gold.html
- "Encore! Creativity in the Art of Magic" Ebook. Order online now at:
http://kpmagicproducts.com/Encore.html
- "Tips and Techniques on the Chair Suspension" Ebook. Order online now at:
http://kpmagicproducts.com/Chairs.html
Kyle Peron
Magician and Family Entertainer http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com
Entertainers, please visit: http://www.kpmagicproducts.com
