Magicians too need money and support as they age: Magician SP Nagendra Prasad

Here’s a fraternity that sounds magical: the Magic Circle, Bengaluru. More than 150 magicians from all over the state have signed up, and Magician SP Nagendra Prasad is the president and founder of the Circle. So what can magicians expect from belonging to this Circle? DNA find out that magicians too face age and retirement, that all is not rosy for those who wield that magic wand.
 
So what made you set up the Magic Circle, Bengaluru?
Over the years, there has been a growth in the numbers of magicians in the state. Even though there are more people praticising as magicians, there is no single forum dedicated to people who make a living from such performances. And magic has to compete with so many other claims on people’s attention these days. We felt that there was a need to revive the glory of magic, to get back its dignity.

We magicians got together to discuss this. We made a resolution to form a community for the welfare of magicians and the revival of our beautiful art. We also want to be able to guide budding magicians and create a knowledge base for new ones. There are more than 150 magicians in our association, and they come from across the state.
 
And the response to the first meeting has been good?
Fabulous! We meet to improvise magic tricks and device ways to connect better with our audience. Even the families of magicians came together. Mayor SK Nataraj inaugurated the function. We got a great and enthusiastic response from members of the public.
We appeal to the government to begin a formal course in magic; this would work wonders for those seeking to acquire these skills and choose this line of work. This is one way in which the government could step in and help us.
 
Children as young as five are now entering the trade. What happens to older magicians? What retirement plans do they have?
Senior magicians will always have a soft corner in people’s hearts. There are people who prefer young magicians for magic shows, but there is still a dedicated audience for senior, more experienced magicians. One of the biggest issues faced by retired magicians is that they are discarded by society. They have no pension, no monetary support. Our Circle would work towards providing for such senior magicians, conducting shows and raising funds for them.
 
Do you think there is a threat of foreign magicians displacing those who have engaged in the trade here?
India has such a rich history in magic. In fact, many feel that foreigners have used our old magic secrets, modified them and shown them in their own countries. Abroad, they get a lot of government support. They are big stars on TV; many even have their own shows. We are trying to modernise our shows and keep audiences interested with new tricks and technology. But ultimately, support should come from the people and the administration.