You Don’t Need A Disclaimer
(When What You Do is What You Say You Do
That Becomes Your Disclaimer)
by Kenton Knepper

A lot of skeptics are concerned whether or not magical performers use so-called disclaimers. Never mind that generally such critics misuse the term “disclaimer” (or even “skeptic” for that matter). From their point of view, a performer ought not foster a belief in anything unless they are legitimately doing that thing. If a performer does a bit of mentalism for instance, disclaimer-lovers demand that the performer make a clear disclaimer that all the performer does is mere tricks.

I have taken a much different approach through the years. I work to find a way to more truthfully say what it is that I do. Cynics ought to like that just fine. They probably won’t like the results, but they should approve if their complaint is one of honest balance.

Let us assume that people who demand other performers use disclaimers want an audience to know truthfully what a performer is doing. Let’s imagine that these people want you to state your performing situation openly, and that they do not mean to advance only their own agenda.

I like to assume this is the situation. Given that basic premise as a starting point, I will share some “disclaimers” any performer might use. I do not suggest that you use these. Rather I hope they will serve as a pattern for those who wish to better incorporate an honest description of what they do into their own performance. First a little more as a backdrop for even considering any sort of disclaimer at all.

Many cynics do not think it is good to let an audience make up their own minds or have their own point of view. They worry that an audience member might find something personal to relate to in a performance as a belief, and they do not feel magical or mental artists should share or foster any belief (unless perhaps, it is atheism). I guess that means it is left to performers in every other art form to express themselves in their art instead, while we must suffer our own artistic expression. Even if you do “just tricks” you are making your own artistic expression, just as surely as someone who doodles or finger paints is making art.

Honestly what cynics fear is that audiences will take magic and mentalism seriously as they believe an audience cannot tell when a good magical performer is making art. They would argue that people know it’s all an act when an audience goes to see movies or plays. Somehow they believe that audiences are dull when it comes to seeing magical and mental performances. People magically become stupid and uncritical when attending magical and mental shows, while this is not the case in viewing other types of performances. I am not sure I completely follow the logic of that.

We do know that well-performed magic or mentalism can seem real to certain people. I have heard and seen things in movies I felt were real too, even though I knew I was watching a movie.

Real skeptics keep an open mind about all of this unless someone intends on being an outright charlatan. Skeptics, true skeptics, allow for artistic expressions that differ from their own beliefs. Cynics want to convert the world to their beliefs, which is as radical an idea as those they rally against.

My job as a mystery artist is to share my beliefs and myself with an audience in an entertaining way. I don’t preach or insist they become who and what I am. But I do feel it is my right as a performer to express myself. It is true for other art forms, so why not magic and mentalism? Certain countries or self-appointed thought police do not allow free expression. But if you live in a more or less free society, if you cannot express your own point of view through your art, where then is your point of view publicly allowed?

To bridge the gap between those who are too easily taken in by the power of our arts and our right and duty to free expression is how I see so-called disclaimers useful.

Here are main categories and a few examples of each to help you find your own way of creating an honest disclaimer without ruining your art.

Entertainer
“I entertain. My job is to entertain you. You may need to remind yourself of that later.”

“Good evening. My name is Kenton. In case you lose yourself in my performance this evening please just keep this in mind… I am an entertainer.”

“If at any time tonight you find yourself slipping into another world, just repeat to yourself over and over: ‘He’s only and entertainer, he’s only doing a show, it isn’t real… is it?’ and then continue to enjoying our time together.”

“Hey! It’s a show.”

The previous is helpful if you view your audience as dim-witted or moronic. Say it with a smile after a bit of mentalism if needed. Not my favorite disclaimer personally, but if I ever need to calm a cynic or fanatic down in an audience, I would use this one. It is also a good line if your style is comedic. One more example along these lines:

“People often ask me ‘Is what you do fake or are there elements of truth in what I do?’ Well, I am a real person - that much I can guarantee is real. I think.”

Artistic Representation
“What I perform for you tonight is an artistic representation of my own beliefs. You need not believe these things yourself. But I do.”

“Is what I do real? It is real in the sense that I share with you my inner reality this evening. That’s what any performer does with his or her art, and I am no exception.”

Artistic Expression
“What I do is not real. It is art.”

“What I do is in fact a very old art form. And you know what Picasso said about art forms!”

Picasso famously stated that “all art is a lie” but even this supposed specific statement means many things to many people. The legendary playwright Oscar Wilde likewise famously hid his real feelings about the importance of art in similarly wry commentary. I may or may not state what Picasso actually said as a follow up to this disclaimer. I may at times leave it open for the educated to nod about knowingly, or for individual interpretations to emerge if persons in the audience do not know about the exact Picasso quote. You may add Picasso’s quote to the disclaimer if you feel your audience especially dull.

Metaphor
“What I do is as a dream. All is a metaphor, and some part of you will know exactly what I mean to say to you. Only you can know – for yourself.”

Symbol
“What I do is not real – it’s symbolic.”

I never say specifically what the symbolism of the tricks are, which leave my remarks open for individual interpretation by audience members.

For the record I will state my own long-held disclaimer here at last. I place it here publicly so that it will not be taken or used by others. Feel free to use any of my other examples or variations of those for your own work. This one last example is specific to me and has been in my act for many, many years. I share it with you as an example only – one that I must insist you do not use. It really fits a few of my friends, students and me properly anyway. Catch the thinking behind the phrase, not the phrasing itself.

“What I do is not fake. It is not real. It is symbolic.”

That has been the opening line to my shows for more years than I can count. Please honor my rights in keeping this one only for myself, as I hope it serves as a pattern in how to combine these ideas to create a disclaimer of your very own.

If these examples still do not fit the demand for disclaimers by cynics, then allow me to ask cynics a few questions in return.

Where is the outrage over “memory demonstrations” that really use peeks, book tests, stacked decks and the like? Where is the outrage over “exposures” that don’t expose any proven methods that those you call charlatans use? Where is the upset over cynical people insinuating that they are scientists or modern performers when they are neither? Where is the outrage when cynics only guess at something they expose to an audience, when in truth they do not actually know how a performer does what he or she does? Where is the outrage about “motivational techniques” as mentalists really perform clipboard and mentalism tricks? Where is the outrage at those magicians who perform tricks and say it is a demonstration of “science”?

When cynics go after performers evenly and with the same zeal over false science or false motivational demonstrations as they do over performance tricks of mentalism or magic as art, then they may well be on their way to becoming skeptics, rather than cynics.

I do not believe that honesty or disclaimers are wrong. I do believe that stomping on artistic expressions or allowing self-appointed thought police to decide what you ought to perform and how – is wrong.

One day we will all find better balance and charlatans will become artists, while cynics will become true, open-minded skeptics.

Meantime, find a disclaimer.

Kenton