Erik Tait felt understandably anxious going into the early October trials to rep the North American team at the Fdration Internationale des Socits Magiques (FISM), which the Columbus magician described as the Olympics of magic.
Not only did Tait have to contend with the strict competition rules(performers were given a precise time frame in which to set up, complete a trick and then completely empty the stage), but he was also working with a less familiar brand of cards, which added a degree of difficulty to a trick that had long ago started to feel like second nature.
I elected to use a different brand of cards than my normal deck for reasons specifically related to the competition, and the deck felt a little alien in my hand, said Taitby phone the day after he returned from the competition in Quebec City. The brand of card Ive used for five years, the weight of the deck, the thickness of the paper, the finish, the flexibility and the rigidness of the card stock, its something my hand is very used to.
On top of that, Tait said he has long harbored feelings of discomfort while performing in front of magicians, who made up a majority of the audience during the competition in Quebec City, an unease he traced both to a long-held imposter syndrome Taits belief that he didnt belong on the same stage with the true wizards of the craft as well as the difference in the responses between a lay audience and one filled with performers, where the silences and cheers fall at divergent moments.
In competition, everyone is watching you more critically rather than for entertainment value, said Tait, who has worked with a therapist for much of the past year, the last half centered more intensely on this aspect of performance. Ive spent the last six months working [with my therapist] on my nerves in front of magicians. I get extremely nervous in competition and shake a lot, and then my hands dont quite operate right, and we very specifically worked on that.
As a result of these sessions, Tait was able to better control his nerves in Quebec City, where he performed what he described as an extended version of the invisible three-card Monte trick that he previously did on-air in an episode of Penn & Teller: Fool Us. (Tait also won the International Brotherhood of Magicians Gold Cups International Award of Excellence in Close-Up Performance for the trick in 2018.)
Still, following Taits delivery of the trick, which unfolded precisely as he hoped it would, he wasnt exactly brimming with confidence, believing he might have scored just high enough to scrape by in the qualifying. Instead, when results were announced, Taitlearned that he had placed in the top three for close-up magic, securing a spot on the North American team, which will take on global challengers at FISM 2022, also in Quebec City.
FISM was always kind of an unattainable goal, something for the giants of the industry and the real wizards who live among us, not guys who do a couple of card tricks like me, said Tait, who came to magic two decades ago via juggling and still maintains a similarmindset when he performs, balancing a series of highly technical sleight of hand tricks that he compared with the act of keeping multiple balls in the air. I grew up looking at FISM and thinking, man, it would be cool to do that, but never thinking I actually would. And now Im in that situation, and its pretty overwhelming.
Following the trials, overcome with the emotion of the moment, Tait escaped to a pub across the street from the venue to have a drink and relax his nerves. While seated at the bar, he was approached by a local who noticed him shuffling cards and, after striking up a conversation, requested Tait do a couple of tricks, which left the man gobsmacked. The manthen invited Tait to join him at a table with friends, introducing the magician by saying, This is Erik. Please be quiet. He is the wizard.
And he and his friends were just really enthusiastic, and asking lots of questions, and there wasnt this sense of, Oh, do you do childrens birthday parties? said Tait, who plans to spend the next 10 months working with a team to refine and perfect his trick in advance of FISM. They were really treating what I did as an art form, and asking probing and interesting questions. … They were sharing this sense of wonder that is really unique to the human species, and it was this grounding moment that, yes, we were there for a competition, and, yes, we were there to test our mettle. Butat the end of the day, the reason we do magic is to be able to share this moment of mystery and wonder with other humans. And it kind of brought me back to the real world, and I was like, OK, lets go do this again. Lets share this moment and experience with others.
More:
Erik Tait ready to represent North America at the Olympics of magic - Columbus Alive
- Olympic Games athletes to get 220,000 condoms and anti-sex beds in Paris - New Zealand Herald - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Canadian volleyball player Alexa Gray hopeful of memorable year one that might include Olympics - CBC.ca - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles isnt holding back with Paris Olympics approaching - The Washington Post - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles looks ready for the moment as she starts her Paris Olympics build-up - The New York Times - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- A different type of Olympics - Southern Standard - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Who will join Simone Biles on US gymnastics team at 2024 Olympics? - USA TODAY - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles dominates field at U.S. Classic ahead of Olympic return in Paris this summer - Yahoo Sports - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles Kicks Off Olympic Year With Easy Win at U.S. Classic - The Daily Beast - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- VIDEO: Will Levis meets with every athlete at Tennessee Special Olympics Summer Games - On3.com - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- As Summer McIntosh wins at the Canadian Olympic trials, the noise around her grows louder - The Globe and Mail - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- 12 Years Later, Air Jordan Is Finally Re-Releasing a Legendary Olympic Sneaker - GQ - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- St. Clair Shores native and 1980 Olympics hockey gold medalist Wells dies at 66 - Detroit News - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Olympics to provide 7-11bn boost for Paris region, says independent report - Insidethegames.biz - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- What does Gabby Douglas' comeback mean to the sport? - ESPN - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Satwik-Chirag peel off rust to claim Thailand Open silverware ahead of Paris Olympics - ESPN India - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Penguins' Mike Sullivan to coach Team USA for 2026 Olympics - The Athletic - The New York Times - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Score one for the little guys in fending off Boston's Olympic bid - The Boston Globe - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles wins Core Hydration Classic with top score ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics - Good Morning America - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Megan Keith seals Olympic selection in Night of the 10,000m PBs thriller - AW - Athletics Weekly - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Montana Special Olympics begins three years of family and friends in Billings - Q2 News - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Fears Paris Olympics can't cope with threat of hostile drone attack - Express - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Hong Kong triathlon hopeful Ng down to wire in race for last ticket to Olympics - South China Morning Post - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Johnston Special Olympics recognized for inclusiveness - Turn to 10 - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler 'definitely' wants to represent Team USA at Paris Olympics - USA TODAY - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Business People: Fredrikson attorney Travis J. Anderson to be Special Olympics general counsel - St. Paul Pioneer Press - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Shawn Johnson excited for Simone Biles' return at Paris Olympics following 2021 twisties: 'The best forever' - Fox News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Pride House on Seine River barge is inaugurated by Paris Olympics organizers - Newsday - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Zelensky and Putin react to Paris Olympics ceasefire proposal - Yahoo! Voices - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- 'Anti-sex' beds have arrived at Paris Olympics after horny athletes admit to orgies amid competition - New York Post - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Law enforcement torch run in Kinston for the Special Olympics - WITN - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Will decision about Caitlin Clark and Olympics be more about money or basketball? - KPRC Click2Houston - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Jon Urbanchek, Who Led Swimmers to Olympic Glory, Dies at 87 - The New York Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Paris beyond the Olympics: 17 things to do in the French capital - National Geographic - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Spain's plans with Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubars & Fermn Lpez for the Euros and Olympic Games - Barca Blaugranes - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Gabby Douglas Paris Olympics 2024 comeback but why did she take time off? - Style - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Jackovich To Make Olympics Debut - Stanford University Athletics - Stanford Athletics - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Pride House on Seine River barge is inaugurated by Paris Olympics organizers - The San Diego Union-Tribune - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Injured Sky Brown hopes to recover for Paris Olympics - BBC - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Video: Afghan taekwondo champion's remarkable journey to the Olympics - The National - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Olympic champion Gabby Douglas' takes another important step in her comeback bid - NBC DFW - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Two American cyclists conquer streets of Charleston and clinch Olympic team berth - West Virginia MetroNews - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater - KOCO Oklahoma City - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- The 'anti-sex' beds to stop Paris Olympic athletes jumping into sack but will they work? - Yahoo Singapore News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Ahead of Olympics, World Anti-Doping Agency Faces a Trust Crisis - The New York Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Skateboarder Sky Brown to miss Olympic Qualifier Series event due to knee injury - Thetford & Brandon Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Victor Wembanyama Named To France's Preliminary Roster For Olympics - RealGM.com - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Taylor Knibb wins U.S. Time Trial Championship, earning *2nd* Olympic spot - Trek Race Shop - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Everything you need to know about the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris - WPSD Local 6 - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb wins US cycling time trial to earn spot in Paris in a second sport - Iron Mountain Daily News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Will decision about Caitlin Clark and Olympics be more about money or basketball? - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Over 500 athletes competing in SD Special Olympics - KELOLAND.com - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Road to Paris 2024: Relive the Olympic qualifiers in an epic 48-hour livestreaming marathon - Olympics - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- The weight of gold - Anna Kiesenhofer on managing expectations after Tokyo Olympics shock victory - Cyclingnews - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Climate Crisis Forces the IOC to Rethink Winter Olympics - Greek Reporter - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Macron: "If there are security problems, the inauguration could be reconsidered" - Insidethegames.biz - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Its not only the Olympics that could be coming to Utah in 2034 - Deseret News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jesse Mendes Says He Wont Pursue Olympics After Switching From Brazil to Italy - The Inertia - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- British teen Sky Brown targets medals in two sports at Paris Olympics - The Telegraph - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- From Stanford to Team USA, a water polo dynasty eyes an Olympic four-peat - The Athletic - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Boys in the Boat' gives Hollywood treatment to rowing during an Olympic year - Denver 7 Colorado News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USSS Nominates Stellar Teams for 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Gangwon, South Korea - SkiRacing.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Mohamad Aniq chasing fourth ranking in Olympic qualification for Paris - theSun - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympic Hurdler Michelle Jenneke Brought the Vibes to Las Vegas - Yahoo Life - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- France could move Paris Olympics opening ceremony over security concerns - The Hill - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Aaron Picos unknown Bellator-PFL future has him thinking Olympics - MMA Junkie - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Paris 2024: Will they regret it? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News - Scuttlebutt Sailing News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Winter Olympics 2034: Blocks of Park City-area hotel rooms already essentially booked - The Park Record - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Freezin' for a Reason': Special Olympics Polar Plunge to return to Buckhannon in February 2024 - My Buckhannon - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- How Suni Lee Refused to Let "Really Scary" Kidney Illness Stop Her From Returning For the 2024 Olympics - E! Online - E! NEWS - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Exclusive: Special Olympics New York calls on Hochul to increase funding ahead of program cuts - WXXI News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own 'Dream Team' at Paris 2024? - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympics 2024: Event rider Ros Canter aiming for glory in Paris - BBC.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jamaica's surf healer Imani Wilmot taps into ocean forces to empower women - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Usain Bolt: My 200m world record will be broken before 100m - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USA Basketball womens and mens 33 programs qualify for 2024 Olympics - The Athletic - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- IOC says its Olympic ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation - Japan Today - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Diosdado and Jimnez win gold and secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- LeBron James and Anthony Davis should forget about the 2024 Olympics - LeBron Wire - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics? - Hoops Hype - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Team USA: LeBron James' Olympics recruitment has fans going wild - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]