Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Simon aronson
Page 36
M-U-M
MARCH 2012
Magazine
S.A.M. NEWS
ON THE COVER
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COLUMNISTS
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4 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
tion is our cover story this month. The full conversation ran to
11,000+ words, and it pained me to have to cut it down, because
it was all very interesting. I decided to do what Jon Stewart of
The Daily Show does when an interview goes long: post the full
interview on the Web. Youll find it at www.MagicSAM.com.
Simon also contributed a card trick to this issue, and I urge
you to give it a try. It is well within the abilities of the average
Michael Close card worker, and the trick is representative of Simons approach
to card magic.
George Schindler passed along the following two announceWay back in the early 70s, I subscribed to Hierophant
ments:
and Kabbala, two magazines published by Jon Racherbaumer.
The Parent Assembly 1 of The Society of American
Through those magazines, I learned of Simon Aronson, who was
Magicians in New York City has set up a Grave Site Restorapart of Ed Marlos exclusive coterie. In 1978 I bought a copy of
tion Committee to help preserve and/or restore the grave sites
Simons first book, The Card Ideas of Simon Aronson; the book
of some of the greatest magicians of all time, whose graves are
was full of great card magic, including some terrific memorized
in the tri-state area. Several fundraising shows are planned to
deck effects, but the trick that caught my eye was a gem called
support this effort. For more information, contact the chairman at
Red See Passover. I went to some trouble and expense to have the
Richie@RichieMagic.net.
necessary gaffed cards made (this was way before the USPCC
The Society of Young Magicians will present the Weekend
began printing gaffed cards), and I dropped this atom bomb of
of Wonder(WOW) on August 10-12, 2012, at the Crown Plaza
a trick on any unsuspecting magician I could find. (At that time
Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island. This highly successful, totalI had two magician-slayers in my repertoire: Simons trick and
immersion weekend event, previously presented in 2008 and
my own Wild Underground Transposition. I had the advantage of
2010, is being repeated and will bring young magicians from
anonymity; no one knew who I was or what I knew. I saved those
around the country under one roof for a weekend of magic studies.
two tricks for very late night sessions at magic conventions, inIn addition to the training, friendships are made and social
troducing them with the meek statement, Heres something that,
activities, gifts, and special attention are offered by experts
maybe, you havent seen. I unleashed one or the other of those
in all fields of magic. For details see the brochure at
tricks and immediately retired for the night, assured that, when
www.magicsym.com/wow.asp.
I returned the next morning, the other magicians would still be
With the passing of Tony Giorgio, magic has lost another of
there, thinking about what they had seen.)
its great, unique characters. He had a great presence, and he
If asked about Red See Passover (and many magicians did ask),
certainly knew his craft. Heres more from Michael Perovich:
I did the honorable thing and said it could be found in The Card
Actor/magician
Tony
Ideas of Simon Aronson. Simon
Giorgio died on February 1,
sold a few books because of
2012, in Southern Califorthis. When Simon and I finally
nia after a long illness. He
met a few years later, it felt like
was reported to be eightywe were already old friends.
eight years of age at the time
I admire Simons effects,
of his passing. Giorgios
which are designed to fool
swarthy good looks made him
the most intelligent and
ideal for small parts playing
observant spectator. In 1990,
hoodlums in such movies
when I decided that I would
finally break down and learn
as The Godfather, Magnum
a memorized deck stack,
Force, and The Sting II. He
Simons stack was the one
had a nice part as a detective
I learned. And I have never
in the James Coburn vehicle,
regretted it.
Harry in Your Pocket, for
A great benefit of knowing
which he was also technical
Simon was getting to know his
advisor. A performer at the
wife Ginny, who is an intelliMagic Castle since the 1960s,
gent, charming, and gracious
his act included an extended
The Chicago Session John Bannon, David Solomon, and
lady. Ginny is an active parThree
Card Monte routine
Simon Aronson
ticipant in Simons magic life,
and his own card to matchbox
editing his books and articles,
effect. He made good use of
attending magic conventions with him, serving as the receiver
assistants, naming one Ruby, and engaging her in an amusing
in their astonishing two-person mindreading act, and surrenderclose-up magical playlet. In later years Tony became embroiled
ing her kitchen for the Saturday meetings of the Chicago Session,
with the Castle over legal issues that were a burden for all
which has been gathering at the Aronson home for more than
concerned. Giorgio had a working knowledge of the methods of
twenty years.
advantage play; his DVD The Ultimate Work is highly regarded
I had the opportunity to chat with Simon and Ginny about
for its inside information on gambling methods. His friend Dai
their personal stories, their interests outside of magic, and the
Vernon uniformly praised him, particularly for his knowledge
development of the mindreading act. A portion of this conversaand skill with dice. So long, Tony.
Editors Desk
Presidents Desk
Vinny Grosso
Boston S.Y.M. Celebrates
25th Anniversary
What a great event! The Boston S.Y.M. celebrated its silver
anniversary at their holiday banquet this past January. I had
the privilege of attending and meeting so many great kids and
alumni of the Boston S.Y.M. Please understand, it was a challenge
for me to even make the trip. While it is only a two-and-a-half
hour drive, I have only been to Boston two other times in my
life. My aversion to Boston sports teams runs deep, especially
being a huge New York Jets and New York Yankees fan. When I
was invited to the banquet, I told myself, Its for the kids, and
begrudgingly stepped foot in Massachusetts.
I am so glad I did. The banquet was attended by over a hundred
people, including Ray and Ann Goulet. Boston S.Y.M. president
Matt Leskanic did a wonderful job running the program; a show
followed with Joe Howard, Ben Nemzer & Cassandra, and me.
Many of you know the mentor for the Boston group is David
Oliver. His contributions to the
magic community
are
nothing
short of incredible. Over the past
twenty-five years
David has missed
only six meetings
and most of those
were within the
past five years for
medical reasons
(hes been dealing
with less than
forty
percent
Vinny Grosso and David Oliver
lung capacity). It
was an honor to
present him with a Presidential Citation for all the hard work he
has done.
the money generated from your annual dues would not cover the
cost of producing the magazine. We need revenue from advertisers. Unfortunately, some of our regular advertisers are not seeing
a high enough return on the money they invest in advertising
in M-U-M. In conversations with them, they feel the content of
our magazine is great, and our circulation is fine, too. We need a
better response from our members in order to be a more valuable
advertising source. Advertisers would also benefit from multiple
ways to reach our members to reinforce their advertisements.
While I am not proud to admit it (and I know I am not alone), I
used to read magic publications almost solely for their advertisements. I know now I missed out on many magic gems hidden
in the articles I skipped over. I couldnt help it; I was mesmerized
by all the new and exciting effects available. The first magazine
I subscribed to was Magic Manuscript (let me remind you that
I am only thirty-six years old). I think I had a mini-depression
when they stopped publishing it. Luckily, I discovered MAGIC
and Genii and then became a member of the I.B.M. and S.A.M.,
so the Linking Ring and M-U-M followed. Each magazine
offered great content, but I still cannot deny it, I was drawn to the
advertising. I was exactly what the advertiser wanted; a captive
and active audience.
TRY THE
IMPOSSIBLE
www.SimonAronson.com
Newsworthy
Magic at the Super Bowl Village
The Indy Fringe Festival was approached by the Super Bowl
host committee in Indianapolis in December to see if they could
provide entertainment for the Super Bowl Village the during the
ten days before and the day of Super Bowl XLVI. At first, they
wanted volunteers; Pauline Moffat, Executive Director of Indy
Fringe, said that her professional entertainers would have to be
paid. The committee said okay, and Ms. Moffat approached Taylor
Martin about organizing some of the magicians from Indy Magic
Monthly to perform. Taylor sent out a general call and got eight
names, including Ryan Siebert and Allan Head, who eventually
worked with him in the Village. Then, the committee changed
their mind and said they couldnt pay the performers. They
wanted volunteers, and those volunteers would not be allowed to
solicit tips. Pauline said no thank you.
About nine days before the Village opened, the committee
came back and said theyd pay the street entertainers, including
five other companies from Indy Fringe. This information was
given to Taylor two days before The Second Indy Fringe Winter
Magic Festival (which Taylor organizes) and also his opening
night for a Magic Dinner Theatre at a local catering facility, The
Propylaeum. Taylor called Ryan and Allan; they cleared their
schedules and the three went to work, presenting forty hours of
magic to nearly 400,000 people.
Taylor had three major events on his calendar at one time.
In the end, everything went well; there were over one million
visitors to the Super Bowl Village, there was a sold-out house for
the Dinner Theatre, and really great attendance for the second
magic festival for the
public. And, everyone
got paid.
In
another
highlight for Taylor,
on January 21, 2012,
at the Indy Fringe
Winter
Magic
Festival, RVP Jania
Taylor
presented
him with a Presidential Citation from
President
Vinny
Grosso. It read, For
keeping magic alive
Ryan Siebert, Taylor Martin as Rodney the
in the eye of the
Younger, Allan Head
public in Indianapolis
Photo by Deborah Martin
through his creation
of
Indy
Magic
Monthly and participation in the Indianapolis Fringe Festival.
Taylor Martin had this to say about the honor: A long way has
come in the twenty-six years since I joined the S.A.M. I never
knew Id get this sort of respect for my efforts; it really means a
lot to me and my wife, as well as to the people who were in the
audience that night. To have this presented to me in front of a
paying public crowd, and not just within the confines of our ranks,
shows me how important an award like this is. It is so important
that we do things like this in the public eye.
Congratulations to Taylor and the other performers who did a
fine job representing Indianapolis to the world.
As part of this historic event, Rod Chow, Regional Vice-President of Canada, on behalf of Most Illustrious Vinny Grosso, had the
privilege of presenting a Presidential Citation to Shawn Farquhar:
For his contributions to the Society of American Magicians on a
national level and locally with the Carl Hemeon Assembly 95 in
Vancouver, Canada. For his election by his compeers as the first
Dean of Assembly 95, the highest honor an assembly can bestow.
He is a great source of pride to all who know him as he epitomizes
our motto Magic Unity Might.
New Dean Farquhar was sincerely surprised, appreciative, and
humbled to accept the honor of Dean, and to receive the citation.
Farquhar becomes the first magician to have ever been presented
a Presidential Citation in Canada.
RVP Chow also presented Dean Farquhar with a commemorative binder containing written letters of congratulations from
National Dean George Schindler, RVP Northwestern States
Michael Roth, and others.
Assembly 95 is proud to state that their new Dean Shawn
Farquhar not only has achieved an unprecedented resume of international championship awards, accolades, media exposure, and
respect in the world of magic, including S.A.M. national contest
awards and the coveted FISM Grand Prix World Champion of
Magic (China 2009), he has also truly been the inspiration, the
lifeblood, and an outspoken ambassador for Assembly 95. Rod
Chow
ASSEMBLY NEWS
Go to:
www.mum-magazine.com
Assembly News
Any Card at Any Number,
which required very little
sleight of hand and which
truly allowed the spectator
to call out any card at any
location in the deck.
The Teach a Trick
segment was followed
by the strolling magic
portion of the evening,
during which four performers rotated between
Chuck Gekas and Keith Cobb with
the four corners of the
RIng on scarf
room where club members
trick and a gag bag that changed were stationed. In one corner,
colors and designs as he pulled Eric Johnson blew everyone
items out of it. He even has away with a number of excellent
juggling stuff in his large case, card effects culminating with
including chain saws. Members a fabulous coin routine known
were thrilled with his lecture, as Troy Hoosiers Charming
and enjoyed being able to try Chinese Challenge, utilizing
some of his equipment for them- a handling by Lance Pierce.
selves. Nathan and Frankini In another corner, Jeff Carson
Glab had to try the large ring on demonstrated how such simple
rope while Bob Syrup and Tim effects as the Hindu Beads and
Casady looked on, and juggler Twisted Sister could be turned
Mary Ziemba wrote out the list into minor miracles with the
of items Keith had available to aid of very original patter. In a
juggle, Every member in atten- third corner, Jim Straub deftly
dance took home some valuable executed a very funny sponge
information on doing kids rabbit routine that had the crowd
shows. Darlene Bull
Assembly 3 meets at Pilgrim
Congregational
Church,
460 Lake Street, Oak Park,
ILLINOIS 0n the 4th Monday
gather 7pm, meeting 7:30.
President Neil Tobin Neiltobin@
hotmail.com (708) 308-1280.
STROLLING
MAGIC NIGHT
PHILADELPHIA, PA
The
theme of our January meeting
was strolling magic, better
known as walk-around magic.
The meeting featured four
magicians performing a variety
of effects that could be done surrounded, up close, and without
the aid of a tabletop. After the
presentations, the performers
fielded numerous questions from
the audience about the ins and
outs of performing this type of
magic; this yielded some very
practical information about how
to be a successful walk-around
performer.
The evening began with two
wonderful Teach a Trick
segments. First, Bill McElvenney performed and demonstrated a marvelous rope through
silk penetration effect called
Houdinis Impossible Rope
Escape with the assistance of
Bill Brown and Fred Siegel.
Following Bill, our newest
member, Ed Cohen, wowed
everyone by demonstrating his
own very impressive version of
Magic
for 2012
The Wizards
Banquet
Assembly News
ident-elect, was up next, and
presented the W-hole card trick,
as well as a smooth handling
of the Gene Anderson torn and
restored paper. We hope Chris
enjoyed his visit as much as we
enjoyed him.
Finally, Jared Schaugaard
appeared in one of the strangest
acts. He came out wearing rock
star hair and performed some
slick manipulations with cards,
including fans, fancy multicuts, and the production of cards
from a flattened and opened card
box. He then got four volunteers
onstage to assist with a four
Ace routine, which is not your
standard stage effect.
The food was excellent, and
Donna Roth did her usual fine job
decorating the place. Congrats to
the Banquet Committee. See you
next year? Larry Brodahl
Assembly 7 usually meets on
the third Monday, at Southwest
Church of Christ, located at
West Center Road and 125th
St.- right across from Hooters.
Jerry Golmanavich golubki@
cox.net
(401)
390-9834
www.omahamagicalsociety.com
James G. Buffaloe
11
December
Meeting
13
17
All
Decked Out
Assembly News
over the four coins as each mysteriously disappeared and reappeared under a playing card.
P.J. Pinsonnault placed four
silver dollars in a spectators
hand and reduced them down
one by one to a lone coin that
then changed into a worthless
washer. Rick Mayer had a
person put a deck of red cards
behind his back, turn one card
over, and then spread them on
the table. There was only one
face-up card, but the color of its
back had changed to blue. Mike
Wald pulled out the old fortyfour-cent deck he had purchased
at a tag sale. He had someone
choose a card, put it back in,
and he shuffled the deck. He
then counted down to the fortyfourth card to reveal the chosen
card. Joe Bednar ended the
night with an excellent rendition
of Restless Colors. Four bluebacked cards turned green, then
red, then yellow, ending up to be
all different backs of the same
card at the end. We are looking
forward to our after-holiday
party. Karen Gibson
Dr. I.R. Caulkins Assembly
17 meets the first Friday of
every month at 7 pm at Pinsonnault
Moto-X-Equipment,
69 East Street, Ludlow, MA
www.assembly17.org
Rich
Gilbert
rgilbettmagic@
yahoo.com
(413)
247-7659.
www.assembly17.org
21
No Cards,
Please
West Hartford, CT We
had our second reading for Jon
Cap, and after he performed he
was duly accepted and welcomed
into the club. Our club VP Jim
Bentley announced his resignation and imminent move to
Phoenix, Arizona. Dave Garrity
announced that he will be back
doing magic at Six Flags New
England this summer.
The theme for the night was,
Please! Not another card
trick, hosted by Dave Edwards.
Our new member Jon started us
off with a manipulation routine
with a ballpoint pen and its cap.
Jim Bentley did Oil and Water,
but he used Tarot cards. Dana
Ring did a quick coin through
handkerchief. Rick St. Pierre
borrowed a dollar bill, to be
placed in one of several matchboxes. Several random eliminations later, one box remained;
it contained the bill. Rick then
wrote down some seemingly
random numbers that turned out
to match the serial number of the
22
More
than Magic
24
First Meeting
of the Year
Assembly News
Tony Gerbio produced a
silver dollar from a dollar
bill, and made it vanish
and reappear in the bill.
John Henderson demonstrated various levels
of psychic ability, using
a John Bannon effect,
wherein three people
selected cards. They then
counted off cards three
different times using a
The Amazing Karabini has trouble exfreely selected number.
tracting a sword from Roger
Their specific cards ended
Borgens neck.
on top of each of their
piles. Next John did Time
people pick cards for a predic- After Time by Swedish magician
tion. After writing his answer Tomas Bloomberg, in which a
on a board and discovering selected card found its way into
that it was wrong, he erased it, a packet of four Queens.
only to find that correct answer
Sean Burke produced candles
had appeared. Amazing! Bill from a color-changing scarf and
Karabin picked Roger to assist did some nice Flip moves with a
him with Sword Thru Neck. magic wand. Sean invited some
Mark Brennen performed a card suggestions from his fellow
effect, Fastest Card Trick. Dave members and got lots of good
McClements was up next with a tips for motivated movements
skillfully handled Cards Across. and natural motions. Next, Max
Peter Beeble then took the stage Droge asked for brainstormwith an appearing dollar bill, a ing ideas for a new illusion
brass tube to silk and paper, and hes working on: the flash apsome good jokes. Chuck Tryon pearance of the magician. Max
concluded the program with his stormed a lot of brains. Chris
Key-Rect Prediction, which he Smith performed dual mindhad crafted himself. Very nice. reading with Sean Burke using
Altogether it was an enjoyable Paul Cummingss Tapalac. It
evening. Helen Patti
was an unusual effect involving
Jay Gorham, Assembly 24 meets clocking the cards to determine
2nd Tuesday at the SW Pitts which card Sean was merely
Hose Company, Latham, NY at thinking of, and to determine
7:30pm, www.sam24.org. Joe which card Sean believed Chris
Goode Joe@magicmelvin.com
had mentally selected. Last up
25
30
31
January
Winter Magic
Celebration
Assembly News
member Christina Merrill would
be the magician and he would
be the assistant. The zings that
flew back and forth between
the two, along with the multiple
miscommunications,
had
everyone laughing. Ultimately,
the missing card was discovered
under Chris!
In addition to the magic we
were entertained by a musical
version of some astounding
creative balloon artistry by Balloongenuity. Dale Benson
Assembly 31 meets the first
Monday of the month at 7:00
pm. If the first Monday conflicts
with a holiday weekend, we
postpone the meeting one week.
Unless otherwise announced,
the meeting location is the
Irvington United Methodist
Church, 30 Audubon Road
on the east side of the city.
Steve
Spence
sspence@
mediationalternative.
com
(317)
507-4534.
www.sam31.com
35
Magnificent
Magazine
Magic
Poughkeepsie, NY About
a dozen members attended our
January meeting. Members were
asked to perform any trick they
wanted to provided they found
it in the pages of a magazine.
Terry Morgan was about to
kick off the evening performing
2-4-2 until he learned I planned
to perform it as well. With all the
thousands of effects to be found
in magazines, what are the odds?
Thankfully Terry has forgotten
more magic than I will never
know, so he was able to pull
another trick out of his hat. Terry
performed a vintage M-U-M
spelling card trick. After Terry
finished, I performed 2-4-2 from
the pages of MAGIC. My performance was described as more
than adequate. I cant ask for
much more than that! Derrin
Berger performed an effect
from the pages of MAGIC with
the assistance of Mike Bochar.
We enjoyed a great effect using
a stacked deck by John Olson.
Terry Morgan performed a
wonderful Dai Vernon trick
using Paul Currys swindle cut.
We got to see a great effect from
the pages of Genii thanks to Joel
Zaritsky. John Olsen performed
another tremendous trick using a
new deck of cards. We finished
up the evening with some
great discussions on magic.
Thanks to every member who
52
New Year,
New Magic
59
New
Digs!
Portland,
OR
Danny
Schreiber has had numerous
challenges in his opening weeks
as president. Our annual banquet
arrangements collapsed, and we
found ourselves in need of a new
meeting location. To top it off, he
was out of town on business in
many of the days leading up to
and including our first meeting
of the year, but he guided the
club with an expert hand, nevertheless.
The decision was made by the
board to reschedule the banquet
till later in the year. Arrangements to relocate
to Robinwood Station,
a community center
in West Linn, Oregon,
developed slowly, but
all was in order by the
night of January 25. The
final official approval
for SAM 59s use of
Robinwood was given
on January 27.
Founding SAM 59
From Left: Paul Amerson, Michael Tallon, member Duane Duvall
Joe Libby and John Dahlinger displaying
opened with a Q&A
session revealing his
their certificates of appreciation from
personal history as a
Scott Hollingsworth. Not pictured,
performer, tips on magic,
Mark Travis.
77
Oh the Tricks
That We Learned!
Assembly News
discover many of our meetings
really do make a positive difference in our shows. Gary Dudash
started things off with a twisted
(thats our Gary) presentation
of Six Card Repeat revolving
around his uncle, who had too
many beers. The black trash bag
that Gary tucked into his waist to
represent his uncles belly, made
for a clean place for the cards
to go into and a funny photo
op. Pat Darienzo performed
Topsy-Turvy Bottles with a
finish that he learned from John
Ferrentino and Joe Silkie. Bill
Gleason offered up a Locking
Coins followed by a stunner
with a Houdini theme. Joe Lebue
stunned us with Daryls Three
Fly. Our president, John Lepre,
88
AAMC January
Meeting/Clown
Magic
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, MI
The January theme for our club
meeting was Clown Magic, a
great way to start out the new
year with a funny way to do
magic! The Ann Arbor Magic
Club has its share of clowns,
actually
three
professional
clowns, Bob Waite (as Patches),
Ray Wojciechowski (who goes
by many names), and Dan Jones
(as Tippy the clown). Many of
our members do a variety of
twists with balloons and comedy
magic. Tony Big T Saputo
drew a picture of a clown on a
blank board that seems to come
alive, with its eyes moving from
side to side and then its mouth
opening and closing. George
Honer did a comedy card trick,
in which he had a card chosen,
threw the cards into a bag, and
pulled out the wrong card. He
asked, Should it be bigger?
After a couple more times and
asking again if it should be
bigger, he pulled out a jumbo
card of the selection.
95
MAGIC DINNER
LIVE 2012
Congratulations to Assembly
95s new Dean, Shawn Farquhar,
who not only received a plaque
from the assembly presented to
him by President Lon Mandrake,
but who also received a National
Presidential Citation presented to
Shawn by Rod Chow as Regional
Vice President for Canada on
behalf of Most Illustrious Vinny
Grosso. This was a historic
event, because Assembly 95 not
only inducted their very first
dean, but Shawn also became
the very first person to receive
a Presidential Citation presented
in Canada. Shawn also received
written letters of congratulations
from National Dean George
Schindler, RVP Northwestern
States Michael Roth, Assembly
95 President Lon Mandrake, and
RVP Canada Rod Chow.
The headliner for the evenings
platform show was the internationally acclaimed, awardwinning magician, Stephen
Bargatze. Stephen was absolutely hilarious as he played on
the audience members while
amazing everyone at the same
time. Stephen also came back
to do a well received lecture the
Assembly News
next day. The event organization
committee of Shawn Farquhar,
Rod Chow, Lon Mandrake, Jens
Henriksen is to be commended
for a successful function.
Rod Chow
The Carl Hemeon Assembly No.
95 meets the first Tuesday of
each month at members homes.
Rod Chow rod@rodchow.com
(604) 669-7777. www.sam95.
com
104
Empties the
drawers on
Auction Night
110
112
Holiday
Magic
115
Magic with
Money
Charlottesville,
January
Meeting
New Cumberland, PA
The January meeting was well
attended and had two visitors
who are prominent on the local
magic scene Lee Germain and
Dave Pepka. Nice to see you
fellas, come again. Plans for our
one day convention are finalized
with Saturday, May 19, 2012
as the day, The Mens Club in
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania,
the place, and $50 the cost. The
price includes two meals, lunch
and dinner, and also admission
to the eight dealers, two lectures,
an auction, plus the close-up and
evening shows. Scheduled to be
there are: Bob Little as emcee,
Ben Salinas, Francis Menotti,
and Kyle and Kelly Peron. Res-
VA
Assembly News
tentially good timeframe for the
event.
Every member participated in
performing magic this month.
The theme of the month was
Magic with Money. Below
is a brief recap of the terrific
diversity of effects shared. Mark
Trimpe performed a method
of introducing coins using two
playing cards, a series of coin
flourishes, and a transformation of a coin into a key. Wes
performed a coin vanish, a
Karate Coin routine, coin behind
ear with a kicker ending of a
transformation to a Jumbo coin,
and Hopping Halves. Dan H.
performed Simplex Three Fly,
Four Coins Across, and engaged
the group with a demonstration
and discussion of the Muscle
Pass.
George performed a Two
Dollar Routine involving the
transformation of a two-dollar
bill into two one-dollar bills, and
a card routine known as Knock
Em Dead. Dan R. performed an
original Four Coin Production
followed by a demonstration of
how this move can also be used
with great effect in ball magic.
David performed Hypno-Bill,
a visual transformation of a
bill from one denomination to
another. Mark D. performed
the Tonight Show Matrix by
Dean Dill and Color Changing
Deck The official meeting was
adjourned, but the gathering
continued
until
close
to
midnight. It was another great
evening of magic!
Assembly 115 meets at the
Pavillion Building in Forest
Lakes subdivision the first Friday
of the month David Clauss
visionenhancement@comcast.
net (434) 979-1698.
120
A Variety
of Magic
129
Catch
Up
A huge year
ahead!
136
138
January 2012
meeting
Assembly News
and program chair got us up to
speed on our task of creating an
act for our October installation
banquet. She reviewed what we
had previously defined, and introduced Larry Heil to help us
with defining the motivation for
the act. Larry gave us insights
on motivation and how it helps
define not only what we do, but
how we do it. With Larrys help,
we determined the motivation
for this particular act should be
to entertain but as a successful
failure.
Mathew Martin performed for
us from his professional repertoire. He did a routine that
combined the sympathetic silks
with a borrowed bill in orange.
He passed the magic totem to
Libby Sharpe who will perform
for us next month.
Our newest member, Pamela
Jenkins, did her qualification
act. In her act, she gracefully
reminded us that a supportive
spouse of a magician is one of
the most important assets the
magician can have.
Lance Pierce provided a
wonderful lecture covering a
variety of close-up and parlor
routines. His strength in thinking
through the subtleties in each
routine makes his material very
impressive. I feel sorry for those
who missed this special lecture.
Assembly 138 meets as the Fort
Worth Magicians Club on the
first Thursday of each month at
7:00 p.m. at the Tarrant County
College Trinity River Campus
in downtown Fort Worth. See
www.fortworthmagiciansclub.
org for more information.
Jeff Hallberg
Assembly 138 meets as the
Fort Worth Magicians Club
on the first Thursday of each
month at 7:00 P.M. at the
Tarrant County College Trinity
River Campus in downtown
Fort Worth. Jeff Hallberg
fo r t wo r t h m a g i c i a n s c l u b @
hotmail.com (817) 479-3186
www.fortworthmagiciansclub.
org.
150
DUES NEWS
CHOOSE!
New Year,
Much Magic
Past Officers
Present
157
170
Colorado Springs, CO
Present President Jamie Doyle
was the emcee and showed us
the second half of his half off
magic showand the scarf has
vanished!
Frank Klein led off with his
sophisticated tribute to John
Ramseys Cork and Coin routine.
Frank followed this with the
Empanada, in which a thoughtof card was slowly surrounded
by two Jokers that mysteriously
worked their way in from either
side of the deck.
Jamie Doyle returned
and the predicted card was
also the King of Spades! He
then performed a signed coin
to box nest. Dave Wintermute
magically illustrated the Jonah
and Whale bible story. Jamie
and here is the signed card
introduced Dick Bowman,
who performed two routines, a
Triumph variation and a really
neat Seeing Spots paddle
routine. Spots appeared, jumped,
and moved between two paddles
in a spotlessly clean routine.
Jamie and the corner
exactly fits the torn card asked
if others had anything they
wished to share and Larry Scott
(fearless and resourceful man
that he is) said yes.
Larry demonstrated a variation
on the Professors Nightmare
that I had never seen before. He
showed the three ropes cleanly,
palms to the audience, stretched
from hand to hand; a volunteer
could have easily traced the
length of each with a finger. He
then tightened his grip and vertically stretched the ropes up to
equal length. To further show
they were equal lengths, he tied
them together so they made one
long rope tied in three equal
sections. He wound up the rope
and applied his magic. He then
unwound the rope to show the
long rope was now tied together
by a long, medium, and short
rope. After untying these three
different length ropes, we could
examine them. So smooth, clean,
original, and very deceptive I
wish I could do that.
Come join SAM Assembly
170 - the Pikes Peak Prestidigitators. We meet 4th Tuesday
monthly at Sand Creek Police
Assembly News
Dept Community Room - 4125
Center. Park Dr., Colorado
Springs, CO 80916.
172
Annual
Christmas
Party
174
New England
VP Performs
and Lectures at 174
181
Paying the
Rent and
January Meeting
Three
magicians from Assembly 181
paid the rent by performing
a just-before-Christmas magic
show for the tiny tots daycare at
the church where we meet. Weve
done this Christmas show for
Hightstown,
NJ
188
New Assembly
President
Assembly News
next time. Dave also
showed us several
routines with Creative
Magic
Alphabet
Cards shades of
the ol 21 Card Trick.
Al Lampkin further
perpetuated his reputation as a klutz by
clumsily handling a
beautiful Mental Epic
built by Mark Evans.
Im glad Mark wasnt
there to see this.
Assembly celebrates Imed. Past Pres.
Immediate
past
Kerry Summers birthday
president
Kerry
show, our website, and other
Summers was off on
events Brian hoped to implement one of his supposed cruises,
during 2012. Following Obamas so we celebrated his birthday
promise, Brian assured us there absentia with a song and a
would be change. He then asked carrot cake with HB KS on it.
for introductions around the Delicious.
room as there were many new Assembly 188 meets every
faces along with their old bodies. second Thursday, except July,
The theme for the evening was at 7:00pm at The Courtyard at
mentalism, so Brian kicked off Jamestown, 3352 North 100
the evening by thinking a East, Provo, Utah. Guests are
joke and we all thought about welcome, contact Brian Daniel
laughing. Mont Dutson, the con- South at brian@teachbymagic.
summate professional that he is, com (801) 916-2442 for more
began with mental gags leading details. www.utahmagicclub.org
up to accurate predictions with
show cards, numbers, tarot
January
cards, and coins. All proved
2012Meeting
accurate. Curtis Hickman gave
a very clever introduction to Brevard County, FL Our
his mental routine involving a first meeting post holidays was
key, a coin, and a playing card. a back to basics success. After
We were all impressed with the club president Greg Phillips
demeanor he developed for the closed our short business
routine.
meeting, it was right to the
Ben Jones took a quantum magic! Greg has done a good job
leap in his presentations, ac- in keeping interest and interaccurately predicting what Brian tion at a high level. This meeting
would choose from the menu was no exception.
Ben presented. It made us all
Greg talked Back to Basics
hungry. Steve Dawson, as is and then performed his version
usual, showed us a very unusual of the Professors Nightmare.
prop and a clever routine with Greg explained that none other
chopstick-like
things
with than Gene Gordon taught it to
numbers on them in a box. Steve him as a boy. (Greg grew up just
predicted the outcome.
outside of Buffalo.) A small disKim Walkowski, who Jan cussion ensued of the Carver/
Goodsell credited with getting Gordon argument.
the assembly started, did a
After that, he passed the ropes
clever routine titled Grin and on to other members of the club
Bear It. We understood where to perform on the spot. Mike
the bear came from when Kim Futch did his routine, talking
presented Chris Dutson with a about being a spaghetti maker
small stuffed bear. Darn, she making medium spaghetti.
missed out on the $500,000. Ron Cory Allen did a Drunk
Carrasco gave us much of his Testroutine that he performed
subtle humor as he presented a in clubs and bars; Club VP Dr.
lie detector routine involving David Sanders reached back a
several members of the audience. couple years and then showed
Whats said in Orem stays in his backwardsversion of the
Orem. No need to lie.
Professors Nightmare. Each perDave
Magical
Johnson formance was a little different in
broke out his Little Black Book set-up and handling.
and fixed Roy Babbel up with
Then President Greg taught
an oh-so-cute chick that Dave his version, and had each
knows. Sorry Roy, better luck performer come to the front
198
200
January
Meeting
205
Las Vegas
Headliners
Come to Rochester!
Rochester, MN On January
26, 2012, the Rochester Mystic
13 enjoyed a great turnout at
our new meeting location at
the Rochester Assembly of
God church. Compeer Greg
Chalmers negotiated this incredible location, which includes a
Assembly News
huge meeting room, stage, sound
system, stage lighting, and even
a green screen for photography
and video recording. Theres
something about working on a
real stage that enhances even
the simplest effect. Add to that
professional sound and lights
and you have the foundation for
some powerful creativity.
The next evening, several
members attended the RT
Autism Awareness Foundationsannual fundraiser
Mending Minds: A Magical
Gala for Autism at the Rochester
International Event Center. The
show featured an all-star lineup
including Las Vegas headliners
Lance Burton and Mac King,
juggler Michael Goudeau, and
comedian Bob Zany from the
Bob & Tom Morning Show. In
addition to performing some of
their best known routines, all
of the artists contributed autographed memorabilia for the
events fundraising campaign.
We even spotted some Penn &
Teller and Criss Angel merchandise in the silent auction room. In
all, it was a wonderful evening of
charitable giving and entertainment for a very worthy cause.
David J. Moitzheim
The Rochester Mystic 13 meets
the last Thursday of each month
(barring holidays). Meetings
are held at Rochester Assembly
of God, 4240 NW 18 Ave,
Rochester, MN 55901.More information can be found at our
website:
www.mystic13.com.
Direct inquires to: david@
danzigthehypnotist.com
215
Brent Braun
Lecture
266
A NEW YEAR
OF MAGIC
minuses of the Out of this World one new members joined our
effect. He finished up by putting group thanks to the efforts of our
everything into practice with dynamic new President, Arnie
his spin on a no-stack version Rosen. We had a return visit from
courtesy of Eugene Burger.
Aldo and Rachel Colombini, a
Dean Bob Macey did a very popular couple who placed
two-deck routine that came to their emphasis on entertainment
us by way of Assembly 266 spiced with humor. The highlight
alumni Tom Craven, who visited of the evening was the appearwith the gang over
the holidays. Bob
presented Toms gift
of an incredible card at
any number effect that
almost works itself.
The headliner on the
bill was card maven
Ed who gave a mini
lecture on the history
of stacks, showing us
six different stacks
and discussing the adRachel, Arnold Rosen, Aldo
vantages of each. He
showed off some rare
stacked and marked decks from ance of longtime member and
his collection. Watching Ed talk former Treasurer, Sheila Rubin.
a room full of magi through Sheila has been fighting a debiliidentifying a card by the back tating disease. It was inspiring to
markings might not have been see her under these most difficult
as mystifying as the effects he circumstances. Our prayers go
explained, but it sure was en- with her. We were also honored
tertaining! As a special treat to by the presence of PNP Warren
those who stayed till the end Ed Kaps.
shared with us a website that is
As you may know, Rachel
full of resources so we could Colombini underwent serious
continue our study on stacks.
surgery this past year. We are
We have experimented with glad to report she is doing well.
mini-workshops in the past, but This is the Colombinis farewell
this is the first time we have tour of the USA and Canada.
devoted a full evening to it. They will continue to be active
Everyone rose to the challenge, with magic. As dealers, they
putting their own touches to charge only $10 for each of their
the concept of stacks, which effects. Most of their material is
really helped this program not difficult to do. Aldo previsucceed. Be sure to visit ously placed second in a FISM
Assembly 266 the next time convention with a very difficult
youre in Central Florida; you cups and balls routine. Rachel
never know what well try next! showed us a simple version
Al DAlfonso
of the same effect. Both Aldo
Jim Zachary Assembly 266 and Rachel performed effects,
meets the second Monday which included cards, ropes,
of the month at 7PM at the and mental tricks. One of Aldos
Lakeland I-HOP, I-4 & US 98. best effects was a ring off rope
Al DAlfonso keeper0499@ routine. Another outstandembarqmail.com (321) 437-3814. ing effect was called Five Card
Stunner, in which a black card
ALDO & RACHEL continually disappeared from a
COLOMBINI group of red cards. A wonderful
LECTURE evening was enjoyed by all.
Marshall Johnson
Boca Raton, FL On Assembly 274 meets at the JCC
Monday, January 2, 2012, the in Boca Raton, FL on the first
Sam Schwartz Assembly 274 Monday of each month at 7:00
had one of its most success- PM. Arnold Rosen, President
ful meetings ever! There was Arnold205@aol.com
(561)
hardly a vacant chair. Thirty- 212-2575.
274
Go to:
www.mum-magazine.com
and use the easy submission form to file your report.
MARCH 2012 - M-U-M Magazine 23
Frank J. McNaughton, Sr
1926 Apple Street,
Williamsport, PA 17701
Matt Savin
P.O. Box 7693
Alhambra, CA 91802-7533
David Ball
40 Sandy Lodge Way
Northwood, Middlesex
HA6 2AS UK
Charlie Gross
16745 Gertrude Street,
Omaha, NE 60136-3023
James J. Morrisey
24 Grove St.
Wayland, MA 01788
Helene Schad
2440 Viginia Ave.
Bensalem, PA 19020
Roger Barr
883 B Leverpool Circle,
Manchester, NJ 08759
Roy Horn
c/o Siegfried & Roy
1639 N Valley Drive,
Las Vegas, NV 89108
Anthony Murphy
11 Angel Rd.,
North Reading, MA 01864
Grant Schofield
(The Great Granzini)
9303 Quailbrook Ct.
Bakersfield, CA 93312
William H. Brewe
1698 Montrose
Cincinnati, OH 45214
Edward Kelly
224-15 64 Avenue,
Bayside, NY 11364
John Clark
603 W Country Club Rd.
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Bob King
304 Suburban Court,
Rochester, NY 14620
Cesareo Pelaez
The Cabot St. Theatre
286 Cabot St.
Beverly, MA 01918
Lawrence Clark
204 Hazelwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14215
Robert D. Knigge
PO Box 5,
Jones Borough, TN 3765
Larry Poague
34221 West 90 Circle
Desota, KS 66108
Mario Susi
6 Bristol Rd.
W. Peabody, MA 01960
Tony Corrao
100 Daly Blvd. #2804
Oceanside, NY 11572
Stanley R. Kramien
11205 SW Summerfield Dr.
Apt 161
Tigard, OR 97224-3391
Jim Relyea
241 W. Lakeshore
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Larry Taverner
805 LaPaz Ct.
Bakersfield, CA 93312
Richard Laneau
4020 55th St. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Harry Riser
8505 Woodfield Crossing
The Forum
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Jack White
4288 Arguello St.
San Diego, CA 92103
Dale Rumsmoke
430 Perrymont Ave
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Daniel Cudennec
Dany Trick
225, Stang-ar-Veildan-Traon, Mellac-29300,
Quimperle, France
Dan A. Dorsey
98 Woodvalley Dr.
Fayetteville, GA 30215
Nahmen Nissen
PO Box 1856
Colfax, CA 95713-1856
Pat Ryan
43 Fairbanks Rd.
Churchville, NY 14428
Sybill Simons
65 West 95 St. Apt 3A
New York, NY 10025
Sam Stecher
1000 Loring Ave Apt. C-23
Salem, MA 01970- 4253
Michael Woolf
Box 38046
Wellington Mail Centre
Lower Hutt 5045
Wellington, New Zealand
Show producer Marlene Clark is seeking to hire young performers for the Stars of Tomorrow
show, a professional stage show that features magicians ages seven through seventeen. The
show is part of the annual S.A.M. national convention, which will take place July 23-26, 2012,
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Applicants should submit: an application; a video, DVD or YouTube link of the fiveto-ten-minute stage act that they would like to perform in the show; a biography; and
a photo for the convention program. Young magicians interested in emceeing the show
also should include samples of introductions, jokes, and emcee bits in their videos. The
deadline for receiving applications is April 20, 2012. Each performer will receive a cash
payment, two free convention registrations (one for the performer, the other for a parent or
guardian), plus one year membership in the Society of Young Magicians. Information and
applications are available from Marlene Clark (203-689-5730 or afuntime@comcast.net) or at
www.magicsym.com (click on the Stars of Tomorrow graphic. For full details on the
convention please see www.magicsam.com.
24 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
NEW APPLICATIONS
REINSTATEMENTS
Akamatsu, Yoichi [Osaka 590-0007, JAPAN]
Alexander, Scott [Parkesburg, PA]
Anthonisen, Keith [Austin, MN]
Arkin, Charles [Cincinnati, OH]
Babcock, Derek [Troy, IL]
Barth, Dan H [Congerville, IL]
Barwick Jr, William Allen [Rockville, MD]
Boyd, David [New York, NY]
Brizendine, Bob [Palm Shores, FL]
Brock, Hutson [Zachary, LA]
Caceres Velez, Juan Carlos [Toa Alta, PR]
Castro, Dennis I [Sugar Land, TX]
Compton Jr, Dave [Trenton, NJ]
Corrier, Shon [Houston, TX]
Dicharry, Ryan [Saint Gabriel, LA]
Dilley, Daniel [West Lafayette, IN]
Doyle, Jamieson M [Colorado Springs, CO]
Droge, Steven Max [Warwick, NY]
Eastwood, Charles B [Bedford, NH]
Flint, Sandy [Sealy, TX]
Haddad, Peter W [Willimantic, CT]
Hammons, Paul K [Whittier, CA]
Harmon, Wayne E [Hudson, NH]
Hartman, Craig [South Jordan, UT]
Hirthler, Steve [Colorado Springs, CO]
Howell, Michael [Cortaro, AZ]
Hubble, Patrick [Lynchburg, VA]
Ingleby, Robert Lynn [West Valley, UT]
Javier, Ricardo [Dallas, TX]
Johnson, Kent [Riverside, IL]
Kerr Dmd, Brian C [Scranton, PA]
Kikuchi, Takatomo [Kawaguchishi, JAPAN]
Levinson, Doron [Holon, ISRAEL]
Mangham, James [Snellville, GA]
Martinez, Christopher [Tucson, AZ]
Mclaughlin, John [Gloucester, MA]
Moss, Lorne [Briggs Corner, NB CANADA]
Perry, James [Marlboro, NY]
Pforr, Beatrice [Brookline, MA]
Portala, Eli [Toledo, OH]
Saienni, Joe [Pheonix, AZ]
South, Brian D [Payson, UT]
Tessier, Christopher [Shelton, CT]
Walsh, James Andrew [Marlboro, MA]
Wollet, Wolfgang [Henderson, NV]
STAGE
LEVENT
101
Deciding on a Classic
In the last column, I explained the
virtues of the so-called classics of stage
magic and why they are a great place for
magic novices to begin, if they desire to
build a working repertoire.
When I think about adding a classic
trick to my show, the first step is always
the research phase. This is the process
in which I learn everything I can about
a trick so that I can answer the following
important questions:
What is the effect? In other words, what
does the trick actually look like to the
audience?
How does the trick work (mechanically
and psychologically)?
Am I physically able to do the trick?
Can I currently obtain the props and or
make them myself?
Is the trick appropriate for the venue in
which I plan to perform?
And the most important question: can
I make the trick entertaining to the
audience?
But please be aware that gathering information from old magic books is not always
easy. The written language in use at that
time is different from today and understanding exactly what the author is trying
to convey is an acquired skill, one that can
be very challenging. Furthermore, some
of the old books do not follow the typical
convention of describing the Effect
followed by the Required Props and then
the Method or Presentation. Many of
the old books barely explain the effect.
For example in The Art of Magic (1909)
by T. Nelson Downs and John Northern
Hilliard there is a series of three billiard
ball sequences that together formed the
ball routine that Downs used in vaudeville
before he perfected his famous Misers
Dream act. The effect for each of the
three ball routines is printed as follows:
Four Solid Billiard Balls Appear, One at
a Time, Between the Fingers of the Right
or the Left Hand.
Passing Four Solid Balls from
Hand to Hand
Color Change with Four Solid Balls
Unfortunately for the reader of that
book, this is all you get as an explanation
of what the effect looks like. Right after
those one-sentence descriptions there is
a very lengthy and complicated move-bymove rundown of how to perform the trick.
If you only read the text, it will be nearly
impossible to understand what the routine
looks like or whether or not it is any good.
But if you read it carefully with the props
in your hands, doing what the author says,
you will have a much better understanding
of what the trick is all about. Because I am
an amateur musician with very little talent,
this reminds me of sheet music. To me a
piece of sheet music offers very few visual
clues as to what the song will sound like.
But if I play the written notes on a piano
keyboard, I can then hear the song and
begin to understand what the composer
had created. In my way of thinking, the
magic in the old books are like songs that
can only be appreciated if they are played
and heard.
Ellipsis*
Photo 1
is done by the Leipzig move akin to the side steal. Rather than
get into a deer-in-headlights mode as you fool with the pack, I
typically take the pack from above with my free hand just as I
finish squaring them, briefly gesture with the hand into which the
cards were originally dealt, and as this hand returns it pushes out
the bottom card with the extended fingertips and takes the dealt
packet back as the hand holding the packet from above palms the
chosen card (Photo 2).
Photo 2
Photo 5
Photo 3
Photo 4
A Magician Prepares...
by Dennis Loomis
that the key you are holding is not the key that opens the lock,
drop it into the box through the slot. I hold the microphone up
to the slot as he does this so the audience can hear the sound of
the key landing inside the jar. (The jar also prevents the falling
key from damaging his watch, cell phone, and the other borrowed
items.)
As soon as the key lands, I act very surprised and say, I cant
believe you really did that! You do understand, dont you, that
if that was the key that opens the lock, you have no way to get
your valuables back? I let him answer that as best he can and
continue, Well, in for a penny, in for a pound I always say. Go
ahead and pick another key that you are sure will not open the
lock. Good. You know where it goes, dont you? When he drops
it in, you move right along, picking up the pace; he picks keys and
drops them into the slot without wasting time.
You stop when there is just one key left in the bowl. I ask, Do
you have any idea what the odds are that this key will open the
lock? He seldom has any idea and I tell him the truth: the odds
are just over fourteen percent. Then I ask, Why is it that you
believe that you have psychic powers? Usually, he cant answer
that. I try to look incredulous as I ask, If you have no good reason
to believe you have psychic powers, why did you drop all of the
other keys into the slot? Surely it cant be just because I told you
to! Well, it hardly matters now; its time to find out how psychic
you really are. And then, addressing the audience I say, If he
found the only key that will open the box, I think you should give
him a big round of applause. I hold out the bowl; he takes the key
and I just gesture toward the lock. As he inserts and turns the key,
I hold the microphone by the lock so the audience can hear the
5
To reset, I return the regular keys to the hooks on the front of
the box, put the glass bowl into a protective bag, put the bag inside
the box, put the special key back onto the ribbon, and put it into
the box as well. To keep the keys in place during transport, I made
a board of three-quarter-inch plywood with holes to go over the
hooks on the front of the box to protect them (Photo 5). The box
goes inside a heavy, protective, drawstring bag (Photo 6).
Copyright 2012 by Dennis Loomis
i left my
cards at
David Garrard
David is a native of Atlanta,
Georgia. His dad mystified him
with a few tricks when David was
twelve years old. I was really
wowed by this magic; even after
I had learned everything that
my dad knew, he saw that I still
wanted to know more.
Davids dad, who was a Baptist
minister, had a good friend named
Felix Snipes who was also a
minister and a very well known
magician in Christian magic circles. Upon hearing of young
Davids interest in magic, he invited him and his father to the
Georgia magic club; David was hooked. He said that growing
up in Atlanta during that time was great, since he was able
to learn from magicians like Tom Mullica, Abb Dickson, and
Duke Stern, who all lived in the Atlanta area. David learned
everything he could and was soon performing at local birthday
parties and Blue and Gold banquets.
Being a preachers kid, David started looking for ways that
he could use his newfound magic and performing skills to help
share his beliefs. He had a friend who was a humorist who
inspired him and he started to pattern his presentations in a
humorous way. The magician Andre Kole also influenced him.
I dont want to be known as a gospel or Christian magician,
although I dont mind people knowing that I am a magician
who is a Christian, David said. I just want to be the best
magician and do the best show I can. If that makes me an
interesting enough person for people to care about what else
I think, then thats great.
David attended college in Birmingham, Alabama, studying
history and philosophy; he then moved to Louisville, Kentucky,
to attend a Baptist seminary located there. Since he needed to
have some kind of student teaching position while attending
seminary, he started working with the children at his church
and found that he really enjoyed it. Upon graduation his
church asked him if he would stay on as the childrens pastor.
Since he still wanted to perform magic, he said he would if it
would be a part-time position. Everything worked out, and
thirty-five years later he is still the part-time childrens
pastor there. David chuckled when he said, part-time, since
he said, theres no such thing as a part-time minister. But
his schedule at the church does allow him to perform sixty to
seventy magic shows a year as well.
Today, David lives in Louisville with his wife Stephanie
and two children, Claire and Tyler. He also pulls duty as the
president of the Louisville Magic Club. This club is a com32 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
HOME
by
steve
mars hall
2
Make a loose fist with your left hand (which conceals one
quarter). Place one quarter on top of the fist. Repeat with
the second quarter. Allow these two quarters to fall down
into your closed fist as you place the third quarter in your
pocket. This time, actually leave the coin in your right pocket.
However, bring your hand out in exactly the same way you did
previously, with your fingers curled.
Again ask, If I have one in my pocket (indicate with the first
finger of your right hand) how many should I have in my hand?
As you deliver this last line, open the fingers of your right hand
and gesture palm up to your left. This is fun and throws off any
spectator who thinks you have a coin in that hand. Open your
left hand to show three coins. Dump them into your right
hand and then dump them onto the table.
A friend saw me do this trick and felt sorry for me. He gave me
another quarter so the trick could actually be done with a dollar.
As you say this, reach into your pocket and finger palm one of
the half dollars as you grab the extra quarter. Bring your hand
out holding the quarter between your thumb and first finger
with the half dollar finger palmed.
Place the fourth quarter on the table as you say, And now
my trick really is done with a dollar! In fact, thats all you need
to remember from here on. Once again, Im going to place two
quarters in my left hand. Do so, but as you toss the second
quarter also toss the half dollar. And I will put two quarters in
my pocket. Leave the quarters in your pocket but bring out
the second half dollar finger palmed.
If I have two quarters in my pocket, how many should I have
in my left hand? Thats right, two, but all you need to remember
now is that this trick is done with a dollar! Open your left hand
to reveal two quarters and one half dollar. As you explain
that the coins total a dollar, use the index finger of your right
hand (with the second half dollar still finger palmed) to move
the coins around so that the quarters arrive in finger palm
position at the base of your middle fingers (Photo 3).
3
Apparently dump the coins from your left hand into your
right hand, but retain the quarters in left-hand finger palm.
As the half dollar in your left hand joins the half dollar in your
right, keep your right hand closed and shake your fist gently
so the coins rattle around. Ask again, What is this trick done
with? Open your right hand to reveal the two halves as you
say, Thats right, a dollar!
Take one of the halves with the thumb and first finger of
your left hand and the other in your right. Display them momentarily, and then place them on the table. Keep your hands
relaxed (the left one still holds two quarters).
For the next part of the trick, I need a magic wand. Reach into
your left pocket first (as if searching) and ditch the quarters.
Almost at the same time, reach into your right pocket, finger
palm or classic palm the dollar, and bring out the wand.
Place the wand on the table and pick up one of the halves
with your right hand. Toss the half dollar into your left hand,
but as you do, execute the Bobo switch, retaining the half and
tossing the dollar into your left hand, which immediately closes
around it. (Be careful that the coins dont hit each other and
talk as you do this.) Classic
palm the first half as you pick
up the second half, holding
it at the tips of your fingers.
Pretend to place this half into
4
the left hand as well, but as
you do, let the classic palmed
half fall down on top of it in
a variation of the click pass.
At this point, both halves will
be on the fingertips of your
right hand; the dollar will be
in your left (Photo 4). Curl
your right second, third, and
fourth fingers inward, hiding
the halves as you pick up the wand with your thumb and first
finger. Wave it over the left hand and then put the wand away,
leaving it and the halves in your pocket.
Ask again what the trick is done with. When the spectator
says, A dollar, you agree. Then open your left hand to reveal
the silver dollar and let it fall to the table.
Steves Stuff
Although it takes a while to read through all the moves,
this trick goes pretty fast. Its a fun routine that will get the
spectators involved and, move-wise, it should be within the
grasp of many reading this. Have fun with this one!
by Ken Klosterman
Android Alakazam
A week doesnt go by without someone writing to me asking
for some Android magic apps recommendations. The available
apps were so bad that they werent worth wasting the page space.
Also, because there are different flavors of Android phones
(unlike the iPhone), the apps sometimes crashed. I decided to
focus my attention on finding at least a few apps worthy to be
showcased here. This was one of the hardest columns Ive ever
written. After ten days of diligent searching heres what I found.
a magic app.
The magician shows photos of
Houdini and recounts information about
his life and career. He asks the spectator
to look into Houdinis eyes and think of
a card. When the spectator says what his
card was, the magician shows a photo of
Houdinis family; Houdinis brother is
holding the exact, named card in his hand
in a photo taken one hundred years ago.
The routine is wonderful and the
photos and bio add to the presentation. Houdinis Last Magic
Trick is available in the Android Market for $5.
A Wi-Free Presentation
Simon and Ginny Aronson are two of the smartest, nicest people I know. Through his five books (Bound to
Please, The Aronson Approach, Simply Simon, Try the Impossible, and Sessions, co-authored with David Solomon), his
marketed effects, and his three-DVD set Sessions with Simon: The Impossible Magic of Simon Aronson (L&L Publishing),
Simon has established an enviable reputation as one of magics most thoughtful and thorough creators. Many of
his effects, such as Shuffle-bored, Red See Passover, Side-swiped, and Prior Commitment, are in the repertoire
of magicians worldwide. He is a pioneer in memorized deck magic, and his Aronson stack is one of the two most
popular stacks in use. You can download his free, fifty-three-page introduction, Memories Are Made of This, from
his website (www.simonaronson.com/memorizedhome.htm). He accomplished all this while pursuing a full-time,
twenty-six-year career as an associate and then full-partner at the law firm of Lord, Bissell & Brook. Ginnys
thirty-five year, full-time law career at Sidley Austin LLP was even busier. She progressed from associate, to partner,
to managing partner (in 1998), and was the first woman to reach the management committee in the 132-year
history of the firm. One of her last accomplishments before retirement was supervising the development and design
of the firms new forty-story office building in Chicago.
The Aronsons share many interests, including modern art, ballroom dancing, and piano playing. But it is their collaboration in a two-person mindreading act that is particularly astonishing. Lisa and I experienced this firsthand, in
an impromptu setting, during lunch, when Simon borrowed a dollar bill and Ginny, with her back turned, divined the
digits and letters of the serial number. Their act is a forty-year work-in-progress, and it is a deep fooler. The depth of
detail that Ginny is able to describe is amazing. (You can see an eighteen-minute portion of their act on Volume One
of the above DVD set.)
I chatted with both Simon and Ginny via Skype; we talked about their backgrounds, Simons life in magic, and the
development of the two-person mindreading act. Michael Close
Michael: Lets start at the beginning.
Simon: I was born in Boston in 1943 (because both my
parents families lived in the Boston area). But my parents resided in
Chicago, so I lived in Chicago until age two-and-a-half, at which point
we moved to New York State. I lived in Forest Hills until I was about
nine, and then we moved to Rye, New York, where we lived until I left
for college.
Simon, age 12
Lewiss father. This club met once a month in the Department of Parks building. As soon as I heard about it,
I joined. Thats when I got boosted up into more professional-level magic. The other club members were dedicated and creative my peers in F.A.M.E. included Persi
Diaconis and Johnny Benzais. They were already doing
pretty advanced card magic.
After the F.A.M.E. meeting let out, I would go over to
Tannens and see every magician who was prominent
in New York. On Saturday, Tannens closed at three p.m.
and everybody went right downstairs to the 42nd Street
cafeteria, which was an early predecessor to Rubins
(where everybody hangs out today). There was a big long
table. Dai Vernon would sit at the end, people like Howie
Schwartzman and Ken Krenzel would sit near him, and
Vernon would hold court. All of us kids would sit at tables
around them, trying to listen in on the conversations. We
werent part of the group, but we tried to learn whatever
we could see.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
you let this fact sink in, and once more point to the spectators hand, still holding on to her half of the deck. And
since your chosen card is already out of play over here, its
even more difficult. Gingerly tilt up this third pile, so that
only you can see its face card, and ask, Does your card
happen to be a Six (or, whatever the value of the selection
was)? The spectator nods that this value is, indeed, correct.
She may think the trick is over, since youve now fully
identified her chosen card; she fully expects you will turn that
pile over to reveal one of the other sixes.
For the surprise climax, announce, But the real magic is
not just that you stopped exactly at the right indicator cards.
Because this indicator isnt just any Six its in fact your
very own card, the Six of Diamonds. Turn this third pile face
up, to reveal the selection on its face.
Further Comments
Memory Guide: Its actually pretty easy to remember the
alternative procedures, because they boil down to only two
simple rules:
First, if the glimpsed selection is red, lose the bottom two
cards with the pull-down and double undercut; if the selection
is black, omit this.
Second, if the selection is minor, drop the two shuffled
piles surrounding the tabled pile; if the selection is major,
put both shuffled piles on the same side of the tabled pile.
Thats it.
Setting it Up: The four-card setup is quite easy, and can
Is it Really Magic?
Frequently, a young child will ask me
if I am really doing magic. There are many
different ways that I could, or could not,
choose to answer the question. I could
say yes or no. I could respond with a
question, and ask him what he thinks. If
I ask him what he believes and he says
yes, do I then agree with him?
I consider the answer of great importance for a childrens entertainer who
performs magic. Your response could unknowingly have a profound effect on the
child. It is as important as the answer you
give when a child reaches a certain age
and asks if there is really such a person as
Santa Claus. I would guess that many of
my readers believe there is no such thing
as real magic, and as performers we all
know that there is a logical explanation for
all the tricks that we do. However, children
see the world through very different eyes,
and a young child may well believe in
magic in the same way as she believes in
her imaginary friends or believes that one
year is an eternity. What right do we have
or what do we gain by taking away the
belief a child has in magic?
INFORMED OPINION
Latest Product Reviews
Compiled and Edited by W. S. Duncan
Mentalism, platform magic, hardcore card technique, tricks with gaffed cards, a lost lecture video, and even some coin magic
come your way this month. If you are looking for something different in the close-up arena, check out Norman Becks review
of Photoshop, and dont overlook The Gathering, which uses a playing card, but is not a card trick. If you are really looking for
something different, Jim Kleefeld reviews a bill-to-impossible-location effect that will amuse you and your audiences.
Review by Payne
itself is clearly a prop: the best you can say is that it resembles
an antiquated restaurant board. Richard argues that a blackboard
has less glare than a white board and can be read more easily
in the room. I assert that a white pad of paper also has no glare
and is commonly found, whereas one would be hard pressed to
find a handheld slate even in a classroom, unless one were to go
to a Colonial reenactment. He then moves into Par-Optic Vision,
a routine using his Dynamo deck in which a spectator selects
a group of cards and drops them into his own pocket. Richard,
divining the cards, calls them out and the card the spectator pulls
out does indeed match each time. This was my favorite effect on
the first disc. His Add-a-Number routine does not require a magic
shop pad, and the subtleties regarding this routine are exceptional and worthy of note. His Combination Padlock effect, which
requires a Grismer lock, a hard-to-find and expensive commercial
item, is well routined.
Almost half of the performance is taken up with Richards
presentation of Q&A using a Dunninger box. This is not a
method that Richard routinely uses; as he tells us, he explored
this method and moved beyond it in developing his Thought Scan
device (which, while it has wings, is certainly less boxy than the
Dunninger box). Richard has a reputation for performing Q&A.
Unfortunately, this reputation is not well served here; in his explanation as much time is spent dismissing anticipated attacks
on the routine and the props as in teaching the methodology. In
fact, while it is called Q&A, it is actually closer to sealed message
reading, of the type Kreskin is known for. No questions are asked,
except for the ones used by the mentalist to pump for information.
There are no questions answered. Instead, Richard only reveals
information that was clearly written down. After already putting
too much heat on the Dunninger box by explaining the reasons
for its strange construction, he then spends a great deal of time
staring down into the box catching thoughts from the air and
writing them down before revelations actually begin. The pieces
of paper that the thoughts are written on are not even folded up;
Richard asserts in the explanation that with the slips being on
card stock there would be no reason to fold them.
This routine was an excellent lesson in how not to perform
Q&A (and why perhaps most performers should not try). Everyone
in the audience writes something down and yet only a few people
end up directly involved and rewarded the larger the audience,
the greater the discrepancy. While I appreciated Richards performance of Q&A with Thought Scan on Mind Mysteries Volume
One, I found this presentation ineffective. He closed the set with
an uncredited version of Clip Line known as Alpha Mental. Not
only are you able to predict where the newspaper strip will be
cut, but you can then go on to read the spectators mind as he
focuses on a word in the first four lines of text he is holding. This
is as strong as Clip Line can get, and is worthy of your attention.
It is easy to make up with a computer and any desktop publishing program, and is a real fooler. This version was sold a number
of years ago by Uwe Schenk and Otto Sondermeyer. Fortunately
for the fraternity, Osterlind has come to an agreement with the
creators and has put it out with both his personal handling and
updates through his website, where it can be found as Alpha
Mental Plus.
While finding the good stuff on Disc 1 was a bit of a slog,
I felt amply rewarded by the richer material found on the rest of
the set. Disc 2 includes an encore from the stage show, a clean
handling of the Linking Finger Rings, and several strong pieces
well suited for close-up and post-show performances. A triple
prediction effect with index cards from his book Mystique is
perfect for walk-around and packs light. If you have ever wanted
interested in performing.
So now, lets go to the main subject. I would classify the
majority of the techniques and effects to be magicians magic.
Morys work is very idiosyncratic. He has amazing accuracy with
moves that are what I call concealed juggling. The moves are very
knacky, but all are telegraphed by actions that betray the actual
methods. He has a Spellbound transformation in which the hand
is slapped on the coin and the coin changes. This can be repeated
endlessly. Again, I think that when viewed a couple of times, the
method is a bit obvious.
He shows several vanishes, productions, and hand washes that
all suffer from the same types of actions listed above. There are
also several Matrix routines. In one of them, Matrix Evaporation,
the coins disappear instead of assembling, and I think it is very
good. His Matrix 450 is also a very fine version of this neo-classic
effect.
The performances are shot outdoors along a desolate country
road. It seemed to be shot in an almost David Lynch-ian manner
and, indeed, Mory would not be out of place in Twin Peaks. The
explanations are shot in a studio with Mory performing some
odd shtick at the beginning of each sequence, usually involving
throwing something off screen. Everything is well shot and the
explanations are clear, but I was bothered by the fact that there are
no credits anywhere on the disc.
If you are a coin nut, youll find a few things on here that will
be of interest. If you are an average magician looking for new
material for your performance repertoire, you probably wont find
it here. Given the high price asked for this single disc, I dont
recommend it.
3 DVD
By Eric Ross
is, but in light of CNN, Facebook, and Twitter, are you branding
yourself as old-fashioned by using one? Maybe it depends on
whom you perform for. My advice is, know your audience. If you
do want to present a newspaper tear, then overall, Newsflash 2.0
is a better newspaper tear, probably the best one so far, but it will
set you back a whopping $132. For the money, Tony Clarks Sly
News Tear is a good investment for anyone who wants to update
their program with a classic trick.
spectators are invited to try to follow the Ace, but several times,
under what seem to be very fair conditions, the Ace is not where
they think it should be. Even when a paper clip is used to mark
the Ace, it is not where it was expected to be. In the last phase of
the routine, a corner of the Ace is torn and removed to mark the
money card, but once again is not where we expect.
The performance is very easy to follow and looks very
magical. The DVD includes special cards printed on Bicycle
Mandolin-backed cards. Each time you perform the effect, you
will destroy a card, but this card can be given away as a souvenir
to the spectator. This routine combines some of the best ideas
from Michael Skinners routine with some less well known ideas
from Harry Anderson. The beauty of this routine is that there are
none of the suspicious or confusing moves found in many Monte
routines.
Also included on the DVD is a bonus routine that uses the
specially printed card. Usually a bonus routine is included as an
afterthought, but in this case the effect is actually very good,
adding greatly to the value you receive with your purchase. You
will use this routine, as you will be able to perform it over and
over without damaging the special card.
Included with the DVD are enough cards for twenty
performances. Replacement cards are going to cost you fifty cents
each, but for the right situation, this should not be an issue. The
table-hopper may think twice about performing this at each table,
but the effect and routine are very strong. This is a very good
alternative to Michael Skinners version, so if you are not put off
by the cost of refills, you may want to invest your time and money
in this.
With quotes praising the routine from stars like Daniel Garcia,
Eric Jones, Jeff McBride, and Paul Harris, its hard to imagine
that people will overlook this. Its probably more likely that it will
become the standard routine, as was Michael Skinners before it.
Yep, its good enough that you might toss away your Ultimate
Three Card Monte set in favor of this collection of gaffed cards.
The routine consists of the usual bewildering series of transpositions between the money card (here a Queen) and two indifferent
cards. But then things begin to get weird, when, after admitting
that you have extra cards, you introduce a second Queen, and
then a third indifferent card until you end up with three Queens
and three indifferent cards. And then the three indifferent cards
change places with the three Queens under test conditions.
Its an over the top, not at all legit, card trick pretending
to be a gambling demo which used to bother me, but not so
much anymore. Recommended for folks who like playful and
interactive card tricks.
and a card corner into the sealed blister portion of a gum pack,
both under cover and visibly. Small pieces, such as the corner
of the bill appear in the blister along with the gum. If you use a
full folded bill, it replaces the gum piece. The trio shows several
routines for each presentation.
The flaws in the product are small, mostly ones of redundancy. Each part is taught and retaught with many repetitions of
action. The performance of Time Travel, for instance, is shown
three times with little variation. Also, the presentations were not
scripted, and could have used some film retakes or editing. Several
times the video is cut off and replaced by a black screen with
text giving you additional advice or a correction. The producers
obviously knew they had left something out. How hard would it
have been to just refilm that five-minute segment? Another thing
I found curiously lacking is any exploration of other package
products besides gum. This effect and method would surely work
with other types of packages and blister-packed products.
Your major consideration in buying this should be how
much you will want to use it. Although amazing and visual,
there are some downsides. Each performance instance finds an
object embedded in a new package. The spectator tears open the
package to retrieve the bill or card corner. What that means is that
each time you want to present the effect you have to use another
prepared packet. If you make four at home and carry them with
you (a package of gum, is fairly small, after all), you can do it four
times (possibly eight) in an evening. This may be fine for that
once-in-a-lifetime moment with friends, but not as handy for restaurant table-hoppers who do twenty-four sets a night. The prep is
easy, but will take you about fifteen minutes, so consider reserving
this for that one special moment in the evening. Another consideration is that it clearly plays better as an off-hand or impromptu
effect. If you do concise scripted sets, this may stand out as a
setup. However, if you like to have something ready to totally
amaze a small group of people at any given time, Ultra Gum is a
clever idea, a great effect, and well-worth the price of admission.
holes in the top end of the card. You then take a borrowed ring and
link it through the two holes. You can hand
the spectators the card to examine; the
ring is really linked on the card.
You finish by tearing through
the card to remove the ring and
return it. The spectator can keep
the card as well. So, whats the
catch? Well, its not real magic,
so you need a gimmick. Jamie and
Dave Forrest take you through the
preparation of the card, which at first
seems a little daunting, but it is just a
knack you will need to develop. Once you get
it, you should be able to prepare one in about five
minutes. You do need a new card every time you perform this
effect, so you will most likely not use this in every set if you do
strolling or restaurant magic.
There is a little fiddly moment when you actually link the ring
onto the card, but I think it should pass muster in front of a real
audience. As a one-trick DVD, I would consider this to be too
expensive for the effect, but wait! No, there are no Ginsu knives,
but a bonus effect that is a great color-changing deck routine. A
card is chosen from a blue-backed deck. Suddenly, the card turns
red, then the rest of the deck changes to red as well, but then the
card turns back to blue. Finally, the entire deck goes blank on the
backs and the fronts, except for the selection. Now what would
you pay for this two-trick DVD? Well, it is still an expensive
DVD, but a little closer to reasonable.
I would not expend the effort required to make each gaff to
perform this on a regular basis. I would consider using it once
in a while, though, for a special audience. The Color Changing
Deck is excellent and I will certainly use that one, so the DVD is
worthwhile on that basis. $35 is probably not a high price to pay
for a piece of magic that I will actually use, but you may feel differently. Its not for the curious. On that basis, I give it a guarded
recommendation.
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INSIDE STRAIGHT
BY NORMAN BECK
Christian Painter
Mental Breakdown
The Mentalists
Dilemma
Recently, Katalina and I performed for
a college journalism class that was learning
to write from an objective viewpoint about
what they have experienced. They were
aware that we were entertainers and had
seen our website. We performed twenty
minutes of show and then took questions
for fifteen minutes. Most of the questions
were pretty standard, but then Katalina
was hit with this one: How long have you
known that you possessed your special
abilities? There was a long pause; they
knew we were entertainers, we injected
much levity and fun in the presentation,
and we never stated that we had any psychic
powers. And yet, here we were, standing at
the edge of the mentalists dilemma.
Why is answering this question such
a dilemma? We have performed over two
thousand college shows over ten years.
We learned very quickly that if, at the
conclusion of the show, you share with
your audience that everything you did
was a trick or a deception, they will be
greatly disappointed. They feel cheated.
They wanted to believe in something more
and you took that away from them. This
all happens at an emotional level. Do not
confuse this with a rational, intellectual
exposition of psychic powers; what Im
talking about is an entertainment show. It
is an emotionally driven event.
Not everyone will believe that you have
powers. Over the years of performing, we
have come to validate that Dunninger was
correct: One third will believe no matter
what; one third will not believe no matter
what; and one third remains uncommitted. As a mentalist entertainer, I have no
agenda concerning psychic phenomena.
It is merely one premise for the show.
My wife and I are not consciously trying
to make any statement about the psychic
world.
To be clear, in our show Katalina and
I never state that we have any psychic
powers. We never claim that we have
64 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
Larry Hass
Taking the
Career Plunge
As a magic teacher and college
professor, hardly a week goes by in which
I dont receive emails from dedicated
magicians who have pressing questions
about our craft. One question that comes
up a lot is about how to make magic a
full-time career. Many people love performing magic; it is their passion and their
calling. How can they go about doing it
full time?
Since I am asked about it so frequently, this month I want to share my best
insights on the career question, insights
arrived at through personal experience,
many conversations, and considerable
reflection. My goal is to help magicians
who are wrestling with this understand
the options, so they can arrive at the best
course of action for themselves.
First, I have found that the career
question primarily comes from people
in one of two groups: those who already
have a day job (or career), and mid- to
late-teenagers who are troubled about
whether to go to college or to become
a full-time performer. I have things to
say to each group, but a first important
reminder applies to everyone: there have
been countless excellent performers and
creators who had non-magic day jobs.
Some famous historical examples are
Dr. Jacob Daley, Milt Kort, John Ramsey,
and Alex Elmsley; a few current examples
are people such as Marc DeSouza, Jack
Kent Tillar, John Bannon, and Norman
Beck. I suspect most readers will know
many other people who fit the bill. Clearly,
it is possible to have a first-rate career in
magic keeping it as an avocation, rather
than making it a full-time vocation...and
the money is better!
But lets say you have heard the sirens
song calling you to quit your job or career
and take the plunge. What then? Assuming
this is not simply bad day at the office
daydreaming, I believe there are two
different ways to make the transition.
The first one is what I call sink or
swim. That is, you just up-and-quit your
66 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
day job and then knuckle down to get performing work. I am not criticizing this
approach; I know a number of successful
full-time magicians who have done it this
way. For them, needing to pay the bills
forced them to find work and become good
enough to get more work, again and again.
Having said that, I also know several
people who have tried this and sunk; they
are not involved with magic anymore.
Yes, sink or swim is risky business
indeed. My perception is that the people
who succeed at this already have considerable performing experience and a solid
repertoire of good material. They also
have extremely modest lifestyle needs and
a special talent for improving under fire.
Perform or perish is not for everyone,
but it is for some people, and perhaps you
are one of them!
The other approach is what I call
plotting and planning. Here, one plans
to go full-time at some point in the future,
and, in the meantime, strategically works
hard to prepare for the big day. This
strategic work typically involves performing lots of shows, getting promotional materials in place, building a large
network of clients, and saving money for
the rainy days that will soon be upon you.
It may also involve many complex conversations and negotiations with your partner
or spouse who, at first, is going to think
youre nuts!
I can tell you that plotting and planning
is an excellent way to take the plunge.
I say this with confidence because it is
how I made the career transition. I used to
be a full-time college professor, teaching
a variety of subjects in philosophy, but
over a period of about ten years I slowly
and surely changed my career. I currently
work on magic about ninety percent of the
time as a performer, magic teacher, writer,
and publisher.
Yes, I said ten years. This approach
is not for the impatient among you. But
please note: I worked on magic just about
every day of those ten years to develop
the repertoire, skills, experiences, and
network of relationships that made it
possible for me to go (mostly) full time.
And this approach didnt drive a semitruck through my family life either.
Plotting and planning is a fine way to go.
On the other hand, perhaps you are a
teenager wrestling with the question of
whether or not to go to college. I keenly
appreciate the dilemma: you feel the excitement of a career in magic while college
looks like a big, fat drag, and a waste of
time. I hear you, but the correct answer is:
go to college!
You might think I say this because I am
a college professor. The truth is actually
the opposite: I am a college professor
because I understand the unsurpassed
economic and personal value of a college
education in America today.
Here are two shocking economic facts
to consider (College Pays 2010, CollegeBoard Advocacy and Policy Center):
1) Median earnings of bachelors
degree recipients are $21,900 more than
high school graduates.
2) Median earnings for men ages
25-34 with a bachelors degree are
seventy-four percent higher than for high
school graduates (seventy-nine percent for
women).
Please read the above two sentences
again; they shout volumes about the
economic imperative of being college
educated in the world today.
But the economic benefits are small
compared to the personal growth benefits:
college vastly expands the global horizons
and cultural literacy of people. It gives
them desperately needed communication
skills. Further, wise young magicians
choose courses of study that fuel their
magic careers, such as theatre, communications, business, and marketing. And
they make countless opportunities to
perform on campus and become famous
as the magician.
The bottom line is that going to an
excellent college, and working hard there,
rather magically transforms you into a
more interesting person the exact kind
of person who smart, wealthy people want
to hire. Over the years I have spent time
with a significant number of magicians
who opted out of college. While there are
a few exceptions (those who created selfeducation programs), the vast majority
of them regret it. Go to college and build
your magic career at the same time. It is
not an either/or.
I wish you the very best as you wrestle
with all the complex factors involved in
considering the plunge. In matters such
as this, where your quality of life and
happiness are squarely on the line, it is
imperative to listen to both your heart and
your head. Good luck!
Aldo Colombini
Anytime, Anyplace
Any Deck
In the Outback
This uses the Bluff Jog Force. The inspiration for the move came from John T.
Sheetss Betcha in his one-man parade in
the May 2003 Linking Ring.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 4
Photo 3
then move your right hand straight back,
leaving the bottom card out-jogged from
the deck (Photo 3). Properly timed, this
looks exactly as if you were pushing the
top card of the left-hand portion forward.
Drop the right-hand cards on top, leaving
the Six of Diamonds out-jogged. Set these
cards aside on the table.
You are now going to do the Outback
Display used by Jack Birnman in his
routine And a Pair of Kings. Pick up the
other pile (with the Six of Clubs and Ten of
Diamonds on top) and hold it face down in
left-hand dealing position.
Do a double turnover to show the Ten
of Diamonds. Leave the double face up
on top of the pile. Grip the packet from
above in the right hand. Your right forefinger swing cuts the top half of that pile
into the left hand. The right-hand cards are
brought over the left-hand cards and the
middle finger of the right hand is placed
onto the face-up Ten of Diamonds. Square
the right-hand cards with the left-hand
packet, but in so doing the middle finger of
the right hand pushes the Ten of Diamonds
forward, forcing it to be out-jogged
(Photo 4).
The Six of Clubs remains face up
between the two packets. The left forefinger pushes all the cards below the Ten of
Diamonds backwards (toward you) so that
the Six of Clubs appears on the protruding portion of the packet (Photo 5). This is
the Outback Display; the whole sequence
is a continuous move that only takes a few
seconds.
Photo 5
George Schindler
Birthday in Austin
Rod Danilewicz
Watching Others
If you are serious about becoming
a better performer, there is educational
value in watching others perform, but only
if there is no magic in their presentation.
We always get distracted by the magic. I
collect videos of older performers Jack
Benny, Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, and the like.
Find these if you can. Have a pen and pad
handy as you watch them with the volume
off on your TV. Our purpose is not to
enjoy, but to observe, take notes, and learn.
Watch how Bob Hope and Jack Benny
made an entrance body erect, head
up, long confident strides. Their body
language says they are in command. As
they approach center stage they will look
at and acknowledge the audience. Once
at center stage they pause and their gaze
sweeps the audience. Without saying a
word they convey the message: I am here
because of you, and I want you to know I
appreciate that. The pause also gives the
audience time to focus their attention.
Hope and Benny were two of the biggest
stars of their day, but without an audience
they would have been nobody. If youre
happy practicing card fans in front of the
mirror or doing a half-baked spongeballto-square presentation at the club meeting,
you need read no further. You dont need
an audience, because its all about you.
The audience does not need to be bored by
another lackluster demonstration of tricks
incoherently strung together. Your fellow
magicians dont need you out there giving
magic a bad name. Are you catching on?
I feel the entrance sets the tone for the
entire show. For us part-timers there will
be variables we have to control. We will
not often have the luxury of being introduced by a professional emcee. Write an
introduction the Kiwanis Club president
can read. This is his time in the spotlight
as well. Expect him to add his own spin
70 M-U-M Magazine - MARCH 2012
To be a magician
you need only to learn
a few tricks. To be
an entertainer, you
have to acquire some
verbal tap dancing
skills. Your effects
and methods will
rarely change, but
each audience will be
different.
is stunning. Would you consider joining
me on stage so the rest of the audience
has an opportunity to admire it? Even
if she refuses, you have shown that you
care enough about your audience that you
notice individuals.
To be a magician you need only to learn
a few tricks. To be an entertainer, you
have to acquire some verbal tap dancing
skills. Your effects and methods will
rarely change, but each audience will be
different. Everything you do should have
a presentation for seven different types of
audiences: childrens shows (of course),
savvy teenagers (a special challenge), baby
boomers (who were brought up believing
its all about them), the boisterous crowd
where alcohol is served, an audience of
all older people, genteel groups, and the
audience that is made up of all of the above.
The body language and words you
choose for each audience are more
important than your selection of what
tricks to perform. Next month I put
my hand up your shirt and you get to
speak.
Email me at Polishwiserd@sbcglobal.net.