Plug and Play

I received an email from someone who saw me perform at Christmas as the Park last week, and he asked if I was available to perform for his child's birthday party. (The kid was turning 1). After politely declining, and explaining that I perform at fairs and festivals, the kind sir wrote me a list of profanities. Which is just, rude.

Non magicians don't understand that not all magicians can be plugged into an event and have it be a success. As mentioned in previous posts, you wouldn't hire David Blaine for your corporate function, you also would not hire Criss Angel to perform for your children.

A fellow magician named Lou Serrano made a funny animated video. This hopefully explains the difference and the frustrations such inquiries cause.



Have a great weekend, I have some exciting stuff in the hopper, will post when it's confirmed.

Supporting Others in Your Field

One of the downsides to being a magician is seeing magic. If David Copperfield or David Blaine or Penn and Teller are on tv, rarely do the tricks amaze me. Now before you comment, let me mention this is not meant as a snobby, "Oooh I know how they do that so there." It's more of a sad note that I wish I didn't know the principles and could enjoy them to the same degree that non magicians do.

However, I still go see any magic show that is in town. This weekend was such an occurrence. It's not the tricks themselves that I enjoy (though sometimes I do). More often it's the presentation. The stories told and the transitions used to move the show along are phenomenal.

No matter what field you're in, or your passion, whether it be soccer, web design, infrastructure development (hey it's possible that it's interesting...) if the opportunity to grow and a member of your field is in your neck of the woods, take some time to encourage them. You may not be amazed or blown away, but you can enjoy the way it is presented.

Words are hard

I'm back to the drawing board. Anyone who has seen my show knows that I try to have humor throughout. What you may not have known is that every show is scripted (my last few shows I would have been surprised by that as well.).

Even the best magicians, and entertainers (jugglers, actors, mimes..k, not mimes) rely on a script. Some are really basic with nothing more than walk out...juggle clubs...walk away.

Some are so precise it's intense. The great thing about that is when it becomes second nature I am free to adlib (even my ad libs are scripted). So what?

The reason many people view magic as boring, kid stuff and cliche is that many do the SAME TRICKS, with the SAME ENTHUSIASM, with the SAME kind of MUSIC, with the same old hackneyed jokes.

But since I'm awkward, an English major, and can make people laugh, I'm able to combine those into my own style.

Here's a video of what I mean.




K Bye!

Busy time

We're getting into the busy time of the year. Sorry for being all slack dackery on here.

I've done a few shows for Eusugi Farms, and tried some material that I had ditched a few years ago. After trying to bring it back, I was reminded of why it was dropped. One routine left me in handcuffs the entire show. The audience thought it was a joke, I wish it was. Never again..YIKES

Candyman had it's first performance! The routine involves making a lot of candy appear. It's a work in progress, but it finally has some legs and is getting seen.

A couple of community centers have been offering magic classes and I've been hired as the instructor. We had our first public show last week. It went quite well.

Marketing has always been a struggle for me, but some momentum and lead generation has been started for spring.

Finally I've been selected to perform at Christmas in the Park, and a few other events in San Jose all based on seeing me at the pumpkin patch. It's going to be a good year.

Retiring a Favorite

I've done quite a few shows in the past month, and I realized that 1) one of my favorite closing effects, the Sword thru Neck is just not getting the same appreciation it once was.

Combined with 2)People who WANT to see my show more than once, are looking for something new. It's hard to come up with good, solid, funny material. However, I am taking a cue from Walt Disney, who (paraphrased here) specified that the Disney Parks will never be completed and always in a state of flux, with new shows, rides, updates, or events.

I've seen some entertainers who NEVER change their set. Once you have a solid set of material, it's great to work it. However, once an audience sees it once, they are looking for something new. If the performer doesn't provide, their fanbase dwindles.

So, in the next few shows in Oct, Nov, and Dec I will be bringing some new effects in, while sadly, phasing out one of my favorites. If you have not had a chance to see it live, here is a quick video of it here...




Lesson:Keep yourself on your toes, and give repeat audiences something new.

K, bye

Is it worth it?

Sometimes as I sit, working on a new routine, or idea for a trick it gets frustrating at some point of the process. It's easy to forgo and idea and just settle for something a little easier.

There is a card routine I have been working on for the past month or so. I was asked to do something for a client, and the trick did not go so well. I'm not sure if it was because it was the first real person to see it, or if it was not yet ready.

Learning from what I deemed to be the mistake, I did the same trick last night with a couple of friends and it killed. Once you have something ready, don't wait for it to be "perfect", the feedback you get will help you learn what works and what doesn't.

This applies to performance artists, comedians, and tactile artists as well.

Lesson: If you have an idea for something. Become proficient, but if you wait for it to be PERFECT, you will be waiting to show it someone. Waiting...waiting....waiting...

Interactive Magic

After magic is on tv, some people ask me if I can do such and such a trick. I'm somewhat insulted. If you hear a symphony you wouldn't ask your piano teacher to play to the same scale.

I'm also happy as I am one of the go to sources of magic. As such, David Blaine has been making the interactive magic popular as of late, and that I can do.

That being said.....

Think of any number....go ahead, I'll wait.

Now add 1 to that number.

Now subtract 1 from that number.

You are now thinking of your original number.


No lesson today, just a trick you can try on your friends.

How'd you do that?

Ok,

So part of the fun of magic is not knowing the secret. I touched on this a little bit in the last blog, but there is no such thing as magic, and magicians are just people who know a few tricks.

That being said, the reason magicians are so hush hush is a couple fold.

1) It's boring. If you know how something is really done, it's either really technical (hold a break second from the top then do a double undercut), or you may think less of us for the work we put into something to make it look impromptu.

We do put a lot of work into making it look smooth and amazing you. Sometimes there are lots of arts and crafts involved for 30 seconds of amazement. Trust me though, it's worth it!

2) Showing you a trick and then telling you how it's done robs you. As much as you might want to know, trust us, it's not as fun. Ignore the man behind the curtain. However, it should be "that's not possible" not, "How did you do it?"

Any magician who presents it as a puzzle for you to figure out, or even worse, as an unintentional challenge to see if you can catch how it was done is acting in bad form.

The above is just a preface to the point of my post. That is exposure for exposure's sake, and exposing stuff that is not yours.

The masked magician was offered a lot of cash to tell how certain tricks were done. Magicians got upset, and the public at large wanted to see what all the upset was about. Magicians gave the show ratings. By decrying it. Simply stupid.

The tricks exposed could have been found in many books in the library, and some used VERY outdated props, and were effects you don't even see anymore. That having been said, Mr. Mask said he wanted to show audiences that it is the performance, not the tricks that make a good show.

If that's true, then a) give back the money and b) why not teach effects not just expose them?

I teach magic with every objects at various community centers. Teach...not expose. All of the students are taught in step by step directions how to do magic for their friends, and they are given the resources and know how to do so.

Lesson: Teaching magic to someone is ok as you are granting them a new skill set. TEACHING is good. Exposure just for exposure's sake is WRONG.

Jugglers, and Mimes, And Magicians, Oh MY!

In the last blog, I mentioned that magic as an art is linked to mimes and juggling as an art. I'd like to extrapolate it a bit.

While juggling requires skill, the professional jugglers (as seen in higher end events, trade shows etc) are out of the public's eye. When you think jugglers you may think county fair, or passing the hat at something like a street market. And there are varying degrees, of which I always seem to catch some of the, well...they could use some practice.

Mimes? Well....enough said.

As for magic, a search on youtube brings up many tweens and teens "performing" and they either accidentally expose the effect.

So, juggling at the county fair, with names that are just horrible (reddian fit), and 14 years olds who learn a trick and 5 minutes later have a video of it on you tube.

I can see how they are linked in the public's mind. I hope a few big hitters keep the art alive.

Lesson: Your passion for anything is fantastic, but before you show it to anyone outside of immediate family, make sure you are 1) entertaining and 2) technically proficient.

Someone who drops juggling clubs is on par with a magician who can't shuffle.

What is that?

Often times, I see magicians on tv doing some grand illusions, or even smaller stage props, the likes I've never seen before.

"Here I have an ordinary pitcher full of milk". Wait...time out.

What makes it ordinary? Because you said so? Why would I think otherwise? But more importantly....

I don't see milk pitchers a lot of places any more. Some restaurants will provide a pitcher of water, and some places also serve beer in smaller pitchers, but I have never, EVER been to, let's say, a Denny's, ordered some milk, which was brought out in a pitcher. EVER! And if, in some weird world, my hypothetical milk was brought out in a pitcher, it sure would not strike me as ordinary.

Which brings me to my point. Magic, as an art is likened to jugglers (big movements, but run of the mill), or even worse, mimes. There is nothing wrong with either one of those, but they are far from culture, or high brow art.

I'll get into what I believe to be a few reasons magic isn't respected in the next few days, but magic done with weird objects (boxes with oriental symbols, large silver balls and scarves, etc) which are then put away is not very impressive.

While I believe magic should be done with common place objects, or at least a rational explanation of any given prop, too much is done with weird props no one has ever seen, and then put away. Ummm....wow?

Why was David Blaine successful? He did magic with everyday objects, and showed everyday people, in common, everyday environments. Vanishing quarter under your nose, goes a LOT further than a convoluted box that makes scarves appear.

Tomorrow, a look at suspension of disbelief, and really "selling it".

Lesson: Magicians showing 10 or more tricks with objects no one has seen outside of a magic shop is not impressing anyone except the self esteem of the magician.

Less is More

You've heard the phrase "Less is more". I put it into practice with my magic. When people discover that I am a magician, I am asked to show a trick. I decline. Please indulge me.

Many years ago, I had a bag of tricks (I have since graduated to a nice fancy case, but I digress) and would show my friend trick after trick after trick. If one was good, ten must be great. My friends were too polite to tell me they had seen enough, and oblivious I would do make multiple people select cards. Even if people didn't ask, I would use the worst segues to open the opportunity to perform.

Flash forward to present. Perhaps it's the pendulum swinging the other way, perhaps I don't want to be the proverbial monkey who dances on cue. Whatever the reason may be, I love performing for the public. Performing for friends is fun too, I will decline for awhile, and once I know you are ready, I'll let you pick a card.

Lesson for you: If a magician performs without you asking, or does more than a trick or two. Or even worse, comes to hang out, and you see sponge balls...RUN!

From my Side of the Top Hat

When I perform, people think they are original in asking for some of the same things. So, on behalf of myself and other magicians....

No, I can not make your wife/husband/boss/kids disappear

Every famous magician (meaning, in the public's mind) has their strengths and weaknesses. My favorite is still David Copperfield, due to his longevity and his variety of material.

If you ask to see a magic trick and a magician brings out a deck of cards, do not automatically assume you know how the trick is going to play out.

Not all magic is the same. Just as you would not hire Criss Angel for a Corporate gig, and would not hire David Blaine for a kid's birthday party, do not assume that just because you see a magician at a restaurant, they would be perfect for your cocktail party. You would also not hire Frumples the Clown for your Bar Mitzvah.

As always, have a great rest of the day, and even better evening!