Posts
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 11/19/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Gift Exchange
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
2007-12 From the Editor
One of the benefits of my itinerant job is that I am able to visit different magic locales around the country. This month I visited "Barry's Magic" store in the DC area for the first time. Barry has a large shop with an area for performances. On this occasion it was for a lecture given by Alain Chouquette, French Canadian magician from Montreal. Allain is probaly best known for his 'Glow in the Dark' Gypsy Thread routine, hich was shown on one of the "World's Greates Magic" TV programs produced by Gary Ouellet. Aso this month I will be able to attend a performance by the Comedy and Mystery Society (formerly Wednesday Wizardry) at the gaithersburg Arts Barn. So, though I will not be able to join in the Ring's festivities, I will get my fill of magic.
I would like to thank Art and Dan for posting comments in the newsletter blog. I would encourage all members to do so, if they have a (strong) opinion about any of the items. And thanks to Dennis for his usual good job in providing his Deliberations and the Ring report.
I would like to wish everyone all the best for the season and for the New year
I would like to thank Art and Dan for posting comments in the newsletter blog. I would encourage all members to do so, if they have a (strong) opinion about any of the items. And thanks to Dennis for his usual good job in providing his Deliberations and the Ring report.
I would like to wish everyone all the best for the season and for the New year
2007-12 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
President Craig Fennessy gaveled the ring board meeting to order and presented several tentative dates for upcoming lectures . Times were also presented to the board for our annual flea market in February and Banquet in March . All the current members of the board agreed to serve another year in their offices but nominations for other candidates wanting to run in the December election will be taken if presented. The board meeting adjourned and our regular business meeting began.
We had several guests, Charlie Zeus from Skylar Lake, New York. Charlie runs and promotes , The Hall of Fame for Unfamous Magicians, a place where many unknown but hard-working magicians have a place of honor. Bob Beck and his daughter, Amanda visited and are interested in magic.
Our Hospitality chairperson, Jackie Manna, explained next month's December Gift exchange. We will have a ring holiday party at the regular meeting time and everyone should bring a gift worth at least ten dollars. This annual event is a lot of fun in the way gifts are drawn and exchanged.
Phil Schwartz presented his Magic Moment #2. Phil was just back from the Magic Collector's convention in California and witnessed Johnny Gaughn's very rare presentation of the Dr. Hooker Card Trick. This is an elaborate series of card effects presented in a specially designed small theater room. The specific workings of the effects have never been revealed and well-learned professional magicians remained baffled at how everything is accomplished. Phil also said there was discussion about the mystery of who wrote the classic text about the expert's secrets at the card table.
With the formal meeting adjourned, Mark Fitzgerald volunteered to be the Master of Ceremonies for the monthly show. He opened with some fancy coin manipulations using silver dollars that jumped from hand to hand and appeared and disappeared. He introduced Josh Royo who did a trick with a spectator selected card using time travel as a theme. A card chosen a second time magically transformed in the spectators hand to be the card chosen the first time. Charlie Pfrogner did his cut and restored necktie with the loudest tie in town. At first we thought Charlie was explaining the trick and then he fooled us with a sucker ending. Young Sid McWethy had a card effect that featured being able to cause a spectator selected card appear and any randomly called for spot in the deck.
Mark Fitzgerald then took a minute to show a deck of blank playing cards that suddenly were found to all have fronts and then backs and finally ending all blank again. Mystana adapted some clever Thanksgiving patter to a Hot Rod type effect giving metaphorical meanings to the colors as they changed on the rod. Finally, Charlie Zeus gave us an explanation of his "Hall of Fame for Unfamous Magicians" in upstate New York . He then launched into the classic Six-Bill Repeat trick with a clever storyline and when he was finished the money changed denominations.
Join us every third Wednesday for our monthly ring meeting and show. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
We had several guests, Charlie Zeus from Skylar Lake, New York. Charlie runs and promotes , The Hall of Fame for Unfamous Magicians, a place where many unknown but hard-working magicians have a place of honor. Bob Beck and his daughter, Amanda visited and are interested in magic.
Our Hospitality chairperson, Jackie Manna, explained next month's December Gift exchange. We will have a ring holiday party at the regular meeting time and everyone should bring a gift worth at least ten dollars. This annual event is a lot of fun in the way gifts are drawn and exchanged.
Phil Schwartz presented his Magic Moment #2. Phil was just back from the Magic Collector's convention in California and witnessed Johnny Gaughn's very rare presentation of the Dr. Hooker Card Trick. This is an elaborate series of card effects presented in a specially designed small theater room. The specific workings of the effects have never been revealed and well-learned professional magicians remained baffled at how everything is accomplished. Phil also said there was discussion about the mystery of who wrote the classic text about the expert's secrets at the card table.
With the formal meeting adjourned, Mark Fitzgerald volunteered to be the Master of Ceremonies for the monthly show. He opened with some fancy coin manipulations using silver dollars that jumped from hand to hand and appeared and disappeared. He introduced Josh Royo who did a trick with a spectator selected card using time travel as a theme. A card chosen a second time magically transformed in the spectators hand to be the card chosen the first time. Charlie Pfrogner did his cut and restored necktie with the loudest tie in town. At first we thought Charlie was explaining the trick and then he fooled us with a sucker ending. Young Sid McWethy had a card effect that featured being able to cause a spectator selected card appear and any randomly called for spot in the deck.
Mark Fitzgerald then took a minute to show a deck of blank playing cards that suddenly were found to all have fronts and then backs and finally ending all blank again. Mystana adapted some clever Thanksgiving patter to a Hot Rod type effect giving metaphorical meanings to the colors as they changed on the rod. Finally, Charlie Zeus gave us an explanation of his "Hall of Fame for Unfamous Magicians" in upstate New York . He then launched into the classic Six-Bill Repeat trick with a clever storyline and when he was finished the money changed denominations.
Join us every third Wednesday for our monthly ring meeting and show. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-12 Comments about comments
Dennis sent me these comments about a comment sent by one of the subjects of his previous
"Deliberations", I hope that dennis and Blair do not mind me publishing this.
"Hey, I was happy that Blair Marshall saw my story and responded. I am also happy that he is working and using some of those great Shazzam props and costumes.
I don't believe that he actually disagreed with me...because he did get my point: The days of the Full Evening , Box office , HEAVY
Touring-Routed illusion show are over.
I am not quite sure how I should ever categorize someone who lives in Quebec. When Cindy and I were in Montreal on a trip ( beautiful and fun city in the Summer) I had to drag my French out of my memory cells to drive. Cindy did much better... ( "Nord" "Sud"....)
Since the official language is French and the nation is Canada I call them all French Canadians. Toronto , to me, would be English Canadians...
ALL of them of "Lucky Canadians" with their socialized medicine..."
"Deliberations", I hope that dennis and Blair do not mind me publishing this.
"Hey, I was happy that Blair Marshall saw my story and responded. I am also happy that he is working and using some of those great Shazzam props and costumes.
I don't believe that he actually disagreed with me...because he did get my point: The days of the Full Evening , Box office , HEAVY
Touring-Routed illusion show are over.
I am not quite sure how I should ever categorize someone who lives in Quebec. When Cindy and I were in Montreal on a trip ( beautiful and fun city in the Summer) I had to drag my French out of my memory cells to drive. Cindy did much better... ( "Nord" "Sud"....)
Since the official language is French and the nation is Canada I call them all French Canadians. Toronto , to me, would be English Canadians...
ALL of them of "Lucky Canadians" with their socialized medicine..."
2007-12 Dennis' Deliberations
"Magicians are the new rock stars."--Pamela Anderson (Live with Regis & Kelly. July 5, 2007)
For me...... going into my 60th year, I don't think so! At my age, I am one key-ring short of a full set and I am always pouring out of the wrong side of my Foo Can.
Larry Thornton is one year older than me and my Calgary Canadian magician friend. He was a big help in putting together this month's column. I guess we old crabby guys enjoy sharing our mature and jaded views of the magic world?
The magic world is schizophrenic. And I'm about to prove it.
All our lives we're told: Be original. Don't copy another person's act. If you do -- so the mantra goes -- you will always end up an inferior knock-off of the original dude. Never, never, never will you be as good! A copy is a copy is a copy, and you'll be little more than a "rip-off artist", doing the magical arts an extreme injustice. --And some finger-waggers even go so far as to suggest the public will notice you're a rip-off! -- Or if they don't (what do THEY know??) the magicians sure as heck will!
Then the "gentler: side of the argument is always this: If you must copy an other magician's act and style, try to add nuances of your own; or as the late Chris Carey used to say in his lecture and booklet, "Do the stuff that's YOU!" (You should have this book in your library regardless of his jaded history)
THAT HAVING BEEN PREACHED - - over and over in the magic magazines, at conventions, at magic clubs (clubs!? I've got to be kidding!) and in magic books and all --- we then have to wonder:
Why are there so many commercial DVDs available from thousands of magic dealers that show professional entertainer's acts, right down to every subtle gesture and word? ... A case in point is the ad on page 6 of the July issue of Magic Magazine, where Harry Anderson has been enticed into selling his EXACT ACT of his hilarious "Cufflinks Supreme". He provides the DVD of his own performance. We are told Anderson has performed it everywhere, including television's Saturday Night Live, HBO, and other network appearances. BUT NOW --- for the very first time, any two-thumbed clumsy wanna -be ... or should I say more charitably, "Tom, Dick or Harry" (especially Harry!) can legally and ethically do the routine, and -- with Anderson's blessing -- DUPLICATE it word-for-word, with even the smallest bits intact. Why, you can probably even DRESS like Harry! Where's that old hat of Dads; and his tacky old pin-striped suit...
The Hocus Pocus magic company, who put Harry up to this (needed the cash after your businesses collapsed in New Orleans, Harry?) -- will likely make a small 'killing' with this routine. And they know that magic fanatics, being what they are, for every magician who turns Harry's classic comedy handcuff act into an actual PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE (i.e. makes money with it), there will be at least ten or twenty pipe-dreamers buying the DVD and included props, and doing essentially nothing with it. But that's not the point!
The point here, in this rant, is that the magic community is fond of telling every newcomer that they must try to develop themselves into original performers instead of clones. But at the same time, they should "look the other way" when it comes to dealerships hawking every successful act they can get their hands on. What is the unsuspecting public supposed to think of all this? Okay, so they have the memory of a gnat and will never remember how it was Anderson who made the routine great...
Go on "You Tube' and you will find no less than 7 identical and exact copies of the David Copperfield version of the Head Twister illusion. "Let's twist again, like we did last summer..." every wiggle, every move, every eye glance... Even the identical Joannie Spina 50s dress! The funniest "You Tube" knock-off had an illusionist that weighed at least 300 pounds. His dancing version of The Twist was not a pretty sight.
Most magic is "Magic of the dealers, by the dealers and for the dealers"- to parody the words of Abraham Lincoln. Go to our flea market and look at the used magic on the tables. Much of this stuff was sold because it was marketed and not because it was worth anything. "People bought it because they could" - to parody the words of Bill Clinton. The typical flea market is filled with magicians and dealers "that know the price of everything and the value of nothing" - that is a direct quote from Oscar Wilde, no parody needed.
If you missed a few of those delightfully absurd superlatives in advertising flyers from the magic dealers, all of the following came out of just one recent magic supplier's newsletter :
1) "With Supercoin you can pluck coins from midair, make coins vanish into thin air and have everyone gasping for air!"
Oh joy. What about that octogenarian in the back on her tank of oxygen?! [ Wait!! I'm just warming up! ]
2) "Carry this revolutionary new coin gimmick and you'll have a concealed weapon in your pocket!"
Wouldn't that be against the law? I can see the headline: "Cris Angel exonerated, but arrested anyway for carrying a concealed weapon in his pocket. When he protested that it was just a new coin trick, he was immediately arrested and incarcerated for psychiatric therapy.
3) "With Alpha Card, the possibilities are endless!"
Unsolicited testimonial: I'm going on 60 years old, I've been doing Alpha Card since I was a kid, and I flatly REFUSE to die until I exhaust all of its endless possibilities...
4) "Fire Starter: Everyone has been asking for it. Now, Rick Haslett has created it! Fire Starter is the ultimate in utility devices. Truly, a magician’s dream!"
That's right, folks: As a bonafide magician, I can tell you I got truly SICK of everyone asking for it. But it truly IS the ultimate utility device: brushes my teeth, wipes my backside, and even shuts off my eardrums when 'George W' asks for still more cash for invading Iran and The Canary Islands. And YES-- it's a magician's dream! One performance in your sleep of "Fire Starter", and you, too, will become the Super Pyromaniac of the Night. Professor's Nightmare move over!!!)
5) "Big Bang [Exploding Light Bulb]: The ultimate demonstration of psychokinesis."
That's ULTIMATE psychokinesis, folks! If you ever should have the bizarre luck to witness Criss Angel levitating his entire staff (his disciples Banachek and Johnny Thompson are already pretty high as it is, you will love this. The exploding "bulby thingy" in the paper bag blows these and anything ELSE away as the ULTIMATE demonstration of mind over matter!
And: "You now are free to hand out the bag of broken shards ." [I kid you not, it's in the flyer!]
Wow children will love this!!! The sight of blood puts them all in stitches...
6) "Neat & Tidy: A jumbled mass of rubber bands instantly snap together to build a neat and tidy rubber band ball that can be dropped on the table or handed out to your spectators. Neat & Tidy is perfect for any rubber band routine. It creates a stunning effect out of the 'down time' moment when you introduce your rubber bands to the audience. As well as providing magic along the way [what-- on the way out the door?] , Neat & Tidy can act as both an opener or closer for your routine!
Oh great. If that's the GRAND CLIMAX CLOSER to a magician's entire show, I'd hate to have been the sorry witness to the rest of his act.
AND-- here's living proof that magic dealers dwell on a foreign planet:
"Rubber bands are familiar objects to an audience, and many of us remember making rubber band balls as kids [we do??] , so the magic has meaning to your audience."
If not meaning to their lives! Kinda brings a tear to your eye, no?? "Oh, my Lordie, Myrtle, it brought me back to my childhood where I whiled away thousands of hours of solitude playing with little rubber bands...."
AND-- "Is this suitable for a professional magician? Yes! The angles are perfect, it's an instant reset, the rubber ball is examinable, no pre-show set-up (work) is required, and it’s been tried and tested 'in the trenches'. The ball also makes a perfect chop cup load!"
1) The Golden Rule: Any trick with perfect angles is by simple fiat -- suitable for professional magicians. NOT!!
2) She: "Where are you going, dear?"
"He called me over to help him with his trick. With any luck he'll let me examine his rubber bands and his rubber balls."
3) "No pre-show work is required." That's funny--- most magicians have to spend their entire lives in "pre-show work". It's called a DAY JOB.
4) "It's been tried and tested 'in the trenches'. "
"Private, this is an order!!! Get your head DOWN, NOW ! You wanna get killed?? --And stop monkeying around with those stupid rubber bands!"
5) "The ball makes a perfect chop cup load!"
(Onlooker: "What the HECK is that??? Can't you just be like other magicians and produce those lemons and baby chicks??")
7) "Complete Course in Watch Stealing: Vol. 2 Rolex Style Watch":
Magician: "I was about to steal his watch when the guy caught me red-handed. I was drummed off the stage to gales of laughter."
Cohort: "Why??"
Magician: "Well you see, I studied vol. 2 of the complete course in watch stealing, only to discovered it was anything but complete: the dude was wearing a rotten Taiwanese counterfeit Rolex!!" What venues have men mostly wearing Rolex watches? Wall Street exclusive clubs? This is not a big market to perform in, huh?
"This DVD embodies everything about removing Rolex style wrist watches."
Including where to find a sympathetic lawyer when you're caught practicing it on the street...
8) "Miracle Shoelaces: Make your shoelaces change color!"
Walk up to someone on the street and show her your shoelaces. ... Devastating reactions every time! .... [Not again: ] Endless possibilities."
That's just what every magician should be doing these days: Walking up to complete strangers and asking them to look at their frigging shoelaces. Hank's right, many reactions to such a display of idiocy WILL be "devastating"! As for "endless possibilities", I can hardly imagine. --But Jay Sankey can!
9) "We set Matthew J. Dowden on a challenge. Learn seven world-class easy-to-do card tricks within 24 hours and then go out onto the streets of London and amaze your audiences!"
Well, if "Mathew J. Dowden" is a magician and doesn't already KNOW "seven world-class easy-to-do card tricks", then he must have spent his life in a cave. The blurb continues: " You’ll see Matthew perform seven of his fourteen fantastic card tricks that require no skill and absolutely no sleight of hand." (a) If they are HIS seven card tricks, then where does the "learn them in 24 hours" come into it? And if they indeed require NO SKILL ("and absolutely no sleight of hand" -- is redundant), why would it require 24 hours and how could they be world class?
The Newsletter summation:
"And that’s this week’s magical wonders. See, I told you it was amazing stuff this week."
Gee, thanks, Pal. And thanks also for the inadvertent entertainment.
Hey, I like the supplier mentioned above, I buy from him regularly and recommend his store. This guy and everyone else is just trying to make a buck and making a buck in magic has become increasingly harder and harder. So, keep your bucks closer to your wallet and don't believe all the advertising hype you read. No human communication is ever "fair and balanced'.
Dennis Phillips
For me...... going into my 60th year, I don't think so! At my age, I am one key-ring short of a full set and I am always pouring out of the wrong side of my Foo Can.
Larry Thornton is one year older than me and my Calgary Canadian magician friend. He was a big help in putting together this month's column. I guess we old crabby guys enjoy sharing our mature and jaded views of the magic world?
The magic world is schizophrenic. And I'm about to prove it.
All our lives we're told: Be original. Don't copy another person's act. If you do -- so the mantra goes -- you will always end up an inferior knock-off of the original dude. Never, never, never will you be as good! A copy is a copy is a copy, and you'll be little more than a "rip-off artist", doing the magical arts an extreme injustice. --And some finger-waggers even go so far as to suggest the public will notice you're a rip-off! -- Or if they don't (what do THEY know??) the magicians sure as heck will!
Then the "gentler: side of the argument is always this: If you must copy an other magician's act and style, try to add nuances of your own; or as the late Chris Carey used to say in his lecture and booklet, "Do the stuff that's YOU!" (You should have this book in your library regardless of his jaded history)
THAT HAVING BEEN PREACHED - - over and over in the magic magazines, at conventions, at magic clubs (clubs!? I've got to be kidding!) and in magic books and all --- we then have to wonder:
Why are there so many commercial DVDs available from thousands of magic dealers that show professional entertainer's acts, right down to every subtle gesture and word? ... A case in point is the ad on page 6 of the July issue of Magic Magazine, where Harry Anderson has been enticed into selling his EXACT ACT of his hilarious "Cufflinks Supreme". He provides the DVD of his own performance. We are told Anderson has performed it everywhere, including television's Saturday Night Live, HBO, and other network appearances. BUT NOW --- for the very first time, any two-thumbed clumsy wanna -be ... or should I say more charitably, "Tom, Dick or Harry" (especially Harry!) can legally and ethically do the routine, and -- with Anderson's blessing -- DUPLICATE it word-for-word, with even the smallest bits intact. Why, you can probably even DRESS like Harry! Where's that old hat of Dads; and his tacky old pin-striped suit...
The Hocus Pocus magic company, who put Harry up to this (needed the cash after your businesses collapsed in New Orleans, Harry?) -- will likely make a small 'killing' with this routine. And they know that magic fanatics, being what they are, for every magician who turns Harry's classic comedy handcuff act into an actual PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE (i.e. makes money with it), there will be at least ten or twenty pipe-dreamers buying the DVD and included props, and doing essentially nothing with it. But that's not the point!
The point here, in this rant, is that the magic community is fond of telling every newcomer that they must try to develop themselves into original performers instead of clones. But at the same time, they should "look the other way" when it comes to dealerships hawking every successful act they can get their hands on. What is the unsuspecting public supposed to think of all this? Okay, so they have the memory of a gnat and will never remember how it was Anderson who made the routine great...
Go on "You Tube' and you will find no less than 7 identical and exact copies of the David Copperfield version of the Head Twister illusion. "Let's twist again, like we did last summer..." every wiggle, every move, every eye glance... Even the identical Joannie Spina 50s dress! The funniest "You Tube" knock-off had an illusionist that weighed at least 300 pounds. His dancing version of The Twist was not a pretty sight.
Most magic is "Magic of the dealers, by the dealers and for the dealers"- to parody the words of Abraham Lincoln. Go to our flea market and look at the used magic on the tables. Much of this stuff was sold because it was marketed and not because it was worth anything. "People bought it because they could" - to parody the words of Bill Clinton. The typical flea market is filled with magicians and dealers "that know the price of everything and the value of nothing" - that is a direct quote from Oscar Wilde, no parody needed.
If you missed a few of those delightfully absurd superlatives in advertising flyers from the magic dealers, all of the following came out of just one recent magic supplier's newsletter :
1) "With Supercoin you can pluck coins from midair, make coins vanish into thin air and have everyone gasping for air!"
Oh joy. What about that octogenarian in the back on her tank of oxygen?! [ Wait!! I'm just warming up! ]
2) "Carry this revolutionary new coin gimmick and you'll have a concealed weapon in your pocket!"
Wouldn't that be against the law? I can see the headline: "Cris Angel exonerated, but arrested anyway for carrying a concealed weapon in his pocket. When he protested that it was just a new coin trick, he was immediately arrested and incarcerated for psychiatric therapy.
3) "With Alpha Card, the possibilities are endless!"
Unsolicited testimonial: I'm going on 60 years old, I've been doing Alpha Card since I was a kid, and I flatly REFUSE to die until I exhaust all of its endless possibilities...
4) "Fire Starter: Everyone has been asking for it. Now, Rick Haslett has created it! Fire Starter is the ultimate in utility devices. Truly, a magician’s dream!"
That's right, folks: As a bonafide magician, I can tell you I got truly SICK of everyone asking for it. But it truly IS the ultimate utility device: brushes my teeth, wipes my backside, and even shuts off my eardrums when 'George W' asks for still more cash for invading Iran and The Canary Islands. And YES-- it's a magician's dream! One performance in your sleep of "Fire Starter", and you, too, will become the Super Pyromaniac of the Night. Professor's Nightmare move over!!!)
5) "Big Bang [Exploding Light Bulb]: The ultimate demonstration of psychokinesis."
That's ULTIMATE psychokinesis, folks! If you ever should have the bizarre luck to witness Criss Angel levitating his entire staff (his disciples Banachek and Johnny Thompson are already pretty high as it is, you will love this. The exploding "bulby thingy" in the paper bag blows these and anything ELSE away as the ULTIMATE demonstration of mind over matter!
And: "You now are free to hand out the bag of broken shards ." [I kid you not, it's in the flyer!]
Wow children will love this!!! The sight of blood puts them all in stitches...
6) "Neat & Tidy: A jumbled mass of rubber bands instantly snap together to build a neat and tidy rubber band ball that can be dropped on the table or handed out to your spectators. Neat & Tidy is perfect for any rubber band routine. It creates a stunning effect out of the 'down time' moment when you introduce your rubber bands to the audience. As well as providing magic along the way [what-- on the way out the door?] , Neat & Tidy can act as both an opener or closer for your routine!
Oh great. If that's the GRAND CLIMAX CLOSER to a magician's entire show, I'd hate to have been the sorry witness to the rest of his act.
AND-- here's living proof that magic dealers dwell on a foreign planet:
"Rubber bands are familiar objects to an audience, and many of us remember making rubber band balls as kids [we do??] , so the magic has meaning to your audience."
If not meaning to their lives! Kinda brings a tear to your eye, no?? "Oh, my Lordie, Myrtle, it brought me back to my childhood where I whiled away thousands of hours of solitude playing with little rubber bands...."
AND-- "Is this suitable for a professional magician? Yes! The angles are perfect, it's an instant reset, the rubber ball is examinable, no pre-show set-up (work) is required, and it’s been tried and tested 'in the trenches'. The ball also makes a perfect chop cup load!"
1) The Golden Rule: Any trick with perfect angles is by simple fiat -- suitable for professional magicians. NOT!!
2) She: "Where are you going, dear?"
"He called me over to help him with his trick. With any luck he'll let me examine his rubber bands and his rubber balls."
3) "No pre-show work is required." That's funny--- most magicians have to spend their entire lives in "pre-show work". It's called a DAY JOB.
4) "It's been tried and tested 'in the trenches'. "
"Private, this is an order!!! Get your head DOWN, NOW ! You wanna get killed?? --And stop monkeying around with those stupid rubber bands!"
5) "The ball makes a perfect chop cup load!"
(Onlooker: "What the HECK is that??? Can't you just be like other magicians and produce those lemons and baby chicks??")
7) "Complete Course in Watch Stealing: Vol. 2 Rolex Style Watch":
Magician: "I was about to steal his watch when the guy caught me red-handed. I was drummed off the stage to gales of laughter."
Cohort: "Why??"
Magician: "Well you see, I studied vol. 2 of the complete course in watch stealing, only to discovered it was anything but complete: the dude was wearing a rotten Taiwanese counterfeit Rolex!!" What venues have men mostly wearing Rolex watches? Wall Street exclusive clubs? This is not a big market to perform in, huh?
"This DVD embodies everything about removing Rolex style wrist watches."
Including where to find a sympathetic lawyer when you're caught practicing it on the street...
8) "Miracle Shoelaces: Make your shoelaces change color!"
Walk up to someone on the street and show her your shoelaces. ... Devastating reactions every time! .... [Not again: ] Endless possibilities."
That's just what every magician should be doing these days: Walking up to complete strangers and asking them to look at their frigging shoelaces. Hank's right, many reactions to such a display of idiocy WILL be "devastating"! As for "endless possibilities", I can hardly imagine. --But Jay Sankey can!
9) "We set Matthew J. Dowden on a challenge. Learn seven world-class easy-to-do card tricks within 24 hours and then go out onto the streets of London and amaze your audiences!"
Well, if "Mathew J. Dowden" is a magician and doesn't already KNOW "seven world-class easy-to-do card tricks", then he must have spent his life in a cave. The blurb continues: " You’ll see Matthew perform seven of his fourteen fantastic card tricks that require no skill and absolutely no sleight of hand." (a) If they are HIS seven card tricks, then where does the "learn them in 24 hours" come into it? And if they indeed require NO SKILL ("and absolutely no sleight of hand" -- is redundant), why would it require 24 hours and how could they be world class?
The Newsletter summation:
"And that’s this week’s magical wonders. See, I told you it was amazing stuff this week."
Gee, thanks, Pal. And thanks also for the inadvertent entertainment.
Hey, I like the supplier mentioned above, I buy from him regularly and recommend his store. This guy and everyone else is just trying to make a buck and making a buck in magic has become increasingly harder and harder. So, keep your bucks closer to your wallet and don't believe all the advertising hype you read. No human communication is ever "fair and balanced'.
Dennis Phillips
Saturday, November 10, 2007
2007-11 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 11/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Holiday magic (what else?)
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 11/21/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Holiday magic (what else?)
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-11 From the editor
This goes out after the convention at Daytona Beach, but I guess that no-one from our ring attended as I did not receive any reviews. Or if some-one did attend would they please send a summary for next month's newsletter.
This month the magical art of mentalism has been spotlighted on TV, with the (in)famous Uri Geller and Criss Angel acting as judges while 10 contestants attempt to win the big bucks. I would love to hear from the members what they think of the show, again, more meat for our end of year issue.
Finally, Christmas is almost upon us, so hopefully your diaries are filling up with plenty of holiday party gigs. And speaking of Christmas, are we going to have our traditional gift exchange again this year?
This month the magical art of mentalism has been spotlighted on TV, with the (in)famous Uri Geller and Criss Angel acting as judges while 10 contestants attempt to win the big bucks. I would love to hear from the members what they think of the show, again, more meat for our end of year issue.
Finally, Christmas is almost upon us, so hopefully your diaries are filling up with plenty of holiday party gigs. And speaking of Christmas, are we going to have our traditional gift exchange again this year?
2007-11 Ring Report - Ring #170 - The Bev Bergeron Ring
President Craig Fennessy called the October meeting to order and introduced one of our famous past members who has been doing very well out West. Jon Armstrong began the meeting with some material from his award winning Magic Castle act. He performed a 3 Card Monte with blank cards, one of which was signed by a club member. The signed card was ultimately found in Jon's wallet which was being held by another club member.
(Photos of this meeting can be found lower down in this blog - Editor)
Next was the introduction of Magic Ian, a legend in the magic arts. This was his 30th Anniversary lecture and he shared many effects that he has created and refined over the years. Ian has an informal lecture style and is very entertaining. He began with his own Rope Routine - an original version of Carver's Professor's Nightmare that doesn't use three different lengths of rope. He then presented a spectator-assisted Cut & Restored Rope. There was a Silk Vanish, utilizing a thumb tip, while the wrists were held by a spectator . He had a suggestion on how to use the thumb tip better: Place it on the non-dominant hand and it will be easier to conceal.
Everyone was given a Ring & Spring and then taught a one handed way of performing the "move" and then a magician fooler version . Ian moved to some classic props and his unique routines. He had a silk to appearing cane and a few ideas on keeping the cane hidden before the production, candle to glass of liquid, candle to silk to cane.
Coin Balloonacy, his famous Quarter thru Balloon was fun to learn. It was given five stars in Genii Magazine. Magic Ian showed how to use a Haunted Pack as a hold out device! The Stripper Deck used his Utility Move-Mechanic's Grip to deliver cards rather than the normal usage. Pip Squeak , The $500 Card Trick, was presented. Ian was given three cards from a borrowed deck. He displayed them and had then remembered by a spectator. Still holding three cards he showed that two were still there and the third was now a different card. The original third card was back in the deck still held by its owner.
Pepsilkola was a "Silk to miniature soda bottle". He showed us how he developed the idea. Red, white and blue scarves to American flag utilizing an appearing cane with an interesting set-up. Ian concluded with a Coin Matrix with flashback ending. Many items, especially the coin effects, can be seen on his website --- www.magicians.tv
We gave our thanks to Magic Ian for an informative and enjoyable lecture. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.
Joe Vecciarelli and Dennis Phillips
2007-11 Possible Tim Sonefelt lecture
Thought I would pass this by you... Tim Sonefelt is possibly going to be passing through the area and may be able to stop by and do a lecture for us. Unfortunately, since there are some other lectures going on near this date we are not able to have it as a Ring lecture. If you would be interested I would need to get an RSVP from you as soon as possible. The cost would be $15 a person, yes of course I will have the normal snacks and drinks there for your convenience. I would suggest that you check out Tim's website to see some of the things he does, also Tim is the owner of Wonder Imagery which can also be checked out on the web. The date would be around November 13Th 2007 at say 7 to 10pm.
Please pass this on to anyone that you may think would be interested in seeing this lecture.
If by chance the lecture gets canceled I will contact you by email, you can also call me at 407 599-9603, leave a message if no-one answers...
Thanks
Chris Dunn
2007-11 Disney introduces "Wizards"
Disney Channel Hopes ‘Wizards’ Will Bring It More Ratings Magic
(Orlando Sentinel) - Looking to expand on its Hannah Montana success, Disney Channel is dabbling in magic with its newest sitcom tonight. “Wizards of Waverly Place” mixes spells, special effects, child actors and a fondness for vintage sitcoms such as Bewitched. Wizards, which debuts at 9:30 tonight, is Disney Channel's most important project since High School Musical 2. The series focuses on a father who trains his daughter and two sons in magic. If Hannah Montana floats the fantasy of being a pop star, Wizards counters with another potent idea. "What kid wouldn't want to have magical powers to navigate the difficult times of being a teen?" said Adam Bonnett, senior vice president of original programming at Disney Channel.
The crucial cast member in Wizards is Selena Gomez, who plays Alex. Disney discovered Gomez when she was 12 during a national casting search in Austin, Texas. She has appeared on Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She made three pilots for the channel. At 15, she understands the channel's appeal as a viewer and as a friend of Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus.
Bonnett said he is not expecting another Hannah Montana with Wizards. "Hannah Montana is more than a show right now. It's a phenomenon," Bonnett said. "We're not in the business of launching phenomena. Our goal is to launch a hit show."
2007-11 Dennis' Deliberations
Recently a young guy -a wanna be illusionist-, with stars in his eyes, told me that he was going to take out a 'Big Illusion Show'. He intended to tour in major theaters with a large cast ,huge props and elaborate costumes not seen since the days of Thurston, Fu Manchu and Blackstone Sr. . He figured that 2 semis and 2 customized buses should handle the road tasks. He expected that a few ads on TV and some newspaper space would provide a guaranteed sell-out crowd because "everybody loves magic". I hate to pop some one's balloon but the days for those type of shows are over.
In 1966 Servais Le Roy's metal props had been rusting for 25 years in a New Jersey landfill.
In 1966 Lee Grabel's illusions were in storage a half a decade and he was making big money from San Francisco area real estate.
In 1966 Charles Carter's illusions in bright red crates had been bricked up behind a wall in a San Francisco basement garage for 30 years.
In 1966 Thurston's remaining collection of miracles were being slowly eaten by rodents in a farm barn in Wisconsin. 20 years later, parts would be salvaged by collectors.
In 1966 Mark Wilson was mostly doing trade shows,working on TV specials.
In 1966 The Big Show as a viable box office draw ( by itself without television help) was dead forever...
The box office full-evening theater show that emerged in 1979 with Doug Henning and with David Copperfield in the early 1980s was a different beast. Promoted like a rock concert, the show was sold by using network television exposure. Basically, the stage show was a television star in your local auditorium. Henning was promoted as a fun guru whereas Copperfield's hook was being the young presenter of large unbelievable miracles outside the theater and in National parks.. For a brief time Harry Blackstone Jr. recreated the old style big show that made his Dad famous but other than a short Broadway run and a limited national tour, Harry resorted to corporate shows and hawking Oreo Cookies.
The touring full-evening illusion shows ,made so popular in the first half of the 20th Century , the one that ran on a pure box office and 2 sheet posters was gone... Today it is buried under a mound of TV sets, DVDs, You Tube , an easy jet trip to Las Vegas or a ticket to a cruise port , and the jaded suburban American mindset.
"Sorry kid, you are going to need something other than dreams to put diesel fuel in your truck and pay for your insurance bills. You need a solid business plan and a market. History is not on your side. "
I am never going to say "never" but let me repeat what George Santayana once said, " Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it ".
Dennis Phillips
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
2007-10 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 10/17/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: lecture
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 10/17/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: lecture
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-10 From the Editor
Thanks again to all the contributors of this month's newsletter, including a couple of items from a new contributor. I must admit that I am glad to see Dennis coming round to the magic world changing under our feet.
October is the start of the season for our professional members, things will be getting busy through the end of the year. Have you refreshed your act for this season, perhaps based on the trends in Dennis' article. You do not need to grow your hair, forget to shave, wear old clothes ...but you can modernize your act. Replace the older props with ones that are less Tarbell and more Angel.
Please keep those articles coming.
October is the start of the season for our professional members, things will be getting busy through the end of the year. Have you refreshed your act for this season, perhaps based on the trends in Dennis' article. You do not need to grow your hair, forget to shave, wear old clothes ...but you can modernize your act. Replace the older props with ones that are less Tarbell and more Angel.
Please keep those articles coming.
2007-10 Ring Report
Ring Report
Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Our September meeting was on a rainy night just before the autumn solstice. We had three guests and twenty-six regulars. Guests were Anthony Arevelo and Jason and Debbie Atkins from Birmingham, England. Announcements were made about ring members performing magic around the Orlando, area. Kerry Pierce will again be presenting the Apopka area haunted house for Halloween.
Phil Schwartz ,our ring's nationally known Thayer magic expert and collector, began what we hope will be a continuing series on the history of magic. This first presentation was called 'Magic Moment #1' and featured a compact and fascinating talk about Floyd Thayer and his magic company and the succeeding company ,Owens. Phil also announced that he is collaborating with Dr. Robert Albo to do a two book series on Thayer. Phil also had a 1949 copy of Genii Magazine that had senior ring member Richard Berry on the cover. This was shortly before Berry went to work for Harry Blackstone, Sr.
With the business meeting concluded, President Craig Fennessey turned the meeting over the Mark Fitzgerald who emceed our monthly ring show. The theme was rings. Mark started out with a rapid and slick Ring and Rope routine. The ring was on and off the rope. First on was Professor Knox with a very clever and well done Coin Matrix assembly. He ended with his finger stabbing one of the coins! Mystana had a ring and ribbon effect. The rings came off a tied ribbon and became linked. Charlie Pfrogner brought a seldom seen classic . It is the clever "metal bands to shapes" effect. One metal hoop turned to a triangle. Another turned into a square and finally three were transformed into a giant hoop.
Dan Stapleton first showed a chain made of red plastic rings and by flipping the top end a single chain would cascade down. Dan then followed up with a spectator assisted card trick. A selected card was the same card that Dan had selected from another deck with a different color on the back. Mark Fitzgerald was back with the classic Linking Rings assisted by a spectator. Chris Dunn had a mental effect with small white cards with three different colored dots on each card but the same yellow colored dots on the back. Mysteriously a spectator was able to correctly locate each color. Wallace Murphy did a fine ring and rope routine with his own personal moves.
Dennis Phillips, presented Abbott's classic mental effect created by Bob Mason , Predicta Total. Nine numbered white discs are randomly placed on pegs on a board by three spectators. When the numbers are added, they match the predicted total. Dennis thanked Dan Stapleton for his advice and suggestions on developing the routine.Dennis provided a giant novelty calculator to the spectator to add the numbers and at the conclusion of the effect, JC Hiatt showed and impromptu calculator trick where a numbers seems to fall to the bottom of the display! Mark Fitzgerald put the finishing touches on the show with an effect with small rings. It was another fun night.
Good things are always happening in ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Our September meeting was on a rainy night just before the autumn solstice. We had three guests and twenty-six regulars. Guests were Anthony Arevelo and Jason and Debbie Atkins from Birmingham, England. Announcements were made about ring members performing magic around the Orlando, area. Kerry Pierce will again be presenting the Apopka area haunted house for Halloween.
Phil Schwartz ,our ring's nationally known Thayer magic expert and collector, began what we hope will be a continuing series on the history of magic. This first presentation was called 'Magic Moment #1' and featured a compact and fascinating talk about Floyd Thayer and his magic company and the succeeding company ,Owens. Phil also announced that he is collaborating with Dr. Robert Albo to do a two book series on Thayer. Phil also had a 1949 copy of Genii Magazine that had senior ring member Richard Berry on the cover. This was shortly before Berry went to work for Harry Blackstone, Sr.
With the business meeting concluded, President Craig Fennessey turned the meeting over the Mark Fitzgerald who emceed our monthly ring show. The theme was rings. Mark started out with a rapid and slick Ring and Rope routine. The ring was on and off the rope. First on was Professor Knox with a very clever and well done Coin Matrix assembly. He ended with his finger stabbing one of the coins! Mystana had a ring and ribbon effect. The rings came off a tied ribbon and became linked. Charlie Pfrogner brought a seldom seen classic . It is the clever "metal bands to shapes" effect. One metal hoop turned to a triangle. Another turned into a square and finally three were transformed into a giant hoop.
Dan Stapleton first showed a chain made of red plastic rings and by flipping the top end a single chain would cascade down. Dan then followed up with a spectator assisted card trick. A selected card was the same card that Dan had selected from another deck with a different color on the back. Mark Fitzgerald was back with the classic Linking Rings assisted by a spectator. Chris Dunn had a mental effect with small white cards with three different colored dots on each card but the same yellow colored dots on the back. Mysteriously a spectator was able to correctly locate each color. Wallace Murphy did a fine ring and rope routine with his own personal moves.
Dennis Phillips, presented Abbott's classic mental effect created by Bob Mason , Predicta Total. Nine numbered white discs are randomly placed on pegs on a board by three spectators. When the numbers are added, they match the predicted total. Dennis thanked Dan Stapleton for his advice and suggestions on developing the routine.Dennis provided a giant novelty calculator to the spectator to add the numbers and at the conclusion of the effect, JC Hiatt showed and impromptu calculator trick where a numbers seems to fall to the bottom of the display! Mark Fitzgerald put the finishing touches on the show with an effect with small rings. It was another fun night.
Good things are always happening in ring 170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-10 Free lecture
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando
IBM Ring 170
Presents
MAGIC IAN
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
7:30 – 9:15pm
ADMISSION: FREE to all Magicians
LOCATION: (Normal club meeting location)
* Marks Street Senior Center
(Corner of Magnolia and Mark St.)
For more lecture information go to www.Ring170.com or call Craig Fennessy, 407-947-1182
IBM Ring 170
Presents
MAGIC IAN
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
7:30 – 9:15pm
ADMISSION: FREE to all Magicians
LOCATION: (Normal club meeting location)
* Marks Street Senior Center
(Corner of Magnolia and Mark St.)
For more lecture information go to www.Ring170.com or call Craig Fennessy, 407-947-1182
2007-10 Magic Shop in Cocoa Village
These are two words that usually send chills down a woman's spine. But I find it quite enjoyable to ride over to Cocoa Village to Magic Dove Magic Shop. They are friendly this is usual for a magic shop. They are clean and easy to get to, and nicely displayed. Jerry Darkey takes me along and we have a great time talking to the owner and being able to get what we came for without it having to be ordered special. The store keeps a nice supply at a reasonable price amount of magic and makeup. They have expanded in size recently and have a back room for meetings and a shop to do embroidery.
The shop is open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm, 639 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa, FL.32922, ph 321-433-1130.
They are having a Trick and Treat Magical Halloween Celebration. They have turned the back room into a haunted party room featuring the largest magic wand in Florida.Saturday October 27, 2007 10 am—5 pm.They also have magic classes for those that are interested. I only repeat this information because it is a nice place to go and I wish them continued business. We go over and have lunch at one of the many bistros, stroll the art galleries, and shops, the magic shop included. We are both happy and then can go watch the waves and sit on the beach. So if you are looking for a place you and your partner can have fun go to Cocoa Village, and stop by the Black Dog Gallery some of my artwork is there if it has not sold out. Then go on down to the Magic Shop. For a bite to eat I recommend Ryan's Pizza Shop by the park. The village has a lot of events on their calendar. Jerry Darkey and I have entertained at some. A couple of times we saw James Songster- Director at Large, and Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms performing in the park.They have a great Christmas program. In October during the day I will be performing to help raise awareness and money for animal at the Gazebo in the middle of the grand walk of shops.
by Paula Large
The shop is open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm, 639 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa, FL.32922, ph 321-433-1130.
They are having a Trick and Treat Magical Halloween Celebration. They have turned the back room into a haunted party room featuring the largest magic wand in Florida.Saturday October 27, 2007 10 am—5 pm.They also have magic classes for those that are interested. I only repeat this information because it is a nice place to go and I wish them continued business. We go over and have lunch at one of the many bistros, stroll the art galleries, and shops, the magic shop included. We are both happy and then can go watch the waves and sit on the beach. So if you are looking for a place you and your partner can have fun go to Cocoa Village, and stop by the Black Dog Gallery some of my artwork is there if it has not sold out. Then go on down to the Magic Shop. For a bite to eat I recommend Ryan's Pizza Shop by the park. The village has a lot of events on their calendar. Jerry Darkey and I have entertained at some. A couple of times we saw James Songster- Director at Large, and Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms performing in the park.They have a great Christmas program. In October during the day I will be performing to help raise awareness and money for animal at the Gazebo in the middle of the grand walk of shops.
by Paula Large
2007-10 Magic in Orlando
Magic comes and Magic goes. So many magicians and their show have come and gone. Well there is one in town now that is worth seeing. It is on International Drive at Wonder Works the upside down building by The Point Orlando. Quite a deal pizza all you can eat and beer, wine, soda all you can drink plus and this is the BIG PLUS Magic Show. Fred and Adina Moore put on a fantastic show. We a lucky having two such talented people in town performing for us. Worth watching over and over again and taking friends and family to be entertained.
the end
by Paula Large'
the end
by Paula Large'
2007-10 Fla. Magic Convention warning!!!
Only 35 convention registrations left before being sold out.
Just added...Doc Eason (in place of John Mendoza). Only 75 seats left for the evening show (Sat. Nov. 3...8:00pm...Kevin James, Johnny Thompson, Dan Stapleton, ventriloquist Peter Hefty and MC Harry Allen)
(I have 10 seats left to sell if anyone needs one).
Dan Stapleton
(407) 491-3287
Just added...Doc Eason (in place of John Mendoza). Only 75 seats left for the evening show (Sat. Nov. 3...8:00pm...Kevin James, Johnny Thompson, Dan Stapleton, ventriloquist Peter Hefty and MC Harry Allen)
(I have 10 seats left to sell if anyone needs one).
Dan Stapleton
(407) 491-3287
2007-10 Product Review
Confetti Wand by Miracle Magic (Made in India)
I picked up a "Confetti Wand" at a recent Ring 258 flea market. I use many different wands in my children's shows and hoped to add one more to my repertoire. WOW, what a find!
"Confetti Wand" consists simply of a hollow magic wand and specially die cut
bundles of tissue paper. The tissue paper, in five bright colors, Purple, Turquoise, Green, Yellow and Orange, is die cut in 1/2" x 1 3/4" oblongs and 1/2" x 1/2" squares.
Tear off a few packets of colored tissue (easily done) from the various colored bundles. Push any where from one to six packets into one end of the wand and you are set! All you do is raise the wand and make a sharp downward, or sideways, movement and the "confetti" comes flying out! Because of the special cuts it "flips and flutters" and stays in the air for a while. The reaction from the audience is a chorus of "Oooohs!" and "Aaaahs!"
There are no gas cartridges or explosives to have problems with. It can be used at any time during the performance. Just pick it up and wave!
I did a little research and found the same "Confetti Wand" on line at Magic-Hotlines.com. Price for the wand and a huge amount of specially cut tissue paper is $10. Refills $5. There is another version, for $7.50 at BeginnersMagic.com.
Or, just buy the refills and get a piece of PVC tubing from Home Depot, the correct diameter to fit the bundles of paper, and paint it like a wand. Either way, you're good to go with a flashy, inexpensive effect! I highly recommend it!
Roger "Cigam" Reid
P,S. Mom may not like it as it takes awhile to pick up all the paper. Great for outdoor shows too!
I picked up a "Confetti Wand" at a recent Ring 258 flea market. I use many different wands in my children's shows and hoped to add one more to my repertoire. WOW, what a find!
"Confetti Wand" consists simply of a hollow magic wand and specially die cut
bundles of tissue paper. The tissue paper, in five bright colors, Purple, Turquoise, Green, Yellow and Orange, is die cut in 1/2" x 1 3/4" oblongs and 1/2" x 1/2" squares.
Tear off a few packets of colored tissue (easily done) from the various colored bundles. Push any where from one to six packets into one end of the wand and you are set! All you do is raise the wand and make a sharp downward, or sideways, movement and the "confetti" comes flying out! Because of the special cuts it "flips and flutters" and stays in the air for a while. The reaction from the audience is a chorus of "Oooohs!" and "Aaaahs!"
There are no gas cartridges or explosives to have problems with. It can be used at any time during the performance. Just pick it up and wave!
I did a little research and found the same "Confetti Wand" on line at Magic-Hotlines.com. Price for the wand and a huge amount of specially cut tissue paper is $10. Refills $5. There is another version, for $7.50 at BeginnersMagic.com.
Or, just buy the refills and get a piece of PVC tubing from Home Depot, the correct diameter to fit the bundles of paper, and paint it like a wand. Either way, you're good to go with a flashy, inexpensive effect! I highly recommend it!
Roger "Cigam" Reid
P,S. Mom may not like it as it takes awhile to pick up all the paper. Great for outdoor shows too!
2007-10 Dennis' Deliberations
"Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus"
-Umberto Eco, 'The Name of the Rose'-(1)
The conjuring arts are a fluid, evolving and changing entity. I appeared on one of Chuck Smith's Magic Enigma videos with Bev Bergeron and Fred Moore and the theme of the segment was "How magic has changed in your lifetime". Chuck chose the three of us because of our different ages and generational experiences. I was the guy in the middle of the age bracket. I can say that at this point in magic history I have never seen as we have now such rancor and arguing over how magic has been recently evolving . David Blaine and Criss Angel are not uniformly accepted by most of the old guard of magicians. Let me say upfront, I don't personally enjoy their style or material but I am increasingly forced to admit that I am not happy about it but realize that their approach will dominate the conjuring arts for the rest of my lifetime. The younger generation loves them. I want to spend this month explaining that being a "Magic Fundamentalist" is counterproductive to your magic career.
Fundamentalism is a modern mindset and social pathology that is gripping world culture and pervades almost all current Post-Modern thinking. It is a closed-minded fear and rejection of change . Though it masquerades and calls itself "Conservative", it is really atavistic Reactionaryism. ( an angry desire to go back to an imaginary Golden Age- "Nostalgia on Steroids" ) You are mostly familiar with the use of this word in a religious context where it applies to people who center their Faith in their "perfect book"(or doctrines) : Islamic Fundamentalists wanting to return to the heady years of Muslim world conquest and rule by the Koran or Christian Fundamentalists who are wanting to go back to the worldview of the early 17th or late 19th century and a time before modern science seemed to attack a literal interpretation of many Bible texts.
One could argue that there also exists Political and Economic Fundamentalists, such as the Libertarians, who seem to want to go backwards and live in the confused world of the 1930s-40s with author Ayn Rand and the Economic Darwinism and selfish-personal Bullyism she longed for in her books.
Let me show you how the Fundamentalist mindset has affected magicians. Let's call Magic Fundamentalists: "Tarbellites".
The "Tarbellite" follows the style, premise and philosophy of magic such as you find in the Tarbell Course of Magic. Every magicians alive today should thank Tarbell for the rich legacy he gave us. We should also mention favorably, the last, most complete and latest expression of that style of magic, The Mark Wilson Course in Magic.
Tarbell-Wilson magic moved logically from point A to point B. It uses props: ladies silk handkerchiefs, clean man's white handkerchiefs ( or should I say "man's clean white handkerchiefs? - sorry for stealing your gag line Harry Blackstone!) Hats, canes,Billiards Balls (rarely seen that small!) Metal Rings , Chinese Laundry Tickets.... Okay! You get the idea! Who uses those things anymore? They vanish, they appear, they are torn and restored. The magician keeps a sacred distance. He is out of the world of the audience.
Tarbell-Wilson stage magic used special boxes, many with painted red with gold dragons. Magicians used "foulards". Seen any of those around your house lately?
And there were feather dusters made to look like flowers. Rope could be cut and joined almost instantly. (Can't we do that today with Hot Melt and Crazy Glue?) The Fathers of the style of Tarbell-Wilson illusions were Servais Leroy, P.T. Selbit, Cyril Yettmah and the Maskelynes. Some of the recent creators and innovators have been Robert Harbin,Jim Steinmeyer, Andre Kole, Bev Bergeron, Don Wayne, Paul Osborne and Rand Woodbury.
I hope you are getting the idea of this kind of stage magic. On stage the magicians made pigeons appear and disappear. Frequently he used a Victorian style square cage for the dove vanish. Illusions were usually a girl and a box. Tarbellism was the prevailing magical style from 1910 to 1995. You could call it "20th century magic".
The dawn of the new millennium brought a new style of magic, just as the dawn of the previous 20th century brought the Tarbellism style.
The new magic is bizarre, dark, shocking, dangerous, in-your-face and baptized with technology. It frequently does not go from point A to point B in its effect. The dental floss vanishes and does not reappear in your hands but through the flesh of your stomach skin . Instead of disappearing from a box ,with rainbows painted on it, while on stage and twirled by assistants, you disappear from under a garbage can on the street surrounded by "street people".
Historians advise that we are moving into a "Post-Modern" Age. The shift has been occurring since the mid 1970s. Recall Doug Henning! He was a transitional character in the history of magic. If the magical style of Modernity, "The Modern Age" was captured by Tarbell and Wilson, then the style of Post-Modern magic would be considered heresy and "departing from the faith and truth, once received". Indeed, Henning was not warmly accepted by many older magicians in the 70s. He was "that kid with long hair and blue jeans". Not wearing a tail coat in fill evening dress was considered blasphemy to magic. Following on the heels of Doug Henning was David Copperfield and he also was considered outside of the mainstream. "The kid dances, does musical sketches and vanishes national monuments! Where are the top hats and rabbits?"
But both Henning and Copperfield were still tied to traditional modern magic by their stage presentation styles and use of recognizable props,plots and effects. Most magicians would find it difficult to label them totally outside of magical orthodoxy.
The clean break from orthodoxy began with David Blaine. The stage was gone. The stage clothes were gone. The dancing girls and pop-song sound tracks were gone.
If David Blaine was the John the Baptist of the new covenant of magic then Criss Angel is the Messiah. With his appearing,the old copies of Tarbell and The Mark Wilson texts mentally came off old magician's bookshelves. The Tarbell text-thumping began! "He ain't doing like Tarbell says to do it! How dare he not obey the words of Tarbell and Wilson!". The older guard of magicians became reactionary and longed for the old days (even if the 'old days' was David Copperfield performing to Phil Collins or Pet Shop Boys music tracts).
Well....and here is my whole point: Get with the new way things are done. Tarbell Fundamentalism is doomed. Red and black boxes with spray-painted gold dragons are not coming back in anyone's lifetime.("Niche" shows such as Le Grand David will continue for a while) Neither are black and chrome stage illusions coming back as soon as they leave Branson, MO where time moves on very slowly.
Adapt to video technology. Sony's Final Cut Pro is the new way video magic is going to be produced. No one is going to be making any announcements about trick photography not being used. No one cares. Camera cropping and fast cuts are the way things are done now. If you don't do them the young audience will be bored.
Live shows are going to all use a "Camera Eye" and video screens... it will be possible to do an arena show with nothing but televised close-up!
So, get with the program, magicians:Get some dirty jeans,soiled sneakers, let your hair become long, stringy and bug-infested. Get some body piercings in strange places and a few tattoos. Just carry a deck of cards, folding coin and crushed soda can. Hire two dozen stooges and teach them to fake like they are baffled. Make everyone believe that you are the Magic Messiah. Light yourself on fire as a birthday gift for your mother. The past is gone. This future is inevitable.
"A spectre is haunting magic- -the spectre of Criss Angelism. All the powers of old magic have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre. They will fail! Let the ruling magic classes tremble at the Angelian Revolution. The hip magicians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to fool!"
You can't stop the Revolution.(2)
Dennis Phillips
(1) "Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus" translates literally as "Yesterday's rose endures in its name; we hold empty names". It can also be translated more roughly as "Of the rose of the past, we have only its name".
(2) With a sneer to Karl Marx for my paraphrase of his 1848 Manifesto in the final paragraph.
-Umberto Eco, 'The Name of the Rose'-(1)
The conjuring arts are a fluid, evolving and changing entity. I appeared on one of Chuck Smith's Magic Enigma videos with Bev Bergeron and Fred Moore and the theme of the segment was "How magic has changed in your lifetime". Chuck chose the three of us because of our different ages and generational experiences. I was the guy in the middle of the age bracket. I can say that at this point in magic history I have never seen as we have now such rancor and arguing over how magic has been recently evolving . David Blaine and Criss Angel are not uniformly accepted by most of the old guard of magicians. Let me say upfront, I don't personally enjoy their style or material but I am increasingly forced to admit that I am not happy about it but realize that their approach will dominate the conjuring arts for the rest of my lifetime. The younger generation loves them. I want to spend this month explaining that being a "Magic Fundamentalist" is counterproductive to your magic career.
Fundamentalism is a modern mindset and social pathology that is gripping world culture and pervades almost all current Post-Modern thinking. It is a closed-minded fear and rejection of change . Though it masquerades and calls itself "Conservative", it is really atavistic Reactionaryism. ( an angry desire to go back to an imaginary Golden Age- "Nostalgia on Steroids" ) You are mostly familiar with the use of this word in a religious context where it applies to people who center their Faith in their "perfect book"(or doctrines) : Islamic Fundamentalists wanting to return to the heady years of Muslim world conquest and rule by the Koran or Christian Fundamentalists who are wanting to go back to the worldview of the early 17th or late 19th century and a time before modern science seemed to attack a literal interpretation of many Bible texts.
One could argue that there also exists Political and Economic Fundamentalists, such as the Libertarians, who seem to want to go backwards and live in the confused world of the 1930s-40s with author Ayn Rand and the Economic Darwinism and selfish-personal Bullyism she longed for in her books.
Let me show you how the Fundamentalist mindset has affected magicians. Let's call Magic Fundamentalists: "Tarbellites".
The "Tarbellite" follows the style, premise and philosophy of magic such as you find in the Tarbell Course of Magic. Every magicians alive today should thank Tarbell for the rich legacy he gave us. We should also mention favorably, the last, most complete and latest expression of that style of magic, The Mark Wilson Course in Magic.
Tarbell-Wilson magic moved logically from point A to point B. It uses props: ladies silk handkerchiefs, clean man's white handkerchiefs ( or should I say "man's clean white handkerchiefs? - sorry for stealing your gag line Harry Blackstone!) Hats, canes,Billiards Balls (rarely seen that small!) Metal Rings , Chinese Laundry Tickets.... Okay! You get the idea! Who uses those things anymore? They vanish, they appear, they are torn and restored. The magician keeps a sacred distance. He is out of the world of the audience.
Tarbell-Wilson stage magic used special boxes, many with painted red with gold dragons. Magicians used "foulards". Seen any of those around your house lately?
And there were feather dusters made to look like flowers. Rope could be cut and joined almost instantly. (Can't we do that today with Hot Melt and Crazy Glue?) The Fathers of the style of Tarbell-Wilson illusions were Servais Leroy, P.T. Selbit, Cyril Yettmah and the Maskelynes. Some of the recent creators and innovators have been Robert Harbin,Jim Steinmeyer, Andre Kole, Bev Bergeron, Don Wayne, Paul Osborne and Rand Woodbury.
I hope you are getting the idea of this kind of stage magic. On stage the magicians made pigeons appear and disappear. Frequently he used a Victorian style square cage for the dove vanish. Illusions were usually a girl and a box. Tarbellism was the prevailing magical style from 1910 to 1995. You could call it "20th century magic".
The dawn of the new millennium brought a new style of magic, just as the dawn of the previous 20th century brought the Tarbellism style.
The new magic is bizarre, dark, shocking, dangerous, in-your-face and baptized with technology. It frequently does not go from point A to point B in its effect. The dental floss vanishes and does not reappear in your hands but through the flesh of your stomach skin . Instead of disappearing from a box ,with rainbows painted on it, while on stage and twirled by assistants, you disappear from under a garbage can on the street surrounded by "street people".
Historians advise that we are moving into a "Post-Modern" Age. The shift has been occurring since the mid 1970s. Recall Doug Henning! He was a transitional character in the history of magic. If the magical style of Modernity, "The Modern Age" was captured by Tarbell and Wilson, then the style of Post-Modern magic would be considered heresy and "departing from the faith and truth, once received". Indeed, Henning was not warmly accepted by many older magicians in the 70s. He was "that kid with long hair and blue jeans". Not wearing a tail coat in fill evening dress was considered blasphemy to magic. Following on the heels of Doug Henning was David Copperfield and he also was considered outside of the mainstream. "The kid dances, does musical sketches and vanishes national monuments! Where are the top hats and rabbits?"
But both Henning and Copperfield were still tied to traditional modern magic by their stage presentation styles and use of recognizable props,plots and effects. Most magicians would find it difficult to label them totally outside of magical orthodoxy.
The clean break from orthodoxy began with David Blaine. The stage was gone. The stage clothes were gone. The dancing girls and pop-song sound tracks were gone.
If David Blaine was the John the Baptist of the new covenant of magic then Criss Angel is the Messiah. With his appearing,the old copies of Tarbell and The Mark Wilson texts mentally came off old magician's bookshelves. The Tarbell text-thumping began! "He ain't doing like Tarbell says to do it! How dare he not obey the words of Tarbell and Wilson!". The older guard of magicians became reactionary and longed for the old days (even if the 'old days' was David Copperfield performing to Phil Collins or Pet Shop Boys music tracts).
Well....and here is my whole point: Get with the new way things are done. Tarbell Fundamentalism is doomed. Red and black boxes with spray-painted gold dragons are not coming back in anyone's lifetime.("Niche" shows such as Le Grand David will continue for a while) Neither are black and chrome stage illusions coming back as soon as they leave Branson, MO where time moves on very slowly.
Adapt to video technology. Sony's Final Cut Pro is the new way video magic is going to be produced. No one is going to be making any announcements about trick photography not being used. No one cares. Camera cropping and fast cuts are the way things are done now. If you don't do them the young audience will be bored.
Live shows are going to all use a "Camera Eye" and video screens... it will be possible to do an arena show with nothing but televised close-up!
So, get with the program, magicians:Get some dirty jeans,soiled sneakers, let your hair become long, stringy and bug-infested. Get some body piercings in strange places and a few tattoos. Just carry a deck of cards, folding coin and crushed soda can. Hire two dozen stooges and teach them to fake like they are baffled. Make everyone believe that you are the Magic Messiah. Light yourself on fire as a birthday gift for your mother. The past is gone. This future is inevitable.
"A spectre is haunting magic- -the spectre of Criss Angelism. All the powers of old magic have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre. They will fail! Let the ruling magic classes tremble at the Angelian Revolution. The hip magicians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to fool!"
You can't stop the Revolution.(2)
Dennis Phillips
(1) "Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus" translates literally as "Yesterday's rose endures in its name; we hold empty names". It can also be translated more roughly as "Of the rose of the past, we have only its name".
(2) With a sneer to Karl Marx for my paraphrase of his 1848 Manifesto in the final paragraph.
Monday, September 10, 2007
2007-09 Famulus newsletter of IBM Ring 170
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/19/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Aerial magic
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/19/2007 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Board meeting at 6:30 pm
Meeting theme: Aerial magic
Marks Street Center, 99 Mark Street, downtown Orlando
If you visit with us and do not know the room we meet in , please be aware that some of the people in the office at the Senior Center may not be aware we are meeting there! At the last meeting one visitor asked where the "IBM" was meeting and the management apparently thought they were asking for the International Business Machines group! They said that there was no "IBM" on the schedule. So, if you have never been to our ring meeting , please say "magicians" or "FAME" and if that doesn't get the room location , just walk around looking for us. The Senior Center is a public building.
Lunch meetings every Tuesday at noon at Goodings (next to the food court)
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – Art.Thomas@Disney.com
Dennis Philips- Secretary – Dennis@alliedcostumes.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print. Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
2007-09 From the Editor
Thanks to the contributors for this month's newsletter, although the pickings are little slim this time. Come on, Ring members, cough some of those interesting stories that I know you are all hiding.
Your editor
Stefan
Your editor
Stefan
2007-09 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring
August are the hottest months in Orlando and often we also have a blazing meeting with lots of participation. This year was no exception. Forty were sitting in the seats.
We had guests, Dan Crosby, Austin Mataan, Dave Koenig, Patrick Oliver, Tyler Overstreet, Josh Aroya and Kelly Frye.
Five of our members are working regularly: Dan Stapleton is doing his Thursday night dinner magic show at Mandolins at the Radisson Parkway Resort. Mark Fitzgerald is doing restaurant magic at the Hardrock Kitchen and the Radisson Parkway. Bev Bergeron is doing comedy magic at the Red Fox Lounge in the Mt. Vernon Hotel in Winter Park. James and Joe are in Ohio for a few weeks doing stage magic for the Ohio Renaissance Fair and Kostya Kimlat is at the Bluefish Restaurant off Sandlake Road and at in New Smyrna Beach at The Garlic Restaurant. Dennis Phillips is doing a stage act on tour with Steve Brown's Great American Medicine Show.
There were several interesting updates on members. Terry Ward made a magic magazine cover and Mark Fitzgerald gave some interesting details on his recent trip to Alaska and his search for magic in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Charlie Pfrogner was drafted to be our Emcee for the monthly post-meeting ring show. First up was Cory Knox with ring juggling. Young Cory is coming along well in developing a full range of his juggling skills. Can a place in our annual Ring Banquet show be coming? Mark Fitzgerald pleased the crowd with many slick rope knots and his version of Professor's Nightmare. Charlie Pfrogner again showed us his creativity. The premise of his trick was a paper lunch sack decorated up to look like a dog. The "dog" then located a volunteer's secretly selected card. Charlie always adds his unique entertaining twist. This time it was clever and funny puns. His doggy was " paper trained"and could even talk. He showed the doggy a piece of sandpaper and the doggy said, "ruff"!
Young magician, Tyler Overstreet did a "Ring on a Neck chain". Chris Dunn showed some of his clever and well-made homebuilt magic. He had a Frankenstein's Monster version of the Milbourne Christopher's "Forgetful Freddy". Chris also showed how to theme a dye-box in many ways. He then showed us his interesting magic wand.
Dennis Phillips showed a collection of classic "Doodle" Drawings. They make a nice comedy breather in any magic show. He then invited up a spectator and presented his version of Mike Caveney's "Powers of Darkness". This is done with a coat hanger . The audience sees how the trick is being done while the spectator is baffled. The effect is a nice alternative to Slydini's paper balls over the head.
James Songster used a spectator and two decks of cards, a blue backed and a red backed deck. The spectator selected a card and then the free count in both decks matched ,as well as the cards in the count, when the selected card was revealed.
Last up was Dan Stapleton. He had a novel and enjoyable effect where socks are randomly pulled out of a bag by a spectator and hung by clothes pins on a clothes line that is made by two other spectators holding the ends of the rope. Then an odd pair , one at a time, is removed by the spectator's free choice until only one pair is left. That pair is then shown to be the matching socks of the odd pair that Dan was wearing all along! Dan also showed the trophy he was awarded by the IBM for his Best Parade of the Year in the Linking Ring. He also suggested that we put together a Ring Parade. The idea was warmly received.
Join us for our Ring meetings when you are in Orlando. Good things are always happening in Ring #170.
Dennis Phillips
We had guests, Dan Crosby, Austin Mataan, Dave Koenig, Patrick Oliver, Tyler Overstreet, Josh Aroya and Kelly Frye.
Five of our members are working regularly: Dan Stapleton is doing his Thursday night dinner magic show at Mandolins at the Radisson Parkway Resort. Mark Fitzgerald is doing restaurant magic at the Hardrock Kitchen and the Radisson Parkway. Bev Bergeron is doing comedy magic at the Red Fox Lounge in the Mt. Vernon Hotel in Winter Park. James and Joe are in Ohio for a few weeks doing stage magic for the Ohio Renaissance Fair and Kostya Kimlat is at the Bluefish Restaurant off Sandlake Road and at in New Smyrna Beach at The Garlic Restaurant. Dennis Phillips is doing a stage act on tour with Steve Brown's Great American Medicine Show.
There were several interesting updates on members. Terry Ward made a magic magazine cover and Mark Fitzgerald gave some interesting details on his recent trip to Alaska and his search for magic in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Charlie Pfrogner was drafted to be our Emcee for the monthly post-meeting ring show. First up was Cory Knox with ring juggling. Young Cory is coming along well in developing a full range of his juggling skills. Can a place in our annual Ring Banquet show be coming? Mark Fitzgerald pleased the crowd with many slick rope knots and his version of Professor's Nightmare. Charlie Pfrogner again showed us his creativity. The premise of his trick was a paper lunch sack decorated up to look like a dog. The "dog" then located a volunteer's secretly selected card. Charlie always adds his unique entertaining twist. This time it was clever and funny puns. His doggy was " paper trained"and could even talk. He showed the doggy a piece of sandpaper and the doggy said, "ruff"!
Young magician, Tyler Overstreet did a "Ring on a Neck chain". Chris Dunn showed some of his clever and well-made homebuilt magic. He had a Frankenstein's Monster version of the Milbourne Christopher's "Forgetful Freddy". Chris also showed how to theme a dye-box in many ways. He then showed us his interesting magic wand.
Dennis Phillips showed a collection of classic "Doodle" Drawings. They make a nice comedy breather in any magic show. He then invited up a spectator and presented his version of Mike Caveney's "Powers of Darkness". This is done with a coat hanger . The audience sees how the trick is being done while the spectator is baffled. The effect is a nice alternative to Slydini's paper balls over the head.
James Songster used a spectator and two decks of cards, a blue backed and a red backed deck. The spectator selected a card and then the free count in both decks matched ,as well as the cards in the count, when the selected card was revealed.
Last up was Dan Stapleton. He had a novel and enjoyable effect where socks are randomly pulled out of a bag by a spectator and hung by clothes pins on a clothes line that is made by two other spectators holding the ends of the rope. Then an odd pair , one at a time, is removed by the spectator's free choice until only one pair is left. That pair is then shown to be the matching socks of the odd pair that Dan was wearing all along! Dan also showed the trophy he was awarded by the IBM for his Best Parade of the Year in the Linking Ring. He also suggested that we put together a Ring Parade. The idea was warmly received.
Join us for our Ring meetings when you are in Orlando. Good things are always happening in Ring #170.
Dennis Phillips
2007-09 Fla. State Convention nearly sold out
Just came back from Daytona and owner Irv Cook showed me the convention registration grid. Only 125 attendees slots left and only 225 public show seats left.
I told him to give me 26 tickets to the public show as some of our guys will want to go but not necessarily attend the whole convention.
The show and convention will definately sell out. I will have the public show tickets with me at the meeting ($25.ea) Show is Kevin James, Johnny Thompson, Me, Harry Allan (MC) and a nice act from Japan Caisaki.
Dan Stapleton
I told him to give me 26 tickets to the public show as some of our guys will want to go but not necessarily attend the whole convention.
The show and convention will definately sell out. I will have the public show tickets with me at the meeting ($25.ea) Show is Kevin James, Johnny Thompson, Me, Harry Allan (MC) and a nice act from Japan Caisaki.
Dan Stapleton
2007-09 BIG AUCTION, THURS. SEPT. 20, 2007
Auction will be on Thurs. Sept. 20, 2007
Door open at 6:00 PM. Sign in and recieve a numbered paddle to use for all bidding.
Place: The Florida Sherrifs Youth Ranch
Just one block east of McMullen Booth Road on Enterprise Road. C learwater, Fl.
ALL MAGICIANS WELCOME. We are auctioning off the magic of Bill Dahlquist. He was an MC and comedy magician. Books on being an MC. Comedy books. Video tapes. Audio tapes. lThere is something for every one. Here is a partial list.
TABLE. 3 FOLD ON WHEELS W/SHELVES
TABLE. Sm. Flash Production
TABLE. 2 fold, Dragon
BALLOON PUMP. Large, T. Meyers floor model
PUPPET, Rabbit in hat
SNAKE BASKET, Large, electronic remote cont. likenew,
works every time.
DUCK, Comedy Card (like Jo Anne)
SOUND SYSTEM, Like new w/carrying bag. wireless.
TEMPLE SCREEN,
FIRE FLY, Like new. wks. like a charm neat
FLODING TOP HAT
FIRE BOWL, To srping flowers
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE PROD. AMMAR
HIPITY HOP RBBITS, Small
ROCKY RACCOON
FIRE BOOKS (3)
FANTASIO CANES & STEEL CANES
DIE BOX
SILK MONKEY BAR
TABLE TOPS
3RD HAND GIMMICK
COMEDY MILK FUNNEL
LINKING RINGS
AND MUCH MORE FOR THE LIVE AUCTION
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SILENT AUCTION
All silent auction material (smaller stuff) will be in clear plastic bags on the tables with a bid sheet attatched. To bid on a bag just print your number, name and bid price on the sheet in ink. (No pencils)
You will be amazed at the amount of magic items we have bagged.
Proceeds go to Bill's widow, (FRAN DAHLQUIST)
For any questions call WINDY DOUTON (727) 392-1649
E MAIL winsun48 @ij.net
Thank you and please pass the word on to other magicians.
Door open at 6:00 PM. Sign in and recieve a numbered paddle to use for all bidding.
Place: The Florida Sherrifs Youth Ranch
Just one block east of McMullen Booth Road on Enterprise Road. C learwater, Fl.
ALL MAGICIANS WELCOME. We are auctioning off the magic of Bill Dahlquist. He was an MC and comedy magician. Books on being an MC. Comedy books. Video tapes. Audio tapes. lThere is something for every one. Here is a partial list.
TABLE. 3 FOLD ON WHEELS W/SHELVES
TABLE. Sm. Flash Production
TABLE. 2 fold, Dragon
BALLOON PUMP. Large, T. Meyers floor model
PUPPET, Rabbit in hat
SNAKE BASKET, Large, electronic remote cont. likenew,
works every time.
DUCK, Comedy Card (like Jo Anne)
SOUND SYSTEM, Like new w/carrying bag. wireless.
TEMPLE SCREEN,
FIRE FLY, Like new. wks. like a charm neat
FLODING TOP HAT
FIRE BOWL, To srping flowers
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE PROD. AMMAR
HIPITY HOP RBBITS, Small
ROCKY RACCOON
FIRE BOOKS (3)
FANTASIO CANES & STEEL CANES
DIE BOX
SILK MONKEY BAR
TABLE TOPS
3RD HAND GIMMICK
COMEDY MILK FUNNEL
LINKING RINGS
AND MUCH MORE FOR THE LIVE AUCTION
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SILENT AUCTION
All silent auction material (smaller stuff) will be in clear plastic bags on the tables with a bid sheet attatched. To bid on a bag just print your number, name and bid price on the sheet in ink. (No pencils)
You will be amazed at the amount of magic items we have bagged.
Proceeds go to Bill's widow, (FRAN DAHLQUIST)
For any questions call WINDY DOUTON (727) 392-1649
E MAIL winsun48 @ij.net
Thank you and please pass the word on to other magicians.
2007-09 Dennis' Deliberations
I was talking with Dan Stapleton and he relayed the story of Brett Daniels latest foray into magic. Apparently Daniels produced a magical version of a murder mystery story as a magic stage show and presented it near Milwaukee. There was very little of the old style Brett with his famous mega production illusions. This newer version of Brett had a lot of close-up magic with cameras and projection screens. The last we heard, he was looking for an investor and venue. Who knows? All we can do is wish him good luck. Apparently, audiences at his new show-concept had a tough time figuring out what they were watching and why they should be watching it. Magic and illusions are almost always a bad mix when presented with a complicated or deep plot. I can especially see the problems that Brett would have. I always thought that he came off as a hunk in search of a personality. This is the same problem that , in my opinion, Hans Klok has. Even though co-star Pamela Anderson has two especially fine points in her favor, I doubt that she and the 2 giant industrial fans blowing at Klok's long hair can save the show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
I believe Mark O'Brien had a problem with audience bewilderment in the 2006 Jacksonville summer production of his "Walking Through Fires" show-play. Mistakenly, the theater put up only the words"Magic Show" on the highway marquee and confused the issue even more in the minds of walk-in traffic. The show was really a play about Mark's two successive warehouse fires in Orlando in which he believes business competitors torched an uninsured half-million dollars worth of his illusions. His mixture of grand and brilliant illusion scenes with complicated dialog and two dimensional characters was a bit too artistic for the Jacksonville crowds.
One of the greatest illusionists of the 20th century,South American based, "Fu-Manchu" (David Bamberg) tried to mix spectacular illusions with a dramatic storyline and plot in a giant stage production in Mexico City . The show opened featured within it a series of dramatic storylines and a half-hour story/illusion segment called , "A Trip to the Moon" with an ingenious and giant magic robot. The show flopped badly and Bamberg went back to his classic illusion presentation never to try such a show again. J. Marberger Stuart, originator of The Dragon Award, was the co-producer of the 1969 Off-Broadway play, "Make Me Disappear", which featured a vanishing elephant. Though it paved the way for Henning's Broadway Magic Show, a few years later, was not profitable.
Magic illusions are fundamentally a "spectacle"...circus-type of awe. A storyline gets in the way. You can't emphasize both. You can do a story with illusions, such as Disney's stage version of "The Beauty and the Beast" or spectacular illusions with a thin theme such as Copperfield's "Escape from Alcatrez" but either the illusions of the story has to be the focus. You can't do a good job with both. This is one of the reasons I am down on many Gospel Illusionists. The Substitution Trunk used as an example of The Sacrificial Atonement is a bit of a stretch and over the head of everyone but a seminary systematic theologian. (I actually saw it done that way once!)
When all is said and done, the audiences leaves all magic illusion shows with the major question, "How'd he do that?"....Sure there are a lot of pretty things and glitz and nice looking assistants but the appeal is mystery and awe. It is possible, and I think desirable, to incorporate an up-lifting segment. Kevin Spencer always concludes his illusion show with the story about how he was almost killed in a truck wreck and struggled back to physical health because he had hope and a vision for a better future (with his conviction of God's help) for himself. Audiences like it and it makes them feel good.
I am going to give you a few suggestions for these "feel good" impressions but first you need to understand that any show, which I define as more than a couple of tricks, needs an emotional energy track. Paul Osborne goes into this in his book on creating an illusion show. English Lit majors in college study Gustav Freytag's "dramatic structure" line. You may have learned this in High School English: The exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the denouement.
How do you move along the timeline with an "opening", "middle" and "conclusion"? How do you keep people interested? Obviously in magic you need to pace the sequence of spectacles and give the audience time to relax and laugh and then pump them up again. Here is where the skill of routining comes into play. One approach is to figure out a scale of one to ten on the excitement a trick creates and then put together a routine starting with say an "7" and then a "5" and "4" and build up to a
"9" and "10". Use a piece of graph paper and draw the timeline and the numerical emotional intensity of each effect. Henning Nelms goes into great details on how to do this in his groundbreaking 1969 classic book, "Magic and Showmanship". It is in paperback from Dover Books and the best 10 bucks you could spend. Nelms also includes many lessons on how to walk, stand and speak. He borrows from the theater arts for skills and tools to make an entertaining magic stage performance and his book is also loaded with many original prop ideas.A great series of eleven articles appeared in Genii magazine . They began in October of 1988. Ray Pierce called the series, "Pansophical Production" and the series is one of the most complete instruction guides on how to put together a magic stage show I have seen.
I have been a theater professor at Valencia Community College for the past 20 years and my suggestions are to attend as many dramatic presentations as you can, comedies, serious contemporary drama and classics. Observe how the author moves you along emotionally. Also read plays. Read them with a metacognitive method.
In others words, have a goal and a purpose and a critically detached intellectual method of analysis of what you are reading. And then, observe ( never copy! )how other successful magicians routine their shows.
Now, let me get to some "feel good" impressions that I use. My conviction is that if I ask someone to watch me or pay to watch me, they deserve to take some spiritual or emotional or intellectual personal progress with them. I am not interested in merely presenting cheap thrills and mindless bubblegum for the eyes. Television can give you all of that stuff. Depending on the venue, I always include a thought provoking effect in my presentation. At the July Ring meeting I did Dan Harlan's "Gloves in colors" effect , with my own patter. It motivates people to understand how a group of people with common interests always have a place for others. I have a similar patter using the colored feather wreaths that I did about 4 years ago when I was the MC at the annual ring banquet
In children's shows I make references to how learning math and science are fun. I also have "Doodle Cards", ( I showed them at the August Ring Show) a series of drawings that promote critical thinking and imagination. My Egyptian Sand trick is an appeal to balance in your life between the body, the intellect and the emotional. (I also did this once at a ring banquet)
In some stage shows I will do the "Strait Jacket" with a presentation on how to get through tough times in your life. I almost always end my large illusion show, for family audiences , with a Patriotic scene producing the Statue of Liberty.
The idea is that when people leave the show they take something emotionally (a change of attitude) with them. Aristotle, in Poetics One, describes the "katharsis" in a drama. It is the "change of attitude" about the meaningful and eternal ideas, you took with you from the presentation. It is accomplished by a purging (katharsis) of the emotions "through pity and fear". Aristotle believed that art involved imitation (mimesis).
A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in language with pleasurable accessories, each kind brought in separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not a narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions. (Poetics 1449b.24)
Aristotle distinguished six elements of a drama: Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle and Melody.
I find it amazing that concepts written over 2,000 years ago can still give us great insight into how our magical arts work! Think about these things as you routine and sell yourself to an audience.
Finally, thank you for your many good words about the unusual routine I did with an audience volunteer with a coat hanger through the body.
The routine began as 'Corinda's Powers of Darkness' and the printed instructions were sold by Magic Incorporated (Chicago) for years. But that version used either metal macramé or wooden embroidery hoops.
Mike Caveney is "Mr. Coat Hangers" and is the one that adapted it to a coat hanger that is stretched apart.
The Caveney version of Powers of Darkness is pretty much the 3 basic moves that I used. But, I changed the patter and softened the mood of the routine. Caveney is a great entertainer but , in my opinion, sometimes gets too arrogant and smart with his audience volunteer helpers. I present the effect as a psychological demonstration of what it feels like to be fooled...and promise to make sure they will understand what I secretly did while their eyes were closed. In my show for lay people, I demonstrate it quickly again with the volunteer's eyes open so they can see what I did and that gets an equally big response from the volunteer and the audience. After each explanation to the volunteer I ask the audience to applaud her for being such a good sport. In the interest of time, and having a magician's audience, I did not do that at the ring show. I just want the audience to enjoy watching someone totally bewildered. (Isn't that the Post-Modern appeal of David Blaine and Criss Angel?)
One key to the demonstration is selecting an emotional and emotive volunteer. Rebecca was great.
The trick is home-made. I got the hangers a few years ago from ( I think I said in the routine) Bed, Bath and Beyond my Budget .
You can cut the one hanger with a strong pair of pliers and then you will need to epoxy the twist at the hanging loop end since it will be loose. I use a 5 minute , 2 part epoxy glue, available at Home Depot or Lowes. Then you should hit the glued area with some aluminum spray paint.
One final note: I almost always carry a Leatherman pocket tool ( small pliers) and have on a number of occasions borrowed " a few" coat hangers from the host at a house party using the excuse that I need " to pick a good one" . I then doctored up one and did the routine impromptu! It always is a crowd pleaser!
Dennis Phillips
I believe Mark O'Brien had a problem with audience bewilderment in the 2006 Jacksonville summer production of his "Walking Through Fires" show-play. Mistakenly, the theater put up only the words"Magic Show" on the highway marquee and confused the issue even more in the minds of walk-in traffic. The show was really a play about Mark's two successive warehouse fires in Orlando in which he believes business competitors torched an uninsured half-million dollars worth of his illusions. His mixture of grand and brilliant illusion scenes with complicated dialog and two dimensional characters was a bit too artistic for the Jacksonville crowds.
One of the greatest illusionists of the 20th century,South American based, "Fu-Manchu" (David Bamberg) tried to mix spectacular illusions with a dramatic storyline and plot in a giant stage production in Mexico City . The show opened featured within it a series of dramatic storylines and a half-hour story/illusion segment called , "A Trip to the Moon" with an ingenious and giant magic robot. The show flopped badly and Bamberg went back to his classic illusion presentation never to try such a show again. J. Marberger Stuart, originator of The Dragon Award, was the co-producer of the 1969 Off-Broadway play, "Make Me Disappear", which featured a vanishing elephant. Though it paved the way for Henning's Broadway Magic Show, a few years later, was not profitable.
Magic illusions are fundamentally a "spectacle"...circus-type of awe. A storyline gets in the way. You can't emphasize both. You can do a story with illusions, such as Disney's stage version of "The Beauty and the Beast" or spectacular illusions with a thin theme such as Copperfield's "Escape from Alcatrez" but either the illusions of the story has to be the focus. You can't do a good job with both. This is one of the reasons I am down on many Gospel Illusionists. The Substitution Trunk used as an example of The Sacrificial Atonement is a bit of a stretch and over the head of everyone but a seminary systematic theologian. (I actually saw it done that way once!)
When all is said and done, the audiences leaves all magic illusion shows with the major question, "How'd he do that?"....Sure there are a lot of pretty things and glitz and nice looking assistants but the appeal is mystery and awe. It is possible, and I think desirable, to incorporate an up-lifting segment. Kevin Spencer always concludes his illusion show with the story about how he was almost killed in a truck wreck and struggled back to physical health because he had hope and a vision for a better future (with his conviction of God's help) for himself. Audiences like it and it makes them feel good.
I am going to give you a few suggestions for these "feel good" impressions but first you need to understand that any show, which I define as more than a couple of tricks, needs an emotional energy track. Paul Osborne goes into this in his book on creating an illusion show. English Lit majors in college study Gustav Freytag's "dramatic structure" line. You may have learned this in High School English: The exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the denouement.
How do you move along the timeline with an "opening", "middle" and "conclusion"? How do you keep people interested? Obviously in magic you need to pace the sequence of spectacles and give the audience time to relax and laugh and then pump them up again. Here is where the skill of routining comes into play. One approach is to figure out a scale of one to ten on the excitement a trick creates and then put together a routine starting with say an "7" and then a "5" and "4" and build up to a
"9" and "10". Use a piece of graph paper and draw the timeline and the numerical emotional intensity of each effect. Henning Nelms goes into great details on how to do this in his groundbreaking 1969 classic book, "Magic and Showmanship". It is in paperback from Dover Books and the best 10 bucks you could spend. Nelms also includes many lessons on how to walk, stand and speak. He borrows from the theater arts for skills and tools to make an entertaining magic stage performance and his book is also loaded with many original prop ideas.A great series of eleven articles appeared in Genii magazine . They began in October of 1988. Ray Pierce called the series, "Pansophical Production" and the series is one of the most complete instruction guides on how to put together a magic stage show I have seen.
I have been a theater professor at Valencia Community College for the past 20 years and my suggestions are to attend as many dramatic presentations as you can, comedies, serious contemporary drama and classics. Observe how the author moves you along emotionally. Also read plays. Read them with a metacognitive method.
In others words, have a goal and a purpose and a critically detached intellectual method of analysis of what you are reading. And then, observe ( never copy! )how other successful magicians routine their shows.
Now, let me get to some "feel good" impressions that I use. My conviction is that if I ask someone to watch me or pay to watch me, they deserve to take some spiritual or emotional or intellectual personal progress with them. I am not interested in merely presenting cheap thrills and mindless bubblegum for the eyes. Television can give you all of that stuff. Depending on the venue, I always include a thought provoking effect in my presentation. At the July Ring meeting I did Dan Harlan's "Gloves in colors" effect , with my own patter. It motivates people to understand how a group of people with common interests always have a place for others. I have a similar patter using the colored feather wreaths that I did about 4 years ago when I was the MC at the annual ring banquet
In children's shows I make references to how learning math and science are fun. I also have "Doodle Cards", ( I showed them at the August Ring Show) a series of drawings that promote critical thinking and imagination. My Egyptian Sand trick is an appeal to balance in your life between the body, the intellect and the emotional. (I also did this once at a ring banquet)
In some stage shows I will do the "Strait Jacket" with a presentation on how to get through tough times in your life. I almost always end my large illusion show, for family audiences , with a Patriotic scene producing the Statue of Liberty.
The idea is that when people leave the show they take something emotionally (a change of attitude) with them. Aristotle, in Poetics One, describes the "katharsis" in a drama. It is the "change of attitude" about the meaningful and eternal ideas, you took with you from the presentation. It is accomplished by a purging (katharsis) of the emotions "through pity and fear". Aristotle believed that art involved imitation (mimesis).
A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in language with pleasurable accessories, each kind brought in separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not a narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions. (Poetics 1449b.24)
Aristotle distinguished six elements of a drama: Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle and Melody.
I find it amazing that concepts written over 2,000 years ago can still give us great insight into how our magical arts work! Think about these things as you routine and sell yourself to an audience.
Finally, thank you for your many good words about the unusual routine I did with an audience volunteer with a coat hanger through the body.
The routine began as 'Corinda's Powers of Darkness' and the printed instructions were sold by Magic Incorporated (Chicago) for years. But that version used either metal macramé or wooden embroidery hoops.
Mike Caveney is "Mr. Coat Hangers" and is the one that adapted it to a coat hanger that is stretched apart.
The Caveney version of Powers of Darkness is pretty much the 3 basic moves that I used. But, I changed the patter and softened the mood of the routine. Caveney is a great entertainer but , in my opinion, sometimes gets too arrogant and smart with his audience volunteer helpers. I present the effect as a psychological demonstration of what it feels like to be fooled...and promise to make sure they will understand what I secretly did while their eyes were closed. In my show for lay people, I demonstrate it quickly again with the volunteer's eyes open so they can see what I did and that gets an equally big response from the volunteer and the audience. After each explanation to the volunteer I ask the audience to applaud her for being such a good sport. In the interest of time, and having a magician's audience, I did not do that at the ring show. I just want the audience to enjoy watching someone totally bewildered. (Isn't that the Post-Modern appeal of David Blaine and Criss Angel?)
One key to the demonstration is selecting an emotional and emotive volunteer. Rebecca was great.
The trick is home-made. I got the hangers a few years ago from ( I think I said in the routine) Bed, Bath and Beyond my Budget .
You can cut the one hanger with a strong pair of pliers and then you will need to epoxy the twist at the hanging loop end since it will be loose. I use a 5 minute , 2 part epoxy glue, available at Home Depot or Lowes. Then you should hit the glued area with some aluminum spray paint.
One final note: I almost always carry a Leatherman pocket tool ( small pliers) and have on a number of occasions borrowed " a few" coat hangers from the host at a house party using the excuse that I need " to pick a good one" . I then doctored up one and did the routine impromptu! It always is a crowd pleaser!
Dennis Phillips
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)