Steve Spill. This guy lies for money!

•February 19, 2015 • Leave a Comment

152I have been doing my prep work for an upcoming story about Steve Spill for Vanish Magazine and just last night finished reading his new book “I tell lies for money.” I don’t want to pre-empt my own story, which is going to be presented in a Playboy style 20 questions format, but I do want to write a blog post to recommend this fabulous book to all our readers.

I first met Spill about 40 years ago when I arrived as a young magician in Los Angeles, and have been a fan of his work ever since. Steve and I haven’t really got to spend a whole bunch of time hanging out together as we are both fairly fanatically hard working and prolific performers. We are usually busy doing what we do. However I have always been interested and kept a close eye on what he is doing because it is usually of enormous interest and always totally unique.

I was a close friend of Steve’s dad Sandy at the Magic Castle, who proudly kept me up to date on his son’s slightly crazed antics as he cut a swath across the magic scene. The first time I had actually met Steve was when we were both performing our auditions together to become Castle performers. I was excited because I had just bought a copy of Spill’s first book, “My hands can be your hands.” I still own it— it is probably worth some serious bucks these days!

Steve’s most recent book is due for official release in May and you can check out the details and order a copy from Amazon by steve_spillclicking on http://www.amazon.com/Lie-Money-Outrageous…/dp/1632204924 I can safely guarantee that you will not be disappointed with it if you are a fan of magical history. Steve has mixed with and learned from the greats over the years and shares some marvelous stories about his friends and mentors such as Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Bob Sheets and Penn & Teller.

As you turn the pages of the book you will travel along the amazing timeline that Steve has walked like a tightrope, stretched between his prodigious skills as a magician and his flamboyantly eccentric gifts as a showman. From his early residency with Bob Sheets at the Jolly Jester in uber-hip Aspen, right though to his 17 plus years owning and (still) operating “Magicopolis” in Santa Monica. It has been a fascinating journey. I am pretty darn sure that this is just going to be volume one of his autobiography, and feel confident that Spill will be zigzagging towards even bigger and more eccentric goals in years to come. He is that kind of guy.

Reading the book you will be able to explore Steve’s signature tricks and singular approach to creating magic that stands out from everyone else in the field. While there are no tricks explained or taught in it’s pages— it would take a mighty un-resourceful magician not to learn a great deal from this book. However, don’t look at it this way— just settle back and enjoy the stories and anecdotes that are scattered throughout the 30 chapters that comprise the book. It is a fine and funny read.

photo 1As many of you know I feel very strongly that for all the magic books that feature tricks and moves, there are not nearly enough that help document the day-to-day events and characters that make our industry such a unique one. It was my goal when I started to write this column nearly eight years ago to help to rectify that situation. I am delighted to recommend this book to all our readers and heartily suggest you buy or download a copy at your soonest opportunity. It achieves this end superbly.

I say this in spite of the fact that Steve’s book dedicates an entire chapter to the entirely amazing “Dr. Qs Hypnotic Act.” This routine is one of the greatest secrets ever to have been available and almost universally ignored by magicians over the years. I’ve used a variation of it for years and I have frankly been delighted that it has never been performed much by the magic fraternity at large. Well I guess the cat may well be out of the bag now…

Once again you can access “I lie for money” via the Amazon site at http://www.amazon.com/Lie-Money-Outrageous…/dp/1632204924

You can also discover the details of Steve’s cult magic club “Magicopolis” by visiting its website at http://www.magicopolis.com

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: , ,

A couple of mini-rants about magic on the Internet….

•February 13, 2015 • 3 Comments

Cowboy hatLike so many other magicians I spend rather a lot of time on the Internet checking out what is going on in the magic world. In fact I think it is probably fair to say that I spend a little too much time trolling those digital dens of magic. I thought I would dedicate this blog entry to a couple of fairly non-vitriolic rants on the topic. I could have got a lot more heated if I said everything I really feel!

In years gone by if you wanted to mix with other magicians your three major choices were; your local magic store on a Saturday morning, the local meeting of a magic club or a full-scale magic convention. The brick and mortar magic shop is fast becoming a feature on the endangered species list. Happily the local magic club is still on the scene and magic conventions seem to be multiplying and increasing in quantity and quality every year.

With the decline of actual magic shops most magicians now keep up with the latest releases in the magic world by viewing videos on the new effects on the various online magic stores websites. It is interesting and somewhat amusing to see how these online commercials have taken over from the old printed catalogues that we all used to spend hours pouring over. They can be just as deceptive in the way they present their products but in all honesty a certain amount of guile in sometimes needed in promoting these items.

As an owner of an online magic store I can see the problems involved in these video demonstrations. Everyone would love to just photohave a straightforward performance of your latest effect, however, if you are retailing an expensive item, this isn’t always something that appeals to the digital dealer for very good reasons. Some viewers seeing a funny/clever routine are then apt to “cherry pick” moves, ideas and jokes without purchasing the routine and this really isn’t fair to the retailer, creator or legitimate purchaser of the routine.

If you want to get a little more information about the effect you are interested in you can always visit a magical forum such as (but certainly not limited to) The Magic Café. While this should prove ideal in theory, in practice it is often a fruitless effort and sometimes downright maddening. The ability for anyone to comment on this kind of forum gives a democratic element to the proceedings that is sometimes unfortunate and frequently unhelpful.

When you visited a magic shop and the owner gave you input on a routine, he was usually pretty accurate in his assessment of the value of the trick to you. He usually also knew a lot more about the effect than is usually the case in forums or Facebook pages. The disassociated and anonymous nature of the Internet can allow totally false premises be presented to the reader. People who know nothing, or very little, can often make bold and sweeping statements.

778928 Let me give an example, I made a trip to the Magic Café and followed a thread about one of my releases “Nick Lewin’s Ultimate Linking Finger Routine” and was amazed to see the manor in which someone who had absolutely no idea about the routine presented a series of statements that were actually laughably incorrect. He did so with an air of authority that totally belayed his pitiable lack of information on the topic. Did I correct it? No, I decided not to bother or to comment on the issue, life is too short.

In a similar instance I read a very earnestly written question on SME by a young performer about what he needed to do to become a professional magician. As a performer with over 45 year professional experience, I was astounded by nearly every response he received. It was amateur advice that was being rendered to boost the egos of the people responding. Almost none of the advice was of any possible practical use to the person posting the question. I took the time to contact the young man involved and actually spend some time on the phone with him trying to be of some practical assistance. I felt that it was the right thing to do, but no I don’t do this all the time.

The Internet is fun but it isn’t always as accurate as it could be and I believe we need to all be aware of the limitations inherent inPhoto on 9-10-12 at 7.02 PM it. However, the scariest part of the Internet to me is what is being presented to non-magicians on sights like YouTube. The amount of magical secrets available to the public is downright alarming. A whole new breed of folk are arriving whose interest in viewing magic doesn’t stretch to becoming a magician, or even finding a book, they just Google a description of the effect.

The amount of (usually) badly presented “How To” videos on YouTube is both alarming and sickening. I really do not think lay audiences should be casually allowed to watch the inner secrets of a stunning magical effect such as Penn & Teller’s Bullet Catching Routine. Call me old fashioned, but seeing some gawky kid explain someone else’s routine to the general public in order to create an “Internet identity,” flies in the face of everything I feel sacred about our art.

Well, I don’t have any real answers to my rants in this piece. Internet has changed everything and there is no going back, however I do feel more than a few misgivings about the new directions it is heading in. Needless to say there is also much that I love and approve that has appeared alongside the negative aspects of the technological twists that the Web was introduced to the magic world, but that’s another blog post!

Posted in Entertainment Reviews, Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: , , ,

Magical stuff in the Lone Star State!

•January 23, 2015 • Leave a Comment

imageI want to focus in this blog on some great upcoming magical events right here in the Lone Star State of Texas. We have many fine magicians living here and there are quite a few cool events to add to the magical calendar. If you live in neighboring states then maybe you might plan on visiting us to catch them.

February 28th is the date of the annual world famous magic auction here in Austin. It is always a red-letter day for lovers of magic who want to acquire that exciting rare prop or book. This event has been around for over three decades and they certainly do it right. You can get all the information to join in the fun from their website at http://austinmagicauction.com

I am very excited to be part of “Magic at the Vortex” a really great magical event on January 21st. Fellow Austinite magician Patrick Terry has been quietly turning this wonderful little theatre complex into a new home for quality magic. This is his third event at The Vortex and the two of us will be performing an evening of unique magic. Performing a guest spot in the show will actually be my first public appearance in my new hometown and I am greatly looking forward to it.

Patrick Terry is a very talented magician who is also developing quite a reputation as a magic producer. Terry was born in IMG_0805Americus, Georgia and in 2002 moved to New York where he started to really hone his performing skills, working with one of my favorite groups of magicians — the Monday Night Magic team. Terry also appeared in many college and private venues where his audiences included many celebrities and even some members of a Royal Family or two.

In 2013 Patrick created and produced the first of his acclaimed “Wondershow” productions in New York City. The show, a modern vaudevillian experience with an emphasis on the magical arts, quickly became a NY favorite. It is considered by many to be a major vision of the way our art form can be successfully presented to modern audiences.

AndrewGoldenhersh_07022010_05On March 20th and 21st Terry will be bringing his “Wondershow” to Austin for its premiere engagement outside the Big Apple. This production will also be housed at the delightful Vortex theatre, which should prove to be a perfect venue for the event. A unique showroom, elegant bar and delicious food from one of Austin’s ubiquitous food trucks make this the perfect spot to spread the “Wondershow” brand.

Flying in to participate in “Wondershow,” will be my good friend the multi-talented Andrew Goldenhersh. In my opinion Andrew is one of the brightest lights in the contemporary magic scene and it is always a delight to watch him present his quirky and singular magic. Also being imported for the event will be Marcus Monroe — a rock star amongst jugglers, and Vinny DePonto, an innovative conjuror hailed by the New York Daily News as “delightful and terrifying.” Celebrated storyteller Peter Aguero will be hosting the event, which will feature local performers and musicians to round out the two-hour show.

To find out more details about “Wondershow” and purchase tickets (it will certainly sell out) visit the Vortex website at posterhttp://www.vortexrep.org If you would like to view a brief video from Patrick Terry’s last performance in the theatre, check it out at http://vimeo.com/116761601 I will look forward to bringing you an in depth review of “Wondershow” at a future date.

Rounding out some other upcoming Texas magic, I am delighted to say I will be presenting my magic lecture in the cities of Houston on 26thJanuary and in San Antonio on the 28th of January. If you want more details of these events then contact me at lewinenterprises@gmail.com and I can give you all the facts and figures.

I should not forget to mention that Austin will be hosting this year’s annual TAOM convention from September 4-7th. This is always a fabulous event and 2015 has a great line up scheduled which even includes the opportunity to visit the world famous “Esther’s Follies.” If you haven’t visited “Esther’s …” then you may have missed the chance to watch the amazing Ray Anderson. As I have stated in the past, Ray is not just an outstanding magical performer but may very well be the funniest magician working today. I attended his show four times last year and each visit was an education and a delight.

My message is simple, if you want to catch some great magic this year, then “all y’all” should think about a trip to Texas. Don’t even get me started on the barbecue food and breakfast tacos you can enjoy during your visit!

IMG_0781

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: , , , , , ,

A few thoughts on Promo photos….

•January 17, 2015 • 1 Comment

bc5d4273_stdOne of the most important tools that a performer has to sell his show is his promotional photo. The truth of the old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words’” is never more valid than it is when you are hoping for a stranger to sign a contract and give you cash for performing for them. There are other vital elements to getting that booking but let’s look at the humble photo in this post.

Obviously the quality of your video demo is a pretty darn vital factor in getting that booking too, however, sometimes it takes a decent first impression to make that potential client even watch your video. I have been a full time professional magician for over 40 years and I can honestly say that I never remember a time when competition for paying gigs has been tougher. Everyone with  website can pose as a pro and dilute the market.

The successful performer needs to have an 8×10 that makes a potential buyer feel that he is looking at someone who is worth investing his or her time and money in. If you are a magician then it is nice if he gets a feel of magic from the photo. However it is much more important the client registers the personality of the performer than feels like he is merely looking at a bunch of props. Clients buy performers, not props unless they are desperately unsophisticated.

There are a lot of magicians out there competing for every gig. You need to have every little bit of edge possible to get the signed BC5D2290contract for that show. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to be naïve enough to think that it is the best magicians who get the best gigs. It is the performer who has the best promotional package to represent them to a cold customer that usually gets the gig.

Obviously the game changes dramatically when the client knows you personally, has received a recommendation or has seen you perform. This is the ideal situation and can radically affect the way you can lock onto that floating gig. However let’s look at the all too common case of someone who wants to hire a magician and is digitally reviewing his options.

The first line of attack in booking a gig is in having a nice website with some good video on it. In this day and age this is how bookings are made. Even if you are having your work represented by an agent the chances are he will either have your video streaming on his site or at the very least a photo and brief resume. A potential booker might have a dozen different magicians to check out and if he doesn’t like the photo on your website/brochure/video then he might just go right on to the next one.

So what makes a strong promotional photo? It really needs to highlight the personality of the performer and reassure you that spending some time in his company is going to be an enjoyable experience. The best way to achieve this is to find a really great photographer and be willing to spend what it takes to get a high quality session. I have seen magicians who have spent small fortunes on their props but skimp on the photographer they use. No, a friend with a camera and a tripod probably won’t be able to get the job done right.

bc5d4342_stdPlan out exactly the photo you want before you go into the studio. Look on it as a show and rehearse and plot what you want to walk away with. If you don’t have a clear-cut idea of the photo you want then chances are the photographer won’t either. If you have all your ducks in a row then a good photographer will probably be able to take your idea to the next level.

One further piece of advice that I consider useful but will probably lose me some friends, make sure your photos are recent, nobody wants to hire a magician and then think his father arrived to do the gig! Don’t even think about using a black and white photo unless there is a damn good artistic reason. Chose a photo that highlights YOU! Finally and most importantly use a little creativity in choosing the pose for your photo.

Let’s back up on that last sentence. A quick glance at your magical Facebook friends will give you an idea of poses that are done to death and scream, “I am just like everyone else.” Remember what I said about clients looking at a bunch of photos in a row. Current key photographic offenders are— just to name the top three.

1     Standing behind a picture frame. IE a picture within a picture, it is boring, overused and such a stock photographic stand by that it should be avoided at all costs.

2     Making a “Shhhhh…” gesture with your hand to your mouth utilizing a hand that is palming a card!

3`    Standing behind a fire wallet with a shocked/surprised look on your face.

None of these were bad photos originally, but are now clichés, which say nothing other than, “Gee, I’m just going to do what everyone else does!” Is this the image you really want to present?AcornWorkflow-2011.06.08 09.07.53

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: ,

My Good friend Alan Watson receives a wonderful honor….

•January 8, 2015 • Leave a Comment

It is with very great pleasure that I get to write this blogpost!

alan-watson-qsm-vacMy good friend and editor Alan Watson has been recognized in the 2015 New Zealand New Year’s honor list by Queen Elizabeth and is to be awarded The Queen’s Service Medal. This is a truly unique honor to be bestowed on a magician. The award will be presented by the Governor-General of New Zealand Lieutenant General The Right Honorable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO on behalf Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture in May.

This highly prestigious award was presented to Watson for his services to the magical arts, which makes it not only a wonderful tribute to Alan but also a powerful boost to the recognition of our art form in general. To my knowledge this is the only Royal award of it’s kind that has been presented to a magician for his life work.

“I was really thrilled for the magicians in New Zealand because it meant our art form was being recognized with a royal honor,” Watson said of his surprise award. He says he has no idea who nominated him for the award and wondered at the detail in the biographical note issued by Government House. “I was astounded, where did they get all this information from?”

The letter Watson received from New Zealand’s Prime Minister The Rt. Honorable John Key went on to elaborate on the reason 30715_444145009528_3959976_nfor the award by stating; “Our success as a nation relies on citizens from all walks of life stepping forward, helping others, seeking new ways of doing things, and reaching for their dreams. You have made an outstanding contribution to that success and enriched the lives of us all.” Everyone who knows Watson will appreciate the resonance these words have when applied to Alan.

As you may imagine a great deal of consideration and research goes into the decision of presenting an award such as the Queen’s Service Medal. When you read the elements that went into the choice of Watson to be granted this honor it is an impressive list. Let me just mention just a few of the previous awards that have been presented to Alan.

In 2010 Watson received The International Presidential Citation from The Society of American Magicians. In 2006 he was the recipient of the New Zealand Variety Artists Club Benny Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2005 he received Grand Master of Magic Award, Supreme Award. 2005 also saw Watson presented with The International Brotherhood of Magicians, Presidential Citation. In 2002 Watson received the prestigious J Marberger Stuart Foundation, DRAGON Award.

325369_10150615994289529_1027175138_oHowever it isn’t the awards that make Alan Watson such a great addition to the magic community, it is his actions that have been the reasons for receiving these accolades. He has promoted magic tirelessly and selflessly his entire life, and raised New Zealand’s profile enormously in international circles across the globe. In the last ten years he has arranged $70,000 of sponsorship for young magicians to attend conventions and lectures in New Zealand. Not just a proud member of the magic world Alan is a proud ‘Kiwi,’ and never prouder than when he can combine these two loves in this sort of manner.

It has been my privilege to work on Magic New Zealand with Alan for the past seven 10565121_10152656440164529_3005399526163369409_nyears and I am always amazed at the endless energy and enthusiasm that he dedicates to this wonderful and totally free magical resource. Money is not the motivation for Magic New Zealand or any of Watson’s magical projects—he makes a very fine living as a magical performer! The reason that Alan shines as such a bright star in the magic world is his sheer love of our art form.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Watson on this wonderful recognition for his contributions to magic over the years. Those of us who are lucky enough to know Alan didn’t need any special awards to appreciate his singular achievements, however the fact that half a world away in Buckingham Palace this was noted and rewarded by Queen Elizabeth is something very, very special. Congratulations my Kiwi brother.

132

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: ,

Seven steps to constructing a successful and commercial magic act.

•December 12, 2014 • Leave a Comment

bc5d4298_std

Seven Important things to think about….

I was reading a thread on Facebook the other day where somebody was asking for advice on how to structure their act to make it the most effective that it could be. It was a very good question that got some answers that ranged from good to left field dreadful. Well I guess that is the Internet for you!

I pointed the magician in the direction of my magic Blog www.remarkablemagic.com . It contains hundreds of hours worth of writing that covers many such topics under the general tags such as ‘Performing Magic’ etc. However, I thought it was such a simple and direct question that I might have a shot at seeing how many of those thoughts I could fit into a page on this blog post.

Here are seven general rules that I have formulated on this particular topic:

1     Your opening effect is all about letting the audience get to know you. Make sure you know the trick really well, that it doesn’t run too long and also that you have plenty of chance for making eye contact with the audience. Don’t waste your best trick by using it up front in the show, the audience is primarily judging you!

2     The closing trick should be your strongest applause getting effect. Notice I did not say strongest piece of magic. It is generally best not to make this effect too cerebral, because an audience lost in thought may not be applauding as much as they should. I also 100% believe that you should never have a closing effect that leaves you with any audience members onstage for obvious reasons.

3     The show doesn’t close with your final trick, it finishes with your final bow. Your final bow should be very carefully planned,bc5d2340_std rehearsed and executed. I have seen many good magicians end their shows with terrible bows that undo all the good that went before. I have also seen some pretty poor acts save the day with a nifty final bow!

4     Make sure that all your tricks are not running the same length of time. There should be variety involved in your set list, with longer and shorter effects carefully balanced to keep the attention of the audience. There is a sometimes an unhealthy emphasis in magic on how much time you can ‘get out’ of a trick. Find a couple of effects in your show and see how short you can make them without weakening the effect.

5     Texture is a key ingredient in planning a show. Don’t allow several items in your show to involve the same elements. Don’t do three card tricks in a row, many people don’t like card trick—they might put up with one but you will loose the battle if you do three. We are called a variety act for a reason and we should make sure that we incorporate variety into the fabric of our show. Be particularly careful not to unintentionally duplicate specific genres of effects such as restorations or predictions.

Nick-29 6     Don’t be tempted to do too many tricks in your show that involve bringing audience members up onstage. It is fine, and indeed important, to break that 4th wall occasionally but if you keep bringing people onstage and then herding them back to their seats a short while later it can become repetitious and monotonous. At the very least never do two tricks back-to-back that require bringing assistants onstage. As long as there is no serious visibility problem it is sometimes very effective if you venture into the audience to enlist their assistance.

7     Always have one extra trick in your case/pocket that can be performed if you need it. Sometimes shows run short, tables get knocked over, things go wrong or you just simply want to do something a little extra. I always have my Ultimate Cards Across and the Six Card Repeat in my pocket, which leaves me prepared for any eventuality. Even if you never need to use that ‘extra’ it will give you a lovely sense of confidence to know that it is there.

If any of my readers are interested in getting my newsletter send us an email at lewinenterprises@gmail.com and we will sign you up. Every month we feature special offers to our readers so they can save a little money on our product line.

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: , ,

Three Great Magic Podcasts to download.

•December 4, 2014 • Leave a Comment

AcornWorkflow-2014.11.25 21.49.02I am constantly amazed at some of the amazing free resources available for magicians these days on the Internet. There are websites, e-zines, magazines, forums and podcasts all available to each and every magician. I certainly wish they had been around when I was starting out in magic!

I have been a fan of the idea of podcasts since they first arrived on the scene. We are now, so I am told. In the great second age of podcasting and I am pleased to hear it. The opportunity to listen to performers discuss their art is a tremendous benefit to the community.

I was recently featured on a couple of relatively new podcasts and was delighted at how well both of them were being handled. I would like to take this opportunity to share the details of them with you and I sincerely hope you will check them out. I think you will like them a great deal.

The first podcast I want to tell you about is Kris Sheppard’s Successful Performer Cast, it is a one-hour weekly interview with various members of the magic community. Kris is a very skillful interviewer and he does a great job of talking his guests into revealing quite amazingly useful information to benefit his listeners,

Kris has featured some very interesting guest on his podcast and I strongly recommend you visit his website to learn more detailsNick-13 www.successfulperformercast.com You can also subscribe to his Podcasts via iTunes.

The second Podcast I would like to recommend is brand new and also shaping up to become an excellent resource. It is called What’s Your Passion and is produced/hosted by Samuel Lewis. You can access the website at http://www.tscn.tv/category/podcast/whats-your-passion/ and also subscribe via iTunes. I think you will like Sam’s style as he follows his passion by sharing information over the Internet.

Magic New Zealand also gives you weekly updates from Scott Welles about the content of his latest podcast in his The Magic Word Podcast. At 200 episodes Scott is a real veteran of this trio and his superb podcast is also highly recommended. You can subscribe via iTunes and also find details at http://www.themagicwordpodcast.com

We are lucky to have so many people working this hard to supply us with the invaluable information and entertainment that their podcasts supply. A great deal of dedication and work goes into the production of broadcasts of this quality so make sure you support them!

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: ,

Seven solid reasons to give magical thanks this Turkey Day!

•November 27, 2014 • 2 Comments

IMG_7253As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, I thought it might be a nice idea to dedicate a short column to highlighting a few special areas in the magic fraternity where I feel some big thank yous are in order. Some are personal but most are general—here we go…

1     I want to begin with a big thank you to my two editors Alan Watson at Magic New Zealand and Paul Romhany at Vanish Magazine. Both of these gentlemen put a great deal of their time and energy into these two wonderful free magic resources. I am a small part in their publishing schedule but it does allow me to see from up close the very real commitment they take in adding something special to the magic world through their respective roles. Thank you Alan and Paul for your hard work and constant enthusiasm in spreading the magical word.

2     A big thank you to Stan Allen, Richard Kauffman, Sammy Smith, Michael Close and alan-watson-magicianall the other editors who work hard at uniting the magic world with their publications. The written word is still the central currency in our fraternity and anyone who doesn’t appreciate the vital role taken by gentlemen such as these needs to think about it seriously. Editing a magic journal is hard work and above all a labor of love. Thanks guys keep up the great work.

3     A special thank you to everyone out there who is still fighting the times and tide by running a brick and mortar magic shop. The old fashioned magic shop is an endangered species and the efforts required to actually own a front door and keep it open to magicians is enormous. There are many pleasurable things about buying magic on the Internet, however there is NO sense of community. Let’s support those folk who are battling the economic difficulties of remaining physical in a digital world. You are doing a great thing with your commitment and dedication.

haunted-places-la-magic-castle4     A huge thank you to the entire dedicated gang that make up the staff and officers of the AMA and the Magic Castle. It is wonderful to watch the Castle continue to go from strength to strength and build on its popularity into the second half of its first century. This crazy, impractical place is still working out beyond the wildest dreams of its architects and creators. Like every other member of a private club I occasionally like to bitch when everything isn’t accomplished exactly the way I think it should be done. However let’s just be grateful and give thanks for what a truly amazing job is being done of giving the world a classy, profitable showcase for the magical arts. I am truly proud to be a member of your amazing club and always excited to visit our visionary clubhouse.

5     Thanks to all the officers of the various magic clubs and societies around the globe that help unite our curious community of magical enthusiasts. These clubs don’t run themselves, and it is a dedicated bunch of volunteers that keep things running smoothly. Our magical lives are greatly enriched by these organizations, both big and small, that strive to create meeting spots for magicians to gather. Thank you one and all.

6     A big thank you to the television industry for apparently deciding that magic and magicians really can be a vibrant part of francowhat you have to offer to the public. The high visibility that magic is currently enjoying on the airwaves is a boon and benefit to every performing magician. I don’t ever remember a time when there was more magic on TV. A particularly big thank you to Matt Franco for doing such a great job in winning America’s Got Talent; I for one never thought that this would happen. I am thrilled that magic achieved such a mainstream success due to Franco. Good luck with your Vegas show Matt, I can’t wait to see it.

7     Finally some heartfelt thanks to YOU — all the readers who allow me to be a writer. Next February marks the beginning of my 9th year as a columnist and writer in the magic world and it has been a lot of fun. After 45 years making a good living performing magic it has been extremely rewarding to be able to participate in the sharing of knowledge and information that is made possible with the written word. It has been my privilege and delight to become a small part in the fabric of the magic community in this manner. Thank you not only for reading my thoughts and opinions but taking the time to share your own ideas, correct me and inform me along the way.

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: , , , , ,

Performing for free………only sometimes!

•November 21, 2014 • 4 Comments

bc5d2219_stdI have been following several threads online that have been discussing, in a quite heated manner, the pros and cons of doing free shows. This has certainly been something that has been debated ever since I can remember—without any definitive results. I suspect that so many different conditions are involved in the matter that there will never be a clear-cut answer to the situation.

I feel that there will always be a place for magicians to decide they want to use their talents to benefit a good cause, whether one on one, or in the form of a fund-raiser for good charity causes. It is very satisfying to be able to contribute a show and know that you have done some good by your actions. Without wishing to be hokey, it can really make the world a better place.

Where the situation gets a little problematic is when you realize that you have been taken advantage off. For instance is everyone getting a salary except the performer, this is often the case and it definitely rubs me the wrong way. There does seem to be a culture of being dismissive in handling a performer due to the fact that the service he renders is primarily an artistic one. I don’t like this one little bit and feel no need to put up with it.

I have been asked to perform at events when it has been quite obvious to me that the inclusion of an entertainer was a last minute “throwaway” idea, and I find this less than flattering. It is usually also an indication that your treatment if you perform will be just as casually handled. If this is the case, at this point in my career I generally point out that I choose my charity shows carefully and am not in a position to help them. I wish them good luck, behave pleasantly, but do NOT suggest other performers who might be able to help them.

The red flag that I find the most disturbing in these situations is the tired old cliché they sometimes trot out that you will be able to benefit from bc5d2300_stdthe exposure offered by the event. This is almost never true. By making a statement of this sort I feel the potential client is just trying to influence you in a rather insulting fashion. Without making a big deal about it, I just point out to them that my goals in entertainment are a little more specific than the nebulous promise of exposure. It has always been my experience that free shows lead to more free shows.

There are also occasions when a very little enquiry leads you to realize that in performing a free show you may actually be taking a paid show from the hands of a professional performer who might actually need the show. I don’t think this is at all acceptable and it should never be encouraged or countenanced by any ethical performer. I really didn’t need to say though, or did I?

bc5d2243_stdIt is vital that we raise the communal standards of the magic world in our handling of these tricky issues of pro bona or barter performances. While every situation is different, I am usually amazed at the amount of nerve displayed by potential non-paying clients when dealing with magicians. It really doesn’t exist in anything like the same manner in most other professions. No one asks a comedian to do two hours of strolling magic at a charity event!

If an established charity or a truly good cause asks you to donate your services for an event then you have every right to happily agree to do so. However, if you are abetting a manner of dealing with the magic fraternity that in any way belittles or diminishes them, you need to be careful to show higher standards than the potential booker. Point out that you should be treated as a professional even if the organizers want to handle your booking as an amateur event. This is just common sense.

Make your decision based on the individual event and the way it is presented to you, however don’t look back and moan about it later if you get it wrong. The key information about these kind of events can usually be discerned when you are initially being asked to perform, so make sure you ask the right questions. Take the time to get it right. I never like to hear magicians deriding other entertainers who perform at charity events, however I do think those events should really be legitimate charity events.

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags:

A really great new Podcast to check out…

•November 16, 2014 • Leave a Comment

 

 

cropped-phpEnBwkPAM

I just had the opportunity to be featured in the second episode of a really cool new podcast and wanted to share it with you!

During my recent visit to Kentucky I was interviewed for an episode of a brand new podcast called “What’s Your Passion.” The gentleman behind this new project is Samuel Lewis, who proved to be an excellent interviewer and quite an inspiration. I heartily recommend you check out his podcast and RSS it so that you don’t miss any future episodes.

You can find the website and download the podcast at http://www.tscn.tv/whats-your-passion-episode-2-nick-lewin/

bc5d2192_std

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians
Tags: ,

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »