Patrick Murray and Matilda making their own kind of magic in Las Vegas!

•August 22, 2014 • Leave a Comment

matilda-and-partickI want to mention a new show that has just opened at the D Hotel in Las Vegas. I think it will be of considerable interest to performers visiting “Sin City.” The new production is called “Jamaican Me Laugh” and stars Patrick Murray, one of the finest ventriloquists that I have had the pleasure of working with. Patrick is the mega talented sidekick of Matilda—“Jamaica’s #1 Comedienne.”

Every now and then I take the opportunity to introduce my readers to variety acts that I feel will be of particular interest to our primarily magical subscribers. Patrick is a natural in this department as his skills as a ventriloquist and puppeteer deftly turn his show into a fascinating demonstration of theatrical illusion. Watching the misdirection and illusion involved in this show is truly a learning curve for most magical acts and could prove an invaluable lesson in stagecraft.

I always enjoy watching Patrick work because he seems so deeply involved in the nuts and bolts of his craft and yet makes it seem so effortless that Matilda-and-Patrickhe achieves a very special hyper reality. Rarely if ever will you see a performer pay such intense attention to his craft. In many ways Patrick is a highly traditional ventriloquist and would not have looked out of place stealing the bill on an old Ed Sullivan show in the fifties. When you see Matilda communicating with him, within seconds you dismiss any sense of the artificial and are totally caught up in their relationship.

Of course, it really helps that both Matilda and “Second City” trained Patrick are both incredibly funny. While many contemporary ventriloquists feel a need to bring out a succession of different one- joke characters and milk them for some obvious jokes, this is not the way Murray does business. Matilda and Patrick interact like a well-honed comedy team and their routine avoids many of the clichés that so often pop up in a show like this. This really is character-based comedy rather than merely novelty material and you will likely find yourself laughing so hard that you may not fully absorb his faultless technique.

“Jamaican Me Laugh” can be seen seven days a week at the D Hotel in downtown Las Vegas with a show time of 2.30 pm. If you want more details about ticketing then check out their website at http://tickets.thed.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=15&MV=8%2F19%2F2014&c or go to Patrick and Matilda’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/JaMakinmelaugh The show began an indefinite run this week and I strongly suspect it is there for the long haul. Catch the show early and avoid paying the larger ticket price that is bound to follow.

04cef5dWhile you are at the D Hotel catching Patrick’s show at 2.30 I strongly recommend that when it finishes you have a drink at the bar and then go right back into that same showroom and catch “Laughternoon Starring Adam London” immediately afterwards at 4.00 PM, ticket info for Laughternoon can be found on the Internet at http://tickets.thed.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=7

I have long been a fan of Adam and his show just gets better and better. This is a wonderful chance to catch two fine entertainers in an intimate setting without paying an arm and a leg for your tickets! Make sure you stop by and say hi to them after their shows, as you will have trouble finding two much nicer guys.

 

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Magic is all over the Airwaves….

•August 14, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Masters of IllusionI am interested to notice how much magic is popping up on the television in America these days: other variety arts are not seeing anything like as much airtime as the magical arts. It isn’t quite the kind of magic we were seeing on the airwaves a decade ago, but it is interesting to track the changes in what is being presented. It is also educational to spot the change in demographics that the networks are aiming for. Magic is now being aimed at a decidedly youthful, but not a kid’s audience: I like that.

The most traditional show on the air is the new season of “Masters of Illusion” on the CW Network. It is a very solid show that features a bunch of excellent magicians who have been brought into a studio and then let loose to film a couple of TV segments to be edited together for future episodes. These are nicely produced shows that will be airing for many years to come and delighting viewers. The intrinsically old fashioned approach of this series in no way handicaps is success or longevity.

The rest of the magic currently being seen on the television networks fits more readily inside the mantle of “reality programming,” and can be broken down into two basic models, talent contests and specialty programing. It is safe to say that the legacy of David Blaine and The Masked Magician has not been entirely lost on the studio executives when you look at this specialty programing. Currently we are not seeing any outright exposure of magic such as Valentino brought when Fox TV updated The Mystery Magician format, however we are seeing some decidedly updated takes on magic.

The highest profile magic slots are those being featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Unlike England, where fast paced and testosterone Fool-Us-Penn--Teller-with-007drenched illusions are ruling the roost in Britain’s Got Talent; the American spin of from the British show is currently discovering the joys of smaller magic. The “break-out” magicians on AGT this season are Tomas De le Cruz (AKA “Smoothini The Ghetto Houdini,”) David & Leeman and Mike Super. All are doing a nice job of representing quite different schools of magic. As previously noted none are presenting any mega-sized effects, very refreshing in my personal opinion. Will any of them win the big prize on AGT? I suspect not, but reputations will definitely be made and careers launched.

Penn & Teller can currently be seen on the CW Network in a re-run of their British series “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” I am guessing that if the British series catches on with viewers there might well be an American version of the show. This would work better for me, I must have been away from England too long because I totally fail to “get” host Jonathan Ross—I know he is a giant in English television but to me his appeal is as big a mystery as Russell Brand.

JustinWillmanWatching Penn & Teller deconstruct a series of lesser magicians is a lot more entertaining than I first assumed it would be and it will be interesting to see whether the series crosses over to an American audience. The biggest rival to the success of P & T: Fool Us may prove to be the dynamic duo’s new “magical reality” series Wizard Wars debuts on August 19th on the Syfi Network. It sounds rather intriguing to watch teams of magicians creating magic illusions from random props.

Add Michael Carbonaro’s hit series The Carbonaro Effect, on truTV, into the mix and that is a lot of magic available for viewers. The Candid Camera meets Street Magic take on a magic show has proven to have a wide appeal to viewers. Soon to be appearing on the airwaves is a new variety series by the talented and likeable Justin Willman, which is sure to feature some magic. I have a hunch that this newly announced project might shape up very nicely and could prove to be a real ratings winner for the Cupcake Wars host.

Yikes, we seem to be entering an exciting new golden era of TV magic. We just need to be able to find all those cable channels that are offering these new shows! I guess that is what Tivo is all about…..

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Chairs and other gems from Bill Abbott Magic.

•August 7, 2014 • Leave a Comment

bill-abbott-about-sliderI was very impressed by a recent release from Bill Abbott Magic and I want to take this opportunity to give you a heads up about it. It is a beautifully prepared book/DVD that covers the classic ‘stunt’ where four spectators are seated on four chairs onstage, then lean backwards onto each other laps before the chairs are removed one at a time. The spectators remain in a ‘human sculpture onstage in the most amazing formation. The effect is very appropriately marketed under the name “Chairs,” although it is the spectators that always remain the prime focus to the audience.

If you have never seen the stunt performed then it is really tough to describe exactly how amazing it looks. In the “One picture/Thousand words spirit” I would suggest you click your way to Bill’s site www.billabbottmagic.com and watch his video trailer of “Chairs.” It is a really stunning piece of theatre, not only amazing but really funny at the same time. With nothing less than absolute honesty Bill points out that there may be no other way to practically guarantee a standing ovation without even traveling a single prop! With a pleasant economy of words Bill neatly sums it up, “Nothing packs smaller. Nothing plays bigger.”

The routine is one of Bill’s Pro packages and was developed, perfected and released by Steve Seguin. The cost of the routine is $100 dollars and I had a payment in Bill’s hands prior to the release of the trick. A few days later I received the book and DVD and can honestly say I was delighted with it. The routine is covered in the kind of detail and thoroughness that puts Abbott in the very top league of magic dealers. I will be performing this routine, which does leave a certain part of my brain wondering why I am promoting it here!

I have been very impressed by many of the releases from BAM (Bill Abbott Magic!) and I can honestly say he has become something of a guru for meScreen-Shot-2013-04-04-at-11.52.54-AM as I develop my own online magic business. The material he releases is practical, audience tested, commercial and perfect for any performer looking for top notch ‘put in the act’ ready material, The magic marketplace is filled with releases that are bright ideas that have never fully been developed into show ready routines. Avoiding this pitfall seems to have been a major part in Abbott’s game plan. Bravo, this is a website that magicians should explore very thoroughly.

The first routine that I received from Bill was his “”Shot & Stabbed effect and like many of my other trick was purchased for me by my wife Susan, who has a very fine eye for a strong magic effect. The basic effect reminded me a lot of Roy Johnson’s insanely overlooked card stab but with a wonderful extra punch. It was so appealing that I instantly ordered a second one—my standard proceedings with any effect that I actually plan on using.

Other gems that I discovered in Bill’s product list included “Smart-Ass,” “Celebrity Smart-Ass,” “The Sting” and “GPS” Chris Funk’s rather brilliant non-card handling of the Tossed Deck. While I am deeply entrenched in my own handling of the Gypsy Thread, I was also very impressed by the Peter Samelson version of this classic effect entitled “Heartstrings.” All of these are really fine releases and each could find a place in any commercial act very beneficially. The detailed instructions that are a constant feature of Abbott’s Pro Package line makes it an easy job to master the necessary subtleties and get the effect ready to perform smoothly with minimal time and fuss.

starbillI want to give a special shout out to “Cabaret Card Magic” a really neat $25 book that you might easily overlook on the web site with its bland title. Featured inside this oversized and highly compacted book is some great information, invaluable tips and techniques and three stone cold killer routines. There is pretty much an entire and very strong act included within its covers for the enterprising performer. With a deck of cards, and a couple of other items in your pocket it is possible to really entertain a contemporary audience with what you learn in “Cabaret Card Magic.”

This is the first time I have waxed lyrical about a magic line in any of my columns and I do it after some careful though. While cherry picking a trick or two from an online resource is certainly possible (though not always as easy as one would hope,) to find an entire magic line of commercial and well-produced items is an extremely rare and exciting find.

My first mentor was the great Ken Brooke who had the distinction of being a magic dealer who was so discriminate in his selection and handling of his magic releases that many of his clients just bought one of everything he released without needing to enquire what it was. Bill Abbott is striving for, and achieving, that same high-level consistency, and all of us performers get to reap the benefits of his actions.

Check out the product line at http://www.billabbottmagic.com and while you are there sign up for his blog—it has a wealth of great free advice in it. I have been a full time pro-magician for 45 plus years and I frequently find myself impressed by the insights I pick up from it.

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Barnaby: who makes it look like magic.

•July 25, 2014 • 1 Comment

I was deeply saddened by the recent untimely death of my friend Barnaby the Juggler. This is a brief article that I wrote about him in approximately 2009 for Magic New Zealand. I thought it was worth featuring here on my blog as it still seems to very accurately say what I felt about Barnaby as a performer. 

Barnaby-8X10-promo(1)This week I want to introduce you to a performer who takes the art of juggling and manages to make it look like magic. Originally an English professor, Barnaby began his practice of juggling when he discovered how much money one of his students was making as a juggler! Shortly thereafter he ‘gave up his day job’ and became one of the two finest jugglers It has been my pleasure to witness. If you feel that he doesn’t belong in a series entitled ‘Meeting With Remarkable Magicians’ then you’ve never seen his trick of lighting a cigarette in his mouth with a match thrown from behind his back.

I have one or two firm rules that I cling to in the variety world and one of them is that no juggler should be allowed to perform on a stage until he has watched Barnaby perform. Why? The answer is simple because he has created a persona that elevates his performance to a level of artistry that is seldom seen in a juggler. His stand up comedy and feats of juggling are unique and display a dedication to character that is rare indeed in the juggling world: or the magic world either.

The moment he walks onstage you know Barnaby is a one of a kind. He has long (very long) white hair that makes him look like a cross between Buffalo Bill and a hippie who has been stranded for too long in the traffic en route back from Woodstock. In his immaculate tuxedo he looks somewhere between dilapidated and distinguished! When Barnaby opens his act he quietly stands center stage for a moment or two before 2006 block partyremarking, “I just wanted to give you a chance to absorb me.” Then the act proceeds at a leisurely and controlled pace that is far different from the breakneck pacing of the average juggler. He eschews the wiseacre remarks that are as interchangeable as the tricks of other jugglers. He understands something that every performer needs to learn: people are watching him and not just the things he is doing.

This is something we all need to absorb in the entertainment industry.

If you have never seen Barnaby perform I heartily recommend that you do, or at the very least try and pick up his DVD. If you have a love of the performing arts you will not be disappointed and you may learn a lot!

As for Barnaby’s name it harkens back to his professorial roots. The first person that can tell me its origin gets a signed copy of my new comedy magic CD. ‘The Magic of Laughter.’ Good luck!

Farewell my friend. It was an honor and a pleasure knowing you. You can check out one of Barnaby’s coolest tricks (as described above) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHfwtjyDjVc 

 

 

Posted in Entertainment News, Magic, Magic and Magicians

Magic, Magazines, Tricks, Routines and More! (or why I’m exhausted…)

•July 25, 2014 • Leave a Comment

IMG_2993 - Version 2I want to take this opportunity to bring you up to date with some of the exciting things that have been happening in my non-performing life as a magician. After over 45 years as a full time performer I am really enjoying sharing some of the things I have learned and I have been keeping very busy recently.

Every week I still write a column for Alan Watson’s great magic ezine “Magic New Zealand.” I was trying to figure it out and I believe I am now well into my sixth year of contributing to this great little newsletter. You can access it at www.magicnewzealand.com

As many of you know I have also been writing for Paul Romhany’s wonderful digital magic journal “Vanish Magazine” since its very first issue. It is a really great magic resource and damn the price is right, it is free! I get a chance to write some extended articles and biographies. I recently wrote cover stories on Mark Wilson, Daryl Bill Abbott and have another cover story I am very happy about in the issue published next month. If you haven’t discovered “Vanish” yet, then you should go to www.vanishmagazine.com and download an issue or two! I am extremely proud to be a part of the fabulous team of contributors that Paul has lined up for his magazine.

I have also been spending quite a bit of time and energy on my online magic company www.lewinenterprises.net and I am very pleased with the product line we have developed. I have a wonderful team working with me on this particular enterprise. My wife Susan runs all the business side of things and is the best postage/packing person in the biz! My props are hand crafted by Master manufacturer and builder Rolando Medina, our graphics and design are handled by the amazingly gifted Steve Mitchell. What a team—I am proud to work with them.

Lewin Enterprises has a really nice line of magic books, DVDs, props and routines for the discerning magician. We are totally focused and IMG_7252concentrating upon releasing top quality professional items. We have been delighted at the enthusiasm and loyalty that our clients have shown. It is our goal to create a small and high quality magic business and I am modeling it on the wonderful business that my first mentor Ken Brooke presented to the magic community. I am determined that if we can’t do something right then we won’t do it. I am rather amazed and astounded how quickly our business has taken off in the two years we have been developing it.

We recently released two new items that are selling like the proverbial “hotcakes,” they are “Nick Lewin’s Ultimate Cards Across” and “Nick Lewin’s Lemon Aid.” These are really commercial routines that will be of great interest to any performing magician, and both have been featured in my act for many years. In fact, “Lemon Aid” is the heart and soul of my professional work. My “Cards Across” is quite simply the cleanest and most visible version of this classic effect you will ever find.

photoMy “Lemon Aid” is a beautifully constructed routine that takes a classic piece of magic and turns it inside out, adding non-stop laughs and BIG surprises. This effect is extremely dynamic and highly visible, comes with a 20-minute performance video that contains over 30 years worth of jokes and laughs that are worth gold to any performing magician. I am extremely proud of the details that have been incorporated into this release and can recommend it from the heart.

just added three new “Trickformational” videos to my website that you can see at http://www.lewinenterprises.net/whats-new.html so if you have a chance to visit the site—check them out! The website also includes some really cool magic videos and interviews. While you are on the site why not sign up for our newsletter that gives information on upcoming releases. Special offers can also be found on our “Lewin Enterprises” page on Facebook. We are currently offering a Summer Special on my book “Cruise Magic 101.”

If you are interested in reading some of my backlog of writing on magic then you may want to head over to my blog www.remarkablemagic.com which has plenty of great articles and magic photos. I enjoy my blog a great deal and it features many informative entries about the construction, honing and performance of a commercial magic show.

Well that brings you up to date on what I have been doing and why I am somewhat exhausted! I am also going to be lecturing and performing Master Classes at several events in the upcoming months, so if you see me around please do come up and chat!

Nick-37

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The View of a Road Warrior from the other side:  by Susan Lewin aka Mrs. Nick

•July 19, 2014 • 2 Comments

I am very proud to present a guest blogger for this post! 

IMG_3460Before Face Book we thought we were all alone. By “we” I refer to the significant others of entertainers who crisscross the globe on a daily basis. These brave road warriors are on the front lines and face global catastrophes, political unrest, war, tropical storms, earthquakes,  airport strikes, lost luggage, and a multitude of potential hazards.

After we pull into the airport unloading zone, transfer the luggage to the curb, blow a couple of air kisses and pleasantly wave at each other, the adrenaline begins to ooze out of my system as I drive towards the airport exit, often in the wee hours of the morning or very late at night. I long to drive through In ’n’ Out Burger, or make a quick stop at a convenience store for a bag of Cheetos, but strive to make it to the market to purchase some nourishing snacks, all the time watching my iPhone making sure that the ringer is on full blast—waiting for “the call.”

“The call” can be anything from “I got through security in five minutes,” “Everything’s going smoothly,” to “My gate just changed,” to “I am delayed for an hour…two hours,” “The airplane’s toilet is broken and sending maintenance to fix it,” to “I am going to miss my connection,” “I think I left the cord to my computer on the table will you check?” “We are stuck on the tarmac,” and “Damn it I am not going to make it in time,” to “I have to spend the night,” etcetera  etcetera.

After 40 years I have heard it all and we have progressed from pay phones, transatlantic ship to shore calls, phone cards, smartphones and Skype. IfIMG_8543 you are the support team you learn to be on hand 24/7 on travel day to field the calls of joy (a seat upgrade to first class) and distress (“My bag does not fit in the overhead on this newly designed plane.”).

Prior to travel day I access the flight information, but I have learned never to check too far in advance because everything changes day to day. Usually I begin about 48 hours prior to departure and check the connections, seat assignments and frequent flyer information. We have ascertained that the client has booked the flight correctly to the correct city, state or country, but mostly the issue is there is not enough time between flights, never enough time to clear customs with the upshot being there is too much time between flights.

The job, however, begins at home and is very specific. My road warrior never unpacks his clothing and is ready to travel at a moment’s notice. He is responsible for packing his suitcase, hence long ago we decided that monochromatic basic black a la Johnny Cash was the way to go. My only job with the clothing is to provide an adequate supply of black socks, tee shirts and black running shoes, and to run a batch of clothes through the washing machine prior to each gig.

The working case is something that I never touch, nor do I fully understand. It conveniently rolls on wheels with a collapsable handle. I know that it contains at least three hours worth of material. I am an expert at purchasing USA Todays (and I keep a hidden stash just in case) and buy lemons in large quantities. The computer bag is totally out of my element and holds so much “stuff” that the mind boggles. I have little idea of what any of it does, but I know that the passport and printed travel information remain safely inside along with wads of 20s from the ATM, and smaller bills for tipping.

IMG_8671Usually, it takes me about 24 hours to recover from travel day as my nerves are shot from the anticipation of all the things that might go wrong, but seldom do. This takes me right through to the pick-up when my road warrior is overly optimistic that his flight will arrive well before the scheduled time. I have been known to circle the airport at least 25 orbits, because by the time he hits the passenger loading and unloading zone his adrenaline is finally giving out as he loads up his baggage, eases into the passenger side of the car and gives me a quick kiss.

We have come 360 and I am now off my 24/7 monitoring duty on Face Book and smartphone because the road warrior is home. Three excited pups and a cat greet him at the door (“Daddy’s home!” we cry out in unison.), and slippers, flannel lounge pants, and tee shirt are laid out as I prepare an elegant meal of peanut butter with marmite on an Ezekiel bread muffin, a shot of premium tequila, an ice pack and Ibuprofen. In a few minutes I’ll find my road warrior asleep on the couch with our small, gray Chinese Crested pup on top of him in a mirrored position.

My job is now complete until the next gig, and we have a little time together to enjoy some domestic bliss.

191145_1642472506508_5294870_o

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Think-A-Drink Revisited!

•July 15, 2014 • Leave a Comment

58There are a handful of tricks that are guaranteed to be audience favorites due to their very nature. These effects become classics and are generally performed by a great many performers. Sometimes you get a classic trick that is not often seen performed live by magicians and its impact is better classified in the ‘legendary’ category. Think-A- Drink is one such effect. I have only seen the effect performed once when Earl Nelson, presented his version of Alan Wakeling’s Bar Act. It totally knocked me out.

There are more versions and names for this effect than you can shake a martini at, but I will continue to refer to it in this brief article as Think-A-Drink which was the title given to it by the man who was so identified with it that it became part of his name—Charles “Think-A-Drink Hoffman. While Hoffman didn’t invent the trick he certainly perfected it to the degree that he definitively came to ‘own’ it in a performing sense. However I personally rather like the title that French magician Ryss gave the effect, ‘Le Barman de Satan!”

Billy McComb always used to say that when a magician was looking for a signature piece of magic to perform he would do well to focus on tricks that57 are complicated to master and rather painstaking to perform and you would find a lot fewer performers presenting the effect in public. Think-A-Drink certainly comes into this category. If you are looking for a classic piece of magic that will stick in an audience’s mind then this trick comes high on any objective list you could make, just ask Steve Cohen how he feels about it. Even better Think-A-Drink has a plotline that can be summed up in a sentence. “The magician poured out all kinds of drinks from a single container—and we even got to drink them!” The best tricks are the ones that can be summed up this easily.

An excellent source book of information was just published that gathers together most of the important aspects of this routine. The book is called ‘Alan Bursky Presents Think-A-Drink,’ and it contains eleven previously published routines, some fascinating articles and personal memoirs concerning this particular effect. The book has been meticulously researched and it does a wonderful job of making its information relevant and useful to any contemporary magician.

On a very practical level the final chapter detailing the various resources needed to perform the mechanics of the trick is probably worth the price of the book if you decide to add the trick to your repetoire. If you purchase this book and read it intelligently you can add the Think-A-Drink to your show, which is quite something to say about a trick that has made as many reputations as this one. I am equally sure there are many magical historians and hobbyists who will be excited to read the book just to add to their knowledge about this somewhat forgotten classic.

The book is published in an electronic edition contained on a digital disc that can be read in a very effective PDF format on your computer. The design and graphics in the book are the work of co-publisher Steve Mitchell and coupled with the classic magic artwork they make the book a delightful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wanted to share my opinion with you. I hope there are more volumes in this series to be released.

The Think-A-Drink book can be purchased for $33 plus shipping/handling. For full details go to http://thinkadrink.weebly.com/

 

 

Posted in Magic, Magic and Magicians

The Carbonaro Effect……

•June 5, 2014 • 3 Comments

 

showposterIt is always nice to see a magician do well on television. Watching the success of Michael Carbonaro certainly warms my heart a little, if only because he looks like a really great guy. I have never met Carbonaro but I would be amazed if he wasn’t pretty much the person that we see each week on the new TruTV hit series ‘The Carbonaro Effect’ every Thursday night.

 

What is ‘The Carbonaro Effect?’ It is a very smooth blend of the old Candid Camera hidden camera TV show and a less ‘in your face’ kind of street magic. The show had its origin in the segments that were presented by Michael on the old Jay Leno Tonight Show. They were a very popular addition to Leno’s program and now an entire show has been created based on the concept.

 

Carbonaro poses as a regular, and here is the key, highly likeable young man, in a public situation and then uses magical techniques to create humorous situations with members of the general public. My favorite example in the first episode involves the apparent mailing (Via Pet-Ex) of cute little puppies in decidedly flat packages. Carbonaro also removed a disgustingly large bug (as in LIVE bug) from an astounded iPhone owner’s smart phone. Both of these stunts resulted in great TV viewing; in turn both cute and gross!

 

It would be missing the entire point of the show to spend too much time discussing how the actual tricks and effects are achieved that form the basis of the action. This is definitely NOT a magic show—and that could be a large part of the immediate ratings success that it achieved. Not many series expand their ratings numbers in their second week on the air but this one did so in an effortless manner. Hey, it even picked up a second season just as quickly and easily.

 

There is a neat combination of traditional magical methods and careful staging that makes each stunt look authentic and effective. A magician michael-carbonaro-06.25pmight look at the camera angles and editing and be a little dubious about how they would fit into a traditional magic TV show. They would of course be totally missing the point! The appeal of the program rests squarely on the shoulders of its star, and he seems more than capable of supporting 22 minutes of reality programing upon them.

 

With a background that includes mainstream acting roles and performance art, Carbonaro has the perfect combination of charm and lanky good looks to win over the female demographic that is so often deeply unimpressed by magicians. Young guys will look at the show and wish that they could do all these cool things that Michael can. TruTV is very actively courting a younger viewer and this is a show that is going to help achieve their goal in a very significant manner.

 

A show like ‘The Carbonaro Effect’ is by its very nature going to rely heavily upon the consistency and quality of the stunts that it manages to pull during its episodes and this show has a real ace up its sleeve. Playing a very major role, albeit an almost invisible one if you look at their website and titles, in the creative side of the series is David Regal. I don’t think you could find anyone more perfect to help create the substance of the show than you get with Regal ‘under the hood.’

 

Both Regal and his ingenious ‘Clarity Box’ made guest appearances in the premier episode of ‘The Carbonaro Effect’ and I suspect David spends a bunch of time hidden under counters and opaque tables getting the magical job done. His unconventional and super effective approach to the magic arts seem to me to be very on display throughout the episodes. Carbonaro and Regal are a formidable team and between them seem likely to be able to keep the quality crackling for many seasons to come.

 

DoubleI thoroughly enjoyed seeing magic get the update and tweak that David Blaine and Criss Angel gave to TV magic by blending traditional magic with the seemingly ‘not about to die soon enough’ field of reality programing. No hate mail please! I am fully aware that not everyone agrees with this opinion, however the ones who don’t are certainly not the demographics that the networks are reaching for. Carbonaro’s new series is once again expanding the style and scope of magic in a really interesting manner—more power to it!

 

One of the interesting sidebars in television history is the failure of the groundbreaking ‘60s series ‘Candid Camera’ to be able to successfully reincarnate after the death of its creator/host Allen Funt. I suspect a large part had to do with the public’s lack of interest in Funt’s son assuming his dad’s role, as some kind of a right of birth. With Carbonaro as the focal point of this new show I think we are going to see a hit show that will serve as a stepping off point to a long and varied career for Michael when he decides to evolve and reinvent his showbiz goals.

 

‘The Carbonaro Effect’ is available as a season ticket pass on iTunes, which is how I view it, having largely cut the cable cord. However, you can view it for free every Thursday night if you discover where TruTV is on your TV dial and I suspect many people will do just that—and this should make for a very happy cable network!

 

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Lectures Past and Future……….

•May 30, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Nick-13Last week Susan and I had the great pleasure of attending the Martin Lewis magic lecture here in Austin, Texas. Although I have known Martin for nearly forty years I’ve never had the opportunity of hearing him lecture and it was well worth the wait. There is no area of magic on which Martin is not a brains trust of knowledge and I was both entertained and informed by his 90-minute lecture.

There were many highlights to the lecture with Martin’s experience and creative approach illuminating all the material that was on display. Many of the items were from his Magikraft product line and Martin and his charming wife Susi did a lot of business at their product table. If you couldn’t find an item to fit your style or taste during this lecture then you just weren’t trying!

Martin was battling a sore throat and potential total loss of his voice but you would never have known by his witty and entertaining presence. A top-notch performer and magical thinker Lewis’ lecture was truly a learning experience, even to a gnarled old road warrior like myself. If you have a chance to catch him lecturing in your neck of the woods then do yourself (and your audiences) a favor and make sure you attend— you will not regret it.

The next best thing to attending a Martin Lewis lecture is taking a digital stroll through his website and ordering some of the audience tested routines that you will find there. You can access his online store at www.magikraft.com

I am delighted to say that I am going to be giving a rather unusual two-day teaching experience myself on June 9th and 10th in Cupertino, Northern California. The event is presented in association with the Society of American Magicians Assembly #94 and is rather interesting in the way that it has been constructed. The activities kick of with me giving a full-scale public performance on Monday the 9th at the De Anza 3 Auditorium beginning at 7.00pm. The show will be followed by a magicians only lecture scheduled to begin at 8.00pm in the same location.

I love the fact that attendees of the lecture will actually get to see a performance before I move into lecture mode. It is a wonderful way to allow theNick-16 attendees to get an overview of the ideas that I will be presenting during the lecture. I think this is a very innovative and effective way to present the lecturer to his full potential. The price for the lecture is a mere $25 for non-members and $5 for SAM 94 members.

My lecture is a chance not only to teach some great magic but also to distill a great deal of performance information into an entertaining package. I do not lecture on a very frequent basis and am happy to say that it has proven extremely successful when I do. I give some priceless information during the lecture that was imparted to me by my three wonderful mentors Ken Brooke, Billy McComb and Maurice Fogel. I hope all my friends in the Northern California area will attend as I have some really great surprises in store.

On the evening of Tuesday June 10th I am presenting a hands-on Master Class between 5.00pm to 7.00pm and I will be going into considerable detail on some very specific effects for those present. Attendance is going to be limited to 8-12 people and I think this will prove to be a really enjoyable, highly productive, one of a kind, event. From 8.00pm -10.00pm that same evening I will be presenting a Performance Critique Workshop and working with attendees on material from the own repertoires. I am really looking forward to this segment and feel it will prove to be a wonderful learning experience for everyone participating.

Full information on this two day event are obtainable by contacting Phil Ackerly at ackerlymagic@gmail.com  or by calling 408 246 8422.                  I certainly will be looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones during this rather unique two-day event.

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The Amazing, and Amazingly Funny Mr. Bob Sheets!

•May 23, 2014 • Leave a Comment

10360353_10203789163835238_6846314182031430950_nSusan and I had the pleasure of attending the 50th birthday party of C.J. Johnston last week here in Austin and it was a great occasion with fine food, friends and drink. There was a lovely additional touch that I want to describe in some detail in this blog, which was the magical entertainment presented by legendary close-up performer Bob Sheets.

I have known Bob since I arrived in America four decades ago but never had the chance to really spend much time with him. I have certainly never got the opportunity to observe him in action in a fairly typical house party environment as I did last Saturday. It was impressive to observe just how skilled he really was in presenting his comedy close-up show to a group of about seventy houseguests. Let me give you a run down of the show.

The attendees at the party seemed a nice blend of magician ‘type’ people and genuine civilians. It would be difficult to estimate who enjoyed Sheets’ performance the most, the magicians or non-magicians. There was certainly plenty of fine entertainment for both groups during Bob’s 45-50 minute show and if magic was not your cup of tea—there were also non-stop laughs to enrich the experience.

Bob Sheets is the epitome of an experienced close-up entertainer and it took about a Nano-second of time for him to let the audience know they were in skilled hands and to settle back and relax. His all-important opening routine had the audience laughing and enjoying the show instantly employing a blend of stand up comedy, sight gags and some very nifty coin magic. Sitting at the back of the oversized living room I was impressed to observe the manner in which Bob worked the room and had the audience settle into comfortable viewing positions.

Sheets had a large, thin wooden table that served double duty in containing his props as well as creating an ideal performance surface. At no time did Bob sit at the table preferring to keep his dominance as a performer and not blend in with the guests. His casual but natty performing outfit was very definitely sleeveless and eliminated any of those ‘up his sleeve’ misconceptions that lay audiences love to harbor. His trademark derby hat framed a face that seldom failed to house a contagious smile.

Much of Sheets’ work fell into the category of stand up sleight of hand and was extremely visible to the entire room. On the few occasions he delved10338746_10203789163195222_1751375711304950590_n into more traditional ‘table top’ magic, the audience readjusted their sight lines accordingly. On these occasions Bob made up for any loss in visibility by extending the focus of his show to participants in the action who sold the magical effects by their animated reactions to the magic.

I was sharply reminded by what a baffling effect The Professor’s Nightmare can be when a little thought is put into its presentation. Bob’s handling of this effect and The Color Change Silks were ample proof that with some refined handling and subtle deconstruction these classics have a huge entertainment potential.

In a gloriously twisted manner the rope from the ‘Nightmare’ ended up being not quite cut and restored. The length of rope did however add a lovely handling highlight to an extremely original cards across routine. The rope finally managed to penetrate Bob’s body in a very clean manner. Sound complicated? Not really but you probably had to be there to fully follow the continuity, so I won’t waste more words.

Another highlight of the show was Bob’s signature Card Stab. There are few effects that are more effective than a well-presented card stab—-and this one was a beauty! Watching the audience crowd around Bob after the show many of them seamed to be discussing this effect. It was certainly a perfect example of strong comedy adding rather than subtracting from a clear cut and highly focused effect. Bob’s use of four cards allowed the routine to routine to build very nicely and added to the audience impact.

After his closing effect Sheets received a well-deserved standing ovation and was a wonderful addition to a well-planned and highly enjoyable event. Bob’s strong comedy and equally powerful magic was a delightful compliment to his warm personality and assured interaction with the audience. It was really fun to be in his audience and I was deeply impressed by such mastery of the art of in-home entertainment.

Oh, and much as I loved the show Sheets followed the Golden Rule of entertainment and left us all wanting more at the end of his set, there is the mark of a true pro!

Here is a picture of Bob Sheets with the Birthday boy himself C.J. Johnson.

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