Rebuilding A Mystery

Flash Cards: No joke

I've made fun of Creative Magic's dorky ads before, but they've reached a new low and I just can't resist. In the April 2008 edition of MAGIC they ran a two-page ($$) ad for their new Flash Cards deck. Now, setting aside that the ad doesn't really show the product, it includes the following text:

"No joke, Flash Cards aren't just for kids shows. [...] Flash Cards has endless possibilities for story lines and lots of opportunities for interacting with the spectator including countless jokes: You are thinking of a fruit; not like Michael Jackson but a real fruit!"

Wow. In what world do they live where this kind of wisecrack is considered contemporary, appropriate, or even funny? It's a heck of a way to sell your product, that's for sure. But the cards are probably flying off the shelves in Salt Lake City. Now, speaking of wisecracks, have you heard the one about the boy scout troop leader and a banana?

Teacher fired for performing lame trick

A teacher was fired from his job, at a Florida school, for performing a simple conjuring trick that was taught by Criss Angel on TV. See WFTV Orlando for more details.

Review of Social Distortion

My review of the mentalism trick Social Distortion is now available at My Lovely Assistant.

Review of 52 Memories

My review of the card book "52 Memories," which I very much enjoyed, is now available at My Lovely Assistant.

This just in: Magic embarassing

In the comic strip Luann, the theme of magic continues. I've heard people sheepishly admit attending a magic show, even in Las Vegas, where potential opportunities to shame yourself abound.

If I'm not back tonight, send help

It is with some trepidation that I attend the magician's swap meet hosted by the "Knights of Sleights." My trusted magician friends say it will be worth the trip to the suburban hinterlands, so I'm looking forward to it, but I'm left wondering if Sir Bottom Deal or Downs Palm the Brave will be in attendance. One can only hope, right?

This just in: Magic not manly

Today's Luann comic offers public perspective and a syllogism. Educational no matter how you slice it.

Review of School Daze

My review of School Daze, from Black's Magic, was recently posted at My Lovely Assistant.

Review of Wipeout

My latest magic review is now available at MyLovelyAssistant. Wipeout is method of making a small object disappear, with several caveats.

Bitter magicians

This interview with Gallagher reminds me, sadly, of conversations I've had or overheard with too many magicians.

Review of Simply Psychic

If you're interested in an (inexplicably) inexpensive DVD of tried-and-true mentalism, check out my review of Ross Johnson's "Simply Psychic" at My Lovely Assistant.

Appearing this Fall

It's a bit in the future, but I'll be performing at Magic Chicago on November 5, 2008. Join me for some personal and unusual feats of magic. I'll have more to say as the show approaches.

Memorizing competition

Bah! Somebody call Harry Loryane and give these guys a run for their money. See Software engineer is top U.S. "mental athlete".

Learning how to gesture

A few years ago, in San José, I saw Joshua Jay lecture and he gave a nice tip about how to look natural while palming a card. I won't tip it here (email me if you're dying to know) but I will tell you how to discover it for yourself. Watch the weather person your local TV news. Study how they gesture and how their arms and hands come to rest when they've finished. Their gestures are natural and motivated, but not scripted like you'd see in a drama. (More-so with real meteorologists as opposed to weather-readers.) They're also standing, like many magicians, which makes their motions even more applicable. Watch closely enough, and you'll discover the secret to unnatural naturalness, and probably a few other tips, too.

The power of silence

The article, Influence, echoes the thoughts on the use of silence and pausing in our scripts, ala the works of David Parr and Eugene Burger.

For more useful articles in American's best magazine, see Magician Power Tips.