Rebuilding A Mystery

Performing in the 21st Century

Magicians always run the risk of seeming archaic, but perhaps the suggestions for Giving Kick-Ass Presentations In The Age Of Social Media might help avoid that.

Blaney Parade in The Linking Ring

I certainly haven't hesitated to criticize The Linking Ring, so to be fair, I'd like to point out Walter "Zaney" Blaney's parade in the December issue. When a longtime working pro tips routines right out of his family shows, it's worth your attention. Some of the routines need updating (such as the one that uses fire), but look past that to see their practicality.

Look. At. Me.

Marco, a software developer who's blog and work that I admire, writes about an interview with an orchestral musician in Countless Hours of Work Just to Be Invisible.. He calls out the observation that professional musicians spend countless of hours mastering the art of disappearing while playing. It's all about getting the music right, and getting the hell out of the way of the way of the song. Marco goes on to observe that the same thought applies to great design and software.

Doesn't this also apply to magic? Many magicians insert themselves into the performance in ways that dierespect the mystery, and as a whole, our culture values those who "improve" upon the classics by discovering new ways to further distract the audience. If we sought to demonstrate our respect by making the show about the performance, rather than the performer, would we get more respect in return?

Advise for You Tube magicians

"I tell my people that if they want to be artists of TV, the screen is their canvas, but they have to repaint it every three seconds." - Roger Ailes (Fox TV) ESQUIRE, January 2011

iPod for Magicians

My article about how to turn your iPod into a self-contained cue sheet for your show is now available at Secret Art Journal.

The craft of magic

Ray Ketcham writes about Art vs. Craft at his website. His subject is photography. Or, is it?

In the Spotlight

My local Costco has a nice set of battery-power LED spotlights that I've found to be quite handy in my magical theatre here at home. (I have an automaton that benefits from some extra light when it is performing.) I can't find them at Costco.com, but here's what the package looks like in case you want to try to pick up a set:

For $20 you get the lights, a couple of mounting options, a remote control (pictured below), and, surprisingly, a complete set of batteries. Here's a better view of one of the spots.

They can be dimmed, too, but as you can see below at full power they're plenty bright. The remote control provides on/off and dimming, but it's IR so it requires line-of-sight to unit and must be within 10 feet or so away from the lights.

I'm really pleased with the value and performance, and might even pick up another set if they're still in stock next time I visit the store. According to the packaging, these are manufactured for Costco, so if you look elsewhere expect the packaging and contents to differ slightly.

UPDATE: I've heard that not all Costco locations carry these, In my store, I found it in the same aisle as lightbulbs and batteries.

Board of Advisors show at Magic Chicago

On July 7, 2010 I'll have the distinct pleasure of opening for two of Chicago's modern masters of mystery: Eugene Burger and Ross Johnson. It's sure to be a fantastic show. Tickets are available at the Magic Chicago website. Hope to see you there!

Ah, the good old days

This is from The Sphinx (Vol 49, 1950). The trick is "The Mummy" by Zerr, The Mind Mystic:

[this trick] may be used with a girl from the audience. ... A girl is put into a sack and tied to a post with ropes at the ankles, just above the knees, around her waist and around her neck.

Of course, the biggest trick is developing the social blindspot that allows you to believe this is a reasonable thing to do with a volunteer from the audience.

Marco's MultiVid

I've been disappointed by all the "iPhone magic" applications I've tried, but that's the subject for another post. It's refreshing to see an application for magicians, built by a magician. By none other than Marco Tempest, which isn't a surprise if you think about it.

MultiVid/ is not a trick, but it has one up its sleeve, so to speak. It's a method of synchronizing video playback between several iPhone OS devices. This allows you to create a video wall that stays almost completely in sync, without having to haul around several computers.

A niche product for sure, but one that could be exceptionally useful if you need it. Thanks for making it available, Mr. Tempest.