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February 15th, 2005___ Issue# 017

Rick Carruth / editor_________ Copyright (C) 2005

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Hello All..

It's time.

What time? Time for me to search through the vast untapped, nether land of
that cranial-encased vortex of thought-producing mush I call a brain, and
see if I can put together another issue of eMagic Deluxe Journal of Magic
for you.. my friends and subscribers.

I wish a heart-felt "Welcome" to all the new subscribers, and hope that
you find something of interest in every issue. If you don't.. email me and
let me know in no uncertain terms. Just remember - I try real hard, and
I run real fast..

I have a small buffet of articles and links in this issue;

A) How to deal with request for Fr'ee performances.
B) Michael Close links to some great 'gratis' stuff.
C) A really cool little telekinetic pen you can create in ten minutes.
D) Women in Magic website
E) Steve Martin as 'MortoMagician'... funny stuff!
F) Mac King in concert.. a great little ten minute clip..
G) Misc. links and tools

Lets see if you can read as fast as I can type.. I'm listening to *Jeff
Beck totally 'smoke' a guitar, and I'm typing like a mad-man on
steroid-laced expresso.. so don't blink, Scooter, or I'll beat you there...

~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~:~~

~ Free Shows - And How to Turn a Free Show Into a Paying Show ~

First, I'm sure you heard it said before that if you start doing fr'ee
shows then thats all you will get are requests for fr'ee shows. But there
is a right time to do a 'fr'ee' show and a wrong time to do it.

Upon a request for a free show, carefully evaluate the opportunity and
consider who is making the request. If it's someone I already have a
relationship with, like a previous client, then I will consider it in a
different light then if it is a summer intern asked to go thru the Yellow
Pages looking for a free entertainer.

Second, I consider the organization or event that is calling. If it is
something I feel strongly about, like a Cancer Survivors group, I might be
open to the idea.

But I won't do it for free...they just don't have to pay me with money.

Even great organizations like the Cancer Survivors group who typically
doesn't have a budget for entertainers, can still provide me with something
of value. I request: A) A written testimony on their letterhead B) A
picture of me at the event with their bigwig. C) Inclusion in their
advertisements and/or programs.

This is a very valuable way of building your reference folder up and
getting some great testimonials. Plus you do something good for a great
organization.

The other thing to ask while getting the details of the event request is to
find out if all the other performers also donating their services. If
someone is asking you to do something for free, don't be afraid to ask
more details about who else will be there and are they getting paid.

I just agreed to do a free show, and at the same time, turned down a
request for a free show..

The show I agreed to do is in my home town, and the group that is asking me
is a local community group that already pays me to do their Christmas show
each year. No one there is getting paid and they expect to have 400-500
children there. I will be the 'featured' performer, they will give me a
great testimonial letter and for sure, the media will be there. I love
press releases!

The show I turned down? A BANK that is not in my backyard, who is calling
around looking for an entertainer who wants to get exposure by performing
at their Halloween party.

I explained that if I showed up at their event they would be the one
benefiting from the exposure!

Once I decide to donate my services to an organization, I explain that I'm
willing to perform fr'ee as long as I don't get a call for a paying gig on
the same day.

This could send the person that is calling into a tizzy because maybe they
were planning on advertising there would be a clown so they could generate
some excitement around the event. So then the organizer might say 'Oh, but
we are going to include your name on the advertising flyers so we really
need you to be there...'

Well, then as gingerly as I can, I explain to them that I perform for a
living and I have to consider my loss of income if another call comes in.
I add that I would be willing to donate my performance if your organization
can cover my expenses.

Now the conversation will revolve around how much will that cost. And I
explain that just like a business, due to my overhead costs, my expenses
are roughly 50% of my fee. So if I would normally do their type of venue
for $180, then if they would be willing to cover my expenses for the day
for around $90 I can make sure to be there.

On the occasions that I have tried this, they have been able to come up
with the funds to cover my expenses and make sure I am there. I think the
key here is once they understand you are doing this for a living, as a
business, then they recognize that you would be doing it at a loss.

I wouldn't try this for every FR'EE show request, but on the few that
qualify you might want to try it! Why not turn a FR'EE show into a paid
gig? Sure, it's not my full fee. But that way if I do get a call for
another gig on the same day I wouldn't feel like it was a total loss since
I covered my expenses for the day.

(article edited slightly for space)

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My friend, Ester Beris, is a magician. Ester is also one heck of a clown.
She writes a series of marketing lessons that rival any published by the
so-called "internet guru's". So, whether you're a clown, magician, or
related performer - you MUST sign up for Ester's free course at:

(Link not working..)

Ester Beris - Clown Marketing Institute

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~ WOMEN IN MAGIC ~

Speaking of Esther.. if you're a woman who performs magic, is married to a
magician, or acts as an assistant, be sure to check out:

This link is no longer working...

The site's just getting underway, but promises to be something truly
unique, and this is your chance to get in on the ground floor. Highly
recommended.

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 ~ Free Resources ~

- Michael Close's Shuffles Routine -

"Generally speaking, I prefer to conceal rather than display my technical
abilities. However, every now and then, a particular venue or crowd demands
an approach that features eye candy. In such situations, I usually perform
The Shuffles Routine.

I have performed this routine for more than 30 years. Not only does it get
howls of laughter from an audience, it provides several excellent lessons
in audience management. It has served me well, and I'm certain it will do
the same for you." Michael Close...

www.michaelclose.com/downloads.html

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- The Workers Ebook -

Michael Close's Workers Series contains some of the most commercial,
entertaining, and powerful magic ever published – repertoire that spans
almost 30 years of professional performing in real-world conditions.

You can get a free chapter of Michael's ebook at: www.michaelclose.com
and looking for the link near the bottom of the page.

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- Psychic Stunts -

psychic magic and mentalism - apparently paranormal demonstrations-
genuine online ESP and PK tests- other interesting oddities and games-

It's '30 odd' mental tricks are meant to be a little bit of fun.-

www.mdani.demon.co.uk/stunt/stunt.htm

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- Free Mac King Video -

Watch these two classic videos featuring Mac King . They are about four
years old, but both are just a funny now as they were then. Watch as a
comic master performs his magic and harvest laughs simultaneously.

The first video is an interview with Mac and the second is a ten minute
stage performance courtesy of Las Vegas Internet TV..

www.lasvegasitv.com/videos/macking/macking.html

=======================

1. Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron."
The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive."

2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you,
but don't start anything."

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~ Flick Your Telekinetic Pen ~

This is an update to an old principle used in "Arrowsmith's mystery box".
(credit-unknown)

EFFECT: Take a BIC type ink pen from your pocket, tell a little story
about how your dear, departed grandmother was a gypsie, and how she taught
you her inner-most secrets before her passing..

Lay the pen on a table with about one-third of the pen extended over the
edge. Move your hands over and around the pen in all directions to show
that there are no wires or connections of any sort.. Invite your spectator
to do the same..

Back away from the table, even to the other side of the room if you wish,
and begin to gesture toward the pen. Slowly, the pen will begin to move and
finally fall completely off the table, aided only by your psychic powess
and your grandmothers magical wisdom..

SECRET: Empty a BIC type pen of it's ink cartridge. Fill the pen about half
full of a thick substance like motor oil or honey.

Replace the ink cartridge and make sure the pen will not leak. Now, put the
cap on the pen and you're ready to perform.

Keep the pen in your pocket, or in some other location, in a position so
the thick liquid will have settled in the cap end of the pen. Place the pen
on a table with the other end ( not the capped end ) extended over the
edge. Leaving the cap on will provide enough of a slope for the liquid to
flow to the other end and tip the pen off the table..

Experiment a little with the liquid, and you will be able to safely
estimate the length of time before the pen will fall. You don't want your
liquid to flow so slowly that it takes five minutes to tip over the pen.

Doctor two or three pens and you can make them all fall within thirty
seconds of one another..

======================

~ Thumbshots ~

Do you have a web site? Need to generate those small thumbnail-sized
images of someones homepage to create links or ads?

Copy this code onto your website and substitute your target url for [LINK],
wait a few minutes, and 'shazam', your set...

img src="http://www.thumbshot.de/cgi-bin/show.cgi?url=[LINK]" border="0"
onload="if (this.width>50) this.border=1; this.alt='Vorschau bei
Thumbshots.de';"

=======================

~ Gmail ~

I'm sure most of you have heard of Googles new 'Gmail' email service. It's
web-based on super-secure servers, so you don't have to download anything
or replace your current email. You get a staggering 2000 MB of storage,
compared to Hotmails 3 to 5 MB.

Right now, Gmail is available to a select few by " invitation only.."

If any of you ladies or gentlemen who are using Hotmail, Yahoo, or other
email providers who 'Trash' your emails ( and newsletters) before you get a
chance to read them, would like an invitation to join Gmail... email me and
let me know.

I have 40 invitations only! So it's strictly first-40-gets-it-all. Include
the email address you are receiving this newsletter at... assuming you're
actually receiving it.. and I will both send you an invitation, remove your
old address, and sign you up under your brand-spanking-new-1000MB-Google
Gmail account... Click to email me

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I hope you enjoyed this issue. I certainly enjoyed putting it together for
you...

If you have something of interest you would like to share with others,
email me and let me see it..!

May my next issue find you well..

Rick Carruth

Happy birthday Carolyn! (my Sweetheart)