Hi All

Welcome to the latest issue of Magic Roadshow Journal of Magic. First, I must thank all the new subscribers for becoming a part of our community. If I can help you in any way, let me know..

My wife and I are in the middle of moving... We bought a new home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and are in the process of selling two homes. I can't begin to tell you how scatter-brained I am at this moment. Just packing up the contents of our homes is a staggering task. Maybe my wife is right when she calls me a pack rat..I didn't realize I had so much 'stuff '.

I hope this issue makes sense. I walk around constantly feeling that I've forgotten something.... I'm sure one of you will remind me...

Email Me!

--------------------

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

:: Restaurant Magic

In a follow-up to an article I wrote in issue# 24 titled ' 10 Tips for Getting a Profitable Restaurant Deal', I decided to expand on the subject. My article dealt specifically with HOW to get a restaurant gig, and its only fair to outline one of the major drawbacks to restaurant work once you do get that 'plum'.

Not every part of a restaurant gig is pure joy. Oh sure, you have magicians who absolutely thrive in that enviroment. Some of the top names in magic still perform in restaurants to this day because they love the interaction and personal approach to this style of close-up magic. But others, like Eugene Burger, for example, found restaurant work to be 'less than pleasant'.

Actually, it wasn't the work itself, it was the idea of approaching a table of guest and not knowing whether you would be appreciated - or loathed..

Read on as Eugene tells how he overcame the problem and turned this minus into a rewarding experience...

----------

When I became a professional magician in March of 1978, I turned to restaurant magic because my mind had been dulled by years of regular paychecks, and I felt, without them, my life would simply involve too much worry and anxiety. Restaurant magic provided me with the regular paychecks that I craved and also, and much more important, the opportunity to advertise myself for private and corporate parties -- and get paid for it at the same time!

To be honest, when I began working in restaurants, I really had only the most general idea, derived from observing restaurant and bar magicians while I was young, how this sort of thing was done. I was to learn my trade on the job, as it were, but I deeply enjoyed this learning and so those were exciting times for me. I found out what worked and what didn´t work by trial and error. In the process, I was growing and things began changing.

To give but one example that I discuss in the book, after years of doing restaurant magic, I asked myself the simple question what I dislike most about this sort of work. The answer was instantly there: walking up to patrons cold and trying to interest them in a magic show.

For me, this was the most difficult and awful part of an otherwise most delightful performing situation. Then I asked myself why I was doing it this way. The only answer that came to me was that this is the way all the monkeys are doing it. Since I was being another monkey, I was doing it that way too. In that moment, I also saw how insane it was! And I vowed, then and there, that I would change things and free myself from that aspect of restaurant work that I so disliked. And I did.

I moved to another, more expensive restaurant. When the owner asked, how having a magician in the house "worked," I immediately replied, "Well, since this is such an upscale restaurant, I know that you don´t want me walking up to tables like a traveling Mariachi." "Oh no," he replied, "I certainly don´t want that. How do we do it?"

"Simple," I said, "you tell the waiters to tell each of their tables after dinner, 'We have an absolutely wonderful magician here tonight and he´ll come to your table to do a little show for you. You´ll really enjoy it.'" And that is how I have worked in every restaurant or lounge since. I would never go back. This scenario makes me much more special. Walking up to a table cold doesn´t.

People, when they learned about the magician, either said yes or no -- but not to me. I only went to tables that had made a positive response. Restaurant magic became much more fun. Further, I soon realized that this way of doing things was better not only for me but also for the restaurant.

What any restaurant wants is for every patron to have a pleasant experience without any unpleasant moments. If people are having important conversations and the magician appears, they either have to say no to the magician or watch the show when they really would have preferred to continue their conversation. Having a third person introduce the presence of the magician not only makes the magician more special, it also removes a potentially embarrassing moment for the patrons (and the magician!).

Honestly, it still amazes me how many restaurant magicians continue to see their jobs as walking up to tables and trying to sell these strangers on a magic show. If you talk with many restaurant magicians, as I have over the years, you soon discover that very few enjoy walking up to the tables. Some do, of course, and even find it an exciting and invigorating challenge, but most really don´t.

Most restaurant magicians seem to find walking up to the table an uncomfortable moment that they hope is over as soon as possible. I understand that feeling because I shared it myself for many years when I was walking up to tables too. Happily, one day I realized that enough is enough -- and it was time to move on.

------------------
(Special thanks to Eugene Burger for the idea, and to Genii magazine for permission to re-publish Eugene's thoughts in the Magic Roadshow. (C) All rights reserved by Genii magazine worldwide. www.Geniimagazine.com and www.MagicBeard.com)
 
~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~

:: Criss Angel - Press Release

NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Master provocateur, Criss Angel, will demonstrate his visionary approach to the art of magic that escapes the confines of tradition and gives birth to a new breed of modern mysticism, in the World Premiere, A&E Network real-life series, CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK.

Each week we will follow Angel as he captivates audiences with mind-boggling demonstrations of his skills; go behind-the-scenes as he researches and executes his demonstrations with his crew; and meet celebrity friends who drop by to willingly participate in his antics. The only two-time recipient of the "Magician of the Year" award, Criss Angel melds his original music, surreal characters, daredevil stunts, performance art and, of course, his revolutionary illusions, to provoke an experience that will stir the soul - and that have earned him the moniker "the new Houdini."

CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK, premieres with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, July 20 at 10PM/ 9C.

Read the entire press release HERE..

Press Release Source: A&E Television Network
New A&E Network Series CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK
Released - Friday June 24, 10:32 am ET
 
~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~

:: Magic Posters

Please enjoy these free color posters, courtesy of Lee Asher. Each poster is 11 by 17 and full color. Although you cannot print them off on your home computer ( unless you have 11x17 paper ), Lee provides complete info on downloading and having these posters professionally printed at your local Kinko's or neighborhood print shop.

You can send these PDF's online, and they should be ready for you in a few hours, from most sources..

Cost: about five dollars.. http://www.leeasher.com/posters.htm

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

:: Want Something Free - Prelude

Effect: You ask to borrow a bill and fold it in half lengthwise. Now, produce a playing card and fold it in half in the same manner. The note is placed onto the card and both are folded along their creases, trapping the note inside the card..

Explain how you will remove the note from the card magically. Grasp the end of the note and slowly pull it through the folded edge of the playing card. The note is seen by all to visually melt through the card until it's free...

Solution: Hey, I'm not going to give you the solution to Larry Jennings 'Prelude'. But I will let you discover the answer to this very visual trick by visiting www.LarryJennings.com and looking for a link titled 'Want something free' .. It's not hard to find, and it's well worth the small effort..

PS.. while there, read the bio of Larry, one of the 20th centuries most influential magicians, and long-time associate of Dai Vernon. Also, 'Jennings '67 ', a major work by Richard Kaufman featuring seventy of Larry's closely guarded secrets...( some by Vernon ), has my highest recommendation..
Available through Kaufman & Co. http://kaufman.geniimagazine.com/index.html

www.LarryJennings.com

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

:: County Fair Magic
    Dennis Regling

( editors note: With the upcoming fall season, right now is the time to put to good use the information provided generously by Dennis for the readers of Magic Roadshow... )

County fairs offer a few different opportunities for the magician. The best will be as a paid performer. County fairs are always looking for entertainment for the fair. Sure they bring in the big name country singers, the demolition derby's and horse racing. These things fill the stands - but a walk-around magician or clown also adds to the fair enviroment.

Contact the local fair director and ask about their entertainment needs. You may book to do a family show and /or walk-around. Vendors in the vendors building are always concerned with foot traffic. I have been to fairs where the fair grounds are packed.

People come in for the evening's entertainment, ride a few rides, eat some cotton candy and go home. The only way they will be in the vendor's building is if it is raining or they need to use the restroom. This is a real problem for fair organizers. They want their vendors coming back year after year.

Be the problem solver. Suggest the fair hire you to do walk-around in the vendors building. Of course the fair will need to advertise that you will be there, in their brochure and by a few well placed signs around the fairgrounds. This will bring kids and their parents into the vendor barn and this will in turn help the vendors. You may also be able to make a few good contacts for trade shows.

Of course, several hours of walk-around can be very draining. How much better it will be if the fair will allow you to set up a small stage area, and you do a 15 minute show every hour, or just two or three half hour shows each day.

If you strike out at getting hired by the fair, ask for a free booth. You will perform close-up magic, and sell a inexpensive tricks to the fairgoers. You could also do a small show and pass a hat much like a street magician.

Why should the fair give you a free booth? Because in exchange for the booth, you are entertaining their customers and adding to the fair experience....

------------

Content copyright © 2001-2005 by Dennis Regling. All rights reserved.
Dennis Regling is a professional magician, author and lecturer. He performs educational programs at over 250 elementary and junior high schools every year. Dennis is also the magic editor at www.BellaOnline.com . Visit Dennis at his site- www.MagicMinistry.com

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

:: Pubtricks

Downloadable Magic Video's____

Over 30 different Special Magic Tricks & Illusions available for Immediate download____

No shipping charges, No waiting, No hassle !

www.StreetMagic.info/Pubtricks.html

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

:: Rick Smith Jr. & Ripley's Believe it or Not

I recently ran across a series of online videos featuring Cleveland's Rick Smith Jr. pulling off various 'stunts' with playing cards.. Stuff like setting the worlds record for tossing a card, busting ballons with playing cards, knocking down cans with cards, and showing Carson Daly how he can slice bananas
ten feet away with thrown cards...

I suppose it's a good thing to have a 'niche', and Rick definitely has his own. Hey.. if it gets you national TV, it can't be bad..

Some of these videos are nine to ten minutes long, and feature the actual videos of his appearances on Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Carson Daly Show.

The Ripley video features Rick breaking the worlds record for distance, as well as inpailing cards in watermellons, slicing bananas, and throwing cards to the ceiling of a ninety foot high casino. Rick also shows you how he achieves his distance..

www.ricksmithjr.com

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

:: Homage to Cellini

Following the interview with Cellini in the last issue, I was contacted by Cellini StreetMagic in Switzerland. CSM features a number of books, dvd's, and videos by the master of street magic.

Jerry Sandowitz writes an interesting article about his association with Cellini and watching the master work the crowds in Europe...

---------

"I was walking along when a small crowd caught my eye. Through the crowd I heard an American accent and spotted some rope being cut into two pieces. I stayed to watch the show, was massively impressed, then drummed up the courage to speak to the performer, I told him I was a magician.

"You haven´t got a set of cups and balls I can use, have you? I had my car broken into and my props were stolen. The people, you know? They think it is real. If they take your stuff away, they´ll remove your power.”

I ran back to the hostel where I was staying, grabbed my set of cups and balls, and gave them to Cellini. We struck up a friendship, and although we´ve only met on a few occasions (London, Amsterdam, Edinburgh) my admiration and respect for him is enormous."

Read the rest of the article.. http://www.streetmagic.ch/en/biographie.php

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

:: Virtual Reality Nightmare - Must See Video! ( ala Derren Brown )

OK.. let me set it up... Three gamers go inside an arcade for a little action. One guy puts his money in a new game featuring a 'Night of the Living Dead' type scenario, complete with zombies and other nefarious characters.

Unknown to the gamer, Darren Brown is actually at the controls, behind the scene. With a series of visual flashes intended to neutralize the gamer and induce a hypnotic trance-like state, Darren puts him out...

Quickly, he and his assistant put the gamer on a gurney and take him next door, where they have set up an interior to exactly resemble that of the video game. Arming the gamer with a 'gun', they leave the gamer alone and wake him from his state with an airhorn....

Awake, stunned, and not having a clue where the heck he is, or how he got there, our gamer is attacked by a stream of zombie types...

I know I talk about Derren, and feature resources by Derren, on a regular basis. But he's worth it...

This is what entertainment is all about. Extremely creative and bordering on creepy, you have to see this video. I would give you the link to take you to the free clip, but I would rather you visit my friend, PeaceLove, at PeaceLove's Musings, and get the link from his post..

http://snipurl.com/dbrown

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

:: Sunday, November 6th, 2005
:: The Meadowlands, Magic, Close Up, and Bob

Are you one of the top 225 close-up magicians in the NY, New Jersey, Meadowland area? If you are, even if you THINK you are, you are invited to attend an exciting, brand new, annual, one day, close up convention, conveniently located the the NJ Meadowlands..

Featuring - the legendary Steve Dusheck, one of magic's most
prolific and imaginative minds. - Darwin Ortiz, one of the very
best card technicians in the world. - And Bobby Gallo, who
regulary performs over 400 shows a year throughout the country.

Sponsored in part by my friend Bob, as in www.bobsolarimagic.com , you can get more details at http://www.metro-magic.com -or- call Bob at..
973-546-6110 or 973-773-8818 for all the details ...

I know it's the middle of the summer, but I want you to have ample time to make plans to be there.. And whatever you do, DON'T tell Bob he's under-charging by a cool fifty percent - he might get a wild hair and up the price....

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

:: Kard Klub - My Best Selling video in 2005

"One of the ultimate highlights of the tape is watching quiet but fearless Jonathan Bayme, 16, step into a gritty, rowdy, all black high school in South Carolina and begin to perform.

Within minutes the principal of the school was forced to rush in to shut down the magic, demanding that Jonathan leave the school for bringing the cafeteria to a horrifying level of screaming and excitement.

Follow the action as the entire cafeteria pours into the school yard to keep watching Jonathan do the magic he can do. We have never seen anything like this."

Watch the preview.. http://snipurl.com/kardklub

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

Well Folks.. I hope you enjoyed this issue of Magic Roadshow. If you have an article or resource you would like to see in the Roadshow, send it to me
HERE

-------------

Don't forget to visit Magic Bullets - the blog. I post new resources every couple of days. Don't rely on Magic Roadshow to get all your valuable info.

http://streetmagic.info/blogger.html

http://streetmagic.info

http://magicroadshow.com

----------------

Till next time..

Rick Carruth
1024 West Georgia Road
Woodruff, South Carolina 29388 USA

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