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:. Magic Roadshow :. October 1st, 2005 :. Issue# 32 :. Rick Carruth /editor (C)copyright 2005, all rights reserved ------------------------------------ Hi All..
Welcome to the latest issue of Magic Roadshow - magic's premier newsletter. First, a large "Hello and Welcome" to all the new subscribers since last issue. I hope you find something truly useful in each issue. If you have an article you would like to share, email me, and let me read it. Don't worry about your english and spelling... I'll help in any way I can.. Rick@MagicRoadshow.com It's been wild since the last issue. My wife and I have moved into a new home and I just got my internet hookup yesterday. I had to wait on my modem to arrive in the mail. That's always encouraging.. Well, it's three-thirty Saturday morning, and I'm too close to being finished to stop. This header is the last thing I write before sending everything to the web site.. I keep a file on my desktop and am constantly putting interesting resources and articles there during the duration between issues. Then, on nights like tonight, when I sit down to actually put everything together, I am doing a little more compiling than composing. This is what I have for you.. If you find it interesting - tell others. If not - tell me.. (1) Pure Dumb Luck (2) Leary's Letter (3) Coming through the Haze (4) Barnone-the Best Bar Tricks Around (5) Xtreme Card Manipulation (6) Losing Your Head (7) CardWorker (8) Bid-On-Magic (9) Help Wanted Onward !! ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Pure Dumb Luck How often have we had a trick work so good that we earned a reputation, of sorts, without lifting a finger? It's happened to me a few times, strictly by accident of course. There's a Mexican restaurant in town I perform at regularly. Actually a chain of restaurants - but whose counting.. I love working Mexican restaurants. There is enough time between meal prep for me to get familiar with the customers, plus, many of the customers are in a good mood - drinking margarita's and what not. This particular chain is owned and operated by Hispanics, and they have a genuine fascination with magic.. I have a couple of effects I perform with Scotch & Soda. The centavos and the Mexican atmosphere work together to give me a good story line. Anyway.. as I move about the restaurant, I sometimes 'accidentally' bump into a male patron, usually on his way to or from the restroom, and I drop a real centavos into his rear pants pocket. You MUST be careful when performing this move, or you'll be accused of pickpocketing - or worse. Once the coin is in place, I give the mark a few minutes, and then find my way to his table. I go into my monologue about the Mexican centavos having special powers, about my grandmother being a gypsy, and about the special skills I inherited from her. I vanish the centavos, usually in the marks hand, and look perplexed as they ask me 'what happened to it?' After a certain amount of show, I ask the mark to check his shirt pocket for the coin, then his front pants pockets, and finally, his rear pockets. That's when he finds the coin, usually to everyone's amazement.. I performed this little move last week and the gentleman checked all his pockets for the coin without success. Finally, I asked him to check his rear pockets. He pulled out his wallet and checked his pocket - still no coin. Of course, I knew it was there - somewhere. So I ask him to please check his wallet. He gingerly opened his wallet, peeking inside, and when he still didn't see the centavos, he opened the currency portion of his wallet and removed his currency. There, among the tens and twenties, was one Mexican centavos. They were genuinely amazed. I tried to appear as casual as possible, as if I performed that particular bit of magic at will. I thanked them for their enthuastic applause and backed away with my reputation as a "do'er of things magical" firmly established... at least at table C-3.. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Rick C. ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Leary's Letter If you are a regular, or not, over at alt.magic.secrets then you know Mitch Leary. Everybody knows Mitch. Some of the regulars swear by Mitch, others swear at Mitch.. But regardless, he knows a lot about magic, and I am one of those who loves to learn. Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought this would be appropriate.... ------------------ If you perform the trick BLACK ENVELOPE this is a hot tip. Halloween is approaching and Hallmark has all their Halloween cards out, complete with your choice of orange or BLACK ENVELOPES. I just visited Walgreens and grabbed a handful. I don't own the marketed effect BLACK ENVELOPE, so the following routine is pure speculation. It allows you to accomplish the same miracles and I've been using it long before the trick hit the market. Here's a single trick...no, make that MIRACLE! A black envelope is placed in the center of the table. A deck of cards is introduced, a card chosen, signed, and returned to the deck. IMMEDIATELY the magician picks up the envelope, opens it, and the spectators card is found inside. NO PALMING REQUIRED. Secret: The secret is a slit in the back of the envelope, completely invisible because you are using a BLACK ENVELOPE. Cut a slit in the envelope lengthwise, a little bigger than the length of the card, in the area where you would normally write the persons name and address (of this were a white envelope). When you bring this envelope out place it 'slit side down' on the table. Have a card chosen, signed, and returned. Control the card to the top secretly (I use the pass). Assuming you are holding the deck in the left hand, obtain a left little finger break beneath the top card (spectator's signed card). Pick up the envlope with the right hand and place it on top of the deck, as you secretly slide the top card into the slit. Practice this so it can be done smoothly. It should look as if you are simply using both hands to open the envelope, with the deck in the left hand. They see you sliding the envelope under the left thumb, perfect cover for sliding the top card into the slit beneath the envelope. Because you have the little finger the top card is raised and ready to go. NOTE: The card will only be halfway inside the envelope, the other half still on top of the deck, that's ok. When you open the envelope they will see the half thats inside. You reach in and pull the entire card out of the envelope, right off the top of the deck. The deception is perfect. -Leary- ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Coming Through the Haze Seattle's Tom Frank, street performer and corporate entertainer extraordinaire, authors one of my favorite blogs "Coming through the Haze". Tom recently featured a six minute video of his cups and ball routine, and it's well worth every moment for a chance to study his style and presentation. Posted last weekend, the video was taped live during his set at the Pike Place Market Buskers Festival. Just scroll down Tom's blog and look for the " Video Clip Du Jour ". While there, view "The Legend of the Five Mystic Rings" as well. I think you will really enjoy both video's. I know I did. Bookmark Tom's blog, as his is one of the few that is an ACTUAL blog, in the real sense. Not given to talking trash about other magicians or sites, 'Coming Through the Haze' is a very real blog, about a real guy, with real guy problems and victories. This is what blogging is all about.. http://www.ballvase.com/tfrank/weblog/tfblog.htm ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Barnone - The Best Bar Tricks Around ~ Paul Kita Some may call these bar tricks, and that's fine, but I call them " pure magic " - and fun to boot. Utilizing the ever popular 'Bernoulli's fluid flow principle', 'birefringence' (the separating of two varying-density liquids), gravity, center of mass, and friction, each of these tricks, IF performed with skill and dexterity, moves you one step closer to the blond at the end of the bar.. ;0) I owe a special 'thanks' to Paul Kita, the Culture Senior Writer at Ohio University's - The Post Online ( http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/ ) for the following five 'tricks', if you will.. ------------------ Impress your friends! Woo the opposite sex! Utilizing the powers of chemistry and physics, The Post teaches you five basic bar tricks. Trick #1: "This Blows!" What you'll need: 1 empty beer bottle, 1 napkin What you'll do: Tear off a small piece of the napkin and roll it into a ball. With the rest of the napkin, clean out the inside of the bottle's neck, making sure it's as dry as possible. Hold out the empty bottle horizontally and place the small napkin ball just inside the lip of the bottle. Challenge your friend to try to blow the napkin into the bottle. Watch the frustration build and the napkin blows right back into your friend's face. Why it works: Bernoulli's fluid flow principle. "Because there is air going into the bottle and air wanting to get out, it's creating vibrations or 'resonance,'" said Kenneth Hicks, physics professor at Ohio University. These vibrations push the napkin piece out of the bottle. The harder you blow, the greater the vibrations and the greater the force at which the napkin flies out the bottle. Trick #2: "Bottle Levitation" What you'll need: 1 empty beer bottle, 1 leather belt What you'll do: First, make sure the beer bottle is dry. The wetter the bottle, the tougher the trick will be to pull off. When no one is watching, rub your fingers along the leather belt you're wearing. Place the emp ty bottle upside down on the table. Then, place your thumb against the side of the bottle, hidden from your audience. Stick either your first or middle finger on the bottle's end. Your two fingers should now form a right angle. "Levitate" the bottle by slowly raising your fingers, applying slight pressure. Why it works: Friction. "Dry fingers maximize the friction, which is necessary to lift the bottle," Hicks said. Drying your fingers with the leather belt, coupled with the 90 degree position of the fingers, maximizes the friction needed to "levitate" the bottle. Trick #3: "Beer Glass Power Tower" What you'll need: three identical, empty beer glasses What you'll do: Stack the three glasses on top of each other. To make sure you get it right, think of a clock face. Set glass (A) down on a flat surface. Place the second glass (B) on top of (A) at a 10 o'clock position. Set the third glass (C) on top of (B) in the 2 o'clock position. Collect your "oohs" and "ahhs." Why it works? Center of mass. "Because you're positioning the glasses in those particular clock positions, the average weight will be directed down in a line. Essentially, the center of mass of the top two glasses combined is still balanced on the edge of the bottom glass," Hicks said. Try another trick with a deck of cards that works on the same idea. Put all 52 cards in one solid stack, Move the top card out halfway from the rest of the deck. The card will balance because the center of the card has not passed the edge of the deck. Trick #4: "A Quick Non-alcoholic Fix" What you'll need: 1 full bottle of beer, 1 full glass of water What you'll do: After opening the beer, seal the top with your thumb. Making sure it's air tight, turn the bottle upside down and lower it into the glass of water. Hold the bottle near the surface of the water. You'll begin to see the alcohol draining from the bottle in wisps. After the process stops, you'll have alcoholic water and an O'Douls. Why it works: It's all about density. The alcohol in beer is denser than water so it will sink to the bottom of the glass. You're able to see it in wisps because of something called "birefringence" -the separating of two varying-density liquids, said Kenneth Brown, chemistry department chair at OU. Trick #5: "Paper Napkin Rose" What you'll need: 1 cocktail napkin What you'll do: Step 1: Fold the top edge of the napkin down two inches. Catch the fold between your first two fingers about one inch from the end. Step 2: Wrap the napkin completely around your fingers. Step 3: With your other hand, pinch below the two fingers inside the napkin. Remove your fingers from the "flower." Step 4: Continue to twist the napkin downward from the pinch. Stop halfway and work the corner of the napkin loose to create the leaf. Pinch securely and continue twisting. Step 5: Give the rose to the blonde who's been eyeing you all night. Source: Post research Contact: paul.kita@ohiou.edu ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Xtreme Card Manipulation - Ellusionists New " Xtreme Beginner " DVD Set For beginner through intermediate, almost 4 hours of pro tips on two DVD's, valuable information, secrets of performing and promoting yourself and incredible moves you will NOT find anywhere else (and introducing the brand new "Perching" concept that is revolutionizing XCM).... What this DVD set will do for you -- With a normal amount of practice this DVD set will make you look like a complete pro with cards. Taught by top of the field masters of the art.. for beginner and intermediate learners -- Featuring a host of world renowned masters of the art of xtreme card manipulation (XCM), the package contains an inferno of content, wrapped in broadcast quality footage and produced by Ulmen Master De’vo vom Schattenreich. The super-packed set also features superstars Greg Irwin, Daryl, and Jeff McBride and stars De’vo himself, and Jerry Cestkowski (author of Encyclopedia of Playing Card Flourishes). Also starring "Q", the beginner pulled off the street, who learns the material over a period of four weeks. This section alone is so entertaining it’s worth the cost of the DVD's. ** editors note... I just got my copy of XB and have not so much as opened the case.. been busy putting this issue together. I'll let you know my thoughts shortly.. Click Here ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Losing Your Head Remember the effect on T.H.E.M. where the magicians head appears to drop into his hands, held at his waist.? I published a link to a similar video a while back, showing a demure Japanese girl performing the same effect, except better... I have managed to locate a better quality video that I want to share with you. Same effect, same girl, just superior video. I love this effect. I think it would make the perfect Halloween trick if performed in conjunction with a partner. Can't you see an assistant, welding a sword, striking toward the back of your neck just as your head "falls off".. Come on now.. it's not hard to figure this effect out. I have faith that you guys can take this effect and run with it, probably even improving it along the way. What matters most is the "shock factor" of the trick, and the great reactions you're bound to achieve.. http://media.putfile.com/Japanese-movie ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ ---------------- ( free resources ) ---------------- :: CardWorker Are you ready to cross the line? That's the question Mick Ayres asks at his super-informative site -- CardWorker.com . Some of you 'insiders' are probably familiar with Mick, others of you will offer a blank stare and a polite shrug of the shoulder. After all, if you don't appear on the Stars of Magic TV show, who are you anyway? I have had the rare opportunity to hear and watch Mick perform. When I say rare, I'm talking maybe 'one convention every few years' rare.. Despite Mick's talent as a card worker and entertainer, he doesn't get out much.. Walt Disney won't let him.. As a full-time performer at Disney's exclusive Vacation Club Resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, Mick is limited by contract how close, or far, he can perform from Hilton Head. That, and the fact that he performs about 1300 shows a year on the island.. But he's not limited by how much of his material he can share with us through his writings. His CardWorker site features a wide array of effects, sleights, routines, and essays. In Mick's own words: "Early in the 20th century, magic shops often had a white line painted on the floor near the back of the store. Unless you were recognized by the shop owner as a serious student of magic, you were not given permission to cross the line. All the secret props, devices, gimmicks and the 'underground' books were kept behind the white line. The general public wasn't allowed access to these secrets." Mick, through his web site CardWorker, gives YOU the opportunity to "cross the line" and.. "...offers explanations, discussions, and reviews about new and classic card sleights, routine scripting and preparation, rehearsal techniques, little-known finesses and staging procedures for entertainers interested in presenting fresh, new material from the world of card magic. You can learn a lot here...if you're willing to do the work." http://www.cardworker.com **editors note.. Read an in-depth interview with Mick at my favorite source for all news magical - Tim Quinlan's 'Inside Magic'.. http://insidemagic.com/celebrity.shtml ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Bid-on-Magic Advertised as "the worlds most convenient online magic auction", Bid-on-Magic offers users free sign-up and free listings for any magic related items you have for sale. Categories include: close-up, illusions, stage, accessories, dvd/video's, and marketing supplies. Manage your own auctions and be in control. Set your own price and use special listing options such as Buy Now, Reserve Price and other tools to set your auction items apart from others.. Online since May, I've noticed they now have over 385 registered users and 417 live auctions, as of Oct. 1st.. http://www.bid-on-magic.com/index.php ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ :: Help Wanted! Magicians Assistant Needed for Traveling MAGIC SHOW! Young Lady, 21 Years or Older -- WILL TRAIN…GOOD PAY Call (785) 486-9508 Leave A Message! Based in Horton, Kansas -- The Baron of Magic: Barron Stringfellow * Booked thru Dec. 2006 ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed reading this issue as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. I wish I could give you some hint as to what will be featured in the next issue, but I don't have a clue! Later Friends.. ----------------------- Don't forget to visit my blog at: http://streetmagic.info/blogger.html Stop by http://streetmagic.info and see whats new.. ----------------------- May my next issue find you well.. Rick Carruth - editor ~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~ |
