Hello All..


Welcome to yet another issue of Magic Roadshow, far and away the number one newsletter in all of magic thats published bi-weekly by a guy name Rick from South Carolina. If you know of another one, let me know..

First, "Welcome" to all the new subscribers who have taken the time to sign up for the Roadshow since our last publication. I am eternally grateful for your interest in my humble endeavor. Never, Ever hesitate to write me with any question, problem, gripe, rant, rave, or suggestion. I welcome your feedback...

Email Me

Some of you may have noticed that I am occasionally referring to myself by my 'other' name - "The Wizard of Odd", or, as my wife likes to call me, "The Amazing Retardo".  I'll answer to either..

Since this is a rather long issue, lets get on with it...

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In the Issue:
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(1) Perfect Practice  ~ Finally, the whole dirty little story..  R.Carruth

(2) Be Bold - Be Funny  ~ Professional advice to improve your humor..  John Kinde

(3) Coin Thru Glass  ~  Amazing video

(4) Magic - the Cups and Balls  ~  Magic's classic trick examined in Detail - tutorials

(5) Magic Slate  ~  A thousand dollar effect with a two dollar slate

(6) The Floating Note  ~  Video and solution to Mike Bornsteins classic effect

(7) Viper on Putfiles  ~  More industrial strength card flourishes

(8) Criss Angel on Putfiles  ~  My favorite Angel effect of the entire series.

(9) Xtreme Beginner  ~  Who pays the bills?

10) 5-Pointed Star  ~  The government wants to GIVE you a little something
 
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As they're fond of saying in the mountains 'round here...

" Paddle faster!  I think I hear banjo music..."


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Perfect Practice
R.Carruth


"Perfect Practice"  is an extended version of an article I first published in my blog about a year ago......... ( http://streetmagic.info/blogger.html ) The original was much shorter. Practice is a pet subject of mine, and I feel I could write an article almost every issue dealing specifically with practicing.

Unfortunately, many magicians never learn to practice properly, and as a result, become only a fraction of the talent they COULD become - with the proper habits.  There really is a good lesson to be learned here, if you'll read between the lines...

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This is one of those 'life lessons' that no amount of money can buy.. It doesn't matter what someone tells you, it doesn't matter what you read, it doesn't even matter if you sit back and watch as it happens to someone else... You NEVER learn this lesson until it happens to you.

Years ago I had one goal. No, not to be the greatest magician in the world.. I wanted to be a world-class pool (billiard) player. I thrived on competition. Woke up every morning thinking about sending some beer-breathed, meucci-totin', over-confident hustler home from the pool hall a few hundred dollars lighter.

I had a break to-die-for, a stroke that many other players called the 'most solid' they had ever seen, and I could cut the dickens out of any ball - from any distance.

I could make 'road men' furl their eyebrows in frustration with an array of bank shots that could get me out of almost any jam..

Every day, hour after hour, I 'practiced' with anyone and everyone who was willing to put money in the table. If they didn't want to play, I'd offer them some kind of ridiculous spot (advantage) just to get 'em on the green.

One of my favorites was to offer them a game of eight ball. I got the break. After the break I would remove six of their balls off the table, leaving them with only one ball and the eight ball, to pocket to win. If I made one or more of both solid and striped balls on the break I would still have to take six balls off.. leaving them with nothing but the eight to make and win..

Of course, all I was doing was getting their balls out of my way. I'd pocket my balls, make the eight, collect my bet, and leave the other guy standing there wondering what went wrong with his sucker bet.. What he didn't realize was... he was the sucker.

Other players commented about my stamina and my willingness to 'practice' hour after hour - long after they had packed their cues and gone about their business.

Other players, that was, except two young guys in the back corner..

While I played game after game, assuming the experience would help me see every possible situation and allow me to practice every imaginable shot under game conditions - two of my friends practiced alone, setting up shots and drills, and developing their games in quiet solitude..

They had the satisfaction of cutting fifty consecutive balls in the side pocket.. I had the satisfaction of putting some bloke's money in my pocket.

Once and again, one of them would ease over to my table when things were slow and ask for a game. We never played for much, they didn't have much. Besides, I admired their determination and fire.  I could beat em' like a drum and they knew it,  but it didn't stop them from wanting a game. They were getting inexpensive lessions from a better player, and I honestly didn't mind helping the little guys out.  They needed more 'game time' and less of those silly little sessions in the corner anyway.

After months of steady improvement,  I reached a plateau that ninety-nine point nine percent of players never experience...  I had to 'spot' almost everyone I played.  I was winning my share of tournaments and cash, but to my chagrin, I could tell that I wasn't getting better. Despite 'practicing' endless hours every single day, I really had reached a plateau, and I was stuck there...

I continued to play daily, and eventually got into a routine of meeting my two little buddies every Saturday afternoon at 2:00. We would meet at the same location and shoot on the same table every week. They invariably asked a hundred questions about english, and draw, and top spin. I suppose it played to my ego a bit that they looked up to me as their mentor. But, regardless of what happened on Saturdays, they continued their endless drills in the corner while the rest of us 'players' hustled the crowds.      

Maybe my game wasn't going anywhere, but that certainly wasn't the case with my two little shadows..

After seven or eight months of playing every week things began to even up, and I found myself in the position of not being able to offer them a spot anymore. They were getting better - much better.

Several more months and things changed drastically...

While I sat atop my little plateau, stuck in the same gear for over a year, one of my little friends picked up a sponsor, went to Las Vegas for two months,  and came home with the world nine-ball bar table championship. The other didn't do too bad either.. he beat the ESPN world nine ball champion in the finals of a major tournament and came home fifteen thousand dollars richer...

I wanted to be a player too, a big-time player on a big stage. But, sadly to say,  I didn't want to take the time to be a 'student' of the game because it was boring, wasn't fun, and definitely wasn't profitable. Worse yet, I realized that I wasn't their mentor....

I was their long-eared, short-tailed, burrowing mammal of the family Leporidae - I was their Rabbit...

Allowed to set the pace, I ran ahead of the pack and provided those little guys with a goal - until my lack of conditioning showed...

I don't think I need to explain how this life lesson applies to magic equally as well as it applies to billiards. Now, to perform at the level I wanted to perform at, I realized that I would have to break my game down, go BACK to the basics I so freely ignored in the beginning, find my own table in the corner, and hope that fate and fortune would give me one more chance at ESPN..

How disheartening...

Were my friends more talented than me? I don't think so.. I honestly believe I had more natural talent than either of them. But they had the smarts to realize that under pressure, a solid foundation would trump natural talent. They could perform shots with the confidence that, not only had they made that shot during a money game, they had made that shot fifty or a hundred times in a row, without a miss, on the back table.

Every pool game and every card trick is a series of smaller moves. 'Running the table' isn't an event - it's a series of events consisting of making NINE consecutive shots..  Each shot is different. And they had practiced each shot over and over until motor memory took command and demanded that their muscles, nerves, and thoughts do the right thing..

Ask Tiger Woods where the tournament was won, and he'll tell you " on the practice green ". In their case, it was won in the back corner while I was busy hustling chump change on the front tables.

The same is true with every card trick, sleight of hand, illusion, and act of mentalism. Each is a 'series of sleights' that leads to a climatic end. Successful magicians don't make the mistakes I made. They have their own "back table" somewhere ( a la Jeff McBride and his table, mirrors, and cameras) where they dilligently learn to master ALL the smaller moves by practicing them over and over....

Double lift, double lift, double lift, double lift... ad nauseam

My favorite sayings is the well-worn " Practice doesn't make perfect.. Perfect Practice makes perfect.."

How do YOU practice, my friends? Do you take the time to master the art of magic one little step at a time, or do you think that by simply performing a series of tricks over and over that should be sufficient to get your name in lights on the strip?  

Performing as a form of practice can be fun.. But in the end, you'll have to sit in the audience and watch as your friends command the stage...



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Be Bold. Be Funny.
John Kinde


Taking chances and having confidence add punch to your humor. There is a rule of improv comedy that highlights the value of boldness. The rule is, if you have to sing and you are not a singer, then sing loud. The key is your commitment. I heard from one of our subscribers, Colin Pearce, CSP, from Australia.

Colin wrote: "For several years I've included a bit in my Key Note where I do Pavarotti at the Butcher ordering steak and sausages and a little piece - a piece - a piece of tri-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ipe. I am no opera singer. I am more a Rex Harrison rhythmic talker, but I am loud and confident and you would not believe the number of people I have had come up and commend me on my fine voice and ask where I was classically trained. Hilarious!!"

Thank you for sharing a lesson in boldness with us, Colin. Boldness is being fully in character and enjoying the moment. Boldness is letting yourself go and letting your hair down. Boldness is stepping outside your comfort zone.

Boldness is not forcing your humor on others. Boldness is delivering a funny line and trusting that it will be funny. A friend in an Omaha Toastmasters club told me twenty-five years ago: "I have figured out why you are so funny. You insist that we laugh!" What she meant was that I had the boldness to try an untested line, and the calmness to wait and give the line time to register in the minds of the audience. Boldness is courage and patience.

After you deliver a line or bit with boldness, then let it go. Pause a bit to let the audience laugh. But if they do not laugh, do not beg them to. Do not give them any indication that you expected them to laugh. Pretend you were serious and move on. The odds, however, are in your favor that they will laugh. And with experience, you will become a good judge of which bold efforts are worthy of laughter, which are worthy of entertainment value, and which will simply make a serious learning point for your presentation.

Boldness is commitment.
Boldness is courage.
Boldness is patience.
Boldness is funny.

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Humor is a critical part of a successful magic routine..
If you are not a subscriber to John's free "Humor Power Tips" ezine, then do you, and your audience, a big-time favor and visit http://www.humorpower.com/index.html and sign up now.

John Kinde is a renown motivational humorist and magician from Las Vegas who you will be hearing more from in this publication in the very near future. John is also a friend, and I want you guys to make his subscriber list spike like crazy.. Just as with Magic Roadshow, you can unsubscribe anytime, although I don't know why you shoot yourself in the foot like that....

You can contact John through his website or at - (702)263-4363



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Coin Thru Glass (video)


Remember the 'losing his head' video I posted a link to a couple of issues back? Well, the magician in that video, Cyril Takayama, a former San Francisco resident now residing and starring in Japan, has put together another couple of videos that are nothing short of amazing. Cyril was on of the stars of T.H.E.M. ( Totally Hidden Extreme Magic ) which was broadcast in June of 2004 on NBC.

This is exactly what magic is suppose to be.. very visual and very mysterious. I love magic that has other magicians, particularly those guys that always seem to know the secret to everything and the ultimate meaning of life, scratching their heads in bewilderment.

The first video is one in which Cyril pulls hamburgers right off a poster - then puts them back.. This videos' been around for awhile, but in the event you haven't seen it.. see it now.
http://dumpalink.com/post/1120927884

The second video, I'll just call it 'coin thru glass ' is an eight minute stunner. Most of the speech is in Japanese, but you'll notice that it doesn't really matter. Windows Media Player..
http://www.stupidcollege.com/subVideo/na.wmv


Thanks to PeaceLove  for the last link..



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Magic - The Cups and Balls


One of the cornerstones of basic magic, deception, and misdirection is the performance of the cups and balls. When performed correctly, very few effects are as mystifying to the public as a ball placed under one cup suddenly dissappearing and reappearing under a second, and then a third cup.

I have watched many a performance by Lance Burton. But, if you were to ask me to describe my favorite, I would begin by describing how Lance puts three cups on a table, magically transposes balls between them, and ends the effect with lemons and 'Petey' under the cups.

Master magicians understand the effect that cups and balls can have on an audience of typical people. It's one of those things that stirs the senses and provokes the audience to respond with glee when they realize you have thoroughly fooled them - right under their noses.

Zubin Siganporia at eMagictricks.tk takes his visitors through the history of the cups and balls, as well as the various styles of equipment and performances...  For example:

"The objects for the final load must be chosen judiciously. They have to be of a size that can be concealed prior to their revelation and which can be introduced into the cups without alerting the audience to that event. There is no easy solution to concealing and secretly obtaining the final load.
It can be fairly stated that it is in this area where the true "art" of the technical effect resides.

A fundamental consideration concerning final loads, beyond fitting into the cup, is whether the performer wants them to be congruent or incongruent to the smaller balls used in earlier sequences. The classic example of an incongruent load would have to be fruit, and have perhaps maintained such an excellent reputation because Dai Vernon, whose Cups and Balls routine can safely be regarded as the most influential of the twentieth century, always spoke highly of the extra surprise factor behind such final loads.

Robert Read, speaking from over thirty years’ experience, considers that, "an incongruent, surprising final load will generate at least fifty per cent more reaction than a final load which seems coordinated or congruent with the articles used in the previous parts of the routine."

Well written and understandable, emagictricks.tk offers visitors a chance to obtain access to a password protected area where you can expand your knowledge of this all-time classic of magic. Zubin also informs me that he is currently installing a video section for visitors.  Look for it...

http://emagictricks.tk


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Magic Slate


How do you turn a cheap, ungimmicked chalk slate into a 'magic slate' equal to (almost) slates costing hundreds of dollars?

First, lets run through a performance of my 'magic slate' to give you a solid idea of what I'm talking about. Invite a member of the audience to engage in a little mental experiment with you, " the most sensitive psychic since...."

Give your assistant a chalk board large enough for others to see writing on, but not too large for your assistant to handle comfortably. Also give them a small damp sponge or cloth, and a piece of chalk, preferably placed in a small chalk holder available at office supply stores.

Now, ask them to think of an object, a number, a symbol, or a name - whatever you prefer. Lets assume you asked them to write a four digit number between 1000 and 9999. Once they've wrote their number on the board, outside of your sight of course, have them show it to others - or not.. Since no stooges are used, it doesn't really matter.  
 
I'll leave the patter to you. Here's what happens..

Once they write their selection on the slate and show it to others, have them take the small damp sponge and completely wipe the slate clean. They will then pass the slate back to you and you will continue with your patter and build-up, telling the audience how you will attempt to divine the chosen number. Keep in mind that the slate is to be treated as simply an insignificant part of the trick. The important part is your revealing of the number and the slate is simply a writing instrument on which the number is to be placed so the assistant can share his selection with the audience without your knowledge...

After sufficient build-up you will grab the slate, write a number on the slate, hand the slate to another audience member to hold, ask your assistant to reveal their chosen number, then have the audience member holding the slate turn it for all to see.. revealing that YOU have correctly guessed the chosen number.

( Notice that by handing the slate to someone else before the assistant reveals their number, you have eliminated the use of a nail writer..)

OK Rick.. If you didn't use an expensive slate, a gimmicked slate, a stooge, or a nail writer, how'd you do it?

Well.... the secrets in the chalk and the sponge. Take a piece of chalk and soak its end in clear cooking oil before your performance.  Obtaining a chalk holder, or making one for that matter, assures that the audience member will use the prepared end to write with.  Whatever they write on the slate will appear normal, if you wipe most of the oil off the chalk. Experiment...

Remember I said you needed a small, damp sponge or cloth. They should use this to wipe the slate clean. The slate will not only appear completely clean, but shiny clean as well..

Under the glare of the damp slate top what they WON"T see is the FAINT, GREASY OUTLINE of the number they wrote on the slate. You won't see it either.. until the slate dries.

Then.. trace over their number, hand the slate to someone, and have them reveal that you have successfully divined their number ( or name, or serial number from a dollar note, or..... )

You must be prepared to patter until the slate has had time to dry. Using a sponge with just the right amount of dampness is important, and the slate should be dry within two to three minutes.  

This is a variation of an old technique that magicians used almost a hundred years ago. With the right patter, you can make this simple trick with a cheap chalk slate appear like a million bucks...

Work on it, and let me know how it goes... If you have any additional tips to add, send them also.  



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The Floating Note   (video solution)


I keep a file on my desktop titled "magic roadshow stuff". It's just an accumilation of stuff that I have run across on the web and hope to use some day. The recent passing of Mike Bornstein brought to mind Mikes famous "Mike Bornstein's Original Floating Dollar Bill Levitation". I sat down and wrote up a description of the Floating Note effect in notepad and moved it over to my 'stuff' file, intending to use it in the next issue of Magic Roadshow.

That was several months ago and I kept intending to publish it, but for whatever reason I wasn't quite happy with my description of Mike's effect.

This issue rolled around and I said, "OK, this is it. It's time to edit the Floating Note and run it in the newsletter. No more procrastinating.." .  

Well, I received an email from PubTricks the other day and they were offering me a free download, just for the heck of it.. Not one to turn down a freebie, I checked it out and, lo and behold, it was Mike's Floating Note.

I guess I don't have to edit my description after all.. I just send you directly to the video and instructions for constructing your own Floating Note..

http://streetmagic.info/floatingnote.html

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If you liked this effect, check out some of the other effects PubTricks has to offer..

http://streetmagic.info/Pubtricks.html



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Viper Video on Putfiles


I know most of you are familiar with the new Tally-Ho Viper deck. I own a few myself. Here's an interesting little video posted on Putfiles, featuring some xtreme moves with a Viper deck. I can't even tell you who the performer is for sure.. ( It may be DeVo ), but its definitely worth a look..  


Watch it..

Also, if you're interested in getting your own Viper deck, Click Here..

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Criss Angel

As long as you're at Putfiles anyway.. you may as well watch what I consider the ultimate trick performed by Criss Angel during the broadcast of his recent series on A&E.  I'm sure you have your favorite effect, but this was mine.

Watch it..


Now, armed with this information and a buck ninety-five, you're well on your way to purchasing a cup of coffee...
 

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Xtreme Beginner


Now that you've watched the Putfile "blurring the line" video, if you seriously want to know how it's done... check this out.

Released August 10th, Ellusionist has sold literally hundreds of De'vos new 2-DVD set. Why should this be of any importance to you? Because, with a normal amount of practice the set will make you look like a total pro with a deck of cards.

"The enormous, Power-packed Xtreme Beginnerz DVD Set receives Ellusionist’s ultimate approval for fast learning. You will learn like never before."

"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)."

I recently purchased this military-strength DVD set, and I'll offer up a review as soon as I can get all the material comprehended and on paper...  In the meantime, visit Ellusionist and get your own copy. Maybe you'll write the review for me ???

Watch a Trailer    


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5-Pointed Star in One Cut


History has it that George Washington wanted a US flag with a six point star. Now, if you're a man, and if you don't familiar yourself with the fine art of sewing, dictating a six point star is easy, but actually cutting the stars out is another story.

Betsy Ross had another idea - she proposed a five point star for the flag. Those involved said, " but Betsy, isn't creating a five point star just about a difficult as creating a six? " Gosh no" she replied. " I can create a five point star with one single cut".

Betsy carefully folded the white material, took a pair of scissors, made one cut through the folded material, and produced a symmetrical five point star to everyones amazement.  

I recently watched a well-known magician reproduce this cut, to the pleasure of the audience. Of course, his patter was much better than mine..

Thanks to ushistory.org for producing the web page and providing magicians with the secret.. free of course..


http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar.html


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It's been a pleasure. So glad you could stop by a spend a little while with the 'Wizard of Odd'..

Again, I wish I could give you a clue as to what to look forward to in the next issue, but I don't have a clue. Somehow, everything seems to come together at the right time.

Email me and let me know what you thought of this issue. Suggestions, comments, rants and raves are all welcome... honestly..     rick(at)magicroadshow.com

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Magic Bullet - the blog:       http://streetmagic.info/blogger.html

Street Magic Bullets:           http://streetmagic.info

Best of Magic Roadshow:   http://magicroadshow.com  

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May my next issue find you well !

Rick Carruth
::  editor ::


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