Magic Roadshow
August 15th, 2006 Issue# 53
Rick Carruth editor/publisher (C) 2006 All Rights Reserved
Street Magic's #1 free newsletter for magicians, street performers, restaurant workers, close-up artists, and mentalists, with subscribers in over sixty three countries worldwide.
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August 15th, 2006 Issue# 53
Rick Carruth editor/publisher (C) 2006 All Rights Reserved
Street Magic's #1 free newsletter for magicians, street performers, restaurant workers, close-up artists, and mentalists, with subscribers in over sixty three countries worldwide.
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Hello All
Welcome to another issue of Magic Roadshow. Since you guys have been subscribing in droves, I must first thank each of you for taking your time to visit with us.. I hope you enjoy the Roadshow enough that you will tell your friends.
My time has been stretched thin the past couple of weeks, but putting this issue together was a breeze. I ran across several great resources early in my search, and the rest was downhill.
I want to thank Kirsten Anderberg and Carson Kahn for their contributions to this issue. Everything goes so much smoother when others do my work ;-)
I would like to hear from you... good or bad. EMAIL ME anytime..
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A quick note.. I will mail a second notification of the publication of this newsletter online in about four days. It will say something like "Magic Roadshow - a follow up". I've found that a second notification gets roughly two hundred additional views.. readers who either missed this mailing, or had the first notification blocked or 'lost in transit'. IF you decide to open it and revisit, I will have a Free eBook waiting for you for your trouble..
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THANKS again to all of you who purchased memberships to CardSleights. I continue to receive very favorable comments about the site and it's voluminous content. I will continue to send out complementary copies of EASY MENTALISM, the ebook, to subscribers who signed up at CardSleights.
If you are reading this issue online and would like to subscribe free... Click Here
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** The percentage of readers who have 'tagged' themselves on my Frappr map has reached about one in fifteen, as of Aug. the 14th...
Remember.. this is a painless process, very simple, and all you need to be added is your email and zip code, or country..
http://www.301url.com/readers
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In This Issue
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-Don't think of yourself as an ugly person, just a beautiful monkey
-Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible!
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
-- Goethe
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How to Pick a Spot for Busking
By Kirsten Anderberg
What makes a good spot to perform on as a street performer, or "busker?" There are several layers to that question. I will address the interpersonal human etiquette side of performing spots, or "pitches," as they are called in street performer lingo, in another article. This is about the actual physicality of choosing street performer spots. For a successful show, one needs a spot where traffic passes, to gather a crowd. But the spot must also not interfere with the businesses around you, or police will be invoked.
Obviously, the spot needs to be situated in a way that the sidewalk is maintained as a functioning passageway, while the area around the spot must have the capacity to hold an audience. You need to think, "Could this spot hold about 30 people without interrupting sidewalk flow or access to the doorways of the surrounding businesses?" This may sound difficult, and looking for good spots does consume a lot of street performers' time, but it can be done. You'll find a set back doorway of a closed business. Or some placement of planters, benches and payphones that you can exploit as some kind of street performer feng shui.
The next consideration is sound, the noise around you. Setting up next to loud construction work is not a good idea, for example. I used to busk on the Santa Cruz Mall, and this electric band would play for the outdoor seating in front of the Cooper House. I was in the middle of a great set, with a great crowd, when this loud amplified music drowned me out! From then on, I never played around lunchtime, which sucked. That one band took up six plus blocks of airspace, never thinking how many buskers that put out of commission, I am sure.
You also do not want to perform too close to another busker as to distract from their act. Some businesses blare radios out of their establishments to attract customers, and sometimes they will turn them off while you play music, if you ask. If you can have a good working relationship with other buskers and the merchants, that can minimize having a relationship with the police. It is usually merchants who call the police on buskers.
The acoustics of a spot matter, too. An awning or wall behind you can help amplify a voice naturally. Performing in an open intersection, such as when streets are shut down for street fairs, can wear out a voice really quickly, whether you juggle or sing, as either way, you are still talking, usually, to a large audience with no acoustics, basically. I found the ocean at the Venice Boardwalk in Los Angeles would suck the sound out and make repeating sets harder and harder, in a way I did not experience at places like Seattle's Pike Place Market which has a ceiling and walls around nearly all of its busker spots. I found a voice will bounce off an awning, as if amplified, if you aim your voice correctly from underneath it.
This issue of cover is not only important for acoustics, but also for weather-related reasons. Standing under the beating sun, for 8 hours a day, over 2 days, with no cover, at a street fair is not good. Fried to a crisp, bright red performers are common after events such as the University Street Fair or the Fremont Street Fair in Seattle during the summer. The Fremont Street Fair is notorious for sunburning buskers, as there are few trees along the main or side streets, except where the canal is, where no one busks.
There is also the issue of sun in people's eyes. Sometimes you have two choices, the sun is in your eyes, or it is in the audience's eyes. Other times, such as when you are playing with a wall behind you, the direction of the wall determines who gets sun in their eyes. People are less likely to stay and tip with sun in their eyes, making them squint or hold visors up to see the act.
Another reason to notice whether your audience space, or at least you, are under cover is in the event of rain. If you are dry performing, but your audience is getting soaking wet, that won't work. If it looks rainy out, or is raining, you need to procure a spot large enough to cover you, and approximately 30 people as a potential audience, without interrupting business or traffic flow.
The two weirdest places I have busked were in an elevator and a parking lot. I wanted to see Neil Young's show at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, but I had no money for a ticket. My friends were all leaving for the show, and I said I was going to busk out front and someone would give me a ticket. They said I was crazy. I played out front of the Catalyst a bit and this guy told me I should come out back, and play in the parking lot, where Neil's bus was... and there was a party.
So, I went back there with this guy, and he sort of introduced me, and I played some music. In the middle of my rendition of "I've Got A Black Magic Marker," to the tune of Black Magic Woman by Santana, Neil leaned out of his bus and told me to come into the bus. When I got in there, we joked a bit and he asked me if I wanted to open the show. I said sure, and so my friends' jaws dropped when Crazy Horse introduced me on the stage. I lived in a school bus then, with no phone, no address. I did not try to lay some promo package on Neil, I had no business card. I just entertained him one night on the street, no more, no less, and I like the simplicity in that.
The other really bizarre spot I usurped was with my partner in crime, Linda Schierman, when we were a feminist duo called Raw Sugar. We were trying to busk the line waiting for the Backstage club in Seattle to open, for a Phoebe Snow concert. The Backstage crew came out and told us to leave the property. Then the Backstage guy went back inside the club that was not yet opened, and the crowd begged us to stay. So we backed up into the elevator and played from there, even collecting tips in the elevator! When the Backstage guy came back, the crowd warned us, we hit the button for another floor and were gone. A few minutes later, our elevator landed back on the floor with the line of people, and as the doors opened, the crowd cheered! We performed some more, people were buying our tapes out of the elevator, the guy would come back, we would leave again. It was hilarious, sort of a group anarchy that the Backstage never knew about.
So never blow a chance to seize the moment like Raw Sugar and the elevator. You can find places with acoustics, protection from sun and rain, with space to hold an audience without blocking traffic or commerce if you learn what to look for. You can find good pitches by watching for pitches other successful buskers frequent. Also, if people know quality buskers will be in a certain spot, they may frequent that spot. Building a clientele on a certain spot is actually quite common in busking. And thus, buskers can get very territorial about the pitches they work. All in all, finding and working good pitches is part of the art and finesse of busking. It is something buskers learn to fine tune their eyes for, and it gets somewhat easier with experience.
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"My main interest is street performing.. aka busking, as it is not documented properly for some unknown reason, thus I aim to document part of that culture. I also want to leave a road map for others who would like to start busking."
Kirstena/pagebusking
Also, check Kirst's buskers blog at: Pagebuskerblog
editors note: Kirsten's busking page and her blog both contain a wealth of information for buskers. Check it out... Rick
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The Knife Thru the Jacket..
This effect, although having been performed for many years, was first published by Joe "Ballard" Taylor - as best as I can tell.
The magician takes a jacket from a spectator, and casually hangs it on the back of a folding chair. The chair should be facing the magician, with the back of the chair facing the audience. This way the back of the jacket, when draped over the chair, will be facing the audience as well. The chair, of course, must have either slats or an opening in it's back for the knife to pass thru..
Magician takes a large knife, generally a table or 'butter' knife, ( one without a sharp point) and has it verified as being the real thing. Announce that you are going to spare the jackets owner the trauma of seeing a knife thrust thru his jacket as you reach for a piece of newspaper, about 12 inches by 12 inches, with a one inch or so fold in the top of the newspaper facing the magician and not visible to the audience.
Standing to the right of the chair, as the audience see's it, magician holds the paper with his left hand, fingers at the top with three fingers on the outside of the paper and the index finger and thumb pinching the fold with the thumb on the underside of the fold.
The paper is held above the jacket as the magician takes the knife, holds it up again for the audience to see, and places it behind the jacket, out of sight of the audience, and presses the handle of the knife into the jacket and announces that he is going to pass the knife through the jacket at precisely that point.
The audience is to assume the point of the knife is pressing into the jacket, but for the benefit of the jackets owner, you can just as easily tilt the knife downward and use your finger to poke the jacket, asking the audience if they can see the point almost protruding thru the jacket.
The magician then raises the knife from behind the jacket, making sure the newspaper is held at the top of the jacket so the next move is concealed from view. The knife, concealed by the paper, is raised until the point of the knife makes contact with the underside of the fold in the newspaper at a spot where you can then pinch the point of the knife with your index finger and thumb, secretly transferring the knife to your left hand and held behind the newspaper by it's point. You can push downward on the fold so the knife is not actually parallel to the floor, but in a more handle-down position, helping conceal the knife behind the newspaper.
The paper is lowered until it's about mid-back of the jacket, then moved toward the jacket , pressing the handle of the knife into the jacket so the magician can then grasp the handle through the fabric with his right hand.
Now, in a simultaneous move, the magician pulls back on the knife with his right hand and then thrust it forward, at the same time pushing the newspaper onto the point of the knife. The knife is pushed as far as possible thru the newspaper without giving away the secret, then the magician brings his right hand around front and pulls the knife the rest of the way thru the newspaper.
After apologies are made, the magician reveals the unharmed jacket...
Note: the size of the newspaper can vary depending on the size of the knife. It needs to be large enough to conceal the knife.. but small enough so you can see 'jacket' completely around the paper when the paper is held at mid-back. The illusion, of course, is that you did not secretly pass the knife either around, over, or under the jacket under concealment of the newspaper.
This effect, although having been performed for many years, was first published by Joe "Ballard" Taylor - as best as I can tell - on MagicDan's web site..
R.Carruth
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Final Table Pok'er.. Free Video's
Well, the WSOP final table is history, and Jamie Gold walked away with over eleven million dollars in winnings. The good thing is... it's not too late for next year. Phil Gordon's "Final Table Pok'er" dvd and web site is the perfect tool for the pok'er players amongst my readers.
Why am I listing it as a resource? Because you can go to ExpertInsight web site and read about Phil's dvd, but you can also go to the web site and view several chapters of the book for free.
View 'Domination', the 'Gap Concept', and 'Odd's and Out' video's with a click. In a rather unique twist, Phil has made the remainder of the chapters available for $0.99 cents each. You can literally pick and choose your subjects, download what you need, and then go out and kick ace..
"Get inside my mind and listen in on my thought process as I play at a final table against Chris Ferguson and other world-class players. Most importantly, you'll see and hear how I make winning decisions in No Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments."
- Phil Gordon
Expert Insight
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Card Tricks Now
Everyone knows how I feel about sites that feature free stuff.. expecially if it's about cards, card tricks, and manipulations. Card-Tricks-Now features it all.. Their video section is primarily videos of performers like Criss Angel, but the remainder of the site has some really helpful information..
To quote from their site...
"The site includes magic that needs no special skills at all, some that need a few pieces of simple equipment, such as a handkerchief or a pen and paper, and others that require mental conjuring skills such as false shuffles, glides, double lifts and palms, all of which are described in Learn the Basics."
Although most of the tricks don't require sophisticated sleight of hand, there are a number of tricks that require the following: Overhand Shuffle, Overhand Shuffle, Contol The InJog, The Run, The UnderCut, The Glimpse, The Glide, A False Cut, Palming a card, The Elmsley Count, The BackSlip, and the Backslip Force. Detailed instructions guide you through the steps necessary to complete each move..
http://www.card-tricks-now.com
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~ High Five ~
R.Carruth
This is one of my 'personal' effects, with a special tip of the hat to Annemann, and I shouldn't tell ANYONE this secret, for any amount. But here goes..
Have a spectator take a deck of cards and shuffle until his hearts content. Then, have him spread the deck, face down, on the table. Ask him to very carefully, taking his time, pick one card from the face down pack and keep it's value hidden from everyone, including himself.
Now, produce five identical envelopes. The type of envelopes used, ideally, should be the type that normally come with gift cards or Hallmark cards, as these are usually about equal in heigth and length. You can use normal business envelopes if you can't readily locate the Hallmark type. Just make sure you can't see through the envelopes.
Fan the envelopes and ask the spectator to select any one. Then, have the spectator secretly look at his card, place it inside the envelope, and seal it.
Now, ask the spectator to push four indifferent cards from the deck. You now take a card, put it in an envelope, seal it, and repeat until all the cards are fairly sealed in envelopes.
Hand the five envelopes to the spectator, ask him to inspect each envelope to make sure there are no markings whatsoever on any of the envelopes. Ask him to thoroughly mix and then stack the envelopes, one upon the other, to form a stack of five.
Once done, you will pick up each envelope, hold it to your forehead, and sit it to one side until all five envelopes have been 'mentally scanned'. At the right moment, you will pick from among the five envelopes the ONE containing the spectators card...
Secret:
Quite simple actually. Watch the spectator carefully as they put their selected card in the envelope. If they put the card inside the envelope laying on it's side, you put your four cards in the envelope standing up... and vice versa. With the right envelopes, it's easy to tell by feel which envelope contains the one 'odd' card when it's placed to your forehead...
Be creative. That's the key to a great performance. For instance, you can give the spectator a pen or Sharpie and ask them to write the name of a deceased pet on the face of the card. As you hold the cards to your forehead, channel the pet to help you find the card. Or, ask them to write the name of a deceased President.
Start with six envelopes, five white and one blue. Tell the spectator what you're going to do, then hand the spectator the blue envelope to put their card in. A little comic relief...
You can also vary the performance by using six envelopes and asking the spectator to remove six cards from the deck; three red and three black. After all the envelopes are inspected, have the spectator keep three cards of one color, and give you the other three. Have him place his cards in three of the envelopes while you place your three in the other three envelopes. As above, watch how he places his cards in the envelopes, and you do the opposite. I'll guarantee you he will place all three cards in his envelopes the same way... either side down, or bottom down.. but most likely side down. After the envelopes are inspected again for uniformity and thoroughly mixed, you reveal, one by one, whether each envelope contains a red card or black card...
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Justin Miller's Magical Onslaught
I know most of you are familar with Justin Miller, both through his magic and an interview we published a few issues ago.
Justin is a busy guy. Besides being one of the nicest guys in all of magic, and one of the best teachers, Justin has multiple effects coming out this year in conjunction with Brad Christian and Ellusionist. I can't say what the others are, but I can say what two are; 'Army of 52', which uses a new gaffed deck and extremely creative thinking, and 'Silver Dream'. in which three half dollars visually disapper into thin air.
Army of 52 -
"Gaff cards allow you to do tricks where cards are: shot, aged, flipped, zipped, fallen, faded, ripped and stuck, box printed, blank, creepy, blacked out, swirled, thumb printed, smudged, inked wrong, mis-made, tagged, transferred, erased, added to, too high, shifted, shattered, fractioned, blurred, and skeletal."
"There's no way to do all that without having specially printed cards. But, strangely, spectators don't really think about the fact that the card MUST have been specially printed just for this trick."
"In test after test, we have proven that they think the magic 'just happened'. This one "fault" in the thinking of the normal spectator allows you to exploit their thinking and push normal card tricks to the edge of bizarre."
You MUST watch the video.. Army of 52
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Silver Dream-
Three half dollar coins visually, individually disappear into thin air. The handling is fluid and perfected-- it has been tested in every conceivable audience situation over the past 12 years.
Finally a DVD has been created that teaches it all - everything revealed, in elite Ellusionist quality. Each fine point has been examined and spoken for, with nothing left out.
Includes extensive, rare lessons on sleeving, with little known tips and subtleties. You think you know sleeving? When you see this, you'll realize you know nothing.
What's the best part? Justin makes this as easy as it can possibly be.
Watch THIS video.. Silver Dream
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Card Trick Planet
Here's another site that features a variety of card magic; both card tricks and mental magic. Although technically a blog, Card Trick Planet has approximately 40 different tricks posted by users. Everything is easy to find, just check the nav bar at the bottom of the page..
Examples of the tricks available:
Jumping Aces - Easy Pick - The Similar Pair - Easy Eights - Four Islands - Whispering Deck - Magic Slapping - Three Chances - Paper and Predictions - Haphazard Cards - Opposite Decks - Nice and Easy - Mind Reader
http://www.card-magic.blogspot.com
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The Russian Hustle
Watch as Derren Brown pulls a "Russian Hustle" on a unsuspecting gentleman on the streets of London. What's a Russian Hustle? Well.. I know what it is, I just don't know why it is.
Under the guise of asking directions, Derren quickly confuses his victim, and walks away with his wallet and watch, although no pickpocket techniques were used..
Not actually magic or mentalism, this is a good study in psychology and the human psyche.
See what YOU think..
Derren Brown Video
Look for numerous other Derren videos on this page as well...
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~ List of terms commonly used in Magic ~
From Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia
Angles - The lines of vison of people sitting at certain position in the audience which enable a secret to be spotted. Usually extreme left or right or behind. If a trick is "angly" it can only be done with limited audience viewpoints. (e.g. The Balducci levitation which can only be viewed a 45 degrees view between side and behind angles.)
Bikes - USPCC Bicycle pattern cards commonly used by card magicians.
Black Art - Magician's term for an optical principle and the tricks accomplished by it. The principle is that an object that is the color black is invisible against anything else that is also black.
Burn - Staring at the magician's hands without averting the gaze, no matter what misdirection is thrown at him.
Copper and Silver (C/S) - An effect using two coins of contrasting metals which change place...
Centre tear - Special way of tearing up paper used in mentalism so that the centre piece, which contains the message, is retained by the magician.
Chop cup - Cup with secret magnet used with a magnetic ball which can be made to vanish or appear at will using the magnet.
Cold (deck) - Switching in a stacked deck.
Confederate (also Stooge, Shill, Plant) - Audience member who is actually planted as part of the act to act in a cooperative manner.
Change - Changing one card (or object) for another.
Charlier Cut - One handed flourish cut or pass.
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Check out the complete list on my web site (and bookmark it for future reference) at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info/terms.html
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Criss Angel Video- (Don't watch if a little blood bothers you! )
Carson Kahn was so amazed by this video that he actually wrote ME and asked me to explain how it's done. Unfortunately, when I developed this trick for Criss, I was sworn to secrecy.. It's not like two Vegas goons in a black Cadillac might pull in my driveway, knock on my door - or not - and proceed to alter the configuration of my semi-good knee. It's just that my word is my word. That, and a check for $39,500.00, always secures my silence...
I will say this... the version I submitted for the show was identical to the one seen on this video, except Criss was not to swallow the marked coin, and it was not to materialize seemingly creeping down his forearm, under his skin, and then cut out with a dull pocket knife..
Other than that.. my handling was IDENTICAL to Criss' handling...
At the moment I'm debating whether to release my version on video. I've already contacted four companies capable of doing my version justice. YouTube and Putfiles both said they would be glad to produce it. I'm still waiting to hear from Ellusionist and Penguin - as their interest will drive the bidding thru the roof..
Criss Angel video
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Are you TIRED of being Number#2 ?
Are you TIRED of hearing how much so-and-so makes each week ?
Do you need someone to show you EXACTLY how to perform many of the TOP effects being used by the TOP street magic, close-up, and restaurant workers in the country?
Are you ready to earn your 'PhD' in Magic ?
Read On..
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Expert at the Card Table - Download link..
For all of you who are new subscribers, here's the link to download your free copy of Expert at the Card Table. It's in a zip file and can be easily downloaded to your desktop - or wherever you chose..
If you encounter any problems with the download email me and let me know.. I'll send it to you via email ..as an attachment.
http://www.301url.com/erdnase
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*** Magic Tricks for the Beginning Magician
Here is a pdf file containing several tricks aimed toward beginning magicians. Each trick is complete with illustrations. Although you may know all the tricks already, you can never tell...
This file was not included in the original issue published several days ago. This is a bonus file for returning readers...
Download Here
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News and Events
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My friend and contributing editor, David Breth, has partnered with his friend, Eric Paul, to bring you a series of free emails, detailing their system for booking shows...
Amazing NEW System for Booking Shows Revealed!!!...
"How To Instantly Sky-Rocket Your Performing Career - Book More Gigs, Make More Money & Have More Fun Doing What You Love - Automatically!!!..."
Full-Time Pro Reveals His Complete System For Booking Shows Consistently, Month After Month, And Making a Well Into Six-Figure Income With Less Work Than Ever Before!!!...
Read more
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MARS 2006 - November 22nd - 24th
What do you get when you mix a magic seminar with an unforgettable vacation? You get to be a part of magic history at a beautiful resort on the shores of the Red Sea.
Roei Zaltsman , ( http://www.telepatia.co.il ) in conjunction with Isrotel ( http://www.isrotel.co.il/English/Content/HomePage.asp ) is proud to offer hospitality to the fraternity of leading magicians from Israel and the world over attending the international magicians’ seminar.
There will be three days of lectures, workshops, performances and various attractions. Participants will be accommodated at their choice of one of the hotels of the Isrotel chain. This seminar will enable the professional magicians to familiarize themselves with the latest updates as well as serving as a stepping stone for the amateur magician.
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I wish I could go on and on, but I think I've 'revealed' enough... for now.
You know, I think I have you guys figured out. The more I print, the more you want. If I publish four resources, you aren't happy unless I publish five. If I publish nine, you want ten...
So, from now on, I'm going to publish five, tell you it's four, and when you protest I'm going to tell you to go back and count again..
And you guys thought you could out-smart me...
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I hope you found something in this issue to assist you in some way. If you have any request, rants, raves, or whatever, EMAIL ME
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Remember to visit some of my other sites at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info
http://www.MagicRoadshow.com
http://www.Mentalists.info
http://www.StreetMagicSecrets.info
http://www.BellaOnline.com/site/shareware
http://www.StreetMagic.info/blogger.html
And if you have a web site, visit my latest blogs at:
http://www.AdSenseSecrets101.blogspot.com
http://www.MadMarketing101.com
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May my next issue find you well...
Rick Carruth - editor/publisher
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Welcome to another issue of Magic Roadshow. Since you guys have been subscribing in droves, I must first thank each of you for taking your time to visit with us.. I hope you enjoy the Roadshow enough that you will tell your friends.
My time has been stretched thin the past couple of weeks, but putting this issue together was a breeze. I ran across several great resources early in my search, and the rest was downhill.
I want to thank Kirsten Anderberg and Carson Kahn for their contributions to this issue. Everything goes so much smoother when others do my work ;-)
I would like to hear from you... good or bad. EMAIL ME anytime..
------------------
A quick note.. I will mail a second notification of the publication of this newsletter online in about four days. It will say something like "Magic Roadshow - a follow up". I've found that a second notification gets roughly two hundred additional views.. readers who either missed this mailing, or had the first notification blocked or 'lost in transit'. IF you decide to open it and revisit, I will have a Free eBook waiting for you for your trouble..
-------------------
THANKS again to all of you who purchased memberships to CardSleights. I continue to receive very favorable comments about the site and it's voluminous content. I will continue to send out complementary copies of EASY MENTALISM, the ebook, to subscribers who signed up at CardSleights.
If you are reading this issue online and would like to subscribe free... Click Here
------------------
** The percentage of readers who have 'tagged' themselves on my Frappr map has reached about one in fifteen, as of Aug. the 14th...
Remember.. this is a painless process, very simple, and all you need to be added is your email and zip code, or country..
http://www.301url.com/readers
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In This Issue
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- How to Pick a Spot for Busking - Kirsten Anderberg's expert advice
- The Knife thru the Jacket - A classic revealed in print
- Final Table Poker.. Free Video's - And I know you like FREE
- Bill's Blog - A look a the world of poker thru expert eyes
- Card Tricks Now - Plenty of instructions
- High Five - One of my private effects
- Justin Miller's Magical Onslaught - The hottest magician in the world tells all
- Card Trick Planet - forty different tricks and mental effects
- The Russian Hustle - Derren does his 'magic'
- Magic Terms - Bookmark this site, even if it is mine..
- Criss Angel Video - Why was Carson perplexed? Why are YOU perplexed?
- Expert at the Card Table - Your download link
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-Don't think of yourself as an ugly person, just a beautiful monkey
-Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible!
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
-- Goethe
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How to Pick a Spot for Busking
By Kirsten Anderberg
What makes a good spot to perform on as a street performer, or "busker?" There are several layers to that question. I will address the interpersonal human etiquette side of performing spots, or "pitches," as they are called in street performer lingo, in another article. This is about the actual physicality of choosing street performer spots. For a successful show, one needs a spot where traffic passes, to gather a crowd. But the spot must also not interfere with the businesses around you, or police will be invoked.
Obviously, the spot needs to be situated in a way that the sidewalk is maintained as a functioning passageway, while the area around the spot must have the capacity to hold an audience. You need to think, "Could this spot hold about 30 people without interrupting sidewalk flow or access to the doorways of the surrounding businesses?" This may sound difficult, and looking for good spots does consume a lot of street performers' time, but it can be done. You'll find a set back doorway of a closed business. Or some placement of planters, benches and payphones that you can exploit as some kind of street performer feng shui.
The next consideration is sound, the noise around you. Setting up next to loud construction work is not a good idea, for example. I used to busk on the Santa Cruz Mall, and this electric band would play for the outdoor seating in front of the Cooper House. I was in the middle of a great set, with a great crowd, when this loud amplified music drowned me out! From then on, I never played around lunchtime, which sucked. That one band took up six plus blocks of airspace, never thinking how many buskers that put out of commission, I am sure.
You also do not want to perform too close to another busker as to distract from their act. Some businesses blare radios out of their establishments to attract customers, and sometimes they will turn them off while you play music, if you ask. If you can have a good working relationship with other buskers and the merchants, that can minimize having a relationship with the police. It is usually merchants who call the police on buskers.
The acoustics of a spot matter, too. An awning or wall behind you can help amplify a voice naturally. Performing in an open intersection, such as when streets are shut down for street fairs, can wear out a voice really quickly, whether you juggle or sing, as either way, you are still talking, usually, to a large audience with no acoustics, basically. I found the ocean at the Venice Boardwalk in Los Angeles would suck the sound out and make repeating sets harder and harder, in a way I did not experience at places like Seattle's Pike Place Market which has a ceiling and walls around nearly all of its busker spots. I found a voice will bounce off an awning, as if amplified, if you aim your voice correctly from underneath it.
This issue of cover is not only important for acoustics, but also for weather-related reasons. Standing under the beating sun, for 8 hours a day, over 2 days, with no cover, at a street fair is not good. Fried to a crisp, bright red performers are common after events such as the University Street Fair or the Fremont Street Fair in Seattle during the summer. The Fremont Street Fair is notorious for sunburning buskers, as there are few trees along the main or side streets, except where the canal is, where no one busks.
There is also the issue of sun in people's eyes. Sometimes you have two choices, the sun is in your eyes, or it is in the audience's eyes. Other times, such as when you are playing with a wall behind you, the direction of the wall determines who gets sun in their eyes. People are less likely to stay and tip with sun in their eyes, making them squint or hold visors up to see the act.
Another reason to notice whether your audience space, or at least you, are under cover is in the event of rain. If you are dry performing, but your audience is getting soaking wet, that won't work. If it looks rainy out, or is raining, you need to procure a spot large enough to cover you, and approximately 30 people as a potential audience, without interrupting business or traffic flow.
The two weirdest places I have busked were in an elevator and a parking lot. I wanted to see Neil Young's show at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, but I had no money for a ticket. My friends were all leaving for the show, and I said I was going to busk out front and someone would give me a ticket. They said I was crazy. I played out front of the Catalyst a bit and this guy told me I should come out back, and play in the parking lot, where Neil's bus was... and there was a party.
So, I went back there with this guy, and he sort of introduced me, and I played some music. In the middle of my rendition of "I've Got A Black Magic Marker," to the tune of Black Magic Woman by Santana, Neil leaned out of his bus and told me to come into the bus. When I got in there, we joked a bit and he asked me if I wanted to open the show. I said sure, and so my friends' jaws dropped when Crazy Horse introduced me on the stage. I lived in a school bus then, with no phone, no address. I did not try to lay some promo package on Neil, I had no business card. I just entertained him one night on the street, no more, no less, and I like the simplicity in that.
The other really bizarre spot I usurped was with my partner in crime, Linda Schierman, when we were a feminist duo called Raw Sugar. We were trying to busk the line waiting for the Backstage club in Seattle to open, for a Phoebe Snow concert. The Backstage crew came out and told us to leave the property. Then the Backstage guy went back inside the club that was not yet opened, and the crowd begged us to stay. So we backed up into the elevator and played from there, even collecting tips in the elevator! When the Backstage guy came back, the crowd warned us, we hit the button for another floor and were gone. A few minutes later, our elevator landed back on the floor with the line of people, and as the doors opened, the crowd cheered! We performed some more, people were buying our tapes out of the elevator, the guy would come back, we would leave again. It was hilarious, sort of a group anarchy that the Backstage never knew about.
So never blow a chance to seize the moment like Raw Sugar and the elevator. You can find places with acoustics, protection from sun and rain, with space to hold an audience without blocking traffic or commerce if you learn what to look for. You can find good pitches by watching for pitches other successful buskers frequent. Also, if people know quality buskers will be in a certain spot, they may frequent that spot. Building a clientele on a certain spot is actually quite common in busking. And thus, buskers can get very territorial about the pitches they work. All in all, finding and working good pitches is part of the art and finesse of busking. It is something buskers learn to fine tune their eyes for, and it gets somewhat easier with experience.
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"My main interest is street performing.. aka busking, as it is not documented properly for some unknown reason, thus I aim to document part of that culture. I also want to leave a road map for others who would like to start busking."
Kirstena/pagebusking
Also, check Kirst's buskers blog at: Pagebuskerblog
editors note: Kirsten's busking page and her blog both contain a wealth of information for buskers. Check it out... Rick
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The Knife Thru the Jacket..
This effect, although having been performed for many years, was first published by Joe "Ballard" Taylor - as best as I can tell.
The magician takes a jacket from a spectator, and casually hangs it on the back of a folding chair. The chair should be facing the magician, with the back of the chair facing the audience. This way the back of the jacket, when draped over the chair, will be facing the audience as well. The chair, of course, must have either slats or an opening in it's back for the knife to pass thru..
Magician takes a large knife, generally a table or 'butter' knife, ( one without a sharp point) and has it verified as being the real thing. Announce that you are going to spare the jackets owner the trauma of seeing a knife thrust thru his jacket as you reach for a piece of newspaper, about 12 inches by 12 inches, with a one inch or so fold in the top of the newspaper facing the magician and not visible to the audience.
Standing to the right of the chair, as the audience see's it, magician holds the paper with his left hand, fingers at the top with three fingers on the outside of the paper and the index finger and thumb pinching the fold with the thumb on the underside of the fold.
The paper is held above the jacket as the magician takes the knife, holds it up again for the audience to see, and places it behind the jacket, out of sight of the audience, and presses the handle of the knife into the jacket and announces that he is going to pass the knife through the jacket at precisely that point.
The audience is to assume the point of the knife is pressing into the jacket, but for the benefit of the jackets owner, you can just as easily tilt the knife downward and use your finger to poke the jacket, asking the audience if they can see the point almost protruding thru the jacket.
The magician then raises the knife from behind the jacket, making sure the newspaper is held at the top of the jacket so the next move is concealed from view. The knife, concealed by the paper, is raised until the point of the knife makes contact with the underside of the fold in the newspaper at a spot where you can then pinch the point of the knife with your index finger and thumb, secretly transferring the knife to your left hand and held behind the newspaper by it's point. You can push downward on the fold so the knife is not actually parallel to the floor, but in a more handle-down position, helping conceal the knife behind the newspaper.
The paper is lowered until it's about mid-back of the jacket, then moved toward the jacket , pressing the handle of the knife into the jacket so the magician can then grasp the handle through the fabric with his right hand.
Now, in a simultaneous move, the magician pulls back on the knife with his right hand and then thrust it forward, at the same time pushing the newspaper onto the point of the knife. The knife is pushed as far as possible thru the newspaper without giving away the secret, then the magician brings his right hand around front and pulls the knife the rest of the way thru the newspaper.
After apologies are made, the magician reveals the unharmed jacket...
Note: the size of the newspaper can vary depending on the size of the knife. It needs to be large enough to conceal the knife.. but small enough so you can see 'jacket' completely around the paper when the paper is held at mid-back. The illusion, of course, is that you did not secretly pass the knife either around, over, or under the jacket under concealment of the newspaper.
This effect, although having been performed for many years, was first published by Joe "Ballard" Taylor - as best as I can tell - on MagicDan's web site..
R.Carruth
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Final Table Pok'er.. Free Video's
Well, the WSOP final table is history, and Jamie Gold walked away with over eleven million dollars in winnings. The good thing is... it's not too late for next year. Phil Gordon's "Final Table Pok'er" dvd and web site is the perfect tool for the pok'er players amongst my readers.
Why am I listing it as a resource? Because you can go to ExpertInsight web site and read about Phil's dvd, but you can also go to the web site and view several chapters of the book for free.
View 'Domination', the 'Gap Concept', and 'Odd's and Out' video's with a click. In a rather unique twist, Phil has made the remainder of the chapters available for $0.99 cents each. You can literally pick and choose your subjects, download what you need, and then go out and kick ace..
"Get inside my mind and listen in on my thought process as I play at a final table against Chris Ferguson and other world-class players. Most importantly, you'll see and hear how I make winning decisions in No Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments."
- Phil Gordon
Expert Insight
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Card Tricks Now
Everyone knows how I feel about sites that feature free stuff.. expecially if it's about cards, card tricks, and manipulations. Card-Tricks-Now features it all.. Their video section is primarily videos of performers like Criss Angel, but the remainder of the site has some really helpful information..
To quote from their site...
"The site includes magic that needs no special skills at all, some that need a few pieces of simple equipment, such as a handkerchief or a pen and paper, and others that require mental conjuring skills such as false shuffles, glides, double lifts and palms, all of which are described in Learn the Basics."
Although most of the tricks don't require sophisticated sleight of hand, there are a number of tricks that require the following: Overhand Shuffle, Overhand Shuffle, Contol The InJog, The Run, The UnderCut, The Glimpse, The Glide, A False Cut, Palming a card, The Elmsley Count, The BackSlip, and the Backslip Force. Detailed instructions guide you through the steps necessary to complete each move..
http://www.card-tricks-now.com
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~ High Five ~
R.Carruth
This is one of my 'personal' effects, with a special tip of the hat to Annemann, and I shouldn't tell ANYONE this secret, for any amount. But here goes..
Have a spectator take a deck of cards and shuffle until his hearts content. Then, have him spread the deck, face down, on the table. Ask him to very carefully, taking his time, pick one card from the face down pack and keep it's value hidden from everyone, including himself.
Now, produce five identical envelopes. The type of envelopes used, ideally, should be the type that normally come with gift cards or Hallmark cards, as these are usually about equal in heigth and length. You can use normal business envelopes if you can't readily locate the Hallmark type. Just make sure you can't see through the envelopes.
Fan the envelopes and ask the spectator to select any one. Then, have the spectator secretly look at his card, place it inside the envelope, and seal it.
Now, ask the spectator to push four indifferent cards from the deck. You now take a card, put it in an envelope, seal it, and repeat until all the cards are fairly sealed in envelopes.
Hand the five envelopes to the spectator, ask him to inspect each envelope to make sure there are no markings whatsoever on any of the envelopes. Ask him to thoroughly mix and then stack the envelopes, one upon the other, to form a stack of five.
Once done, you will pick up each envelope, hold it to your forehead, and sit it to one side until all five envelopes have been 'mentally scanned'. At the right moment, you will pick from among the five envelopes the ONE containing the spectators card...
Secret:
Quite simple actually. Watch the spectator carefully as they put their selected card in the envelope. If they put the card inside the envelope laying on it's side, you put your four cards in the envelope standing up... and vice versa. With the right envelopes, it's easy to tell by feel which envelope contains the one 'odd' card when it's placed to your forehead...
Be creative. That's the key to a great performance. For instance, you can give the spectator a pen or Sharpie and ask them to write the name of a deceased pet on the face of the card. As you hold the cards to your forehead, channel the pet to help you find the card. Or, ask them to write the name of a deceased President.
Start with six envelopes, five white and one blue. Tell the spectator what you're going to do, then hand the spectator the blue envelope to put their card in. A little comic relief...
You can also vary the performance by using six envelopes and asking the spectator to remove six cards from the deck; three red and three black. After all the envelopes are inspected, have the spectator keep three cards of one color, and give you the other three. Have him place his cards in three of the envelopes while you place your three in the other three envelopes. As above, watch how he places his cards in the envelopes, and you do the opposite. I'll guarantee you he will place all three cards in his envelopes the same way... either side down, or bottom down.. but most likely side down. After the envelopes are inspected again for uniformity and thoroughly mixed, you reveal, one by one, whether each envelope contains a red card or black card...
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Justin Miller's Magical Onslaught
I know most of you are familar with Justin Miller, both through his magic and an interview we published a few issues ago.
Justin is a busy guy. Besides being one of the nicest guys in all of magic, and one of the best teachers, Justin has multiple effects coming out this year in conjunction with Brad Christian and Ellusionist. I can't say what the others are, but I can say what two are; 'Army of 52', which uses a new gaffed deck and extremely creative thinking, and 'Silver Dream'. in which three half dollars visually disapper into thin air.
Army of 52 -
"Gaff cards allow you to do tricks where cards are: shot, aged, flipped, zipped, fallen, faded, ripped and stuck, box printed, blank, creepy, blacked out, swirled, thumb printed, smudged, inked wrong, mis-made, tagged, transferred, erased, added to, too high, shifted, shattered, fractioned, blurred, and skeletal."
"There's no way to do all that without having specially printed cards. But, strangely, spectators don't really think about the fact that the card MUST have been specially printed just for this trick."
"In test after test, we have proven that they think the magic 'just happened'. This one "fault" in the thinking of the normal spectator allows you to exploit their thinking and push normal card tricks to the edge of bizarre."
You MUST watch the video.. Army of 52
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Silver Dream-
Three half dollar coins visually, individually disappear into thin air. The handling is fluid and perfected-- it has been tested in every conceivable audience situation over the past 12 years.
Finally a DVD has been created that teaches it all - everything revealed, in elite Ellusionist quality. Each fine point has been examined and spoken for, with nothing left out.
Includes extensive, rare lessons on sleeving, with little known tips and subtleties. You think you know sleeving? When you see this, you'll realize you know nothing.
What's the best part? Justin makes this as easy as it can possibly be.
Watch THIS video.. Silver Dream
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Card Trick Planet
Here's another site that features a variety of card magic; both card tricks and mental magic. Although technically a blog, Card Trick Planet has approximately 40 different tricks posted by users. Everything is easy to find, just check the nav bar at the bottom of the page..
Examples of the tricks available:
Jumping Aces - Easy Pick - The Similar Pair - Easy Eights - Four Islands - Whispering Deck - Magic Slapping - Three Chances - Paper and Predictions - Haphazard Cards - Opposite Decks - Nice and Easy - Mind Reader
http://www.card-magic.blogspot.com
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The Russian Hustle
Watch as Derren Brown pulls a "Russian Hustle" on a unsuspecting gentleman on the streets of London. What's a Russian Hustle? Well.. I know what it is, I just don't know why it is.
Under the guise of asking directions, Derren quickly confuses his victim, and walks away with his wallet and watch, although no pickpocket techniques were used..
Not actually magic or mentalism, this is a good study in psychology and the human psyche.
See what YOU think..
Derren Brown Video
Look for numerous other Derren videos on this page as well...
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~ List of terms commonly used in Magic ~
From Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia
Angles - The lines of vison of people sitting at certain position in the audience which enable a secret to be spotted. Usually extreme left or right or behind. If a trick is "angly" it can only be done with limited audience viewpoints. (e.g. The Balducci levitation which can only be viewed a 45 degrees view between side and behind angles.)
Bikes - USPCC Bicycle pattern cards commonly used by card magicians.
Black Art - Magician's term for an optical principle and the tricks accomplished by it. The principle is that an object that is the color black is invisible against anything else that is also black.
Burn - Staring at the magician's hands without averting the gaze, no matter what misdirection is thrown at him.
Copper and Silver (C/S) - An effect using two coins of contrasting metals which change place...
Centre tear - Special way of tearing up paper used in mentalism so that the centre piece, which contains the message, is retained by the magician.
Chop cup - Cup with secret magnet used with a magnetic ball which can be made to vanish or appear at will using the magnet.
Cold (deck) - Switching in a stacked deck.
Confederate (also Stooge, Shill, Plant) - Audience member who is actually planted as part of the act to act in a cooperative manner.
Change - Changing one card (or object) for another.
Charlier Cut - One handed flourish cut or pass.
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Check out the complete list on my web site (and bookmark it for future reference) at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info/terms.html
======================
Criss Angel Video- (Don't watch if a little blood bothers you! )
Carson Kahn was so amazed by this video that he actually wrote ME and asked me to explain how it's done. Unfortunately, when I developed this trick for Criss, I was sworn to secrecy.. It's not like two Vegas goons in a black Cadillac might pull in my driveway, knock on my door - or not - and proceed to alter the configuration of my semi-good knee. It's just that my word is my word. That, and a check for $39,500.00, always secures my silence...
I will say this... the version I submitted for the show was identical to the one seen on this video, except Criss was not to swallow the marked coin, and it was not to materialize seemingly creeping down his forearm, under his skin, and then cut out with a dull pocket knife..
Other than that.. my handling was IDENTICAL to Criss' handling...
At the moment I'm debating whether to release my version on video. I've already contacted four companies capable of doing my version justice. YouTube and Putfiles both said they would be glad to produce it. I'm still waiting to hear from Ellusionist and Penguin - as their interest will drive the bidding thru the roof..
Criss Angel video
======================
Are you TIRED of being Number#2 ?
Are you TIRED of hearing how much so-and-so makes each week ?
Do you need someone to show you EXACTLY how to perform many of the TOP effects being used by the TOP street magic, close-up, and restaurant workers in the country?
Are you ready to earn your 'PhD' in Magic ?
Read On..
=======================
Expert at the Card Table - Download link..
For all of you who are new subscribers, here's the link to download your free copy of Expert at the Card Table. It's in a zip file and can be easily downloaded to your desktop - or wherever you chose..
If you encounter any problems with the download email me and let me know.. I'll send it to you via email ..as an attachment.
http://www.301url.com/erdnase
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*** Magic Tricks for the Beginning Magician
Here is a pdf file containing several tricks aimed toward beginning magicians. Each trick is complete with illustrations. Although you may know all the tricks already, you can never tell...
This file was not included in the original issue published several days ago. This is a bonus file for returning readers...
Download Here
---------------
News and Events
---------------
My friend and contributing editor, David Breth, has partnered with his friend, Eric Paul, to bring you a series of free emails, detailing their system for booking shows...
Amazing NEW System for Booking Shows Revealed!!!...
"How To Instantly Sky-Rocket Your Performing Career - Book More Gigs, Make More Money & Have More Fun Doing What You Love - Automatically!!!..."
Full-Time Pro Reveals His Complete System For Booking Shows Consistently, Month After Month, And Making a Well Into Six-Figure Income With Less Work Than Ever Before!!!...
Read more
=======================
MARS 2006 - November 22nd - 24th
What do you get when you mix a magic seminar with an unforgettable vacation? You get to be a part of magic history at a beautiful resort on the shores of the Red Sea.
Roei Zaltsman , ( http://www.telepatia.co.il ) in conjunction with Isrotel ( http://www.isrotel.co.il/English/Content/HomePage.asp ) is proud to offer hospitality to the fraternity of leading magicians from Israel and the world over attending the international magicians’ seminar.
There will be three days of lectures, workshops, performances and various attractions. Participants will be accommodated at their choice of one of the hotels of the Isrotel chain. This seminar will enable the professional magicians to familiarize themselves with the latest updates as well as serving as a stepping stone for the amateur magician.
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I wish I could go on and on, but I think I've 'revealed' enough... for now.
You know, I think I have you guys figured out. The more I print, the more you want. If I publish four resources, you aren't happy unless I publish five. If I publish nine, you want ten...
So, from now on, I'm going to publish five, tell you it's four, and when you protest I'm going to tell you to go back and count again..
And you guys thought you could out-smart me...
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I hope you found something in this issue to assist you in some way. If you have any request, rants, raves, or whatever, EMAIL ME
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Remember to visit some of my other sites at:
http://www.StreetMagic.info
http://www.MagicRoadshow.com
http://www.Mentalists.info
http://www.StreetMagicSecrets.info
http://www.BellaOnline.com/site/shareware
http://www.StreetMagic.info/blogger.html
And if you have a web site, visit my latest blogs at:
http://www.AdSenseSecrets101.blogspot.com
http://www.MadMarketing101.com
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May my next issue find you well...
Rick Carruth - editor/publisher
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One of these is the 'real' Rick.. one is a caricature. If you guessed the bottom photo is the real me - you're right!