Magic Roadshow

Hi All

Welcome to the latest edition of the Magic Roadshow. Hopefully, those of you who want to learn magic tricks, learn card tricks, and learn street magic and mentalism have hit the mother lode..

Here's a big WELCOME to all the new subscribers who have signed up since the last issue. I hope you find something worthy of both you and your magic in every issue.

Well.. It's been another long period away from home. I woke up one morning and found myself in Memphis, Tennessee.. One thing I couldn't find in Memphis - a magic shop. I was sure there would be a couple of good ones somewhere. Two things I did find in and around Memphis - Great barbeque and frendly casin'os.. Have you ever dominated a roulette wheel to the point where the pit boss changed croupier's on you? I promply cashed in and went to the buffet..

Aside from that.. the highlight of my journey was a trip to Sun Studios. For those of you who have never heard of Sun, it's a tiny recording studio in Memphis that's generally regarded as the birthplace of Rock & Roll.. Elvis Presley recorded 'That's Alright' at Sun.. the very first mainstream R&R hit. Jerry Lee Lewis recorded 'Great Ball's of Fire' there, and Carl Perkins recorded 'Blue Suede Shoes' at Sun. An unknown appliance salesman named Johnny Cash recorded 'I Walk the Line' and 'Folsom Prison Blues' in the small studio.

The list of artists who followed would dominate the rest of this issue. U2 recorded 'Angel of Harlem' and 'When Love Comes to Town' with BB King in the Sun studio. And Ike Turner, better known as Tina's ex husband, recorded 'Rocket 88' there in 1951.. a song generally regarded as the first Rock and Roll recording.

After the tour was over and everyone left the studio, I asked if I could take a couple of photo's. The management was so kind, and allowed me to go back into the super-quiet studio by myself. As I stood there in front of the microphone used to record Rock's first hit, and tried to imagine Elvis, Johnny, Jerry, Ike, BB, Carl, Howling, Bono, Ringo and Paul, and all the others who had stood in that spot and layed down history.. it gave me major goose bumps. It was Powerful..

I have a link I want you to visit. It's to a little video produced by Sun, and I think you'll find it REALLY interesting..

http://www.sunstudio.com/freetour56/freetour.html

I've tried to put a little something in this issue for everyone.. so, if you have any comments, complaints, rants or raves.. EMAIL ME

Happy Halloween !

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In This Issue
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Einstein said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."

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Annemann - A Day Time Nightmare (Card magic)

In this effect, the spectator apparently sees IN HIS OWN deck, a card which he finds that he has placed in his pocket several minutes before!

(I have long been a fan of this classic little card trick, first written about by Annemann himself about ninety years ago.. editor)

A fake card is needed and is made by gluing the FACE of any BLACK CARD to the back of a RED CARD (at one end only) for half an inch. the rear BLACK card is left as is. But the RED (FRONT) card is TRIMMED slightly at its outer loose end. This makes a "short" CARD, that can be found and stopped at in deck by riffling the pack. The beauty of this idea is that this "feked" double card can be ADDED TO ANY BORROWED DECK regardless of the back design--and cannot be noticed due to the handling of the deck.

( I had a little trouble understanding what exactly I was suppose to do after reading this paragraph. To simplify, take a club or spade and glue it to the back of a heart or diamond. Only put glue on the bottom half inch of the face of the club or spade. Attach it to the back of the heart or diamond. You now have a double gaffed card that you can use to perform this effect at any time, with anyone's deck.. Don't forget to trim a very small portion of the bottom short edge of the heart or diamond off before you glue the two together. This creates a red short-card that you can easily locate at any time by a riffle to the top of the deck..)

Get your double card on the face of any borrowed deck. Run through cards as if counting them to see if it is a full pack.--but really to locate the single DUPLICATE of the BLACK CARD of your glued pair. Get it on TOP OF DECK.

Have an ordinary envelope examined by the owner of deck, and then have him select a card from his pack. This top card (duplicate) of deck must be "forced" and the performer can use his favorite method. I generally riffle the pack asking to have someone call "STOP" at any point. In cutting, slip TOP CARD to top of LOWER HALF and selector gets it. Or, deal a row of four cards with this card in second place and force by the "between one and four" counting method.

( Put your gaff face-down on top of the deck. Find the duplicate of the club or spade and get it on top of the deck. Now, perform your favorite force. You can easily set the deck on the table and ask the spectator to cut it once. Then take the bottom half and set it cross ways on the top half. Now, after a little small talk, tell the spectator to get the card he cut to.. remove the top half and indicate for him to get the top card of the bottom half. Of course, this was actually the top half, and the spectator is really getting the card that was on top of the deck. With a little small talk, the spectator will forget what half was which..)

TELL SELECTOR NOT TO LOOK AT THE CARD HE GETS, NOR TO SHOW IT--JUST TO SEAL IT IN THE ENVELOPE AND PLACE IN HIS POCKET. Cut the deck (bringing double card near center) and turn face down. Hold pack facing him, and riffle the TOP END, telling him to say STOP at any time. Now, as the short card is near CENTER you can always stop at this spot--which stops you BETWEEN THE GLUED PAIR and leaves the BLACK CARD in view and looking at him. Ask him to REMEMBER the card stopped at. Let deck close. Turn cards face up. Openly deal the cards out, face up on the table in a pile. Tell him to stop you when he sees the card he noted. HE FINDS IT HAS VANISHED! This is due to the fact that the card he saw is GLUED TO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CARD.

And this, with his own deck, and without a single move or sleight.

Then, ask him to "NAME" his card. He does so and you apparently prove that he has been dreaming. Because when he opens his envelope himself, he finds the VERY CARD HE THINKS HE JUST SAW IN HIS DECK!

(Slip your card out of the deck while he is opening his envelope.. Palm it away and ... ta-da !! )

Ted Annemann (with a little help from your beloved editor..)

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OpenMagic. info - resources

I was going to hold off on featuring OpenMagic for an issue or two, but that was a couple of issues ago.. I can't seem to get it together. I like to 'try' to balance resources, you know, get one or two really good ones and feature them in each issue. I don't want to feature three or four this issue.. and then not be able to find any for the next issue.. Oh, what a tortured life we editors lead.

Fortunately, OpenMagic has made my life far less complicated.

Although a fairly new site, they are clock full of of tutorials, articles, and video's of every form of magic. You can find resources, primarily video, on each of the following subjects, plus several others:

Articles . Card Magic . Color Changes . Manipulation . Sleight Of Hand . Vanish & Productions . Coin Magic . Penetrations . Transfers . Magic Performance . Convincers . Magic Site Reviews . Other Props . Cigarettes . Metal Bending . Necklaces . Rings . Rubber Bands . Street Magic . Illusions . Impromptu . Levitations . Misc..

To quote from their site..

"The idea behind OpenMagic was to encourage people interested in learning magic and be in favor of its development by thinking out of the box in our magic tutorials, articles and comments; It stimulates creativity."

Look for cross links between OpenMagic.info and StreetMagic.info in the near future. I'm looking forward to a profitable relationship with this great resource..

http://www.openmagic.info

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Phenomenon

Phenomenon premiered on American TV tonight. Featuring Uri Geller and Criss Angel as the 'judges', so to speak. This competition show features ten mentalists vying for the title of America's Greatest Mentalist.

I'm totally not sure what the American public will think of Phenomenon. Perhaps Derren Brown warmed them up enough to make this show a success. At any rate, I've found an interesting interview with Uri Geller about the show, plus.. a review of all the contestants.. something you didn't see on TV tonight. We were only introduced to four of the contestants tonight, and have to wait until next week to meet the other six..

You can meet them now.

(One, Jim Callahan, is from my home state, and is a full-time mentalist. Jim has performed some big time shows on the corporate level, as well as being a respected writer. I know him through a mentalism based forum we both belong to, and I have high expectations for Jim..)

Uri Geller Interview

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FaceMonkeys.com - Magic Tricks Videos

How about a website devoted strictly to magic videos.. FaceMonkeys features it's own embedded player and video's for visitors to watch quickly and painlessly, without downloading or signing up for anything..

Each category has approx. 8 to 12 video's on that particular subject, and most have been chosen because they're actually interesting and informative. The categories are:

Coin Tricks
Card tricks
Bar tricks
Levitation
Optical illusion

Visit and enjoy...
 
http://www.facemonkeys.com/

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Learn Street Magic Guide - How to Approach and Perform Street Magic

Have you ever gone to bed at night and said to yourself, “Tomorrow I am going to go downtown or to the mall to perform street magic for a stranger.” You wake up the next morning saying over and over to yourself that today is the day. You arrive at your chosen venue and back out and decided to sip on a cup of coffee instead. Perhaps you even approach someone to say hello instead of going into your street magic routine.

Most of us have been conditioned to hold strangers at arms length or avoid them all together, and that conditioning is further enforced by the evening news. As street magic performers (strolling street magicians for the purists) we are caught up in the crossfire of this conditioning in two ways. First.. being that we are conditioned this way, we have to approach a stranger, which clearly goes against this conditioning principle. Second.. we have to take into account the spectator who must be willing to take you into their trust, again violating the stranger conditioning principle. I don´t know about you.. but this seems like double jeopardy to me.

So how do we overcome this? Lets take a look at the Approach first.

You arrive downtown and there are people everywhere and everyone is a potential street magic spectator, or as some will affectionately refer to, victims, right? Wrong! What are these people doing? Do they appear to be in a hurry, are they out for a leisurely stroll, are they waiting for a bus, or having a coffee break? How about their mood? Do they look frantic, upset, menacing, lackadaisical, carefree, or happy? I refer to this as an assessment. This assessment should be made when you arrive at your preferred venue and I hope it is obvious by the short list fore mentioned as to who would be a good choice to approach.

Some performers prefer to have their cards visible while others do not. Personally before I approach someone I have my deck in my hand already in a mechanics grip and depending on the effect, a pinky break as well. Rather than asking the person would they like to see some magic or would you like to see something weird or strange, which by the way the words strange and weird will only heighten the stranger conditioning principle, ask instead if they would like to see some street magic. I ask them have they ever heard of the Three Card Monte - one of the approaches used in Ellusionist's “Kard Klub” and go into a Monte effect.

If I am presenting “Here Then There (from Crash Course 1) ”, I will say “Hey, check this out”. As I am saying one or the other I am handing the spectator a card. I am handing the spectator a card because there is also something else that many of us have been conditioned to do - and that is to be polite.

When I first began approaching strangers I would use the “Would like to see some magic” or “Can I show you something” lines. Sometimes people were receptive and other times they were not and I would move on to the next customer. Having learned from these rejections, I realized the importance of assessing the situation and using the guerilla tactic of taking advantage of the polite conditioning principle in street magic performances. Some may disagree with me on this guerilla tactic, however I have yet to encounter a negative situation.

The reason I do not like the “Would you like to see some magic?” approach is because it's like I am begging, or I feel that I may be perceived as a little to enthusiastic to show them something, almost appearing as if I am needy in a way. Another approach I do not like utilizing is to be excessively courteous or “gushy” by using terms such as sir or ma´am unless I feel that such a proper address is necessary. Rememeber, street magic is informal. I also do not like to appear to be to “bubbly” or “chipper”. A simple hello or good morning seems to work best and by laying it on thick could be perceived as not being genuine and the old stranger conditioning principle kicks in.

Eye contact is also important. The eyes are the windows to the soul - or so the saying goes. With eye contact you can establish your presence, convey sincerity, as well as misdirect when needed. In making eye contact and establishing your presence, strengthen your presence by speaking clearly from the gut and by opening your mouth. If you talk to fast, slow down. One aspect I had to improve on when I first started doing street magic was to project my voice and to open my mouth since I am prone to be soft spoken and mumble from time to time. By speaking clearly and loud enough to be heard you can also help deal with your nerves, as it commits you. Think about it! A hearty “Hello, have you ever heard of the Three Card Monte”. I don´t know about you but my pride would not allow me to back down after approaching someone in this way. No way but forward now!

And if nerves are really kicking in.. start off with something simple like a mind reading bit using whatever force you feel comfortable with, then move onto something that will make use of your skills. By the way by saying moving on to something “harder” that should be an indicator that maybe whatever you think is “harder” should be left alone, especially if it is not yet a natural looking movement that can be done in a casual and relaxed manner. Remember simple hits hard with the right presentation.

Getting out there and doing some street magic on the streets will do for you what a mirror and camera cannot - it will provide you with experience, teach you how to interact with different people, and pose different situations that you will have to deal with. Start off by going out with one maybe two effects and before you know it a nice little street magic routine will start to develop all on its own because of that experience.

Lastly, remember to be yourself. Draw on your personality, your experiences and the emotions associated with them, to build your character. As Polonius said “This above all to thine own self be true.”

Now stop hiding in your bathroom with the mirror and get out there!
 
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Tony Weth has been performing street magic for over 8 years and is creator of the site, Learn Street Magic.

http://www.learn-street-magic.com/

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Steve Beam's Trapdoor Productions - Video's and Card Effects

Many of you already know Steve as the author of the 'Semi Automatic Card Tricks' series, first published in 1993. Since that time, Steve and some of magic's greatest talent have shared their 'semi automatic tricks' with the magic world in a series of seven different books.

As an inventor, performer, and teacher, Steve has given lectures around the world. As a publisher, he edited and published The Trapdoor, an underground journal of magic, for fifteen years.

Now that I've touched on Steve's qualifications, I want to introduce you to his website, which features video's of Steve performing some of the moves either credited to him or used in Semi Automatic.. and yes, their all au gratis..

Included are: The Underhand Shuffle - The Layover - Reverso - Three piece combo - Beamsley count

Keep looking and you will find the 'Magician's Only' section with seven excellent card effects taken from various editions of 'Semi Automatic Card Tricks'. These give you a good idea of the quality, and type, of effects in Steve's books.

Unlike Scarne's self working card classic, Steve's work is not 'fall in your lap' type magic. You have to practice to perfect the effects in 'Semi Automatic' and on the website. Fortunately, with practice, you CAN perform these effects.. and you will be able to impress without knuckle-busting moves..
  

http://www.stevebeam.com

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Ministry Trick of the Month

Eric Reamer's excellent site features an eclectic array of effects specially selected to entertain in a Christian enviroment. Eric tours with his illusion show throughout much of the west, and as you can see by his schedule stays VERY busy performing for youth and adults.

He has thirteen different effects published on his website, each strong on magic but themed so each magic effect has a message. All the effects are freely published, and I encourage anyone who performs for churches, retreats, youth groups, or any other ministry to visit and learn. You may be quite surprised what you find...

To quote Eric...

"This is the place where I will either teach a new trick, or actually perform one for YOU! These will most likely not be EARTH-SHATTERING tricks, but I think you will agree that the lessons they are designed to teach are extremely valuable, and very practical for children's workers! This page is dedicated to anyone who has ever had to teach children, and wondered, what am I going to speak on this Sunday?? All materials are commonly available, and should cost little or nothing to gather up and use."

Look for the "Trick of the Month" link...

http://www.illustratedillusions.com/min_index.htm

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The Learned Pig Project - eBooks, Video's, Professional Material

(Plus - over Sixty Free Magic eBooks)

The Learned Pig Project is undoubtely one of magic's favorite sites. Personally, I joined several years ago, and visit from time to time to see what Marko has added to the site, which began a number of years ago as a download site for a few public domain magic books.

Since that time Marko has added and added until it is one of magic's most visited sites to download magic related material. In addition to the free material, many of magic's classic works, plus original material by Marko and others, have been converted to pdf's and are sold for a very reasonable fee.

The Free download section includes Jean Hugards 'Card Manipulations.. vol. one through five', Some vintage Annemann, Bobo, Houdini, Si Stebbins, Robert-Houdin, and many more.. about sixty downloads in all.

An expanding video section includes embedded video's of some of magic's classic performances.. like :

Al Flosso, Annemann--Bullet Catch, Billy McComb in old Pathe Pictorial, Cardini, Harry Blackstone, Jr.--Buzz Saw, Jeff McBride, John Scarne, Lance Burton--Dove Act, Paul Daniels--Card Trick with Chimpanzees, Richard Ross--Linking Rings, Robert Harbin, Torn and Restored Newspaper, and Tommy Wonder.. to name a few..

These video's are priceless.

There's much more to the Learned Pig Project than I have time to reveal. Take a minute and sign up for entrance to Marko's great site...

http://www.thelearnedpig.com.pa/

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Ring on a Chain - An Effect

I received a very kind letter from Jonathan Vicente that read as follows..

" Thanks for the beautiful and very informative stuffs that you have sent into my inbox! I love it! By the way, I have found a link containing a very simple bit of ring magic. I think you can include this in an issue of the Magic Roadshow magazine.. Enjoy and more power!"
 

Jonathan also included a link to a video of a linking ring effect in which a chain held by the finger tips is dropped through a ring, and then the ring is released... and it links itself onto the chain.. (See link at bottom)

I saw this video a month or so ago and tried the effect, but I had trouble making it work consistently for me. With a little bit of experimenting.. I was able to link the ring onto the chain every (almost) time..

First... watch the video to get the basics. Then, do the following:

Go to Walmart, or any store with a large crafts section like Michaels, and go to the department with the sewing and knitting supplies. Look for large gold metal rings. They have rings used in knitting that are easily big enough to be used for a linking ring effect.. but that's too big a ring. Look for a pack of rings, usually five or six to a pack, that's roughly two inches across the middle. They should be about a dollar a pack.. These work great for an effect like this..

Next, get a chain.. The thinner the better. You may be able to pick up a cheap chain at the craft store although I recommend a very thin gold chain about 18 to 24 inches long. The more flexible ones work best..

Put the chain around the first joint of your fore and middle finger, and let it hang down. This looks real casual and opens the chain a couple of inches, which is important for the effect to work. Take one of the 2 inch rings and let the chain thread down through the center. Stop the ring when you get about three inches from the top of the chain.

Hold the ring between your fore finger and thumb. But.. here's the secret.. Let your middle finger come inward from your fore finger just a little so that it forms a small 'shelf' for that side of the ring to rest on, so actually you're both resting it on the middle finger but holding it with the fore finger. The purpose of this is.. when you're ready to let go of the ring, you only let go with your thumb. Just move your thumb away and that side of the ring will fall first because the other side of the ring is resting on your middle finger. This causes the ring to 'flip' on it's way down, although you don't actually see it, and that's how the link is accomplished.

Of course, you can simply let go of both sides of the ring at the same time and the ring will fall to the floor. You can do this a couple of times to demonstrate what normally happens when you release a ring strung on a chain.

Then, whenever you're ready to make the chain 'link', simply follow the directions above and let the thumb side fall first.

If you use a very thin chain the ring looks as if it has linked onto the chain. Otherwise, it can be seen that the ring is 'twisted' onto the chain. That's OK though, because your audience can't reproduce that effect either..
  

http://www.ulinkx.com/video/1205211

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Readers SQUIDOO sites..

You can easily create your own website with Squidoo at NO cost. Just register and create.. Once done.. send me your website address and I'll publish it in the Roadshow to help the search engines find you, not to mention other readers and potential customers..

http://www.squidoo.com/korath/

http://www.squidoo.com/zenmagic/

http://www.squidoo.com/donmagic/

http://www.squidoo.com/defythemind/

http://www.squidoo.com/magicalflacoj/

http://www.squidoo.com/street-magic/

http://www.squidoo.com/mentalmagic/

http://www.squidoo.com/metaphysicalmagic/

http://www.squidoo.com/psychological_illusionist/

http://www.squidoo.com/harrypottermagictrick/

http://www.squidoo.com/pokerbruce/

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FREE DOWNLOADS

Erdnase 'Expert at the Card Table'.. Free Download

http://www.301url.com/erdnase

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Easy Mentalism .. Free Download

Download Easy Mentalism

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I encourage you to send any magic resources my way. If you know of a site that has a free ebook or a wide assortment of magic related material, let me know. I'm sure all the other readers will appreciate it..

I have a web page with a simple form wich allows you to easily submit url's, resources, effects, and articles..

http://www.streetmagic.info/submit.html

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Email me..

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Please don't forget to visit some of my other sites.. see what's new -

http://www.StreetMagic.info
http://www.MagicRoadshow.com
http://www.StreeMagic.info/blogger.html
http://www.StreetMagicSecrets.info
http://www.Mentalists.info
http://www.LasVegasMagicShows.info
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May my next issue find you well..

Rick Carruth / editor

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