Magic Magazine Preview March 2012

From The Editor The March 2012 issue of MAGIC Magazineis now out, available both in print and on the iPad. If you haven't already received your copy, here's an advance look at what's "between the covers." Our cover story this month is Fielding West, whose mother showed him a card trick when he was seven or eight. She had learned from her father, who a few years later promised to take young Fielding to "the place where magicians keep all their secrets." He even went so far as to blindfold the boy. After being guided sightless for three or four blocks down the street and into a cool building, Fielding removed the blindfold to discover he was in a library. "The secrets are kept here," explained Grandpa, "and they are safe here because no one reads." That day, Fielding became a reader. One of the things that I learned from my experience on the ill-fated Magic Cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor a year ago is that news stories are not to be trusted. Reports of what happened on the strickenSplendor were grossly skewed, turning minor events into full-blown disasters. After reading one such story about our "ordeal," I remember thinking, "Sure glad I wasn't on that cruise!" So when I heard there was a magician on board the Costa Concordia — which, by the way, is one of the sister ships to the Splendor — and that the accident occurred during one of his shows, I thought it was best to ignore the reports flying around the Internet and, instead, to contact the man directly. The result is his exclusive story in this month's MAGIC. I hope you enjoy this issue. And if you do, please tell a friend. — Stan Allen P.S. Calling All Conventions! The MAGIC Magazine Convention Gridwill appear in the April 2012 issue, both in print and digitally. If you are a convention planner, don't miss out on having your event listed in this exclusive "catalog of conventions." Simply go to our website,www.MAGICmagazine.com, select "Online Convention Guide," and follow the instructions for Convention Producers. Remember, there is no charge to be listed, so sign up today. More stories in MAGIC this month: COVER: Chasing Funny By Alan Howard "I will produce for this audience a 600-pound man-eating Bengal tiger!" The man onstage covers himself with a cloth. Suddenly, a horrible growling attack is heard. When the cloth is dropped to the floor, the man is again revealed. No tiger is in sight, but the man's clothing has been ripped to shreds. "That's as close as I'm gonna get," shrugs the tattered Fielding West. But while the giant feline never materializes, plenty of laughs do. A League of Illusionists By Alan Howard They truly are a "league of extraordinary gentlemen." While not claiming that name, or the characters from the comic books or film of that title, the seven star performers of The Illusionists are indeed extraordinary. All seemingly endowed with magical abilities, these performers have pooled their talents and created a powerful new show. Lost At Sea By Mago Martin On January 13, the Costa Concordia cruise ship hit a reef off the Tuscan island of Giglio, and 4,000 passengers and crew were forced to abandon ship in lifeboats or jump into the frigid water and swim about two hundred yards to shore. Three weeks later, there are seventeen confirmed deaths and fifteen people are still missing. Captain Francesco Schettino has been placed under house arrest and is being investigated for manslaughter and abandoning ship before all the passengers and crew were safely evacuated. At the time the ship hit the rocks, Italian magician Mago Martin was performing his second show of the evening. Here is Martin's exclusive report of what happened that fateful night. Photo: AFP/Getty The Coolest Person in the Room By Shawn McMaster "I guess the character I'm trying to portray onstage is 'the coolest person in the room.' He's smooth; a James Bond-like character." Mike Douglas describes his onstage persona with those very words in a casual, unassuming way. It's a persona — along with an act and, indeed, a life — that has experienced its share of difficulties and maturity. When talking, his cadence is irregular, but soothing. He laughs a lot and is forthcoming with his answers, even when talking about difficult topics. So what does it take for a little African-American kid growing up in North Carolina to become the coolest person in the room? Social Media For Magicians, Part 3 By Rachel Stoll Armstrong & Tiffany Hindman Wrapping up our three-part series on modern trends in marketing and promotion, we turn to social bookmarking, and other ways to let people know who you are and where your interests lie. Illusion Fusion Illusion Fusion, which premiered on January 12 at the Golden Cabaret of the Horizon Casino in Lake Tahoe is the newest magic show produced and directed by Tony Clark. The star of the show is Alex Ramon, who Tony believes is "the next up-and-coming guy in magic." Houdini Lives on in Death Garnering enthusiastic, four-star reviews in the Chicago press, Death and Harry Houdini returned to The House Theatre January 21. Befitting the title, the show portrays the illusionist as a man bent on defeating his own mortality. This is the third incarnation of the show, which was originally staged in 2001. After the Fire The Magic Castle is sporting something of a new look these days, having reopened after repairs necessitated by the fire that occurred on the roof of the Hollywood landmark last Halloween. The traditional Founders Day celebration — commemorating the January 2, 1963 opening of the club — was moved back to January 13 this year, the day of the official reopening. Plus... A report on the seventh annual Session Convention in the UK, news of the three new magic shows opening in February in Las Vegas, and sad farewells to Francis Martineau and Tony Giorgio. Tricks and advice in MAGIC this month: Talk About Tricks: Even Better Reactions By Joshua Jay Chris Randall shares the strangest use for a double-backed card ever to see print, while we explore a technologically advanced way to perform one of the best-selling marketed effects of the last two decades. The rest of the issue contains four smart, useable card ideas, rounding out another informative installment of "Talk About Tricks." Directions: #3. Scripting & Performance By Joanie Spina In the previous two months, we touched on entrances and act structure. This article pertains to performers who speak, and we'll examine several different aspects of scripting your lines. Too often we hear the same old patter, familiar jokes repeated in numerous performers' acts. It is tiresome and says little for your creativity and effort to bring the audience something that is unique to you. The Almighty Dollar: ChapSchtick By Gregory Wilson For pure impossibility, it's my estimation that object-to-impossible-location is one of the most astonishing effects one can perform — and it's even better if you can use the magnetism of money. The classics are Bill to Lemon, Bill to Cigar, Bill to Wallet, and now introducing: Bill to ChapStick! For What It's Worth: ME ME ME ME By Mark Kornhauser OMG. Timothy Leary was right. It's time to "drop out." I started dropping out right around My Space, dabbled briefly with Facebook, and Tweeted maybe twice. I'm still Linked-In, if I can remember my password — but basically, I'm done with social media. How is that supposed to work for everyone, especially those of us who really, really want to be at the center of attention? I mean, don't we need to be at the center of attention, at least long enough to make a living? These amateur egocentrics are ruining it for us professional egocentrics. Loving Mentalism: Gold from Good Air By Ian Rowland Francisco has a spectator choose a card, look at it, and keep it temporarily hidden from view. He then invites the spectator to draw any kind of random squiggle. Francisco takes the pen and highlights certain areas of the spectator's squiggly line — two curves that form a shape like a numeral three, then a diamond shape. Having shown everyone that these shapes really are contained in the line the spectator drew, he deduces that she was subliminally conveying three and diamond. Sure enough, the spectator's card is the Three of Diamonds! In the Marketplace this month: Twenty-four products are reviewed this month by Michael Claxton, Farrell Dillon, Peter Duffie, Gabe Fajuri, Brad Henderson, Francis Menotti: Magic Page by Page by Patrick Page Practical Magic by Harry Anderson Magic to Mentalism by Max Gordon The Art of Restaurant Gigs by Benji Bruce Restored Credit by David Regal The Minotaur by Dan Harlan and Marv Leventhal Where's Tom? and Baby Back by Harry Anderson FourFit by Reuben Moreland Tarbell's Hindu Rope Mystery by Harlan Tarbell A Bibliography of English Conjuring, 1581-1876 by Raymond Toole-Stott X Ray by Ben Harris and Steve Shufton Pure Smoke by Jason Brumbalow iContact by Chris Congreave Enigmaths Vols. 7, 8 & 9 by Werner Miller Essential Magic Classics by Danny Archer The Complete Works of Wolfgang Riebe by Wolfgang Riebe Transformed Knives by Rodger Lovins A Little R&B by Dan Harlan The Nazi Séance by Arthur J. Magida Canned Card by Bazar De Magia Pop Coin by David Ethan Vertigo by Rick Lax Clue & A by Max Gordon

2011 Magic Castle Award Show Nominees

LIST OF FINAL NOMINEES FOR 2011 AMA SHOWROOM AWARDS

Below are the names of the final nominees for each showroom; listed in alphabetical order.

CLOSE UP ROOM
Jon Armstrong
Derek DelGaudio
Bill Goodwin
David Regal
Richard Turner

PARLOUR OF PRESTIDIGITATION
Chris Capehart
Michael Carbonaro
Mike Caveney
Paul Green
Helder Guimaraes
Mark Haslam
Kevin James

STAGE MAGIC
Rich Bloch
Mike Caveney
Farrell Dillon
Whit “Pop” Haydn
Rob Zabrecky

LECTURE SERIES
Dani DaOrtiz
Howard Hamburg
Kevin James
Shoot Ogawa
Rob Zabrecky

Magic Castle This Week

I wish I was in town. Helder and Jon Armstrong, how awesome!

Michael Carbonaro is going to be on Jay Leno again tonight

Here's a last-minute bit of television news:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Wednesday, February 8, 11:35 p.m. E/P, NBC network
Tonight, Michael Carbonaro returns with another segment of hidden camera magic. Having entertained viewers by befuddling patrons at a convenience store several times last year [see "Michael Carbonaro: The Tonight Show's Magic Clerk," MAGIC Magazine, January 2012], Michael promises more magic with "new tricks, a new location, and a new scenario."

Magic Castle This Week

Check out this schedule this week. I am no longer based out of Los Angeles but I will be visiting the Magic Castle as much as possible.

This week at the Magic Castle

I am excited to see Paul Vigil and Dave Forrest. I will be having fun at the Castle tomorrow.

Magic Magazine Preview February 2012

From The Editor The February 2012 issue of MAGIC Magazine is now out, available both in print and on the iPad. If you haven't already received your copy, here's an advance look at what's "between the covers." Our John Bannon cover story this month is one of those rare instances — only the third time in twenty years — in which the cover subject writes the story. But it's not really a story. It's a tutorial — a tutorial told in a story format. Confused? Don't be. "Mr. Fantasy" makes it all work. And Raj Madhok gives us a little peek at the author, himself. Mark Nelson has, over the past five years, become one of our go-to writers, having his byline on forty feature stories, six of which were cover stories. To say he'll be missed in these pages is an enormous understatement, as will be the case at the Magic Castle, where he contributed so much. Still, Mark's ultimate legacy will be his personality, the warmth of his smile and the generosity of his heart. And that will be missed by an enormous number of friends. I am, and will always be, one of those. Stories in MAGIC this month: COVER: John Bannon — All In By John Bannon Rather than describe tricks merely in terms of effect and method, John Bannon has written instructions in the form of a story, with dialogue between an unnamed narrator and a magician named Bannon. Here we present four Bannon effects, plus a bit of info on the man himself. Oh, The Payne! The Payne! By Rory Johnston The man who stepped out onstage at MAGIC Live last year looked like the jolly proprietor of Ye Olde Tavern. Plump, with a bushy white beard, he gave a twenty-minute talk titled "Magic: The Gift of Immortality," about the importance of magic magazines and their role in preserving the history of magic. Flashing through a Powerpoint plethora of illustrations, he presented a rare combination of humor and eloquence, creating peals of laughter from beginning to end and leaving the audience contemplating serious thoughts. He was, simply put, a huge hit. His name is Payne Fifield, but he goes by Master Payne. It may seem a bit presumptuous, but unlike many self-professed "master magicians," he's living up to the title. If presenting magic with a unique character in an original fashion were a martial art, this friendly man would be a black belt. Kirk Kirkham: For the Love of Magic By Gary R. Frank By all accounts, Charles Wesley "Kirk" Kirkham was an extremely knowledgeable magician, well versed in all aspects of the art. A dynamic illusionist, builder, collector, and consultant for Hollywood productions, his life revolved around magic for the latter half of the 20th century. Social Media For Magicians, Part 2 By Rachel Stoll Armstrong & Tiffany Hindman While creating Facebook and Twitter accounts is a great first step [January 2012], utilizing them to their full promotional potential requires creating interesting and unique content. This content is necessary to maintain your fans as well as allow future potential clients to understand who you are, see what differentiates you from other performers, and let them know what you can do for them. In Part Two of our series, we explore the main types of digital content, with tips and ideas for their creation, and how to share the content effectively across your Twitter account and Facebook fan page. De Matos' Tour is Chaos Luis de Matos' Chaos show opened on December 3 at the Casino Estoril in Lisbon, with demand for tickets prompting the original month-long run to be extended through the end of January. The show is now in "gypsy mode," traveling around Portugal for the rest of this year, staying in larger cities for several days, and playing one-nighters in the smaller venues. It will likely tour Spain in 2013. A Magical Reawakening By Sean Chaffin The close quarters are not perfect for a magic routine. The scene is a late-October flight home from Dubai, and poker pro Antonio Esfandiari is entertaining flight attendants and nearby passengers. His nimble fingers give a deck of cards a shuffle as he successfully locates an onlooker's card. Antonio has won millions of dollars and some of the biggest poker tournaments in the world. But what really makes him smile is entertaining people with magic, a skill he began cultivating as a teenager. The idea of being featured in an article for magicians garnered an enthusiastic response: "Oh, my people! I love the magic people. I'm in." The Magicians The British television show pairing magicians from around the world with celebrity contestants has returned to the BCC for a second season. The series debuted last year with Luis de Matos (Portugal), Chris Korn (US), and Barry & Stuart (Scotland). The latter duo has returned for the 2012 season, this time with Jason Latimer (US) and Pete Firman (England). In the new season, one-third of each show will be presented live, making this the first live magic program to be broadcast on the BBC in over thirty years. Vegas Magic Theatre Magic has another stage to call home in Las Vegas. On January 5, the Vegas Magic Theatre officially opened its doors at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino after two months of previews. Under the guiding hand of producer Paul Stone, the show aims to bring a revolving cast of magicians and variety acts to the hotel's 225-seat showroom. The grand opening performance featured Ben Stone, Adam Flowers, Mike Douglas, Michael Goudeau, Jasmine Trias, and Murray Sawchuck. A Moment With... David Bull Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company is the longest-running magic show in the world, according to Guinness, and arguably the most unique. The production began in February 1977 in Beverly, Massachusetts, by what was then a small band of energetic and enthusiastic performers with a mutual dream — a dream that originated with and was overseen to fruition by Cesareo Pelaez. Very early on, Cesareo appointed David Bull as his costar. Bull, the "David" in Le Grand David, has been leading the performances ever since. On February 18, the troupe celebrates its 35th anniversary with a performance at the Cabot Street Theatre. David Bull shares his thoughts about the past 35 years. Runaway Magician Returned Home Sixteen-year-old amateur magician Howard Ralph Kahn disappeared on February 8, 1948;MAGIC readers may have noticed an ad searching for him reprinted in our article on The Billboard [November 2011]. We are happy to report that Howard returned home — at the end of 1949. Now living in the Bay Area of Northern California, Howard Kahn turns eighty this month, on February 2. Plus... A sad farewell to Mark Nelson. Tricks and advice in MAGIC this month: Talk About Tricks: Magicians and Muppets By Joshua Jay Chris Randall shares the strangest use for a double-backed card ever to see print, while we explore a technologically advanced way to perform one of the best-selling marketed effects of the last two decades. The rest of the issue contains four smart, useable card ideas, rounding out another informative installment of "Talk About Tricks." Directions: #2. Structure By Joanie Spina So, you've made your grand entrance ["Directions," January 2012]. Now what? Your act may consist of several routines. A sound structure is important for each routine, as well as for your act or show. Assembling a routine with a beginning, middle, and an end provides a framework, a sense of build and closure or completion. The Almighty Dollar: 24-Karat Fold By Gregory Wilson Origami figures made with dollar bills are novel and intrinsically interesting. When used in conjunction with a magical effect or routine, they are further enhanced in the minds of laypeople. The following is an impressive and memorable way to introduce the classic origami finger ring. Loving Mentalism: No Juice Dupe By Ian Rowland This month's effect is pure and miraculous. Someone is chosen, at random, from the audience. She thinks of something to draw, and draws it under perfect conditions of secrecy. You genuinely can't see what she draws. You reproduce her drawing perfectly. The audience is impressed and so is she. That's what it looks like to the audience. This is a dual reality trick, but read the description again: the person who does the drawing is genuinely impressed by your abilities and is seen to be impressed. This is what makes the illusion convincing and throws off anyone who suspects any kind of collusion. For What It's Worth: Nostalgia Isn't What It Used To Be By Mark Kornhauser Two important comedy/magic influences for me and for many other magicians were Jay Marshall and Karrell Fox. At the Desert Magic Seminar at the Tropicana Hotel somewhere in the mid-1990s, I was sitting next to Karrell Fox and we were watching Jay Marshall perform as the master of ceremonies. That day, Jay started to reminisce about a time some forty years ago, when he first performed on the Tropicana stage. He waxed nostalgic and appeared to be weepy. I thought maybe he was setting us up for a joke. I wasn't sure, so I turned to Karrell and asked, "Is he serious? Is he really crying?" Karrell said, "Oh yeah, he's crying. And it'll happen to you, too." In the Marketplace this month: Twenty products are reviewed this month by Michael Claxton, Farrell Dillon, Peter Duffie, Jason England, Gabe Fajuri, Brad Henderson, Will Houstoun, Alan Howard, Francis Menotti: Utopia with Dani DaOrtiz Curtain Call by Barrie Richardson Quick Change Transformation: Part 1, Men's Suit Transformation and Part 2, Women's Dress Transformation by Sos & Victoria Petrosyan Stand Up Monte by Garrett Thomas More Power To You: The Very Best of David Acer by David Acer Tranz-Deck by Bob Solari The Ultimate Card Control Utility by Jeff Kaylor and Michael Ammar Speakeasy with Dan Harlan Latter Day Tricks by August Roterberg Our Mysteries Inside Job/Aperture by Cameron Francis Notion by Harry Monk Tommy Cooper's Secret Joke Files compiled by John Fisher Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic by Adelaide Herrmann The Trapdoor Vol. 2 edited by Steve Beam Sly News Tear with Tony Clark Web Test by Pete McCabe. Enigma by Paulino Gil. Fantastique Cards by Dan and Dave