“Magic has lost all its magic. These days, it feels more like a sleekly packaged act of illusion engineering. The eye-popping, jaw-dropping, awe-inducing wonderment that used to accompany the abracadabra has mysteriously vanished into thin air. All one gets to hear now is the incredulous catcalls of killjoys screaming: “Haven’t we seen this on YouTube before?” Things were much better in the pre-internet era. The worldwide brotherhood of magicians went to great lengths to create an aura of mystique around their tricks. No one ever wrote ‘sleight-of-hand’ manuals or shot ‘Magic for Beginners’ videos explaining the elaborate deceptions. Part of the charm flowed from the larger-than-life persona projected in the public eye.”

source : IBNlive

Surely such comments should cause all magicians to stop and reflect.

What value do we give our art?

How do we recapture the magic and present the mystique ?

How do we encourage our audiences to value our work if we see  no value in it.

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I guess this will now set me thinking – who are the 10 Ten Card-Magicians of all time?

Your responses welcomed ….

Alan

Dynamo represents what can be called the ‘new generation’ of guerilla magicians who ‘strike’ with force, passion and energy and ‘kill’ their audiences with their magical skills and powerful illusions.

Of course, magic for me is not about ‘killing’ or ‘knocking out’ my audiences but I know that this approach is part of the ‘new wave’ of magical performers.

So what about humility..

Well in Dynamo’s own words…

“I want to be as famous as Paul Daniels.”

This is surely a recognition of the high regard and esteem most magicians have for this British icon and, despite an impressive TV series and more than one or two ‘water cooler moments’, Dynamo’s own realization that he still has a way to go.

Source Article: The Sun 

Image via Wikipedia

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The plot seems to be a simple one. After the loss of his longtime stage partner, a famous but jaded Vegas magician fights for relevance when a new, “hip” street magician appears on the scene.

Reports from the set comment on Steve Carrol’s, who plays Wonderstone, focus noting that he stays ‘in character’ whilst on the set… ‘he is arrogant and self-centred’ … I am assuming that’s Wonderstone and not Carroll.

The pictures of Carroll as Wonderstone show him as velvet-jacketed and 80′s mullet haired – very reminiscent of Siegfried and Roy whose style and flamboyance was their own.

Jim Carrey plays the new ‘hip’ magician in town. I can only assume that we’re going to be in for more of the comedians rubber-face antics.

I’m particularly looking forward to see Steve Buscemi who is playing a character called Anton Lovecraft.

Olivia Wilde plays the female lead, so one can imagine some kind of ‘love triangle’  featuring in the story.

I believe this is the first feature film for director, Don Scardino. He has worked on the TV series Law and Order, The West Wing, 30 Rock – to name a few.

The screenplay comes from John Francis Daley and Jonathan M Goldstein. whose credits include “Bones” and “My Dad Says” so a sharp, witty script seems to be on the cards.

Alan

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Barry & Stuart and Pete Firman were very familiar to me and I love these guys for their quirky sense of humour. Never had the pleasure of meeting Pete, but I was lucky enough to spend a couple of evenings with Barry and Stuart with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger and Kenny Roberts in Cornwall (it was during the last McBride Masterclass sessions in Cornwall).

Latimar was new to me. Not as a name, but in terms of seeing a performance…. liked his style.

In all I enjoyed the magic, although for some reason the pace of the show as a whole seemed rather tedious (maybe that’s more of a reflection of my tiredness than the production itself) but I will reserve judgement on that until I’ve seen the next show….

For me the issue remains as to the reason for the format…

The ‘Celebrity’ get me stuck-into-this or out-of-that in a house-forest-jungle-lake-outback-wilderness doing magic ‘tricks‘ format is actually boring.

The Magicians are more than capable of presenting top quality entertainment without the ‘celebrity’ additions or ‘audience votes’….

The constant reference to ‘TRICK’ also annoyed me…

Barry & Stuart, Pete Firman I know to be witty, clever, ‘viewer worthy’ performers and Latimer strikes me as being equally capable of carrying a show without the intrusion of a celebrity ‘I loved magic when I was kid and always wanted t…..’  Soap, Strictly or Outnumbered ‘stars’.

We ask why variety is dead?

It isn’t dead it’s just morphed into audience participation shows where ‘phone in votes and the supporting compere induced drama (and in second place we haveeeeeeeeee – followed by interminable pauses which rather than add tension become laughable) are de rigueur.

Hey Ho…

To  the Magicians – keep on doing your stuff and amazing folks

To the Show Producers – lets see some creativity!

Alan

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It is common for Theatre shows do run preview events and performances before the formal run of dates begins….

It is common for comedians to try out material on a selected audience before going on tour…

I would assume therefore that Magicians would do the same…

For me this was the first time of running a dress rehearsal preview of a full two hour show in front of an invited audience and I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long to do it!

Ok the downside is having to cover the costs of hiring the venue BUT the pluses far outweigh these costs.

It’s almost impossible to rehearse a mentalism show without an audience, and despite the scripting, blocking, routining that needs to be done its not until there are real people watching what you do are you likely to get any sense of the ‘effectiveness’ of your show.

Seance : The Daisey Mae story is a two hour show ending in a seance. I spent ages on a back story linking the effects I wanted to use and hopefully creating a sense of realism to what, is in effect, a very surreal show.

On Monday a small audience  of around 30 people, including a couple of professional mediums, came to see the ‘preview’. They were told it was a work in progress…

I can’t begin to describe the valuable feedback I got from what they said; what I observed and how they reacted.

Just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the second half of the show; but none of this was apparent from the audiences point of view as a quick re-think during the interval meant that I could cover for the things that were not going to do as they were told during the pre-round-2 set-up. A magician friend in the audience (Paul Silk aka Professor Tickles) knew what I was ‘going for’ in the second act but said that what was used to cover about 20 minutes was in keeping with the rest of the show. In essence it was that old thing of the audience not knowing what to expect so not missing what they did not know…

The audience were very positive in their comments on the entertainment value of the show and all said they would come back to see the paying show booked for November.

So from this experience I have not only learned the value of doing such a live preview but also have some valuable insights on how to streamline the show and make the ‘public performances’ so much better… I’ve also created a bit of a buzz which I might be able to ‘ride’ into the local shows in November.

So now to sell the show to a broader market.

I guess this idea will not be new to many, especially those who regularly present full evening shows. But I suspect that many magicians faced with the challenge of creating a two hour stage show would look to their cabaret repertoire and mix and match from tried and tested routines. They will of course rehearse, have dress rehearsals and technical run throughts – but I wonder how many put their raw, untested material ‘out there’ in such a preview show?

Love to hear from those who do …

And if you don’t then please do …. you learn so much about the tweaks your show needs before it goes ‘live’ and of course, develops with continued performance.

Alan

Are we just too smart to enjoy being amazed?

Are we just too shallow to admit that we can be touched by something we see?

Are we meeting people who reduce magical experiences to the statement – “It’s just a trick!” ?

Are a youth simply becoming desensitised to art because once they know that something can be done they devalue the artist you can actually do it ?

Saying you Know is not the same as Showing You Know – Showing You Know is not the same as Confidently Presenting what you Know – Being creatve, artistic, inspiring and a litle humble in Performing what you Know is another thing entirely.

Take this GENIUS of magic…

Innovators@Google presents: Marco Tempest from Marco Tempest on Vimeo.

SUPERB and INSPIRING as well as creative – if you say it’s ‘camera tricks’ then you miss the point totally and self-define as an uncreative hack…..

Alan

So tonights show – well as usual I will be commenting in ‘real time’ as I watch the show with plans to ‘post’ my blog as soon as the show ends…

Here we go ….

Again …. “TV’s Own Mr Magic … Jonathan Ross” – oh come on guys…. Mr TV, Mr I Am, Mr Personality …. but Mr Magic!!!!

Enough, lets get on with the magic..

Lee Hathaway

“A regular ordinary deck of cards …”  come on guys that the best way to start?

The guys street experience really came across in terms of his attack and ”energy’ and the rather yukky plot was fun. I too suspected a deck switch so the solution ain’t as straightforward  as it first appeared… AND it would have been better to allay the general suspicion of a deck switch in the actions leading up to the tirck. I’m thinking ‘Will Decieve‘ or some other such softly breathed preparation on all decks (which were not sealed).

(Hope my suggestion is well enough hidden for all but those ‘in the know’ to consider).

Jack Taperell

A 14 year old wiz kid….

Just had a suspicion confirmed both Lee’s and Jack’s intro videos had sequences filmed in Davenports.

Great effect…. Nicely done my son !!!!

Laura London

Burned note to lemon-to-egg-to-walnut…. nice routine with multiple lemons. Shame that Jonathan Ross seemed to “steal” the best lines.

I used to do a burned note routine and watching Laura was reminded how commercial such effects are. I  liked the routine and the performance.

Martin Daniels…. yes Paul’s son!

So a return to ‘classic illsuions’ presented with all the pomp and circumstance… surely this won’t fool the magical duo – I wonder how much the asrah fools audiences these days?

BUT the switch for Paul himself was a great twist and a lovely homage to Paul and what he has done for magic worldwide.

Great to see Paul on TV and being magical again – It’s where he belongs. The ovation by Penn & Teller and heart-felt comments given by Penn to Paul was great to witness.

So before the break Jonathan announced the ‘underwater’ trick Penn and Teller were about to perform.

I predict a tank, a card selection and a drowning!

Brilliant ! Such a great routine – masterful.

I wonder if there will be some who call in concerned about Teller’s ‘demise’.

What I’ve found interesting about this series is the obvious difference between ‘great’ and ‘good’. I mean methods are fairly standard but the ‘something’ that elevates the ‘best’ from the ‘good’ is what it is all about.

Just how to ‘up your game’ and ”get to the next level’ should be the desire of every professional performer.

Alan

So here’s this weeks thoughts for what they are worth…

Penn & Teller Fool Us 30^th July 2011

I thought I’d make a quick point for launching in to this weeks ‘blog….

It may not be apparent, but I write my comments in ‘real time’ as I watch the show. So sometimes I pre-empt things that are said on the show, at other times I’m way off the mark.

I just feel my immediate response is the one I want to share on these pages…

So…

Jonathan Ross  is “Mr Magic” according the voice over announcement at the start of the show! How the hell does that work?

Ah well to the acts…

Shaun Farquhar from British Columbia

A World Champion of Card Magic…

OK – great trick – how the hell – I missed the bit that must have happened yet know where it should have happened BUT the card in the sealed deck with no immediate evidence for break in seal – it’s real magic!

I loved Penn’s reaction  and Teller’s reaction especially with Penn so up close and personal. Great style and approach; I liked the guy before he did anything because of his calm, confident attitude.

Manuel Martinez

Nice characterisation and comic approach with a very commercial effect – also one I was thinking of doing this summer at Lands End … there are numerous methods so I’m sure Penn & Teller would have sussed it.

Nice one Gary …

Etienne Pradier

Some nice moves – one accidentally (?) flashed so confusing the ‘moment’ of the key effect?

I was also a little bothered by the amount of ‘stuff’ on the table – clutter or having utility?

The signed card in bottle was very nice as was the identification of Penn’s selected card – fooled me.

Chris Dugdale

An ‘original idea’ was the pre-filmed claim!

OK as he started I thought “Becker” (some of you will know what I mean) the discovery of the destination was, for me, the strongest effect and so the routine lacked a bit of the punch – the reaction of the spectator to the Malaysia ‘reveal’ was ‘odd’ however

Ahh – now I know why?

BUT I didn’t get that it was Chris ….

Very nice and of course explains the Malaysia bit.

The make-up effect was good and, yes, the on-stage movie style ‘transformation’ was very effective.

The Penn & Teller bit ….

The ‘Houdini Needle’ trick – Teller does this superbly and although I’ve seen him do this several times, each time is as effective as the last.

Great pantomime skills and superb handling of a classic effect turned into a miracle in Tellers hands (or mouth!)

This week has been a bit of a crazy one for me. The first Lands End gig of the season saw the new ‘illusion’ based act that I was asked to put together for the venue.

It’s a 45 minute piece containing, amongst other things a ‘Cube Zag’ illusion.

Ok OK , so what is a mentalist doing performing illusions?

Well you must remember that my business card say’s ‘Enigmatist’ and whilst I am mostly a purveyor of mental enigmas I do like to extend myself.

For the first public outing of this new show there were the inevitable teething problems BUT things will improve the more flight time we have. Bejazzled is the name of this specially created magical interlude and on stage I am supported by two ‘new to magic’ assistants who do a great job.

So, if you’re in Lands End (Cornwall) you might like to pop by and say ‘Hi!’.

The magic show is there every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon throughout August, with additional Bejazzled shows on 11th, 18th and 27th August.

The approximate show times are:-

Merlin Day Thursday August 11th.
Punch 11.30 – 1200
Magic 12.30 – 1.15
Punch 1330 – 1400
Magic 2.45 – 3.30
ILLUSION Show 4.00 – 4.45

Pirate day Thursday August 18th

Punch 1230 – 1.00
Magic 1.30 – 2.15
Punch 2.30 – 3.00
Magic 3.30 – 4.15
ILLUSION Show 4.45 – 5.30

Air Ambulance day Thursday August 25th
Punch 12.30 – 1.00
Magic 1.15 – 2.00
Punch 3.15 – 3.45
Magic 4.00 – 4.45
ILLUSION Show 5.00 – 5.45

All other Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout August No Illusion shows and following times:
Punch 1.00 – 1.30
Magic  2.00 – 2.45
Punch  3.15 – 3.45
Magic  4.15 – 5.00
Magic  5.45 – 6.30

The Punch and Judy Show is from Mr Tickles – a great Childrens Entertainer.

The Magic Show is a family show featuring Mr Tickels and Myself

The Illusion Show is BeJazzled