I can't help you...

I want nothing more than to see people be good magicians/performers. I offer advice and teachings to those who have that spark of wanting to do something truly special with their lives.

The problem is I can only do so much. No matter how many sleights or tricks you learn, books and videos you consume, shiny toys you buy... you can only be as good as you want to be. You have to learn at your own pace. You gotta find what works for you. All of this takes time. You have to come to it on your own. No amount of advice or classes or money can change that.

I am happy to point people in a certain direction (or shy them away from it) but it's all up to you. You are your own fate. It's you who must find the conviction and confidence in, not only yourself, but your material and sally forth unto the battlefield of entertainment and stake your claims. There is no "right" way to get to where you are going but there are a lot of wrong ways that will delay your journey.

Mind your step on the path you so choose.

It's thimple...

Dear magicians,

What the fuck is wrong with you?  I understand you like the classics and alla that but THIMBLES!? Seriously? Why are people still using these damn things? Unless you plan to play a tailor type character on stage then thimbles make no damn sense to use. They can't be seen from stage (even if you bedazzle them like Shimada) and anyone under the age of living either won't know what they are or care.

Now if you want to use a similar item and do the same magic fine. Have it make sense? Great. However twice this month I have seen two magician talking about learning/practicing thimble magic. Want to learn it just to learn it and jerk yerself off in the mirror fine. You want to inflict this "classic" on people knock it off!!

Thanx,
The mngmt.

To you and yours...

Smackstring...

Quietly released a new download the other day with Balcony Productions in Germany. Thought you might wanna know.

I don't have to write an article...

This guy already did it for me.

Enjoy...

Nacho applause...

So I was reading Jeff McBride's new book "The Show Doctor", (even if you don't like his magic, you should at least read the book. It's the voice of experience. Srsly.), and he had a bit in there that really struck a chord with me. I don't 100% agree with the statement but I would say 95% I do.

By doing other people's tricks you are getting THEIR applause.

Now this is obviously not literal. When you perform Kevin James' Bowl-a-rama he doesn't get the sensation of thousands of voices crying out in agony. However the sentiment is indeed there. By doing something straight from the box, with the stock patter and presentation it came with, doing same old BS everyone else does you are effectively not getting any personal satisfaction for the performance.

Oh I know you think you are. Just because people put their hands together in a loud cacophony when you're doing something nifty doesn't mean it's for YOU. If you want people to give you the clap go to a whore house you can just produce a damn animal in your act.

There is nothing more gratifying than performing something you created OR taking a pre-existing effect and truly making it your own. Do they know the difference between something you bought and something you created? No not really...

But you do.

We are not alone...

At one point the only avenue for crazy people to spread their opinions was on a street corner yelling at passers by. Well in today's world the streets are webpages and the people walking by are anyone who happens upon those websites.

One of the internet's super powers to is to get information to a larger audience via various channels. Social media, blogs, websites, videos, etc. You can be whoever you like and say whatever you want (for the most part) and usually no one will track you down and punch you in the throat.

I remember the big magic blog boom of 03' sparked by the now defunct Magic Circle Jerk (ah the good old days). Many of these blogs have died off or just gone silent for various reasons or another. However there are some out there still going because they care enough to voice their opinion loud enough for others to hear it and maybe open some eyes and minds.... like a verbal claw hammer if you will.

I just found such a person(s) on FB who is doing their best to warn people of (perceived or real) shenanigans in the magic community. Will they continue this watchdog effort until they die? Likely not but hey...

You never know.