So, you didn't believe me when I said dancing cane was dead hunh? You scoffed when I insisted that it had been adopted by ravers and hippies hunh? Well here is proof that even your grandfather can do it.



Yah and guess what? They are being marketed to the general public as a "Flow-wand". Dancing cane is over. It's done. Snap yours in half. Point the blame at whomever you wish.

Besides, they are all better at it than you are.

Nice to see something different from time to time....

Magicians don't exist....

Just got done watching the movie L'illusionniste. It's a cute but depressing little film especially if you are an entertainer. It shows the decline of the variety arts in the start of the 60's. Back when live theater had to vie for attention against rock bands and TV.

Struggling is nothing new to someone who wants to be an entertainer full time but as I tend to say... The only ones who fail in this business are the ones who give up.

Our good friend Christopher Lyle, who you might remember from his cameo role in our PSA video, shared a story on the big green.

Tis' amusing.

PS: (Stole this from WMF) This is retarded.

Eat me/ Drink me

I believe that a lot of magic creators are not the best at performing their miracles. As someone who makes stuff I can attest that sometimes you get narrow minded about the one or two things it can do and you just kinda stop because it "works".

The reason I being this up is because I like magic with soda. Mostly canned drinks. So despite what Roland might think of him, Michal P. Lair has some clever stuff from time to time (And yes some of it isn't so much).

The first two things on that demo video I just linked to I like quite a lot. Very subtle and in the right situation can be very fooling. The rest... I'm not so sure about.

"In the right hands, that could be a miracle" - Roger Klaus to Steve Bedwell

Hey what's going on in France right now?

Dear magicians,

To those of you who think you can just get by on using animals and having money instead of cultivating talent...

Die in a fire.

Thanx,

Bizzaro.

Illusions of grandeur...

Looking at a photo of a "new-ish" illusion and I came to the realization that I think a good chunk of the public is over it.

I think magicians are, as usual, holding on to a tired concept for dear life in hopes it will bring them fame and fortune. All the while the rest of the world has moved on and left us in the dust. They want "reality", (or at least what they are spoon fed as reality), not big shiny boxes that take some suspension of disbelief on their part to make it work.

They want personalities to watch. They want to see stupid drama or interesting characters. People performing vivisection on themselves in some plywood prop just won't, pardon the pun, cut it anymore.

But I hear you clamoring, "Bizzaro you magnificent bastard, people still clap, ooh and ahh and even say they have no idea how it's done." Yah well most people don't know how a microwave works. You don't see them jumping to their feet when someone makes a pot pie do you? Getting a Pavlovian reaction from people and them actually enjoying it are two different things.

So sell those bulky boxes and spend that money on some acting classes or hire a director to make you more interesting. Still want to do illusions? Find a way around the box syndrome. Find a way to make YOU shine thru.

This... I command!

Now that I have dipped my toes into the infested waters that is magic downloads, I thought I would toss my hat into the political ring. Enjoy.

Everyday things...

I never set out to create something that is either based on an old principle nor for release to sell. However, it sometimes works out that way. Hence my first official foray into the world of magic video downloads:



Right now it's 12 dollars, but soon it will jump up to $16 so act now!

ALSO: I am offering one free download to the first person who can tell me where the name "Threek" comes from.

So take a stab at it, you might get lucky... ZING!

Love me me , kill me, fool me, bore me...

I have a love/hate relationships with acts like This.

An act like this can be very entertaining and commercial, however I myself would never want to do something this reliant on sound effects timing. If just one things gets off you are screwed and it gives you VERY little room for improv or having fun with the audience. It's almost like you are performing at them and not for them.

The plus side is you look very polished and practiced, but if you go too far certain moments can come off as fake and forced. It's a fine line you must walk if you plan to do an act like this.

Sound good?

Commercial magic...

I was just watching a commercial where women were randomly handing each other yogurt. I understand it's all metaphor and theatrics to sell product, but it's also insulting to the intelligence of the person watching the TV. They don't really expect us to believe that being handed a cupful of bacteria by a stranger is going to illicit anything but strange looks and possibly security being called?

I don't watch TV for this reason. Commercials are dumb. Some are clever, but they are few and far between. ow does this apply to magic you ask? Well I will tell you Mr. Happy Consumer.

Think how annoyed people get watching dumb commercials that insult them on a mental level. Talking down to them, forcing them to believe ridiculous premises... sound familiar? Do you think the same people who dislike that kind of mental bombardment appreciate it when they are NOT watching TV?

Look at your magic... closely. Do you have any routines, patter, or tricks in general that could be off putting to a thinking person? (If you work solely for mental midgets then I suppose you can ignore this post but for the rest of you.) It's like I always say: I like to insult my audience, but not their intelligence.

Stick that in your idiot box and smoke it.

Telling someone in Vegas you are a magician is like saying you are an accountant ANYWHERE else.

I forgot how fun and amusing it is to do magic to random strangers. If you haven't brightened the day if someone in the service industry in a while try it.

It's quite refreshing sometimes.

Snap into it...

I'm really getting sick of magicians starting their explanations with "Let's get into it".

Even our speech patterns are getting mundane now. Ugh!

So as we enter into the year that is new, I want to share a sentiment with you that I have adopted since moving to Vegas. Just think of this as a little something to take with you into 2011....

Never Leave Them Wanting Less

That's right, all of our lives we have heard "always leave them wanting more". Well on the flips side you can do too much and have your audience casing the joint for a speedy exit the moment you put on a blindfold or turn your back or, Anubis forbid, do a blackout.

I have seen many a show that could be saved by 15 less minutes of dancing or whatnot. I have sat thru shows that were only an hour but felt more like 3 days. How do you fix this? Be honest with yourself. Take a long hard look at your material. If you can't, find a friend to do it for you. If you don't have any friends because you are some mental hideous CHUD, then pay someone with better eyes than you.

Don't wanna go that route? Put a video camera on your audience. That will tell you all you need to know. By listening to the crowd, you learn a lot.

All I am saying is pay attention folks. Go forth into this new year with your freshly accumulated knowledge and better yourselves... if not for you.. then for the rest of us.

Now get out of here you crazy kids.

Thought I would share this weeks' itricks article with you.

Have at thee!

I wanna be blown away by a really good magic act again. I don't want to be fooled. I want to be entertained. Let me regale at the structure of a finely crafted bit of theater with magical overtones. Someone? Anyone?

Is that too much to ask?

Here's my cards...

Everytime I see a video like this:


That starts out with some potential, they have to bring fooking playings cards into the mix for no... damn.. reason. Guys listen, you do realize they are a crutch right? "Well I need some points for skill in my competition act... guess I'll use cards."

I almost turned the video off right then and there when they appeared. I decided to follow thru tho'. I think if the cards were justified like coasters possibly or just gotten rid of and find something unique to manipulate that would be much better. Better for who you ask? The public at large or a bunch of sweaty old fat guys at a magic convention?

You be the judge.

Duly noted...

I once had some ass clown magician review one of my early products and say that it should be in some lecture notes with other effects. I didn't disagree so that is now where the effect lies.

I worked in a magic shop at the time and saw many a one trick pony come across our shelves that were great ideas, but did indeed belong in a collected works or at the very least a linking ring one man parade. Some of these were clever, but rarely for the price tag charged. (23 dollars for a card box with a hole in it and some rubber bands? Really?)

Ah, but the internet and desktop publishing would soon herald in the apocalypse of 1 trick items that are clamored for and then forgotten like so much trendy refuse. I bring this up because I saw a clever trick that just got released. Seems a bit much for the price and I am sure could easily be a "Build it yo'self" kinda deal. (However, I know how lazy people are and they want it right here, and right now)

To be fair you have to start somewhere, and it is nice to see people releasing multiple effects onto one source every now again, regardless of how good the motivation is to perform them.

Cest' la vie

(Can you believe I've been doing this now for 7 years?)

Dear aggravating youtube generation,

I am effin' sick of kids (and I say kids because they all seem to be) who teach magic videos who have the conviction of a sack of wet hammers.

Why don't you little bastards put down the cards and read some books on performing hunh?

Also, quit ending every other sentence with "ok".. ok?

Sincerely,

ME and the rest of the world.