get it here | Cover: Dirk Arthur
Watching Dirk Arthur get ready for work is a bit like watching a dad get his kids ready for a dirt track meet. There's the cleaning of gear, the loading of equipment, the dusty ride to where everything will take place, and even the good family friend who's been around, knows the ropes, and is there to help out and make sure everything goes smoothly so no one gets hurt.
Of course, in this scenario, the 'kids' are 400- to 600-pound Siberian Tigers, the 'gear' is all the props needed for two daily (and different) illusion shows, and the friend is Michael Giles, who, as a former member of The Majestix, knows a thing or two about big cats and safety.
As for the dusty ride, well, I was following the custom-built white truck and trailer from Arthur's Southwest ranch-style home to the Las Vegas Strip, where the animals were unloaded in preparation for their star turns in Dirk's XTreme Magic, which has just taken over the main showroom a! t the Tropicana Hotel & Casino with a brand new 7 p.m. show.
Freedom of Speech - and How to Squelch It!
Heckler. The word stabs icy fear into every entertainer's heart. Well, not the single word itself, but the loud and often unintelligible slew of words that are being hurled with great glee and malice up onto the stage from the darkness beyond the footlights. This is a magician's worst nightmare - someone who feels you aren't entertaining enough without their desperately needed help.
How can an assault be inadvertent? To explore that theory, we contacted a number of seasoned entertainers and asked about their experiences with these insipid underworld creatures. Once compiled, there seemed to be a consensus that most disruptive people fit into the seven categories.
The Jon Allen Experience
Some conventional magic wisdom: 'Just be entertaining' or 'All you have to do is make them laugh' or even 'The tricks aren't important, you are important.' R! emember this one? 'A magician is an entertainer first and a magician second.' Jon Allen was never one for conventional wisdom. His goal is specific. He is focused on giving every single participant (don't call them 'spectators' around Jon) a unique, magical experience. This is, of course, easier said than done. But through countless corporate and private events in his native UK, Jon realized something of vital importance - that most magic is utterly forgettable. 'It's not about the effect or how people perceive you, and it's not even about your presentation. It's all about how you leave people feeling. They don't care about tricks, but they do care about the experience that you give them.'
A 100th Salute to Magic
For the SAM Parent Assembly's 100th annual Salute to Magic on May 16, producer Sal Perrotta chose a legendary New York City venue. Believed to be the longest-running annual show in US history, the Salute began as a means of establishing a permanent home for! the SAM. Performers in the early years included Houdini, Adelaide Herrmann, Okito, Dante, and LeRoy, to name just a few. Carnegie Hall was one of its earliest venues. Because stage magic is not the popular draw it once was, recent Salutes didn't have the ambitious reach of this Centennial show. For this evening, Sal engaged the highest-level performers available, and the resulting lineup was a treat to magic fans and magicians alike. Despite a few speed bumps, the show delivered magic that lived up to Sal's ambitious goals.
In His Words: Al Baker
Al Baker was a sharp-witted creator and performer of original, practical magic. In this interview from 1941, the year he became the Dean of American Magicians for the SAM, Baker recounts a bit of his own history and recalls some of the most famous names in magic.
Magic in North Korea
It took two years of negotiations for him to get there, but when Dale Salwak attended the Spring Friendship Art Festival ! in Pyongyang, he experienced a new culture of talented and enthusiastic magicians.
Update
Four pages of news stories covering: Lance Burton's accident that shut down the show at the Monte-Carlo, as well as the latest rumor about his possible extension; magic in the movies, including Love & Mortar, Death Defying Acts, Magic Man, and Mandrake the Magician; a Magic Circle show for the Royal Free Hospital; plus fond farewells to Earl 'Presto' Johnson, Arlene (Mrs. De Yip Loo) Louie, and Mahka Tendo.
Marketplace
Fourteen products are covered this month by Peter Duffie, Jason England, Gabe Fajuri, Brad Henderson, John Lovick, and Charles Reynolds.
H.C.E. by Paul VigilLevent's Ultimate Guide to the Miser's DreamGhost Tag by Peter EggnikThe Little Egypt Book of Ghosts by Steve BryantCash Vault by Mark SouthworthKiller Gaft Magic by Cameron FrancisBlackout by Brian and Mike PlattThought Transmitter by John CorneliusMisled by Timothy WenkDeep 3 by Bro. GilbertQuarantined by Craig PettyPre-prepared Object to Wallet Envelopes by David BonsellMalone Meets Marlo starring Bill MaloneThe London Palladium: The Story of the Theater and its Stars by Chris Woodward
Talk About Tricks
Professionals will rejoice at Underage Gambling, a practical card routine from Britain's Matthew Dowden. We also feature two tricks with borrowed bills this month. And we round out the issue with a hilarious 'accidental' Ace location from Austria's Wolfgang Moser, and an interesting take on the Mercury Card Fold.
The Show Doctor
DEAR SHOW DOCTOR: How do you select the right tricks? I have a big collection and I can't tell the good stuff from the bad stuff unless I try it out. I know I have too many tricks and need to cut down. What do you suggest? - Reynaldo M.
Braindrops
As much as I hate to admit it, I sometimes use magic tricks to hit on beautiful wome! n. I'm not one of those guys who go to a club with an ITR and a flaming wallet, but if the situation presents itself, I will pull a few tricks out of my sleeve to distinguish myself as a suitable mate. Sadly, my rapier wit, impeccable fashion sense, and movie-star good looks will never compete with my ability to make a pretty flower out of a paper napkin.
Paper Ball Transpo has a similar feel to a sponge-ball trick. It uses natural props and builds to an organic climax. Plus, afterwards you can fold the napkin into a flower.
Directions
It's absolutely true: in watching other performers, we can see ourselves. We sometimes make the same mistakes or the same brilliant choices, but don't recognize them until we observe them in someone else. Through this series of articles, enhanced by the accompanying videos you can find at www.MAGICmagazine.com, you can learn from watching other performers as I gently point out ways that their material can be improved, as well as ! the aspects of their acts that are working well. Although they refer directly to the video in question, these points also carry over as general principles of performing. There are many right ways of doing things, and these are a few options. |
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