If you haven’t heard yet there’s a new movie coming out. “NOW YOU SEE ME” with a fantastic line up of actors/actresses, is sure to be a lot of fun. Interviews with the cast and crew are popping up all over the place (theory 11′s very own Andrei Jihk) as the May 31st release date nears.

 Magic, Sorcery, Morgan Freeman… What more could you ask for?

If you haven’t checked out the trailer Do That NOW. Then let us know what you think about the wave of magic related movies popping up lately.

Catch ya later guys

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Anyone else heard this one? Or at least something like it? The acknowledgement of what we have forgotten, and what we don’t do or think of anymore. Chances are though, they’re on to something. When’s the last time you sat down and worked on old material? Tried to improve on what you used to do with the knowledge you’ve gained thus far? Magic wise, the last time you worked on Triumph or a two coin routine, improving a double lift or turnover or being caught with only a pen and paper perhaps?

It is actually a very common topic (not a problem exactly) in many different Arts. The forgetting or neglecting of aspects in the Art, that we once dealt with, even if only briefly. So I decided I didn’t need to spend all day talking about why this isn’t great. You should already understand. Instead I decided to explain how I’ve been overcoming the issue. The first idea was I sat down and made a list.

Make a list. MAKE A LIST. JUST SIT DOWN AND DO IT.

I sat down and made a list of ALL the things I wanted to work on, in every aspect of my life. From magic and juggling, to how I manage money. The hardest part? I COULDN’T BABY STEP AROUND THE TRUTH. I SUCK AT MANAGING MONEY, I DON’T PRACTICE ENOUGH FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS PERFORMANCE TO BE HIS CAREER, I HADN’T BEEN KEEPING UP WITH ANY OF MY GOALS FOR THIS YEAR. Scary stuff to admit, but it was honest and it reminded me what I was forgetting in my day to day life. DON’T FORGET.

Now the list itself isn’t looking at yourself negatively, it’s just asking yourself what you would like to improve. From anything like, get up earlier, to practice ten minutes a day. Just get this stuff onto paper so that you can look back at it and read things you forget from time to time. My list? It had things like juggle more, research Slydini, clean up and go through my magic collection, eat healthier, keep a cleaner house, manage money better, work with fire poi and club juggling, advertise myself more/ work on marketing. Things I admit I wanted to do, and eventually get to. Making the list itself brought so many new thoughts to the front of my mind as well as rekindled old ones that I’m finally getting around to.

And relax, the list isn’t a to do by next week type of thing. Honestly it’s just a list of things you would like in your life/ career more often. I don’t just juggle once and scratch it off the list. Juggling is something I wish to advance in constantly, and when I forget that, it’s nice to see it on the list to which I tend to then go grab some juggling balls and waste an afternoon.

If you do end up making a list, here’s a tip. Separate it.

Put things onto one of two lists. Things you would like to do more often, and things you would like to do. The latter being things like “organize magic collection” or ” buy scripting magic”. Things that you CAN check off a list. That way you can watch that second list get smaller and smaller. Give it a shot, you won’t regret it.

NOW ONTO SOLUTION NUMBER TWO!

This idea was presented to me by a friend and I modified it a bit. Ready? GRAB A DECK OF CARDS AND A SHARPIE. Write out all the concept of magic you have an interest in ( and maybe some you don’t usually) and write one on each card. Shuffle it up and put it away. Then each day I draw a card and what ever it says I have to complete that task by the end of the day. It can say anything from “cups and balls work” or “rubber band magic” to ” read a magic book chapter” or “Perform the same effect to three different people”. This method can be tailored to whatever craft you do, and whatever style you do. If you primarily use cards it can say things like “triumph” or “learn a new control”.

BE CREATIVE, BUT ABOVE ALL BE PERSONAL! Make this unique to you. Things that YOU want to keep sharp on, or work on. What things would be good to randomly have to work on? This Method Goes hand in hand with the previous list as you end up randomly having to try and complete things on your list regardless.

Don’t worry though if you don’t complete it that day, either put it back and re-pick the next day or try to get the old one done as well as the new.

I hope you guys give these things a shot, but above all I hope it gets you thinking. What things do you forget you want to accomplish?Cheers!

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Listen closely to what Kevin Smith says, he mentions magic but listen to everything. We should all think about this in our shows and when we perform.

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Just thought I would share this interesting email I received.. The thing that bothers me the most is that the person didn’t have an email to respond to. It was a fake email.. SOOOOO not only did they decide to talk crap but didn’t even have the balls to have a real email to respond to.. Seriously get off your high horse… Before you knock something take the time to find out what it’s really about.. Stupid Jerks -Xavior

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All too often do I hear older people who do magic and hear the phrase, “I don’t need to work so hard, what I do works just fine… ” Man does this piss me off, mostly because they tell younger magicians that it’s ok to be a lazy magician, and the trend continues..

WHY DO LAZY MAGIC ?!?!?

If you’re going to believe those words then maybe you should just keep them to yourself. Why would you want to discourage the next generation of magician by keeping them from exploring their individual creativity with your laziness? Why would you want to encourage lazy magic? Please just stop it. As far as some of the older generation of magicians is concerned their time is over. The time is for the new generation to take what they have been given and take into a new direction. A direction that allows people to explore their ideas and doesn’t stop people from trying new, harder, smoother, more elegant, more deceptive magic. We will never get there if we allow people to tell us that the best way is the way it has been done before. In the end it may be true but what if there is a much better way that hasn’t been discovered yet? We will never know by telling people not to use these new methods.

What has been done before.

For a long time magic has been done one way. And there is nothing wrong with that. I’m glad it was done the way it was because it allows us a very strong platform in which to develop magic that can be used in our generation. The generation of bar magic and standing close up and walk around magic. But just because it has been done that way for years doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t change.. It should, it should always change. Or else whats the point? Let’s be real. At one point magic made a transition from being mostly a stage performance to being more of a table showcase, you can tell because for a while all magic publication was for the card table. Not the stage. Now there is a new transition. From the card table to the hands of the magician and spectators. Closer more intimate.

Why is this? Well first of all there are almost no venues for magicians to do a show where there is a table and people. And even less where people would be able to appreciate what is happening during the performance. Second our society is more of a pick up and go place. Where you’re walking around and moving and not sitting at tables as much as standing around or at a bar top. And lastly the market is more of an internet based market. Brick and mortar magic shops are closing and internet based business are flourishing. The reason? Well honestly the internet is a cheaper and easier way to buy, sell and share things. It just makes sense. So we should accept things that are happening and things that are to come. The internet is here to stay. At least for the foreseeable future. So is it so bad that the magic being created is created for this market? No, and anyone who says other wise is a fool plain and simple. Just because someone is a ‘name’ in our industry does in NO WAY mean that everything they say is the final word. Have some insight of your own and embrace your own ideas.

The bottom line is this, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the best magicians in the world, and some that are “legends”. And from what I’ve seen, the magicians that are more open-minded are usually the ones that are the best and the ones set in their ways are the ones we don’t hear about anymore. They don’t just take the lazy way out of their magic, they work for what they want. They do what is necessary…. Just my experience
-Xavior

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What ever your vote you should check out this article after you vote!!  http://www.thedailydeception.com/2013/01/yif-exposed-the-illusion-is-broken/

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Watch this video. Then read what I have to say and tell me what you think…

My Thoughts….

So after watching this I’d first like to say that I don’t want to believe that this person was of sound mind. And if he was then he (as much as I don’t want to think so) really believes that he was ready to perform….

Let’s say that he was of sound clear mind. What made him think he was ready to perform?? Either it was pure delusion or it was people “Being Nice”  and not being honest. If someone, ANYONE, was honest with him they would have told him to save the embarrass ment and just keep working at it. And if someone did tell him then he was just utterly delusional in thinking that this was a good act or that he was even good at using some simple gimmicks. 

An important note: I know nothing of this person and if this person does have a disability I sincerely mean no harm. That being said it’s a good example of a “magician” giving a bad name to other magicians only because they can do a few tricks.

All I ask is that is that if you’re going to go on television or charge for your act, then please put some work into it… Is that too much to ask. Seriously, from now on every time I see something like this I will not be nice and say what I feel about it. It has to be done and by more than just me.

Stop sucking up to people just because they’re better than you or their names in the magic industry. If you feel something isn’t as good as they make it seem then tell them. Honesty is much better for magic then kissing ass!! I don’t care if its David Blaine or Copperfield, if they do something I don’t like and they ask me, I WILL tell them. And if anyone knows me they know it’s true!! If they don’t like the honesty then they are just looking for compliments. If they want them from me they better give me something to compliment!!!

Keep my tradition alive!!!

-Xavior

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It happens all the time: ‘This trick is based on a Marlo variation of a Vernon experiment, originally presented by Thurston who borrowed it from an unpublished idea of Reginald Scot.’ Seriously, more accreditation than a doctoral thesis, leading the reader to source the original idea, which is often unrecognisable, or unusable.

It makes me wonder about such things. After all, you never hear of an actor giving credit on this level. Yes, they give praise. Effusive actors always enjoy praising those who came first, those who influenced them. But never do you hear credit for a hand movement, or an inflection, or an aspect of Richard III. Never ‘The idea for Willie Loman being slightly slouched came from Lee J Cobb.’ Instead, actors build on what they know of the scene, and the audience, to create a character and action that serves the message they’re trying to deliver.

To do similar in magic, however, is unforgivable. It’s seen as heresy in the magic world second only to revealing secrets. Naming and shaming tactics are acceptable against those who don’t footnote. It’s a curious behaviour. I think there is a fine line between crediting and not, but I don’t think the latter equates to theft.

Maybe it’s because the magic community is so small, that it’s easy to accuse one’s contemporaries of stealing. But ideas come from experience, and because of the small community, the experience context is smaller. Therefore, overlapping ideas are not only likely, but more probable. I suppose it’s a matter of quantity, though: ‘taking’ someone else’s idea once can be called shoddy research; do it twice, and you’re  a thief. Either way, not a good position to be in.

There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know. – Ambrose Bierce

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Carisa Hendrix, fire artist.

There’s a funny thing I’ve learned about Podcasts……don’t underestimate them just because they’re not perfectly connected to a narrow topic or subject…which is a proper lead-in for this article. In recent months, I’ve become acquainted with several Podcasts, some of which aren’t totally devoted to the topic of magic. However, dear reader: do not discount such shows merely because they venture outside the realm of magic!! It’s heavily documented that many of the greatest creators and artists the world has ever known are prone to say things like, “Study lots of different topics and subjects.” Many decades ago, there was this arcane term, known as a “well-rounded person”.

That said, allow me to point any and all to an exquisite Podcast that’s been around for awhile……that being, Ballycast. This column isn’t about blogs, it’s about Podcasts, so I’ll just say this before I go on….to really get the ENTIRE vibe of what Ballycast is all about, you’ll need to spend a bit of time both listening to the show AND reading the blog post connected to each respective episode. Now, on to what you’re hear for: Ballycast is a great show, period! It’s creator and producer, Wayne Keyser is an interesting bloke, he really is. Put simply, he made his living as a magician for many years doing birthday party shows around the greater Washington, D.C. area. As his health began to decline, he opted to start pumping his time and energy into preserving those important bits of low-brow entertainment surrounding carnivals, sideshows and what-not. He is, in the purest and most sincere way, the classic amateur historian.

He’s recently released the show’s 58th episode, and frankly, that ain’t bad for longevity! His cast of interviewees over the past few years reads like a Who’s Who from the world of the modern sideshow. Did you even know there was such a term as “modern” sideshow? Oh, sure there is…..in some ways, the sideshow is as alive today as it ever was! Young Brett Loudermilk was the very first person Wayne interviewed for the show, and (of course) you’ll find him on Episode 1. From there, Episode 2 features a man, James Taylor, (no, not the singer) who might reasonably be called the only true modern scholar on the history of sideshow in America. From there, the next 20-or-so episodes feature artists/performers with names like, Glasserella and Swami Yohmami. Put succinctly, most of these shows are just a hoot to listen to!

Wayne is a man deeply obsessed with sounds and audio recordings. How he finds some of his stuff, I’ll never know! But I know one thing: Ballycast is a fun listen!  It’ll inspire, motivate, entertain and intrigue….trust me on this one.

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