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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
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On Sep 3, 2015, hugmagic wrote: Who would've though that? (Sorry, couldn't help it, considering it's a post about glitches!) |
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
The Hardcover, signed and numbered, limited edition version of DICK OSLUND: ROAD SCHOLAR will premiere at Dick's exclusive Chicago-Area lecture and book-signing event on Monday, September 21st at 7pm at Magic, Inc.
More information is available here: http://www.magicinc.net/DickOslundLecture2015.aspx And yes, Richard, Dick is having some corrections done...... |
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
I’ve finished reading Dick’s “Road Scholar” book, viewed his DVD and even had the opportunity to see him lecture live at Denny & Lee’s Magic shop in Baltimore last month. The book makes interesting reading, with lots of fun and informative stories about doing school assembly shows. But I also particularly enjoyed Dick’s magic material. Dick fits an entire show in a briefcase. His show really is a lesson in packing small, playing big. I do have two criticisms of the book. It could have used an index and, more importantly, the trick section would definitely have benefited from the addition of illustrations. Dick’s detailed explanations of his tricks are very useful, but absent illustrations, were sometimes hard to penetrate, even if you have a large library of books and DVD’s that explain the underlying sleights, as I have. The DVD, however, helps make up for this shortcoming. It’s purely a performance DVD (my favorite kind), but for me, it was enough, supplemented with a few reference materials, to allow me understand the explanations in the book. But the great thing about a live performance DVD, is it allows you to experience visually the fun and power of Dick’s performance, and see the impact on his audience. I really like Dick’s approach to magic—a whole show with minimal props—and I recommend serious magicians buy the book and DVD.
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randyburtis Inner circle 1256 Posts |
This it seems is geared for school shows. ..if you don't do schools how much value is there for you.. rank a number from 1-10. Thanks
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I would say 8 or 9 depending how you work. The material is workable for any children's show and quite a bit of it is adaptable for general family audiences. They are not pipe dreams but the stuff a guy made his living with for years.
Richar
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Thanks Richard! "...another unsolicited testimonial!" (Eddie Tullock) heehee
Right! Although, I mainly worked schools, I did phone promotion shows (fund raisers) which are family audiences. When in Chicago (Holiday time)I did BOZO (WGN-TV) birthday parties, the "ZOO" SHOWS (ELKS, LIONS, EAGLES, MEESE--plural of Moose! They all had Christmas parties). Howard Schultz booked me for lots of corporate employee holiday parties, too. I remember driving from Chicago as far as West Virginia, St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, Cleveland, etc. for such events. One of the "interesting" jobs was for a major manufacturing corporation in Milwaukee. The agent booked me for a "stand up". When I arrived, it was a "Centennial Celebration". About a thousand employees, plus their families, were having a "picnic" in a hall the size of a football field. A huge barbeque pit was serving chicken, bratwurst, hamburgers, etc. A polka band was playing for dancers. A bottomless beer barrel never stopped flowing, ETC!!! I "parked" my prop case, filled my pockets with some props, and STROLLED. Most of my material can work almost anywhere for almost anybody. The client was PLEASED!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
P.S.!!!
Regarding that Milwaukee booking, just mentioned above... I used highly VISUAL bits. (Talking was nearly impossible--Polka Band!) --"Eye Candy Effects" -- Contact juggling bits -- Fancy card shuffles, my golf ball routine, rope & ring, rope knots, "my" Norwegian YoYo, TT silk vanish and repro., etc.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
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On Oct 23, 2015, randyburtis wrote: I don't do school assembly shows. But Dick's material could fit into a number of magic programs for kids, especially in the 6-12 range. For example, I've always liked Slydini silks, but could never figure out how to present the effect for kids. The type of presentation used, for example, by Bill Malone, just wouldn't work for kids, in my opinion. Dick boils his presentation down to one simple "unknotting" of two silks, which happens in a kid's hands, and which the kid gets "credit" for making happen. Dick then follows this with Serpentine Silk (where a knotted silk visually unties itself)--a great tie-in of 2 effects. Again, I've never been sure how to find an interesting presentation of Serpentine Silk for kids. Dick "sells" this by simply adding a little "look-don't-see" bit of business where he comments he wishes he could untie silks the way the kid just did, says he never can, then looks away, the silk unties itself while he's not looking, and his audience goes nuts. Simple, funny, direct. His rope, golf ball and other routines are all similarly visual, use simple props and simple methods and geared to entertaining kids (although Dick says he uses the same material for other audiences too). |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Most magicians do not understand timing of reactions, takes, slow takes and double takes. All can make a medicore routine into something special. I have used the double take on my phantom tube routine for years and it always works.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
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On Oct 26, 2015, hugmagic wrote: Now that you mention it, in a similar vein, Dick also has a lot of funny facial expressions, and makes different, comical vocal sounds to express different emotions (surprise, etc.), which are great techniques for enhancing a presentation. His "reactions" to the magic that happens are very expressive, and I learned some things from studying his style. |
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Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts |
Jack Shalom reviews Dick's book here. It is the second of two reviews.
http://jackshalom.net/2015/11/15/magic-wide-and-deep/ |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Thanks Quentin for posting Jack Shalom's review link!
Jack sent me the link to his blog this AM, but, I didn't know how to "forward" it here. I was, of course, very pleased with Jack's detailed review of my 'magnum opus' (!!!) --heqq, ONLY opus! Reading his comments, I could tell that he really READ the book, as he picked up on my thoughts so well. When Jon Racherbaumer (in the early spring of 2011) said: "You should write a book!" I was slightly hesitant. (I 'aint never' had my name 'in lights'!) Jon said: "No one has ever written up the 'real story' of the LYCEUM field, and, YOU are the 'last of the old traditional Lyceum magicians! WRITE!!!" I did my best to tell 'the rest of the story' (as Paul Harvey usta say.) The biographical part mentions the old timers who helped me learn, before the term "mentor" was used much, how to produce and present a show that could successfully play almost anywhere, for almost anyone. (I was never talented enough--or 'good looking' enough to play the Palace, or Las Vegas!) I did get to lecture all over the country for magic clubs, regional and national conventions, AND (!)even the Castle. The anecdotes will help, I hope, the 'next generation' realize what it means to be a working professional! A young lad at a convention, proudly showed me his business card, that advertised him as available for professional engagements at birthday parties, and trade shows! TO BE CONTINUED IN A COUPLE HOURS......
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Dick,
You should hold your head up high as I thought Jack Shalom's review was excellent and a tip of the old top hat to you and your magic career. Gerry |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I'M BACK (only 90 minutes)!
...He appeared to me a nice young fellow, obviously eager, and very polite, so I said, "Very nice! How many did you have printed?" He replied, "A hundred." I said, "Good! But, next time, order 1000. If you really use them, a hundred wont last long, and after the first hundred on the press, the next 900 will only cost you for the card stock." I pointed out that business cards were useless in his pocket, and I explained how to get them into circulation so that they would be "workers", AND, help him get work! He looked like 17 or, perhaps 18, and, I didn't want to discourage him, so, I explained gently that to be a professional, he needed to take his show on the road, do a season's work, come home with his health, sanity(!) some money in his pocket, and ready to hit the road again next season. "Then, you can call yourself a professional!" He blinked, thought for a second, and realized I was explaining the "facts of life" as tactfully as I could. He said, Thanks!" and we parted. Over the years, I've been privileged to mentor a number of young men. I always made it a point to encourage them to get a good education, and, as much practical experience as possible, before "going full time". A number of them, did, and, are now successful full timers. Others continue to be part timers, and some decided to remain as amateurs. They are all GOOD magicians! The "trick" section includes most of the tricks and routines that I developed and performed in that show that could play almost anywhere, for almost anyone. I outlined my criteria for selecting those tricks and routines, because those criteria helped me to maintain my focus on the practical. 99 1/2 % of my program is composed of "old stuff". (here comes the "but">>>: BUT,those tricks kept me working for almost 50 years!The only "new" trick (well, relatively new) is the Pom Pon Stick, and, that went "in" in '85.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
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On Nov 15, 2015, Gerry Walkowski wrote: Na zdrowie! Gerry! (I can spell Przybyla, Przykucki, and, Wawrzaszek (and even pronounce them correctly!) but, I don't remember how to say "Thank you"! in Polish. (getting old, has a few drawbacks!) Your compliment is certainly appreciated, and, I'm going to need a new (larger) top hat if you keep that up!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
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On Nov 15, 2015, Dick Oslund wrote: Like a good joke, it's only old if you heard, (saw), it before. Change the presentation and its new again. |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Right Jack!
It's so easy to put a "twist" on an old joke! As a roadie, I didn't need to change presentations very much or often! I just changed audiences! I only recall one time in all the years, having to repeat a territory in less than four years. I added one "new" routine (mutilated parasol--2 minutes) and changed presentations on a few things, plus, I put in some material that had been red lighted over the years. As Al Baker usta say: "Mindreaders have it very easy, they just read different minds! My ratings were always good. Of 15-16 programs touring with a bureau, I was usually in the top 3, and sometimes, I topped the list.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
As to the business cards, I always get mine printed by the 1,000 sometimes 2,500. Luckily my looks have not changed much facially. I do avoid the full length stuff anymore.
But I use the Dell O Dell advice....She was a master at self promotion. I always give out two business cards..never one. That is one to keep and one to pass on. Have done it for years. Some days some collector's are going realize how many of these there are around. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Dick was kind enough to send along a DVD. It's been so happy-making watching it! The kids are so delighted and delightful. This is such a great companion to the book. The way he immediately lets kids know how to react by "telling" them through his own reactions is wonderful.
It may well be that young audiences have changed over the years; I don't know, I've never performed for that age. But I think Dick could handle any of them. The way he respects children, and lets them into his world is something that the children pick up on right away. The way he gets his first volunteer is a more-than-$20 idea right there. Great stuff.
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
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