It never saw the light of day.

Knock 'em dead MM.

First Show went just fine but I can see some improvements I could make.

Mostly I'm unfamiliar with the show order and there were very few people there so I need to think of a good way to handle that.

Everyone loved the show because they were very involved (several small turns to be involved for each person LOL).

Typical Music issues like remembering to turn on the music and sound levels but I have some time before the next Library show.

-Mary Mowder

Mary - I make minor changes to almost every show, depending on audience. So before each show I write the sequence in a 3x5 card and place it on the table. I also allow for changes right before starting after asking the host/hostess about the audience - just make the edits on my 3x5. Not very sophisticated, but works for me.

Now I have a question for the group. I want to make a change to one of my chop cup routines (actually it is the new version of Red McGinty) where my final load will be a handful of silver dollars. I use a leather chop cup for this. How can I load loose coins with out the sound?

Putting together a routine for the Midwest Magic Jubliee in Mid-August. Right now it is a sequence of magic that I already do, looking to tie three effects together with this final load of silver dollars. Video to come soon - visiting grandkids now, so working on concept now and will start on details when I get back to Minneapolis in a week

Thanks!

Hudson

Three years after posting, I'm returning to the idea with the coins and rubber sheet.

It's been interesting to collate my various notes over the years into a binder. It's at least some roughed-out material to work with.

But so much has changed, even in three years. I could still find a few payphones here in northern Michigan when I was first sketching out the idea six years ago. Now it's mostly bootstrap-phones or the polar opposite: the device you purchased and still pay for, monthly, with self-made cash -- or -- an Obama phone, a term that binds together prejudice against a new form of public assistance.

There are so many opportunities to work with ideas, just after a bit of time considering what objects mean to us now, as opposed to what they meant (or their lack of meaning) a few years ago. Hey brother, can you spare a cell?

Yes, but not a brain cell.

The recent proliferation of Tech and information makes it easier for the indecisive (or even prudent) to become immobilized.

The lack of commonly viewed media in favor of a million sources makes it hard to find common referents and harder to connect with younger audiences (not including Kids).

This can make choosing a patter line harder and may require choosing more than one to connect to different audiences.

-Mary Mowder

Another item I dug out, committed to practicing and am having lots of success with is the Coin Funnel. It's a really fun routine and I love the kicker ending with the battery. The kids love it too, they're usually stunned into silence.

Nice thread, I will probably add some stuff here as I get time. I have done magic for 35 years now and 25 years professionally, so it is hard to find time to work on new stuff due to working so many gigs. But when it slows down some in the Winter I work on new stuff as much as I can. Years ago I went through the entire 8 Volume Tarbell set and now I have the original lessons book. I plan on working through the entire book and earning my "Magic Diploma" in which I printed the actual one out enlarged, and also made a better quality custom one.

I might post the lessons I am working on or the specific tricks as well. Also will list more stuff later as sometimes I work on multiple projects and take a break from others. I have a lot of huge books and periodicals to get through completely which is going to take a long time, like The James File, Greater Magic, Stanyon's Magic, Hugard's Magic Monthly, The Jink, The Phoenix, The Sphinx, Rice's Silk Magic 3 Volumes, Apocalypse, The Definitive Sankey, Magical Arts Journal, Magic Menu 1,2 and 3, The Secret Ways of Al Baker, and so many more. Not to mention hundreds of DVDS and many single effects. Should be fun!

1. SirBrad
2. Tarbell Original Lessons Book (1300 pages HUGE!)
3. 2-3 hours/session
4. 3-5 sessions/week
5. This year sometime or next

No kidding, Mary! The county I live in has made do with small grocery stores for many years, as I understand it. A big chain grocery/dept. store just opened here a month ago. I had forgotten about the paralysis that an abundance of choice can produce. Have you ever seen this (deleted scene) clip from Borat? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dssyfsUDOAQ

I think a performer could have a lot of fun with the concept of glut. Perhaps a thematic motivation for Multiplying X, Y, Z?

Vince,
The content was blocked due to copyright issues.
Just as well, I can't take 30 seconds of Borat. LOL

SirBrad,
You've cut of a chunk but best of luck!

I'm in a Close-Up Magic Contest tomorrow which I only joined to make the 3 requisite to hold the contest. One more joined after me. Doh!
I have not practiced and I don't know what I'll do yet. Not very responsible compared to my normal preparations. Oh well….

-Mary

While it was a small contest, I feel very lucky to have won.

-Mary Mowder

Well done, Mary! .

Congratulations!

What did you do? I'm guessing gypsy thread as that seems to be a favorite of yours.

Congratulations, Mary! I, too, would like to hear more about it...

Thank you.

I'm not too proud of the victory, in fact I think we should call off our contests till we get our act together.

I know I sound ungrateful but you'll see why.

The Contest is VERY poorly attended by the members We have maybe 35 members a couple of whom don't like to vote because o failing eyesight and hearing so, OK, that should leave 33 minus 4 contestants but we only had maybe 5 voting members in attendance. I really can't figure that out and I think it is a travesty to have a contest with only 5 members voting. My partner Tom was working camera and so really didn't pay enough attention to the act's content to vote (and did not vote) so I'm thinking I won by one vote.

Our Close-Up Contest is usually Parlor sized. There were non-members in attendance but they only vote for people's choice.


I did "Find your Friend's Card" a very simple effect where one of the spectator's finds his friend's card (Duh) The fun is in the interaction. It is a good icebreaker that runs about 4 mins with byplay.

I did my version of Wonderland $ and finished with "six impossible things" (a line from Alice in Wonderland) with a Ring and Rope.

It was a very simple act built for fun and (my) comfort. As I said, I did not plan this ahead.

The best of the competition did some great Card and Coin Magic but it might have been a little dry and nervous in places (Frankly, I would have been proud to have done either of their acts if I could). Most of the time, one of us three will win, so the contests may seem boring on that account.

Please don't get me wrong, I love contests but if the Club just doesn't care enough to compete or vote I think we are missing the mark.

I can remember some really robust and well attended contests in our Club's past.

I wonder if other clubs have this problem?

-Mary

Mary, I faced the same issue when doing stand up in Seattle. The scene wasn't great and people rarely showed up to support each other, which was too bad, so I definitely get the frustration. Then, while attending Magic Circle meetings in England, the attendance was fantastic, so I'm not really sure what to make of it. Anyway I applaud the fact that you showed up and did your thing. The show I've been working on recently debuted on ABC Family and I was getting myself worked up about reviews and ratings. I was on the phone with a very successful TV director who had this to say: "It's not about the reviews, or even about the ratings. It's about what you did." So I'm trying to keep that frame of mind.

As promised, I summited Mt. Whitney last Thursday morning at about 8:30am. It was a grueling trek filled with some rather scary moments, traversing through ice and snow at two in the morning with nothing but a 2,000 foot drop to one side, but we survived and made it to the 14,508 foot summit, where I proceeded to do a little magic at the top of the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. Enjoy the photo!

Click here to view attached image.

Congratulations on both accomplishments Andrew!

Man your face looks chapped/burned but you are smiling. (hopefully it is just the photo).

You have to be dedicated to drag even one extra ounce that far up.
Stay safe, it's a long way down.

What is the name of the Show you're working on, Andrew?

I don't get cable but someone here must.

-Mary Mowder

Andrew - wow! That is an accomplishment and a cool photo! Well done.

Mary - I understand. When we were in Omaha, the club, albeit small, was active and supportive. Competions were well attended and typically had many competitors. Here in Mineapolis, there are two major clubs - SAM and IBM - and I think a few minor. I've been to both IBM and SAM meetings - different people and only a little collaboration on events like auctions. Typically the meeting have only 10 people or so. We had more than that in Omaha.

Well, on to other topics. I've retooled Red McGinty and will be posting a video soon. Shorter now than a couple years ago, but tighter story with magic logically flowing from the story. I've also started on Linking Rings. Working on Pop's routine. Just finished reading Rings in your Fingers and also using Vernon Revelations for reference material. Never worked with rings before (10" - I did a little with the Ninja Rings). Lots to learn here - the moves, the sequence, spectator management. Anyway, I've been doing 5 or 6 10 - 20 minute sessions each day for the past week or so. (After 20 minutes or so, I need to take a break and do something else). I plan to keep up this pace till July 4th. Then off on vacation for the balance of July. If I'm up to it, I will take the rings with me and practice on our trip.

Anyone else working on something new?

Hudson

No, but I need to be. I have been asked to do a series of shows at day care facilities. Ages in each group range from 4 to 12. Although I have done my share of kids shows as part of "Generation Gap" with my grandson, never this mixed and never this young.

If anyone has ideas of what works, or suggestions of what doesn't, I would be most appreciative.

Thanks!

Jim

Jim - coloring book, silk color change effects, vanishing bandana, sponge balls. Lots of color, audience participation, objects they are familiar with. I usually give the birthday child a 'birthday bandana' at the start of the show so I can 'remember who the host is'. Today some kids don't know what a bandana is, so this sets up my close - the bandana trick.

Hudson

Hudson, Misers Dream is "next to my chair" but other projects are slowing my work.

Jim,

20th Century Silks.

Deja Zoo. The little ones like naming the Animals.

Silk Cascade (Fountain of Silks).

Snap a silk and silk through Glass

Ring and Rope

Silk through Wrist

T&R NewsPaper (I like NewsFlash)

Pat Page's Easy Money, You can add an origami $ bill to the end if you pre fold and unfold it to the center of the cash. I use the Elephant.

These have all worked well for mixed ages.



I worked 4 1/2 hours walk around for Ronald McDonald House Charities "Red Show Crawl" today.

The first part was out doors for 2 1/2 hours and almost no one there. I did some Magic for the volunteers and a radio station team as well as a few participants.

The second 2 hours were in a nice restaurant and started slow but soon became an absolute blast.

As usual I brought WAY more Magic than I needed. Really only did about 7 effects and mostly 4.

-Mary Mowder