I am almost certain I saw Etienne walk off the Mother Ship in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
Yes…he is that smart.

I first ran across Monsieur 'O', here on the Café. We actually initially got off on the wrong foot. It was probably my fault.

I quickly discovered a hint of the depths of research he'd done on my favorite trick. It's always better to have friends rather than enemies. I shipped a copy of one little routine I do, to Paris. We have been more than acquaintances ever since.

I had the pleasure to get to session with Etienne at a World Magic Seminar a year or two ago. He also acted as interpreter on more than one occasion when I got to hang out with some Spanish-speaking cups aficionados. Like most Europeans, he speaks more languages than just his native tongue and English. Just knowing Mr. "O" gained for me some pretty serious entree into the magic world. Imagine getting to talk cups and balls with Etienne, Rafael Benetar, Antonio Romero and Johnny Thompson. The only reason I got into the room was because Etienne knew me. (Sorry to drop names, but it does show the level of magicians that are caught up in Etienne's spell!)

It was a real pleasure seeing some of the finest subtleties in card handling from him as well.

He is, as we say about too few magicians,

A gentleman and a scholar!

KG

Etienne is nothing but top class in my book. Through the years he has opened up to me and guided me down paths I never thought of, without anything in return except for respecting our art we all love so much.
Thanks you for being a friend,teacher, mentor, a ear to listen, Thanks for just being you !!!!!
Tim

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it would be like wrapping a present and not giving it. Now as I try and express such a gratitude to you my peers for your kind words, I don't loose sight that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
Since there is another thread of the same nature for Bill Palmer who's merits are much greater than mines, it makes it easier to indulge in such sweet words knowing that this sort of praise covers as much an approach to the community and the art than just me as a person. Now if we were cast in a different mould to the majority, it is no merit of ours: life did it... but thanks anyways.

Etienne:

Your devotion to magic and your ability to express yourself in a language that is not your mother tongue is a yardstick that any of us would do well to use as a personal guideline.

Thanks for being my friend.

I see that I'm coming into this thread 3 1/2 years after it apparently concluded. But I too have become a fan of Mr. O's posts and wonder if he has ever written books, articles, etc. Or is there a web page? And/Or what name should one use to google him and his work?

I second everything said in this thread.

I asked Mr. Lawrence for advice in a PM. His response was VERY helpfull to this Street Performer! Thanks again Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Danny

I too have had the pleasure of spending a bit of time with this fine gentleman. A few years ago in Vegas, the Seminar hosted a cups and balls symposium and had the incredible pleasure of watching a few masters of this classic, while seated between Pete, and Etienne. Talk about one of these things is not like the other! I was thrilled to find out that he is now not too far from me and I hope that I get to spend more time with him in the future.

A wealth of knowledge for sure.
I have learned a lot from him
over the years here on the café.
Todd

The first time I saw one of his bibliographies of a certain effect I was blown away. I thought, "No one can have this much knowledge." Amazing.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Etienne in Paris a while ago.
He's a true master in magic, which encompass techniques AND scripting, etc...
My only wish is that he writes a book on magic theory, a book on cups and balls, another one one coin magic, and so on !
Merry Christmas to you Etienne, and to all the Café friends !