Hey gang, I have been posting here for a long time and need some advice. I did an MC gig yesterday and did various bits in between the acts. My friend came to the show and saw me vanish a silk hankerchief in my bare hands with sleeves rolled up, and no cover. Well, you all know how I did it, but he told me today that he lost sleep over it last night!

He is a mid 50's Nurse Manager who plays semi-professional guitar in a blues band, doing mostly bar shows. He asked me to guide him towards purchasing and learning a few visual things (including the silk vanish) that he could perform between songs or when there is a minute or two of dead time. He is very trustworthy and I know he would keep the secrets, but I have mixed feelings about tipping a staple of my repertoire such as the TT.

Onto the question: Can you all give me some ideas as to what I can have him purchase and practice in a loud bar setting? I am thinking about D'Lites probably, which would PROBABLY not tip the actual original use of a TT if I don't bring it up. I am also going to tell him about the Fulves Self-Working Series and the Hampton Ridge "25 Tricks with a ..." series. He is looking for something visual and easy and quick to perform. So far, I am going to recommend D'Lites. Please, any other thoughts would be welcome! Thanks for the help, in advance.

Jay

Color Changing Hank
Spellbound with a guitar pick
Coloring Book with a notebook of lyrics/music
Knife Through Coat
Thumb Tie using tape
??

I would think D'Lights, they can be done with no patter and are good in a dark place.

If he's that interested and starts reading, he'll discover a TT for himself. Anyway, don't D'Lites describe themselves as an ordinary TT with a light inside?

I would steer him toward Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic book. It has numerous effects and routines that he would find useful. He could study up a bit and find out what interests him most.

Hey gang, thanks for all the advice...keep it coming. JonTown has the right idea. My buddy doesn't want to study up or find what interests him: he wants to know a couple of tricks!

I am trying to find the right balance between exposing principles to him that he may not know or care about in the future, and offering some good strong easy magic. That's why I am thinking "gimmicks" all the way. Gimmicks don't often expose basic principles. In fact, we may know too much about this stuff.

For example, pretend you don't know ANYTHING about magic's inner workings at all. You are a spectator. Now imagine that I perform D'Lites for you and then expose its secret to you. Would you really think, "Hey, if I took out all this circuitry, I could make a handkerchief disappear in there!" Nope. No way. That's why I am comfortable advising him to get D'Lites with little fear of TT exposure.

Thoughts?

Jay

You should first explain to him some "rules" of performing magic. A few rules like: never reveal a secret; not to repeat the same trick to same audience; not to tell audience what the effect is; and so on.

I second the D'Lights! Try to see if you can find the gold ones.

Personally I would not teach any magic to someone who isn't even interested or curious enough to want to at least go to a library or bookstore to check out a book on magic. It sounds to me like he is more interested in boosting his ego with "look what I can do" rather than entertain with magic. What I would do is give the guy a set of D'Lights and tutor him a bit and then sit back and let nature take its course. Your friend may find, after learning a routine with the D'Lights, he has a real interest in the art of magic and will WANT to learn more and WILL study up on it.

My post may sound harsh but it is, after all, only my opinion and attitude. In the end you will do what you think is right. Exposing one "secret" to anyone does magic no harm, exposing many secrets to the uninterested can only hurt their own enjoyment and take the "magic" out of future magic shows for them. Why ruin their magic experience for life?

Iven

I like the D'Lite suggestions too, but why not the Pro Nitemare? We think it's simple, but lay audiences go crazy over it.

Hi y'all. I'm the guy that Jay was posting about. (Even if he did have me as a bit older than I am...I'll talk to him about it in the AM) I've been seriously bitten by the magic bug. Jay was kind enough to give me a gift of Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic" book, and my trip to Vegas really set the hook. I'm looking forward to becoming a member of the community, and look forward to learning the craft and it's history. Jay and I will have a NICE discussion about my age.

Well, Steve, welcome and nice to meet you. Please understand that we aren't trying to 'keep others out' of magic - to the contrary. Most of us take the time to teach others. What we are trying to avoid is the layman that wants to practice 5 minutes and have a 'killer' routine. What happens is that he does learn SOMETHING, but it's performed poorly and clumsily, the secret is exposed, he looks like a bumbling idiot and we have another 'guy that knows a dorky trick' which doesn't do ANYONE any good and that particular trick is ruined for that spectator forever.

If you really are serious and start studying you'll find many people here that will help you along your new path.

Someone mentioned a D'lite set. I didn't think of that at first, but that would be great. It's not too hard to learn, not that pricey, and with some dimmed lights, it could look great!
A Ted Lesleys's marked deck is great too. You could teach him a few simple uses with it; I try to vear towards more skillful magic, but somethings with that deck can look great, and get great reactions!

Rmax Goodwin

"perform between songs"


'Color Changing Rope'
'Rope to Silk'
'Squaring the Circle'
'Color Changing CDs'

Flash and lights.

Hmmmm..wouldn't this be nice?

Giant pick production.
Chinese Wand Drumsticks
Guitar String to Slinky

I notice that many of the mages here at the MC are also musicians. Check out this forum. Maybe PM some folks and get their opinions.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=32

Great ideas, Jaz. WELCOME stevek, glad you wrote to introduce yourself and that you were "bitten by the bug!" Please write back and share what works best in your venues.

One fella told me that during restaurant work he likes to carry a laser pen and shine a dot on a table. Then he walks up and 'grabs' the light, beginning his D'Lite routine with, "They just leave these around everywhere."