Flying
Solo with Opinions
Once
or twice a year, for reasons that make little
sense, I feel compelled to express a few opinions.
Normally this drivel causes me more pain than
pleasure. Every time I do it I end up wondering
why I subject myself to so much flack. Alas,
I still can't resist. So the firewalls are down
and all flames sheepishly accepted. Readers
have the last word. I am flying solo.
- There are few
things more irritating then having to watch
Sponge Balls while trying to eat a salad
in a nice restaurant (or even a bad restaurant
for that matter), especially if the sponge
balls need to be washed.
- Being a "Professional
Magician" has nothing to do with the quality
of ones magic performance. Moreover, being
a Professional Magician has nothing to do
with ones knowledge of magic.
- Many magicians,
especially the sleight of hand close up
magicians, tend to look down on the kid
show magicians. This is quite sad. There's
nothing degrading about doing kid shows.
In fact few magicians can effectively do
kid shows. My guess is most of us got our
first exposure to magic by being a kid watching
a kid show magician.
- Some of the world's
best magicians are amateurs, while some
of the worst magicians are professionals.
- A magician is
NOT an actor playing the part of a magician.
Most magicians know very little about acting
skills. Conversely, most actors could easily
play the part of a magician if cast in such
a roll.
- A true gentleman
is a guy who does card tricks and promises
not to do any. (I first heard of this as
a guy with an accordion.)
- A person leaving
a message on an answering machine need only
to speak clearly, slowly, and spell confusing
words. There is no need to repeat anything.
Remember, the answering machine can be played
back as many times as necessary to hear
something twice.
- A person leaving
a message on an answering machine should
not make idle chitchat about the happenings
in his life. The guy retrieving the message
may be doing so from a pay phone at the
Rome airport. The idle chatter just costs
him money. Finally, how about the guy who
leaves a message saying to call such and
such number? Then when you call you discover
he has caller ID blocking and you can't
get through.
- I've never understood
the phrase "A Classic in Magic."
Does it mean the effect has endured the
test of time? If that's the case does it
mean it's a good effect? How about all the
bad tricks that have also endured the test
of time? Are they also Classics in Magic?
One of the most ridiculous statements used
in advertising new effects is, "This trick
will become a classic in magic."
- I think magic
could easily become a self-supporting art
form just as model railroading and radio
controlled airplanes. By that I mean most
magic could be done just for other magicians.
Magic is almost there now.
- I've never understood
the phrase "It's Good for Magic."
I especially don't understand it when used
in conjunction with a terrible public show
given during the so-called National Magic
Week. Other than magicians, has anyone ever
heard of National Magic Week? How many can
even say when it is?
- Years ago the
rule of the thumb regarding attire was to
always dress better than the best-dressed
person in the audience. Today I'm not sure
that's necessary, especially with almost
every major company having weekly casual
days. That's not an excuse to look tacky
or goofy though.
- Feather flowers
have never looked like flowers, and no one
has ever been fooled into thinking they
are flowers.
- The Silk
to Egg is still one of the greatest
effects ever. People never forget it and
kids love it. The same might be said for
the Sliding Die Box.
Incidentally, no one will ever manufacture
a Sliding Die Box to equal those made by
the late John Dahms.
- Most layman viewers,
when seeing animated effects such as Rising Cards, Chinese Sticks, and so
on, simply write it off that the magician
is pushing a button.
- The best magic
words I've ever read are found in the comic
strip Wizard of Id.
It's also one of the best comic strips ever
written.
- If the Disney
Company ever decides to produce magic shows
in a big way the rest of us may as well
pack it in. Nothing is more magical than
a Disney production. Consider the Haunted
House for instance.
- Can anyone explain
to me the value of the various law suites
against the IBM? I doubt it.
- Can anyone explain
to me the value of carrying a membership
card in a magic organization in your wallet?
I doubt it.
- I wonder how
many magicians can accurately say how many
times in his Chop Cup
routine Don Alan played, "In my pocket,
or under the cup."
- Many amateur
magicians work more than some professional
magicians.
- I have often
wondered why we never see anyone perform
Ralph Hull's Tuned Deck
as described in Greater Magic.
It's a wonderful routine.
- Watching Biro
do card tricks is akin to Medieval Days
when torture was the purpose.
- When you pick
up the phone and dial 316 683-9582, Stevens
Magic Emporium, can you tell me how the
person on the other end will answer the
phoneÖIn other words, what will he/she say?
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