Magictimes

Today I'm giving a shout out to Meir Yedid: one of the good guys who has worked tirelessly at our art for as long as I can remember.

Learn more about Meir here: http://www.meiryedid.com/

When I needed to review the upcoming magic on tv, I Knew a trip to Meir's sister site: Magictimes.com would provide the info I was looking for (if/when the Dan White / JB / Magic Man specials were being reaired)

For my magi friends: shout out to Meir Yedid who's "MyMagic" news is always happily received in my inbox. If you haven't signed up, I suggest you do. I'd also like to note his: http://magictimes.com/ site which also covers magic that is on TV

In addition to many other cool stuff on TV this week, I noticed the Travel Channel is re-broadcasting Dan White & (seperate) JB's Magic Man specials. Both are worth a look, if nothing else to see what the average joe is seeing. 

Thanks Meir for your tireless work. I've been a fan since you were starting out (with your award winning finger act) and 20+ years later, was a pleasure to share the same stage with you.
Anyway... ya'll go check Meir's stuff out & sign up for his "My Magic" news (look at the top left of the magic times page.) I'll remention Meir & Co are reprinting Jon Racherbaumer's MO zine in hardback form & it should be available soon

Anyway... ya'll go check Meir's stuff out & sign up for his "My Magic" news (look at the top left of the magic times page.)

While here:  I'll remention Meir & Co are reprinting Jon Racherbaumer's MO zine in hardback form & it should be available soon!
End rant. Thanks for listening.

DuoLingo

I've been looking for an app like this (and free at that)
One that teaches visually, verbally beyond
http://www.duolingo.com/

Several languages are available

Android is supported

When I find "the hook" I'll let ya know

Till then... I'm gonna start learning Spanish!

Crooked

I shoulda mentioned this earlier, so you coulda put this on your xmas list (it's on mine)
Get it after, get it now, just get it: if you like good 'random' pocket magic (like dice) you'll love this.

CROOKED: THE finale for the Sacks dice routine (and so much more)

Go here: watch the demo
http://www.trcky.com/crooked.html

This is a just a couple of the items in this package.

speaking of the package... look at this:

wow

Rich sets the bar high and nails it.

Just look at the link above. THIS is a WINNER  (*& a worker)

are you kidding me with this: 

get it!

M.O!

Well, well, nice to see some rumors are true!

In 1994 Jon Racherbaumer published one of my original creations "Chameleon Sandwich" It was released in an "Underground" zine of his known as "Modus Operandi"  I felt like I was on top of a mountain (and since then have climbed many more mountains: very often, thanks to Jon: Thanks Rock!) I have a few routines in these pages. And beyond that: I've read them all (I'm happy to own an original set :) and I can say with confidence, if you're a cardman, there's gold to be mined. You WILL find something of use (check out a brief list of contents below) There are moves, sleights and routines for all levels of cardopia. From simple self workers to complete knuckle busters.

This post is to report the zine is being compiled into a Hardcover keepsake (as it should be) and will be available the first of the year... Presales start now ($45 pre, $55 post) It's being produced by Harry Anderson's Spade and Archer (which I LOVE) and I expect the production to be top notch.

Want one? 
Racherbaumer Writes (Quote)
This is to alert interested parties regarding the upcoming release of...

MO: MODUS OPERANDI BOOK

Meir Yedid and Harry Anderson are publishing an elegant, repackaged rendition of M.O. that features 50+ items, 20 + contributors, 240 + pages, and 180+ photographs. For those who may not know, M.O. was a limited edition quarterly I started back in 1993. If you ever wondered what kind of secrets were being shared by the elite underground, this is what M. O. was all about. Only eight issues were released, spanning from 1993-1996 and proved to be very exclusive. Few complete sets now exist and even single issues are almost impossible to find.

Contributors included: Arturo de Ascanio, Jack Birnman, Christian Chelman, Doug Conn, Daryl, Peter Duffie, "State-Street" Eddie Fay, Lee Freed, Phil Goldstein, Dan Harlan, Brad Henderson, Chris Kenner, Simon Lovell, Edward Marlo, Jon Racherbaumer, Steve Reynolds, Daniel Rhod, Jean-Jacques Sanvert, Bob Sheets, Ken Simmons, Gerry Surma, Jean-Pierre Vallarino and many others.

Some of the routines and techniques include: Another Invisible 21-Card Trick, Ascanio’s Floating Double, Banded Together, Bravura Transposition, Calculated Invisible Toss, Caribbean Assembly, Chameleon Sandwich, Conn’s Opening, Don’t Be Superstitious, Eddie Marlo Lives!, Flutterless Bottom Deal, Graduates Interchange, In Situ Glimpse, Incomplete Surprise, Invisible Palm Festival, Janus Cards to Wallet, Kick-Counting On It!, Killer Kitson Miracle, Lollapalooza Prediction, Observation Test, On the Clip Palm, Playing the Light, Professional Color Vision, Psychic Leap Frog, Rhod Show, Rhumba Count Display, Royal Rollover, Sharper’s Image, Shifting, Whispering Thoughts, Stranger Succession Aces, Subtle Scoop Addition, Swivel Change, The Spectator Works Harder to Triumph, Total A-Band-a-Ment, Universal Mexican, Whispering Snitch and much more.

This exclusive volume is being published by Spade & Archer in 2014 and will be exclusively distributed by Meir Yedid. I will have a limited number of copies available at a special pre-publication price of $45 Postpaid). Thereafter the book will retail for $55. 

Anyone interested in ordering it through me, please send me an e-mail now at Joncards@aol.com if you are interested and I'll add you to my list. Or you can pre- order it through PayPal at geniijon@aol.com and save $10.

Otherwise eventually check with Meir Yedid or Harry Anderson.

Sounds Great!

Love this thing:
http://www.magigadgets.com/SoundzAmazing/SoundzAmazing.html

A lil too late to put it on my xmas list (and a bit expensive to do so)
but rest assured as soon as I have an extra hundy, I'm getting this gadget.

Programmable MP3 tracks (and an online library of sounds to choose from)
& the "Instant Radio" is built in.

The preview video is long (because you can do so much) and a bit cheesy.
But just imagine being live and seeing / HEARING sounds from no-where.
(and the reviews testify that it is loud)

Congratulations Magigadets: looks like you've got a winner.

Kopf!

Jared Kopf will be on Penquin this sunday Dec 22nd

If you like good card magic and want to improve your magicness
now is a good chance to see a guy who can prolly do that
(and who doesn't get out much)

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/3888

Sidenote: I don't know Jared and have never met him nor seen him work...
this is just one of those "his reputation proceeds him" kinda thing

I mention that so no-one thinks I'm getting a kick-back or promoting a friend.

I'd never (ok: rarely) use my blog to do such a thing.
As mentioned in the title notes: this is a web-scrapbook for myself (to recall and things I like and / or would like to do) I hope to be free Sunday eve & to catch this event (but if not, will gladly buy the download)

Ok, that's my good card-deed for the day.
Trying to make the magi-world a lil better: one word at a time

Scamschool 300!

Congrats to Brian Brushwood who just produced the 300th (THREE HUNDRED) episode of the epic "Scam School" series.

This "school" has not been without some controversy in the Magic World (exposure and such) but IMO: it's a perfect place to #1: Learn some cool stuff & #2: Send people who are interested in magic but don't know where to go to learn decent magic.

I think Brian gives away "just enough" and always provides good credits and GREAT instruction on how to perform the effects. It's a great place to start and to revisit our current crop of online magi-crafting.

Plus, Brian's a good guy. I haven't seen him for awhile, but when we met many moons ago, I got nothing but good vibes from this cool cat.

Congratulations on a job well done. 300 of anything along these lines / this magnitude is impressive.
Kudos

Here's the episode which is a variant on the Bannon/Solomon (and even Elmsley, who started all this) "Power Poker" that doesn't require your spectator to know anything about poker to enjoy the effect. Good stuff.
http://youtu.be/QRoBslcqtok

Excuse me?

Doug Conn: Professional Interrupter!

Hello!
I'm good at what I do ...
and you will probably only regret my intrusion for the briefest of moments...

Venue.
Venue Venue Venue

Ugh (yeah, I just endured another gig where the piece of shit venue and/or talent co-ordinator gave as much thought about their close-up magician as they did the socks they put on that day)

I'm SO sick of strolling. (With all due respect to those who aren't: do you & do it up!)

So what? What to do?
Well: I've preached & re-preached that the preferred approach is a busking-style where your audience comes to you (part of a book I'm penning as we speak)

After 20-what years, I think
I am SO ready to do a professional performance.
Director, Lights, Maybe some music... the whole enchilada

Intimate: Maybe 100 (150 - 200 max)

Ferre' & Magic as 'Art'

Just a reminder that sometimes "just magic" can be art

Norbert Ferre' (France Champion of Magic)
Amazing, Simple and Funny
http://youtu.be/y174OHQvlrY  (balls)
http://youtu.be/vsBV0atNJz8   (cards)
http://youtu.be/I7XCaIw9yBs  (just goofin)

I saw this act during a "Society of American Magicians" convention
In NOLA at the wonderful Orpheum theatre (long since submerged by Katrina)
His act with a few balls and a deck of cards was the ONLY act to receive a standing O that night (amongst 1/2 a dozen of his peers including some top notch / big / illusion acts: Greg Frewin , etc.)
I've yet to forget his soulful performance and when I need reminding that our art is just that, I look at Ferre'

Open thanks to Norbert for caring enough to make his  magic so good.

If you have some free time and would like to see some more magic 'art'
I suggest you consider Arthur Trace (Stagecraft)
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArthurTrace/videos
His Ball routine is outstanding and his Egg Bag one of the best

Bravo to both of these wonderful guys.
I've mentioned them before & will likely do so again.
good magic is worth re-watching :)
Enjoy

Magicrap & beyond

I've met all too many youngsters that have learned magic from "You Tube" (and I can't say I blame them, there is an amazing amount of information online there... there's also an amazing amount of BAD magic online there)  In general for the total newbie I send them to the book shop to see if their interested enough to #1: make that much of an effort to try and learn & #2: follow up on #1 (by actually learning something from a book)

Man - oh - man, I can't imagine a more challenging endeavor than trying to wade through the muck of magicdom in this day and age. There is SO much CRAP out there, it's unreal. Go ahead, Take a look http://www.murphysmagic.com/ (but keep your wallet in your pocket! at least for now...)

If you are a beginner or know someone who is:
I generally suggest Josh Jay's "The Complete Course". It's well written with some strong material (some say too strong) and he includes DVD which can be immensely helpful when learning this stuff. For under $20, you can't go wrong (heck, I bought it for my kid) Here's the Amazon Link
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Complete-Course-Joshua-Jay/dp/0761149872/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386086991&sr=8-2&keywords=josh+jay

Note: Josh also runs Vanishing Inc (Along with Magi-bud Andi Gladwin) I think they have one of the best online magic shops in the business. Your can pretty much throw a dart and insure that whatever you're getting is gonna be good.
They've also released some great FREE books for the neophyte and you could do much worse than take a peek at Over and Under offers some great newbie advice: http://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-downloads/free-magic-downloads/under-over/  and once you're ready to tread into the deep end, check out "Magic in Mind"

Along with VInc there's some other great resources online.
One is Genii / Richard Kaufman's Magi-Pedia (think Wiki-Pedia, but all things magic)
Check it out:
http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Main_Page
Here's one worth researching :) http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Doug_Conn

Genii also has a forum with some well informed magi that visit their pages, it's well worth joining
http://forums.geniimagazine.com/
Another forum that's chock full of info is "The Magic Cafe" (though at over 20,000 members, you get ALOT of bad with the good.) use any info attained from anyone online carefully: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/index.php

Another wonderful resource (one that often offers some GREAT freebies) Is the
"Conjuring Arts Center"
http://conjuringarts.org/

and along similar lines:
Lybrary.com
an online e-book resourse with some truly wonderful freebies:
http://www.lybrary.com/free_ebooks.php?osCsid=97e6777ab24d9d9ada4ffb1a85e6c5d3

Perhaps the best course of action is to ask someone you trust. Meet some magi & acquire a mentor. Maybe Join a local magic club / organization, make some acquaintances.. Both the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians offer publications and clubs in most of the major cites in America. The fee for each is nominal and you get a magic publication (magazine) with each one that keeps you up to date with what's happening in the magic world.

There's lots of options and I just wanted to suggest those that who've limited their learning to youtube (or just video / DVD) that  you explore some of the other options available. I hope some of these options help someone somewhere out there.

If you need more help, I'm always available. Fire a question.

Murphy's Magic

Murphy's has been busy

I was introduced to their new review show over the holidays
"Unwrapped" featuring Kyle Marlett

It looks good, though initial viewings have been a bit 'happy'
no real negatives yet... so, it remains to be seen if this is a Murphy's commercial or really a review show

Each review show covers two items... here's the most recent (#10)
http://youtu.be/2PYTVr7eLH4 
I highly suggest going through the archives.

Seems they also have something called free trick friday in which a feature magi brings you a freebie effect.
all in all, I'd say their youtube channel is worth looking at. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/user/murphysmagic?feature=watch

Nice to see a company growing and keeping up with the times.