Tuesday, April 22, 2014

TIA

This post is about online magic demonstrations.

**In particular, ads that mislead the buyer (there are a few honest souls in the biz, but all to often, the goal of a demo is to mislead the buyer)

I'll keep it simple
It's the law... you MUST be truthful in your ad:
check it out (below)  and if you see a misleading magic ad, feel free to report it here:

https://www.truthinadvertising.org/

For all the good guys doing it right: Thanks
For all the other whores and pimps: FU


Monday, April 21, 2014

a BTL freebie

Rich Aviles and his TRCKY.com has offered a free look at one of the effects from the Built to Last DVD set: ... click below to see and learn "Chameleon Sandwich" (the effect that started it all)
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0efb3e9f9a53b585f12263275&id=116e1214b6&e=738584bc12

This is an excerpt from disk one (of two)

If you like what you see: visit TRCKY or contact me

You can email: connjure@gmail.com
or visit DougConn.com  (where I have them available through an online cart)

AS always, open to question and comments

Open thanks to Rich for his superb work.

Enjoy
DC

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Unfortunate... (effects)

Nice to see this long awaited release finally available. Following a trail blazed by Lee Asher, Ben Train & Chris Mayhew (and Co.) have produced a 'magic movie' that is an instructional as well. It looks like the production values are off the chain and I can't wait to see this thing in it full glory.

I'm sure it'll be a worthwhile investment to any/all close-up / magic enthusiasts

 All these guys are brainy & creative (with chops to back up the thought process) e... look for this at your fave dealer: "A Series of Unfortunate Effects"


Note: there are several previews on youtube: search for the rest.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Card Mojo / Straw Poll

Straw Poll = a fun way to take a poll

(a note to self & you)

Here's one I created off the top of my head (with little to no thought involved)
Most Important Card Magic Mojo
http://strawpoll.me/1463124

Maybe you'll find use in this fun tool
Maybe I'm just wasting time

Lets find out...

thanks for visiting today

PS: visit
strawpoll.me
to make your own straw poll

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Non-Plus Ultra, The Hofzinser Books

I'm very excited to have the NonPlus Ultra / Hofsinzer Card Artistry combo in my possession



Kudos to "Magic Christian" (the original composer of this collection) Hermetic Press and the Conjuring Arts Research Center for releasing this set in English. Only 900 sets were published and I couldn't be happier to be able to read one of them ;)  I'm a bit concerned that the set is to 'heady' to be enjoyed: but I'm going to do my best. I've never been a super-historian, but if there is anyone (aside from Erdnase) that I'd like to know more about: Hofzinser is the man.

Johann Nepomuk Hofsinzer was one of the most important magi in the history of our art. He was one of the first to bring it into the light as a form of sophisticated entertainment. Heck, it's quite likely; without his efforts, we wouldn't even have 'close-up' magic as it exists today. 

Most (american) cardmen point to Erdnase & his "Expert at the Card Table" as "The Bible" of card magic. I doubt that bible would have existed if it weren't for the efforts of Hofzinser and his contemporary. Oddly enough, Hofzinser was not one to disperse secrets lightly. They were nuggets of gold cherished and distributed gently (unlike today, where the distributors whore our art to the tune of 5-10 new items each week: that's HUNDREDS of new Tricks, DVDs, Downloads and Books each year.) Pimpin ain't easy.


Sidenote: you only need a dozen good tricks to be a great magician.

So anyway:
This collection traces magic back to the 16th century... 
500 years later, I'm wondering if technology has the power to render this art obscure & insignificant? Doubtful. People want to believe, they want to escape and if nothing else, they want personal / live interaction and entertainment. Magic has the power to deliver on all fronts: from Drama to Comedy and everything in between and beyond. 

Alright, I'm rambling when I could be reading. I'm gonna stop typing and go read.
After a brief span of being overwhelmed (and underwhelmed) at the info-glut our art has been presented with, I wonder if my addition to the sludge helps at all? I'd forgot the origianal goal of this blog was for ME to recall / remember  / notate the things that I found worthwhile and important. If someone else stumbles across them and finds these words helpful (or even legible) then, that is simply a bonus.


On that note, I'll be back to posting more often 

PS: regarding the video thing, I will be doing it... but it will be much more sparse than the schedule I had considered. The lack of response and my current schedule (etc) moves such a project to the bottom of the rather large to do list.

Ok, all for now: where's my reading glasses...