2 Geeks and Some Magic...

When you finally have it figured out what you’re good at, what you’re hobbies are, etc., you can easily spot out others in the same field and you know instantly whether or not you love them or they just aren’t your cup of tea. A few years ago, whilst browsing through the World Wide Web, I was looking for a DVD on Geek stunts – pounding a 6-inch nail up your nose, swallowing razor blades, eating glass, you know, the COOL stuff. The kind of stuff that makes people nauseous. To my surprise, there was a DVD specifically called “Geek Magic” by a gentleman named Tomas Medina. My local Magic Shop had it in stock and for only $20.00 (which is MUCH cheaper than most Magic DVD’s), that was quite a deal. I took it home and watched it. I laughed… I was disgusted… I was excited ALL at once! Tomas was an amazing instructor on the DVD and soon, I found myself ordering his lecture notes, his Cardiologist Deck and DVD, his “At the Table” DVD – whatever I could get my hands on. Soon after, I heard he might be heading out to LA for a wedding and MAYBE a lecture. How could I possibly convince a Magician from Chicago that lecturing out here would be entirely worth his time? Finally, I figured it out. I bought a fake severed hand, plopped it in a Ziploc baggie and filled it with nasty, chunky, syrupy blood and included a note that basically said, “… I would give my left hand if you would come out here and lecture. This is actually my sister’s left hand, but she’s a righty, so it’s okay.” And wouldn’t you know it, he sent me a TON of cool tuff – autographed all of his DVD covers, lecture notes – ALL the cool stuff. When he came out to LA, I attended his lecture and it was hands down one of the funniest and most exciting lectures I’ve ever attended. He touched on everything – his character, which tickled me senseless. Basically, it’s just him – he doesn’t have a character he performs as, which, being as funny as it was, was great to hear. He showed us some of the greatest effects using the Matrix principle (YouTube ”Matrix”, non-magicians), how to shove Tic Tacs in our noses and eye sockets and out of our mouths. Afterwards, the owner of the Magic Shop, Brent, a writer for the television shows 24 and The Closer, Duppie, a Dai Vernon student, Howard, all around great guy Anthony, myself, Tomas and his girlfriend all went out to eat where all we did was laugh with and at one another. If someone you like is ever in your area, go see them. Screw the price. Life really is too short…

The Greatest...

Theodore Annemann. You probably don't recognize that name. And, no reason you should, I suppose. But to magicians, he is a God. In the late 1930's and 40's, in an age when magicians were astounding audiences with larger than life illusions on even larger stages, Annemann could walk into a room and with only a few slips of paper and a pen and bring men to their knees and make women cry. He was that good. He was a mind reader. He was a sleight of hand expert, and by some accounts on some occasions, an asshole.The author of dozens of books and countless effects, his methods are still being used today. In later years, he performed an effect that magicians past had died performing, The Bullet Catch. Somebody signs a bullet and puts it in a gun and, standing at a distance, fires the gun at Annemann who would dramatically fall to his knees, stand up and spit the still marked bullet into the spectators hand. At the age of 35, apparently battling drug abuse and stage fright, he performed the greatest disappearing act ever. You'd be left out if you didn't at least watch him actually catch a bullet. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bSnQeVwlo0

My mind reading act has been taking up all of my time – ALL of it. This is a bit of a problem. I’ve neglected most everything in my life just to get a solid 30 minutes that can be broken up into smaller pieces should time be an issue (that is, if I only get 5 minutes or 12 minutes, etc.). I’ve been taking routines from elsewhere and breaking them down to the effect itself. Once I’ve found the point of it being JUST the effect, I start building around it. Adding a move here, taking it away and replacing it with something else, writing something substantial to go along with it and so on. In addition to that, I’ve tried to come up with an idea or two on my own, that is, a trick I’ve created myself, one that NO ONE has ever seen. And when I do, it’s a great feeling. The downside to that is, reading a book from the 1950’s and seeing the exact effect I came up with in black and white. An effect that has already been thought of – and worse that that? The effect is BETTER! Oh well with that. I always try to think that at least I came up with it on my own and that proves to me that I’m using my brain to create. When that happens, and it has a few times, I try to shake the feeling of “Is the world against me? Or am I against the world?” But again, I did think of it on my own, but so did somebody else 50 years ago. Moving on! Everything is fitting into a briefcase so it can be a commando act. Anywhere, anytime. And I found a sound system with a great review by a pro (whom I hold their opinion highly) for half the price of the one I was looking at, so it’s only $150.00. Other than that, things are moving along. I'll have four new posts in the next day or so, so...

Jealous?

One thing I’ve never been able to figure out is why other performers knock other performers. It just seems too easy and it doesn’t do any good for anybody. The worst part is, usually the person doing the knocking is jealous because the person they’re knocking has more success. Well, there’s a great reason to be pissy at somebody! Here is a good example. I enjoy seeing Criss Angel, but I’m not a huge Criss Angel fan. But you wouldn’t know it talking to me. What’s the point? The few times I have met him, he was nothing but generous and patient with what time he had. I asked a few questions a little more complicated than the girl next to me who was screaming to get a picture, but he took the time to answer them and give me what I thought were answers with substance. It wasn’t some coy or cute stock answer. And his latest show, BeLIEve hasn’t been getting the best reviews, but here is what I feel most magicians need to realize. He has a hit show on A&E and he has his own Vegas show. He’s making money doing what he loves! Who are these magicians? Usually just magic enthusiasts who spend hours on end rehearsing an already tired half assed act only to show it to friends at work or on the golf course. Magic enthusiasts who have never put on an actual show of their own NOT realizing what it takes to do that. They’re bitter and jealous armchair critics who have managed to learn a shuttle pass. Big whoop. The point is, whatever it is you do for a living or are trying to do, don’t knock someone else for his or her success. Knock them because they cut you off on the freeway. Besides, when you finally are a success, you won’t have any burnt bridges.

Where To Start?

The other day, someone asked me for some advice for getting into magic and I feel I am the last person anyone should ask advice from. I don’t think I’ve given any advice to anyone about anything worth writing down, but in an effort to satisfy anyone asking or wanted to ask, my first and only recommendation would be investing $20.00 in “Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic”. When you see it, you may think it’s for children, but I’ll tell you that mine is the most worn out book in my library. Dog-eared, noted in the margins, highlighted areas, and scraps of paper in certain sections – I still use it at least once a week. It has everything in it to get you started to see what best suits you. Coin magic, card magic, mind reading, silk magic and it even has easy to build illusions! Once you get that figured out, and it may take awhile, hit the internet. One great place is to sign up on The Magic Café. It has a million sections and people on there are usually very supportive. Look for DVD’s and research them. I can’t tell you how many DVD’s and books I would have loved to have bought, only to read a few detailed reviews and realize, maybe not for me. And anyone will tell you this, but practice absolutely makes perfect. I carry around bits and pieces of various magic pieces that I spend practicing walking down the street or just sitting at a stoplight or even in the grocery store line. Find a performer you really enjoy and watch how their act is broken down. Where the beats are at, how long they spend on an effect – why what works for them, works. Then create your OWN act. Write, write, write and then re-write all of it. What you say is sometimes the most crucial part of ones act, and even what you DON’T say is the most important. And don’t take your audience for granted. That’s hard, but they aren’t stupid. And, the best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten is this: videotape yourself and if you like what you see, so will the audience. If there is one part you don’t like, work it out until it IS something you like. Both you and your audience will appreciate it in the end. Pick three tricks and work on them until you can do them in your sleep. Then, move on to another three. You’ll be surprised how many great effects you can do with just that small formula. Lastly, get out there and do it. Doesn’t matter where, just do it. Your best critic is your audience. NOT you. And don’t worry about failure. You will fail. Next time, just fail better! You’ll get the hang of it. Any other questions, ask Copperfield. He’s doing something right…

Starting Up Is Hard To Do...

Everything for the new mind reading act is starting to come together very nicely. I’ve broken it down so I can do 5 minutes, 8 minutes and 20 minutes. And if I put it all together, I can have an easy 25 to 30 minute show. Easy as in time – nothing easy as far as technique. It is, after all, mind reading. Now in addition to the act itself, I’ve created a new “Seth Everett” logo, which I managed to work out and strangely LOVE. I say “strangely” because the last few I’ve had I wasn’t exactly fond of. They served their purpose and now, this one, I’m excited to display. The good folks at CBM Photography Studios gave me some GREAT looking headshots, which I’ll be using to promote, and soon, I’ll have a poster I’ll be using for postcards and such. The poster I’m really looking forward to. I figured out a way to design it so that I have a few of my loves on there without being too obvious. It’s the overall tone that I love. Once all of that gets done, then it’s time to hit the road. I’ve managed to secure a handful of open shows and a couple of paying gigs, which I am totally stoked for. And the best part of it all? It all fits in a briefcase. So now my entire act is “commando”. It can go wherever I go without any size limitations. My first show will be at the end of September which will give me time to re-write a few pieces (though, I’m ALWAYS re-writing), make sure all the blocking is taken care of and give me time to find a proper sound system. Since I’m always using my hands, it’s hard to do this with a traditional hand held mic. I’ll be using my own amplifier and will have the ability to use the “Garth Brooks” type of mic and have a hand held for back up. The entire system will also have the ability to play music, which I haven’t seen too many mentalists use, which always puzzled me. When I decided to use music, I could only think of one song that is entirely creepy without being overbearing. It’s on a loop and will play quietly through the entire act. The system will run about $300.00, which isn’t a lot considering, but it’s still $300.00… so if anyone out there loves me… I also have a small program should the venue require it and I have some pitch books to sell at the end if anyone is so inclined. Now, why the END of September? Like I said, I still have a few things left to take care of and my youngest sister is getting married in the beginning of September, so the end is absolute best. OH! And best of all, my website should be up by then, full of videos, pictures, testimonials and cool swag for you to buy!

Don't Ask Me How It's Done, I'm Not Telling...

I have a million different tricks I’ve bought over the years. I only buy them when I think I can use them. When I finally get a trick home and rip into it like it was a Christmas present, I lose a bit or wonder when I read the instructions. It’s usually filled with thoughts like, “That’s how you do it?” and “That’s not very exciting.” The trick itself isn’t meant to be exciting. What’s meant to be exciting is the way I present it to YOU. Being let down by how a magic trick is accomplished is a feeling I’m numb to. I will NEVER be amazed at how a trick is done. I save the amazement for when I see a trick I’ve never seen before and it blows me away. If I don’t think that trick will work for me, I don’t ask how it was done. I’d rather see that and remember it knocking me out. When you are told or shown how a trick is done, you WILL be disappointed. Trust me. There is NOTHING exciting about the secret behind a great trick.

If on the other hand you DO want to know how a trick is done, don’t ask a magician. Go to the magic store and buy it for yourself. When you get home and tear into it and read the instructions, only then maybe can you understand the let down of the secret, but more importantly, appreciate the performance that the magician puts into the trick.

Listen to me, save yourself the money and please, don’t ask how it was done – the trick is told when the trick is sold.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking you HAVE to know how it was done. Leave it to the magician to fool YOU. And if they’re any good, you’ll enjoy wondering about it hours after you’ve left.