Category: Rants

How different is it if you pretend it’s 1930, wear a coon skin coat and climb a flagpole or do a hand stand act on ACT.

The problem is that seeing things on the internet or TV has the ability to make believers out of people with no direction connection but does it have  the same effect as seeing something in person.

On the other hand, what if you perform a live show and through your performance you convince people that you do the impossible, they leave and spread the word you do the impossible.

So the question is: are camera tricks considered cheating or is psychology, blocking and optical illusion in the same category?

Just because you can make something doesn’t mean you should.

The Light And Heavy Box Tray (Rights to manufacture and the tray itself)

I was the last appointed authorized manufacturer of the Light And Heavy Chest for Hocus Pocus. So my opinion is formed after buying a knock-off.

I bought a light and heavy chest from another dealer along with the tray. People seem to like the tray however there’s an inherent problem with it. The tray is made from wood and several people have yelled-out “Magnets”. Seeing as this other tray is solid wood, I couldn’t see way to dispel that idea.

There wasn’t a comeback I could render because I could see their point. The solid wood box sits on the matching tray and they assume the box has a magnet or the tray does. If the box is set on a floor the audience could disconnect the two but since the tray is made from the same material as the box they look like they are a trick.

Can you think of a reason why there are no magnets? I didn’t think so, therefore you should save your money and don’t buy it. The audience was not entertained and they were vocal about their assumption. Since you can’t have the box examined you can not disprove the magnet theory. Since then, I’ve cut-out parts for several see-through trays, that way you can begin by explaining it can not hide magnets. The audience does not call-out magnets now. My point is, that you should think about the effect something has, on the audience, and remember to buy from the authorized
dealer. Usually the correct dealer has the correct answers.

You know a trick – how it works – and don’t find it interesting any more.

I often hear people at conventions tell me that they have already seen a trick or a version of it. To me this means they know how it works and don’t want to buy it.

My question is: who are you performing the show for? Are you out there to make the audience happy or your performance is for your own therapy? I hope you are performing the magic the audience likes best otherwise you should let someone else do the job.

Example: The Zombie Ball. Blackstone Jr., used to call it “The ball on the stick trick” and in most cases he was right. The exception to the rule was for people who had a background in theater…. or better yet puppetry. These people know how to make the ball act as if it was a separate entity as thought it has a mind of it’s own.

While I perform the Zombie Ball occasionally. I would rather perform the floating ball like Okito, using two assistants, but many of my shows are on platforms at convention halls or schools where the correct curtains don’t exist…. so I perform the Zombie Ball. Yes. I’ve seen the trick before, many times but does that mean my audience should not? Just because you know how a musician plays his guitar or piano does that mean they should not?

The question I’m trying to ask is “Do you do this magic to make yourself feel good or because it’s an art form and you are making the audience feel good?

I told the PTA “Don’t give those kids that popcorn”!
They said… “I’m sure It will be all right”.
The popcorn went airborne.
And the parents, completely out of site.

At least it wasn’t Ju Ju Beads,
They hurt, when they hit your face.
And the parents just keep quiet,
Not wanting to be disgraced.

I don’t know who to yell at – kids – parents – PTA.
Just who do you put in their place?
Because I couldn’t see a blankety blank thing,
The kids were throwing popcorn in my face.