By-Laws, Long Beach Mystics, and Performance!

Page 2
Scribbling From
The Scribe of the Scroll
Page 3
Thoughts from the President
Page 4
Error-Rat-Uh
Page 5
BeLieve Me But Cut The Cards.
Page 6
Would You Believe?
Page 7
“The Veep Speaks”
Page 8
Lecture Information
Page 10
Photos from Daryl
Page 11
Gems from Diamond Jim
By-Laws, Long Beach Mystics, and Performance!
February Meeting
Frank Seltzer was out of town, so Mark
Jensen took the role of Acting Vice
President. Our first order of business
was to have our By-Laws ratified.
They passed unanimously without any
discussion.
Two
upcoming
lectures
were
mentioned. April 19th we will have
Peter McLanachan at 2:00 pm, who
is a very talented Close up magician,
and “disciple” of the great Scottish
magician, Roy Walton.
Martin Lewis’ lecture is on May 23rd at
6:30 pm. Martin Lewis will also be our
entertainment for the Dallas Magic Club
banquet. Both lectures will take place
at Crosspointe. Please see http://www.
thats-impossible.com/lectures.htm for
more information.
Mark Jensen shared something very
cool with the club. The Jinx was a
very influential publication edited by
legendary mentalist Ted Annemann.
They had as their mascot an iconic
black cat. I’ve always liked this image so
much, that I silk-screened some t-shirts
using The Jinx logo and the black cat.
Mark showed a rare postcard, which was
a Jinx subscription renewal. You would
rub the back of the black cat 3 times
and send it in, without any message,
and somehow your subscription would
be renewed.
Mark spoke to Harry Anderson about this
ingenious renewal postcard. Anderson
thinks that the run of The Jinx was so
small that everyone got renewed. Those
who didn’t want it would just not send in
their renewal payment and Annemann
would cancel their subscription. It’s a
plausible theory. Harry Anderson isn’t
a mentalist, but when I asked him at
his lecture a few years ago, what his
greatest influence was, he said without
pause, Ted Annemann.
DMC’s own Paul Siegel has been in
contact with the great cartoonist, Dan
Piraro, who has a syndicated strip called
Bizarro. Piraro is graciously giving one
of his cartoons to raise money for the
Young Magician’s Club.
We watched a really interesting
documentary directed by Shelley
Jenkins on the Long Beach Mystics.
We would like to thank Shelley for
giving us permission to screen the
film. The Mystics were perhaps one of
the most successful Young Magician
Clubs in magic history. That club acted
as a kind of hothouse growing future
talent. Several young people came
out that experience as full-on working
professionals. The magicians and
jugglers interviewed thought that their
time in the club was incredibly influential
on their future lives. Sadly, those
interviewed said that based on changes
on how magic is learned, etc that they
think it is highly unlikely there will never
be another club like that – although they
would love to see it happen again.
If you would like to purchase your own
copy of the dvd, which includes several
extras that were not shown at the club
meeting please visit: http://mysticsdvd.
com/
But that didn’t stop the DMC from
having a discussion on how we as a
club could get the Young Magician’s
Club both revitalized and flourishing.
Several ideas were brainstormed.
Speaking for me, I think the “brand”
needs to be changed, with an exciting
logo and name. Some thought that we
as magical mentors should embrace
electronic media; others thought this
a pale substitution for actual audience
performance.
We were treated to a performance by
our very own DMC President, Derrell
Allen. Was it a book test, or a card trick?
Whatever it was, it was awesome. Next
up was Magic Mike, Mike Williams.
A very novel demonstration of pick
pocking, unlike anything ever seen.
Joe Rotio donated many items for our
raffle, so we had a huge raffle with six
winners.
DMC
Officers
Derrel Allen
President
Frank Seltzer
Vice President
Reade Quinton
Secretary/Treasurer
Brad Ingle
Sgt. At Arms
Mark Jensen
Past President
Chuck Lehr
Dean of The DMC
Board Members:
Mike McElroy
Until July 2015
Jeff Hallberg
Until Nov. 2014
David Knight
Until Nov. 2014
T.A.O.M.
Board Members
Frank Seltzer
S.A.M. Representative
Until July 2014
Cameron Rivers
I.B.M. Representative
Until July 2014
Wizard’s Scroll
Staff
Brad Ingle
Wizard’s Scroll Editor
[email protected]
Daryl Howard
DMC Photographer
Reade Quinton
DMC Monthly Report
Columnists:
Mark Jensen
Michael Smith
Frank Seltzer
Derrel Allen
Brad Ingle
There has been much discussion on
how to renew and strengthen the
Young Magician’s Club. It’s not just
our local club, I’ve learned that every
young magician club is floundering.
I do think we as magicians are about
to face a crisis in terms of passing
the torch to a new generation. I worry
that the craft of magic might become
as obscure as Ragtime Music. We
need to think about the pedagogy
of magic, and our role as older
magicians teaching the
younger generations. I
don’t have any strong
answers, only personal
observations.
Today,
the
way
magical knowledge is
transferred is much less
personal than in the
past, and I think that
has to be addressed.
Ricky Jay described
his own instruction as
similar to the Student/
Sensei dynamic. He, and people like
Bruce Cervon, would sit near the
master, Dai Vernon, and absorb his
knowledge. Ed Marlo had his own
students that he taught directly like
this. I doubt we see such a close
instruction ever again. A notable
exception being Jeff McBride’s
Mystery School.
Before VHS, the majority of
instructions
was
by
books.
Personally, I think books are the
best instruction, but I only think that
now. It was VHS tapes of Michael
Ammar and David Roth that jumpstarted me into competency. VHS
lead to DVD and direct downloads.
Today, kids are learning from
YouTube. I know a teenage magician
who is keen for my approval. I’m
absolutely happy to help him in any
way, but he is not getting his real
training from me. YouTube is his
go-to source. He has now started
uploading his own performances
and “tutorials.” I told him that many
magicians might have a problem with
these tutorials and call it “exposure.”
He thought that a strange notion,
and didn’t care. I then told him to
‘just make it perfect.’
I can’t really be mad. I
personally
subscribe
to a few cardicians
on YouTube that are
phenomenal. If YouTube
is anything to go by,
young
people
don’t
hold romantic notions of
secrecy anymore.
Teenagers
are
keen
to
photograph
and
film things that they’re
interested in. This has
created tension with older
magicians. A young person will learn
a Double Lift, do it for two days, and
then make an instructional video.
We can become angry, or we can
become leaders. Let’s figure out a
way to simultaneously not alienate
a new generation, yet show the
importance of secrecy with this
craft.
But we have to be honest that
the performance of magic is not
for everyone. Social media is a
democratizing force, that removes
boundaries. We need to show the
value of these boundaries. (Secrecy).
♣♥♠♦
Thoughts from
the President
Recycling the classics I found a recycle of
the famous square circle. It comes from Axtell
Expressions Inc. I use the square circle in
my kids’ show regularly, but this one added
a message I haven’t been accustomed to
doing: Recycling. I was slightly amused that
it is recycling a classic magical effect and
its message is about recycling. Of course,
you can use it for different messages too. I
plan on coming up with some new variations
real soon. If you want to see this item, I’ll
probably have it at the club meeting, or you
can visit www.axtell.com and look at their
Green Machine.
The server that was hosting dallasmagic.
org and our email listserv came to a tragic
end recently. This came, of course, without
a backup of our mailing list and website. The
new iteration of dallasmagic.org and ensuing
listserv (officially called Mailman,) is being
hosted on one of my personal hosting sites.
If you are interested in any of the technical
specifications or of assisting in our ongoing
online presence, I’d be happy to give you all
the details, including perfunctory training in
WordPress and Mailman.
Speaking of online presence, if you are
interested in discovering the wonderful
world of online marketing, there are a lot
of new things coming about in the search
engine, social media and online marketing
world. You should have an online presence if
you are needing to get customers and leads.
Notice I didn’t say you needed a webpage/
website, but online presence. That includes
anything from listings on directory services
up to and including Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, Instagram and very importantly:
Google+. Sometimes, the results of this kind
of marketing can appear to be magical.
At the March meeting of the Dallas Magic Clubs, we will be nominating
officers for the 2014-15 term. If you have interest in serving the clubs, you
must belong to both the S.A.M. and I.B.M. to serve as officer of our clubs. You
will have until the election in April to get this done, if you are so inclined.
The Dallas Magic Club Meets Monthly, Every Third Tuesday.
We usually meet each month at
CrossPointe Church. There is a large
theater area where we meet and peform.
2425 West Parker RD
Carrollton, TX 75010
We start at 7:00 pm, and meetings
usually until a little before 9:00 pm.
Error-Rat-Uh
Brad Ingle
I’ve been your hard-working editor for a couple of months now,
and each issue I seem to collect more typos and errors.
Here are a few of the more amusing ones from last month.
I said I met “Debbie Becker”. There is no magician by that
name. Well, there might be in the big wide world. I bet there’s
plenty of knitters and cross-stitcher named Debbie Becker, but
somehow I think few magicians. Debbie Becker sounds like
the name of a certified realtor. Anyway, I meant to say I met
Mrs. Bobbie Becker. Hopefully the Beckers don’t read this rag,
so I won’t alienate them. Incidentally, all magicians are namedroppers, so that’s two months that I got to name drop.
I think since my inception as editor about six months ago, I
have said in giant type that this club meets every third Thursday.
That’s not true. It’s every third Tuesday.
I imagine some poor soul driving up to an empty building,
looking through the glass doors. “Hmm.. nobody’s here. The
Wizard’s Scroll, which I downloaded, said every third Thursday.
“Surely, they wouldn’t get something so fundamentally basic wrong? Oh well, I guess I’ll go
home. What’s this? A liquor store right here. Since I’ve been sober for a few years I won’t need
that. Who zones a liquor store next to a church? I’m leaving. But what if... what if I just bought
one of those small bottles of whiskey? Just one more drink and I’ll be done forever. I work hard
and I listen to a lot of crap all day long at
the office. Why shouldn’t I have a reward
“I have an interest in
“It said, third Thursday...
just this once? I’ll buy one bottle of Jack
magic. This should be the It said third...Thursday.”
Daniels and a few beers, and be done
perfect hobby.”
with it. Everyone thinks I’m practicing
card tricks with a bunch of middle-aged
men. What they don’t know won’t hurt
them. I’ll just buy some Jack Daniels,
Thunderbird, a case of beer, and maybe
go to a few massage parlors on Harry
Hines Blvd., just one more time.”
A few days later he is found in the drunk
tank in Sante Fe, New Mexico, his life
completely ruined. “Things got a little out
of control since I read that newsletter. It
said every third Thursday.”
BEFORE
AFTER
BeLIEve Me, But Cut the Cards:
A psychology of Deception For Magicians
Part 20
This month we conclude our three-part interview with Lawrence Hass, PhD, magician, mentalist, philosopher,
author, publisher, and Associate Dean of the McBride Magic and Mystery School.
MS- Thanks again for being willing to be interviewed for my monthly column. My last questions are these:
“How did you first introduce your magic into your academic world? Magic is often seen as “adolescent”
(interest in puzzles, oddities, and anomalies) by much of society. Did you experience this attitude when
introduced your magic program into an academic setting? While you are still in that world at Austin
College you have become a full time magician, author, publisher and teacher of magic. What has that
transition been like for you?”
LH- In 1997 I took the big plunge: I went to the Dean at Muhlenburg (my college at the time) and proposed
a whole campus-wide program that would bring great stars of magic to college to perform and teach
about the special art form they create. In addition, I would teach magic performance classes to educate
interested, talented students in how to create credible, effective performances of magic. That was a scary
day! The Dean could have shut me down or laughed me out of his office- and I was terrified to come out
of the “magic closet,” believe me. Instead, he loved the idea, embraced the idea, and went right out to
secure me a generous budget to hire my artists and create my new magic course.
And so in the fall of 1999 I launched my first season of the Theory and Art of Magic Program at Muhlenberg
College. Between 1999 and 2009 I produced a Magic Program nearly every year and featured many of the
greatest stars of magic, including people such as Juan Tamariz, Rene Lavand, Teller, Max Maven (twice),
David Blaine, Jim Steinmeyer, Jeff McBride, and of course Eugene Burger.
In 2009 my wife Marjorie Hass became the 15th President of Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Because
my performing career had taken off in an extraordinary way (starting in 2007), I was in no position to take
on all the work of producing a major program. But I do produce a show at Austin College now and then.
For example, this past year I produced Max Howard and Diane Bray’s rather extraordinary show, The War
Wizard: A Tale of Magic and the Civil War.
Beyond my work as the “First Gentleman” of Austin College, my performing career, my work as the
Associate Dean of the McBride Magic and Mystery School, and my travelling all over to teach magicians,
I am also publisher of Theory and Art of Magic Press, which publishes one or two top-flight magic books
each year. In 2012 I published Jeff McBride’s The Show Doctor and this year I published the first in a
trilogy of important books by Bob Neale, The Magic of Celebrating Illusion. In 2014 I will have out the
second book in Bob’s trilogy, and I think we will finally see the sequel to my own international bestseller for
magicians. The new book will be titled Transformation 2: Performing Magic with Excellence.
A final thought to circle back to your question. I have found that most everyone wants to “play magic”
when it is talked about in an intelligent way and performed with excellence and integrity. People love
magic; they love to be astonished and delighted by impossible things. However, magicians must beware:
laypeople are not much interested in things that feel like “tricks” or those poorly performed because the
words and actions haven’t been crafted through practice and rehearsal. But in the hands of a performer
who has worked hard at his craft, who realizes that magic can be about more than gags and blather, I have
found nearly everyone comes along for the ride. Because who does not want to be reminded that the
world is a surprising, delightful, and magical place?
Thank you again, Mike, for your interest in my ideas and for sharing them with your readers.
MS- Thank you Larry for your work and your friendship.
Until next month, remember to “cut the cards.”
Would You Believe?
“Would you believe?” Commentary by Geoff Grimes
Sometimes, I’ll overhear a comment from a colleague
in magic saying that they want their audiences to
believe they really do have magical powers. Really!
What a set up for laughter and disappointment.
Virtually no one in our First-World culture would ever
confess to really believing in our magic, and that’s
perhaps why some of us couch so many of our
magical pieces in the mantel of humor or buffoonery
or veil it with music to avoid patter that might
sound officious (like “officious.”) To appear to take
ourselves seriously is to risk exposure and ridicule.
More like it, “That’s pretty good, but who does he
think he’s fooling?” Did you ever hear that from a
spectator? It wasn’t stated just so boldly as that,
but that was clearly the implication of a comment
I overheard from some visitors at the magic store a
couple of weeks ago, and it got me thinking about
how we must be perceived by our audiences.
The “Demonizers”
We don’t run into them very often, and when we
do, it’s usually in a public place where magicians
aren’t expected—people sitting in a restaurant,
standing in a line, lounging in a reception—and all
of a sudden, this simpy-looking dude whips out a
deck of cards or something weird from a pocket. If
the target is someone from another country where
magical entertainment may be suspect, the reaction
sometimes can be disarming to the performer,
ranging from abject fear to disgust. Rarely, but
occasionally at the “Corral,” I’ll get something like,
“Oh, no! We don’t do magic!” and I just step aside
politely, thanking them for coming to “our restaurant.”
The “WOW!-ers”
On the other hand, some of our audiences clearly
enjoy being fooled. “That was great! But don’t tell
me how it was done! I don’t want to know!” And
that’s what they go for—the shock and surprise.
Now, they know we did something! Nevertheless,
they clearly appreciate being faked!
Don’t we wish all our audiences were so moved!
They fully expect to be astonished and enjoy the
rush they get at the experience of the unexpected.
The “Esthetics”
As a magical entertainer, I have to confess this is
where I fall. I am blown away by really good card
Geoff Grimes
technicians and other manipulators who have
elevated the mechanics of handling to an art form.
Everybody knows that birds come out of sleeves
tucked up jackets, hanging from under armpits,
or from slits in the pants—at best, a good bird
production is a thing of surprise and beauty. But
where in the world do all those cards come from,
one card fan after another, exploding at the fingertips
and cascading in trails to the floor. I own at least
two books and twelve DVDs on manipulation, but I
would have to have left Jeff McBride’s first 35 years
to perfect what I see him do on the computer screen
or live in concert, and at the cusp of 70 years old
myself, I’m just too damn late in line. You go! Michael
Dimsdle!
The “Chucklers”
They clearly aren’t blown away as are the “Wow”-ers.
They always smile and look aside at their friends to
see if the effect merited a complementary response
from them as well. At the same time, most of these,
I suspect, would be just as delighted watching
someone pull the cap off an “exploding” pen, react
in shock from fake dog poop, or a razz in the palm
of the hand from a buzzer. But the “chucklers” still
appreciate a good magical effect when they see it,
and you’ll catch them smile politely.
The “By-Standers”
Then there are those who traipse into the shop in the
role I call the “by-standers.” They might be the moms
and dads or friends who tag-along, usually behind
the kids who have pestered them into submission
into coming to the magic store. They take more
delight in the reactions of their kids than they do the
presentation of the demonstrators, but if the kids are
amused, then they reap some level of satisfaction.
The “‘Can’t-Get-Away’ Faster-ers”
This is the last group. These are those audiences
who get trapped into seeing our magic. They didn’t
like magic when they were kids ‘cause it always
made them feel foolish in front of their friends, and
they don’t like it any better now for the same reason
or for any other convenient reason as an adult.
You can always spot them. If they can flee, they
will. They’re the moms in the restaurant who know
damn good and well it isn’t at all about the scarf that
just vanished up the kid’s sleeve, but, in a carryover
continued on page 8
The Veep Speaks
Frank Seltzer
Being the day after St. Paddy’s day I figured it
was time to emphasize green…so we’re going to
showcase money tricks. And what goes well with
Money? Mentalism. I mean who doesn’t like M&Ms?
Speaking of the banquet, we are going to be back at
Brookhaven Country Club for this year’s banquet on
May 20th. So mark your calendars now. The cost
for members is still the same, only $35 and you can
bring one guest at that price. Non members and
We also will be having a short lecture from Cinde other guests will cost $45. If you want to use paypal,
and current SAM president Dal Sanders on how to it will be a touch more to cover the paypal fees. But
book those summer shows.
that cost includes the food and entertainment.
It will also be the chance to register for next month’s
Magician of the Year contest. You do an act for
parlor or close-up (stage too) and make your act no
more than 10 minutes. 7-8 is better. We will use the
rules from the TAOM contest to judge the acts. The
winner will be announced at our annual banquet in
May.
Here are the TAOM rules:
STAGE SETTING – 0 to 10 points.
General appearance, eye appeal, attractiveness and
appropriateness of dress, props, tables and
equipment.
STAGE PRESENCE – 0 to 15 points.
Poise and confidence, intelligible speech, direct and
understandable theme.
Now what about the act for the banquet? Well we
have Martin Lewis! If you haven’t seen Martin it is
probably because he has been very busy on the
cruise circuit lately. Martin is a third generation
magician originally from Britian. His father Eric
Lewis was a magician and quite a writer of magic
books and wrote Martin’s Miracles for his son.
Martin started in San Francisco in 1972 as resident
magician at Earthquake McGoons. From there he
got regular spots on television and toured the world.
I remember Martin working the comedy club circuit in
the 80s playing a little club over on Greenvile Avenue
where he killed the audience with his approach and
magic.
Martin is known for creating Sidewalk Shuffle and
the now classic Cardiographic where you draw a
card on a pad to show the person the card selected,
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE – 0 to 30 points.
but when it turns out to be wrong, a card rises out
Indicated by audience reaction, appreciation and of what you make into a drawn deck and the rising
overall
card is the chosen one. You then rip off the sheet
enjoyment.
and hand it to the spectator. Martin taught how to
make it in the Martins Miracles book but he also
PRESENTATION AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE – sells the already made. (Stretching the Truth which
0 to 30 points
was done by Fred Becker a couple of years ago is
Personality, projection, routining and continuity, a take off of Martin’s principle.) His latest effect is
professional presentation and technical ability.
the Rosepad…another baffler for the crowds and I
am certain he will perform it during his show. Martin
ORIGINALITY – 0 to 15 points.
also was named Visiting Magician of the year and
Original material, inventive presentation or routining Parlor Magician of the year at the Magic Castle.
to include new presentations of standard effects –
“something different”
And then remember that the next evening, Martin will
be lecturing up at Theater 166 where he will give lots
of tips. He has two DVDs out on Making Magic,
another on the Senor Mardo Egg Bag. His lecture
will not be one you want to miss. Cost for the lecture
will be $20 for members, $25 for non members.
♣♥♠♦
continued from page 6
of some haughty, junior high school-era hubris, as
former junior varsity cheerleaders, they feel you’re
there at their table for one and only one lascivious
end: you’re there “checking them out.” So every
time, if they can, they get up and strut over to the
broccoli pan and begin poking at it as if they had
just discovered an amazing, new delicacy. Or, having
watched you across the dining room, their boyfriend
has invited you over to the table, and trapped in the
booth, they look away in an affected boredom and
disgust, tapping their feet or glancing at their watches,
or retreating to the convenience and anonymity they
find in texting on their cell phone.
So, I would ask again, “Just who do you think we’re
really fooling, anyway?”
I’m just sayin’ . . .
Geoff Grimes
Upcoming Lectures!
Peter McLanachen Lecture
Date: Saturday, Apr 19th
Time: 2:00 pm (Doors open at 1:40 pm)
Cost: $20 for DMC members, $10 for DYMC members
and $25 for non-members. (Cash or Check at the door)
Location:
Crosspointe - the DMC monthly meeting place - The
City Room
2425 West Parker RD
Carrollton, TX 75010
Martin Lewis Lecture
Date: Wednesday, May 21st
Time: 6:30 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Cost: $20 for DMC members, $10 for DYMC members
and $25 for non-members. (Cash or Check at the door)
Location:
Crosspointe - the DMC monthly meeting place – Theater
166
2425 West Parker RD
Carrollton, TX 75010
You can find out more about our lectures at:
http://www.thats-impossible.com/lectures.htm
Photos from Daryl Howard
Gems From Diamond Jim Tyler
Fortune Cookie Surprise
GAG: Someone opens a fortune cookie to reveal a weird or spooky personal message.
Imagine opening a fortune cookie that was addressed to you and accompanied by a personal message. You would think you were in the
TV series the Twilight Zone. This can be done
with a little preparation. The next time you dine
in a Chinese restaurant or get take-out, ask for
some extra fortune cookies. Arranging this gag
is best done in the privacy of your own home.
You could put funny messages inside
like “The chef spit in
your food.”, or “That
wasn’t chicken.” Remember that it is a
small piece of paper
so you are limited on
words and space.
Imagine reading one
that was personalized to a friend named Adam
that said, “Adam, she is cheating on you.”, or
“Adam- congrats on the new job; unfortunately
it will not last long.” If you are a magician, it
could reveal, “Your card is the Ace of Clubs.”; a
real dollar bill, or whatever. One could use this
to make someone laugh, scare the crap out of
them, to propose, break-up, etc.
Most fortune cookies are heat-sealed in a clear
wrapper and have a plastic flap that runs down
the middle of one side. This seal helps to keep
the cookie fresh and makes it easier to open by
grabbing ahold of it. Pull that plastic flap up so
it remains upright. Use a sharp blade like an
Often fortunes in cookies will simply imbrue
Exacto® knife to cut underneath that flap the
you with some wisdom like: “The truth will set
length of the plastic wrapper (Fig. 1).
you free… unless you’ve killed someone.”
Remove the cookie being careful to not rip the
plastic wrapper. Place the fortune cookie into
a microwave for ten seconds. Once the timer
goes off quickly remove the temporarily soft
cookie. Careful not to burn yourself pry open
one end of the cookie. Remove the fortune inside and replace it with your own homemade
message printed on the same size strip of paper. Place the cookie back into the microwave
for ten seconds. Once again remove it quickly
so that you may squeeze the open end back
together.
Once your surprise message is in the cookie
carefully put the cut-open wrapper back around
it. Then use super-glue to adhere the flap back
onto the wrapper to seal it shut. Now when
dining on Chinese be sure that your friend gets
your special cookie. Their reaction, upon reading the fortune, should exceed the trouble you
went to when preparing it.
Fig. 1
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