As I mentioned in the prior post, Ye Olde Magick Blogge is doing "favourites" during the month of February. In some respects I hate to play off Andrew's hard work, but I just can't figure out how to comment on his blog. I have tried requesting a name and password, but never seem to get a response. Actually, I probably wouldn't want me commenting on a blog anyway. He has touched on a number of subjects, which I find fascinating and feel somewhat compelled to make comments. One of his recent subjects was best lecturer. Given the substantial difference in ages, it's not surprising that our perspectives are different. I will say that his choice, Chris Capehart, was one lecturer that I missed when he was in Chicago and everyone said he was just terrific. Hopefully, I won't miss seeing the next time he comes through. Just a quick brain dump on some lecturers that I have seen over the past 35 years or so:

Geoffrey Buckingham – this was a lecture I enjoyed tremendously, even though stage manipulation of the nature he practiced was of little interest. Probably the most fascinating part of the lecture was watching him get ready to do his show. He showed us all the loads that he placed on his body in preparation for his award winning act. A true English gentleman in every sense. He added a lot to the convention.

Paul Harris – I had the opportunity to see all when he was at the height of his creativity. You couldn't help but be struck by how shy he actually was. I had the opportunity to attend an extra cost session with him and he couldn't have been more accommodating. The lecture itself, was good but not great. It just wasn't his venue.

A stage illusionist whose name I have forgotten – I've always thought of a stage illusionist as someone who dances around and acts gay while the boxes do the trick. After watching this demonstration, I now define stage illusionist as the guy who dances around and acts gay while the boxes and hard-working assistants do the tricks. Some of the machinations that the girls went through in those boxes astounded me.

Lectures that keep the good stuff – one real gripe I have with DVDs and lecturers are performance only pieces. In several cases, I have sat through mundane lectures only to be excited towards the end of the lecture by a quality piece of magic and then being told that it was performance only. Certainly no lecturer is required to show anything, but keep your performance only pieces for performances. They are not for lectures!

Paul Green – this is a lecture I thoroughly enjoyed. Paul's magic is doable and well structured. It's too bad his reputation was somewhat sullied over that silly Card Warp controversy. If you can't see Paul, I highly recommend his DVD. There are a bunch of lecturers, many of them big names, such as Darwin Ortiz and  David Roth whose lectures have grown into nothing more than a sales pitch with a little bit of entertainment.. Personally, I resist buying anything when I attend one of these lectures. Having said all of this, one lecturer stands out from the crowd to me –

David Williamson! Dave has chops, creativity and insights to offer any audience. He can be absolutely hilarious, but hopefully he will not be in one of those moods where gets just plain goofy. Just hearing him tell the story of his command performance before Siegfried and Roy is worth a long trip. Dave is also one of those guys that puts his whole heart and energy into making sure any convention that has booked him is a success. I understand he is giving more lectures these days as this crappy economy is seriously reducing the number of corporate gigs available. See him if you have the chance. (Now that I think of it, I don't recall Dave having anything to sell in any of the lectures that I have attended.) i/m

Addendum: Some of the better lectures I have seen over the past couple of years have been presented by local no names. Some of these guys really, really work hard to present good magic and good explanations. Maybe it's just a sign of the times.

You think this economy (or is it Georgeonomy) isn’t bad! Check out this special from L&L:

You read right!! Buy 1 DVD set produced by L&L Publishing for $99 or more and Get Another L&L DVD Set of equal or lesser value for FREE!* – PLUS DARWIN ORTIZ AT THE CARD TABLE, VOL. 1-3, A $99.95 VALUE, IS ALSO YOURS FOR FREE!!!!! (Quantities are limited. Ortiz DVDs will be shipped in white paper sleeve, boxes not available. )

*RICHARD OSTERLIND’S 13 STEPS TO MENTALISM IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SALE – BUT THAT IS THE ONLY L&L SET NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SPECTACULAR LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

…and shipping is free.

Brooks sent out a PM today, 12/5/09, hawking some of His Holiness’ stuff. In part:

from now until December 24th, 2009….blah, blah

Don’t THOSE crease your Card Case?!? But there’s only about 10 days left…..blah blah

Not only can he turn a clever phrase, but he ciphers like Jethro Bodine.

Dumb ass!

I recently sat down and watched the new John Bannon videos. I like John, his magic and his teaching methodology. To those that might not have seen John perform, you may be disappointed in his magical persona. He makes something like $500 per hour as a lawyer and this is his hobby (and I’m rather sure his passion). He would never make it as a professional performer and I am sure he would be the first to agree. To those that have his earlier productions none of this is a surprise or disappointment.

Like many advanced card men he seems enamored with location type tricks. Larry Jennings also suffered from this malady. To me, these type of tricks are puzzles and have nothing to do with magic. I’m sure others will be as intrigued as John with the mathematical machinations of these type of tricks. To me, they are just plain dull. Fortunately, for those like me don’t care for this type of trick their way on this two disc set to justify the purchase.

I don’t know if there is a perfect type of audience for a magic DVD. I think we’ve all grown rather tired of the overly effusive audiences as used by L&L and I know I’ve grown damned tired of the street idiots used in so many “cutting edge” DVDs that are being produced hourly. John presents a lot of his effects to a strikingly sexy young lady named Sammie. Anytime the trick or explanation got dull, you could be amused by deciding how long that seriously stressed button would be able to keep her blouse closed. It made it through the session, but I don’t see how. (Quite obviously, the camera men were equally intrigued)

John presented the rest of his magic to several escapees from the Geek Squad wearing sunglasses, dirty white shirts and black ties. Yawn! Please bring back Sammie.

If you are a fan John Bannon you will certainly want to purchase these two DVDs. While there is nothing earth shattering or revolutionary, the tricks are reasonably entertaining and John’s explanations give some insight into his substantial intellect and the histories and evolution of the effects. John’s best work is still in his packet tricks such as Twisted Sisters.

His best trick, in my opinion, continues to be Play It Straight Triumph. This is included as the last trick on the set, but has been renamed The Bannon Triumph. I can’t blame him for wanting to associate his name with one of the true modern classics.

I guess it’s fair to say that this set reflects John and the current state of his magic very fairly. Production is OK and the camera work excellent. Attempts at being cutting edge only serve to distract, however.

Some outfit, that I’ve never hear of,  Big Blind Media, will be releasing Bannon’s new set of videos called Bullets After Dark. I know nothing about them, but I do know about John Bannon!

There’s something special when very intelligent people put pen to paper or are involved with an instructional DVD – witness Bannon, Steinmeyer, Close etc. I’ll admit John’s performance persona is not dynamic, but it is pleasant and doesn’t get in the way of the magic. Explanations have been superb on prior releases. My only concern is that the trailer uses the same overhyped, loud crap that everyone etc is using. I hope that is not indicative of the DVD.

Just a side note – What’s he doing in this promo photo:

Take care……..

Over the years I’ve been in magic I’ve seen a number of great salesman. After all, isn’t it magic just one big pitch?

Among the dealers, three stand out for writing incredibly compelling sales copy:

Ken Brooke

Jeff Busby

Bob Kohler

Certainly, my favorite magic dealer was and always will be, Ken Brooke. Ken had an enthusiasm, coupled with stringent moral code which I have never seen equaled, certainly not today. Those who read his sales copy for Fred Kaps Floating Cork, the Nemo Rising cards or the Koornwinder Kar to name a few, know what I’m talking about. You never had to concern yourself about the truthfulness of the descriptions. They were always honest and the effects were genuinely practical and doable. Compare this to the half assed YouTube demonstrations we have today which are generally contrived to deceive the prospective purchaser. Unfortunately, magicians today will never have the thrill of mailing the check to that far distant land called England and waiting for what seemed an eternity for the latest miracle from Ken Brookes’ Magic Place. You knew the wait would be worth it. Today, you can get screwed with the speed of the Internet – no waiting.

We miss you Ken.

The second dealer, capable of incredibly compelling writing was Jeff Busby. It’s certainly no secret that Busby was and is a flaming dick. It’s very hard to divorce that fact from the quality of his output. Epoptica, his periodic sales booklet was an incredible read. It showed the depth of his magic knowledge and understanding of history. There were times that I’m sure is historical perspective was warped due to his own abiding love for Jeff Busby.

Tricks and manuscripts developed and / or sold by Busby were generally terrific. I still think his work on the Sterling egg bag was one of the best effects ever given to magicians.

Some of his work in Arcane, a periodic magazine for his customers, was just brilliant. I know there are people out there, myself included, that were burnt by Busby and eventually decided he just wasn’t worth the trouble. A serious waste of talent.

Among today’s merchants nobody and I mean nobody compares to Bob Kohler. I first heard of him when he was advertising the first iteration of the Ultimate 3 Fly*. Any magician that wouldn’t have walked to Las Vegas to get that trick was without feelings. In retrospect, it’s kind of funny to recall the laudatory remarks he heaped on Todd Lassen and how he is viewed by him now. I’m a friend of Todd, so my perspective may or may not be fair. Kohler’s ability to extract really serious bucks for his material is legendary. Whether it’s a $200 rope trick, a $400 bill in lemon or a $2000 cloth goose — but, I guess, that his job. I trust I’m not the only one that wakes up in a cold sweat screaming  I paid what for that! I see he’s now hooked up with the Anaconda crowd selling $100 flourishes. I’m sure he’ll be successful.

(* his nearly mystical hold over magicians is exemplified in the hundreds and hundreds of messages on the Cafe about a rumored second generation 3 Fly. Unbelievable!)

These guys relied on their skills as a wordsmith. For the most part, that is unnecessary today. Today’s sales people rely on editing, street bums and camera trickery. Their over-hyped crap may, at last, drive us back to classic magic. I sure hope so.