Concierge Run in the Limo

Julie works for the Metropolitan Grill, the finest Steak House in Seattle, as the Marketing Director. Today we went hotel hopping in a stretch limo listening to Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and other assorted Honky Tonk Tunes. Our mission was to pop into the hotel, and schmooz a bit with the concierge's. Julie thanked them for sending hotel guests to the Met. She handed out $100 gift certificates like acid at a dead show. I did a few tricks for the concierge and staff at hand and distributed my promo materials.



It's nice of Julie to give me this opportunity to ride o the coat tails of the Met. Being introduced as the resident magician at the Met can't hurt an introduction. We had fun going to the Grand Hyatt, The Sheraton, The Homewood Suites by Hilton & The Summerfield Suites by Wyndham.




This was the bar in the limo.

Trigger Makes A Surprise Appearence

Sage is one of the first real friends I made after moving to Seattle. He is a man of many characters and talents.Here he is with Julie at the Owl and Thistle. Don't ever call Sage by his real name while he is in character. He won't answer you. I like his commitment to his art.


Julie has a bit of fun in costume.

Tuesday

Cargo Ship carrying Seattle. . . talk about a heavy load.


Buster had to make a mask for a school project. It wasn't done at this point, but you get an idea. His teacher didn't know who Charlie Chaplin was!!? How can this be possible? She said it looked like Hitler


I like the Dead Logo in the eye.

Honky Tonk Dance Night

I went dancing last night as I do every Wednesday night. Swing dancing at the Owl & Thistle to the musical stylings of the Vinyl Avengers is one of my favorite nights of the week. Surrounded by beautiful women who don't mind dancing with a hack like me, the hours melt away as the band plays three power packed sets. Bill Joe, Micah & CT rock the room.

I danced with Carie, Julie, Katie and Maggie. Hmmm, coincidence that that their names all end in ie. . . as in "that is". . .THAT IS a good time. . . I think not.

Fuck. . . what a great time. Beers and shots of Yegar. Cigarettes, cigars and the smoking sounds emanating from Billy Joe's Fender Deluxe Amp.

No matter my mood when I enter the joint, I feel refreshed and relaxed when I leave.


Video Click Here

Flash from the past

It seems like just yesterday and a million years ago at the same time. Seattle Magic came and went in a puff of smoke, cigar smoke. I'll never forget the rush of it all. These video's convey some of the excitement of what it was like in the Secret Magicians Only Back Room



Click here for video

Collection Agencies

I just got off the phone with a collection agency. A charming young lady named Darla had a host of questions for me. I find that the most effective way to assure bill collectors that no money is forthcoming is to ask the simple question, "Have you ever had a penis in your rectum?" Then while laughing hysterically, I cite THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT . I tell her in my sexiest voice that Section 806.5 is my personal favorite and that if she wants to come over right now I will show it to her on my laptop while sodomizing her.

Crimped Cards, Broken Wands & Shattered Dreams

Got to the Market , took out my deck; I wanted to throw it away. Lots of crimped cards were going to make my Faro Shuffle work impossible.



I couldn't imagine how my deck got this way. . . . until later, when I performed the multiple card selection with 9 cards. In this routine the selected cards are in the spectators hand longer than in any other routine I do. Long enough to fuck them up good. If I was clever, I would probably use this to my advantage. . . but I'm not clever. I always have a variety of decks in my doctors bag so I picked one that met my needs.

The market was dead. This always surprises me on a beautiful day at lunch time. I was lucky to make $50 in the two hours I was there. Didn't do the rings once. Performed the cups a few times, but mostly cards and coins for two or three people at a time.

I am an animal and should probably be caged. Yes, I broke my new wand already. . . FUCK!!!!!! I never should have used it in my act. When Thomas gave it to me, that was the first thing I said, "I shouldn't use it" But he encouraged me to perform with it. I went as far as to tell him about my broken wand collection. Many of them expensive wands.



I look at the pieces of this wand and feel the saddness of broken dreams. How could I have done this? What was I thinking? This is the reason why Cellini settled on Iron Wood (Lignum Vite) as the wood of choice for street performing, just a simple dowel, one solid piece.



I was able to find the broken pieces as they exploded into the crowd and into my bag. I will repair this beautiful wand. But for it's own good I think it best to retire it to my mantle where I can appreciate it's beauty without the potential of hurting it further.



I am a monster. There are few people out there, that are this rough on their props. OY!!

Thomas Wayne Session Part II

As the hours ticked by we traded some card tricks, shared some ideas about coin magic and discussed the community of guys that make gourmet coin gaffs. Thomas showed us some gaffs that he had made as well as some pieces made by other artisans. I was impressed with a Swadling Coin that he had and it's interesting inner workings. Some very clever improvements to an oldie but goodie. Thomas demonstrated an extremely visual coins through table with it.

We talked at length about the Fitch/Kohler Hold Out System. Thomas probably knows this device better than anyone as he has an up close and personal relationship with every one that sells. I was impressed with the many improvements and revolutionary design modifications.

At his core, Thomas is a thinker and extremely intelligent problem solver. He looks at the world with a unique perspective. How does it work, why was it made this way, could it be made to function more effectively? I am such a simpleton that a guy like this boggles my mind. A good example of his process is; he picked up a trick that was lying around. It happened to be one of the first tricks I ever bought as a 7 or 8 year old. Just a nic nac to me as a reminder of my early roots. It was a simple cut and restored string trick made out of plastic.



It hasn't worked for a long time. Me, I accepted that it was just a 30 year old magic trick that didn't work anymore. Thomas picked it up, saw that it didn't work and his brain started working on the problem. I don't think it's a conscious thing for him, it just happens. He solves problems. In less than a minute he had figured that the string was just twisted around inside. He basically unwound the string from it's locked position to free it's movement. This trick has been lying around for months and not once did I think to unwind it or even think about it.

It was after 5AM when Steve and Thomas left. I crawled into bed, fell asleep and dreamed about magic tricks.

Beautiful Victorian Magic Set on Ebay

If I can't afford it, at least I can put it on my blog and look at it.

Cellini an old teacher and dear friend

I wonder what Jimmy is up to. Back in Switzerland with Mary Anne. I spoke to him before he left. What an interesting character. He taught me so much about how to street perform. I met him in 1982. I was still in highschool. My dad took my step-brother and me to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. That trip changed my life.

Rock n Roll, Tie Dye & Kind Bud

Last night I went to see a Grateful Dead cover band, The Dark Star Orchestra. I had a great time inspite of myself. This band does something interesting, each night they recreate an entire Grateful Dead Show. . song for song. Last nights recreation was a show from Red Rocks Ampitheatre 8/30/1978. Here is the set list:

First Set

The Promised Land
Sugaree
Mexicali Blues>
Mama Tried
Stagger Lee
Looks Like Rain
Deal

Second Set

I Need A Miracle
Brown Eyed Women
Estimated Prophet>
The Other One>
Eyes Of The World>
Drums>
Space >
If I Had The World To Give >
Iko Iko>
Around And Around

Encore

U.S. Blues
Music Never Stppped>
Scarlet Bagonia's>
Music Reprise>
Ripple



Like most Dead shows I attended, I experienced an emotional metamorphosis. Last night was no different. I took a journey into my memories and remembered my first Dead show back in 1986 months after my sister was killed in a car crash. The shows I attended in the mid to late 90's were with my ex-wife Moira. There came a flood of other memories. But, as with all of my Dead Show ups and downs, I came out on the other side with a smile on my face, love in my heart and dancing like a drunk freak.

The smell of pot filled the air. Hippie chicks in tie dye twirled to the music and I wanted to hold one of them. I was with my people and it felt good. The band did a few bonus encores not on the Red Rocks Set List including Scarlet Begonia's. It was the last night of their winter tour that stared back in January.

Thomas Wayne Visit Part I

Saturday Night Session with Thomas Wayne and Steve Amaden

I left the Fenix Underground around 11:45PM. When I arrived back at my house, the windows were rattling and the music was pumped up like Arnold Schwartznegger at an orgy. I though to myself, The Grateful Dead at deafening volume. . . that's my boy! Thomas was going to meet me at my house and when I came in through the back door I was surprised to see him sitting on the couch, drinking a beer, rocking out and practicing a new pass he has learned.

I turned the music down and the session started. More than tricks and moves, I have always been a student of people. I am fascinated by the stories of who people are, where they came from, what their influences were, what makes them tick. Thomas shared many details of his background of his early experiments in film making, his adventures as an adolescent working on a fishing boat and his apprenticeship with a fantasy knife maker. His exposure to power tools and his desire to become artisan is evident in his current work as one of the premier gourmet pool cue manufacturers, a magician of stature and a respected manufacturer of a revolutionary system of legerdemain: namely the Fitch / Kohler Hold Out.



Thomas came barring gifts, He brought something for me and one for Tobias one of his Woofle Dusters! A nutty squeaking salt shaker. He also brought beer. He presented me with a gift so exquisite I was speechless. It beautiful Cocobolo Magic Wand with silver inlays and my freaking monograms on the ends. I told him that I was afraid to use something this beautiful. He knew I was rough on my props and assured me that this was a strong wand meant for use in the real world (I used it Sunday at the market and it held up beautifully). Thank you Thomas for a gift so nice I barely feel worthy.




Steve Amaden showed up around 1AM and we retired to the dining room where close up pads, drinks, snacks and cards covered the table. Steve ran in to Thomas at the World Magic Seminar in Vegas last week. I felt lucky to hear it from guys that were there what the low down was. Certainly sounded like a good time.


Part II to Follow