Big Screen Fun

I picked Buster up at school on Wednesday and we caught a matinee showing at the Cinerama. We both liked it a lot.

Freak Du Jour

Met this cat at the market yesterday. His street act consists of being a human video game. Fresh and funny. Got a lot of attention and many people played him, but the poor bastard doesn't know a thing about making a buck on the street. Good thing he's a biologist from Olympia who works at a salmon hatchery.

Fighting in Fremont

Every Thursday Wil battles with some buds under the Fremont Bridge. There is a troll who lives under there. These guys are serious about their sport. Wil gave Buster the basics and Buster took to it immediately. I on the other hand, was bit of a pussy. This was the day before Folklife and I didn't want to chance hurting my hands. Looks like we may become regulars on Thursday nights from 8-10PM.


Bridge, pseudo art shot


Post modern, Utilikilt version of West Side Story


Wil training Buster in the ways of the Jedi


The Fremont Troll

Busy Boy

The days are flying by. I am busy and happy. The Tuesday Night Sessions I host at my home every week are always fun and productive. We always focus on teaching and learning. The idea is for everyone to walk away with something new to work on. We follow up and tweak the routines the next week. Always new faces popping by, curious to find out exactly what is going on at the Alki Beach Magic Studio. Recently, Roger Needham, Prof. Gizmo, Soloman, Robert Stevens, Chad and many others have participated in the round robins. We talk theory and talk shit, but as I said always a good time and a late evening. I taught the gang Dingle's "Quick D-Way" the other week and Chad was doing it the following week. Steve Ameden always has something new to teach us and Tim Flynn is on his third notebook!

Neil Stirton is visiting from Scotland and we jammed on Wednesday night before going dancing. The session continued at the bar. Wil was there with Carie. As I spent the better part of the evening cutting a rug, Neil & Wil were busy cutting cards. There were some new faces on the dance floor and I was impressed to see some exceptional Lindy Hoppers on the dance floor. The joint was jumping. I love watching the good dancers. I study their moves and make mental notes. I am still having problems being off the beat after the turns. I think I am leaving out a rock step. Need another lesson to clean up some of my consistent problems. In between dances I did The Linking Bar Straws for Neil & Wil. I have many variations of the effect, but opted for the one John Kennedy came up with at the SAM Convention in Louisville, KY in 1986. That was the convention where I first met Chris Korn.


Emily, Neil & guess who?

Neil was down at the market to watch me work today. I had some decent shows and I am connecting much better with my audiences. I have a lot to say on the subject of performing street magic, but I'll save that for another time.

Buster and I have been walking regularly and talking about what he wants to do this summer. He might go to Cincinnati for a couple of months. Were still working out the details. He is a joy. I recently got him an electric guitar and he is excited to learn how to play it.


Buster at Schmitz Park on one of our walks

Video Clip Du Jour - From The Archives

Who would have figured that when I shot this footage of two guys on a stage working the same gig with me, that later in life our paths would cross and we would become friends. Here is Jim Page and Artis the Spoonman; two important figures in the Seattle Street Performing Scene.


Video Click Here

Buster at Folklife

Buster didn't go to the festival on Friday, Saturday or Sunday as he is a typical teenager and wanted to sleep in. He likes having the house to himself while I'm out there street performing all day. I did drag his ass out of bed on Monday (Memorial Day), to enjoy the festival. We had a good time. I was trading off shows with Joe the Juggler, so while Joe was working Buster and I would hang out and talk. While I was working Buster would check out the festival and all that it had to offer. I finished up early that night so that we could spend a couple hours listening to music, watching other street acts and enjoying each others company.

Folklife Follow Up

Performing with the pouch gave me a whole new way of working. I remember back in the day studying how Cellini had modified many of the Slydini lapping techniques to use the pouch. It didn't take long to adapt much of what I do to maximize the use of this age old friend of the street conjurer. I now use Slydini like timing on the last coin in 3 Fly. Very Cool, very clean. Loading out of the pouch for the cups was a seemless transition. I've always loaded out of jacket or pants pockets and had to worry about compromising angles while working surrounded, now it's not an issue. I'm really enjoying it.



Put together my rent over the 4 day festival. Deposited it into the landlords account, they love seeing me at the bank walking thorough the door with cigar box in hand.

Folklife Festival Friday/Saturday

The last two days of the festival have been gratifying and rewarding. My shows have been tight and my hats full. A new friend of mine named Ryan watched a bunch of my shows today. He made a comment, "That was your best show yet, the crowd was really into it!" I said, "Funny, it wasn't my best hat." I make that mistake a lot, judging my shows by the amount of cash they bring in. Ryan's comment hit home and helped me understand and remember why I am there. I am there for my audiences. My purpose is to make them happy and smile with the "wonder"ful gift of magic. It's a fact, I am a junkie for that look in their eyes. The moment of astonishment. The sound of their laughter and the wide eye expressions have made me who I am.



This weekend I am getting to break in my new Cellini Style Buskers Pouch made by Frank Starsinic . This is the first time I have ever used a pouch and I must say I am digging it.