In my in box - A brief review

Tom Frank,

I received the Trick Wallet from you and I must say that "This effect will knock people out!" Your video explains the routine in detail and I also loved the bonus clip. It is one of the best closers for a strolling or platform magician. It's real magic! Grab one before it's too late. I got 2!

Tom O'Brien
 

In my in box

Tom:

I received the Phoenix set yesterday. Wow. These are awesome! I am certainly happy to have purchased these cups. I noticed on the 'included' flyer for the C and B, that I may purchase an additional set of balls for 19.95. I would most definately like to take this option. I have tried calling the number on the flyer and it is ringing to your fax machine.

Please let me know another number that I may reach you, or confirm my ability to get the additional set of balls and I will send the details. I prefer not to send my CC number throuh e-mail since it is not secure, but if you call me or let me know how to reach you I'll place my order.

Again, thanks you so much for this awesome set of cups.


Sean Comer



Sean,

All the info on that flyer is outdated and from a previous lifetime including my ability to accept credit cards. At the time I owned a magic shop and had a merchant account. I threw the flyer in with your order because I thought it kind of completed the set.

If you want to use pay pal again send $23.50 to Tom_Frank@Comcast.net that should cover the 4 balls, shipping and handling, and pay pal fees.

Sorry for the hassle.


Sincerely,

Tom Frank
T. Frank Mint

Good week for cups

And that's a good thing, because it's been a shitty week for street performing. Polished up this set this morning in preparation for it's trip to Round Rock, TX where it will find a new home.

In my in box

Dear Tom Frank,
    (You may remember me as the fellow with whom you bartered my DOLLARING origami-jewelry instruction packets for magic books at your Seattle Magic Shop.)
    I am in the process of founding an alternative magic club in the inland northwest called the Magic Artists Guild. "MAG" will promote the performance art of magic amongst our local practicing, performing magicians.
 
    Not long ago, my friend Ron Hodges, mentioned to me that you might be willing to present a magic lecture in our area.
    If this is true, I want to host your lecture in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
    For the event, my preferences would be:
         that you lodge in the comfort of my wife's and my home 
         that the lecture also be staged at my home.
         that the lecture be held on Saturday, October 22nd.
 
    Might you be available to arrange a lecture within those perameters ?
    Your consideration of my plan will be greatly appreciated.
    Cheers,
    Kim "Max" Long
    Magical Entertainment & Education
    For ages 7 - 107
 
    "Put a little magic in your life"

Max at Mt. Stuart Elementary School

I called Max's school the other day to talk to Max and Hope's teachers. I talked to Miss Ristine (Max's 3rd grade teacher) a very nice woman who had nice things to say about Max. I told her that I wanted to be as involved in Max's school activities as distance would allow. I explained to her that it was important to me to be in the loop of information. Grades, Newsletters, Parent Teacher Conferences, Picture Day Money deadlines and the such. I was pleased to come home tonight and see these two pics that she took and emailed to me. Very nice. I told her that I would like to visit Max and Hope in their classrooms next week.

Something smells fishy

So, let's see if I understand this; she just bought a house in Ellensburg (36 miles farther away than the one she is renting, making it now 116 miles away for me to see my kids). She doesn't tell me that she is moving our children into a third school in less than three years until after the fact because she didn't know she was going to do it. Hmmm.

She buys this house while owning a piece of land that her boyfriend the construction worker has been building on since spring. The kids have on more than one occasion told me how the barn was coming along and what their rooms were going to be like, she implies that they may or may not be building on said piece of real estate.

Her $300 an hour lawyer is back in the game to tell me that my kids will not be staying at my house on alternating weekends, birthdays or holidays because I am a crazed drug addict.

Oy vey! The woman is mashugana.

Video du Jour - From the archives

Tuesday

Tuesday started with more cup polishing and a trip to the post office to get an order out. Later I popped in a DVD a buddy sent me. Travis Fessler is a buddy of mine from Cincinnati. While he is a bona-fide side show freak, this performance was the final for a class he had taken on comedy. Nice job Travis!! Funny stuff. Takes a lot of balls to leave the swords and bed of nails at home and just go out there with a microphone. Well done!

I sent off a promo DVD for a Seattle Comedy Competition, it would be fun to be in that! Also sent off a contract for a gig in late January. The agent booked me for 30 minutes of strolling magic and a 45 minute after dinner show.

Went to Fremont for lunch and then to the Market to do some street shows. Wasn't happening so I went to Buster's school to give him a ride home instead of taking the bus.

I checked email and farted around before going to to the cable access shoot. It was fun. It was a 5 camera shoot with one camera looking down on me and my table. SHIT!!!! I didn't realize how huge my bald spot was! I had a good time. I did some cards, cups & finished with the rings. For the silent pass of the rings the camera angle was from beneath, an interesting angle to shoot from. I look forward to seeing the footage!

On my way home, I got a call from Julie who asked if I wanted to go to a new bar called Spice. I told her I'd meet her 10ish.

The Alki Beach Magic Studio Session was an intimate group for a pleasant change of pace. Just 4 of us, Mark, Steve, Jose and myself. As Jose is a beginner, we discussed classic themes and what that meant. We illustrated the topic by performing variations of a couple classic themes of card magic, namely "Triumph" and "The Lie Detector" I taught the boys Paul Swinfords' 4 Packet Triumph , a version I've used for years to fool layman and magicians alike. As always, a good time knee deep in magic and theory.

We wrapped up around 10:45PM and off to Belltown to hang with some beautiful women, have a cocktail and get in a few dances. One dance we went from basic step swing to tripple step and into polka. Fun, Fun, Fun!

Got home had a snack and around 2AM Buster came out thinking it was time to go to school. I told him it was only 2 and to go back to bed.

Pic du Jour - from the archives

Video Clip du Jour

Men In Coats Click Here

Max's Head

Last week we were playing at a park in Ellensburg, WA. After playing with Hope and Liam a bit I noticed that Buster had severed Max's head above the neck. I told him, "look, if you can't play nice with your brother, we're not coming back".

Answers to last two picture trivias

The first pic (the guy holding the vanishing birdcage) was an early mentor of mine named Larry Pringle. I bought that vanishing birdcage from him when I was 12 or 13 and performed it in a Rock Opera called the "Rock n Roll Troll". It was an interesting show written and performed completely by kids.

The second picture (the guy in the turban) was another old friend named George Kirkendall (maker of the Kirkendall reels). Perhaps if anyone cares to know, I could tell the story about why the FBI showed up on his door step one day.

Jewish Soul Food

Some people jones for a joint, I was jonesing for a good corned beef sandwich. About the time I realized that Roxy's Deli on 1st had good corned beef, they shut down and disappeared. Months later, while working the Fremont Festival, I found that they had reopened on Fremont Street. I had lunch there during the festival and was impressed a second time.



I have been craving their food for over a month, but to cheap to go. Yesterday afternoon I said, "FUCK IT" I'm going to Roxy's for lunch! I was glad I did. Funny how treating restaurant help good will get you a sandwich the size of your head. I walked up to the counter with a big smile on my face and asked the young man working how he was doing. He looked at me wide eyed and said, "Nobody asks me how I'm doing." He said his day was going OK and asked me how my day was going. I explained to him that I was a street performer and that EVERY DAY is GREAT. I told him that I thought that they had the only good corned beef in Seattle and that I had driven all the way from West Seattle to eat there! He took my order, I paid, and I threw a couple bucks in the tip jar. As an afterthought he asked if I wanted that New York Style, I said sure.



When he brought out my food I couldn't believe the size of the steaming hot corned beef sandwich!! I also couldn't believe that I finished the whole thing.



As I left, I gave the young man a couple more bucks thanked him for the best sandwich I had had in months and told him to have a great day. That's my story. . . and I'm sticking to it.

Bad Liver and a Broken Heart

Well I got a bad liver and a broken heart
yea I drunk me a river since you tore me apart
and I don't have a drinking problem
cept when I can't get a drink
And I wish you'd a known her
we were quite a pair
she was sharp as a razor
and soft as a prayer
so welcome to the continuing saga
she was my better half
and I was just a dog
and so here am I slumped
I been chippied I been chumped
on my stool
so buy this fool, some spirits and libations
it's these railroad station bars
with all these conductors and the porters
and I'm all out of quarters
and this epitaph is the aftermath
yea I choose my path
hey come on Cath, he's a lawyer,
he ain't the one for ya
and no, the moon ain't romantic
it's intimidating as hell
and some guy's trying to sell
me a watch
And so I'll meet you at the
bottom of a bottle of
bargain Scotch
I got me a bottle and a dream
it's so maudlin it seems

you can name your poison
go on ahead and make some noise
I ain't sentimental
this ain't a purchase it's a rental
and it's purgatory, hey
what's your story, well
I don't even care
cause I got my own double-cross to bear

and I'll see your Red Label
and I'll raise you one more
and you can pour me a cab,
I just can't drink no more
cause it don't douse the flames
that are started by dames
It ain't like asbestos
it don't do nothing but
rest us assured
and substantiate the rumors
that you've heard.


- Tom Waits

I'm LIVE on TV tonight

For those of you who want a good laugh, I'm going to be interviewed and perform a bit on a program that will be shot live for public access tonight between 6:30 & 7:30PM Pacific Time on Cable Channel 77. I love shooting live, because I never know what's going to come out of my mouth. Here's an example. The other day at the market I'm doing a trick for this dude who is with his pretty girlfriend (nice size crowd). I was explaining that I was going to riffle my finger down the deck and I wanted him to say stop. He interrupted and said, "do her". I said, "I'd like to do her".

Tune in, Turn on, & Drop out

For those of you not in Seattle, the show streams live on the web. Please account for the time difference

Streaming Link Click Here

The show hosted by Major Pixel, runs an hour. He asked my to do 10 minutes, maybe longer. If you are really board and happen to see it, leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Ordered some new rings

After breaking a ring this summer, and using a 25 year old set of 10 inch rings to make due until I found an appropriate replacement set; this is what I ordered Monday.



INTRODUCING PRO-RINGS by Proline Magic. It is with great pleasure that we introduce a new line of linking rings. Designed for the professional ring artist that demands the very best.

Handcrafted by the skilled craftsman at Proline and made with pride in the U.S.A.

PRO-size- each ring is large (13 1/4" in diameter X 3/8" thick) and massive looking. PRO-weight- constructed of solid aluminum, not too heavy-not too light, just right! PRO-feel- when you handle these rings you can feel the quality.

Each ring is perfectly round and balanced. PRO-welds; each ring is welded and then carefully ground in a 5-step process which eliminates any grinding marks.

PRO-look; the rings have a dazzling polished finish that looks like chrome but without the fear of chipping or flaking. PRO-sound; the solid aluminum rings like a bell and surpasses even the tone of stainless steel; pros have been amazed at the beautiful musical sounds these rings emit.

We are introducing these rings in a standard set of 8 at an unbelievable price of only $250. Priced at one half the price of comparable rings, we wanted to offer the best at a price everyone could afford.

Handcrafted from start to finish and constructed to exacting standards. You will not be disappointed.

Picture trivia for magicians

Any guesses on who this is? Another friend from the old days. God rest his soul.

Collage du jour

Monday

Monday started out by making sure Buster was up and out the door for school. Last year at Madison Middle School we had to get up at 6AM, he was out the door at 6:50 and the bus came at 7. This year he is attending NOVA High School. I set my alarm for 7:30AM (he doesn't want me to fix him breakfast anymore) He was getting out of the shower. Out the door by 7:55 and he takes city buses. He's on the first bus at 8:06. School is from 9AM-4PM. I went back to bed.

When I got up at 10AM I polished up some cups to be shipped to Yardly, PA. I also got some tricky wallets and video's to be shipped as well.

Got a call from Greg Irwin and we discussed the possible gig in Beijing next month. There is a good chance that I'll be over there for a week. I learned a long time ago, when it comes to gigs or showbiz opportunities; you NEVER get too excited about it till you are there. Things can fall apart quickly. But I hope it happens.

Instant messaged with Neil from Scotland for a while. We chatted about Steve Forte's "Gambling Protection Series" Video's.

I worked a couple hours at the market and got great response. Money wasn't great (as it was a slow monday) but the shows that I did do were right on the money!

Got a call from Mickey O'Conner who was off the cruise ship for a couple of days and spending time in LA where he keeps a place and a wife.

That's about it. More bullshit with Buster not coming home after school and worrying me as I had dinner on the table and thought we were going to a movie. He was sipping Chai Tea at a little Ethiopian joint near his school, I later found out.

Silent Movie Monday

Tonight I went to Silent Movie Monday: A Buster Keaton Festival
An annual tradition at the historic Paramount Theatre, Silent Movie Mondays celebrates the works of Buster Keaton with ten films during the month of September. Each film is accompanied by Dennis James, on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.



"A cinema operator falls asleep at his machine and dreams he is a great detective—the kind that only the cinema can produce"



The impeccable comedian directs himself in an impeccable silent comedy. The man with the flat hat and the dead pan face has a night job as a movie theater projectionist but daydreams about becoming a famous (and natty) master detective. In real life he is falsely accused by a shameless cad of stealing a watch from his girlfriend's father. At work that evening he sleepwalks himself into the film he's projecting (its plot eerily mirrors his real-life problem) and solves the crime in a series of magnificently imaginative, physically perilous, perfectly orchestrated gags. Things work out all right for him as well in the waking world. Is this, as some critics have argued, an example of primitive American surrealism? Sure. But let's not get fancy about it. It is more significantly, a great example of American minimalism—simple objects and movement manipulated in casually complex ways to generate a steadily rising gale of laughter. The whole thing is only 45 minutes long, not a second of which is wasted. In an age when most comedies are all windup and no punch, this is the most treasurable of virtues.

My son the teenager

Yesterday I had to get in Buster's face a bit. Nothing too bad, just him being a teenager and me being a Dad. He was testing me, and I let him know exactly what was on my mind. My unrealistic expectations with regard to his capabilities to self motivate were the subject. If he needs me to write out a list of my expectations with deadlines, rewards and consequences I can do that. I told him that the school that he is in will demand a higher level of self motivation. It's all about growing up. . . . ain't that the truth.

A new school year

I love my kids. I love making Buster's lunch and writing notes on his napkins.



I used to make all the kids breakfast when we lived in Cincinnati. Then I would take Max & Hope to school on my way to work. Seems like a million years ago now. I talked to the little kids the other day. Max & Hope started school in Ellensburg. They're all in the new house that Moira & Dom had built. I hope they're all happy.



Tonight Buster and I walked 5 miles along the beach. We walked to the city view and back. NICE.

A day to remember

Like so many other historic days that will be etched into our memories.

Where were you when it happened? How did you feel? I think we all know where we were and how we felt.

Private thoughts and personal feelings.

Worked the Fenix last night

Was slow to start but came together later in the evening. Did a few routines that I don't regularly perform: David Soloman's Lie Detector Trick (also performed that at a formal gig earlier in the evening), On the Barrel Head & Card on Ceiling. All got the response I was looking for.

I had a good time and was home shortly after midnight.