Polly & Magic

In two hours I'll be picking Polly up at the airport. I guess I'm a little nervous. . . . more excited than nervous. . . but a little nervous. I know were going to have a GREAT time. She says she has always loved watching me perform. . . go figure.

Although I've made a career on 6 tricks, I plowed through a lot of material as a teenager and she was there for most of it. I had a ritual back in the day to stay up half the night practicing 2 new tricks to do at school the next day. My friends were always eager to see what the tricks du jour were. I should revisit my many notebooks from that era and sift through them again. . . . naaaa.

There's something nice about a friend who became a lover and stayed a friend. I don't have any negative memories about Polly, not one. I remember taking walks with her on hot summer nights, singing Misty to her on the playground of Hyde Park Elementary School and having her watch me perform at some of my gigs.

I remember the touch of her hand and the taste of her lips.

It will be a long day for us. Smoke and Mirrors show then the Fenix. Then. . . . . :-)

Video du Jour - Nash Fung from Tuesday Night

The week in review

Shitty week for street performing. Cold and rainy most of the week. I was out there and gave it my best shot, but I guess I wasn't meant to be. Chad came out a couple days with his new camera and we shot a bunch of footage. I've had an interesting project in mind for a while. A documentary about the bizarre subculture of street performers. Today I interviewed Brian Masters, Johnny Hahn and Tommy Twister. Not sure if we got anything worth using but one can only hope.

Chad also shot my act a few times from a variety of different angles. Sometimes I think about putting out a dvd to sell. The the older I get the more I feel like I don't want to contribute to the blatant whoring of our art and the selling out of my secrets . . . yeah. . . all two of them. If I had it to do all over again, I would not have released the ring dvd. But at the time, I couldn't resist the opportunity to work in High Definition with that director and editing staff. It was a class act, if I do say so myself. If you've never seen it and want to Click Here. I still have some of the instructional dvd's for sale. $30 + $5 S & H.

Tuesday night as I reported, was a well attended session. Special guests included Pete Borrows and David Rudd. Pete and Chad are going to use their 3 chip cameras for a high quality, 2 camera shoot at the Smoke & Mirrors Show Tomorrow Night, which I will MC.

Wednesday another night dancing and hanging with friends. I was on the money! Tuesday and Wednesday nights are my favorite nights of the week. Can you tell? Had a real good dance with Maggie and a few dances with some new girls Stacy & Rose. A the set breaks I was out smoking my cigar and talking to Polly on the phone. Call me a sap if you want, I don't give a shit. I'm doing what makes me happy.

Tonight I'm at the Fenix. Let's hope it's a band I like. Either way, I'll have a good time and make some people happy. I love my job. Wish I was making more money, but all in due time. I'm feeling pretty good about things these days, and feel professional and personal opportunities are on the horizon. It's about time.

Been thinking about entrepreneurial ventures. Trying to dust off the idea cap that fit so well for so many years. Yup, it's time to get on with my life. And not a moment too soon for my money!

Tom Waits - The Piano Has Been Drinking

Tom Waits - Take Me Home

Pike Place Market

There's a girl

I go to bed thinking about her.

I wake up and think about her some more.

We email each other the most beautiful love songs.

I know you probably want to puke. . . . but what can I say. . .

Can't wait to see her tomorrow. I'll take her to a couple of my gigs

Smoke & Mirrors in Everett & later to the Fenix

and then home

and take her

If I haven't already. . .

and even if I have.

Victor Wooten

Here is a buddy of mine. He's a magician and arguably one of the best bass players in the world. Dig these clips!



Here is Victor and his brother Reggie - Guitar and Bass. . . My God, this fucking ROCKS!

Session Pics

We had a hell of a turn out at this week's session! Always a good time. We shot a bunch of footage with Chad's new bad ass 3 chip camera. I'll be posting some of the video as well as editing a new Seattle Magic Video like the old Back Room video series. For those of you who missed those videos you can view the first one by Clicking Here.


Pete, Randy, Chad, Steve & Mark


Isaac & Randy


Pete Burrows, Philemon, Tim Flynn & David Rudd


Robert Stevens, Nash Fung & Chad "WWE" Rees


Lord of the Rings

Pic du Jour - From the archives

This picture was taken 20 years ago in Cincinnati. This is the girl that's been on my mind. . . . a lot. Her name is Polly. I'm smitten, if I do say so myself. We talk endlessly on the phone like love struck teenagers. It's really out of character for me as I've never ben one to talk on the phone this way. We spend hours catching up on each others lives. I'm picking her up at the airport on Saturday. I can't wait to look into her eyes and kiss her lips.

Neil Young - Wonderin'

The things you see at the market

Video du Jour - from last nights session

David Rudd performing the classic Gertner routine "Unshuffled"


Video Clip • Click Here

Last Week Session Pics

Nash Fung & Philemon


We had some fun playing and working with Nash's latest trick.


Becky & Me. She is in the middle of a roll out, I am mid shift.


Brian Cook


Don't ask.


Some of the Alki Beach Magic Studio Crew (starting at lower left and going clock wise) Roger, Tim, Me, Randy, Brian & Becky

Video du Jour - Gallo Coin Routine

Mike Gallo taught me this great routine years ago. I wish I did it justice. In his hands it's a work of art!

Enjoy


Video Clip Click Here

Match Point • Click Here

Went to see this flick last night at the cheapies. If you want to view the Trailer • Click Here. At first it didn't seem like my kind of movie, then I saw that Woody Allen wrote and directed it. I'm a big Woddy Allen fan! It was as dark a movie as he has ever made. Surprising too, was a complete departure in writing and directing style. Unlike most of his movies shot in Manhattan, this was shot in London. He didn't star in it and it wasn't a comedy. Overall it was a good flick. I enjoyed it.

Sweetness

Listen to one minute of sweetness • Click Here

From the talented mind and fingertips of Tom Waits.

High dollar real estate on my street

Took a walk to the city view down Alki Avenue this afternoon. Briskly walking 5 miles smoking a cigar, talking on the phone and shooting a few pics along the way.



I love my neighborhood. Especially when the weather is as nice as it was today.



This is the pay off view after 2.5 miles. The money shot.


Full Size • Click Here

More high dollar real estate.

I'm thinking of a girl

who likes the sound of my voice

who likes me, and has for 25 years

funny, it's only now that we're really getting to

know one another

Life is weird that way

I guess.

We've been talking a lot

I like the sound of her voice too.

Soon we will be seeing each other for the first time in a decade

I'm excited

I think she is too.

Magic

Double Dose of Dancing

Went to the owl and Thistle on Wednesday night and the Little Red Hen last night. If I do say so myself, I'm a dancing fool. . . . . or maybe just a fool. Dancing with all these pretty girls puts the wind in my sails like few things. Wink Wink, nudge nudge, say no more.

Slow dances where eyes meet, hands touch and bodies tempt the closeness with the sway of the music and desire.

Fast dances where I spin her and turn myself, on the beat after the turn and a smile that makes her smile back.

I pull her close, smell her hair and tell her how much fun I'm having.

Then at the set break, go out side for a puff of my cigar that I've hidden in a corner somewhere.

Cigar smoke mingles with cigarette smoke as conversation gets good. I sneak away to send a text message.

In my "In Box"

Last weeks Magic Sessions

I hosted two informal meetings of the magical minds at the Alki Beach Magic Studio last week. The first was our regular Tuesday Night Jam Session, the second was a meeting of the Lunatic Fringe. There were 4 people who were at both meetings, Brian Cook, Roger Needham, Philemon and myself.

Before the Tuesday Night Session, Zinger and the whole Royal Magick Gang took Buster and I out for dinner. Thanks Zinger! It was nice to have these guys at the session. Zinger is preparing his new show for the upcoming Ren Fair Season. He wanted me to instruct a couple of his apprentices how to sell magic in their booth. So we video taped various pitches for them to study as well as basic pitch strategies, bait and switch 101 etc. . .

The differences between the two meeting are: the Tuesday night jam, is a trick intensive evening of teaching and learning. We all perform and try and provide constructive criticism. The Lunatic Fringe which meets only once a month is hosted at a different home each time. At this meeting no one really performs, however we did discuss many interesting topics all related to our art. We discussed the Cruise Ship Industry and some of the administrative and logistical challenges of that market. Master Payne always brings a bag of goodies to share with the gang. He had fabricated a nifty trick with a snake that finds a card. He also had a very cool ball that changed color when you threw it up in the air. A cool toy product by Hoberman. Lots of topics, lots of food, lots of fun.