Quote du Jour

Optimism is the foundation of courage.

-Nicholas Murray Butler

Off the web • Video Reviews

Tom, Tom, Tom -

I'm still laughing, but I wanted to post before the 'decency police' take this whole thread down.

Thanks for putting the 'street' back in street performing. The first thing I love is how 'seriously' the pikers take the video compared to you and your fuck you attitude. I recognize so well the 'dude, it's a joke' stance that you to adapt just to deal with the endless rejection and indifference that you face as a street performer. And yet it's clear that you are one of the survivors. Sincerity is only going to run over you like a mack truck.

It's a blessing to be reminded of the reality of the street after reading all these discussions about how great it is by people who have spent more time watching Gazzo DVD's than out in the trenches. Stop worrying about the height of your table and the diameter of your wand and get out there!

Hey, this ain't Broadway man, it's the street.

And you got to love Mysto's rap doing the coin routine. Polished like a brass bell....So THAT'S why they call it the French Drop!

I couldn't agree more about the difference, in initial appearance, between you and the other people in the video. It's just a hat and a pressed, colored shirt, but it's enough to create a sense of character. Let that be a lesson to beginners.

So thanks for sharing.

Peter Gross
Boston Hysterical Society

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Tom:

Thanks again for a great video. I've been watching your videos for years and enjoy them all. Some I don't understand, but that's just the nature of the streets too. The problem is I understand most of 'em.

Keep it up and good luck in California... I think their ready for you.

Bro. Paul West

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If you missed the video and want to see it Click Here

Playing Cards

Seattle Skyline

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Busker du Jour

Brian Masters entertaining the masses at Pike Place Market

Honky Tonk Wednesday

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison



Last night I was a dancing fool. Over the course of 3 sets of music I danced all but 3 songs. Fucking awesome! Been telling my friends about the move and they all say they'll be sad to see me go. Thanks sweet. Over the last 2 years I've made a bunch of Honky Tonk friends, yet again another community of people that I will miss.

I'm looking forward to checking out the swing dance scene in LA, taking some lessonswith my girl and finding a place to dance every week!

Tuesday Night Jam Session

Another good turn out at the Alki Beach Magic Studio. I guess it's in the air, soon enough these Alki Sessions will be distant memories. . . just like the Seattle Magic Back Room Sessions and both of my magic shops for that matter.

I'm proud of all these guys. . . and girl. I've seen growth and progress in all of their magic. We've talked and laughed, we've shared our lives and got to know one another. It has been a great source of pride to bring all these people together in my home and share the art of magic. Although some people credit me for having created the magic scene here, that's not the case at all. There was a thriving magic community here already, I just gave them a secret clubhouse to play in and a nudge.



I hope they carry on after I leave. It would bother me if our group petered out. But like the seasons, time has a way of changing things and I guess that's normal.



My life as a magician has been one long strange trip. Years have turned into decades and the people that I've met have been as many as the adventures that I've experienced. Who knows what drives one to want to be a magician. I think that most of us believe that in our own way we are making the world a better place. Putting a smile on someone's face is as intriguing an effect as any card trick I've ever seen.



I'm so lucky and blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life. I value their friendship and they nourish my soul. I will miss my magic friends here in Seattle, and there are so many. Thank you all for being my friends and bringing me as much happiness as you have over the last 4 years. As you know, they weren't easy years. . . but in retrospect you made them as happy as they could be.



I'd like to thank our special guest last night, Mr. Thomas Wayne (pictured below in the middle). Thomas gave a wonderful demonstration and talked at length about the Fitch/Kohler Hold Out that he manufactures. It was an eye opening lesson for all of us. Who'd have thunk.

I'll be giving my notice to my landlord July 1st. and by August. . . . I'll be gone. So for those of you who haven't made one of our sessions, time's a wasting. . . only a few more sessions. I hope to see you before I leave.

Video du Jour • Busking. . . . or Something

Last time Chad was in town we shot some footage at the Market. He edited some clips together and here's what he came up with. DISCLAIMER!! There is profanity in this video, so if you object to bad words. . . fuck you. . . don't watch it. Kidding. . . enjoy.



Video• Click Here

Cups Du Jour • Cellini Cups

Pic snagged without permission from The Ambitious Card .Com

The things you see walking down the street

I was walking around downtown yesterday looking for a Washington Mutual Bank to hold up. I stumbled across an art gallery that was closed. I took these pics of two sculptures that really caught my eye. Lego as Fine Art. . . cool!


To ENLARGE • Click Here


To ENLARGE • Click Here

Thurston the Great

Pic du Jour • Scotty Walsh

How about a caption contest for this pic. Anyone?

Off the web • Sex Life Live Podcast

Sexlife Live! - Episode 504

Watch the Show!

This was an excellent show, unfortunately, we had ad a few audio glitches. However, we did some tweaking and it is really pretty good. However, the content is excellent. Another very funny clip from our friends at Goodybag TV, Dane takes us around Seattle to enjoy a great sexlife 24 hrs a day and 3 amazing magicians show us some magic and then tell us how magic has affected their sexlife. One again, let us know what you thought of the show. Feel free to leave us any comments. I plan on making another post later this week if i can find web pages associated with the magicians.

Quote du Jour

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

-Winston Churchill

A body in motion

Last week flew by like the Concord over the Atlantic. . . FAST.

Did a couple of gigs, some street performing, dancing, cooking, parenting, laughing, loving.

Yesterday Carrie came over and gave Polly and I a swing dance lesson. It went well. Afterwards we met Thomas Wayne for dinner. It was, Polly, Carrie, Buster, Thomas & I. Good time that continued at the little Red Hen. Danced what we learned in the lesson, Single time, basic step, triple time basic, under arm turn and a couple of other combinations. We had a blast on the dance floor. I also had a few dances with Carrie and one with Laurie. Not too shabby. Thomas liked the band and we bantered back and forth like two insufferable magic geeks. I'm trying to work on that a bit. We talked about coin purses, and card tricks while Carrie and Polly got in a dance.

My chops are strong, my act is good and I'm feeling like it's time to get back in the game.

Lots of opportunity out there

I live by a saying, "Nothing is more common than unrewarded talent"

As always the choice is mine.