Pulp Fiction Dance

Off the web • The Fenix Underground

Long an anchor of the Pioneer Square scene, with metal-Goth bands as well as crowded dance floors, the Fenix is wobbling like a punch-drunk boxer. Attendance is way down — but owner Rick Wyatt is not ready to throw in the towel.

"I'm trying to relocate — downsize and stay here in the neighborhood," Wyatt said by phone the next evening. "I can't push this 19,000-square-foot place to stay open, but I'm trying to preserve the legacy."

Wyatt was a little cagey about revealing his plans, saying he was considering a few spaces in Pioneer Square. He also said he is negotiating with his landlord to only use about one-third of the space he is currently paying rent on, at 109 S. Washington. This is where the 15-year-old club reopened in 2003; it was forced to vacate its original Cadillac Hotel location after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

The theatrically minded Wyatt is pumping up a big show at 9 p.m. Saturday, billed as the "Fenix Farewell Relocation Party." Underride, Windowpane and several other Fenix-regular rock bands are on tap for the show ($12).

After this weekend, Wyatt plans to close for at least a few weeks. He hopes to be open for business by the end of July. The question: where?

Recent Gig

Last weekend I worked a grad party. I was asked to perform aboard an Argosy Cruise from 2:30AM - 5:30AM. Interesting gig. Can't say that I ever performed that late before.

On one deck there was a mock Casino, on the other there was dancing and a DJ. With over 300 kids that had just graduated that afternoon, I stayed pretty busy.



By the end of the cruise the kids were crashed out all over the floor. I must say how impressed by how well behaved all the kids were. They were polite and good natured, engaged and into what I had to offer. I had several of these young adults come up to me after my set and tell me that they thought I was very talented and that they enjoyed my performance.

I even had a lengthy discussion with one young man about the use of NLP in magic and contemporary society.



It had been a long day that started out working the market in the afternoon, the Fenix at night and the grad party into the wee hours. A cruise ship followed us into town sailing the waters of the Puget Sound.

I watched day break and the sun come up, I felt good about life and all that it has to offer.

Video du Jour • Isaac Louie

Isaac Louie performing a card trick.



Video Clip • Click Here

Fred Astaire

Jackson Browne Lives In the Balance

Blue Skies

Blue skies smilin' at me
Nothin' but blue skies do I see
Bluebirds singin' a song
Nothin' but bluebirds all day long

Never saw the sun shinin' so bright
Never saw things goin' so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days, all of them gone
Nothin' but blue skies from now on
Blue skies smilin' at me
Nothin' but blue skies do I see

Penn & Teller Present a Card Trick

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman

Dig the Ricky Jay cameo in "The Thrill is Gone"

Recent Gig

Over the last 25 years I've worked many different kinds of gigs. This was the first time I ever worked one of these. Here's the initial contact email I received.

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Hi Tom,

Just wanted to finalize things for next Saturday.

The plan is to be finished with the competition before 5 p.m. We'd like to
have you do the strolling magic from 5 to 6. During this time, we will be
serving tray-passed appetizers, but not the full meal. It's the social
hour (although nothing stronger than 7-Up will be served).

We'll serve the meal from 6 to 6:30. You're welcome to partake. It's a
seafood buffet.

I'd like you to plan for your show from 6:30 to 7:00 We can push it back a
bit if too many folks are still engrossed in eating, but we have other
things planned for afterwards and we don't have more than about 20 minutes
of wiggle-room.

If you'd like to come early, the dogs can be a lot of fun to watch. You're
more than welcome.

The street will be packed with vehicles, but I will make sure that there is
a space for you either in the circular drive or on the driveway in front of
our house.

Can you please let me know if you'll be joining us for the buffet? I have
to let the caterer know.

One other thing - is your routine more oriented towards comedy or mystery?
If you can do either, I'd prefer the comedy.

Thanks so much - I look forward to seeing you perform.

Karen



Interesting gig, a dog agility event. Rained most of the time. I've done lots of table to table in my time, but never tent to tent. Strolling went well, dinner was delicious and the show was great!



Here is where I did the show. There were 50 people or so. Most of them brought folding chairs under a series of tents to keep everyone dry, the rest stood.



After the show a woman came up to me and said that it had been a tough month for her. Her mom died and shortly after that her dog died. Although she was grieving, she said that my show put a smile on her face and made her forget about all her problems. It doesn't get any better than that. That's why I do what I do. Makes it all worthwhile.

More of my favorite dance tunes

A great Bobby Darin tune done by Robbie Williams - Beyond The Sea.

This can be danced as a single time or triple time swing.

More Honky Tonk

Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson - Ring of Fire (Unplugged)

Honky Tonk w/ Junior Brown

I love swing dancing to this little honky tonk number. The Vinyl Avengers rock this tune! Here's the guy who wrote the song Mr. Junior Brown singing "Too Many Nights In The Roadhouse"

Video du Jour • Harry Garrison "Smoke Ring King"

View Video •Click here

I know it's not magic, but I hope you enjoy it.

Harry Garrison is one of my favorite people in the world. I see him every time I'm back in Cincinnati.

Enjoy the video!

Busker du Jour

Recent Gig

Here is a little story about a show in Kirkland. In the 4 years I've lived in Seattle I had never been to Kirkland. I was struck with how beautiful it was. Along the water, all the boats and the sunset set the stage for a memorable evening.



There are many reasons that motivate someone to hire a magician. Recently I was honored to be hired by a guy who has seen me a few times at the market. His wife had cancer and just finished chemotherapy treatments. He wanted to throw her a party at Anthony's in Kirkland and booked me to do a half hour show and an hour of strolling. At the last moment before I started my show he asked me if there was a way I could magically produce a pair of diamond earrings that he had bought for her. He handed me the box and I put on my thinking cap.

My first thought was to use the box as a final load at the end of the cups and balls routine, but the box was too big. I told him that I would think of something and that it would come off without a hitch. I gave it some thought and this is what I came up with: I asked where his wife was sitting and told here that her husband asked me to perform a special illusion for her. I took out a large colorful silk and started to sing Pennies from Heaven.

Every time it rains it rains pennies from heaven.
(I produced a jumbo penny from the silk and put it in my pocket)

Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven.
(another jumbo penny produced from beneath the silk and put in the other pocket. . . a la the Jack Chanin production)

You'll find your fortune falling all over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
(continuing to produce jumbo pennies)

Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love, you must have showers.
(more big coins)

So when you hear it thunder don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.

(As I sang the last line, I produced the earring box from beneath the silk. . . looked at it quizzically, then handed it to her and said, "This is from Mark". There was a strange dreamlike moment, which I ended by saying, "Open it, you know you want to". She opened it and stared in disbelief. I told her to go give her loving husband a big kiss, which she did. A very sweet moment in my show.)

The show was also strengthened by a cute little girl, whose reactions were so over the top, she made the show. Her gasps of astonishment and yelps of delight made me feel like I was a lot better than I am.

The show was great, the strolling was fantastic and a good time was had by all.

Rainbows in Black in White • by Danny Sylvester

Listen, Listen to the rain
Whisper at your windowpane,
Glistening like silver grain;
Hear it call your name.

Witness how the rainy nights
Mix magic with the city lights
Brilliantly each tear ignites
In colors lovers feel on sight

And maybe others too.
Maybe even you.
Every drop's a spoken word.
Do not let them fall unheard.
Let the rain be reassured;
Let your soul be stirred.

Stand before your own reflection.
Have these daydreams lost direction,
Through these eyes of imperfection?
May I grope for one last rope
In the hope of reconnection?

Waste a summer afternoon
Watching dust reclaim a room.
Wipe it from each silver spoon .
Dust the porcelain bride and groom.

It always knows
It always grows
As it blows about the room,
From the sunbeam where it fell
It comes to claim our books and shelves
Descending then upon ourselves.
What's the future dust foretells?
We all know but no one tells.

Does it serve as someone's pleasure
Covering our earthly treasures
Recording time, it falls and measures;
Dinosaurs beneath its pressures!
Remember dust; for dust remembers:

Human words cannot explain
The tragic magic of the flame.
Warming light to burn and maim
Wood or fingers all the same.

Life and death begin with fire.
Baby's warmed and man's inspired;
Living colors, revolution
Is it real or an illusion?

Lies are eyes ignoring light.
Don't refuse and loose your sight.
View each hue the dim and bright!
And you who view but day and night
For you, these simple words I write.
For you, I've lain awake at night
Recording rainbows in black and white!

Meeting with Nigel the Drug Evaluator

A few weeks ago I ran into Nigel at the market. He said that we should get together and talk about the move. Thursday, I met with him for an hour. He asked how I was going to tell the little kids about the move and if I was going to try and see them before I left. I told him that I wanted to see if I could visit with them on Fathers Day next weekend.

During the course of our discussion he stressed the idea of putting my house in order and focusing on some healthy closure. His concern was that if I just left and didn't deal with some important issues, that it might come back to bite me in the ass later.

Some of his recommendations were to write Moira a letter explaining what was going on. He also encouraged me to write each of the kids a letter telling them where I'm going and that I will always be available to them.

I told him that I had thoughts of just not showing up for the trial in August and letting Moira and her lawyer show up anyway. Nigel told me what I already knew, that I should inform them of my intention to move and that I wasn't interested in moving forward with a trial. I thought it was interesting that Nigel didn't tell me almost two years ago when we started this journey that it was hopeless and that even back then, regardless of any and all hoops I was willing to jump through that there was little chance that things were going to go my way.

So here we are, a new chapter in the book of life. Soon I will move to Los Angeles to be with the woman I love, to start a new life. . . again. . . and create a new family with Polly, Buster & Me.

I'm really excited about the move and think that Nigel's recommendations were all good.

I don't know if you noticed or not, but a few months ago I made a conscious decision to be done with the never ending saga that was my divorce and battle to see my kids. Although the lawyer letters and letters from the state never stopped coming, I stopped posting them here on my blog. I'm done with it, I'm In love and I'm moving on with my life.

As part of my closure and to those fans who thought my endless divorce ramblings on this blog were these best part of my 4 year reality soap opera show, I'll probably include the letters to Moira, her lawyer and my 3 kids: Max, Hope & Liam.