A new life starts, grounded in happiness, love and prosperity!
Friday, July 07, 2006
In my "In Box"
TF,
What up??
Could you resend that pic? It did not come through. some shit about it being in MAC format.
I am in Florida at the moment hanging with my pops. Then I am off to NY for a few days.
when are you leaving for LA???
Did I tell you.....
I asked if "Anyone know who Polly is?" at my internet panel discussion at the LVMI. There were about 10 people in the room that rasied their hands and smiled. You make history my friend!!! It was a cool moment.
The employees at my old magic shop in Cincinnati started this program where the would tape various slips of paper to the wall in the back room above my desk. Always made me smile to see a new one.
I had a great staff for almost a decade. Ryan Swigert was my right hand man for years. Brett Sears, Jason Wethington & Mike Johnson were all great as well.
I had a good run while it lasted in Cincinnati, probably the longest time I ever stayed in one place. I love being on the move. New dreams to discover, and old ones to remember.
Happy forth of July as we celebrate Independence Day.
I am busy boxing things up in preparation for my move to Los Angeles. Buster will fly to Cincinnati for the summer and, as if in a giant puff of smoke; I will disappear from the Emerald City of Seattle only to reappear in Kansas, in drag, singing Judy Garland's part, badly.
Buster and I cooked out burgers in the back yard before he split with three chicks. So, here I am, taking a break from the cardboard and tape.
Polly and I have been talking about all of the history you run across while going through your shit. We love our shit, what can we say. I have a box full of cigar boxes that I'm just not ready to part with. Larry Pringle used to keep his magic props organized in cigar boxes. Card to Wallets, Himber Wallets, Z Fold Wallets in one box, Another filled with gaffed cards, and more still containing various clips, holders and fasteners, balls of all sizes, leather coin purses filled with a variety of tricks.
We talked about the pictures we were running across. Distant memories of the children we once were. Time flies by. What a long strange trip it's been.
I'm so fucking happy!!!
I have a strong intuitive feeling that things are going my way. The core of those feelings stem from a total commitment to move my life forward and to celebrate life, liberty in the pursuit of happiness. . . every single day.
Life slides by like a car hydroplaning on a wet freeway. Nothing like the first rain in a while to bring up the baked oil to the surface of the asphalt. Giddy as a schoolgirl, I skip to the bus stop in a pigtail wig. Not really, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to put that picture in your head. Oy!
Been a busy boy doing lots of nothing. Actually it's been a roller coaster of emotions around here. A couple of days ago, I tried to be a grown up by acting like a child. The only way I can describe my behavior was, that my dad's worst nightmare crawled out of my mouth. My 16 year old son had pushed me too far so I pushed back LOUDLY. I had to go to the market and work. Trying to entertain an audience when your head and your heart is somewhere else can be a challenge. I worked hard to get a good vibe going for my show, but I wasn't feeling anything from the audience. As I often do, I exercised the bad judgement to deliver one of my "not funny" jokes, "What is this, a Xanax pep rally?" I pride myself on being able to do a good show. Unfortunately the audience was not meeting my needs, so I dismissed them. I loved the look on their eyes as they acted like they though I was joking. It wasn't till I broke down my table, took my doctor's bag, smiled and said, "Buh Bye" before they realized there was to be, no show.
To my credit, once disbanded; I set up again, easily got a crowd and worked for an audience that was into it. The hat wasn't great, but that didn't matter, it was about creating the art of magical entertainment. I'm constantly puzzled by the blank stares and vacant looks in the eyes of some people. I don't get it. Did the humor fairy come?
I used to think I was funny, now I'm not so sure. I am beginning to experiment with trying to be funny, by not being funny. I'll keep you posted on that. Film at 11
Last week had 3 magic nights in a row. Tuesday Nights at the Alki Beach Magic Studio will quickly be drawing to a close. There is a heightened sense of sentimentality and emotion surrounding my impending departure. I was never comfortable with the Guru status that the community seems to give me. I was just a guy with a dream. It's been fun. Neil from Scotland is in town and was ready to dive into some serious discussions about card magic. Tuesday night was well attended and many topics were discussed. I attempted to perform Dingle's Out Flushed for the gang and flubbed it badly, in a way that I have never done in all my years of performing it.
I would get a "do over" the following night in Tacoma. Nash, Neil & I met, Steve Dobson, Jack Carpenter, Rick Anderson and Wil Conine down at the Poodle Dog Restaurant. At a round table in the Pup Bar, we showed each other tricks and discussed secrets and technique. Both Steve and Rick helped my progress as I continue to try and improve the playing card insertion for the panoramic shift.
Jack working with Neil on some dealing moves.
Rick Anderson and Nash
Some of da boyz
Jack Carpenter
Wil's balance
Wil Conine
Thursday Night Jose was over for a private lesson. We went over two strong pieces of magic: The Tricky Wallet Trick and Out Flushed. It was a good lesson.
