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Illusion77 New user 75 Posts |
Hi Michael,
You've had such a successful and unique career in magic. I was wondering if you could share with us some information on your role of Magic Consultant over the years to some of the great stage magicians. I know you have worked with both David Copperfield and Doug Henning. How did you get involved with both of them? What was it like teaching them/consulting them? What magic effects did you teach them - I know that Doug did your excellent version of the $100 Bill Switch and David did your Cards to Card box (although a different method). Were there any other effect that they learned that, maybe for some reason, never made it to the stage? Thanks so much for being here at the Café. |
Michael Ammar Creative Spotlight Guest 83 Posts |
Hi there,
I always loved the opportunity to talk with either David or Doug. Each relationship worked in a different way. With Doug Henning, it was a 3 day intensive, where we got together and talked about magic for several hours a day over several days. We talked about a lot of things that I thought would end up on television, but it was just about a year before he left for India, and I never saw or spoke with him again. My interaction with David evolved out of a few chance meetings to a few intentional meetings, followed by a few phone calls and an exchanged video or two. As with Doug, we definitely discussed a variety of things that haven't been used yet, but in David's case I think it is more a matter of really having to sort through a huge amount of options, but nothing is completely forgotten or taken off the list of possibilities. |
Illusion77 New user 75 Posts |
Hi Michael,
Thanks so much for your response! If it would be possible, I'd love to know a little more about the things you worked on with Doug Henning that you thought he might perform on televison. Do you remember what the specific effects were? Also, what was Doug like to work with over the 3 day period. I've always been a big fan of Henning's and wondered what his attitude, practice style, learning method, etc. was like. How was he personally to deal with during your sessions? Thanks very much!! |
Michael Ammar Creative Spotlight Guest 83 Posts |
Doug liked all sorts of close up magic, so we discussed the Bill Switch, Card on Ceiling, Pencil Thru Quarter, The Floating Bill, Coins thru Silk, and a variety of other things.
Doug was such a nice guy, and Debbie, his wife, was charming. One of the ideas he liked was the suggestion to begin a stage show by acting as if your props were either stolen or lost during travel, but that he would pass around a card board box for people to put anything they'd like to see magic performed with inside. This way, you could predict a variety of things that would likely be put inside, and you could also load a few things inside, such as a lemon or newspaper, so that you could be sure of doing several really great effects. I'm not sure how he was going to use it, but as time went by I realized there was a potential flaw in the concept. On one hand, people should like to see what a real magician would do under challenge situations, but on the other hand, what about the people who would still end up feeling like they would've really liked to see the REAL show. Maybe no matter how amazing your improvizational skills were, shouldn't the REAL show be even better? In fact, the better the improv seemed, wouldn't that make their expectations even higher for the act you've devoted your life to? There are probably ways to frame the experience so that people understand that this is whole thing, and I always wondered how Doug was going to handle it. |
Illusion77 New user 75 Posts |
Thanks Michael!
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
That idea has tons of potential... Hmmm...
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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lylaster Regular user Atlanta 197 Posts |
Wow Mr. Ammar thanks for the idea. I'm trying to specialize in impromptu magic and the creative juices are flowing in my mind right now. Though I gotta admit I think the audience would think it's a little fishy if you claim an audience member put a lemon in the box
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