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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
No, I didn't. Paul was my first teacher in Miami. After going to his shop several times he sort of took me under his wing and taught me what to buy and what not to buy. He pointed out the good books to read. Fantasio did the same thing.
I remember being very impressed with Paul the second time I went to the shop. I had been there one year earlier to buy stuff with my birthday money. The next year I went with a friend around the same time. As I approached his counter he immediately recalled me and everything I bought that day. I was shocked. He then went onto devastate me with tons of magic. Paul is one of the best demonstrators around. Every time he shows you something you want to buy it. And all of the other guys that worked there were great. They could do anything in the shop. I have marvelous memories of the many days I ventured up to Fort Lauderdale to visit that magic place in SearsTown. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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magicnewswire Inner circle 1947 Posts |
That is too funny! That is also where I got my start when I was all of 9 or 10. My family moved to Lauderdale By The Sea (in an APT while we waited on the house to be ready in Coral Springs) and my dad took me to "The cool little magic shop that he'd found on a previous business trip." Obviously, it was Paul's place. In the fifth grade, my Math teacher started offering Magic lessons and it turned out that he was doing so through Paul's shop with discounts for all of his students. Needless to say, I was hanging around Sears Town every chance I got after that. Once I really got my rythm with the podcast, I had to see if Paul would be interested in a chat. What an amazing guy! Being flown to Vegas to perform for Sinatra and the Rat Pack... who knew!! I thought that he just owned a cool magic shop.
If you're interested in listening to my chat with Paul, YOU CAN FIND IT HERE If you're curious about other earlier interviews, just look in the left column at MagicNewswire.com and click on any of the names that you see there. That will take you to my chat with that person. cheers, Dodd |
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DT3 Inner circle Hill Valley 1920 Posts |
Isn't it interesting how something like a book, film or song etc all of a sudden starts getting mentioned almost everywhere you look?
I just finished reading John Rigg's Compleat Fortune Teller and he brings up Nelms' book as well. D |
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Dodd, are paths must have crossed at one point or another. I moved to Miami around 1968. The following year I went to Paul's. Actually I first heard of Paul's place because he was selling a magic kit for $10 through all the Sears stores and I lived about a block from one.
I remember going in there and seeing the guy demonstrate the stuff day in and day out. I was fascinated. Eventually he used me as a shill to point out how easy it was to learn a Svengali deck. I remember him buying me a Coke or something for helping him. When I bought that kit I was in heaven. I paid for it with my own money by doing a lay away plan. Imagine that... piecing together ten dollars in a months. I opened up that box of wonders and was thrilled. Not only did it come it with ten tricks, but it had a booklet of other effects and a wand and a hat. I still have the wand. It's actually a very decent wand made out of wood. So Dodd, did you ever go to the Miami ring or the one at Miami Beach. I attended both, but mostly was at Ring 45. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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magicnewswire Inner circle 1947 Posts |
Never made it to any of the rings in that area sadly. Based on this exchange, I have no idea that our paths did indeed cross. Quoting a guy much funnier that I, "It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it." ;-)
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-21 22:13, magicnewswire wrote: Well, we might be distant cousins... that's the same line I quote many times... and yes, from a funnier and more deadpan person than myself. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Socrates Regular user 197 Posts |
'Magic and Showmanship' by Henning Nelms is superb - I've mentioned it many times in the past to others looking for advice on the art and craft of magic and refer back to it every time I need some inspiration.
With nothing more than "Magic & Showmanship' and the 'Magic Book' by Harry Lorayne I have created many moments of Astonishment that are still reverberating around the world as personal stories.... An absolute winner in every sense of the word! Socrates "The world is but a canvas to the Imagination" - Henry David Thoreau |
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Dick Christian Inner circle Northern Virginia (Metro DC) 2619 Posts |
Just one of a long list of the most important books in magic, almost all of which the current generation of students seem to have little or no interest in studying, much to their -- and magic's -- loss. Hopefully they will eventually come to realize that the most important lessons are not on DVDs or YouTube, but in BOOKS and especially in the books that devote little space to teaching "tricks."
Dick Christian
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DrTodd Inner circle 1976 Posts |
But are we really actors playing the part of magicians or magicians playing the part of actors?
I think we really need to think about that one. I have never felt like an actor playing the part of a magician. I have been doing magic since I was 8 and it is a fundamental part of my identity, so the logic seems all wrong to me. Comments? Dr T |
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Well, Dr T, I studied theater to help my magic and I know it did just that... but that's just my story.
greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
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Dr T wrote: Whether or not being a magician or a mentalist has become an integral part of ones own identity is actually beside the point. It is by understanding and applying acting and theatrical techniques that a performer is able to convey the essence of that character to the audience in an effective and entertaining manner. Helms's book is an excellent starting point. Good thoughts, Bob Cassidy |
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DrTodd Inner circle 1976 Posts |
That's right Bob, but that is not Nelms point, which I lot of magicians take as gospel and it might just be wrong, since we are mentalists and magicians first.
Acting and theatre help us, I am of no doubt, but what I do doubt is that we are actors playing the part of a magician (mentalist)....if you do that, you lose your essence and cease becoming a magician (mentalist)... Cheers Dr T |
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Dick Christian Inner circle Northern Virginia (Metro DC) 2619 Posts |
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On 2010-01-03 02:36, DrTodd wrote: Dr. T, A search of the Café archives will reveal a sound argument by Bill Palmer that the oft-quoted assertion attributed to Robert-Houdin is commonly taken out of context and therefor misconstrued.
Dick Christian
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DrTodd Inner circle 1976 Posts |
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On 2010-01-03 16:30, Dick Christian wrote: Thanks Dick! |
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Lord Of The Horses Inner circle 5406 Posts |
Forgotten?
By whom? NOT BY ME... for sure! It was one of the first books in my collection and when I "only knew" one CT presentation... I tell you THE ONE in Nelms' book was it! The best explanation and pseudo-justification for a CT and for the burning of the pieces I ever found at that time! Not to mention his slick "impropmtu" drawing duplication which worked more times than not... and with which I had great fun! But -above all else - effects aside - what I most loved of that book was ... EVERYTHING! (Seriously!)
Then you'll rise right before my eyes, on wings that fill the sky, like a phoenix rising!
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Bastien Regular user 134 Posts |
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On 2010-01-03 02:36, DrTodd wrote: Interesting point. I'm a dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude. |
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
I always wanted to grow hair on a Billiard Ball.
ACE
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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John Palazzo Regular user Boston 136 Posts |
“Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurors” – Henning Nelms
“Drama and conjuring are both arts of illusion. The techniques which enable an actor to persuade his audience that he is Hamlet or Falstaff are equally useful to a conjurer who wants to persuade his audience the he can take a rabbit out of an empty hat.” (Foreword) “The magic of drama is infinitely more powerful than the magic of trickery. It is as available to the conjurer as it is to the actor. The only difference is that actors take it for granted, whereas few conjurers are even aware that it exists.” (p. 3) Among many other reasons, this is one of the secrets why Richard Osterlind’s fees are a number of stacks higher than most, even though he likely CAN’T do a 190 Helix Cut followed by 8 straight perfect faro shuffles. And I haven’t even gotten past page three yet. Conjuring themes and their elements: personalities, phenomenon, purpose, and proof; Practicing, rehearsing, silent scripting, dozens of fully described illusions with scripting and themes, and on and on. You’ll find something in this book that will help you enhance your performance when you’re ready for it. That’s just how it is with this book.
PM me if you want to chat sometime.
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-01-15 21:47, John Palazzo wrote: Like growing hair on a billiard ball. ACE
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
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I just wanted to put that quote back up on this thread. It bears repeated readings.
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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