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karbonkid Special user 951 Posts |
Steve,
When was the turning point and where were your thoughts when you switched from Knucklebusting stuff to SACT? Do you find more satisfaction in the SACT? Did you find disatisfaction in the not-so semi automatic stuff? P.S. - I love the Psi-stebbins thing. It's a wonderful idea. |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Karbon,
It's a great question. I'm not sure my answer will make any sense - but here goes. Many think that you are either one or the other (sleight versus non-sleight). As I pointed out in my last book, there are many who eschew having their material labeled as non-sleight, self-working, or semi-automatic. Many of these same magicians frequently perform the 10-card deal, Out of this World, invisible/brainwave deck, memorized deck work, etc. The list of semi-automatic card tricks which have infiltrated the repertoires of SOH magicians is very long. For me, there did come a time when mastering yet another double lift, yet another pass, or yet another palm - if they weren't better than the ones I already did - just didn't seem productive. (I had over two dozen double lifts, about 18 or so passes, etc.) Since I never got to use all those sleights I had already mastered, perfecting new ones didn't hold much appeal. I gradually shifted my time to removing sleights in routines and creating sleightless tricks from scratch. Making them entertaining also offered plenty of challenge. Note that even when I'm performing only semi-automatic tricks, I surround them with sleights (false shuffles, culls, forces, false cuts, faro shuffles, etc.) that help set everything up and transition between effects. |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Oftentimes a very deceptive routine is created by combining gimmicks or subtleties with sleight of hand. Years ago, my pal Dick Oslund did a whole bunch of sleight of hand work for me with coins. It was great, but then he just killed me with a total vanish of a single coin. After what I'd seen, I was thinking sleights, and he rang in a gimmick. I knew the gimmick but was fooled anyway.
I'm always surprised when I see a memorized deck listed as "self-working" magic. You may not be working with your fingers, but head work can take as much practice. Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-29 14:38, Dennis Loomis wrote: That's one reason I didn't like the term "self-working." If the tricks were self-working, the magician wouldn't be needed. That's why I defined "semi-automatic" as "not physically difficult." Many are mentally challenging and some take longer than sleight of hand routines to master. |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Right on, Steve. I love your work.
Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Denny, I may be one of the few who remembers "Dreams & Nightmares." That was my first magic convention (1975). You were one of the things that made the 18 hour bus trip worthwhile.
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dscanning Loyal user 226 Posts |
Re: You were one of the things that made the 18 hour bus trip worthwhile.
I would just like to remind you that this forum is not THAT kind of forum. Perhaps, the less said about that 18 hour bus ride, or at least the last hour and a half, the better. Just so you know...not everyone was asleep when you two were "sessioning". I saw everything. As the boys at SAM used to say... MUM's the word. |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-30 21:32, dscanning wrote: I heard that you liked to watch. |
dscanning Loyal user 226 Posts |
Just dug out picture your mom took of all of us pulling out of Raleigh.
Click here to view attached image. |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Steve,
Yeah... Dreams and Nightmares. Did you see it in Little Rock? Lots of "inside" stories about that act. I don't think that David Copperfield was aware that the title had been used before. What fun we had with it... kind of shaking conservative magicians. Were you ever a member of the SSS Steve? Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Denny,
Yes, I was there in Little Rock. I was a kid, first convention. But I overheard much of the controversy by the adults in between card tricks. Don't know SSS unless it was Rick Johnsson's gathering. Steve |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Hi Steve,
We did the Dreams and Nightmares are several magic conventions that year... Little Rock was the IBM National. We also did it at Abbott's, SEAM, and a couple more. SEAM was interesting. They would not let us do the act in the evening Public Show, but had a special Midnight Showing for the Conventioneers. They were warned what they were going to see, but still most came out for it. In framing the act, I thought that the most controversial part would be the closing: a Levitation done as a Satanic Black Mass. (There's a picture of that on the front page of my web site at the moment.) But, the Assistant's Revenge Illusion done in black leathers and chains is what actually caused all the stir. I guess the conservative folk will tolerate your doing a take off on their religion better than they will allow you to mess with sexuality. SSS was a club formed by myself, Mark DeSouza, Jon Stetson, Bob Richardson, and a few others. We had a lot of fun with it at magic conventions, but I probably should not say more in this public forum. Stan Kramien and I had a brief "SSS Meeting" on stage in Colon, at one of the Abbott Get Togethers one year. If you do want to know more, PM me. Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Denny,
As I said, it was 1975, I was a kid, and this was my first magic convention. I was living in Texas and was willing to sit through an 18-hour bus trip to see a woman in leather. I just can't believe it was in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later, the Camelot Inn where the convention was held, changed its name and became infamous as the place where the Clinton/Paula Jones event allegedly took place. I think you may have started something. Steve |
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