|
|
Brian Turntime Special user 671 Posts |
Hello all, I am a lurker who has not posted until today. I'm impressed at the maturity and depth of so many posters at this forum, especially in contrast to other forums I won't mention. It is thanks to the inspiration of Magic Café that I have purchased Richard Osterlind's Mind Mysteries series.
That's quite the quantum leap from checking out Mark Wilson's Card Tricks from the library in May¦ the first magic book I'd cracked open since childhood. It all is coming back to me: the Sy Stebbins stack which I used one time; the lame tricks from the hobby shop; the imp bottle and sponge rabbits¦ I'd left it behind. I had one to teach me, saw magic only through the prism of the broadcast rabbit-ear TV and the cheesy manifestations of 70's illusions. Henning was awesome to me, as were others¦ I could never miss a magic show on TV. I even fondly remember the affable Bill Bixby in the short-lived "The Magician," conjuring a full grown tree from behind his jacket in stages of growth. (The director didn't know how to make Bixby's spectators react as they WOULD to such a feat.) James Randi was living only a half-hour away; I wish I'd known how significant that was. I greatly admire his debunking efforts of Popoff and others. In May, pondering a visit of my family with two young nieces, I caught some surprising television magic yet again, and it dawned I had a tool to access knowledge on how to emulate it, that I lacked 28 years ago. The wonderful creation of the ether world, the internet, and the money to buy training material. I searched and decided to perform some fun tricks for Meredith my 10 year old niece. I first bought a pen-thru-dollar, scotch-n-soda, an invisible deck and stripper deck (which should inform you of my confidence level at that point.) I began with the mistake of learning everything I could get my hands on, checking out silly Videotapes from the library (always from the juvenile section, although I did learn two classic forces from Steven Dacri)! It would have been better to focus on a long-term goal, but it was fun. I managed to astound my niece, wife (and sometimes her parents) with metal bending, King's rising levitation, instant snow (made up my own routine for a restaurant, with sugar packets full of the powder), coin vanishes, coin in bottle, self-folding bill, and several dozen card tricks (esp. force prediction in envelope I gave her four days before, etc.) She didn't know I had only been into it for a month after a 28 year hiatus. Well, I tell ya, I'm hooked. Magic is adding a lot to my life. I'm looking at things differently. I won't share all of the permutations of my ponderings or the many other things I've purchased since then, but I can say that I'm now aspiring, with 100% commitment, to become the kind of performer that Richard Osterlind is, a professional with a paying audience that does it with style, wit and grace. The kind of work he does is rarely done in our town. I can only think of two or three well-known Seattle magicians, and no mentalists have big reps from around here¦ Harry Anderson lives in Issaquah but doesn't perform¦ I've ordered Banachek's Psy. Subtleties (there were 4 missing copies from our library system!), read Kreskin's books, and just today am going to the library to pick up Paul Harris's Art of Astonishment vol. 1, which I special ordered from an interlibrary loan. (I will buy them one day, but am considering waiting for the Sept DVD's. My memory works better in visual format. ) I know I'm a tad unrealistic, but I want to be a professional by the end of next year. I'm currently a dilettante, neophyte, novice, whatever, but I think I'm learning. This is suddenly very important to me.
------
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died. - Steven Wright |
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Hi Brian,
I enjoyed reading your bio and glad you finally decided to become a member. You can post now!! Just wondering how far away you are from Lynwood as they have a very active ring there, and hold a really good gala event every year. As for Doug Henning there's currently a couple post at the Café as we're trying to get him nominated to the Canadian Hall of Fame, it just takes a click for the nomination to go through and you don't have to be a Canadian citizen. It's in the it's not magic forum and a couple others should you want to have your vote counted, you just need to scroll the forum. Ahh once bitten by the magic bug it's with you for life, although it may be dormant for a while only to re-emerge later in life. Good luck with your magic and don't hesitate to post or ask a question of your own. Welcome! |
Brian Turntime Special user 671 Posts |
Thank you Chrystal! Yesm the NW ring of fire looks to be a very good group. Work commitments have interfered for the last two meetings, but that won't last forever.
I did attend a magic show near Lynnwood, most of the performers were from IBM. IT was kid-oriented. I will vote for Henning! Thanks for the heads up!
------
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died. - Steven Wright |
irishguy Special user Ohio 629 Posts |
Quote:
I know I'm a tad unrealistic, but I want to be a professional by the end of next year. I'm currently a dilettante, neophyte, novice, whatever, but I think I'm learning. This is suddenly very important to me. If you have the proper drive and determination, your goals are not unrealistic. Goals are what keep us motivated. I wish you well in your endeavors. |
Brian Turntime Special user 671 Posts |
Thanks very much, irishguy. I'm devouring every magic book my library will let me borrow... some they didn't even know were magic-related, and had misclassified.
------
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died. - Steven Wright |
Jeff_Mash Veteran user Bay Area, California 328 Posts |
Welcome to the Café!
Your friend in magic,
Jeff Mash, CEO MJM Magic - "Magic for Magicians, Jokesters, and Mentalists!" http://www.MJMMagic.com |
DustyDave New user Santa Fe, New Mexico 44 Posts |
Howdy, Brian. Glad you could join us here at the Café. As you know from lurking, you can learn a lot hear. Look forward to you sharing what you've learned too.
|
Brian Turntime Special user 671 Posts |
Thank you Jeff and Dave!
------
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died. - Steven Wright |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Our new arrivals » » Avuncular dilettante to ambitious aspirant in 2 months. (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |