Ben,
As founder and manager of this little community we simply call The Magic Cafe, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you with open arms!

I look forward to you being with us for the next seven days, and I am confident that many here are very excited as well.
We really appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to share in some magical discussions.

Sir Ben,
looking forward to reading your thoughts and viewpoints on magical subjects.

Cheers!

Thanks Steve.

It is certainly going to be fun for ME over the next week.

Only a few years ago, such an open line of communication would have been so bug-ridden it would have been useless. How times change.

I imagine that within five years this very forum (guest forum) will be live video event.

But enough of that.

We are here to discuss magic. And I'd like everyone to know that I'm open to anything. Don't be shy, put this space to good use. I'm an easy going guy and LOVE a good conversation.

Shall we put the Forum to good use and try to collectively create some new magic? That would be something cool.

Or, we could start by fielding some questions and answers about my products and books.

My intent is to NOT turn this into a dealer forum. I don't want to sell you any product. If you want any of my products, that's what your local dealer is for.

However, that said, no one knows my magic like me, so now is an opportunity to discuss these things openly, pro and con, etc.

I'm currently working on book and video cover designs for OTHER magic companies. This is providing a lot of fun, grueling deadlines and a huge variety of inspiring material.

In regards my own material, I'm considering doing a video/DVD if I think there is the interest out there. There is also a close-up full body levitation and a few new card effects in the works. (One of these effects I'd like to explore here on the forum, if YOU are interested.

For those who read my Genii Issue, I'd like to report that the UpSide Project is generating some amazing solutions. We've got about 6 independently developed ideas earmarked for the booklet so far.

So let's talk about stuff. Tell me what you'd like to discuss. Pick my brains. Do whatever you like to create some creative fun right here.

I'm going to unwind with my guitar (it's been a long day installing a ceiling in our studio) and I'll check back in tomorrow morning.

Cheers

Ben Harris

Hi Harry,

What would you like to discuss? My views are wild and varied, both in and out of magic.

Cheers

Ben

Hey Harry,

At least you were kind enough not spell that "cur"

Ha ha

Ben Harris

Hey Ben! It's great to have you here as a guest of honor. I really like a number of your effects and would like to talk with you sometime in the near future. Thanks for taking the time to participate. I look forward to this week.
Magically,
Brian

Hi Ben!

Real glad you're here. I love your stuff!

A video/DVD would be excellent & I'm sure I won't be the only one to say that.

I'm looking forward to what comes up this week, should all make for a good time!

Cheers!

Mark

Hi Brian, Hi Mark,

Thanks for your kind comments. Really!

BUT

BUT

BUT

Let's get down and dirty. If we all sit back assuming something will unfold, we may find nothing does!

So, which effects do you like of mine and why? Or are ya just being kind?

ACTION...

Ben Harris

THOUGHT OF THE DAY


"A self-levitation is enhanced when the shadow is seen to separate from the soles of your feet."

BH

Hello Ben!

Aaaah! You choose a very popular subject! Self-Levitation!

You are, of course, absolutly right about the importance of the shadow, and the use of the light in general. That's why a lot of magicians who try to enhance their self levitations use basis of Black Art. With a black carpet on the floor, and clothes adapted (by their colors) you can have best angles, and a best illusion.

But that's not the unique point to do a good self levitation, because the most difficult thing to do is to sell this effect to our spectators. They must admit the illusion of flying and not simply go a little up...

That's why I would like to insist on the motion.

I like to do my Balducci with a little surfing motion, little up, little down, right, left. As if it requires a lot of skill to stablize our body in the air.

It gives very good results!

Great to have you with us Ben, I greatly look forward to seeing how this will progress through the week & all the great discussions that will result.



Cheers,
Ichazod

Hey Ben!

Great to have you here!

I like your attitude about magic! It's groovy! I've got your effect, Zoom, and right now, I'm "converting" a tarot card so it can "Zoom". It's pretty cool! What other things have you done with Zoom? You said in the instructions that come with Zoom that many things could be made to "Zoom" including dollar bills and cigarettes. Do you ever have a problem with dollar bills? If you know what I mean...

When you were a kid, were you really good at practical jokes? I think they're funny, and you musta been great at 'em!

Again, Welcome to the Cafe! Thanks for stopping by!

5150,
Josh

Hey Ben! Great to see ya here -- I haven't talked to you in a while! I'm looking forward to seeing how your visit here develops. Anyhoo...I'm off to start a few topics.

-Jim

Hello Ben,
Welcome to this place! Great having a chance to sit with you over a cup of virtual coffee
I only recently stumbled over your work, but it was a stone that I liked!

I am into and so looking forward to share with you, your time here.

Cheers, Mandrake, Germany

Welcome to The Magic Cafe Ben! It´s really great to have you around.
I have two of your effects: Hoodwink and Alida.
They are good effects for close-up performer.
I work a lot with IT, elastic, non-elastic, every kind avaliable.


Thiago

Hi Mr. Harris,

welcome to The Cafe.
I`m selling some of your articles. Hoodwink, Alida, Floating match and so on.

Magically yours

Manipulix

Ben,
How can I not stop by and say Hi.
You create, you dream, and you make it, the impossible, possible.
Magically,
Mona "yomo"

CENDRE:

Love your ideas on the self levitation.
I like to perform it with-in a small ring of fire and in bare feet. Really mystical.

ICHAZOD:

Mona said you were a cool cat. She met ya at the IBM.

JOSH:

Zoom has served me well. Did you know I was offered $100,000.00 not to release it. Someone wanted to have it exlusively. It is a strong effect.

My fave use is with a borrowed business card. It's relatively easy to obtain someone's card on two or three occasions so you can have a ring-in all set.

Practical jokes? No, I was not a big player with them. But I was always on the receiving end.

JIM MALONEY:

Hi Jim, it has been awhile. See you in the
"tropics."

MANDRAKE:

I'm glad you are into cards. And I'm happy that you are exploring my material. Have you come accross "Fandango" or "Super Flip" yet? They are two of my fave card thingies!

THIAGO:

Hey my friend, one of your fellow magi from Brazil is featured doing ALIDA on the video at our website.

MANIPULIX:

Hi, I'm happy you are selling our material.
Do you think we need to translate into German. Would that be of assistance?

MONA:

Hi dear Mona. Thanks for dropping by. Are you still bushed after the convention? Thanks for the Paul Harris pic too!

Hello from South Dakota. Ben, keep up the good work! Kirk

I especially love HOODWINK.
I think it's such a great impromtu trick!

My views here:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/freezer/view......forum=29

Cheers!

Mark

Hello Ben Harris! Thanks so much for spending some of your time here with us. I look forward to keeping up with the discussions about your work, past and future!

GlenD