I had a similar revelation on the Die Box after reading Gene Anderson’s book. I had always loved the die box, but couldn’t figure out how to make it work for me. While Gene’s routine wasn’t right for me, it set me down the path of creating my own.

We as magicians can spend a lifetime justifying choices we use to create things which are inherently unbelievable. Sometimes they matter to an audience but frequently they only matter to us which is ok as well. For me personally, my goal is to create an impossible premise for the audience, then bring it to life in pure defiance of their logic and reasoning by systematically destroying each method they arrive at just as it occurs in their mind. To do this I need to lead them down a path and know what they are thinking and about to create as a potential method and then eliminating that just as they happen to think of it. This is, of course, a choice in my personal style but my goal is lay to create strong magic which short circuits their senses to create a state of wonder and amazement. Some are happy to simply “entertain” which is my goal as well. Some just want to “trick them” which for me is the cheapest of all the potential emotions we can create as magicians. Yes, we are story tellers and entertainers but so are many other art forms. My goal is not to have them say... “Well... that was sure clever.” In fact, if they are even able to form words when I’m finished with an effect, I haven’t done my job well.

Whether we accept it or not, Magic is a cerebral art form. It requires thought which takes it away from emotion at times. The box is empty, now it’s full, therefore something must have happened. We can spend years justifying the box and creating a wonderful story around it, but if it doesn’t serve to create a false memory for the viewer that creates an impossibility in their mind when retelling it, it doesn’t serve magic... only theater. Again... that’s a choice. I have made my living as a professional actor and I love it... but my job as a Magician, although using many of the same skills, is very different. Yes, I am a storyteller and lead them on a wonderful adventure but my goal is to crate something so impossible, it is simply beyond reason an comprehension for them. Again... my choice.

Ray, you sound like the magician I always inspired to be...but I'm afraid I failed! LOL!

Doug

I remember Max Maven asking Tommy Wonder on his DVD set. Is this an example of running when they aren’t chasing. Tommy said “They are always chasing you “ . I rarely see Levitation and Hoop Illusions performed. Never had an audience member say My God I thought she was floating and you brought out that hoop and everything changed

If you find your voice you have succeeded. To be fair, all of my greatest advancements come from a failure. Only by giving up before that next bit of inspiration evolves could it be considered as “failed” as that signifies cessation of trying. You are always growing, always learning and always applying knowledge so I know you haven’t failed!

Hope you have an amazing new year and we ALL get more chances to fail and grow from it!

Any tips on how to deaden the noise made by a h****d hoop. I bought it from an estate auction with no handling info. I can pm someone with pics if you think you can offer help?

What is a h****d hoop?