Learning
-
A Fine Line
A recent magic podcast featured a two part interview with a comedian talking about the similarities and differences between magic and stand-up. A significant portion of the second episode was on the comedian’s approach to working with the audience or as it’s called, crowd work. Crowd work is hard and requires empathy and respect as… Continue reading
-
To Speak or Not?
A rhetorical question: if you see someone performing and they behave badly, treat others horribly or make people uncomfortable, should you say something? I’ve taken both approaches and I really don’t know. On one hand, no one wants unsolicited advice. On the other, I don’t believe that people want to look like insensitive jerks. I… Continue reading
-
What Was The Question?
Recently a question was posed on a magic forum about the contributions of Eugene Burger. Specifically the question was “What can we learn from Eugene Burger?” Having had the opportunity to get to know him over the last twenty years of his life, I was overwhelmed by potential answers to the question. I composed different… Continue reading
-
Magic Clubs
If asked, I will readily admit that I have been a member of the IBM and the SAM. I reached the second level of the Order of Merlin before dropping out during the pandemic. I believe that I reached more than ten years with SAM in spite of my many in’s and out’s. Currently I’ve… Continue reading
-
Learning Magic
There’s an assumption in many areas of life but especially in magic. It’s that we know how to learn. We assume that since we attended school and graduated with a degree from high school or college that we learned how to learn. After a corporate education career, I would argue that perhaps some but not… Continue reading
-
Toni Forster on Magic Books
Until recently I had not heard of Dr. Forster. I purchased Ted Lesley’s Paramiracles published by Hermetic Press book from a second hand dealer. It had come out about 30 years ago and, for some reason, hadn’t shown up on my radar screen. Dr. Forster was a friend and confidant of Lesley’s and, for a… Continue reading
-
Discussing Discussions
One of the most interesting things about the internet and magic has been the discussion boards. It’s seems that there have been boards since the beginning. The longevity proves that no matter what magicians of all kinds have opinions about everything and are willing to share it. Excluding social media platforms and Reddit, there seems… Continue reading