...more nooks PDF Taster Issue No.3 and crannies www.magicseen.co.uk than you’ll find in Mel Meller’s swimsuit!

THEMAGICMAGAZINEFOR MAGICIANS & MENTALISTS JOAQUIN AYALA SIEGFRIED & ROY ON THE RADIO MASTERCLASS

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

FREE TASTER PDF #3 OPENER 60 SECOND Jay Sankey’sMAGIC THOMAS HERO BLACKE FRANKENSTEIN

Tell us what you do in three Best magical moment? Favourite magician who is sentences Setting my first world still alive? JAY SANKEY I am billed as the record in 2006 at the I have 2 favourites. In give us the “World's Fastest RHR World Records of close-up magic Richard lowdown on Magician, Escape Artist, Magic event, Fantasma Turner, "The Cheat.” In and Pickpocket”. My Magic, NYC. It was nice stage magic Derren the bits and show takes the audience to be recognised as the Brown. In my opinion, pieces he'd on a fast paced magical best in the world at what they both come closer to choose... journey with new twists I do. performing real magic and turns at every corner. than anyone else. I am President of Escape Biggest influence on your Masters, the International career? Favourite chldhood a) Best hands on a d) Best hair-do? Association of Escape Studying performances of memory? magician belong to? Artists, and U.S. Vice the great magicians who Watching Richard Sanders f) Most charismatic? President of Record came before me. I find a perform his first NBC b) Best looking magician? Houdini Holders Republic great deal of material for magic special in 1975. It My son Mason g) Scariest magician? ‘Registry of World my own show by looking at was at that moment, as a c) Best dressed magician? No such thing (alas). Records.’ effects that were performed young child, that I decided My daughter Madelaine decades ago and with to become a magician. You are recognised as the some modification, would world's fastest balloon be suitable for today’s artist. What do you do? audiences. I’ve made a balloon dog Houdini: what do you in 3.1 think of him? seconds! Houdini was a My genius, pure and behind simple. Nearly 90 The favourite effect you the back years after his perform? balloon death, he remains The $100 bill switch. The record is 4.35 the most popular effect on the audience seconds and my wrist- magician of all time. His never ceases to amaze strap escape record is methods of marketing and me. It works in nearly EUGENE BURGER: 1.47 seconds. public relations made him every situation and with Best hair. one of history’s most all ages. RICHARD SANDERS: What's the last thing you famous celebrities. His Best hands. forgot to do? name and magic are Last book you read? Buy the latest issue of synonymous — What more Think Big: Make It magicseen! could you ask for? Happen in Business and Life by Donald Trump. Tell us what America is like Biggest lesson you’ve ever in just 3 words! learnt? Tell us three things people Land of opportunity. That there is always a new don't know about you? lesson to be learned. I am If I tell you, then everyone What did you have for on a constant quest for will know. OK, I would HOUDINI: Most charismatic. breakfast? knowledge about magic have to say that people Trix cereal. What would and it’s affiliated arts. It’s do not know that I’m you expect from a how I stay creative with my sentimental, humble magician? shows. and loyal.

2 magicseen Taster No. 3 OPENER IN THE NEWS... MAGIC UNLIMITED GETS BIGGER! (BY ONE)

Mara & Renzo of Magic the best magic I ever did: Unlimited got married recently giving birth to a wonderful, and have just launched a new healthy boy, named Kian.” CHRIS IS BACK! magic show in Spain. Two months later, during Chris Dugdale returns to the performances in Barcelona, London Stage with a three Photo: Laure Leber. www.laureleberphoto.com Says Mara, “The last six Magic Unlimited received week run from 31st August months of our adventurous the prestigious Li-Chang to 19th September 2010 life have been even more magic award, recognised by with a 3 week run of 21 FOUR IN THE PHONE BOX! exiting for me! Starting with the FISM. shows at the Riverside On Wednesday, April 14th, Island Circus Sideshow in Studios - Hammersmith... 2010, four magicseen ‘In Coney Island, NY. All 6 Wooed by Angelina Jolie, The Phone Box’ performers in the show are praised by the Queen, world interviewees - as seen from world record holders in knife class magician and left to right, Thomas Blacke, throwing, bull whipping, oral mind reader Chris Dugdale Chris McDaniel, The Great cigarette snuffing, returns by popular demand Throwdini, and Richie Magic, , balloon to Riverside Studios - performed in The Record sculpturing, fire eating, and for three weeks this autumn Holders Republic World coin manipulation. A mighty (31st August - 19th Record ‘Show-Off Show’ for fine bunch they look, too. September) with his The Congress of Curious magicseen sends our best critically acclaimed,ground- Peoples Week at The Coney wishes to the fab four! breaking magic show.

shows. The dinner suit- MAGIC WORLD wearing puppet appeared RECORD: THE MOST to be tipsy, was noted for STILL THE TOPS! MAGICIANS IN A his catchphrase ‘You silly They may have been MAGIC SHOW! arse’ and would often be around the block a few On the 21st of May 2010 at distracted by glamorous times, but world-renouned the picturesque mountain women in the audience. performers David resort of Saint-Vincent in Alan’s agent Peter Copperfield, and the Italy a whole host of Pritchard said the teasing-twosome Penn & magicians gathered to take ventriloquist ‘passed away Teller still rank as the part in a magic show, very suddenly’ at his home highest magicians in the organised by the Masters of in Reigate, Surrey. He had world as far as celebrity “The Celebrity 100 is a Magic Association. After an RAY ALAN & LORD complained of feeling goes. Copperfield ranks measure of power based hour and half the show had CHARLES RIP unwell and had not worked 80th on the Forbes on money and fame,” started to draw to a close Ventriloquist Ray Alan, for several months Celebrity 100 list while Forbes said of its report. and to the amazement of famous for his act with because of ill-health. Penn and Teller made it in “Fame is calculated using organisers Walter Rolfo and monocled, upper-crust at 96th. Web hits on Google Blog Piero Ustignani, they had puppet Lord Charles, died Alan, who is survived by his Search, TV/radio mentions managed to achieve their suddenly in his sleep on wife Jane, said of Lord on LexisNexis, overall goal of having 62 magicians May 24th. Charles in 2006: ‘I’m not press mentions on Factiva in their magic show; one of those ventriloquists and the number of times a making it a new Guinness Alan, 79, was best known who thinks he’s real. When celebrity’s image appeared World Records title for the to millions of television I finish my work I put it on the cover of 25 most magicians in a magic viewers from the 1950s to back in the tool consumer magazines.” show. We dread to think the 1980s for his box and I don’t take it out Mark Leveridge was how many silks and rabbits appearances on variety again until the next job.’ ‘unplaced’. were on show!

www.magicseen.co.uk 3 A MASTER MAGICIAN FROM MEXICO AND A WORLD-RENOWNED BELLY DANCER FROM THE U.S.A., TEAMING UP JOAQUIN TO PRODUCE GREAT SHOWS, GREAT MAGIC AND UNFORGETTABLE AYALA ENTERTAINMENT. PASSION IN LAS VEGAS By Benoit Grenier

It is always a joy and a privilege to from France to Japan. He even had meet with some magicians, especially his own TV special ‘’Ayala in in Las Vegas. Even more when they Control’’. In 2000 he was chosen are, at the same time, great as the Magician of the Year and the performers, great thinkers and great International Magician’s Society builders. Ayala is all this and a very awarded him ‘’Entertainer of the nice person to boot. It is rare in this year’’ and ‘’Best performer on day and age to find someone always stage’’. ready to help others, to give them advice and point them in the right But the year that changed Ayala’s direction. Joaquin always has time for life was in fact 1999 you or at least it when he met Tanya. seems that way. Their story sounds Because, as like all like a TV series. Two magicians wanting to performers, trained make a living and from an early age to survive in Las Vegas, master their craft. A he is an expert at master magician multi-tasking. Building from Mexico and a props for some, world-renowned designing acts for belly dancer from others while traveling the U.S.A., the world with his teaming up to lovely partner and better produce great half, Tanya. shows, great magic and unforgettable entertainment. Ayala has an impressive résumé: He Together they presented ‘’Magical appeared on Mexican TV from an Passion’’ and starred at the now early age, and in 1984 he performed defunct Caesar’s Magical Empire. for the first time in Las Vegas at the Landmark hotel. In 1985, he was Since then, Ayala has been busy featured at the . with his FX company and lately he has been working with his long time He was the headliner of a show friend , in both called ‘’Spellbound’’ at Harrah’s Las Mindfreak and BeLIEve, as a Vegas, and then toured the world, consultant.

4 magicseen Taster No. 3 JOAQUIN PERFORMING HIS SIGNATURE PIECE ‘BLADES OF DOOM’

www.magicseen.co.uk 5 speak the language and I didn’t have any contacts…but like magic, in 1984 I was invited to participate in the “Magic Olympics”, produced by the Japanese NHK Network in Las Vegas and it was then my eyes opened and my heart talked to me saying: Joaquin…here it is , this is it! A few years later a famous Las Vegas producer, Mr. Dick Foster, needed a different magician for his new show called “Spellbound”. LET’S TALK TO TANYA! Somehow he saw some promotional pictures of us, and a How would you describe Joaquin in few weeks later he invited us to a few words? come to Las Vegas, I performed for He is very kind, cute and talented him, got the part and I joined the and also dramatic! Haha! cast of Spellbound. Then I moved How would you describe Joaquin’s to Las Vegas! magic in a few words? I find his magic entertaining which You are also working as a magic is the most important. Original and consultant, creating magic for other funny, which often surprises people! magicians. How did you start that What is it like to work with him? business? I have always been a fan of his magic...even way before I worked All my life I have been thinking in with him. It is great to share the ways to do things a bit different and stage with him - we have fun. He is how to be creative (finances never a born entertainer for sure... were in my favour, until later) so it What was your best moment on made me learn how I could do stage with him? ALL MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN THINKING IN WAYS TO things by myself. I think the best moments are when he actually makes me laugh with DO THINGSA BIT DIFFERENT AND HOW TO BE In Mexico I learned how to build the things he says on stage. He is CREATIVE (FINANCES NEVER WERE IN MY stuff; I learned tailoring, stitching, funny and he has his own way of carpentry, electricity, auto saying things...it is charming and FAVOUR, UNTIL LATER) SO IT MADE ME LEARN mechanics, sketching and drawing. also cracks me up! HOW I COULD DO THINGS BY MYSELF. Also in high school I specialised in What is Joaquin’s best quality? designing and building scenery and That he is always protecting and theatre props. Later on, when I caring for his friends in the We met at a café in the Luxor Mexican TV they aired magic shows started to perform big illusions my business. He knows what material Casino... like “Presto Chango It’s Magic”, close friend Greg Frewin taught me belongs rightfully to whom...and will “Abracadabra it’s Magic” and the the basics of welding. I joined the never build or copy any illusions for Las Vegas is the place to be for a series “The Magician with Bill Bixbi” Community College in Las Vegas his clients without the rights and magician. A lot of them can only and they showed what I considered and the Art Institute in New Zealand permission to do so. He watches dream about making it there. You did! the best magic of that period of to master my techniques on foam, out for people in the business. He Tell us how you arrived in Las Vegas time and along with images of wood carving, mask making and has a lot of great qualities: He takes and why you decided to live there? Siegfried and Roy, Shimada, Carlton aluminum/steel welding. care of me! & Co., and Tomsoni as headliners in His worst quality? I arrived by plane, I hate driving…ha Las Vegas….I wanted to be there. My company Ayala EFX in Las His continuing...broken ha ha…Mexico is too far away! I wanted to meet those guys… Vegas started about 8 years ago English...which, in a way, is also his I wanted to be like them and building, designing, and consulting best quality! Sorry but this question has a little perhaps, one day, perform on those for shows by other performers. I bit of a story behind it. stages. have been working with people like * Tanya, an incredible belly dancer, Criss Angel, , Kevin has also starred in many shows in When I was 11 years old I already Back then, the dream of a little James, Shimada, Johnny Las Vegas (Neyla at MGM Grand knew I wanted to become a Mexican kid seemed so far away. Thompson, and Jeff McBride just hotel and Casino, Splash at the performer/magician - and on I didn’t have the finances, didn’t to name a few... Riviera Hotel…).

6 magicseen Taster No. 3 I THINK THE BEST MOMENTS ARE WHEN HE ACTUALLY MAKES ME LAUGH WITH THE THINGS HE SAYS ON STAGE. HE IS FUNNY AND HE HAS HIS OWN WAY OF SAYING THINGS...IT IS CHARMING AND ALSO CRACKS ME UP! TANYA

Let’s talk about your show. What are Tanya and I met when she attended You have known Criss Angel for a long CRISS ANGEL the roots of Magical Passion? one of my shows in Las Vegas time. How did you meet? when I was a headliner in I’m 100% Mexican and I have Spellbound. Working with her in the Criss and I met in 1989 when Criss Hispanic/Latin roots…that’s why show is wonderful; she is my and John Evans (Criss Angel’s people say that I have a special balance, my other half and the former partner back then) came to “way to be” on stage…whatever it beautiful side of the show…she is Toluca Mexico to perform at a is, it is in my blood. It’s like a very creative and she has a great and we became combination of mariachis, fiestas sense of humour, fashion, looks very close friends from that and mucho rhythm….with lots of and she has a perfect eye for moment on. passion! magic presentations. Also, working together is fun, fun, fun. we are Tell us about your work on Mindfreak. You and Tanya make a great couple. born artists. Ahhh we have the Tell us how you met her and how it is same taste in music…very When Criss Angel and his manager to work with her in the show? important!!! David Baram signed the contract

www.magicseen.co.uk 7 with A&E Network they first I was in the middle of the 4th It paid off immediately when Lance ARE YOU WORKING FOR approached me as a magical season when Criss approached me Burton came up to us after the OTHER MAGICIANS? consultant/outside vendor for with the idea to meet with Cirque show hugged Criss and said: Mindfreak for seasons 1, 2 and 3. Du Soleil executives and together “Brilliant!” then, he looked at me At the moment I’m designing For the 4th season, Criss made me make a presentation using livestock and said: “Joaquin, wonderful job!” and consulting for magicians like an offer than I couldn’t refuse - and for the first time in the show. Franz Harary, , Criss besides moving my company Ayala Criss Angel seems to do a million Angel, Juan David from EFX to Angel’s warehouse, I Criss became excited with the idea things at the same time, what’s it like Colombia and Hiroki Hara from became part of the permanent of working together and creating to work with him? Japan. cast. lots of cool bird effects for the live show. It was like reviving the way Very intense, and I love that - There are a lot of criticisms among we were: young teenagers talking, because I’m intense too! He is a magicians about the show, the way it discussing, testing and creating very passionate person with a very is edited… How do you address that? effects for the act. strong belief in his capabilities and limitations He is very smart. I can That’s jealousy I think. Angel is Also, Cirque executives loved the say that because we’ve known making history, not them… He has idea of Criss performing magic with each other for more than 20 years. great ideas that they don’t. Camera no props around, just his bare We grew up almost together,

FRANZ HARARY tricks? I won’t tell you…. I respect hands, no scenery or special effects, separated but knowing each our secrecy agreement… people are just him - suave, slow and elegant. other’s careers. I respect him and the judges, and it was the people he respects my opinions and ED ALONSO who made him famous…. and if That’s how Criss and I created beliefs. We are like brothers: magic is back on TV because of his “Phantasm” for the live show sometimes we fight and disagree, actions… then it’s great for all of us! Believe… by testing and exploring but in the end we work things out hundreds of bird effects until we because we understand that we Your worked on ‘Believe’ with a dove decided. Then, he practised the bird are there for each other. Criss has act called the Phantasm. How did you act with me every day for 6 months: the largest fan club and they are come up with it? 3 hours a day. Lots of work! very loyal. And like any humble

HIROKI HARA

8 magicseen Taster No. 3 Greek guy, Criss is loyal to his other was a drill on a track system. friends and family… he always After getting the permission from THE SECRET? makes me feel part of the family. Wheeler to use fire as the “timer for the spikes to drop” and the concept I WILL TELL YOU IN I heard that the Masked magician of Harary’s track design, I came up asked you to work for him, is that with my version of two monster JUST ONE WORD. true? saws on tracks while escaping from hand cuffs in full view. Yes! Don Weiner the producer of PASSION... the show and Val Valentino (The My presentation and the look of the masked magician) approached my “machine” was so cool that I had a company AYALA EFX to build 25 hard time not to overshadow my illusions for the upcoming series 4 persona when standing by such a weeks before the taping. menacing looking prop. As with After I noticed that all the material every piece in magic I create, I wasn’t original and some of the worked a lot in choosing the right illusions were a rip-off of other staging, music and movements to artistes, I told them that in order to build an interesting presentation be part of this project, I would need that would fit my style. My idea was two things: to come up with an illusion to open the show... instead, the result was 1. A written release of copyrights so strong, that we decided to use it of every effect by the owner as the closing effect. Fortunately, and the TV show “Worlds Greatest 2. A written permission for my Magic” used Blades of Doom as a company to build them as part TV catch opening (the only time we of the show were used as an opening) and it made my illusion famous Both Weiner and Valentino agreed worldwide. Unfortunately, non- on that. creative magicians, performers, wannabes, and non-ethical builders And the rest, you probably already started to rip off my concept in know. They didn’t get any copyright Argentina, China, Japan, Holland, releases, ripped off many people Germany and Russia... and including Criss Angel and myself. recently, cheap versions of my And, like a slap on my face, they original design have been seen in poorly exposed a different method dinner theatres, amusement parks - of my original version of “Blades and even on TV shows in the USA! of Doom”. After all...this is one of those Shame of them. Doing the wrong moments where I feel that I inspired thing just to make money! so many people ...that they want to be like me and perform this illusion About Blades of Doom, your signature the way I did it. People love it, piece, how did you create it ? people are drawn to it, but they don’t know why! The secret? I will The title Blades of Doom was tell you in just one word. suggested in 1994 by Lynne Foster when I was rehearsing this illusion Passion... for the version of “Mystique” a new magical show with a sort of story I have it in everything I do.....they line produced by Dick Foster. When don’t. Think about that! ms I first came to USA to perform in Las Vegas in 1990 I felt I had to expand my repertoire in a bigger CHECK OUT THESE SITES TO scale. Back then, I loved the look of LEARN MORE! two props owned by two great www.ayala-tanya.com illusionists: Steve Wheeler an Franz www.ayalaefx.com Harary. One was an escape inside www.tanyalasvegas.com of a trapezoid with spikes, and the www.ayalatanya.blogspot.com

www.magicseen.co.uk 9 trousers and still being told by a KOCKOV IN ACTION doctor that I’m able to conceive. – Now that’s a bloody miracle!

Who are your influences in magic? Clumski the Clown - Russian clown who used to fall over a lot because he had no legs. The strange thing is KOCKOV he chose to have them removed to spite his father who was a cobbler, THE FASHION CRISIS sad but true. I also must give credit to Grakaw – he was Monrokvian mafia boss who taught me the FROM MONROKVIA importance of underwater escapes - locked in the boot of a car, in a ow and again, a talent comes the most luxurious shops and sack, going over a cliff into a lake along that is so big we find it restaurants all over the world. whilst on fire! Ndifficult to find the words to describe it. When we saw Kockov in How did you get into magic? If you hadn’t been a magician what action, we realised there actually ARE My father, Serge Dimitri Kockov, a would you have been? no words available that can accurately national card magic expert in our Disappointingly, an astronaut. I do him justice! country, saw that I had his natural passed all the exams as a teenager, skill for conjuring, so wanting a they’d even measured me up for my Kockov is a true original, a man with a better life for me in the West, he suit and a special chair in the tight act, and even tighter trousers. We arranged to have me secretly rocket, unfortunately they went with decided to try and get inside the mind deported to Barry Island in South the dog instead. They never did find of this Cardiff-based mullet-haired Wales. out why that accident happened.. Monrokvian mind-reader – and believe us, it wasn't always a pleasure! Graham Do you see much of your family now Which magicians do you think you Hey meekly asks the questions... you live in the UK? most closely relate to? No. Doug Henning – hair, – beard, Copperfield – trousers, Who is Kockov? Is it painful to talk about your family? Blaine – vest and Clumski – My full name is Vladimir Dimitri Yes. ultimate commitment to the craft. Kockov, from the Former Soviet Republic of Monrokvia. Why? How would you like to be remembered See above. when you’re gone? Where? I’ve never heard of it? I’m a humble person. If only one Monrokvia. It’s a principality of What’s with the mullet and your look? person even vaguely recalls my merely 200 – 250,000 people in In my country the more hair a man name a year after my demise, that between Uzbekistan and has, the greater his status. With my would be beautiful enough. If I Kazakhstan. Not many people hair I am pretty much a demi-god, weren’t such a humble person I’d know of Monrokvia as the Russians that, coupled with the braiding on like people to remember that for refused to allow it to be drawn onto my back hairs. I have to spend much just one tiny moment in their dull a map or atlas until our of my income on conditioner. As for short lives they were witness to a independence struggle in 1986. my sense of style, I admit the leather true miracle-maker, a ground- trousers and handcuffs for a belt can breaking entertainer of galactic What’s your background? be more saucy than sorcery, but the proportions who brought tears of Like my 17 brothers and sisters in ladies dig it and when a specimen of laughter and gasps of disbelief. If Monrokvia, I had to work 23 hours manhood such as me catches their you’re really pressing me my a day underground in the lard eye, that’s the greatest mis-direction gravestone would read mines. These natural animal fat a magician could hope for. “Copperfield, Burton, those chaps mines are the main export of with the large hair and tigers whose Monrokvia. Most of the high-grade What’s been your greatest magical names slip my mind and Blaine, fat to be found in the richest and moment? thanks for holding the fort now deepest seams, make their way There have been so many, but the Kockov has gone” – you see simple into the finest kitchens and most greatest trick I do day after day has and understated, that’s my expensive cakes and puddings in to be getting into those leather philosophy, oh, and hairspray.

10 magicseen Taster No. 3 IF ONLY ONE PERSON EVEN VAGUELY RECALLS MY NAME A YEAR AFTER MY DEMISE, THAT WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL ENOUGH.

www.magicseen.co.uk 11 JASPER BLAKELEY THE MAN BEHIND THE MONROKVIAN MONSTER!

Jasper Blakeley refers to himself Tell us a potted history of your career as ‘an entertainer/comedian who so far... As a child I was a classically trained just happens to be a magician’. singer and dancer, so I went to This award-winning international study as a dancer at University in entertainer/comedian/ magician, is London. I quickly realised it was the creator of nearly two dozen really acting I wanted to do, so I changed courses and became an unique and fully realised actor. After graduating, the characters, some using magic, frustration of continued rejection some not. It is as Monrokvia’s from West End musical roles led greatest Mind-reader and me to re-train and qualify as a radio magician – Kockov, that he is best journalist. I was then a feature news reporter, local dj, sports producer, known in the magic world. entertainment news producer, national network programme producer and spent more than two years as producer of The Pepsi Chart with Neil ‘the Doctor’ Fox. Just ahead of the 90s dotcom bubble burst, I was a digital content producer, working with clients including Sky – then after eleven years in London, I left with my wife for Wales. Within a year life changed again and we had twins, a boy and a girl. I was working for a regional radio station, but after being a weekend DJ on the graveyard shift for about a year, I was made redundant. As a househusband with young twins, I needed a job that made good money in a short space of time. I remembered liking magic as a young boy, so I joined Cardiff Magical Society and quickly became a paid close-up magician,

12 magicseen Taster No. 3 away with much more as a THE BOTTOM LINE IS, character, allowing myself the freedom to do whatever I want. But QUICKIES: TO BE A FULL TIME if a character’s personality becomes restricting, I simply invent MAGICIAN, YOU HAVE a new character to do it. I’m very Fav vegetable (excluding protective over the boundaries that parsnips)? TO BE AN my characters can and can’t cross. Fav hair product? Jizzonut – a variety of For instance (on the whole) Kockov Fudge hairy coconut with a ENTERTAINER, AND doesn’t swear that much, but I Fav movie? creamy pulp ENTERTAINING MEANS adore swearing, so I invented my Raging Bull Fav coloured smartie? deranged adults/kid’s entertainer, Fav piece of garden No to Smarties, yes to LAUGHTER Uncle Al The Kiddies Pal. Uncle Al furniture? Peanut M&Ms and their uses the ‘F’ bomb in every Bench (I’m lazy) 7 E numbers !!! sentence, plus he allows me to say then I started doing kids parties as and do exactly what I couldn’t do well and eventually cabaret magic. when I used to entertain kids. Being I’ve been a full time professional that non politically correct plays a entertainer and magician for 5 big part in my characters, as does TEN MOST BIZARRE THINGS years. sexuality.

How did Kockov come about? Is Kockov based on anyone? ABOUT JASPER BLAKELEY I created Kockov in embryonic form Yes, not his voice or his abrasive in Moscow in 1989 on a drama attitude, just his costume, arrogant I used to make radio debut single – I said he was exchange trip. It was a cabaret stage manner and his hair. 1. adverts in 10 different a one hit wonder… it was show for the Russian students and Unfortunately I can’t be too specific languages Usher. whilst one of my friends played as it’s actually a UK stage magician I acted in a sex I was flown to guitar, my other mate sang Bowie’s I saw many years ago who made 2. infomercial 9. for 15 Ziggy Stardust. Meanwhile I was me weep with laughter at his whole for Sky. minutes to dressed as a Russian with a large act. Unfortunately there wasn’t a I did a voice-over interview Mariah coat and fur hat and simultaneously hint of irony about him, that’s why I 3. for Playboy TV. Carey. I was left alone translated the English lyrics into play Kockov straight. Kockov truly I danced in an Asian Pop with her in a bedroom and ‘mock’ Russian along with over the believes he is amazing and 4. Video, the only pop video (only wearing a negligee) top physical descriptions. Clearly everyone else is inferior. His utter ever filmed at The she insisted we got into the student’s English was good conviction in his ‘look’ and his belief Houses Of the bed to do it – enough to understand the song, that he has ‘real powers’ lies at the Parliament. (the interview!) *Who but their English was also good heart of his comic appeal. I had a Top 20 was wearing the enough to understand the ‘mock’ 5. UK dance hit with negligee? -ed Russian and my stupid acting – it Do you laugh at a lot of straight magic a parody of The Aged 18 I had a just worked. I always knew from then? Macarena called ‘The 10. stand up row in then on that if Russians got it, so It’s hard not to. If there were venues Macaroni’ on a Sony my Student Union would everyone else. (other than conventions and cruise BMG label. with a drunken bloke after ships) available, where you could When I was I’d come off stage after What are the main difficulties of get paid to be a serious straight 6. introducing doing my awful performing as a character? magician, brilliant, but there aren’t. Beyonce she comedy routine. I told Convincing new ‘non-referral’ To be a serious straight magician is laughed and told him if he could do any clients to book a character instead very hard. The bottom line is, to be me I’d actually just better he should try. He’d of a straight magician, you have to a full time magician, you have to be dribbled. never done it before, but he get them to trust you. Of course the an entertainer, and entertaining I’ve driven over-land to thought he was funny, so downside is then the repeat means laughter, to get laughter you 7. India, from the UK. this young lad got up and bookings where they really want the have to be funny, to be funny you I told my mates I’d did half an hour off the character but don’t want to pay the have to be born funny or you have 8. just interviewed top of his head – his extra I charge for it, but that’s to work very hard at it. If the vast some new name was Michael another matter. majority of magicians stepped out musician who Pennington, and he of their bedrooms, away from the seemed to think he later became top UK What are the advantages? clubs and societies and away from was all ‘that’ with his comedian Johnny Vegas. Too many to mention. Primarily the opinions of their magician being able to put on a costume and friends and took a course in acting use it as a suit of armour. I can get or even performed in a local www.jasperblakeley.co.uk

www.magicseen.co.uk 13 shameful stolen gags from the 70s, discovered though is using ‘ripe’ Jasper in character ditch the 80s badly recorded music language in the right context and as ‘Archie Grot’ and the over-rehearsed shite patter, having been given the right billing simply accept that you want to be and warning (if necessary) most better – this applies to close-up people will be ready to accept a workers, cabaret performers, stage character and their language. acts and kids entertainers. Let’s just Interestingly at the recent Bristol agree to be better. Day Of Magic, given the context, it was odd to hear French Magician You have lots of characters - do you David Stone using the ‘f’ word have individual scripts for each, or are three times during his close-up set. they basically the same, with a Clearly I noted it but was not different accent!? offended and as far as I know Anyone who has seen me perform nobody complained about his use or spent time with me whilst I’m in of language with children in the character knows that a good 70% room – was it his being French that of what I say is improvised. Yes, let this pass? Would I have got there are stock lines and rehearsed away with it? Would one of my ad-libs for common situations, and characters have got away with it? whilst I can’t claim I don’t cross- Was his magic and routine so pollinate gags between characters, strong that he was forgiven much of what I say comes from the instantly? I admire David very much audience at that moment in time. and only use this as an example of how we consider language in Some of your material can be quite performance. I was always told I ‘adult’. On the whole how have you didn’t need to swear to be funny, I found the attitudes of magicians to don’t, but I choose to use this type of material? expletives and innuendo as and I’ve always enjoyed pushing the when I see fit because I’m an adult boundaries of what’s acceptable entertaining adults. Also at certain and believe in the right situation, a less fancy bookings, the women’s well-placed ‘f’ word is dynamite. language even makes me blush. I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED PUSHING THE Interestingly I was concerned about offending people when I started Which is the favourite effect you BOUNDARIES OF WHAT’S ACCEPTABLE AND lecturing and then performing my perform? act for magicians at societies and ‘Ar-gosh’. I recently put on my one- BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT SITUATION, A WELL- conventions. Let’s not forget I come man ‘Kockov’ show at The Wales PLACED ‘F’ WORD IS DYNAMITE. from a generation where attitudes Millennium Centre in Cardiff, a to language are different from those fantastic arts venue in the capital. of a large swathe of the magic For the show I devised a few new musical or just got professional has a right to be a paid magician, population. For a lot of people in effects, including one called ‘Ar- advice from theatrical performers, but we’re now part of an industry their sixties and above, swearing at gosh’ using an Argos shopping they’d quickly see what their act is so obsessed with the new effect, all, never mind in front of a catalogue and Argos slips missing. As a magician, the trick we’ve forgotten that we haven’t lady, is not acceptable. and pens. The basic and the mechanics should look even mastered the basics of Therefore to have an effect allowed a after themselves, it’s the performance. I’m not saying I’m overtly gay Spanish- member of an presentation that needs the work. better than this person or that, I just esque balloon audience to use the Magic is about the only art form recognise that to make it in this modeller called catalogue to win the that apparently doesn’t need any business you need much more ‘Fabio Bendi – object I’d bought formal training. It’s very rare to find than just technical skill. I love magic balloon modeller to the from Argos that was an actor, singer, dancer, painter, and I want the public to love it too, stars’ mince on to stage hiding under the cloth on playwright, director, filmmaker or so if you’re not being ironic, burn to the sound of The Village a table. Without wanting to sculptor who hasn’t had some kind the playing card ties, playing card People’s Y.M.C.A. and start give too much away, it appeared to of formal training. We can’t be waistcoats, the cufflinks, the lapel pumping up balloons from a pump go spectacularly wrong, only to go surprised then to find so few paying pins, the metallic suits, the dreadful using pelvic hip thrusts – it was right, but then with a kicker ending. outlets for our art form if so much hair, burn the out-of-date badly probably a step too far for some. I I’ve only performed it the once, but of what people have seen publicly painted shabby props, burn the use the ‘c’ word on occasion as I discovered afterwards that of over the years has been done by ‘wacky’ stage costume along with Fabio and with Uncle Al, the ‘f’ everything I did that night, ‘Ar-gosh’ amateur non-performers. Everyone your ‘wacky’ personality and your word is regular. What I have amazed the most people.

14 magicseen Taster No. 3 ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME PERFORM OR SPENT TIME WITH ME WHILST I’M IN CHARACTER KNOWS THAT A GOOD 70% OF WHAT I SAY IS IMPROVISED.

What's the best magic or a bit of trust to ‘sell’ Kockov to a Do you have more affinity with Sacha effect you've seen in the last year or so? client, I think there’s a barrier with Baron Cohen than ? What tends to happen when you marketing comedy character Most definitely Sacha. Whilst spend so much time around magic, mentalism dvds, therefore the next anyone who’s seen me perform is that you can pretty much work project will probably feature Jasper. both publicly or socially, knows I out how everything is done. It’s strive to be original in all that I do, I frustrating because no one likes to What's next for you? can’t deny the similarities between be fooled more than me. With this in I’m starting my Cabaret Academy, some of the independently created mind I’d have to say the final effect in where anyone interested in characters we both perform. I can ’s Enigma stage show. improving their performance, not only dream of having his kind of Unfortunately, but understandably, just magic, can spend a day with success. He’s a truly gifted actor Derren asked for it not to be me and a handful of others at a and comedian who knows the discussed for obvious ‘spoiler’ training venue in Cardiff. I’m hoping freedom and amazing reactions you reasons, but anyone who’s seen the to release a new DVD in the near get from inhabiting an extreme show knows how good it is. future, I continue to lecture and character for long periods of time. appear at conventions and hope to Put a camera on him and he’s You've released DVDs of Kockov, tell get to perform at conventions in fearless and dangerous, a very us about them and do you have any The States. I’d love to perform in clever man. plans to release effects as yourself? Las Vegas again, this time in my Alakazam released 2 Kockov DVDs own show, plus I’d love my own TV What do you reckon is the most a couple of years ago. Despite show in the UK. Nothing to do with WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN important thing to become successful some great reviews in the press magic, but I was asked to audition, in magic? and on forums, I think they slipped and eventually got a part in, an WHEN YOU SPEND SO MUCH Having the support of good friends under the radar a bit. Featuring a upcoming comedy pilot for BBC3. TIME AROUND MAGIC, IS THAT and mentors, making sure you get full live Kockov show across the Other than that I continue to make the critical opinions from non two dvds, they teach you how to subversive videos for my Youtube YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH magicians and above all making do my original 6 book blindfold audience, the most recent WORK OUT HOW EVERYTHING sure your audience knows you book test, my hidden spike routine character being ‘Gareth The Gimp’, enjoy what you do. called Plunge of Death, my Real the secretary of the Rhondda IS DONE. IT’S FRUSTRATING Live Russian Roulette with revolvers Rubber Club…..quite adult, you’d BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES TO BE and Dialabolical, my telephone better get those parental directory prediction. Just as it takes restrictions back on your computer! FOOLED MORE THAN ME.

www.magicseen.co.uk 15 SIEGFRIED UNIQUE IN ALL THE & ROY WORLD “ would have never succeeded without Siegfried & Roy. Our deal was that I provided the theatre and a production fee. S&R would do the pre-production, memorialised that event. But in Siegfried looked at Roy—unsaid and we would split the profit, fifty-fifty after costs. S&R thinking about it, we decided we words flashed between the two of spent fifteen to twenty million more on the show than their wanted to go deeper into the world them. He finally looked back at us allocated production fee. I told them that there was no more of Siegfried & Roy than anyone had and smiled, saying, ‘The vision of money to cover the difference. They said they had hocked ever ventured. Since a book and Siegfried & Roy, I like that. Let’s do their contract and their house to pay for it. I was shocked. countless articles have already been it.’ Roy nodded, then immediately written about S&R, we knew we chimed in with a laugh, ‘Just make Who does this?” – Steve Wynn, excerpt from “Siegfried & needed to go in a new direction— sure Siegfried doesn’t take credit Roy: Unique In All The World.” one that would intrigue them and for everything.’ And that was it; our By Paul Stone secure their full cooperation. Rather remarkable journey had begun.” than do just another biography about their lives and history as Of course my next question to Diana performers and personalities, we and Robert was the one that is on I had the opportunity to sit down with outside the Mirage on the Strip in chose to focus on them as artistes everybody’s mind, when will the book author and editor, Diana Zimmerman, Las Vegas, and reproductions of and people—to really explore, for be released? and co-author and art director, Robert many rare items that have never the first time, their unique creative Gould, to discuss the much-talked before been published—and that philosophy and process.” “When we first started the book,” about and highly anticipated Siegfried can be removed from the book—as Diana explains, “Robert and I thought and Roy collector’s vault book— well as a DVD of the London “We explained this approach to it would take about a year to Siegfried & Roy: Unique In All The Palladium Tribute to Siegfried and S&R,” Robert says, “in a meeting at produce. We anticipated it would be World. Like S&R, the book is also Roy show that I produced in 2008, their home. They graciously listened published in late 2009. It has taken “unique in all the world,” and with it is like nothing ever created in the to our pitch: ‘The world knows you over two years, but is now only 500 numbered copies being history of magic publishing. from the outside, through the show, completed. We had choices to printed, it is definitely a rare and your performances, and your make—do we rush to publish it, and important piece of magic history. I asked Diana and Robert how this personalities. We would like to exclude a new collection of items that remarkable project came to be: create a book that reveals who you we were just given access to last fall, The journey to its publication is “The concept for the book Paul,” are from the inside, and how you or do we push back the publication almost as intriguing as the book Diana replied, “grew out of your create your magical world. We want date and include these important itself. With actual ephemera from Tribute to Siegfried & Roy at the to create a book that embodies the finds? We choose the latter. Getting Siegfried and Roy’s Mirage show, a London Palladium. Robert and I vision of Siegfried & Roy.’ When we on the calendars of people such as piece of their Marquee that stood wanted create a book that finished, there was only silence. Steve Wynn, Kenny Ortega, and

16 magicseen Taster No. 3 ...WE HAD TOUGH CHOICES TO MAKE ABOUT WHAT TO PUT IN AND WHAT TO CUT. WITH A $695.00 PRICE POINT, ($595.00 PRE- PUBLICATION) IT HAS TO BE INCREDIBLY SPECIAL—AND IT IS. WE HAVEN’T CUT ANY CORNERS ON THE PRODUCTION.

Kenneth Feld also took longer than anticipated. Meeting with them wasn’t always at our convenience— not to mention juggling Siegfried & Roy’s own schedule. And then there were the thousands of visual items that had to be sourced, sorted, selected, scanned and, due to the age, size and/or shape of many of these rare pieces, had to be cleaned up for legibility.”

“We were overly optimistic in our original timeline,” Robert adds, “and really had no idea about the depth and breadth of the world of images we were exploring. In my thirty-five years of working as a designer and art director, I have learned that books have their own life. Somewhere in the course of their creation, you cease to drive the process, and they begin to reveal themselves to you. At that point you must surrender, listen, trust, and serve the work. Let it become what it must be, because that is where the real magic evolves. And that is what we chose to do with Siegfried & Roy: Unique In All The World.”

“As a result, the book has grown into so much more than we ever anticipated,” Diana continues. “It PAGES TAKEN FROM has almost doubled from the original size. And even with the increased SIEGFRIED & ROY: page count, we had tough choices UNIQUE IN ALL THE WORLD. to make about what to put in and MORE PAGES TAKEN FROM what to cut. With a $695.00 price SIEGFRIED & ROY: point, ($595.00 pre-publication) it has UNIQUE IN ALL THE WORLD. to be incredibly special—and it is. We haven’t cut any corners on the production. It is costing $250,000 to produce, so there may never be another book like this again. Collectors and enthusiasts—even non-magicians—have been snapping them up. Some people have purchased two, three, and even four copies. But then, with the first book having sold at auction for $3,000, it is understandable that people think the resale on it will skyrocket.”

“But that’s not the reason to purchase this book,” she insists. “The interviews, alone, are some of the most revealing and thought- provoking ever accumulated in our field. Individuals such as Steve Wynn, Kenny Ortega, John Napier, and Kenneth Feld speak frankly about S&R; what it took for them to be successful, what they were like to work with, and how they changed Las Vegas. When you hear people at this level of success, not in magic, but mainstream, talk about what it takes to become a success, you not only gain a tremendous insight into Siegfried and Roy, but into success itself. I challenge anyone to read this book and not re-examine their own career, whether he or she is in magic or not. Individuals such as Penn Jillette, Criss Angel, , and David Copperfield also share highly personal stories about S&R. Of course, Penn’s interview is one of the most provocative.”

“We also wanted S&R’s contributions to be insightful and new, to really capture the essence of these two remarkable men,” Robert explains. “That may seem to be a bold goal, especially from two people of such exceptional celebrity, but working with them proved to be a remarkably open, gracious, and generous process. It’s important to understand that I am not a magician, nor am I part of the magic community. I never saw S&R’s show, and never met them before we began this project. That said, working with them has been, and continues to be, the most profoundly affecting experience of my creative life. The vision, passion, creativity and humour of Siegfried & Roy are a pleasure and honour to experience first hand. I have never heard any artistes discuss their work with such clarity, vision, and joy.” “Capturing such depth, artistically,” Robert adds, “was my challenge in designing the book—imbuing S&R’s mystical world-view into a compelling visual experience. I loved every moment of it, and have come away from my relationship with S&R with the profound realisation that they have a secret, something that is the key to a deeper understanding of who they are and why they are so successful—and that is all revealed in the book.” WE’VE MADE EVERY ASPECT OF IT A REFLECTION OF SIEGFRIED AND ROY’S The book is truly unique in so many ways, as Diana explains: “We’ve VERY BEING. YOU’LL READ ABOUT THEM IN THEIR OWN WORDS, OFTEN made every aspect of it a reflection of Siegfried and Roy’s very being. You’ll ILLUMINATING AND INSPIRING, SOMETIMES BLUNT, SOMETIMES BOLD, BUT read about them in their own words, ALWAYS REVEALING WHO THEY REALLY ARE - AND THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU. often illuminating and inspiring, sometimes blunt, sometimes bold, but always revealing who they really Roy. You will meet, up-close and additional section in the book to do artifacts, Siegfried & Roy: Unique in are—and that may surprise you. personal, Lynette Chappell, S&R’s just that.” All the World will immerse you in When they created their stage leading lady—both on and off- their magical world like never before. shows, they did so with the audience stage. Her story, like theirs, is one “These are men who, to this day,” Drawn from private collectors, as foremost in their minds and hearts, of amazing courage and unbridled Robert continues, “with all of the well as Siegfried & Roy’s own closed and that is what we’ve been able to strength. Perhaps no one is closer struggles, successes, and archives, the book affords rare capture. It is experiential in every way, to them than Lynette. In the book, challenges that they have faced in glimpses into the creativity and from the removable sketches of their you will see why.” their lives, live every moment in the vision that has guided the lives and first illusions, to their early contracts, vital, joyful present, hungry for new careers of these two precedent- brochures, and an actual piece of the “When you have the opportunity to experiences, looking boldly forward setting artistes. Rare historical show magnificent marquee that dominated explore the minds of highly to a far horizon, all the while posters and tickets, tour marketing the Strip, plus the DVD of the successful people,” Diana goes on immersed in humility and gratitude. materials and merchandise, Palladium show. It is so much more to say, “you walk away with an You’ll also read about the struggle photographs, handwritten letters than Robert and I ever imagined.” entirely new insight into what can both Siegfried and Roy went and notes, and so much more have be achieved. Robert and his team through after the “incident,” as Roy been faithfully reproduced. And, as “You’ll read about how S&R of artists have done an amazing job calls it, how they fought to Diana mentioned, many of these realised their extraordinary dreams, of displaying the elegance and overcome such horrendous items are designed to be removable. and charted new paths where no importance of the words that I’ve adversity, and where their heads model existed,” she adds. “How written, as well as the interviews are today. These are not two men Siegfried & Roy: Unique in all the they were able to conceive and we’ve been fortunate enough to who have ever rested on their World is truly unique in magic. It create a show that changed the gather. He’s done it in a way that is laurels—nor will they ever.” can be ordered by going to face of Las Vegas entertainment, elegant, provocative and inclusive. www.noesispublishing.com. My and opened doors where none Originally, the interviews were all From the previews that I’ve seen, suggestion is, don’t wait. Now that existed for magicians and variety going to be short. But they are so the book is, indeed, extraordinary. the publication date is set, and with performers, alike. And we’ve important to understanding S&R Using exact facsimile reproductions only five hundred copies, half of included another very important that we decided to include many of of rare memorabilia and never- which are already sold, it will individual in the lives of Siegfried & them in their entirety and create an before-published documents and undoubtedly sell out quickly. ms

www.magicseen.co.uk 19 MASTERCLASS SPECIAL

will be using in Now close the book, and performance, on the first turn it end over end, so blank page you are now that the back cover is going to write a series of facing you. Open this numbers, as if they had cover. You will find yourself been written by different looking at the back page, members of your audience. which is now upside-down. Fold the rear cover all the Which numbers you write way round to the back, will depend on the edition against the front cover, so of “Watchers” you are that all that remains to be using. If you are using the seen are the blank page Berkeley publication (now at the front), and the choose from these inside of the back cover numbers: (now at the back). WATCHERS by Lewis Jones (illustrated 86, 87, 88, 94, 96, 106, To begin, have the pen, the if anyone else wants to add from you. Let the by John Teo) 109, 110, 113, 124, 155, notebook (with folded-back any numbers. Then your back cover move down 182, 208, 209, 211, 215, rear cover), and a copy of right hand takes back the towards a horizontal EFFECT 237, 238, 240, 250, 251, “Watchers” at hand. notebook, holding it upright position, and the bulk of Spectators are allowed to 252, 278, 281, 282, 288, (spiral to your right), so that the notebook will swing freely select up to 60 page 290, 295, 297, 298, 299, METHOD the written page faces the downwards to a vertical numbers from a paperback 300, 308, 311, 317, 335, Introduce the paperback audience, and it is obvious position. novel. Then any spectator 348, 357, 363, 375, 393, book, and hand it to that you can’t see any of makes a final (secret) 394, 396, 397, 398, 401, someone well over to your the writing yourself. Simultaneously, use the selection of any of these 402, 409, 410, 411, 412, right for examination. pen to help the bulk of the pages. He runs his finger 414, 415, 419, 421, 423, Encourage him to allow Your right hand passes the notebook to continue its down his chosen page, 428, 429, 430, 432, 433, other people nearby to upright notebook to your swing — upwards and and you are able to tell him 458, 463, 468. examine the book. left hand, which takes hold flipped over to your left — some remarkable and of the left edge of the back so that in the final position, correct information about But if you are using the Show the already-opened cover only (thumb nearest the front cover is on top. the passage where his Headline edition, choose notebook, with the blank to you, and fingers in The entire notebook is now finger stopped. from these numbers: page showing, and hand it between the back cover horizontal, and your left with the pen to someone and the bulk of the hand is still holding no SETUP 97, 98, 99, 106, 110, 122, near to the person notebook). The notebook more than the edge of the The paperback novel is 123, 125, 126, 128, 160, examining the novel. Ask should be leaning slightly back cover, which is now ungimmicked. It is 168, 169, 225, 226, 227, how many pages are in the towards you, to make sure on the underside of the “Watchers” by Dean 228, 253, 254, 255, 256, novel, and invite members that the bulk of the notebook. Your left fingers Koontz, and it is has over 267, 270, 289, 301, 302, of the audience to write notebook doesn’t swing are now underneath, and 500 pages. At the time of 308, 319, 325, 330, 354, random page numbers all away free. your left thumb is trapped writing, it is being sold on 356, 377, 378, 384, 411, over the blank page. Make above the back cover and www.amazon.com for 1 418, 424, 426, 427, 434, it clear that each person is Hold out your right hand as below the page with the cent, and on amazon.co.uk 435, 437, 447, 448, 452, free to write as many you ask for the pen to be spectators’ numbers on it. for 1 penny. 453, 456, 457, 458, 460, numbers as they like — all returned to you. If you 462, 464, 479, 483, 484, different — and then pass want to use the old joke At the same time, you are You will also need a small 494, 495, 506. the pen and notebook on (“That’s how I got it”), moving away to your right, notebook that has a spiral to someone else. In this now’s the time. Take the and asking, “Now who has binding that runs down the Don’t write the numbers in way, the pen and notebook pen by one end, in the way the novel?” left side, so that the front neat order of increasing pass further and further you would hold a magic cover opens by swinging value, as I’ve done above. over to your left, and well wand. Drop the pen into a pocket, from right to left, like a Write them in haphazard away from the spectator and use both hands to normal book. order, and spread them all holding the novel. Now, as you begin to move hold up the closed over the page at random. to the right, towards the notebook in a vertical Open the notebook by Use as many of them as When the notebook has spectator holding the position, with its front cover turning the front cover to you can cram in, and try to travelled about as far to the novel, your left hand allows facing the audience. Open the left. Using the pen you fill the page. left as it can, check to see the notebook to tilt away the front cover, making it

20 magicseen Taster No. 3 clear that you can’t see any middle of the page. His Go into divination mode top and bottom, with the list of words on the other >> of the writing. Tear out that task is to be aware of and say, “Let me just write spiral still uppermost.) side). Crumple up the page and hand it to the some of the words that are down what it is I’m Write the word EINSTEIN page anddrop it into your spectator with the novel, available to his peripheral getting.” With the across this page. pocket. Then write the then close the notebook. vision, but not to select any notebook’s front cover still word DOG, or (perhaps Ask him to check that all of them yet. facing you, turn the Turn the notebook to face better) the words GOLDEN the numbers are all notebook through 90 the spectator with the RETRIEVER on the visible different, and then to make To demonstrate how he is degrees, so that the spiral book, and ask him to read blank page (this is in fact a secret mental choice of to pick a spot on the page is uppermost. Your left out loud what you’ve the end page of the any page number on the of the book, hold up the hand takes hold of the rear written, then ask him to notebook). Show this to written list. notebook with the rear cover and its adjacent check that the word is the spectator, and let him cover facing the spectator, page together, and your close to his fingertip on the confirm that Einstein is in Ask the spectator to roll the and run your right right hand swings page of the novel. fact the name of a dog. page into a paper ball. You forefinger slowly down the everything else up and helpfully relieve him of the centre, from top to bottom. away from you, so that it This is a success, and the Finally (and here’s the point paper ball and drop it into (This serves to show that drops down on the effect appears to be over. of all this), hand him the your pocket. the notebook doesn’t have audience’s side. But you still appear to be notebook “as a souvenir of two front covers.) bothered by something. a rather special occasion”. While you move well away, You are now looking at a Say, “There’s just one more He can now examine it as ask the spectator to open Choose a moment when single blank page, and on thing. I don’t really much as he wants - it’s just the novel at his mentally his finger has clearly the other side of understand it, but let’s see if a standard notebook and chosen page. He is now to reached the bottom of the it is the list of numbers that you can make sense of it.” there’s nothing suspicious place his forefinger tip at page, or is very near it. were previously written by to be found. the middle of the top of “Hold it right there. Take a members of the Tear out the page with the that page, and move his close look at some of the audience. (The long edges word EINSTEIN on it (and I don’t know of any similar finger slowly down the words near your fingertip.” of the notebook are now be careful not to flash the routine that allows this. ms

“OK children, this is a blanket. After a short while “OK kids, someone’s under the covered child will stand game called who’s under stop the music. the blanket, come and up. Award both the correct the blanket. I’ll play some have a look”. child and the covered child music and I want you to “OK, everybody on the with a small prize. dance around the room. floor curled up into a ball Have all the children make When the music stops I with your eyes closed and a large circle around you I would only have three want you to curl up into a NO peeking.” and the covered child guesses. After all, you ball on the floor like this making sure that nobody don’t want the covered and close your eyes.” There will need to be some stands on the blanket. child to stay covered for space around the children, too long. After three Curl up on the floor so if many of them are very “Right, who do we think is incorrect guesses, yourself showing the close together say the under the blanket. Don’t have the covered child WHO’S UNDER THE children what to do. following; “Now I do need call out. If you would like to stand up slowly and pull BLANKET? enough room around you to have a guess just put your the blanket away carefully Andy Clockwise “OK, while you’re on the floor place the blanket, so if hand in the air.” revealing them giving a curled up into a ball with your you’re very close to a friend small prize to the covered (Extracted with permission eyes closed, I’ll place a you’ll need to move. Have a Ask a child who they think is child only. Then you from Andy's lecture notes blanket over one of you and quick look and if you do under the blanket. Then ask start all over again with the "Kidwize With Clockwise") if I do you have to stay very, need to move I’ll give you 5 the person under the music playing etc and very still. We’ll then have just seconds to do it. 1,2,3,4,5.” blanket that if the guess was give someone else a This is a great game for 3 guesses to try and find out correct to stand up. If the chance to be covered children's parties and can who’s under the blanket. OK, Place the blanket over one guess is incorrect, they are with the blanket. The be played for 5 minutes or let’s play, everybody up and child covering them to stay where they are. Tap children really do love 25 minutes. The children let’s dance”. completely. Put the child at the covered child’s back as this game, and they’ll love it and all you need is a ease with a reassuring tap you talk to them so that they come up to you as they’re blanket, some music and a Play your music as you do on their back and a “right, know you are talking to dancing asking for you to few small prizes. a silly dance with the stay very still”. them. If guessed correctly, cover them. ms

www.magicseen.co.uk 21 “As a lover, I’m about as impressive as a magician on the radio” Scott Roeben

RADIOGAGAby Mark Leveridge 22 magicseen Taster No. 3 MAGIC ON THE RADIO

very now and again you hear unharmed. It proved to be an excellent choice of magicians who have of effect all round. E performed on the radio, but have you ever wondered just how Trick Tips effective it really is as a medium for So what kind of effects would our experts magic? Does it actually come across recommend? Alan Jones suggests that the well, or is it all just a bit ‘gaga’. We Linking Rings make a good magic effect because of the accompanying sound that they take a look at this specialised form make, but he, along with most of the others, of entertainment and try to draw would by choice opt for something in the some conclusions with the aid of five mentalism line. Clearly, many prediction tricks or other mental plots are easier to put across guys who have all been there and than more visual tricks. done it, those performers being Alan Jones, Ian Keable, Jay Fortune, Mark Mark Waddington likes to present a musical Jay Fortune prediction based on that week’s top 40 chart, Waddington and Stuart Watkins.... as this enables the track itself to be played and in situations where the interview slot is very Painting Audio Pictures short, it allows for the effect to be continued Let’s start by stating the totally obvious - magic As long as the effect after the music has finished. on the radio will be audible but not visible is clear so the listener can (unless there’s a webcam or something similar Ian thinks you can’t really beat a newspaper covering the studio, which does happen follow it, and the reaction of advert prediction along the lines of ‘on such and occasionally but is certainly not something to such a show on the 9th July, Ian Keable predicts be relied upon). Now since magic is normally the spectators in the studio that so and so will select the eight of clubs’. considered to be a visual artform, you may is strong enough, then think that you have immediately hit the buffers - Interestingly, Jay feels that the actual trick is if people can’t see you, how are they going to radio can create a real not really that important, but it is more “how know what you’re doing? the personality of the magician can be best magic experience. It’s all presented through the effect (in order to) The answer is that as the performer, you need about painting a clear communicate and showcase their talent.” to set up a situation which the listeners can readily understand and appreciate, using picture in the mind of The end game of whatever you perform is that magic in which the plot is as much as possible you must engage the listeners. People often have self-evident. Certainly Ian Keable feels that “as your listener. Jay Fortune soon as the listener has to hear what is happening in order to understand the effect (‘that’s amazing, sponge balls have appeared about painting a clear picture in the mind of in my hand’) something is inevitably lost”. your listener.”

Next, the reaction of the radio show host to the To give you an example of this, I can tell you magic needs to be such that it conveys to the that years ago I had the opportunity to appear listeners the amazement of what has just taken on BBC Radio Bristol and I remember that I place. Stunned silence may be a testament to presented the Finger Chopper. What was great your magical prowess in some situations, but it about this was that the plot was set up in is total death for magic on the radio! What you advance of anything actually happening as I need are gasps, and exclamations from those explained the Finger Chopper prop and what I watching in the studio. intended to do with it, tension was built up through a series of false starts and humorous Jay Fortune sums the whole scenario up nicely lines, leading to the highly dramatic moment when he says, “As long as the effect is clear so when with an audible sound the blade was hit the listener can follow it, and the reaction of the through the radio presenter’s finger, spectators in the studio is strong enough, then culminating in a shriek of surprise and relief radio can create a real magic experience. It’s all from said presenter when his finger survived Stuart Watkins

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• make sure you have plenty of material - sometimes you can get asked to stay on longer than you expected, especially if you are going well and they have time to fill. • the presenter is the star, so you need to carefully take control of him/her or they may talk over your punch lines, but try not to pre-brief on what you intend to do, or you will lose that all important spontaneous reaction that you need in order to sell the magic to the listener. • keep your eye on the time. You should know how long your trick lasts but you don’t want it interrupted because they have to cut to a news break or travel Alan Jones bulletin.

All our experts agree that keeping it simple is the best way to go. As Ian puts it, “they think of a word, you tell them what it is. They choose a card, it’s predicted in the newspaper. They shake a dice, you tell them what the top number is. Cut out any complicated instructions which will be hard for both the presenter in the studio and the listener at home to follow.”

Stuart also recommends that you only use material that you are really comfortable with and that you perform all the time so that you can concentrate fully on creating the necessary tension in the studio and for the listeners at home. Nerves can affect your concentration in these unusual situations, so the better you know the magic, the more likely you are to Ian Keable survive and do well.

What’s The Point? the radio on while they are doing something else, The Key To Success Given that radio is not the easiest of mediums it’s a sort of background noise to accompany In order to try and crystalise what you need to for a magic performance, why bother with it? people eating, working, gardening, house be looking for when creating something to use The answer is almost always that it is free, local cleaning, driving etc, and so for a performer to on the radio, Alan Jones has set out a publicity. If you are having a one-off event and succeed he has to create something which grabs checklist of a few basic things you might want you want to promote it, appearing on local the attention of those who up to that point were to think about. He says: radio in advance probably won’t do you any perhaps only half listening. harm (unless you mess it up!) and it might • your magic must have a straightforward encourage a few extra people to come along One way to do this, is to involve a listener who plot and have an engaging and relevant to your show. calls in to the show. Stuart makes a real theme for the demographic of the listeners feature of this by using an Invisible Deck in (know your audience!). If it’s for more general publicity, Ian suggests which the card with the different coloured back • any instructions you give to the radio that you really need to do a series of matches one chosen at random by a listener presenter should be clear and appearances for it to have any impact. who calls in to the show during the unambiguous. Remember, the DJ’s Jay stresses that radio is excellent for selling performance. This creates a nice three way attention will probably be split between you and your personality, but not so good if segue between the performer, the DJ and the you, the effect and keeping all the buttons you are simply trying to prove how strong your listeners. pressed! tricks are.

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More Info What it all boils down to is that just like performing commercial close up, or children‘s shows, or cabaret or appearing on TV, presenting magic on radio is a skill and a knack too, and it is not something that anyone should just rush into thinking it will all be easy. In fact Jay recommends that people “take a crash course in radio. It’s a different ballgame to performing in a visual capacity. Many magicians go after the publicity that radio can bring...without really understanding the medium”.

So, if this article has piqued your interest and you would like to go into the subject further, here are a few suggestions from our experts for material you may care to source in order to increase your knowledge. Mark Waddington ’s Radio Magic - 3 CD set - $35 (approx. £20) from www.magicinspirations.net/radiomagic.htm

Alan sees it as an excellent way to promote Mind Waves by Andrew Gerard - your name and to encourage people to visit ...unlike TV, which 3 DVD set - £39.92 from your website, plus it can lead to follow up can be quite daunting, www.magicshop.co.uk on the radio station’s own blogs and forums. Mark says that unlike TV, which can be appearing on radio where Radio Magic by John Wade - quite daunting, appearing on radio where there MP3 audio download - $14 is usually only yourself and one or two there is usually only (approx. £9) from presenters, feels a lot calmer and allows you www.lybrary.com/compere-radio-magic-p- to take control more of what you want to say yourself and one or two 17911.html and do. presenters, feels a lot The Dunninger Radio Show - MP3 download - calmer and allows you $3 (approx. £2) from On The Air www.lybrary.com/dunninger- So you’ve decided you want to give radio to take control more of radio-show-p-594.html magic a try and you’ve sorted out some what you want to say suitable material, now all you need to know is Verbal Magic by - how to get invited to appear. There are a and do. Mark Waddington £26.99 number of ways to go about this: from www.magicbox.uk.com

• Send in a Press Release about something become the resident expert on something Plus... Alan Jones is in the that you are going to be doing. It needs to connected with a current topic. process of producing a product featuring be something that will get the attention of • See if you can find someone who is detailed information on how to perform on the production team. Alan got coverage for involved with hospital radio and try to get radio. Entitled FM : No Visuals At All with a a Houdini stunt, and on another occasion on to that a couple of times in order to give subtitle of: Practical Themes and Ideas for for a blindfold drive. Stuart suggests that if yourself some experience. This in itself Radio Mentalists, it is available from Alan you are working for a local charity, may generate some interest from the direct. Contact him for more information on particularly if it is a children’s charity, the regular local radio station. [email protected] radio station will usually be interested in • Ian recommends that if you send in a finding out more about it. Press Release, you should do a follow up And finally....Ian Keable is the author of • Become a local expert on something. ‘phone call if you haven’t heard back from ‘Stand-up, A Professional Guide To Radio stations have blogs and listener the station within a few days as this will Comedy Magic’ which we reviewed in issue forums, so have a look on those and see give you a chance to show what a 23 (Nov. 08) and which you can get from what the hot topics are and see if you can fascinating person you are during the call! www.iankeable.co.uk/stand_up

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