The Salt City Magic Club May 2020 It seems like EVERY Magician is on ZOOM these days! ZOOM After a “practice run” amongst the officers, we took our first try at a ZOOM virtual meeting for the club in April. Despite a few hiccups getting everyone up and running, it was a success! I still look forward to again sitting in the same room someday, in the mean time this is a workable solution. Thanks to Jimmy C for his mini lecture, and to all who joined in and attended. It was a novel experience, and kind of fun! We will be doing it again for our May meeting on Thursday, 21st May. Please join us for another neat experience. Steve Tichy and Harris Solomon Alex Silver are will hopefully be doing their initiation performances, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Ring. For others that A monthly newsletter of the would like to perform, the theme will be: “Magic for our Challenging Times… Videos, Zoom, Phone, effects without touching or using spec- Harris A. Solomon Ring #74 tators hands.” International Brotherhood of Magicians Thursday 21st 2020 (the Salt City Magic Club) Sign In: 6:50 PM. Meeting Start: 7:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81650854631?pwd=N2hRQ1R3M3FFS President: Ken Frehm 2RoZ3NRd3dra3BpQT09 Vice President: David Jackman Secretary: David Hanselman The Ithaca club (FLMC - Finger Lakes Magic Club) will also Treasurer: Bruce Purdy be holding their meeting via ZOOM, and feature a lecture by Keith Sgt. At Arms: Art Prest Fields! Their meeting will be held on Thursday, 14th May at 7:15pm. Meeting ID: 869 1982 0115 IBM Ring #74 meets at 7:30pm Password: 010351 the Third Thursday of every month (Usually) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86919820115?pwd=T2VVeGJKR 1NYV1h6UFZYSHBBMnBpUT09 Please submit material for publication in the Wandogram to: [email protected] Many Magicians are presenting shows over ZOOM as well. or by Snail Mail: Library shows and Corporate work appeared to have all dried up due Bruce Purdy to the Pandemic lockdowns, but some Magicians have been successful P.O.Box 213 in still performing those shows via ZOOM. Many children are still Cayuga NY 13034-0213 having Birthday parties, but doing it virtually. They use ZOOM every Questions? Call (315) 256-9095 day anyway for distance learning classes to continue their schoolwork, Submission deadline: so they are comfortable with the platform. Innovative Magicians are st getting hired to entertain on-line for those parties. 1 Thursday of the month If you search on GOOGLE for “zoom magic shows”, you’ll find many examples of what is being offered. Certainly it’s a new market www.saltcitymagicclub.com and not as well established as traditional “Live” shows, but until those become possible, it’s worth learning how to do it, and trying to innovate. 3 audience and then riffing with the -Leaves the audience amazed. answer. The “Improvisational Jazz -Leaves the audience amused Learn & Grow of comedy.” and happy even if they are not He talked about the “haters” in amazed. Bruce Purdy the comedy world. Some comedians -Lets the audience know and (insecure ones, are says) are judge- like YOU, be vulnerable. As most of you know, I listen out of business and not survive the mental of other styles of comedy, -Leaves the audience impressed to a lot of podcasts. Many are about shutdown, just as I’ve heard concerns claiming that someone else’s style by your skill and dexterity Magic and Magicians, the majority for the recent wave of small Magic “Isn’t ‘real’ comedy!” Some believe are not - and yet they all contribute Theatres that had been springing up that a ‘real’ comedian should As Eugene Burger used to say, to my “Magic thinking.” Some are around the country recently. (choose one): “The house of Magic has many about Marketing, advertising and When will audiences feel SAFE -Challenge assumptions rooms.” There is no one “right” client relationships; Some are about going to shows? How will the post- -Speak out about a political or way to be a Magician, there is no Theatre and producing shows; many pandemic “New Normal” affect social issue one “right” way to be a comedian, involve storytelling and some on their choice of material? -Challenge the status quo and there is no one type of music philosophy. -“speak truth to power” that is best. On another episode, come- -Be “edgy” and make people A musician might perform Recently I’ve listened to a dian Chelsea Peretti is releasing uncomfortable Country, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal, few episodes of the “Good One” an “album” of songs about coffee. -be comfortable and just give Jazz or Classical (or any other style) podcast. Each week, a comedian She has a Spotify playlist of songs the audience a good time / escape and they are all valid. will play one of their jokes and then that mean something to her - lyr- from their daily problems. breaks it down with Vulture.com ics or music which serves as an as -Use only well written and well What is important is to un- Senior Editor Jesse David Fox. “Inspiration list” / “Clip file”. Not crafted jokes in a coherent act. derstand what YOUR style is and Understanding humour, and things she would copy or steal, but -Ad lib and improvise so every work within your specialty. Find the the thinking that various comedians as a notebook of sorts of things she show is unique and special. audience for what you have to offer, put in to it does also influence my likes, which inspire her original ideas. etc. and don’t try to be all things to all own performances. Most graphic artists use this tool, and people. And DON’T think your way it would serve us as well in creating In much the same way, is the only acceptable path. I don’t know that this will go Magic material. many Magicians claim that you are into my regular rotation, but I have collect notes and ideas of only a “real” Magician and should There is much to be learned found some good thinking, and also premises, costuming, props (Not just only be taken seriously if you from non-Magic sources which helps some striking similarities to what I “Magic props”), stroies books and (choose one): you become a better Magician. hear on Magic podcasts. movies, music and colours that you -Able to perform knuckle- For example, in the episode are attracted to and and help define busting card moves Never stop learning! “Comedy Under Quarantine who you are and your unique style. -Believe that a simple self with Roy Wood Junior and Reviewing these notes in the future working trick that the audience loves Maria Bamford”. I found Simi- may well inspire original routines. is more important than technical skill larities to what I’ve been hearing on -A close-up performer Magician podcasts about the lack of “Moshe Kasher’s Crowd -An Illusionist work, no venues open. Concern that Work” Moshe is best known for his -Makes a living from perform- many comedy clubs may be going crowd work (Asking a question of the ing 4 5 inventive and create new solutions get everyone squared away. Our two to these challenges. I’ve already new members, Alex Silver and Steve seen some magicians and musicians Tichy will be doing their initiation giving shows and lessons using the performances. Please attend and awesome Zoom tool. Put on your welcome them to our magic ring. thinking caps.. surely you now have Please prepare one or two tricks that the time. can done either over the phone or We will be having our 2nd from the Zoom App. Zoom meeting on Thursday 21st – We’ll start at 7 P.M. So please sign Abracadabra In my seventy-eight + living in five distant states and cities. on about ten minutes early so we can Ken Frehm, President years of living on this planet, I’ve We get together with them every been witness to a lot of important Saturday evening for a family chat. and historical world-changing Seeing them and hearing their voic- events. However, I’m sure you all es, their activities and how they are will agree that the last couple of coping is a real plus. I have phoned months have been nothing short old friends who I haven’t conversed of cataclysmic! Who would of with and others have called me. I The Magician opens up our eyes ‘thunk’? Our entire planet will know, that many folks will be learn- to the wonders all around us, never be the same! When will we ing to do more cooking at home, ever get back to ‘normal’? Surely, it perhaps even reading books and using coins, cards, rings and silks will be completely different ‘normal’ newspapers? I know that we need to inspire and astound us. than the one we once knew. How we to reach into our past achievements will be living our lives in the years and talents, re-kindle and pursue Now, some may say “It's just a trick” ahead? hobbies and interests that may have I am a believer in the Yin fallen by the wayside. More folks are but I suggested this strong appeal. and Yang philosophy, which states taking the time to go out for walks, The effects may I be illusion one of Newton’s Laws; that for and conversing with neighbors. We every action, there is an equal and are all facing the same challenges. but the experience is real. opposite one.