MAY 2013 TONY CHANG DAN WHITE DAN HAUSS ERIC JONES BEN TRAIN THE UNDERGROUND SESSIONS PAGE 36 CHRIS MAYHEW MAY 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 3 MAGIC - UNITY - MIGHT Editor Michael Close Editor Emeritus David Goodsell Associate Editor W.S. Duncan Proofreader & Copy Editor Lindsay Smith Art Director Lisa Close Publisher Society of American Magicians, 6838 N. Alpine Dr. Parker, CO 80134 Copyright © 2012 Subscription is through membership in the Society and annual dues of $65, of which $40 is for 12 issues of M-U-M. All inquiries concerning membership, change of address, and missing or replacement issues should be addressed to: Manon Rodriguez, National Administrator P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134 [email protected] Skype: manonadmin Phone: 303-362-0575 Fax: 303-362-0424 Send assembly reports to: [email protected] For advertising information, reservations, and placement contact: Mona S. Morrison, M-U-M Advertising Manager 645 Darien Court, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 Email: [email protected] Telephone/fax: (847) 519-9201 Editorial contributions and correspondence concerning all content and advertising should be addressed to the editor: Michael Close - Email: [email protected] Phone: 317-456-7234 Submissions for the magazine will only be accepted by email or fax. VISIT THE S.A.M. WEB SITE www.magicsam.com To access “Members Only” pages: Enter your Name and Membership number exactly as it appears on your membership card. 4 M-U-M Magazine - MAY 2013 M-U-M MAY 2013 MAGAZINE Volume 102 • Number 12 26 28 36 PAGE STORY 27 COVER S.A.M. NEWS 6 From the Editor’s Desk 8 From the President’s Desk 11 M-U-M Assembly News 24 Broken Wands 25 Good Cheer List 26 Newsworthy 10 69 Our Advertisers THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 10 Internet Connections • by Lee Asher 28 Ten Questions for Chipper Lowell 32 The High Road • by Mick Ayres 34 34 Nielsen Gallery • by Tom Ewing 36 COVER STORY 44 Ebook Nook: Miracle Material 46 Stage 101 • by Levent 48 Mental Breakdown • by Christian Painter 52 50 The Focus on Funny • by Norm Barnhart 52 On the Shoulders of Giants • by Scott Alexander 56 Building a Show • by Larry Hass 58 Informed Opinion • New Product Reviews 66 Tech Tricks • by Bruce Kalver 68 Salon de Magie • by Ken Klosterman 69 Inside Straight • by Norman Beck 70 The Dean’s Diary • by George Schindler 70 Basil the Baffling • by Alan Wassilak M-U-M (ISSN 00475300 USPS 323580) is published monthly for $40 per year by The Society of American Magicians, 6838 N. Alpine Dr., Parker, CO 80134 . Periodical postage paid at Parker, CO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to M-U-M, c/o Manon Rodriguez, P.O. Box 505, Parker, CO 80134. MAY 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 5 show. All shows, times, and ticketing information can be found at www.LouisvilleMagicFestival.com. Editor’s Desk If you live in the Chicago area, be sure to check out the Mercury Theatre’s new production of Barnum, the musical Michael Close inspired by the life of the world’s greatest showman. In addition to high-flying aerial stunts, stilt-walking, juggling, and The vernal equinox was three weeks ago, but the news that unicycling, the title character (played by Gene Weygandt) also Spring is here has yet to reach Canada. As I write this, the weather performs magic. The magic consultant for the show is compeer forecast is for cold temperatures and freezing rain. So (as Cee Lo Neil Tobin, the writer/performer behind Supernatural Chicago. Green would say), forget Spring; let’s think about summer and One of Weygandt’s big musical numbers of the show is the the S.A.M. national convention. stirring Cy Coleman ballad, “The Colors Of My Life.” In it, When I started going to magic conventions way back in the Tobin choreographed a lyrical sequence for him containing late 1970s, the main attraction was the opportunity to session nearly a dozen separate magical moments. Barnum runs through with other close-up guys. This was years before the Internet and June 16 at the Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport, Chicago. YouTube, and these sessions were important ways to learn new Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, at material. I always returned with several “hot,” new routines or www.mercurytheatrechicago.com, or by calling 773-325-1700. techniques under my belt. My old friend Peter Reveen passed away in Las Vegas on At the convention this year, you won’t even have to hunt April 8, after a long illness. Peter was a dynamic performer who around to find a close-up session; the sessions will come to you. toured the world as an illusionist and stage hypnotist. He was After the dealer room closes each night, six young performers typically billed as Reveen the Impossiblist. Peter was a founding will session with conventioneers. Each magician will sit at a table member of the Magic Castle, was awarded the DRAGON Award and answer questions and help the registrants with their magic. in 2000, and was manager to illusionist Lance Burton for twenty They will also do mini lectures each night. The six magicians years. He was also a friendly and approachable person. I saw him (our cover subjects this month) are Tony Chang, Eric Jones, Dan often in Las Vegas; each time we met he greeted me with a smile Hauss, Chris Mayhew, Ben Train, and Dan White. To whet your and the salutation, “Hello, friend.” appetite for what’s to come this summer, you’ll find a sampling Lupe Nielsen wrote the following on Facebook: “Peter was of their magic starting on page 36. one of the most likable and charismatic people I have ever Chipper Lowell is a name you may not know, but he is a known. He was amazing. Through his remarkable life he made very busy comedy magician who will also be appearing at the and lost entire fortunes. Every single time he lost everything, he convention this summer. You’ll learn more about Chipper in would tour again with his hypnosis show and make it all back. He Christian Painter’s interview this month. Chipper also offers an lived big; he lived the way he wanted; and he accomplished ev- important essay on the subject of “denial.” erything he wanted to achieve in life. He was a headliner in Las On April 12, The Society of American Magicians took Vegas, traveled around the world with his show, and even became an important step to increase awareness and to provide more a household name in Canada. Not bad for a kid from Adelaide, benefits to the magic community by launching a new Facebook Australia!” fan page that is open to all magicians. This page will provide Reveen’s health had been declining for several years; his important announcements, breaking news, and will relay product passing, while not unexpected, leaves a large hole for those us information to the users. To see this page, go to www.facebook. who enjoy hearing well-told stories of the road. The world is a com/TheSocietyOfAmericanMagicians. little less interesting without Peter Reveen in it. Aloha, Peter. Mac King and Bill Herz have teamed up to produce magic festivals in the U.S. The idea is to emulate the success of European and Asian festivals - bringing quality magic to the general public. The first festival will be June 14, 15, and 16, 2013, in Louisville, Kentucky. An incredible line-up of perform- ers has been booked, including a gala hosted by Lance Burton and Mac King. The hope is to make this a yearly event. Except for the gala, all of the shows are in extremely intimate settings with no theater seating more than two hundred people. The per- formers have all been asked to perform what they perform on a normal basis for the lay public as opposed to magicians’ conven- tions. There is one package designed especially for magicians that includes eight lectures by magicians and a ticket to the gala 6 M-U-M Magazine - MAY 2013 MAY 2013 - M-U-M Magazine 7 local Colorado magicians, S.A.M. past national presidents, and current national officers. The show played to a sold-out house of delighted local residents and generated enough money to pay the President’s Desk operating costs of the Center for six months. The Magic Center Foundation oversees the operation of the Chris Bontjes facility and is a 501(c)3 organization (meaning that any donations to the MCF are tax-deductible). Compeers are encouraged to learn about the MCF and the Magic Center by visiting www. DENVER sammagiccenter.com. In addition to learning about the Center, its mission, and its vision, visitors to the website can sign up for At least once a month, the executive board of the S.A.M. the Magic Center e-newsletter, contact Executive Director Dan (the elected national officers) meets via Skype to discuss issues Rodriguez to schedule a visit, and make a donation to support the currently facing the Society, progress toward goals, and visions continued work of the MCF. for the future. The S.A.M. also has many committees that Compeers are also encouraged to consider a donation of magic are tasked with providing membership benefits, overseeing props and/or memorabilia to support the growth of the Center. programs, and improving the experience of membership for all Contact Dan Rodriguez ([email protected]) for details. compeers. These committees also meet on a regular basis and work to make the S.A.M.