COMEDY•MAGIC•SIDESHOW•MIND READING•VARIETY MAGICBIZARRE MAGAZINE GOT FIRE? ADVERT When you really need to impress a crowd, remember that eating re has blown away audiences for over four hundred years. That’s a lot of heartburn. www.youcaneatre.com Fan Mail What do audiences think of Brian Reverse psychology? Brushwood’s show? ...In all, he held a Lets start by read- jaded bunch of interac- ing some fan mail! tive media professionals in his power for one of the most exciting half- From across the pond hours of their lives! So Brian was one of the again, DON’T HIRE BRIAN most lively & entertain- BRUSHWOOD... especially ing guests I’ve had on my at South by Southwest show this year. He knows time... because we sure his stuff & it’s great he’s as hell want to hire him prepared to share some of again next year! his magic with us. Scott White Paul Coyte, Scient, Inc. Austin, Texas BBC London Thanks... I think? Deep in the USA -Brian Brian, ...We got terrific feedback What does TV think? (even from the Dean of ...I thought your appear- Students and the Board of ance was so great and we Trustees) regarding your had a lot of fun; I hope performance! We’ll keep you did too... you were you in mind for future what we call “Great TV.” bookings. Also, I rec- ommended you to the Mary Pelloni, Student Activites Director Producer, @ Barton Co. Community “The Roseanne Show” College in Great Bend, KS. Take care & You Go Do you have com- Strange Man! ments about Brian’s show? Send them to Rodeana Reynolds, the contact listed on Seward County CC, the back page! Liberal, KS “And they said I’d never pass FULL DISCLOSURE: woodshop!” Feature Article:: What’s in the show? We dig in, and tell you everything you need to know about the Brian FULL DISCLOSURE: Brushwood: Bizarre Magic show. Bizarre: adj. (bi-zarr) 1. Amusingly strange or unusual. 2. See: Brian Brushwood’s show. What’s in the show? Who should book Brian? Make no mistake about it: Brian’s show is the perfect the Brian Brushwood: Bizarre Magic fit for comedy series, performing show is something special. arts series, conferences, conven- Brian has the unique ability tions, clubs, and most other major to take outrageous, dangerous, and events. amazing feats and blend them with The show can be performed the right amount of comedy to give in performing arts arenas, coffee- each routine a polished look and feel. house theatres, and is perfect for In one show, Brian performs television appearances. fire eating, escapes from an Brian’s show is available as audience-tied straitjacket, performs a full 90 minute evening show, a 45 sleight-of-hand, breaks concrete minute coffeehouse/banquet show, bricks over his head, sticks nails in and various customized performance his eyes, reads minds, lays on a bed lengths. of nails, performs the indescribable Brian also works exception- “human crazy straw,” and so much ally well as an M.C. for any evening’s more! event. Most of the material in Bri- “Brian Brushwood just kills me. He’s funny, danger- ous, and brilliantly original. He’s going to be really famous very soon.” -Teller, of magicians Penn & Teller Feature Article:: What’s in the show? an’s show was designed to work per- However, it is important to fectly as stand-alone pieces, allowing note that many of the tricks and him to customize his show precisely stunts Brian performs would be very to your event’s needs. dangerous if tried by anyone at home. Therefore, whenever kids are present, Is Brian’s show Brian makes a special point of high- appropriate? lighting and explaining these dan- While Brian may seem pretty gers. freaky, the bizarre magic show is very much a magic show, complete with Why choose Brian? sleight of hand, comedy, mind read- The most valuable service any ing, escapes, and bizarre stunts. Fur- event can offer is something com- thermore, Brian’s show contains no pletely unique... an act that will foul language, inappropriate jokes, or remain in the minds and conversa- “blue” material. There is absolutely tions of audiences for the rest of nothing said in the show that is not their lives. Brian’s show presents the appropriate for the entire family to chance for audiences to see things hear. they’ve only heard about: a collec- tion of magic and stunts not found anywhere else! For a show that won’t be for- gotten, host the Brian Brushwood: Bizarre Magic show by contacting the number on the back of this book. B “You are TRULY amazing! Not only was it one of the best attended shows at our college, but you also outdid yourself with ALL your help! Thanks again! YOU ROCK!!!” -Michael Gazur, Student Activities Council Chair, Spokane Comm. College, WA Everyone loves Mr. Happypants, but Mr. H doesn’t love everyone. In Depth Bio Who Is Brian Brushwood? Raised by a pack of wild, carnivorous magicians? The product of a govern- ment-sponsored magician breeding program? We cut through the hype and myth, and discover the real Brian Brushwood. Brian Brushwood was born in Fountain Valley, California, and learned to make friends quickly as he spent most of his childhood moving to Colorado, Norway, and several parts of Texas. As a child, Brian possessed an intense love of magic... one that mysteriously vanished when he became a teenager. Once in college, Brian rekindled his interest in magic, studying sleight-of-hand and perform- ing close-up magic as a part-time job. In fact, Brian was off to a quick start in a career of deception, as he was able to convince his pro- fessors to allow him to perform a magic show for his senior honors thesis. Brian got an “A,” and upon grad- uation began performing his unique brand of bizarre magic at clubs and schools. Beginning in Texas, Brian’s audiences grew from hundreds to thousands as he quickly captured “Best Club Magic” and “Best Comedy Magic” awards from the Texas Association of Magicians and broke out onto the national scene. Who Is Brian Brushwood? Raised by a pack of wild, carnivorous magicians? The product of a govern- ment-sponsored magician breeding program? We cut through the hype and myth, and discover the real Brian Brushwood. From colleges to corporations, Brian has now become one of the most in-demand and origi- nal performers today. He has been sought after by national TV shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” praised by colleagues such as Teller (of magi- cians Penn and Teller), and critics call his show “exciting,” “unique,” and “flawless.” Brian is the author of The Professional’s Guide to Fire Eating; Pack the House; and Cheats, Cons, Swindles, and Tricks. He has appeared on dozens of television and radio broadcasts, including “The Tonight Show,” and programs on ABC, NBC, FOX, the BBC, E! and more. Brian also tours heavily, appearing at colleges, clubs, and on televi- sion in almost every state in the U.S. When not performing, Brian lectures, writes, and barefoot waterskis in Austin, Texas. To bring Brian to your next event, follow the contact information on the back page of this publication. B Photo Essay: Brian Brushwood “You could call him a modern- day Houdini.” todd boatwright, time-warner news Winner: “Best Comedy Magic” “I cannot top that!” Winner: “Best Club Magic” cindy crawford T.A.O.M. “Amazing!” jay leno “Does your mother know you do this?” roseanne “You don’t just do regular tricks!” debra duncan, on abc-TV’s “the debra duncan show” Questions & Answers BRIAN BRUSHWOOD What’s so special about Brian Brushwood’s show? We go straight to the source for the answer. Q: You call what you It’s true. There are some comedy series perfor- do “bizarre magic.” absolutely mind-boggling mances. These shows Exactly what is that? routines in the show... go over extremely well. Some really dangerous- The adults get into all the I started using the term looking stuff that you’re sophisticated humor, the “bizarre magic,” mainly not going to see any- cutting-edge mind read- because it was easier where else. But the ing, and can really appre- than explaining my whole difference is that I use ciate the danger of some show. It’s actually a humor to release the ten- of the feats. The kids mix of comedy magic, old sion in the audience, love the show on a more sideshow stunts, mind thereby making the visual level; they love the reading, and sleight-of- danger exciting and fun. fire eating, escapes, and hand. outrageous stunts. Q: How do you get Q: So is it some kind away with the out- Q: You tour over half of freak show? rageous stunts and the year, performing still keep conservative largely at colleges. (laughs) ...Far from it. It’s audiences watching? What do you see as true that some of the being next for you? routines I perform got I think it’s all in the pre- their start in the old sentation. I remember First off, let me be clear: sideshows, but I’ve gone hearing that the com- I love working colleges. to great efforts to add poser George Gershwin I like the energy, the polish, comedy, and basically took jazz off the enthusiasm... they’re just “I’ve gone unique twists to every streets, cleaned it up, and great. But this year I’m routine. Plus, while this reintroduced it as classi- also trying to branch out to great stuff is amazing, there’s cal music.