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What Up with Max Maven?

Phil Goldstein – Max Maven

Okay, so what up with Max Maven?

I’m not saying “what up?” like I think he’s a freak or a person with some strange attribute or someone who has done something wrong. I’m saying, “what up?” about his chosen profession. What makes someone as literate as Max Maven, continue in magic? Why doesn’t he move on to something that would be worth his while? Something that would require his knowledge, ability and desire?

Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I’m glad that he writes for Genii, has invented three of the seven tricks I do in my act, cares enough about the common magician to write instructions that can be followed by even the most philistine of magic lovers.

I know that it is popular to bash him. I think this is jealousy. People hate or ridicule that which they cannot conquer. We have people on bulletin boards – truly – attacking magicians that do kids’ magic for a profession.

We have people making aspersions against the greats of our time. People calling David Copperfield names; accusing Seigfried and Roy of selling out; David Blaine of being a fake.

Why now? Why do we tear down about that which we care? What has Max Maven done that has so offended the presumed elite of our craft that would give them license to attack?

I ask these questions because with 24 hours I heard the most viscous attacks against Max Maven – horrible attacks – and read then read his article in this month’s Genii on “Silentalisim.”

In his column, he provides us, the common magician, with the means to accomplish a miracle. If you are a Genii subscriber, please turn to page 63 of the February 2003 edition. If you don’t subscribe to Genii, you should.

Read his description of a remarkablepsychic act. His version of the presentation gave me chills. It is perfect in explanation and tone. I know I couldn’t assume his stage presence and he knows that (even though he doesn’t know me) so he provides a patter that even I could pull off.

What he has provided is an act that could make a reputation for anyone bothering to read.

So we, the semi-pros, and lovers of magic, benefit from his love for our art. So here is my plea, can’t we all just get along?

I had the chance to meet Max Maven for a fleeting second or two at the Magic Castle. He was kind, gracious and helpful. I was so impressed that I was meeting the Great Max Maven, the man who invented practically my entire act. I had almost nothing to say but he accepted my compliments with grace.

So, why does he do it? Why does Max give so much to us? I’ve decided that I don’t care why, I am just glad that he does. We are so fortunate to have him within our circle.

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January 30th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

I Am Not Worthy: Henry Evans’ Ten Exact Cuts

tenexact

Henry Evans is amazing, in my professional and personal opinion. I know he has been recognized by FISM and others for his contributions to card magic so I don’t think I am going out on a limb by voicing my opinion.

I saw Mr. Evans perform and lecture at the World Magic Seminar last year in Vegas. His approach, like Simon Aronson’s, is to make things look magical by the lack of apparently tricky moves. His hands are usually off the cards when the effect takes place.

The effect of Ten Exact Cuts is as follows:

“A deck of cards is shuffled by a spectator. Really shuffled. You then cut the cards into 10 packs as follows: The first pack has 1 card, the second pack has 2 cards, the third pack has 3 cards and so on.

“Now, show that the cuts are so exact that the top card of each packet is a Spade, and the Spades are in sequential order! The top card of the first packet is the Ace, the top card of the second packet is the Two, the top card of the third packet is the Three, and so on, in sequential order from Ace to Ten, indicating the number of cards in each packet!”

Great magic, but there’s more!

“Produce the Jack, Queen and King of Spades from the pack. Then, shuffle the deck once more and make three exacting cuts, dividing the deck into three packets.

“Turn over the first packet to reveal all the diamonds in sequential order, from Ace to King! “Turn over the second packet to reveal all the clubs in sequential order, from Ace to King

“The third packet reveals all the hearts in sequential order, from Ace to King. The entire deck is now in order!”

Mr. Evansperformed this award-winning Ten Exact Cuts for me and I was blown away. I didn’t buy it from him at the Seminar and that was big mistake. The trick has become scarce — even from the on-line shops that usually have everything. Since that first demonstration, I have searched for it.

Despair kicked in. I started to think it was me. It was my fault. I was not worthy of the trick because I did not buy it right away. I also began to doubt whether I was worthy of even looking for the trick.

Finally, I began to doubt whether I was worthy of having tinted contact lenses. The last doubt had nothing to do with the search for the effect but showed how I began to spiral into self-doubt because of one trick.

My Court-Appointed Counselor thinks the self-doubt and my need to beat myself up is not likely related to Henry Evans’ trick. She thinks — according to her latest affidavit — that it is related to my desire to avoid prosecution by appearing crazy.

Whatever.

Back to the review.

I finally found the trick and bought it right away. I was like a little kid. I immediately opened the effect, looked at the deck he provided and tried to figure it out. I was stumped. I had no idea. Maybe I wasn’t worthy after all.

But then I noticed there were instructions included. I read the instructions and within six minutes, I was able to perform what appeared to me to be impossible.

The effect is as clean as it has been described. The sleights are virtually non-existent. In fact, if have grown up in magic, I can almost promise you can do the two sleights required. In fact, if you cut a deck of cards, you can do the effect.

But the effect is so powerful that it doesn’t seem possible — even once you…
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January 29th, 2003 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

A Very Neat Book

I was looking for the inspiration similar in kind but not magnitude as that received by my favorite Saint, Augustine of Hippo. He heard the calling of a young child?s voice in the yard next to him as he tried to decide whether to follow that which he know to be God?s way. The child sang, Tolle Lege ? ?take up, read? ? where upon Augustine took up Paul?s writings and learned in essence ?make no prepartion for sin.?

My revelation was, as I said, different in quality, magnitude and importance in my life. (For a neat article on Augustine’s episode check out: http://www.lvpca.org/TolleLege.htm). But it was still influenced by the book I held in my hands.

I opened to one of Mr. Jonte?s excellent essays, ?Just Do It.? In this pithy portion of an incredible book, Mr. Jonte advises that ?the only money that was ever worth earning was the money we used for what we wanted when we wanted it.? If all you have are memories when you leave this mortal sphere, the only reason to invest in anything is to provide memories.

With the assumption that this passage was adressed to me, I followed the advice and left for Chi-town. Mr. Jonte was right. Even if I had terrible memories, I would have had memories none the less.

Mr. Jonte wrote this book with his son, Bobby Jonte and it is one to keep by your bed table. The essays are short and very well-written. I know from meeting him at the South Carolina Association of Magicians? Convention last week that he is a magician and truly loves this art that we embrace. But from the essays, I also learned that he and his son, Bobby, are committed to many of the same convictions I hold absolute.

…
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January 28th, 2003 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Simon Aronson

Jay Marshall introduces Simon Aronson

I have to be honest; I did not know much about Simon before I attended his lecture this weekend at Magic Incorporated.

I didn?t know that he as a retired lawyer (still of counsel to one of the nation?s most important firms) and that his love for magic is essentially his only motivation for developing the many effects he has for contributing his fantastic effects. I assumed he was a long-time professional in our art and that he performed his card effects for corporate and significant private social gatherings.

I had just come back from the South Carolina Association of Magicians convention in Columbia and my friends thought me daft (I think they said ‘daft.’ They may have said I was a ‘giraffe’ but that would make no sense)to continue my drive westward to Chicago for a single lecture.

They were wrong, I was right. The Aronson lecture is not to be missed if you ever have a chance to attend.

Simon truly loves magic and loves, especially, card magic. His love for our craft is obvious in the care he has given to his lecture?s preparation and presentation.

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January 27th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Dan Sperry — Keep Your Eye on the Bird

Dan Wins!

I met Dan Sperry at the South Carolina Association of Magicians convention. I know you’re probably wondering why I am starting this article this way. Because one day, Dan Sperry is going to be working Vegas or headlining on television and that phrase will seem so much more important.

As I mentioned in an an earlier article, I am not a bird magician. I had a partner, Richard Ellis, who was a great bird magician and could do bare-handed productions and was one of the first to buy the Tony Spina harness.

Rich was the best bird magician I had ever seen. He’s not performing any more but he sure was good.

Then I saw Lance Burton. My life changed.

I know how it’s done. It is not a secret to me but when I watched Lance, it seemed to be real magic. He produced doves, silks, cigarettes and even cards at will. It really was real magic.

The point is that, Dan Sperry is the only person I have ever seen who has been able to tell me exactly what he was going to do and how he would do it (during his fantastic lecture) and then fool me when he did the exact same moves on stage. His performance in the Gala Show was incredible.

He has the poise of someone who has done this for years but who is still excited about the art. We’ve all seen bird magicians that are doing the routine according to the habits they’ve developed over the years. I hope that Dan never loses his sense of spontaneity; he seems as impressed as the audience when the doves appear or the doves split.

But I started this by saying I met him and spoke with him. I told you that I though it would be an important historical note. He is a great guy and has a calm demeanor and helpful attitude. He seemed so concerned trying to help us learn his craft even though he had to know we would never be as proficient as he is now.

So, like Lance Burton, he is proficient, charismatic and in the upper-echelon of magicians. Unlike Lance (and me) he’s only 18 years old. He’s got a great future ahead of him and we, the people that love magic, have a parallel future of enjoying his great work.

Continue reading Dan Sperry — Keep Your Eye on the Bird

January 26th, 2003 | Category: Magic News | One comment
 
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