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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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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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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