I have journalism in my blood.Close
family members of mine (as opposed to close family members that are not
mine?) have worked on the city desks of many a major metropolitan daily
and of course I used to be Barbara Walter’s Boy-Toy in the late 1990′s.
So
I know the need journalists and editors have to fill space and time
with anything that will grab the attention of the reader and hold it
like a deprogrammer would clutch a recently kidnapped cult-member as he
or she tries to rant the cult mantra and dive out the window.
But maybe there is a limit?Sure, it was nice to have a couple of interviews with victims on television recently.Who could forget the compelling interview with Jessica Lynch as she told America that she doesn’t remember anything?Well,
actually, I would have suggested thatthere was not a need to interview
Private Lynch to hear that she couldn’t remember the horrors she
experienced.
But that’s me.I’m not a full-fledged journalist ? just a former Boy-Toy.
Well, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (“IFAW”)has issued a press release to ride the horrible events of October 3rd that nearly cost Roy Horn’s life, to boost its drive to stop the… Continue reading Excuse Me? Tigers in Basement – Tigers in Vegas
Check out Mr. Cellini’s DVD on Street Performing at Penguin Magic by clicking here.
There are three things a street magician needs to know to be successful:How to stop them, how to keep them and how to make them pay.Ironically, these are the same three things every successful gigolo needs to master.(See my current lecture, “How to stop ‘em, keep ‘em and make ‘em pay ? a Guide to Being a Gigolo.”I will finish the lecture notes during the off-season for gigolos or when I can finally get some space from this rich heiress I am currently kept by.Soon I will start using my enviable gigolo skills on human women heiress types.)
With the polish of someone who has done this before, Mr. Cellini performed his approximately 15 minute street act with the incredibly smooth handling of his Vanishing Silk, Cut and Restored Rope, Professor?s Nightmare, Cups and Balls.He told the substantial crowd of magicians that the tricks were selected not because they have some intrinsic “street magic” quality, but because he had been performing the very same effects for years.As a consequence, he felt comfortable with the routines, the sleights necessary and could focus on his presentation in a street setting.
The key to performing anywhere, including the street, is to have a crowd to whom you can perform.Anyone can do tricks in the street for themselves but the key to being successful is to be paid, and to be paid requires there be at least some crowd with money watching.
In response to Peter Marucci’s reply to Walter Blaney’s “open letter”, I would have to say this.
First, I see nowhere in the letter, where it is implicated that all signatory’s state that they have intimate knowledge of every illusion listed in the letter. It is absolutely immaterial that they need to have intimate knowledge of every illusion. Their signatures simply imply that they are in agreement with those creators, who are quite knowledgeable of their individual creations, that are being ripped off by a “thief”, and that it is time something be done to halt this despicable “trade”.
I quote from Mr. Blaney’s letter: “We believe it is in the best interest of all fair and honest magicians to join us in standing up for the rights of the magic inventors in order to protect and preserve the incentive so necessary for them to continue producing the newest creations we all need and want.”
To say that Mr. Blaney’s letter is a meaningless “sham”, simply because it doesn’t fit Mr. Marucci’s “way of thinking”, borders on being ludicrous. Thank God Mr.Marucci wasn’t around when our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, and the majority of the nation agreed with them, although I am quite sure most didn’t truly understand everything they were agreeing with, as many could not even read or write. Would Mr. Marucci say that the Declaration of Independence was a meaningless sham also?
Write To Us With Your Thoughts!
To take this just a step farther, I am quite certain, that if someone published the many routines, and modus operandi, which he openly exposes on his web sites, and sold them as “their own”, or took his lecture notes, and again put “their name” on them and sold them as “their own”, I am quite sure Mr.Marucci would be quite upset, and I am sure, that with his mastery of the english language,which he displays, he would certainly have something to say about it. I am sure that too Mr.Marucci that that would be a different set of circumstances however.
Now to quote Mr. Marucci’s second response to Mr.Blaney’s reply: “I have no trouble accepting that fact that (a) your list of originators is accurate; and (b) the offending company did, indeed, rip off the illusions”.
Now, even though he agrees that “the offending company did, indeed, rip off the illusions”, he still does not take a stand against the “offending company”. And, come on…”rip off” is a polite way of saying “thief”. A thief is a thief, and there is no honor amongst thieves. So I say to Mr. Marucci, where do you stand? Are you for or against the “thieves”, and if so, why don’t you say so, instead of being a grammatical “nit picker”.
Back in the old days, when eBay was just a vision of what the Internet could become, there was a nice little place where you could sell a trick or book when you finished with it.Heck, you could even buy a book or trick that someone else had used, turn around and sell it on eBay and for a higher price than what you paid.
Times have changed.eBay?s magic tricks category (technically, “Toys & Hobbies Classic Toys Magic, Magician Supplies”) is now another outlet for stores and mail order vendors to offer their wares. The prices aren?t set up to support bidding and are usually right at ?street price? retail ? not quite the manufacturer?s suggested retail price ? and certainly not wholesale.
If you were to check right now, you?d find 577 effects listing and the overwhelming majority are from established magic mail order houses.There are less than 10 percent of the effects listed with more than one bid (if you look at the auctions ending today).
The bidding is gone but that?s because those who populate the site don?t want bidding.Selling a piece on eBay and looking for bids is risky.Real risky.I sold a Perfect Pen and a Thought Controller (total retail about $100.00) for a combined total of $10.00.But I have also sold effects for slightly more than I paid for them.
Mr. Blaney’s “Open Letter” to Francesco Martorana of Studio Magic Dominik in Palermo, Italy was originally published on November 6, 2003.
AN OPEN LETTER TO FRANCESCO MARTORANA,
STUDIO MAGIC DOMINIK, PALERMO, ITALY
We the undersigned magicians ask that you stop building and marketing the following stage illusions. They are all proprietary illusions of the designated magic inventors.
Recent Comments