We read in the Las Vegas Sun this afternoon that Carl Ballantine received his well-deserved Magician of the Year from the Las Vegas IBM Ring:
Moment of magic: A capacity crowd turned out Tuesday at FAO Schwarz at
the Forum Shops at Caesars to honor comic magician Carl Ballantine, who
was presented the Magician of the Year Award by the Las Vegas chapter
of International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Penn & Teller and Mac King were among the members of the local
magic community who turned up; among the items auctioned to benefit the
Las Vegas Boys and Girls Clubs was a rubber chicken signed by
Ballantine that fetched $500 …”
The gathering of great magicians for a great brother in our art is
fantastic. That the gathering raised money for the Girls and Boys
Clubs is even better.
Prize Winning Act – Photo Courtesy of Mona S.Morrison
Arthur Trace is more than a winner of the IBM Triple Crown, he is also a good guy.
Despite the hectic pace at which he now travels with shows around the country as well as fulfilling comittments to his loyal client-base in the Chicago-area, he took time to participate in the grueling interview process that is the Inside Magic Celebrity Interview. We considered taking it easy on him but realized he should be subjected to the same hardball questions we whip at everyone who dares to return our email.
Mr. Trace has completed in one year what virtually none of us will accomplish in a lifetime. When the dust settled in Reno a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Trace emerged with a First Place win in the Stage Competition, The People's Choice Award, and the rarely given IBM Gold Medal for Excellence in Stage Magic. Mr. Trace's sweep of the big three competitions is about as rare as a Triple Crown winner in horse racing.
What was your routine?
I do a ball and card manipulation act revolving around an abstract painting. Basically, I interact with this painting by manipulating the shapes in it. I don't want to ruin the surprise for those who haven't seen it, so I'll leave it at that.
Was it a special routine for purposes of the IBM Contest?
No. I don't believe in developing a "competition act." I try to create magic that I can call my own. Magic that is unique to me and with this I hope it is unique and entertaining to both magicians and laymen.
How did it differ (if it did) from what you normally do?
Most of my work in the Chicago area is private work so I mainly find myself doing close-up magic and not stage. However, I am working on a one man show and in the future I'll be doing a lot more theatre work.
How did you manage the time constraints?
I made sure my act didn't have any unnecessary movements or repetitive manipulation. Also, I choreographed the act so that many of the manipulative movements were in sync with the music. Since the music was timed within the time limit, my act did not exceed the time limit.
What did you think of the competitors?
I tried not to think about them. Really, I tried to treat the competition as a regular performance. With that said, let me say that I met a lot of talented people and even made some friends such as Chris Randall. I look forward to seeing many of them at magic conventions in the near future.
Could you tell things were going so well you would receive the prestigious (and rarely given) Gold Medal award?
No. The competition was a good one. The finalists were very talented and I thought anything could happen. It was only when I heard the reaction of the crowd after my performance during the final competition that I even thought I had a chance of getting first. But the Gold Medal… I couldn't imagine. When the medal was presented…
[Questions for Don Timoteo - Magic Expert - can be about any aspect of magic including escapes, big stage illusion shows, little tiny close-up magic, and even so-called psychic magic. Send your question to DT@insidemagic.com and we will pass them along to the Master].
AS YOU KNOW BECAUSE OF MY FAME, I have worked around the world performing for standing room audiences as well as many theaters where there were chairs for everyone — but just enough.
My expertise in magic is second to none, as you know. And yet I offer this help to you, the questioning mob of pubic magicians.
Why? Does Don Timoteo make money doing this?
A little, but not enough to put up with some of the questions I receive or the ridicule thrusted on me like a Watchtower Magazine through the slightly opened door to my inner-most soul.
The other professionals, like that reindeer with the glowing nose, do not like me to be different. “Oh, Don Timoteo, you should be like us. You should never reveal the secrets to our art to the common magician. That is like throwing the baby pig out with its pearl-wearing babysitter!”
Don Timoteo does not care. He does not hear much of it and that which he hears he does not understand.
So bring your questions to Don Timoteo. I promise on my honor that so long as you show reverence for my incredible talent, and historic place in history, you will be fine.
You will not be faced with the wrath like someone who sticks his face in a pie-throwing booth at the Wrath Festival.
I know many men would like me to tell all of my secrets of love or the conquests my secrets have earned. But I am first a gentleman and would never reveal the what has been secreted by me and my many lovers.
So, instead, I answer questions about magic. Love’s magic is a secret I will not reveal.
Senior Timoteo:
What is fanning powder and where can I buy it other than at the magic store?
They rip me off there. Everything is more expensive because they say, “you’re not really buying the props, you’re buying the secret.”
So if it’s just powder that helps you fan cards, what’s the secret that I’d pay an extra $5.00 for ?
By the way, I loved you on The Flinging Nun with Sally Fields. Yes, I am that old! I liked her before she was in Forrest Gump or Sybil.
Your Fan, N. Warner Douglas, IA
My friend. From your first name, Norman, I know you are not Spanish and so the subtle but oh so impotent differences between titles is probably of little meaning to your head.
He is known as America’s Corporate Magic Communicator and for good
reason: he is a gifted writer (as witnessed by his bi-monthly video
review in Genii), his clients’ repeat requests for his public
speaking, his well-written newsletter and web site, and of course his
performance as a magician.
The inventors of the 3M Post-It Notes? product, Dr. Spencer Silver and Mr. Art Fry knew they had a great product but needed to convince their management.
So almost three decades ago, the two men entrusted their invention
to the loving hands of 3M’s sales and marketing folks for the virtual
saturation of Idaho in a campaign insiders call The Boise Blitz.
Approximately 90 percent of the Boise market was using the Post-It
Note? within months and developed a dependency. As the Boise
businesses sent their normal correspondence to other markets, they
created the craving for Post-It Notes? upon which the product was
launched.
What does this have to do with Joe M. Turner and his abilities to communicate?
Remember that the obvious answer is rarely the correct answer: besides, he is neither sticky or available in pastels.
Nay, we think he creates demand for his product/service better than
almost anyone we know. His multi-channel communication network leaves
corporate people like us wondering “why haven’t we hired him, yet?”
His publicity and public relations material does not explicitly send
the message, “Hire Me!” Some magicians — big names — have just such
materials.
Mr. Turner’s communication appears to be “I sure have had fun being
busy working for companies and organizations you consider similar to
your own. They seem happy to have me as a regular
performer/communicator for their events.”
His talents in speaking, writing, presenting, motivating and
performing magic are established not by direct quotations from former
clients so much as his reporting on how he is currently working with
his present clients.
He likes what he is doing, they like what he is doing, the audience
loves what they receive, and Mr. Turner’s calendar is filling up
quickly with return engagements.
Consider this excerpt from his latest newsletter:
Having repeat engagements is truly the highest
compliment that a performer can be given. It is the highest form of
testimonial, and make no mistake — my other clients notice it! Your
confidence in my
performances challenges and inspires me to grow as a performer and
speaker. I thank you for your continuing support and encouragement.
For those who booked me for the first time this year — I value my
relationship with you, too, and I look forward to working with you for
many years to come.”
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