Dear Abbi, A Word from the Wife

“Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.” — Virginia Woolf Recently, one of Jeff’s students was sharing how he really hates to show his wife any magic.  He said he feels like she’s his worst critic; she’s not enthusiastic about watching his...

Beyond Bizarre

The 2005 “Beyond Bizarre” magic workshop in Las Vegas defies easy description, because the sages who organized the event sought out to transcend limiting terminology. It was a workshop about magic, certainly, since there were indeed lessons on the mechanics of tricks, but more than half the routines pushed the envelope of traditional definitions of “bizarre magic.” It was...

Magic of a Great Wizard

I know a Great Wizard. He has great powers that could boggle the mind. His abilities and agility are so great that human eyes will never see the subtleties of his magic. He can read minds; but he does not. He can foretell the future, but he does not. He can make things appear and disappear, of course; but does not. What kind of wizard is he? He is a wizard of possibilities. In his world he is...

To Be A Magician

“Magicians are born, not made.” — Carl Herrman, Personal Recollections It’s an experience most of us have in common. My first recollection of understanding of the uses of magic was many years ago on an exploratory walk through the east side ghetto of my hometown of Newburgh, New York. A child of maybe six was sitting on a dirty stoop in the middle of a deserted block,...

A Practical Magician’s Case-Table, Part 1

At this stop along The Magic Tech Road I would like to consider practical road cases that have a dual purpose: to transport props and to help manage them on stage as a table. Remember this is about a one or two person cabaret show for that one-night-only one-hour performance. The subject of cases is huge, so let’s focus. I am not talking about all stage tables, illusion cases or the smaller...

Pondering About Magic and Creation

It was my 5th birthday. Although he was no magician my father knew some magic tricks and he was going to do a small show for my friends. But before they arrived he took me into his room, lit a cigarette, took a few puffs. Then he closed his hand into a loose fist. I watched with amazement as if I felt something extraordinary was about to happen. He took the cigarette out of his mouth, dropped it...

Magical Persistance

Better keep moving on, better keep moving on, Don’t let my hopes slip away. Dream as if I’ll live forever, Dream as if I’ll live forever, Live like I’ll die today. Zoe Lewis What is this driving desire to create art with the tools and craft of magic, to build structures of solid wonder, to birth moments of astonishment, spun sometimes through with lyrical beauty, sometimes with rib-cracking...

“Witches and Magic-Makers” by Douglas Hill

As readers of this journal may know from past reviews, my jaunts to the bookstore usually include a glance through the children’s books. Some excellent sources of magical inspiration can be found among titles intended for young readers, and not all of them begin with the words Harry Potter. Witches and Magic-Makers is number 70 in a series of DK Eyewitness Books that includes over 100 volumes on...

Eugene Burger: An Inteview with Max Maven

[On June 1, 2003, Eugene lectured to a packed house at the Magic Castle. After performing and discussing four routines, and explaining one of them, he introduced Max Maven, who conducted an on-stage interview. This was transcribed by Robert Charles, and then trimmed by Maven’s heavy editorial hand.] EUGENE BURGER: When I was thinking about this lecture I said to Max, “You know, you interview all...

The Many Faces of the Magician

Eugene Burger and I have been working together, creating magical events for magicians for 15 years. We learn a lot from our students and are often amazed at the diversity of magi we attract to our events. We often teach for large groups at major conventions, sometimes hundreds of people at a time. Over the years, we have worked with breaking down these large groups into smaller more personal...