WMF That Cigarette in the Wrong Context

There are places for cigarette magic. Nowadays those places get more and more outlawed and socially unacceptable. What was okay 20 years ago could be totally not okay today. Case in point Lance Burton and part of his bird act. Does he still do it? If so, does he still drop the cigarette and crush it with his shoe? That is such a disgusting habit. Imagine someone does this in your living room. Right on the wooden floor. A dirty ash stain. This was never cool. Yet there seems to be no problem doing it on stage. Watch: 1:47, 2:44 and 3:25...



I do get why Lance wanted his smoke... it adds a mystery. And after all: Magicians are all about Smoke and Mirrors. Well how about magic solution to where the smoke comes from? Just saying!

Another example is Argentine magician Mirko Callaci. He is doing cigarette magic in a kids show:



Really? Really? I ranted about this before. His act is beautiful, aside from the smoking. I love how he produced a flower from the cigarette smoke and smells on it, pretending it smells like a flower. It doesn't work. It takes me out of the magic.

Again, it doesn't mean, that there is no place for cigarette magic. But you need the proper context. Barry and Stuart have a great little routine. Or even David Stone.

Cigarette magic is not dead, but in the wrong context it certainly is a failure. In the 80's everyone smoked. And that was okay. It's not okay anymore. I know there is the tendency of magicians not going with the time. But if you want a timeless act, take out the cigarettes.

DIcky Kaufman Speaks

Hello All,

While Barry is recuperating, (please don't forget PayPal the usual address), Dicky Kaufman has agreed to do a Q&A on Barry's blog.

This includes exciting news regarding the author of an obscure work. I'm sure that you will find his answers as definitive as did I.

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Rupert M.A. (Oxon)

Blue Crown, be careful

with your advertisement. I really like the newest addition. The Bold Assembly by Ben Train. Really good card trick. Really bold! I like that.



BUT... DON'T call it "McDonald's Aces without the gimmicks". It's not! The beauty of the McDonald Aces is that they are seen in each packet until the vanish. This is not the case in Ben Train's version.

Dis Jointed by Joe Russell

I think I had this here before, but I can't find it.



Where is the magic? Or any effect for that matter? Am I so much into megic, that I don't see it? Is this in any way impressive? There is no secret stuff going on in the video. If you do it, exactly like he does, you will get the same results.

This is the original description of the effect:

Dis Jointed is a revolutionary new method for "Shinko's classic Arm Twist" that turns the screws on the scream factor.

Dis Jointed gives you the freakish ability to twist your normal arm 360 degrees around with bone crunching sound. Then there's a heart stopping "pop" as you physically break your elbow at the joint! You then complete the dislocation by shoving your shoulder back into your arm socket. The freak-fest ends with one more 360 degree twist of your arm as your shocked spectators watch your bones snap back into place!

Dis Jointed can be performed by anybody with normal body parts.

• No pre-set
• No hand switches
• Not misdirection
• No pain

For the ultimate freak-out, perform Shinko's original arm twist first...and then drop them to their knees with Dis Jointed!

Some freaks are born. Others are made.

The best are...DIS JOINTED!

I think Joe Russell didn't get the effect of the original. Or I don't get Joe Russell.

Swiss Money!

Over the last few days all my posts were scheduled post, ergo I was not around to post them. I was in Switzerland doing serious busking. The Swiss currency, the franc, is pretty strong. It always has been strong, but do to the world economics and the failure of the US to keep it's triple A status the franc has become even stronger. So busking there seemed like a wise thing. In Germany you can go to McDonald and get a cheap hamburger for one Euro. In Switzerland the same product costs about 2,50 francs, which converted to Euros is 2,40 €. That is more than 200%.

Luckily I didn't have to pay for my stay so I made money. Lot's of money. To the Swiss people it's just a few francs, to me it's like half my rent. So it was very rewarding to be a German worker in this small non-EU country.

However a Swiss busker will have trouble outside his own country. He will work the whole day, for about 300 Euros or so and will get very little in his own country.

If you are a busker and are busking in a different country you have more to worry about that just the language barrier. World economics really become an important issue.

Sadly the following lines got the most positive reactions:

"As I prepared for my stay in Switzerland I got a list of two points I need to say in order to get popular with you Swiss folk:
1. I am really happy to be a guest in your wonderful country.
2. I will also leave! ... tomorrow!"

Now it's back to the usual...