More Magic

I took off work early today so I could get a few extra hours of sleep. I needed to be in Puyallup by 1:30 for a 2:30 gig at a senior center assisted living center!
Had a great time, Last time I was there was Halloween of 2009. That day I tossed a card onto their ceiling, it was bout 20 feet up, I looked for it but they took it down, the members or "residents" told me it was a great conversation piece. I was disappointed to see it not up there, so being the me that I am, I put another one up there...
This one is about 5-10 feet higher. Last time I didn't think I could toss one this high so I chose the lesser height, but this time I went for it. I guess it to be about 25-30 feet up.

You'll have to look closely to see it!
(Click pictures to enlarge!)

Interesting Life....

The weekend started for me early, but wait... not...
Thursday was a rough day for me as I golfed Wednesday morning at Riverbend in Kent, shot an 88, had a great time, hit some great shots, towering drives and a snake putt or two, hit some not so great shots as well, but I slept til 8 pm and I think this caused me to not be able to sleep Thursday morning after work... I got outta bed Thursday around 11 AM and made some grilled cheese sandwiches, went back to bed but was still fighting for sleep. I got up about 4:30 PM because I had to lead a bible study at 6:30, also it was my turn to bring snacks which has actually turned into a full blown meal! My wonderful wife spoiled the guys. Anyway, I went to work Thursday night, and got home about 8:30 AM as I had a dental appt. I stopped on the way home and enjoyed a nice white mocha... Ahh, caffeine! So now what to do with my Friday!?
I decided to put a deck of cards into a bottle... took about two hours and some patience!
My shoulder and back began to stiffen up for lack of sleep. my wife gave me a percocet and knocked me out at about 2:30. I slept on the couch until 8pm, and then crawled into bed and slept til about 8 am Saturday... weird, long runs of no sleep, and then a long run of sleep!
Saturday was a fruitful day. I dug the boat outta the garage and washed it, well, our daughter wanted to wash it, so she did, I washed the car and her car!
I fired up the big motor on the boat to make sure it was sea worthy. My neighbor Andy, the amazing mechanic had worked on my 1978 Mercury kicker motor, seems he does this every year for me as it clogs and wears out from salt water. He said it is as good as when I bought it, but after he told me all the things he did to it... I am wondering!
Had an early BBQ lunch of hamburgers and then got ready for my 8PM gig in the home of a work associate. It was an 18 year birthday celebration for his son Cory!
My wife went with me which was really great, and we had a great time amazing the young ones and a few adults.
I started out a little differently with them as I was planning my full stand up show, but it was such an intimate group I decided to go with a few close up card tricks. This went over well and so I jumped into my show hot and running!
Just before performing the linking rings someone named Dan arrived, I joked about having to start over, but instead broke character and said, we should do another warm up for Dan. I felt that for him, the linking rings would be a tough opener, so I stepped out into the semi circle of spectators and performed Crazy Man's hand cuffs! It was a great choice and I did three phases. Cory's mom was so astonished and exclaimed, "I don't get it," so I had her come up and performed it in her hands! Quite marvelous! :)
I was asked by a magic friend how I would connect with a group of 18 year olds? I replied that just being yourself is the best way, and that is what I do best. I mean if you can't be yourself, how can you be someone else!? They will see right thru that!
We all had a great time. Afterward, the man who hired me took me outside to show me his fishing boat, his 30 year old son joined us and we talked awhile, His son Aaron confided to me that him and Cory were quite skeptical about some guy dad works with coming over to do magic for Cory's 18th birthday, but that you were really good!
I can imagine people wondering what this guy is going to do, and will he be worth it. I always strive to be worth it and more...
It is very important to me to share magic in a magical manner. It will most likely be the peoples first time seeing a magician performing this intimately.
I feel I owe it them as well as all the magicians in the world, past and present to do my best! My best, whatever that is.
I always taught my children, if you give 100%, 100% of the time, then you can look in the mirror with pride and never be ashamed.
I still strongly believe that!
I laughed and told him, that is my secret weapon, being under estimated!
Many years ago when I first started on this magical journey, I wanted to make sure I progressed beyond the "Uncle Bob" doing magic at our family gatherings.
Hard work and persistence has paid off... Oh did I say paid off!? Haha, and they pay me for this too!
SWEET!

Take Me Back To The Sixties

Take Me Back To The Sixties

House Warming Party

Joan & I attended a house warming party at our friend Brian and Teri Masters last Saturday night.
They are a young married couple, actually newlyweds... They have a very nice home in Kent, Wa.
Teri is a very commendable interior decorator.
Brian is an accomplished sleight of hand artist.
We were the first to arrive.
Many of their new neighbors arrived with children in tow. It is interesting to see all these people with young children, just yesterday, that was Joan and I! :)
None of their neighbors knew that Brian is a magician... that is until someone asked my wife how we know the Masters... My wife told them that her husband, me and Brian are magicians. Well that spread like wild fire around the house, soon Brian was doing card magic and flourishes. It was a joy to watch him do what he does best!\Brian performs daily at Seattle's Pike Place Market as a street performer. It shows too, he is easy going with his card routines. He blew his neighbors minds, then he looks over at me and says, :Hey Tim, you going to do something to help me out?"
I said,
it's your home, you're doing fine."
I didn't want to step on someone else's parade. But Brian insisted, so... How do you get a magician to show you a hundred card tricks? Ask him to show you one!
Instead of doing a card trick, I did a rubber band trick for a girl of about 9-11 years old. I say I performed it for her, but this is one of the things I love about magic, as I perform for a child, I am nailing her parents and any others watching. Her eyes got big and round when the rubber band "melted" thru the other one, but the adults watching, audibly gasped...
I believe that many times the adults think that what I am doing will fool their child, but not them, this is really fun when you get them too.
Well, one thing led to another, and soon Brian and I were hitting on all cylinders.

I learned some things at Brian's home that night.
Brian is secure in his talents. Relaxed and sure. He was not threatened by another magician performing at "his" venue.
I was a bit nervous performing in front of Brian.
This is somewhat common amongst magicians.Why it is, I don't know, but it is. Adrenaline spike I call it, the hands start shaking and nervous energy gets ya...
As I got going, I did relax and had a great time!

Yesterday was the 1st Anniversary

of my friend Mike and his wife Kimberley's wedding.


They got married by a judge last year as it was expedient and now they wanted to celebrate that union.
They invited several friends and family to join in the festivities.
Mike is one of my best friends. We have shared our friendship for about 13 years.
We travelled to Scotland and Ireland together.
I have worked with him for many years.
Mike honored me by asking me to speak at his celebration.
I did not know what I would say, but of course that is really unimportant... or is it?
I spoke with my pastor about some bible passages that I might use that are appropriate for a wedding celebration.
He steered me to 1 Corinthians 13. The Love passage. Love is kind... etc.

He also told me to look into Mark 10:6. which is about "in the beginning God made them male and female, and that no man should tear the marriage apart.
I decided this would be a good lead in to doing a special magic trick known as "Anniversary Waltz."
Two cards are selected, one by each person and signed, after placing the cards into their out stretched hands the two cards become one card with signatures on both sides.
"The Two Have Become One!"
I love this effect. I love giving it away. I have purchased plastic baseball card sleeves so that the couple can keep their "heirloom" in a nice safe place.
A wonderful reminder of hard it should be to tear them apart.
I had the happy couple say some magic words... which they didn't say for the judge, like the words, "I do!" and then by all that is holy between man & God, the two have become one!

My lovely bride of 29 years and our daughter joined us in the celebration.
We danced and had a wonderful evening.

The Truth Will set YOU Free...

I mentioned that "saying" at my bible study a week ago last Thursday... A young man, 17 years old named Josh looked up from the couch and said, "I wish I had sayings like that, I like it!"
I looked at Young Josh and told him, it's all in this book here as I held up the bible!
This was at the end of our bible study, but we have no locked in time to end, we just try to get er done before 8pm. Usually after prayer requests we get out of Jay's home about 8:30 or quarter of nine..
So, Back to Josh, I had someone find it in the bible where Jesus says, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.(John 14:6)
Jesus also said, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
We also started in John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We then jumped over to John 1:14..."And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
All these passages deal with who Jesus is and what He said.
Jesus said He is the "Truth."
He also said He is the "Word."
Jesus said, The Word (Himself) was in the Beginning. That He (Jesus) was with God, and that he was God.
WOW!
We also looked at John 8:12 about Jesus being the Light of the world, and we are not to walk in darkness, which is the world.
If Jesus is the Word, and I am holding the bible, the Word of God, divinely inspired, I am holding Jesus. The bible is often referred to as the living bible, or the living word. It is alive, and is as relevant today as when it was written over two thousand years ago.
That'[s amazing!
The Truth will set you free...
If Jesus is the Truth, and He frees us from all sin requirements, bondage to sin, and the death penalty for our sins, that is freeing.
The Truth will set you free. Jesus (the Truth) will set you free!
The Holy Spirit was leading us that evening, and Josh Holt accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior that night!
Josh has been set free.
It was an amazing evening. Josh's father Alex was there witnessing this whole thing.
He told me later that he was astonished at how fast things went from a simple statement, "I wish I knew sayings like that." to how fast we were praising God for His glory and saving Grace.
No one seemed to want to leave...
Amen, Amen, & Amen!

It's Not What You Know...

Sometimes it's WHO you know...
I did a walk around show tonight in Woodinville Washington. It was a gig I "bid" on via an email sent out by an amateur magician that I met years ago while attending sessions at Tom Franks home. I also met Glenn at several Magic lectures off and on over the years.
About three or four months ago, Glenn sent out an email to many magicians looking for a walk around sleight of hand artist for his 9th grade daughters graduation celebration. I placed a bid and last night was the fruition of the work.
The event was held at a unique venue. An old farm house, known as "Lord Hills
Farm."
It is a really nice venue. A live band was playing, a magician was strolling about, (Me!) ping pong, putt putt golf, both those events were in the loft.
Great food and nicely dressed young men and women!
I arrived early, not because I wanted to, just because I leave early in the event of slow traffic.
Oh my, young people... kind of a scary age group to perform close up magic for... that is until I blow them away with a nice trick or two, then they are eager and willing participants. laughing and elbowing each other!
Unbelievable, No way! those are statements they say often!
Rubber bands, cards, silks, and magical paddles... paper clips and coins... a magicians warehouse in my pockets...
I feel like I am loaded for bear when I go stroll about, because I am!
I feel like an old West gunslinger, one who has more pistols and bullets on him than you at first realize...Blam, card on ceiling... Blam it's back in their hands...
Blam, Blam, Blam.. smiles all about!
And they pay me for this too... oh my!

I had an inside track to the gig because I have always treated Glenn with respect. He is a few years older than me and a lawyer, he is a pretty good magician too.
It never hurts to treat people the way you want to be treated! :)
I had a blast!

No News is Good News

don't know why I haven't been blogging lately... tired, old, magic, life...
Worked last weekend, getting ready for a few magic gigs coming up. A nice walk around gig for some 9th graders up in Woodinville, a two hour gig next Thursday. The following Saturday, the 26th I will be performing for an 18 year old birthday party in Kirkland. I know the boys father thru work. He is a really nice man and we hit it off great, he is a Christan too. I have impressed him with some close up magic and the promo video doesn't hurt either!
The following Tuesday is an afternoon gig for a senior center in Puyallup... this will be my third visit there in about a year... wonder what I can do new that will astonish them?
I have several things in the works but haven't been hitting them as hard as I should. Things like Gazzo's Tossed out Deck. Electrical Artlet, Billy Balloon, and Deans Box, not to mention something called The Wellington Switchboard.
Wow, if I learned all those and polished them up... I would have a whole nother act!
A few weeks ago my wife and daughter and I spent a few days relaxing in the liquid sunshine of Washington states finest...
Our church body always does something called Family Camp at a Y M C A camp known as Camp Bishop. It is a little lake known as Lost Lake, every year we seem to find it though!
It is always a fun time. Even though the weekend was mostly rainy, we stretched a tarp over the camp fire and everyone enjoyed themselves.
It is June 10th and the weather here is still pretty cold ans wet. Yesterday we had some really nice thunderstorms. They shook the house as I was sleeping.
Summer and fishing are just around the corner, got to get the boat out. My neighbor Andy is always about two or three months ahead of me in that department!

That's Impossible

That's Impossible is a once a month magical show at Egan's Ballard Jam House.
I went the other night to see a magician named Brian Cook perform.
I had been really looking forward to watching Brian's magic.
Brian has been performing magic for a lot of years. I met him a long time ago when I got into magic. He was a frequent member of the Alki Magic studio.
Brian taught me a lot about magic.
He has a nice stage presence, very vocal and is aware of his audience, he takes the time to socialize with them.
I was disappointed in his selection of effects to perform however.
Egan's is a small venue, tightly packed. A small stage with piano on it makes it even smaller.
Brian performed a very nice Card effect with a spectator. They both signed different cards, then the card warped inside out inside another card and Brian magically restored the card, but now both signatures were on one card, they had become one. He performed this with Jumbo cards so it was "seeable" by everyone.
He did a very nice cut and restored rope routine as well.
His coin routine, using silver half dollars didn't play too well. He did a sort of coins across matrix with four half dollars and a playing card along with the coin purse. While Brian's mastery of the effect is excellent, it was difficult to see form the back of the room and therefore, lent itself to confusion. In fact I heard a lay person tell me outside that it was confusing. Part of the problem in this venue is that the wait staff is constantly moving around bringing drinks and food to tables as well as taking orders etc. Sometimes they block the spectators field of vision. If you miss something in someones performance, perhaps because you look down to get a bite to eat, or the waitress happens to be delivering something to someone and now you cannot see, you have lost the thread of the magical effect, and it is very rare to get it back.
Brian also performed a yo-yo effect, and while it was fun and upbeat, it wasn't magic.
Isaac Louie did a lecture recently and said that as a magician, you don't always have to be doing a magic trick. I am wondering if this was what Brian was doing?
I learn as I go..
don't we all!? :)

Magic Room

I have had this idea to put together a magic room in my home. A place that I can practice my favorite art, and have some buddies over for a session.
The room has been a disaster for a while. I just keep sort of throw stuff in there. Recently, about four months ago I purchased two book shelves. They are nice, Monday, Memorial day I installed sliding mirrors in place of the sliding doors for the closet. Now I can watch myself easily as I practice my craft! It also made the room look larger and brought in a little more light.
Yesterday I found a nice round poker table on Craigslist. I have been looking for awhile. I thought of making one because all I was seeing was mostly tables with a "rail" of some sort on them. Most also had cup holders built into them, and this was not what I wanted. I found this yesterday and thought at first I would cover the table with felt or suede. I don't plan on using the table for poker, but mainly just to practice on. It is pretty cool, very sturdy and it lends itself to the theme I am trying to build into the room. I suppose I can use, at least for a while what are called close up mats for practicing.