Pennsylvania Magic, Mentalists, Hypnotists, entertainers swap meet

 Every march, a small yet lucrative swap meet happens in Pa. This is held  here : 

https://goo.gl/maps/pQBoLkBw6K56Fkfh9

Usually, if weather is Good, all the tables are filled. However some people do not show up so you can bring your stuff and possibly catch a table. Oh and did I mention, bring your money. There are TONS of deals to be had. and usually, at the end of the show, people do not want to take there stuff back with them, ive seen entire tables be auctioned off for a few dollars. Its an awesome time hanging out with magicians, mentalists, hoola hoop dancers, etc. A great place to get deals. 

Magic Stuff

 So I guess I  need to restart this.

Brick and mortar shops. Go to them.. learn from others. Number one complaint I hear from stores is people constantly saying " Well I can get that Cheaper online".
If you're buying it cheaper from the originator, or from another magician from their personal stash, that's different. But if you want a real experience go to a magic shop sometime. In PA we have Magic shops like kurts magic world where they get packed with magicians all having jam sessions.
Go to Mingus Magic shop in reading, where they have teach in nights, they have a stage to perform on. Or How about conventions. Like Bob littles super sunday, or the M.A.E.S convention.
Coming up this weekend is the entertainers Swap meet in pa which is small but very well laid out.
https://www.facebook.com/events/317347881963944/

The other month I saw the amazing love from the magic community when we all supported Denny and Lees. if you have never been there and are not allergic to cig smoke.....GO at least once.
http://dennymagic.com/store/


Brick and mortar Magic shops are slowly vanishing. Be a part of history and go to one.


Okay now for some ideas.
The first one I came up with was while watch a fellow co worker do something odd and it clicked in my head.
 `MAGIC

spectator is drawn out from the crowd. a red deck is shown to the spectator. they see the faces and instructed to mentally think about one card. one that really stands out to them.  they nod and ask them to remember that card.
go to the audience. they are holding another deck different color. bring spectator over and have her hold her deck between her hands. ask the audience to fan their cards out one card is different and matches spectators card back. they pull it out and its her selected card. at this point two things happen: the spectator looks through her cards and is bewildered or frightened. she realizes the card she thought of isn't there, and she can see all the different faces as well. when she talks to the audience, she will swear up and down the faces were blank accept for her card. both decks can be examined.
Ive been puzzled over this and got to working on it. Finally came up with a solution.

Magician Snobbery

At a recent Benefit show I attend, I found myself at a sold out show, standing room only.
I stayed in the back but could view the show from my vantage point. Meanwhile, as I was there a few stragglers came in. First was Aaron Fisher Whom I have not seen since the 90s. A first, with his glasses on I mistook him for Steve Cohen.
Along with him was a Female magician I also knew but could not put a name to her. She had longer hair then I remembered, as I got up from the table they sat down and started a conversation that sparked a debate.
I was stuck in the corner and wanted out of there before I flipped out. I could not believe what I was hearing out of These two. They knocked themselves off the pedestal I have had them on for so many years, with the flat out mind numbing stupidity. But I felt odd just being there, and tried to move out of the area, however its a crowded night.
It got me to think about some of the greats Ive met. From Hanging out with Johnny and Pam Thompsoni and there "little friends " at the hotel room, to hanging at a magicians home with a freaking stage inside it, to going to after lecture shows with magicians doing lectures in the area.

I can say that most famous magicians, that stay famous are some of the kindest, funniest people I have ever met. The ones that fall from the limelight, it goes to their heads. They start letting money drive them instead of the art.

By the way, If you have not read the jerx blog ...do eeet!

the Passing of a Legend

http://www.dennymagicblog.dreamhosters.com/?page_id=9

Denny & Lee Magic Shop added 3 new photos.

January 23 at 11:13 AM · 

Friends of the Magic Community,

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of one of the greatest contributors to our art. Last night, Denny Haney passed peacefully in his sleep after a brief battle with cancer.

Denny was a proud American and a Vietnam Veteran having served four tours of duty stationed near the mountains in Pleiku. Upon his return to the US, after serving his country, he began his career as a professional magician. All through the 1980's and e...

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this was a legend in my generation.
The above is off there Facebook page.
My very first encounter with Denny was helping him se up a table at a magical may day in Pennsylvania, then meting with him again at a maes convention in carlisle pa.
He was such an amazing and accomplished magician. 
My wife and I had our first trip to his sore when it was under the house. What a treat it was.
We picked up a few tricks for a show I had worked on for sweetheart banquets.
Thats the night we found out who baby was.lol

He will truly be missed.

blanked imagination

So I joined a group on facebook of all places. sell your magic you dont use kinda deal.
I picked up a trick called void. Have someone pick a card, look at it, then hold the card. meanwhile you hand the deck to someone. long story short, the selected card turns blank and the whole deck is blank.
Yes this sounds somewhat like blizzard as well. But they all had something missing for me. They All USE Some sort of gimmick. So after watching a lot of reel magic magazine and talking to my cousin on the subject I figured out i gimmick less option.
Spectator shuffles the deck, sees the faces, picks one out.  next they sign the card and place it into their hand. the deck is boxed and handed to someone else. Grand finale is the signed card is now blank and deck is blank.
I tried it out and all I can say is I am amazed at how much you can get away with right under peoples noses. Tried it on a magician buddy which blew him away. Its another one of those...FULL BALLS tricks.

Kurts magic world. lansdale pa

stop by some Saturday here as well. You probably cannot sit down in here as it gets packed to the brim with people. A little story about this shop. I was looking for small cups and balls sets. I collect them. These guys had a wonderful small spun aluminum set just floating around and gave it to me for an amazing price. Also found some amazing books too. another hot spot to visit.

Mingus Magic, Reading PA

Ah Yes , Mingus magic shop in reading pa.
Small stage with a vaudeville like atmosphere. Walk in, pull up a seat and hang out for a while. Grab some coffee, shoot the sh..t and have small jam sessions. You never know who will show up on Saturdays.  Each year theirs a massive magic show there. Local guys show up and hang out and perform. Classes etc. When I want something, usually ill call up and have them order it for me.
Its just a friendly place to hang out.