The sense of wonder

Lexington Herald-Leader | 09/16/2005 | Making magic in Kentucky: "'Buying a trick is one thing,' he says. 'But you're really paying for the secret.'
And the secret is what matters most, magicians say, right next to a trick and an audience.
'I'm afraid we've lost the sense of wonder in our society,' says Edgar Hume, who owns The Clock Shop on Short Street, which doubles as Lexington's only magic shop. 'I like magic for the joy. You're re-establishing the sense of wonder and amazement.'"

Paying for the secrets?...
Discover The Magic Trick Secrets You're Not Supposed To Know

A very long magic show!

icLiverpool - Magic in the air as resort prepares for some sorcery: "Mr Smith, 52, from Southdene, who holds the world record for the longest magic show (30 hrs 45 mins), said the event was one of the most important on the magicians' calendar.
He added: 'There are people who do ordinary jobs who will be booking the week off. This is their holiday - that's how passionately they feel about magic."

If you're in the area next week...

Learning with a difference

The Cornell Daily Sun - Prof Demonstrates Magic of Math: "Despite his love of magic, Diaconis still considers himself a mathematician at heart.
'Magic and math really are similar,' he said. 'For both, you're constantly solving problems under constraints. In magic, you want to solve a problem without the audience knowing how. In math, you need to solve problems following set rules.'
Yet Diaconis emphasized society's perception of magicians and mathematicians as a key difference between the two professions. 'Professors are treated with respect, but magicians may not be,' he said. 'It's a hard life.'"

It doesn't have to be.

Neat trick

Magic show played with students' minds - The Eagle Eye - Features: "He said he made a lot of money in his line of work and held up the wallets of the two boys who had been on stage. The audience was laughing as the boys ran up to get their wallets back. Even when the one got his wallet back, Jim showed him he had taken the money out, which caused the crowd to laugh even more."

That's one way of getting paid!

Magic by another name

Mind Reader - The Rocket - Entertainment: "'Turn off your cell phones or you and your cell phone will be sent into another dimension.'

So began the performance of the Evasons, a husband and wife team who performed in the Multi-Purpose Room of the University Union last night at 8 p.m. The Evasons have many titles: mentalists, mind-readers, psychics."

Why not magicians?

If only...

Scotsman.com Heritage & Culture - Myths & Mysteries - The magician whose greatest illusion was death: "Lafayette quickly became the highest paid performer of his time, earning around £44,000 a year (or about £2.75 million today) and his show was booked ten years in advance."

Those were the days!

Magic with a message

Magic keeps congregation spellbound: "BAPTIST minister Derek Lawrence is looking for a wooden casket... to saw one of his flock in half.
It has been his ambition for some time, but he doesn't bear any malice towards his congregation - he is a magician and conjurer"

I bet no-one drops off during his sermon.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

Magician shows tricks of trade at magic shop: "When someone buys a trick, I show them how to do it,' said magician Larry Taylor, who opened the South Florida Magic Co. in Boynton Beach three years ago. 'People from 8 to 80 love magic. They know it's not voodoo. It's a fun thing"

Now you won't need to ask 'How did you do that?'

Learning science through magic!

The Suburban and Wayne Times - News - 09/07/2005 - The 'American School of Magic' is science - and more: "Science is one of the most creative things one can do, and I wanted to get this across to the kids. I wanted to spark their curiosity and lead them to view science and college in general as an engaging, fun, and creative endeavor"

and why not

Watch out...

icNewcastle - Ace in the pack: "I sent some video footage over of what I do and there's even talk of me doing a lecture while I'm there on how to steal watches, so not only performing but lecturing, too, is brilliant."

There's a pick-pocket about!

What it's all about

PrideSource:: "As the proud owner of a multipurpose Gilbert's Magic Set (linking rings, deck of prepared cards, trick magic wands, vanishing handkerchiefs, fake mustache) I felt myself Harry Houdini incarnate. (Handcuffs came much later.)
My assistant was Carolyn Clark (whose father George Murray claimed to have worked with Harry Blackstone, one of magicdom's greats.) Our performance left a lot to be desired I'm sure. But Carolyn and I had a grand time, and the applause and free dinner made stars of us if only for a half-hour's indulgence."

Handcuffs!?

Must see video...

Magic Old Man - Addicting Games Funny Junk Gag Video Clip - Kahsoon.com: "This guy dressed up like an old granpa and shocks everybody in Japan with his magic tricks"

This guy really knows how to liven up peoples lives!

Confidence trick?

The Orion Online - Duo puts its own magic into Has Beans: "The volunteer told him the first one was pointing up. Houchin then placed his hand above the knife. He slammed his hand down on the knife the volunteer said was pointing upward but never got hurt because he knew the volunteer was lying.
Houchin continued this trick until he just had one knife left that was pointed up. "

Get the point?

Magical Idea

It's Magic - Children Improve Self-Esteem While Having Fun: "Children are thrilled by the magic tricks performed by Frank DeMasi, and they love to learn to do the tricks themselves. Practicing the tricks develops confidence, and performing for others increases self-esteem."

Sounds good to me

Magic parents

The Brandon Sun: Online Edition: "Most parents would discourage their son from putting his younger brother in a box and shoving swords through it - but not Scott Mills' mom and dad.

In fact, his dad helped him build a box to do just that."

Way to go!

Holy Cow Batman!

mcall.com - Got Moodini? Fairgoers baffled: "Basking in the glory of having made a 1,600-pound dairy cow disappear at opening ceremonies for the Allentown Fair, magician Tom Yurasits had a bit of fun at the expense of fairgoers."

Hope they find it soon, it might be hungry.

Good point

Magic Enigma: Bedtime Story: "Until magicians learn to see themselves through the eyes of the non-magician spectator, they'll never get anywhere."

Some very interesting observations here.