Bound And Gagged!

.:The Stritz Event, At Long Last…:.

Taking the action to the Stritz…

It’s been a long time coming, but the first true-blue Kel and Jay performance happened just last September 27 for the UP Circle of Entrepreneurs. While Jay and I have been performing with each other for the longest time, this was the first time we had a full-fledged show based on our interactions, rather than just one of us performing onstage at a time. Seeing as how this event happened so close to the conclusion of the UAAP Basketball Finals, it was natural that much of our ribbing would involve how ADMU beat DLSU in the finals. After all, I’m from ADMU, and Jay’s from La Salle… heh.

The night was a perfect stage for Jay and I, as we performed for them amid amazingly great gourmet food that are actually outgrowths of various kinds of street food. Hence, the term st+ritz. The pictures do more justice to what I mean than anything else…

Yummeh.

In any case, we had this event scheduled for a long while already, and we really wanted to floor the audiences with a lineup of magic, mentalism, and of course, comedy. Naturally, the stark contrast between my presentation style and Jay’s yielded a lot of good moments as well, seeing how serious Jay was amid my insistence on poking fun at him throughout his act. Nonetheless, the audiences were definitely impressed with Jay’s daredevil routines, including the infamous game of Russian Roulette which had members of the audience screaming.

Do not try this at home!

I naturally did my favorite routine of shackles and rope, and for the most part, the audience really got into it, and I managed to pick the perfect volunteers for my routines. It was also cool that we didn’t particularly need a microphone as the sound carried over well enough for us to perform without too many hitches…

The rope of doom!

The audience received us very warmly, and it was really fun, as I personally love having an excuse to perform in my white suit and all that… at the same time, it got me to thinking that while Jay and I are admittedly not the most skilled magicians in the country, we make up for it by our ability to connect to our audience in a very unique and interesting way. I’m sure some purists disagree with this approach, but Jay and I build a rapport with our audience to the point that they’re less likely to remember the things we did that night, and more likely to simply remember the two of us as performers who amused and entertained them.

Furthermore, the Kel and Jay dynamic is really something that hasn’t been quite explored by most other performers. Normally, it’s easy to do magic or even mentalism when in a group, assuming you don’t have to really interact with the other performers with you. The minute you have to do something as a tandem, the whole dynamic changes, and you have to find a way to reshape your approach at performing, and you have to ensure you don’t overshadow each other. It’s a delicate balance you have to strike out, but Jay and I have been working on it, and we’d like to think that it’s quite a unique selling point, especially since our performance styles, while obviously an outgrowth of our influences (Bing Lim-It, Derren Brown, Richard Osterlind, Penn and Teller, etc…), has taken on a life of its own.

The boys are back!

After our onstage performance punctuated by a mind-boggling display of mind reading, we moved onto doing some good old table-hopping, as Jay treated them with mentalism and card shark techniques, and I took things in the traditional magic direction. It was really cool having the audiences interact with us, because they were very appreciative of our show. It does the heart good when your audience is all smiles and is clearly grateful for seeing your show… =)

In any case, thanks to Brenda, Annelle, and the rest of UPCE for having Kel and Jay over last September! Here’s hoping we can entertain you again soon!

For the coming year, you can expect bigger and better things from Kel and Jay. We have a lot of things cooking, and after Laughs And Gasps, Stritz, and countless other endeavors, things can only get more exciting. In fact, the next things we have lined up might void our insurances altogether… heh.

P.S. Yep. That shirt was pink. Or was it purple? =P

News and Updates kel and jay, magic, mentalism

.:A Double Celebration:.

Yehey Christmas Party!

Image courtesy of Azrael.

Victory couldn’t be any sweeter… heh. People were joking that it was one heck of a “talent fee” for me, since not only did I sing, I also performed magic that night. Lol.

MTV And DOT: A Perfect Combination?

Image courtesy of Laszlo

Well, a mere two days later, on 17 December, Yehey again graciously invited us bloggers over to be a part of a teaser for the upcoming stuff the Department Of Tourism has lined up… and this includes a tie-up with MTV, and even some amazing collaboration with none other than Happy Slip herself, whom I got to meet personally for the very first time. At hand during the night as well as Secretary Ace Durano, who looked so hip you wouldn’t think he works for the government. =P

Anyways, at some point, I did perform for them. The fork is sort of a giveaway when it comes to that… =P

Image courtesy of Noemi Dado

Image courtesy of Azrael

In any case, there were lots of exciting plans underway, including a huge concert we can only dub as “Rockapelago”. More details will turn up as they are made available, but this celebration is touted as the “biggest concert the Philippines has ever had”. Given how the Oktoberfest launch was indeed the biggest this year, it leads one to wonder how they’re going to top that one, and which artists we’d expect to be in tow for the event, but thankfully, we’re not going to expect Batista as one of the performers.

Aside from the DOT people and Happy Slip, here are two of the marketing people from MTV Asia, all the way from Singapore…

Image courtesy of Monique

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m rather stoked about this event. If there’s any hope that Kel and Jay could collaborate on a national level all the same, we’d be more than willing to pull our share as well… heh. This is big, and as a guy who does want to see the rest of the Philippines before setting foot abroad again, methinks this should be a really great project I hope I can take part in, even just by blogging about things as they come. =)

News and Updates bloggers, happy slip, parties, yehey

<b>.:Umm… Whut?:.</b>

Lemme talk about my show last Friday, which was simply one of the craziest shows I ever had. I took a show for a friend, and needless to say, I was genuinely surprised with how things turned out… heh.

So anyways… my initial evaluation of the event was that it was my worst show ever. Then again, when I thought about it a bit, it was one of my most awesome shows ever, if only for the sheer bizarreness of the whole night.

It opened a bit annoyingly, truth be told. The company’s owner was a veritable heckler, and he didn’t like that he couldn’t figure out how the magic was done. Needless to say, his antagonism of all things magical but undecodable would set the mood for the rest of the night, as I was wowing the audience with my hybrid stage/table hopping show, and he was loudly complaining that he doesn’t like that I’m using “small props”.

Let’s back up a moment here, because I have to point out something… <b>I was booked to do table magic, not stage magic</b>. Despite that, when I was asked to improvise, I still managed to do so, because really, that’s what professionals do. All the while, he was complaining loudly, and it was obvious everyone else did not share his opinion.

So anyways, despite the infuriating turn of events, I still did my show well, and the appreciative audiences made it clear that night. Soon enough, the owner was asked to make a speech, and it was a doozy! Every forty-five seconds, he practically demanded applause! Here are some snippets from his amazing 30-minute long (drunken) monologue…

<font color=orange><i>It’s going to be Christmas, and you’d get a bonus soon. Pero yun lang ba yon? Bonus lang? Palakpakan niyo naman ako!

You eat my food, drink my drinks, as I welcome you to this… merrymaking. Yun lang ba yon? Merrymaking lang? Palakpakan niyo naman ako!

It’s so hard to speak here in front of you. Sana naman, lend me your hears. At palakpakan niyo naman ang inyong leader.

I am the great (NAME OMITTED)! I have the blood of martyrs. Martyrs like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Isang letter lang baguhin mo sa pangalan ko, martir na ako! What about you? Do you have the blood of a martyr? Please do.

What word can you form from “Merry”? Diba, you can form my name? What about “Christmas”? Hiram ka lang ng “N” sa “New Year”, pwede mo na rin gawin ang family name ko! Therefore, I AM MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Can anyone here replace me? Of course not! Bakit pa? Para saan pa? Eh I am the best president this company ever had! Palakpakan naman yang best na iyan!!!

</i></font>Did I mention that he was the guy who started the company? It’s easy to be the best president of the company when you’ve been its <b>only</b> president…

This was bizarre and hilarious, but I certainly would hope to never have to go through it again… heh.

<b>.:In Contrast…:.</b>

… I had an awesome show last Tuesday for a very intimate gathering of family and friends somewhere in Quezon City.

While I guaranteed a performance of about an hour, the very receptive crowd ended up getting treated to a full extra hour of non-stop magic, comedy, and even mentalism. It was, without a doubt, one of my best close-up shows to date, and it definitely got great reactions all around. Needless to say, the people got more than their money’s worth because I was just hitting my stride and all.

Ah, well. Here’s hoping for more of these awesome close-up shows in the near future.

Personal Commentary magikel, wtfery

Although it’s been said, many times, many ways…

… Merry Christmas, one and all!

I’m spending it alone, but a call from My Beloved lifted my spirits. Let’s not forget the reason for the season. This is Christmas, not Santamas.

News and Updates Christmas

.:The Christmas Toycon, In Brief…:.

It’s all in the mind…

I didn’t get to stick around too long for the Christmas Toycon, but I definitely had a lot of fun there, to say the least.

As usual, I cosplayed as a wandering street magician, and I met up with Peppy, who provided me with a relatively new audience that I had my best bit of walkaround magic with…

I ganked the pictures from Pia. Mucho thanks!

Amusingly enough, one of the cosplayers, Nicole, is an employee of SM Mall Of Asia…

Oh, noez! Our forks are defective!

And naturally, I just had to perform some rope stuff, as well…

Just a regular piece of rope. Like the one you had in your room last night!

Having said that, thanks to Peppy and his friends for being an awesome audience. Heh.

You guys rock!

Hopefully, next year, I’ll be back at ToyCon for more street magic goodness. It was definitely quite an experience!

News and Updates cosplay, friends, JGL, magikel

.:But First…:.

Don’t forget our TV guesting tomorrow on unTV! Kel and Jay will be doing magic at 7AM on “Good Morning Kuya” with Daniel Razon!

.:My Christmas Wishlist:.

Truth be told, I’m not expecting a single one of these being fulfilled, except maybe the last one. I was never the king of Christmas spirit, to begin with, but you never know, right?

In a year where helping out people has bit me in the @$$ more times than I’d care to count, only to have myself completely forgotten and even ignored afterwards, well I guess you can say that this is one of those few times where I do feel entitled to be a tad selfish…

1. Contact Juggling Balls: I heard they’re replete in Quiapo, but I just don’t have the chance to look around. These awesome acrylic spheres are going to be part of my repertoire by next year, so I need a lot of contact juggling balls to practice with…

2. A Trolley: I need one I can fit into a taxi cab, so I can roll my illusions around with ease. Admittedly, ever since I went into full-blown stage magic, the illusions are getting heavier and heavier for me. Hades, I’d take a second-hand trolley if anyone has any lying around. I just need one for me to push close to 200 pounds worth of illusions around for my shows.

3. Monkey Fist Fire Poi And/Or LED Poi: The set I used for Laughs And Gasps weren’t actually mine, but Kathy Chua’s. I’d really want my own set of Monkey Fist Poi because I really still enjoy doing poi. It’s high time I actually got back into it because it’s excellent exercise.

4. Black Snake Fireworks: I can’t find any of these in the country at all! Despite being ridiculously cheap, I just can’t get my hands on any Black Snakes, and it’s frustrating me because I really need a stock of these things. Smuggling seems to be the only option lately.

5. Battle Royale: I still don’t have a copy of the novel, and I could use a new copy of the movie as well. I’m short by a lot of chapters in the manga, all the same. This is arguably my favorite movie of all time…

6. More Bookings: This can’t hurt at all. Whether magic shows or hosting gigs, more bookings for me would mean I can get stuff on this list myself, not to mention some other stage illusions I want to add to my repertoire.

7. LETTERS! I’m a sentimental old fool, so if you could just spare me a word or two in writing, I’d cherish it forever. E-mails are cool, but nothing beats the handwritten touch.

That actually felt good to write…

Personal Commentary Christmas, wishlist

.:Oh, Yes…:.

Kel And Jay, the incorrigible magician and mentalist duo, are at it again! Catch them LIVE this coming Tuesday, 16 December, 2008, on unTV on Cable for “Good Morning Kuya!” with Kuya Daniel Razon at 7AM.

This promises to be a pretty fun episode, to be sure.

News and Updates kel and jay, television, unTV

Feel free to get in touch with us over at mistervader@gmail.com, and shugenjavfx@yahoo.com!

Thanks!

News and Updates kel and jay

.:Still Showing Up On Myx Almost Daily…:.

Well, I’m still gonna be on reruns of their show, “Wer U At?” all the way ’til Thursday, so hooray for that. Check my earlier blog post about it for the schedule…

.:Laughs And Gasps On A Saturday Night…:.

Saturday night was spent with good company, most definitely.

Since I was invited by a good friend of mine, Stanley Chi, to a special night of comedy in Conspiracy Bar, with the rest of the so-called 700 Club: Uni and Mike Unson, who were definitely all hilarious the whole night.

From the sheer inanity of Sesame Street and how a 10-foot canary would be easier to believe than a frigging elephant, to how bad it feels to be the middle child in a brood of three, to other choice bits, Mike was firing on all cylinders that night. Stanley and Uni were funny as well, but the longest set of the night was Mike’s, and he definitely made everyone laugh… I’d love to share that bit where he played out an imaginary scenario of how his parents would deal with his being kidnapped, but I don’t want to parrot his material without asking his permission first. Having said that, you should just be there to see these guys at work for yourselves. They’re performing on December 15 around 9PM at Spicy Fingers in Greenbelt.

That night, I also encountered Mr. Jess Santiago, and ended up buying an album for the first time in ten years. “Puso At Isip” is definitely an amazing album, and I’m glad I managed to get my hands on copy. I especially love his song entitled “Laging Ikaw”. I’d share it with you guys, but I think it’s better you just look for a copy of his album… he’s an independent artist, though. And of course, I had him sign my copy. Heh.

Love the art!

That night, I hung out with Bessie Moo Estelle, Sire, and even Jojo Alejar of “Jojo A. All The Way” fame, who was really fun to talk to…

Afterwards, we had some gasps, as Sire and I ended up hanging out with The Story Circle, who were all too happy to do some really awesome magic for Sire. Sam was especially generous with his creepy effects… heh. All in all, it was a great night for everyone involved…

Having said that, it was a fun night, and here’s hoping that a future collaboration with the Cartel, Mr. Jojo A, and even perhaps a few other people would be in the books!

Personal Commentary comedy, friends, magikel, story circle

.:Events, Meetings, Guestings, Oh, My!:.

Tuesday must’ve been one of the fullest non-work-related days I’ve ever experienced in my life, what with finding myself completely swamped with stuff that just really made for an overall awesome experience…

>.:Unang Hirit, Part 2!:.

I didn’t sleep anymore because I knew Jay and I were going to guest for a second straight time on Unang Hirit pretty early in the morning. I had to meet up with Carl from TSC just so I can learn the levitation routine, and I didn’t catch a wink when the service fetched me at 2:30 in the morning.

When Jay and I got to GMA, we found ourselves surrounded by other magicians, one of them who happened to look suspiciously like Manny Pacquiao. At the same time, it was my first time to meet Mr. Rannie Raymundo in person, so admittedly, it was quite an honor for me and Jay, to be highlighted the way Mr. Raymundo was in the throng of other amazing and skilled performers that day, mostly members from Magfi.

We had the chance to perform our Gypsy Mystery escape routine, and it was quite a hit with the live audience. It was also quite hectic backstage, as since it was an anniversary show, Lyn Ching’s birthday, and a live show in their new studio, we had to squeeze in time to actually rehearse Lyn Ching for the levitation since she might panic and break her trance.

This was of course a perfect opportunity to carry Ms. Ching in my arms, hehehe. She was rather light, actually.

Unfortunately for us, we didn’t have the time to perform the levitation. Too many elements in the show were going on all at the same time, so we ended up having to parlaying into a third appearance for Unang Hirit in the near future…

I personally can’t complain, truth be told. That’s yet another opportunity for us to strut our stuff at the show, and they’ve been nothing but gracious to us. The hosts even remembered us as the mentalists from the previous week!

I was going to be late for a meeting with a client due to the guesting, but thankfully, contact person caught me on TV, so they understood why I was late…

Much thanks and love to Unang Hirit for having us over again!

News and Updates kel and jay, television