Bound And Gagged!

.:202/365: Herrmann The Great:.

Nowadays, many people have a pre-conceived notion that a magician is always bedecked in long tails, has a twirly moustache, flat, heavily moussed hair, and a top hat. This man was the one who gave birth to all these conventions, and is considered a part of the “first family” of magic, the Herrmanns.

As the youngest of a brood of 16, it was unquestionable that Alexander Herrmann was born to extraordinary circumstances, even in his own time. His father, Samuel Herrmann, was a part-time magician and a physician, and has gained a lot of popularity in his time, even being summoned to perform by the Sultan of Turkey numerous times (Or at least, this is the claim made by the family.). All throughout, it was only a matter of time before the magical tradition would be passed on to Samuel’s sons, beginning with his eldest, Compars, whom others fondly referred to as “Carl.”

Unlike his father, Compars devoted himself to magic, rather than also becoming a physician. As a performer, he was very happy to discover that his youngest brother, Alexander, was, at the tender age of eight, already expressing an interest in magic. At a very young age, he toured with his elder brother around Europe, and learned everything he could learn from his brother, who eagerly mentored him in the arts of magic. Over time, as Alexander’s skills developed, a mild rivalry arose between the brothers, which set them on their separate ways.

From here, Alexander would tour all over the world as one of the most well-loved performers of all time. In a performance in St. Petersburg, his captivated audience dubbed him as “Herrmann The Great,” in stark contrast to his brother’s title, “The First Professor of Magic in the World.” Although they may have been professional rivals, it could not be said that they were ever at odds with each other on a personal level.

As Alexander took the United States by storm, he became generally known as the King of Magic in the United States, after Robert Heller passed away. His closest rival, Harry Kellar, was a constant thorn in his side, and for many years they would have a storied rivalry that thankfully ended in a truce rather than a drive-by shooting.

It would also be interesting to note that Herrmann The Great was one of the few people who dared to perform the bullet catch illusion. This very routine was learned by his assistant, Billy Robinson, who later became known as Chun Ling Soo, or, for those who don’t recognize the name, the man who became best known for fatally screwing up the bullet catch illusion.

Herrmann The Great’s legacy as a magician certainly lives on to this day. His amazing accuracy with card throwing has given him worldwide notoriety, as he was the first one to make it a significant part of his act, thereby becoming the predecessor to the likes of Jeff McBride and Ricky Jay.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:192/365: Warp One:.

Paul Harris brings to us an update of the Vodoo Warp routine, and makes it perfect for the street magic setting. “Warp One” does away with the second, extraneous card, and produces a visual illusion that makes jaws drop and builds reputations in an instant.

Imagine taking a card, folding it in half lengthwise, then showing that the top half of the folded card is face-up while the back of the card is still clearly visible from the bottom half. It’s as if the card twisted itself in half, and your eyes appear to be fooling you oh-so-eagerly. There’s just something so amazing about the execution of this routine that one can’t help but be impressed when you see it, and best of all, the ending is perfect and clean: you give them the card, clearly twisted in half, as a nice little souvenir that they can take home and show off.

Yup, you can even have them sign the card! There is simply no need whatsoever for duplicates or any of the like, and Warp One just really makes a lasting impression on the spectators you perform them for.

.:191/365: Cyril’s Icy Trick:.

Here’s a street magic routine I doubt anyone can perform locally, for obvious reasons. Then again, we have very resourceful magicians here, and maybe they can do this in a walk-in freezer or something.

Cyril borrows a few items from a spectator, then lays it down on the ice for everyone to see. Then, with some water and a few gestures, he magically makes the items just go right into the ice, and you actually need to use an ice pick to dig the items out!

Cyril has been doing some really amazing stuff on the streets of Japan for a while already, so I must say that this performance is par for the course, although from a magician’s point of view, it certainly looks a lot harder than anything else he has pulled off in recent memory.

.:190/365: Tagged By Richard Sanders:.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:182/365: Richard Sanders:.

Richard Sanders is one half of the Sankey-Sanders sessions, and like Jay Sankey, a very accomplished and prolific producer of quality magic. When you look at his resume of material, from Fiber Optics to Interlace to Tagged, he definitely has a lot of great street magic to go around, and I’m definitely a fan of his effective teaching style and his comedic approach that doesn’t get in the way of his magic.

Sanders is already a household name among many performers because of his skill and wide range of material. He has excellent card routines, knuckle busters, a ring routine, a top-notch rope routine, and many other noteworthy highlights in his career. Having been a great performer for over a decade already, he manages to mix his infectious comedic stylings in harmoniously with his brilliant performances, all the while emphasizing just how good he really is when given the chance to really wow people.

A three-time “Magician of the Year” at Magic Montreal, his credentials certainly speak for themselves, and people are always free to check him out, even book him, if they wish, at his website.

And since I tend to be writing and giving glowing reviews about a lot of still-active magicians over the course of the Project 365, I decided that from this day on, I’d give a chance for people to reach these performers via their websites if the information is available to me. That way, I could be helping them out in my own way by vouching for them as a working performer who has also cut his teeth in the tumultuous but rewarding world of magic. All due apologies to other magicians I have brought up in the past, though, as they obviously won’t be reaping this mild benefit.

In any case, I hope you guys get to appreciate the genius that is Richard Sanders. This man has given so much to the magic industry, and he just keeps on giving with each new idea he comes up with. Truly, he is one of the best performers to ever hail from the land of the maple leaf.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:181/365: Daniel Garcia:.

I figured that since these two are a loveteam of some sort, it would be best to follow up Wayne Houchin with Daniel Garcia.

Now, Daniel Garcia is, like Wayne, fairly popular in the magic community, and has a plethora of effects that he came up with over time. Just watching all three volumes of The Daniel Garcia Project should already clue you in as to how prolific a mind Mr. Garcia really is.

Granted, the man has a few clunkers like “Fallen,” but on the average, his material is generally top-notch, and always well-performed and well-taught. Heaven knows I’ve seen enough pretenders on YouTube who try to teach a Daniel Garcia effect and end up doing it very poorly. I’m also a fan of the fact that he’s brilliant and quick-witted enough to actually do an improv card story routine (that’s not safe for work, so I’d rather not put it up here) without a moment’s hesitation. I’ve seen how he works, and how he thinks, and there is no limit to this man’s creativity.

Like Wayne Houchin, Daniel Garcia has several routines that I personally use, and really, with a library of reputation makers as extensive as his, it’s hard not to find something I could perform, such as, well, Kaos.

What I think makes me admire Daniel Garcia as a performer and as a thinker is that he definitely is no slouch on both fronts, and doesn’t make the effect about himself. He’s willing to let a routine do the talking for him, rather than overpower it with his antics, much in the way that Jay Sankey is sometimes guilty of. At the same time, DG’s sense of humor is very catchy, and light-hearted. That’s definitely a plus, as his humor doesn’t feel very contrived and flows very well with the rest of his work.

So all in all, here’s a big “thank you” to DG as well, who surprised me recently when I discovered that he has already made the jump to Theory 11 as well.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:180/365: Wayne Houchin:.

I figured now would be a good time to talk about Wayne Houchin, as street magic is right up his alley.

One of the young up-and-comer performers of our generation, Houchin has established himself as a premiere performer and thinker in the magic industry, having grabbed headlines from the very first moment he performed an upside-down straightjacket escape in the middle of a busy thoroughfare at the tender age of sixteen. The man has taken his act to the streets, to the bars, and all the way to the stage.

A man who has not only proven his skill in magic and even mentalism, Houchin, as one of the consultants to Criss Angel’s program, “Mindfreak,” has contributed a great deal to the industry with his own creations and effects that have become household names over time, such as Sinful, as well as his take on Stigmata. As one of the performers for Ellusionist at the time, he definitely gained some measure of notoriety not just for being an excellent perform, but for being quite a hit with the ladies, at the same time.

In the late 2000’s, Houchin jumped ship from Ellusionist to Theory 11, thereby cementing his status as a revolutionary force in the magic industry. His subtleties and skills are laudable, and his ability to create stunning effects without requiring an inordinate amount of dexterity has allowed many new magicians the opportunity to shine in other aspects of the art, such as story-telling and exuding charisma. Personally, I’ve used at least two of his routines, and will continue to do so, simply because he has made it simple to be amazing.

So I guess this short bit on Mr. Houchin is both my way of acclaiming the man and thanking him for the measure of influence he has had on me. He may not have altered the way I perform the way Penn and Teller or Derren Brown have, but it’s safe to say that seeing how I’ve used routines that originated from him, his repertoire is definitely something I find effective and impactful enough to include in my performances, as I tend to cherry-pick only the routines that would grab attention in my performing style, and there’s no question that Wayne’s extensive body of work really has something for almost any performer looking to buffer their repertoire as well.

The scariest thing about Wayne is not how successful he has been in the industry. To me, the scariest thing is he truly believes in his heart that he hasn’t even begun just yet. There’s more to come from this man, and with a mind as prime as his for magic, the sheer potential of contributions he can bestow upon the art staggers me.

Wayne Houchin is already big at present, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he kicks it up another notch just before this decade ends.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:178/365: Cellphone Through Bottle:.

Just because this is the best version I’ve seen online, I’m giving you Criss Angel’s version of the Cellphone Through Bottle routine.

Penetration routines tend to normally involve secret holes and the like, but Mr. Angel has taken a lot of subtleties to indicate this was not the case with this particular bottle, first of all by using a glass bottle in lieu of a plastic one, then by pouring out its contents before starting with it to indicate there are no leaks in the bottle in question. The fact that he then gets to borrow another person’s phone and just slam it right into the bottle definitely seals the deal and really stunned everyone who was watching him perform, and I’d really like to assume these weren’t paid actors this time.

Well, there’s not much else I could say about this routine, right? Just watch it, enjoy it, and all in all, one of Criss Angel’s better efforts on his TV show.

.:177/365: Panic:.

I love a street magic routine that plays off so well it can actually have a place in a cabaret or even stage setting.

Aaron Fisher’s gem of a routine called “Panic” is essentially a card transpo routine that stuns people because whereas most transpos involve one card switching places with another, this involves four cards switching places with an entire deck.

The method is deceptively simple and undeniably effective. Unless you’re surrounded by grabbers, this routine just really floors people in less than two minutes, and is generally one of the best closer routines I’ve ever seen.

I think I’ve seen multiple versions of this routine in the past, but really now, how many of them can be done this close up and without having to use really unwieldy gimmicks? Even if the average magician could probably figure out the method just by watching the video a couple of times, they have to admit that it was a pretty brilliant touch from Mr. Fisher to do it the way he did. I’m still actually impressed with how clever it was, and how many people really react pretty vividly to a deck practically disappearing right before their eyes.

.:176/365: Theory 11:.

We’ve heard the apocryphal stories that attempt to explain why Theory 11 has come to be: that it was a response to the failings of Ellusionist, that many disgruntled performers wanted to show that they can one-up the E, and so on and so forth.

Theory 11 is a fairly recent magic company that does pretty much the same things Ellusionist does, although with even more emphasis on one-trick DVD’s than the E, who at least had several compilations. For better or worse, this is healthy competition on the online magic front, and Theory 11 has been doing very well in getting top experts to share their insights and even contributions for their videos which have been priced competitively, to say the least.

I’m a bit biased for T11 mainly because they seem to have a better roster of performers on their side, including renowned card manipulators Dan and Dave Buck, the rad bromance of Daniel Garcia and Wayne Houchin, the legendary Lee Asher, and a host of other thinkers and conceptualizers who saw what made Ellusionist tick and decided to go into the business for themselves.

Despite that, I guess that like Ellusionist, I’m fairly wary of how Theory 11 has been marketing itself, and if it will also fall into the “all sizzle, no steak” criticism that is often levied against the E. Personally, I don’t really hate the Ellusionist that much, but I feel that they have inspired a generation of kids who are into magic for all the wrong reasons, although that’s not really directly their fault, and it’s not like they actively encourage the culture.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I have no notions of altruism when it comes to magic. Magic is indeed a profit-driven industry. When people have resorted to stealing each other’s secrets in the Vaudevillian era, among other shady practices, it’s hard to talk about “the integrity of magic”. Despite that, I feel that even as a business model, something has to give when it comes to the saturation of magic to the point that it becomes way too mainstream for magicians to actually establish themselves in a niche, but a profitable one. As the villain in “The Incredibles” put it, if everyone becomes super, then nobody will be.

Ultimately, Theory 11’s motivations for coming out and producing (so far) quality material has been laudable and pushes Ellusionist to compete by stepping up their quality all the same. For as long as this upward trend of making magic better and better continues, I suppose I’m willing to concede to the unfortunate existence of a few fly-by-night magicians, given how it has become easier than ever to learn, which to me, is an important thing. Yes, magicians keep secrets, but divulging secrets shouldn’t require someone to have a degree in rocket science to understand what goes on. At some point, all professional magicians had to learn from somewhere, and so long as the quality of instruction is kept intact, I suppose I have to take the good with the bad when it comes to Ellusionist and even Theory 11.

If you’d ask me what it is about Theory 11 that sets them apart, I would have to flat-out say that it’s Lee Asher. I am a big fan of the man, and between him and Brad Christian, with all due respect, Mr. Christian, it’s not even close.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:173/365: The Biddle Trick:.

This routine is one of the easiest card-upside-down-in-deck routines simply because even the name of the routine gives you an idea what it takes to do it.

As a street magic routine, this is completely impromptu. It requires zero setup, zero gaffs, and minimal sleights, to say the least. Very quick to execute, very straight to the point, and has a nice little script for you to play around with.

Personally, the Biddle trick is something I would use if there’s no way for me to spread cards on a surface for me to do a more elaborate Triumph-style routine. I believe it’s more effective to use the Biddle routine as it appears to happen right in the hands of the person you’re performing it for, which just adds to their shock and consternation when things do come to a head afterwards.

There isn’t much I could say about this one except you really should learn it, and the mileage you can get out of it is rather significant.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:170/365: Kaos:.

Here’s one of the routines I really love from Daniel Garcia: the card through window routine that has some unique touches all its own.

Kaos is an interesting take on the card through window script because instead of just tossing the deck of cards at the window, you drag the whole process out by slowly pulling the card through the window from the other side. Given how you show your hands empty to begin your “surgical” procedure, Kaos can not only stump and impress people, but it really leaves you so clean at the end of the routine, and requires zero assistants or any similar shenanigans.

In fact, out of all the routines I’ve seen from Daniel Garcia, this is really the first routine I’ve really enjoyed and even used in performances from him. This is me, over three years ago, performing Kaos in Megamall. It was a pretty cool performance, and my first street magic stint ever recorded, so I was exceptionally happy how the routine turned out, and how convincing pulling the card out of the window really seemed to them.

Ultimately, this is a routine that I would use whenever the opportunity presents itself. It’s hard to find the appropriate windows and the like for this routine, but when you get to do it as I have done so many times in the past and even most recently, during my Mentos street magic tour, it’s a routine that I definitely use to make my reputation. Learning this routine and mastering the slick presentation that you can utilize for it will pay dividends for any street magician.

A word of warning, though: this routine is obviously not performable when completely surrounded.

.:169/365: Cyril Takayama:.

Cyril Takayama is an American magician of Japanese and French roots. With a troubled childhood that he somehow managed to turn around in his favour, Cyril’s very colourful life story has involved him reaching the highest of the highs after subjecting himself to the lowest of the lows, having made a living for a while busking in the streets of Tokyo until he found a very generous benefactor to support him and his talents.

As a performer, Cyril’s skills are top-notch, and he is very much capable of performing excellent sleights and is capable of talking through his routines as he walks his spectators through it. He also exudes a larger-than-life persona when he’s in Japan, as people around him seem to regard him like some kind of a rock star. He is definitely quite a performer, and personally, I’m very impressed by the immense amount of skill he demonstrates whenever he does his routines.

I chose this routine mainly because I don’t think there’s much to talk about when it comes to showing off how a burger appears and disappears from a menu at a fastfood restaurant. Cyril definitely performs this well, although I am rather sceptical that he can do this routine in just about any fastfood corner, which makes me feel this can’t be genuinely considered as street magic, per se.

If you look at Cyril’s exceptional talent and his ability to speak at least two languages well (I’m not sure if he also speaks French or Korean.), he definitely has the tools required to become one of the biggest street magicians of our generation. We will always respect David Blaine as one of the first people who put street magic on the map for this millennium, but when it comes to sheer variety and an ability to really connect to a person such as myself, it’s really Cyril who does the trick for me, pun intended. Blaine is no doubt a great performer, but his insistence on hyping his stunts more than his actual magic tends to distract from his contributions to the art form.

With the world in the palm of his hands, Cyril can only continue to grow by leaps and bounds as a performer. He has all the tools he needs to really make it, and I, for one, am glad that this magician who has started merely as a street busker is now one of the most popular performers here in Asia.

.:168/365: Balducci Levitation:.

One of the most beloved and beleaguered routines in the street magician’s arsenal, the Balducci Levitation is arguably one of the routines I get most frequently asked to perform that doesn’t involve a card, a fork, or a coin. This routine is just stunning to look at when done perfectly, and can demonstrate the seemingly impossible feat of levitation, all the while making jaws drop because of the sheer height one can achieve if they knew how to maximize the levitation.

It’s a very simple script, really, and one that just requires a little bit of audience control, more than anything else: you ask them to stay away from you because of the inherent dangers involved in self-levitation, then while they’re there, you proceed to levitate off the ground for everyone behind you to see. It can shock anyone who sees it without ever having seen the routine before, and has definitely resulted in cases of mass hysteria.

A word of warning regarding this routine, though: as awesome as it is, this routine is one of the most heavily exposed routines in magic. Almost everyone knows how it’s done now, and with that, you should learn to choose your audiences carefully when performing this.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:167/365: Two-Card Monte:.

One of the most popular routines utilized in street magic, the two-card monte is one of the first things you would learn simply because it’s fast, it’s entertaining, and it engages the audience from the get-go.

The routine works very similarly to the classic three-card monte, which is an actual street hustle routine that has been in existence for century, except for the important fact that the two-card monte doesn’t use a table for you to place the cards on, and the magic apparently happens in the spectator’s hands.

I don’t really need to describe this routine in detail, as I can see that the video does cover most of the basics, but seriously, this is one routine you need to learn if you ever plan to be a street magician, because the mileage you can get with it is just so awesome.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:164/365: Dai Vernon:.

It seemed fitting to end card magic month by giving tribute to arguably the most famous name in card sleights and magic among magicians for decades already: the Professor, Dai Vernon.

According to Wikipedia, the man born David Frederick Wingfield Verner, Dai started magic at seven years of age, even remarking that he “wasted the first six years” of his life by not doing magic. His eventual stage name, Dai Vernon, was the amalgam of two misattributions to his first and last name that became so persistent, they ended up being his name.

Arguably the most influential magician of the last two or even three generations, Dai Vernon’s renown is possibly topped only by the likes of Erdnase and equalled only by Marlo when it comes to the magic industry. Nonetheless, his ability to perform, to impart knowledge, and ultimately, to mentor such luminaries in the magic world such as Ricky Jay and Michael Ammar, both performers that have been discussed earlier on this month.

With his wide body of knowledge, Vernon has managed to capture the imagination of both magicians and card sharks throughout the 20th century. He has invented or discovered sleights and moves that have allowed him to actually fool none other than Harry Houdini himself seven times with the exact same card trick, which has earned him the monicker “The Man Who Fooled Houdini,” and rightfully so.

The things we now take for granted, such as the DL, the Ambitious Card, and other similar moves and principles were all bits and pieces that Dai Vernon has managed to bring into the forefront for our generation. It cannot be stated enough how his devotion to the art of magic throughout his entire life has shaped future magicians who learned from the man not only his skills and his knowledge, but his work ethics as well. With today’s world of get-famous-quick magicians as peddled by certain unscrupulous magic merchants who prey on the craze magic has become in the last decade, Dai Vernon’s influence is one that emphasizes meticulousness, mastery, subtlety, and finesse in performance.

Dai Vernon spent the last three decades of his life in the Magic Castle, as a resident prestidigitationist of sorts in its hallowed halls, which has given him the opportunity to mentor the luminaries we have earlier mentioned. Anyone who could catch the infamous video series called “Dai Vernon: Revelations” would see precisely the kind of perfectionism and pride that Dai Vernon places upon his work and those of his
mentees and contemporaries.

Magic is experiencing a rebirth of sorts, with much thanks to the rise of street magic from Blaine and (Ugh.) Criss Angel. As such, the new generation has bypassed some of the gatekeepers of old, Dai Vernon being one of them. It is with the fervent hope that this reaches a new generation of magicians that I write this Project 365, both as a journey into the kind of magic I’ve exposed myself to, as well as the kind of history that I have dug up, being an avid student of the art, albeit I don’t have the kind of experience under the belt my elders have.

It’s all about respect for the art, and knowing those who came before us. Before we blaze a new trail, we need to know what trail we already walk upon.

Project 365 cards, magic, magikel, project 365 2010