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Mon the cleanliness champions--- only 15 sces to save a life etc.



My hands are always clean anyhoo, I dont have filthy habits like nose picking or bum-scrathcing!

I used to bite my nails........have done for years. Magic has stopped me. I now use my wife's 'Ms Manicure' 3 way nail buffer (purchased from Boots) to get my nails shiny and smooth.

Damn, that confession felt good.

I sometimes wear her underwear too.

When I was a boy( 9) and starting in Magic I used to cover my hands with Glymiel Jelly, a scented hand cleaner/softener beofre going to bed and in white cotton gloves. I well remember my father saying to my mother, " What are we raising!!" Later, as he loved magic and took me everywhere as well as providing me with paid work at Dinners, he understood.
Even though I do not perform a lot of Magic now (old age creeping in) every day,without fail, I still rub some Wilkinson's Stores, After Shave Balm( it is only 99p per tube) and some 'Nivea Creme' into my hands,

Billy McComb in his Book McComb's 'Magic 25 years Wiser' (Supreme publication) gave his formula for cleaning hands; left over from his medical student training. And while you read the book check out the many fine routines in it.
It's on page 174. You:
'Sprinkle some 'Tide', or similar, .on the side of a basin of hot water.
Take some on your hands and wash (3 times) in the normal way.
Then do your nails, with a nail brush. with the detergent you are using.
Finally wash in ordinary soapy water.
THEN Pour a little talc into one hand, Scrabble it under your nails
till they are bunged up with the powder. Repeat with your other hand.
Wipe clean on a damp towel.
Finish off by drying them with a dry towel.'

He then goes on to say put on gloves and keep them on until you have to take them off to prepare your props.

Edward Maurice (author of Showmanship & Presentation & winner of many Magic Competitions in the 40's & 50's) always prepared his props wearing cotton gloves. That's why the chrome stuff in particular was so immaculate. As were his clothes.

In my main lecture 'An Actor's Box Of Tricks' I always tell magicians, particularly Close Up perfomers to rub some Bay Rum (£1:55p from Boots) Then when your hands come near a spectator'take a card pleae' they smell good, not overpowering but pleasant.
When the BMS asked me to lecture in 2006 they chose this lecture not knowing that it had once been my first ever lecture & given to them before, exactly 50 years& 5 months,in 1956, whilst still a student. Obviously it had undergone many changes & additions.since then.

A month after this lecture I read that the legendary Max Malini used to sprinkle Bay Rum on his hands & use it as a deodrant.
Well what was good enough for MM was good enough for me..and others!
Allen Tipton

having dirty, unclean hands with dirt in your nails makes it less fun to whatch as a spectator. So wash your hands people!! It also lengthens the life of your cards. I do have some pretty expensive decks and i don't want people to ruin them with dirty hands and bad shuffling.