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I am Clifford the Red and I am a 39 year old Bizarrist. I live in one of the bizarrist places you will ever see, Los Angeles. I have been involved in magic since the ripe old age of 6, when my Mum indoctinated me with a trip to the Magic Shop at Disneyland and gave me my first pieces of the mystical arts. I grew up doing shows and parties but put it on hold as a teenager. I picked it back up in college and discovered Bizarre and one of my mentors, Eugene Burger. I have also taught a series of courses in magic for a city. I have had articles published in Magic Magazine and TC Tahoe's Mind Over Magic (A new Bizarre Publication), and I am a regular on a large magic forum. I now work with a partner to develop original effects and perform. In addition, I am working on developing a publishing house for magical works of the Bizarre. I also have an extensive library on Bizarre Magick and the esoteric and am always seeking to add to it. I do frequent Dragonskull, one of the preeminent Bizarre sites that is located in the UK. There is tons of great stuff there! During the day I am a finance professional and top-level executive. To satisfy my artistic cravings I am a writer and work at making beautiful and compelling art in magic. My name reflects both my art and my Scottish ancestry as my Mum's family is Reid, which means Red.

I look forward to chatting with you about the art!

The Red

Hi Clifford, been looking but can't find Bizaro on my map, but welcome anyway!

Look forward to getting to know you better as time progresses, enjoyed your offereings to date.

Vic

vic_vdb wrote:Look forward to getting to know you better as time progresses, enjoyed your offereings to date.

Hehe, I don't think there are any left! So I'll start anew. Thanks for your welcome and Bizarre is not on your map, but in your soul. Or is that "eats your soul"....I forget.

And this LA is that notorious one. Spielberg's office is across the street No I am not kidding.

May I add my warm greeting too

Looks like a Nuclear Bomb is about to go off in LA but my guess is Jack will save the day. ( actually I'm a bit behind I'm only just starting season 2 )

Thanks Happy Toad!

Unless you are referring to Jack Bristow, my hero, then it can't be that good of a show. Alias is really the only show I am addicted to at the moment. They film Alias all around where I work, it's funny to see the "exotic locations", they sure do a good job!

Lol actually I'm also addicted to Alias and it does have the edge over 24 which was actually the one I was refering too. Though 24 is still very good

Hi Clifford and welcome.

I didn't know that there was a magic shop in Disneyland and would have looked in.

I remember being at the back of the magic castle when Merlin came out and press-ganged me into holding his invisible rope during his performance to a sea of kids.

Anyway, I look forward to reading your contributions.

Hi Clifford. Welcome to Talk Magic.

Welcome Clifford to TM, you certainly have a great career in magic under your belt with the sound of it. I look forward to reading your offerings with much anticipation.

Thanks Guys! (gender-neutral comment!)

Regarding the Magic Shop...a bit of history

There used to be no less than TWO magic shops at Disneyland. One still is on main street and remains a bastion of beginner fluff and novelty. There used to be one located just inside Sleeping Beauty Castle, next to the Merry Go Round. It was a LARGE shop and possibly one of the great magic shops. Maybe it was the magic of my young age, but I have not encountered a magic shop that was as magical since.

They had wonderful display cases and shelves behind with an amazing array of great stuff. The demonstrators were really top notch and were real performers, constantly pulling a crowd. Sometimes it was tough to get around that shop it was so full! And it was full of fun. There were nickels nailed to the floor and wired strategically around the store were spiders and all manner of insectavora. It merely took a demonstrator a spare moment to unhook a fish line and drop a spider on the shoulder of an unsuspecting kid. Hanging out there, the magicians would wink at me and point at the current victim. It was such great fun. A magic shop that was truly magical.

It was a huge loss when that shop went, even though I only saw it once a year. It must've been the genesis of thousands of artists that passed through as children like me.




Gack! I don't know it posted that as a Guest...That was me in case you didn't know!

Hello Clifford - nice to hear all about you!

hello and welcome to tm clifford

Hello and welcome to TM were you can thrive on others knowledge and pass on some of your own.

A wonderful piece of nostalgia and a pleasure to read.