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David Copperfield.

What about David Copperfield?

in response to...

Randy wrote:From my point of view, it would seem that there can be Magicians who win awards AND still be very entertaining to audiences (lay people.). Tho from what I have gathered is that it's never 50/50. You can either be an excellent Mechanic or an Excellent Businessman/entertainer (all tho Bill Malone seems to be both.)

The vast majority of competition winners are also extremely commercial. For example, David Williamson won the Gold Cups at IBM, is one of the most gifted techinicians and is also one of the most entertaining magicians you are ever lilkely to see.

What can be learned from competition acts are things like timing, routining and structure. These can be applied to any type of act. While you may not wish to copy the entire act from the book there is a lot of stuff that can be taken from it.

There is also a market for more structured close-up performances. Throwing a few tricks together will not suffice. People appreciate seeing a structured act and this enables you to charge more!

Oh, Harry, the Irish convention was at the end of March. Glad you enjoyed the lecture If anyone is going to my International Magic lecture on the 27th, please come and say "Hi".

Jon,

Are you by any chance heading to The Magic Circle HQ for the Mike Vincent night (14th sept)? If so, could I possibly pick up a copy then from you?

Thanks

Mark

I'm afraid I've had to pull out of the evening

Ah, shame - I'll order my copy through the website then!!

M

The Buffalo Jon Allen didn't seem to know anything about "timing, routining and structure"
Of course if that wasn't the Radlett Jon Allen then he didn't win any competition in the first place. So of course you may have a point.
As for David Williamson I have only seen about a minute of him. That was enough for me. I do not approve of loud and noisy American magicians. Even worse than mumbling, devoid-of-personality, quiet British ones.

Thanks in advance for the order Mark (W).

Martin speaks VERY highly of your Professors Nightmare routine! I look forward to seeing you Jon!

You won't be disappointed. It fooled the tits off me! And I saw a look of suprise on the most ancient and cynical of the magicians there.

No pressure then!

Shush! I cant get down for the lecture and your not helping matters!!

Ill speak to the committee at Bradford and see if we can get you into our 2010 lecture schedule

I'm not sure when a full review might appear on here after the release, but I have heard that Jamy Ian Swiss has reviewed the book for September's issue of Genii.

Jamy Ian Swiss eh? The blind leading the blind it seems. Or should I say the blind reviewing the blind. I have seen this fellow perform on television and found him overloud and obnoxious. Dreadfully American. Besides he wore too much makeup and kept calling somone "mac" in a most disrespectful manner. I had to reprimand him a year ago for not being able to do the stabbed in the pack trick correctly and he walked off in a huff.

Anyway I now have sound on my computer and will see if the Radlett Jon Allen is any good or if the Buffalo Jon Allen has improved. I am sure they are both bloody awful but I wouldn't anyone to say I had a biased nature so I shall reserve judgement for the moment.