talkmagic.co.uk

As this is my 50th post I think it is time I introduce myself. My name is Constantinos and I am a Greek Australian. I am from Canberra the capital of Australia - yes, that’s right; Sydney is not the capital as so many people erroneously think!

I am not new to magic but I am quite new to magic forums in fact this is the second forum of any kind I have ever joined.

I bought my first book on magic at the age of seven (that is almost 30 years ago from the date stamp of this post). I think my biggest influence would have been a magician who performed for my primary school every couple of years. He was a magician from the old school; he came across as a distinguished gentleman in his fifties who would walk on stage, sporting a black suit, top hat and a black cane. He was an excellent ventriloquist and he would perform all the classics like the linking rings and the rabbit out of the hat.

From the books I bought I started making my own props and loved entertaining family and friends. I then performed my first magic show at the age of twelve for my entire primary school (I have no idea how I found the nerve to do that). What I did not know, until a few hours before my show, was that the very magician who had inspired me was going to perform straight after me! In fact he sat through my entire show! I remember as he started off his show, he announced that later he would like to speak to the boy who had performed the magic show earlier on. I was honoured! I mean you have to understand my fellow members; this is at a time before the Internet! Even to find a magic book or magic set in a store was near impossible in my city! So after his show this magician took the time to teach me how to perform a few of his simpler but yet effective tricks. I was totally floored! I felt like I had been worthy enough to be let into some secret society of magicians (much like how we feel on talkmagic.co.uk )

As the years went by I delved into magic less frequently even though I still would buy the occasional book on magic, and almost always perform the odd trick during the middle of a card game (but not during a card game ). Also, every time my goddaughter would visit me, she would make me promise that I would perform some magic for her that day. I also have my nephews and their friends now who keep me very busy with performing acts of impossibilities for their entertainment.

Now it’s 2006 and I have discovered that magic exist on the Internet (and unfortunately, so has my diminishing savings account!) and after several months of browsing through the posts in this forum and other magic forums I happily decided to join talkmagic.co.uk as it seemed to agree with my personality due to the amount of likeminded (screwed up ) individuals that post here.

So that’s my story! I hope I haven’t put you all to sleep! This is the very reason I avoided posting my introduction for so long, I knew I was going to get carried away!

I would just like to finish up by saying greetings to all! Thank you for allowing me to waste your precious time and thanks for putting up with my extensively verbose autobiography regarding magic and myself! I will be looking forward to running into you on one of the threads (or straight through you if my magic has been perfected ) in the near future!

Regards,

Costas

A belated welcome from a fellow likeminded (well screwed up and loving it) individual .

Thanks Mandrake, it is people like your wacky little self that make this forum what it is!

Good to see fellow Australians here
Ya know, Sydney should be the capital

Thanks Option, likewise.

As far as Sydney being the capital; I am sure if our Prime Minister had his way, it would be - especially when little Johnny refuses to stay at the lodge in Canberra (the official residence for all our serving PMs) alongside us poor lonely Canberrans. Instead he breaks protocol and chooses to live Sydney letting our taxpayers fly him to and from parliament.

costas wrote: ...and unfortunately, so has my diminishing savings account!

You'll fit in well here. We have many good C.U.P.S. councellors...

Thanks Mark,

I have actually already joined C.U.P.S. anonymous at ttp://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic9144-0-asc-0.php and I am currently undergoing counselling. They are a great support group, but I tell you there are a lot of sad stories on that thread!

Welcome

Hey Dave, thanks!

How are the ropes going? Have you mastered Tabary yet?

Hi Costas.

I've mastered Tabary (the main routine) but it took some time, mainly due to being buy at work.

I'm trying to find some time to record it and want to do an outside recording and again, an intro including my thoughts on the routine, particularly now that I''ve done a few live performances.

I've also come up with a routine which is a fusion of routines from Tabary, Flip and Sanders and am just finishing this off.

I'm waiting to see what the next competition entry is before I post it as I may post as an entry if it qualifies.

I've now also found a source for green rops so have a choice of 5 colours now to play with , although I'm down to my last 400 metres or so

Watch this space

Only 400 metres! Are you still buying your rope from House of Magic? How did your quest for black rope go?

I'll be looking forward to your next video; I thoroughly enjoyed your others. I had even showed them to my partner and friends and they thought you were brilliant - mind you, several of them were Satriani fans!

I think an introduction including your thoughts on the Tabary routine would be a nice touch. Especially for those who have an interest in the ropes. A fusion routine would be very interesting as well - I like what you had done with the Sanders one. Do you think you will also do a rope and ring routine as well?

If your routine does meet the entry criteria for the next competition I would also definately encourage you to enter. While I haven't seen your Tabary work (and notably it is more challenging) I thought you pulled off the Sanders routine like a dream.

If you remember, shoot us a PM when you post your video.

Hey there hope you enjoy yourself here

Wise indeed to have your capital inland, just in case the kiwis decide to invade

Thanks Steverino,

Steverino wrote:Wise indeed to have your capital inland, just in case the kiwis decide to invade

The city is also nearly completely fortified due to a mountain range that surrounds it. So there is no way Peter Jackon and his band of Orcs are taking us.

Keep up the good coin magic!

Yes - I'm still buying rope from HoM and was there last week (Hi Wizard ). I get the green rope from Davenports but no luck with the black. I was thinking of getting some of that dye that you put in the washing machine but didn't bother in the end. It seemed too much trouble.

Anyway, I've been giving the ring and rope routine some thought, mainly about using something else than a metal ring. I was thinking about a ring made of a different coloured rope and was trying to figure out a way of getting a red ring and blue rope to change into a blue ring and red rope mid trick, a little like the colour changing knots. I'm still working on this but I'm not sure if this has been done before so it's a challenge to me because of this.

Tabary was a challenge but not for the reasons that I imagined. I'll keep stum about just why until I post and YES, there will be MORE Satch. In fact I'm looking to re-record all of my vids to date in outdoor locations and all with Satch music. I've been giving some thought to recording different routines at different local tourist attractions so again, watch this space.

The red ring and blue rope colour change sounds like a fantastic idea! I can see why it would be challenging and my personal view would be that it would harder to use the element of stealth and confusion as attained when using the same coloured rope; I mean this was evident just by watching the Tabary demonstrations and how much easier it became to follow, when he used different coloured ropes to teach his moves (which I thought worked really well).

dat8962 wrote: and YES, there will be MORE Satch. In fact I'm looking to re-record all of my vids to date in outdoor locations and all with Satch music. I've been giving some thought to recording different routines at different local tourist attractions so again, watch this space.

What can I say? I think this video is going to be awesome!!!!