Fooler Dooler Daryl - Just Another Magic Monday

It's about time I finally did a JAMM post on the man that makes me cringe every time my magic club introduces me as Daryl. I don't cringe because he is bad. Daryl is one of the best closeup magicians performing ( and teaching ) today. I cringe because I don't want anybody expecting his level of experience and showmanship from a mere novice. Daryl is called the Magician's Magician and lives up to that moniker. Just the other day the About.com magic newsletter had a list of the top 10 close-up magicians. Daryl came in at number 4.

Of course, when I started magic I had to take a look at some of Daryl's work. I love his sense of humor. It reminds me a lot of wrestlers who are great on mic. Often they will speak to the smarks ( smart marks ) who know something about wrestling but probably don't know as much as they think they do. Daryl follows in this tradition and speaks to the people who might know some possible ways who is performing his tricks. In this way he keeps people who know magic and people who've never seen magic engaged.

If you read his wikipedia entry you'll learn that he is famous for his Ambitious Card Routine. I found his routine on youTube and thought it would be a great way to show off his abilitites. The finale to this routine is tremendous. [ad#Ellusionist] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iu5FMaR2o&w=500&h=405]

All in all, Daryl makes me glad I have a nickname to use in magic. He has the Daryl market locked up pretty well :)

Do have a magician you think I should look at for one of my JAMM posts? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

For more information visit his website foolerdoolers.com.

Scam School - Just Another Magic Monday

I have been watching Scam School ( with Brian Brushwood ) for a while now. I found the show while looking for video podcasts that I might find enjoying before I even decided to become a magician. This show is one of the reasons I thought I might be able to do magic. Why? It tipped some magical, and not so magical, methods in a very professional way. I started to see that it was possible to do magic and, if I went to bars often, get free drinks using some of the methods that lie within.

Before I go too much further, Scam School is not a show teaching you how to do magic.  According to the intro it is, "The only show dedicated to social engineering at the bar and on the street." However, Brian Brushwood is a magician and a great entertainer. The following clip is an episode of Scam School that deviated from its normal format to show Brian's performance at SXSW. [ad#Ellusionist]

Scam school is great for magician's to watch because of its perspective. There is a movement of bizarre magic out there and Brian Brushwood is one of the people at the forefront. For non-magician's it is great to watch for its edutainment value. It is very entertaining, and you get to see a cool thing to do at a bar or just hanging out with your friends. For instance, check out this episode on "The Static Shot." [ad#Google Adsense]

In the end though, the show is called Scam School and it presents itself as thus. Even though the homework is usually to watch movies like "The Sting" or buy domain names and do a domain smack on someone. All in all I recommend this show to all lovers of magic ( and bar scams :) ).

For more information:

• Scam School Website
• Brian Brushwood's website
• Follow Brian Brushwood on Twitter
• Check out one of Brian's other shows
  • BB Live Show
  • NSFW

[ad#Books Banner] If you liked this post please follow me on twitter and/or subscribe to my RSS feed. If you only want to see my JAMM posts you can subscribe to the Just Another Magic Monday Feed.

That's Magic - Just Another Magic Monday

This week's JAMM post is a little different than posts we have done in the past. In the past I've shown magician performing magic that amazed me and I wanted to share. This week I got a link from the magician I respect the most, Jeff McBride, on facebook. His message said,

"Just came across this remarkable video: find 15 minutes and watch this short-length movie, I think it's worth it"

As I watched it, especially near the end I kept thinking of words I have heard Jeff say time and again.

I believe magic is all around us.

He is so right. As a magician myself, this is the energy I love tapping into as I perform. I hope I can continue to see the magic all around me as I delve more into my own magical journeys.

Please take 15 minutes and watch this, whether you are into magic or not.  It is a beautiful short film with high production values. It is a powerful piece that has tapped into the magic it is trying to portray.

That's Magic! from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

The music from this short film is available at: http://www.whitestonemotionpictures.com/2009/01/thats-magic-soundtrack/

Just Another Magic Monday - Ekaterina Dobrokhotova

I found Ekaterina( Kate ) from some advertisement videos for the Ellusionist Arcane decks.  The end of her video had her website which brought me the video I am showing here.  By far my favorite type of magic to watch is sleight of hand.  Usually, this causes me to show a ton of card manipulation routines.  Kate definitely has some extreme examples of card manipulation but this routine is an awesome display.  She does a great job of misdirecting and making you think you've caught her when really she is doing something else. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-zKnFUolvo&w=560&h=340]

[ad#Ellusionist]

For an added bonus here is a video of her working the Montreal Jazz Fest in 2009.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwJZmS5ASPM&w=480&h=385] I'm a sucker for a French ( and Russian ) speaking redheaded entertainer :)

Just Another Magic Monday:Larry Wilmore and The Race Card

[ad#Ellusionist]I don't watch The Daily Show live. I usually watch it the next day on Hulu. However, last Tuesday they had a bit of magic on the show. I didn't catch it on Hulu, instead I caught it during the 3 minutes it takes to heat up a lean pocket( 2 minutes to cook, 1 minute to cool ). As usual during work meal breaks, I turned on the microwave then turned on the TV to see what's funny on Comedy Central.  I've been working so much with cards lately that when I saw Larry do a thumb fan I was so excited.  In the end I think I let the lean pocket cool for 2 or more minutes. Serious Issue + Humor is good but magic makes it better :)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Playing the Race Card
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

Just Another Magic Monday - Jeff Mcbride

Jeff Mcbride is my favorite magician. He is great with card and coin manipulations and that's what he is known for.  In fact, he has Guinness Book World Records to prove how good he is.  Coins and Cards aren't the only thing he is good at though.  The following clip shows how well he involves his audience.  He definately solidified this kid's love of magic for the rest of his life.  He may have also turned that kid into a future magician.[ad#Ellusionist][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSec8j9rOs&w=560&h=340]