733: Jeanette Andrews - For Art's Sake

How does one explain art? Art means something to each beholder. Art is an experience unique to each of us. What some like, others may not like, or just be lukewarm to the concept. Such is the experience of our audiences. Some like what we do while others may not. In some cases they may not even understand what we are trying to communicate. But for the most part, most magicians don’t have a message or concept they are trying to get across to their audiences. Moreover, most of us just try to “entertain” with our magic without thinking of what deeper messages we could be exploring or displaying.

Our guest this week, Jeanette Andrews, is what I would call a true “artist” in the sense that she thinks deeply about the aesthetics of her props and the message she wants them to convey. More than just the visual of the staging, she also gives attention and importance to the accompanying music selections. She has also tapped into a heretofore rather unexplored target market of art patrons of museums and galleries.

In her early years in Chicago, Jeanette was heavily influenced by her mentor, Eugene Burger. She tells about some of the great advice he taught her and how it influenced her act and career and even her lifestyle. She also discusses her act and how she incorporates art into her act. Her act is more like looking at art in galleries as she creates striking poses and slowly displays each piece she touches and incorporates into her show.

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This book is the one recommended by both Eugene Burger and Jeanette Andrews for all travelers.

If you are interested in the history of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois, then you might enjoy this fascinating look at history of the Exposition and the first serial killer in the U.S. (H.H. Holmes) who clouded the event.

732: Mac King and Joel Hodgson - Comedy Giants

Lightning in a bottle. I don’t know how else to describe what we experienced in this week’s episode. While at Abbott’s Get Together in Colon, Michigan, this past year we sat down for a chat with the dual winners of the Senator Crandall Comedy Award, Mac King and Joel Hodgson. All of you know Mac King as the longest running comedy headliner in Las Vegas. And many of you might know Joel Hodgson as the creator of “Mystery Science Theater” TV show, but fewer of you might remember him as a comedy magic performer having appeared on Saturday Night Live among many other television appearances.

Mac and Joel split the Sen. Crandall Comedy Award at the 1989 Abbott’s Get Together so it was funny (no pun intended) that it happened again in 2022. There career paths began as comedy magicians but both took dramatically different directions with their careers, Mac going to Las Vegas and Joel pursuing television. In this week’s episode they reflect on their humble beginnings in the early days of comedy clubs and how they developed their talents that led to their separate and successful careers. There is a lot of talent and advice packed into this episode.

731: Tim Ellis and Nicholas J. Johnson - Magic Myth Busting

From Australia, Tim Ellis and Nicholas J. Johnson “bust” some of the commonly held beliefs of most magicians. Many of you know Tim Ellis as the FISM Award Winning magician who works cruise ships and lectures around the world. But in this episode we also introduce you to Nicholas J. Johnson who is a well-known and respected author, a magician, an expert in scams and cons and hosts a podcast called “Scamapalooza.” In this episode, Tim, Nicholas and Scott chat about ten things that many magicians believe to be true. But are they in based on fact and in practicality?

1 – Kids are the most honest audience

2 – The classics are classics for a reason

3 – It’s more important to be entertaining than original

4 – A good magician doesn’t need a lot of props

5 – Be yourself

6 – Always dress one step better than your audience

7 – Learn a couple of tricks well

8 – Perform at every opportunity

9 – It’s fun to be fooled/People don’t want to know how it’s done

10 – When approaching guests, don’t tell them you’re a magician

If you would like to view our conversation, then please watch this YouTube video.

There are obviously many other topics that could have been covered, but within our one hour, self-imposed guidelines, the ten “myths” were all we could cover within our time limit. If you think there are additional topics that you would like to hear discussed by our Aussie panel, then please send your suggestions to scott@themagicwordpodcast.com

If you like podcasts (and I think you do), then I think you will enjoy listening to Nicholas’ podcast “Scamapalooza.”) Just click on the graphic above to visit the website; however, you can find it in iTunes and most other places wherever you get your podcasts.

Hail and Farewell

to those in our Magic Community who left us this past year.

Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses and assistants who passed on in 2022. Some may not be as well-known to you, but they were my personal friends (hey, it is my blog!). If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.

Those whose names are highlighted were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. Some are full episodes while others are brief conversations at conventions. Check the Timestamps to go to the chat with some of these individuals. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again. But for now, we say, “Aloha, my friends.”

Jerry O’Connell

Presley Guitar

The Amazing Jonathan

Van McGee

David Hinkin

Haruo Shimada

Rick Burcher

Chuck Fayne

Martin Lewis

Sal Manfredo

Aye Jay

Mark Raffles