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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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298: Mike Robinson - Just Venting

Mike Robinson is one of the busiest and most successful acts that you have probably never heard of. More than just a ventriloquist, Mike Robinson prefers to be introduced as "The Unique Comedy of Mike Robinson" so his vent act comes as a surprise. He does magic, stand-up comedy, music, juggling, as well as ventriloquism. But his interests include martial arts, playing music, family, and taking advantage of his spare time.

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Mike talks about some of his favorite podcasts he listens to; questions he is often asked by his audience; carrying his dummy through TSA and what people ask to see; filling a full show with one vent character versus having several dummies (if the audience doesn't like one character, then they might like the next one); the importance of having additional strong material in reserve either for cruise ships or for corporate shows; his roots in magic, comedy and ventriloquism; his “old school” way of scripting using pen and paper; the importance of mentorship and finding a mentor to help your act; his influences on his career; how he learned ventriloquism; tips and suggestions to those who are interested in learning to be a vent; and much, much more.

Perhaps his best advice for those wanting to learn ventriloquism is to buy a dummy/puppet later, but first learn to be a ventriloquist. Ventriloquism is the skill, the puppet is the act. He suggests the best book for inspiring him and pointing him in the right direction is "Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions" by Albert A, Hopkins. Pages 164-170 is where you will find the info about ventriloquism (thanks, Salvadore Calderon).

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Click on the banner above to visit the Magic Store on The Magic Word to see all the products available for sale.00:54:03 - Time stamp for the product review of "Chapswitch"

Click on the banner above to visit the Magic Store on The Magic Word to see all the products available for sale.

00:54:03 - Time stamp for the product review of "Chapswitch"

Click on the graphic above to view a video demonstration of "Chapswitch"

Click on the graphic above to view a video demonstration of "Chapswitch"

The book that included some of the best advice on ventriloquism that inspired Mike Robinson. Pages 164-170 address ventriloquism.

Tagged with Mike Robinson, ventriloquism, ventriloquist, Cruise ships, John Moehring, mentoring, Paul Winchell, Terry Fator, Doc Eason, James Ceilen, Willie Tyler.

June 23, 2016 by Scott Wells.
  • June 23, 2016
  • Scott Wells
  • Mike Robinson
  • ventriloquism
  • ventriloquist
  • Cruise ships
  • John Moehring
  • mentoring
  • Paul Winchell
  • Terry Fator
  • Doc Eason
  • James Ceilen
  • Willie Tyler
  • 2 Comments
2 Comments

221: My Week at the Magic Castle 2015 - Part Two

It's Saturday morning and the Magic Castle swap meet is in full swing. Apparently they let in a lot of people from the general public because I heard several people talking about how crowded it was this year. I did have several people tell me that this was the first time they had ever been inside the Magic Castle since it is a private club and this was the only time they knew they could get in. I think something must have been posted on some social media that opened the doors to more than those who were supposed to have been allowed inside.

In this podcast we chat with several people who were in and around the swap meet like Joe Porper, Scott Jenkins, Terry Lunceford and Andrew Goldenhirsh. We also spend some time talking with Doc Eason who was performing for two weeks at the W.C. Fields bar. And we wrap up with a chat with a two time winner of the Magic Castle strolling magic award, Steven Himmel.

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00:02:42 - Funny Eddie talks about what happened to Dean Dill's magic stuff.

00:04:22- Joe Porper talks about his life and beginnings as a craftsman

00:09:44 - Scott Jenkins is the marketing manager for all of Joe Porper's magic and he tells us where to find it plus a new marketing plan to bring down the prices a bit.

00:11:53 - Terry Lunceford has sold thousands of hand made snake baskets. How many? He tells us here.

00:16:29 - It's Andre Goldenhirsh's birthday. We wish him a happy birthday.

00:20:05 - Doc Eason tells us a lot about what he's been up to over the past several years plus a new project that he hopes to leave as a lasting legacy.

00:52:55 - Two time winner of the Magic Castle Strolling award, Steven Himmel chats about this contest.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Click on the banner above to view more information and to order the video. Tell Doc that you heard about it here on The Magic Word!

Click on the banner above to view more information and to order the video. Tell Doc that you heard about it here on The Magic Word!

Tagged with Terry Lunceford, Joe Porper, Andrew Goldenhersh, Doc Eason, Steven Himmel, The Magic Castle, Scott Jenkins.

April 30, 2015 by Scott Wells.
  • April 30, 2015
  • Scott Wells
  • Terry Lunceford
  • Joe Porper
  • Andrew Goldenhersh
  • Doc Eason
  • Steven Himmel
  • The Magic Castle
  • Scott Jenkins
  • Post a comment
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218: Steve Spill - I Lie For Money

I'm reluctant to produce a podcast solely for the intent purposes of promoting something that someone wants to pitch; however, there are exceptions. And this is one of them.

Steve Spill has had a magical life...and it's not over yet! One could say that Steve "grew up" in the Magic Castle because his father, Sandy Spillman, was a long-time host and also conducted the seances there for many years. Through his early teenage years he had unprecedented access to hang out with many of the greats such as Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Francis Carlyle, Kuda Bux and many, many others. Steve also worked at the Jolly Jester with Bob Sheets in the early days of "bar magic" in Aspen, Colorado. Later, the two of them opened the "Brook Farm Inn of Magic" in Delaware. And for about the past 20 years, he has owned and operated "Magicopolis" in Santa Monica, California.

You can follow Magicopolis on Twitter @Magicopolis and find them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MAGICOPOLIS (note the all caps for their name plus be sure to look for the "monkey" profile picture so you know you have the correct "Magicopolis")

Steve and I first met over 30 years ago when he came through to perform at Houston's Magic Island and I was one of the House Magicians. Although it was not quite like "two ships passing in the night", we had fallen out of touch with one another since then as we both followed our separate paths. When Steve contacted me with the idea of pitching his new book, I knew that we needed to catch up to talk about all the "water that has run under our bridges."

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Steve begins at the end by talking about Magicopolis which he built and owns and where he and his wife, Bozene, appear weekly. He then talks about his many experiences at the Magic Castle and relates stories about the eight mentors at the Castle who shaped his future. He also talks about Bob Sheets and the Jolly Jester in Aspen as well as the Brook Farm Inn of Magic. There a lot of stories from his new book plus some that are not there bu only appear here in this podcast.

You can read many of these stories plus dozens more in Steve's new book, "I Lie for Money" coming out soon and only available through Amazon. You can Click Here for more details and to order your copy.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through TuneIn.com by Clicking Here.

Exclusive Interview with Professional Magician & Magic Theater Owner Steve Spill

Exclusive Interview with Professional Magician & Magic Theater Owner Steve Spill

Order your copy of Steve's book (and support The Magic Word) by clicking on the link below to Amazon.

Get a free 30 day trial subscription and receive two free audible books to keep!

Tagged with Steve Spill, Sandy Spillman, The Magic Castle, Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Kuda Bux, Senator Crandall, Francis Carlyle, Al Goshman, Carazini, Bob Sheets, Jolly Jester, Aspen, Brook Farm Inn of Magic, Slydini.

April 9, 2015 by Scott Wells.
  • April 9, 2015
  • Scott Wells
  • Steve Spill
  • Sandy Spillman
  • The Magic Castle
  • Dai Vernon
  • Charlie Miller
  • Kuda Bux
  • Senator Crandall
  • Francis Carlyle
  • Al Goshman
  • Carazini
  • Bob Sheets
  • Jolly Jester
  • Aspen
  • Brook Farm Inn of Magic
  • Slydini
  • Post a comment
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The Magic Word The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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