874: James Harrington - Half a Mind

James Harrington and his wife, Marina, have one of the most incredible two-person mind reading acts I have seen. I experienced their show recently at MAGIC Texas in Dallas where they gave multiple shows for intimate groups of 30 people. The speed at which they move and the information shared as they both talked with each other and the audience was something that rivaled or eclipsed most other similar acts I have seen. This was their first ever magic convention performance and I feel lucky to have witnessed that because they normally only perform in their home region of Dubai.

This week we chat with James Harrington, one half of Mind2Mind, because regrettably, his wife Marina was ironically suffering with a migraine headache. In this episode James tells us about how he traveled from his home in England and where and how he met and married Marina then developed their incredible act. We do talk about other acts, but each has its own personalities and agendas and methods.

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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.

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 or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

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.

687: Luis Carreon - La Bestia ("The Beast")

Luis Carreon has been a regular performer at the Chicago Magic Lounge for over a decade. He “earned his bones” by working at magic shops as a demonstrator and has parlayed his chops into performing for nightclubs (like Nashville’s “House of Cards” and Hollywood’s “Magic Castle” among others) and also for corporate events. He currently is a demonstrator for Magic, Inc. in Chicago and will soon have a “residency” at the Chicago Magic Lounge.

Luis talks about the importance of performing whenever and wherever you can to develop your skills. He also talks about being a Spanish speaking magician. We also go into some detail about what performers can and can’t say in today’s “sensitive” environment like nightclubs. He even talks about the workshops taught at the Chicago Magic Lounge and how to talk with your volunteers and audience. He also talks about the importance of scripting but being able to improvise, too. He also tells a horror story about a problem with a volunteer.

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 or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

874: James Harrington - Half a Mind

733: Jeanette Andrews - For Art's Sake

687: Luis Carreon - La Bestia ("The Beast")

The Magic Word