878: Ed Ellis - Magician/Musician

Ed Ellis is not a name that is on the tip of the tongues of most magicians. I wouldn’t call him an “underground” magician because I think of “those guys” as being the ones who magicians go to when they want to learn some secret move. But Ed has quietly been making a living for many decades having worked at many prestigious resorts and country clubs and of late, has been returning to the magic convention scene. So, if you have not seen him or are not familiar with his work, you can watch his video lecture on Penguin or catch him at one of many convention appearances he plans to make this year.

Ed talks about his journey through life as he maneuvered jobs on film, nightclubs, and resorts. He gives some valuable advice on calling on past customers and maintaining personal friendships to ensure future opportunities.

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496: Scott Alexander - Stand-Up Guy

Scott Alexander’s magic reached millions on NBC’s season six of “America’s Got Talent” where he advanced all the way with his large stage illusions. With articles in People Magazine and Nations Business, the Oprah Show took notice and Scott was invited by Oprah Winfrey to make a guest appearance on her show. Scott had the honor of headlining on the Las Vegas Strip at Caesars Palace for over seven years and 4,000 performances of large grand illusions fused with stand-up comedy magic. Scott’s magic has been featured on “Penn & Teller’s Fool Us” on the CW, The SyFy Channel, Discovery Channel and NBC. Scott has appeared in Paris on the world class and prestigious Le Grand Plus Cabaret Du Monde. Whether it be the intimacy of a close-up sleight of hand performance, stand up comedy magic, or the all out spectacle of a large stage show, Scott Alexander’s delivery is always lighthearted, somewhat irreverent, amazing, quick-witted and sure to leave you filled with wonder and laughter.

Scott Alexander talks about the development of MAJOKE, the parody of MAGIC Magazine that he helped produce, MAJOKE is probably the most hilarious, controversial, offensive and down right funny thing to come out in the magic world...ever! Similar to the "Weenie" parody of Genii Magazine a few years back, but nowhere near as reserved. We also talk about immediate gratification with immediate digital downloads like the new Magicflix, and the difference between males and females doing magic, the book he is writing on the life of Denny Haney, how he landed his job at Caesar’s Magical Empire,working with Penguin Magic, how he thinks and creates magic and so much more.

We also talk about his wife’s magic show. You can view Jenny Alexander’s promo video here: https://youtu.be/O-KQnN9uRv4

And here is the link to Denny Haney’s daughter’s movie we discussed: https://youtu.be/U42N6VT2USc

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

Soctt Alexander’s “Bias Pad” is reviewed this week on the podcast.

Scott Alexander Lecture Notes Winner.jpg

410 - Carisa Hendrix - Getting Uncomfortable

Caria Hendrix is a magician who is on the rise. Oh, also, she happens to be a woman. She is one of the new breed who I believe is one of the "Stars of Tomorrow" as she pursues her dreams on stage. Most young people I see today seem to be involved in close-up and entertaining small groups of people, but few true entertainers are comfortable on stage in front of a large audience. Carisa is one of that rare breed.

She suggests that we should step out of our comfort zone and try new things that stretch our boundaries and move into new, perhaps uncomfortable, areas that will make us better performers and people. She says that artists should practice "moving towards the place of greatest discomfort and just sitting in that space." She suggests that magicians should not be afraid to fail.

On another matter, there was quite a bit of controversy about her July 2017 cover on VANISH Magazine. She addresses it quite well and succinctly on her blog. Click Here to read her comments on the controversy.

The Lady Magician, Lucy Darling plays a game of "hide and seek" with the Rone, Wednesday night at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Performed November 15th, 2017 Special. Thank you to Pop Hayden for the footage and lovely introduction. Written and performed by Carisa Hendrix Additional thanks to David Par, Joe Diamond, Tim Ellis, Jimbo Jordan, Jason Melnychu, Chris Visse, John Lovick and Bizzaro Galore for their notes and suggestions.

This is the video that Carisa talks about late in the podcast. 20 years after ruining/improving Dave Williamson's magic career, Murray returns to The 2011 International Magic convention in London to try again.

Here is the poem that inspires Carisa that applies to all creators:

So You Want To Be A Writer - Poem by Charles Bukowski

if it doesn't come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.
if you're doing it for money or
fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.
if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and
pretentious, don't be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

Charles Bukowski

Since this original podcast was released, Carisa has lived to her potential. So in July 2019, we give a major congratulations to Carisa Hendrix for winning the 2019 Allan Slaight Award for Canadian Rising Star!

We’re so proud of her! Carisa truly is a rising star, with many talents to boot! She’s done tons of magic shows for children at parties, schools, and other family events, but she also does stilt walking, fire eating, and is even a professional bubble blower. Make sure that your check out her Bubble act here.

And that’s just in laypeople-land, specifically for children. She’s been taking the magic world by storm with her character, Lucy Darling, playing at the Chicago Magic Lounge, the Magic Castle, and currently at the Melbourne Magic Festival in Australia.

Check out the video (above) from the Slaight Family Foundation, highlighting Carisa and her many skills.

878: Ed Ellis - Magician/Musician

496: Scott Alexander - Stand-Up Guy

410 - Carisa Hendrix - Getting Uncomfortable

So You Want To Be A Writer - Poem by Charles Bukowski

The Magic Word