767: Randy Wakeman - I've Been Around for a Long, Long Years

Randy Wakeman has been around for many decades and was often seen lecturing and performing at magic conventions. Nonetheless, I have always seen him as an “underground” magician who appeals to the true sleight-of-hand experts. He is one of those guys who has “been there, done that, has the t-shirt” as he was one of the regular performers about the Chicago Bar Magic Scene before the turn of the last century. He has written several books on magic (card magic mostly) and is still relevant in our community as a performer, teacher and author.

While at the recent Senior Tour close-up convention in St. Louis, The Magic Word spoke with Randy as part of the convention report content. He was preparing for a workshop, so we didn’t get a chance to go in-depth as I had wanted. But we agreed to get together at the 4F convention in Buffalo a couple months later. True to his word, we sat down to complete our chat which results in this episode. The content of our chat in both places was a little disjunctive, so the editing required us to put the second conversation first then plug in the chat in St. Louis and finish with our talk while in Buffalo. This sounds more confusing that it actually is, but I know you will understand and enjoy our chat.

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475: Jamy Ian Swiss with Stan Allen and Tom Gagnon - Three-Fer

While attending the 2019 MagiFest, I posted daily updates for each of the three days of the event and featured short conversations with talent, registrants, dealers, and organizers. Two of the conversations were longer than I normally like to include with such updates but shorter than the usual one hour of content for a “normal” podcast. So this week we feature the two conversations that were each less than a half hour but make for a satisfying hour podcast filled with different subject matter and points of view.

Jamy Ian Swiss has developed perhaps the most compact, amazing, and practical "Card on Ceiling" ever published, and now he shares the work on video for the very first time - a method you will carry with you every day, always ready to perform this unforgettable feat at a moment's notice. Visit our Online Magic Shop: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/magic-store/5rf6keh5dqmz7z6h241rolotrp30dj

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:02:44 - First up was a conversation I was having with Stan Allen about the upcoming MAGIC Live! convention then we started talking about critics in our craft and the lack of good critics. As fortune would have it, Jamy Ian Swiss was walking by when we cornered him to talk about giving advice and constructive criticism. How fortuitous.

00:26:38 - Later that evening (much into the late night actually), we had a conversation with Tom Gagnon who talked about his projects both old and new and his passion for continuing to learn and move forward with innovative card ideas. He also talks about his friendships and passing relationships with notable magicians like Ed Marlo and Jon Racherbaumer.

01:03:11 - “Card on Ceiling” by Jamy Ian Swiss: This DVD includes three different versions created and used by professionals including Scotty York, J.C. Wagner and Jamy Ian Swiss. On this DVD Jamy includes the history of the trick, nods to those who have made it a signature piece of their shows, performances of all three methods by Jamy at the W.C. Fields Bar at the Magic Castle, plus a thorough explanation of the methods of each. It also includes a great idea by Jamy for having this effect always ready and where and how to hide the “secret stuff”. Excellent. This is a “must-have” for anyone wanting to perform this trick. Highly recommended.

316: The End of MAGIC Magazine? Plus: Thommy Ten & Amelie Van Tass - Joined at the Mind

First place winners for Mentalism at the 2015 FISM Championships, Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass have "wowed" crowds all over the world with their two-person clairvoyant act. Currently starring in "The Illusionists 1903" touring magic show, they were finalists in the 11th season of America's Got Talent (sic) television show.

But topping this podcast, we have a chat with Stan Allen who brings us up to date with the latest "bombshell" announcement. With the August 2016 issue, MAGIC Magazine marked the end of an era with its "last" MAGIC Magazine after publishing 300 issues over the past 25 years. But rather than going out "cold turkey", Stan Allen has a plan to reinvent the magic magazine and publish just 25 more issues over the next 20 months with a new publication: MAGIC Legacy. These will not be available digitally, but only by hard copy and it will be a limited run. So if you don't subscribe, then you may miss out entirely if you think you will "jump in" later.

Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass on their first outing on 2016 "America's Got Talent" (sic)

With perfect lightness the Austrian and German Champions of Magic make you discover a fabulous world by their art of mindreading and unique illusions. Smart, bright and charming! Get in contact with Thommy Ten & Amélie today! www.thommyten.com +436766213176

00:01:41- Stan Allen brings us up to date with the latest news and all the details on his new venture: MAGIC Legacy. This limited run publication was announced during MAGIC Live! last week. Many people signed up for the new magazine at the convention, but others will be given the chance to subscribe and to pply the balance of their subscription payment towards a limited time price for MAGIC Legacy.

00:18:17 - Later in this podcast, Thommy and Amelie talk about their experience on "America's Got Talent" TV show and what it's like backstage. They also talk about meeting and starting to work together in Austria. This is a couple who practically finish each others' sentences...but what else would you expect?