751: Senior Tour 2023 - Panel Discussion

On the first evening of the Senior Tour, we sat down for a very special, impromptu Q&A with some of the performers from the Senior Tour. Joining us on the couch was Trudy Monti (wife if the legendary Harry Monti), Bill Goodwin, Alan Ackerman, Mike Powers, Doug Conn, Jim Molinari and Howard Hamburg.

This is a bonus episode to the Magic Word Podcast and we will resume our daily updates with the next installment.

Like a late night talk show, Scott Wells has some of the talent from this year’s Senior Tour as his guests on the couch in this episode. We feature Trudy Monti (wife of Harry Monti, who was in the audience but not healthy enough to join us on the couch), Doug Conn, Bill Goodwin, Alan Ackerman, Mike Powers, Jim Molinari and Howard Hamburg.

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652: Michael Trixx - Up to New Trixx

When we talk about those among us who are hard workers, this week we have Michael Costa (aka Michael Trixx) as the perfect example of someone who has been quietly doing it year after year. In fact, he has been working six nights a week for 22 years mostly in his outdoor venue “Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar” in Islamorada,, Florida in the Florida, Keys. This conversation is a good example of a successful, self-made magician who works hard and learned to even work through this pandemic with live shows. Michael has always been a rock-and-roll magician, and although he has maintained his basic character, he has not been afraid to try new things and new opportunities.

Michael Trixx has been a long-time friend who has an interesting story that will inspire young magicians to keep working hard and how to find success. He also talks about working with doves outdoors and some stories about doves flying off and retrieving them, getting sponsors for his show, finding a venue, the benefits of working charity shows, the importance of competing in magic contests, and how to be bold (or as Paul Diamond used to say, “It takes guts, dammit.”)

644: Joseph Gabriel - A Bird In Hand

Multi-Award winning Broadway illusionist, Joseph Gabriel, single-handedly changed the face of magic with his iconic sleight-of-hand performance when he appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” for the first time. Joseph is known for his signature style of producing various exotic birds and is equally adept at large-scale illusions, mentalism, and comedy audience participation. Soon after his appearance on “The Tonight Show”, Joseph began headlining in lavish Las Vegas review shows, such as the “Lido de Paris” at the Stardust Hotel and “City Lites” at the Flamingo where he headlined for nine years.

In this week’s episode, Joseph talks about the importance of “being so good, they can’t ignore you,” to quote Steve Martin. He has developed his own style of performing and talks about his journey where good things in his career kept happening, including his two year association with the Peruvian legend, Richiardi. In addition to his work with birds, he is also an accomplished artist and maker/performer of marionettes.

This week in magic, one of the highlights in our community was the “Las Vegas wedding of year” of Murray Sawchuck and Dani Elizabeth.