910: Brian Curry - Entering The Funny Zone

Brian Curry is a corporate magician from the Washington, D.C. area who often performs comedy magic for executives and politicians inside the beltway. He also performs school shows while balancing a home life with a wife and family. For a long time, he and Mark Phillips shared the stage in a “dueling magicians” type performance that played to great reviews. Known as “D.C.’s most honest con man,” Brian has a regular show entitled “The Good Liar” that plays at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Brian has several stories about performing for politicians that he can’t publicly share, but the interesting ones he can share, he does in this week’s episode. He also gives some advice and tips along the way while sharing some comical stories.

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For more information, please visit the website at: https://ibmring50.org/lecturers/

456: Makin' It With Mario the Magician

Mario the Magician or Mario the Maker is a most fascinating, inspirational creator. Although he has been “makin’ it” for a number of years, it wasn’t until I saw him perform at the 2018 MagiFest that I immediately became a fan. He has the “it” factor that endears him to an entire audience spanning age and audience size. He is just as engaging at a small birthday party as he is in an auditorium. And more than just a magician, he creates magic using electronics and encourages youth to get involved in science and math and learn to create their own magic.

He suggests that everyone (but youth in particular) attend Maker Faires (the worlds largest “show and tell” forum) to see what others are doing and to create things themselves. These Faires are held all over the world and somewhere near you. Other websites he suggests include tinkercat.com which allows children to design their own 3D designs. Thngerverse.com is like Google for creating 3D projects.

This is a short documentary by KAL (http://www.seekal.com) about Mario Marchese, aka Mario the Magician (http://www.mariothemagician.com) a hitchhiking wanderer turned full-time maker magician. This short film debuted at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on December 1st, 2012 to a packed house after a live performance by Mario. Enjoy!

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:05:48 - Mario Marchese talks about Maker Faires, encouraging youth to create, travel problems with TSA with all of the electronics he carries onboard, arduino kits and how you can create a server motor, inspirational magicians like Del Ray, scripting, creating and more.

00:59:54 - Product Review: “Runaway Joker” by Peter Nardi and produced by Alakazam.co.uk. A clever card trick where the Joker and his bicycle (disappears” from the car and ends up on the back of the selected card. Recommended.

01:02:31 - Product Review: “Four King Miracle” by Henri White and produced by WorldMagicShop.co.uk. Two single Jokers turn into the four Kings. Clever idea that seems like this should have been invented many years ago. I like it and recommend it.

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. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Eric Citron is the “man behind the curtain” and dependable dealer who owns and operates ThePerfectTrick.com.

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#204: 2014 Year of Magic in Review

It's that time of the year when we try to "put the band back together" and chat with members of the hosts from the MagicNewswire.com podcast, "This Week in Magic". Trying to get a time to arrange everyone's schedule is like "herding cats". So, due to work and health conflicts, this year we have David "Silly Billy" Kaye and Cameron Ramsay join Scott Wells to discuss what went on in the magic world this past year.

To supplement our chat about Magic on TV, here is a little up-to-the-minute information that I read on IndieWire.com after our chat:

"Magic is in the air, or at least on the airwaves. "Masters of Illusion" did well enough for CW last year to make an order for 13 more episodes materialize – and that's after being canceled by MyNetworkTV in 2009. It joins the network's other magic show, the British ITV production "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," as well as magic programs gaining traction on basic cable. TruTV's "The Carbonaro Effect" will be back for a second season, while "Wizard Wars" returns to Syfy in January for six additional episodes. Even shows that don't have magic as a focus are shuffling it into the deck: "American Masters" is kicking off a new season January 23 with an episode about master magician Ricky Jay, and Nat Geo's "Brain Games," regularly tosses a sleight-of-hand artist into the mix."

Of course this is from a personal perspective of the guest on this podcast and does not include a lot of things you perhaps found to be more relevant. But we hope you enjoy our chat.

Instead of bouncing all over the globe, we try to stay on topic with an agenda that includes: magic on television; live touring magic shows; magic conventions; notable passings, and; predictions for 2015.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Magicians' Valhalla

Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses and assistants who passed on in 2014. If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.

Aldo Colombini

Scott Lewis

Dave Madden

Montecore (S&R’s tiger)

Jeff Busby

Judge Arnold Drennen

Robert “Bob” Knigge

Robert L. “Bob” Bluemle

Stella P. Coward (wife of Noel Coward)

John T. Fedko

Robert “Bob” W. Klamm

Alan Alan