823: Ian Rowland - A Cold Reader

Have you ever been captivated by the mysterious world of magic and mentalism? In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with the remarkable Ian Rowland, a man whose life is as fascinating as the subjects he writes about. From the Blackpool convention to the art of Kirigami, Ian takes us on a journey through his experiences as a magician, mentalist, and classical guitar lover.

Ian Rowland is not just a master of illusion; he is also an acclaimed author renowned for his books on cold reading. In this episode, he generously offers one lucky listener the chance to win a copy of one of his books. Imagine holding the secrets of cold reading in your hands, unlocking the doors to understanding an art that has mystified and intrigued audiences for generations.

As we delve deeper into the conversation, Ian shares his unique perspective on the magic community, his work with the FBI, and his adventures as a corporate speaker. His stories are not just tales of wonder but lessons in life and success. Ian's philosophy, centered on treating people with kindness and respect, resonates through his words, offering listeners a guide to a more fulfilling path.

But the magic doesn't end there. Even if you're not the contest winner, Ian extends the opportunity to receive free materials by visiting his website at https://ianrowland.com/magic It's a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be explored.

So why should you listen to this episode? Because it's not every day that you get to hear from someone who has truly lived a life of magic, both on and off the stage. Ian Rowland's experiences, insights, and stories are a testament to the power of curiosity, passion, and the human connection.

Tune in to this magical episode and let Ian Rowland enchant you with his wisdom and wit. Who knows, you might just be the lucky winner of a book that could change the way you see the world. Listen now, and be prepared to be amazed!

Ian has graciously offered one of his books on cold reading to one lucky entrant in this week’s contest. This contest is not limited to U.S. residents but can also be sent to our international friends in the U.K., Canada and Europe. But even if your name isn’t drawn, you can still be a winner because Ian is offering three different items for you at his website at: https://www.ianrowland.com/magic And while you are there, please take a moment to view the video for one of the items he sells, “Think Link” which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjEslya-qo

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741: Steve Aldrich - A Long Strange Trip

This episode is dedicated to those who remember the past and for those who want to learn more about our rich history. This week we travel back in time in our Grateful Dead VW bus and visit with magician and co-founder of the Foan Family Circus, Steve Aldrich. It was a simpler time when magicians were experimenting with new presentations and popular music of the time. It was at the height of Doug Henning’s popularity who was considered by some as a “Hippie Magician”.

Steve Aldrich also performed magic at the famed Tower Bar in Snowmass at a time when Doc Eason was still a waiter Steve and his band of merry men (and a woman) surprised and entertained magicians with their “tongue in cheek” original presentations of their “Foan Family Circus” at many magic conventions during the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. So what happened to the group? That and more will be the topic of discussion in this week’s episode.

If you are more of a visual person, then you will enjoy this video of our conversation recorded via Zoom.

Steve talks this week about the formation of the Foan Family Circus, their original presentations and music, their performances at magic conventions (one of which won them the Senator Crandall Comedy Award at Abbott’s Get Together), plus the origins of magic at the Tower Bar starting with Bob Sheets then passed down to Steve Aldrich and Steve Spill.

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

335: Howard Hamburg - Voices from the Past

Howard Hamburg has been around a long time...a very long time. And he has conferred with and confided in the some of the legends of our magical art. You name them, and Howard has a true, first hand story about them. Howard brings history alive with his marvelous stories of personal relationships with legendary magicians. There are some great stories in here and some performance tips along the way, too. At the beginning of this podcast, Howard talks about his attendance at "Escorial" in El Escorial, Spain which is an invitation-only card magic convention hosted by Juan Tamariz.

A spectator places ANY 2 face-up spot cards on the table the magician removes a joker from his deck and places it face up onto the table as well. The performer mentions that the number 7 is considered a lucky number among Americans, the number 8 is considered a lucky number by the Chinese, but 13 is the performer's lucky number for certain cards in the deck.