746: Mark James - Pro Tips

Mark James visits with The Magic Word Podcast from England where he is a very busy professional magician. He constantly works “holiday camps”, restaurants (three different restaurants a week), cruise ships, weddings and more. His stage show consists of magic, comedy, juggling and vaudeville-style performances. Mark follows a specific formula in developing his shows which is discussed in some detail in this week’s podcast.

This episode was recorded in Columbus, Ohio, where Mark James was a featured performer/lecturer. Here Mark talks about his tattoos, performing magic and pantomime at “holiday camps” in the U.K. as well as working in restaurants. He also talks about how to build an act and how to make each effect “strong.” While everything was fresh on his mind, Mark shared an in-depth analysis of some major points in his lecture. In particular, the elements of building his professional show include (in order):

Attention Getter
Legitimacy Prover
Teach the Audience How a Thing Works
Get Everybody in the Audience Involved
Palette Cleanser
Pathos
Best Trick in the Show
Pitch your Social Media
Closer

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734: Magifest 2023 - Day One Report

Thursday 26th January 2023

5:00pm - 8:00pm

Dealer’s Room Open

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Charles Greene Historical Lecture.

Presenting his groundbreaking research on one of magic’s most elusive figures, Charles Greene will recount the unusual life story behind Ionia. Ionia was a pioneering figure in the world of magic—all the more difficult in her era because of great biases against female performers. She astounded the world and then…disappeared from public view. Greene has uncovered what happened, and how she lived the remainder of her life. This talk will feature many of the astounding visuals we associate with Ionia, including several newly uncovered images. 7:00pm - 7.45pm

Michel Huot Lecture

The creator of the hit trick “Socks” is making his Magifest debut with a lecture packed with unusual, non-card parlor material. Mr. Huot comes from Quebec, and he will astound people with his unique, creative brand of magic. 8:00pm - 9pm

Mark James Show

Straight from a successful tour of the UK, Mark James has a truly “parlor” magic show–a rarity in these times. You’ll be amazed and delighted by his high energy approach to the classics, and you’ll be amazed by the clever twists along the way. 9:00pm - 9:45pm

Youth Program Welcome Event

We invite all young magicians (and guardians) to attend this welcome party. You’ll meet our directors, a couple of our headline performers, and get insider tips on how to make the most of Magifest as a young person. There may even be a surprise or two… 9:30pm - 11:00pm

Peter Turner Show and Lecture

Hailing from the UK, Peter Turner is a radical, disruptive performer and thinker who has taken the mindreading community by storm. He will perform and then speak on his powerful, unique approach to mentalism.

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 - Early morning departure from Houston to Columbus. Thank you, Andy Lacky, for the Dunkin’ Donuts gift card! It helps keep my eyes open for the 5:30 a.m. departure.

00:04:58 - Lance Burton and Gwyn Auger chat about his old Kentucky home

00:11:45 - Francois Xavier aka FX discusses this as his second Magifest and why he returned to see some stars of magic

00:16:04 - Nancy Anderson tells why she enjoys the podcast and some of her favorite episodes plus a chat with two other Chicago magicians, Scott Levens and T.J. Tang

00:19:35 - David Williamson is from Ohio and talks about the Magifest and his childhood memories of attending this event, plus what he’s been doing during COVID. He gives lessons through an online community at https://www.sleight.school/

00:22:52 - Jim Krenz is one of the many employees with Vanishing, Inc.

00:27:38 - Mark James is one of the performers who will also be lecturing this weekend.

00:33:14 - Charles Greene III will kick off the convention with his talk about his historical book, Ionia and his journey to uncover her story.

391: The Evasons - Two Minds, One Thought

Jeff and Tessa Evason are of one mind.when it comes to...well, about everything. We sat down at the 2017 MAGIC Live! convention in Las Vegas for a wonderful chat about their experiences as a two-person mind reading duo. Since 1983, Jeff and Tessa have performed in over 35 countries across the globe and made numerous TV appearances on major networks like NBC, FOX, and Discovery Channel. The international Psychic Entertainers Association (P.E.A) gave them their most prestigious honor for distinguished professionalism. They were also the first recipients of "The Mentalism Award" from the Milbourne Christopher Foundation and the only mentalists ever to receive the "SARMOTI Award" which legendary magicians Siegfried and Roy present to their favorite act in Las Vegas.

Heartfelt endorsement from Penn & Teller for The World's Foremost Mentalist Duo and Telepathists - THE EVASONS. More at http://www.evason.com

See why FOX Television called The Evasons "The most amazing mind reading act you will ever see!"

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:06:08- Jeff and Tessa talk about their former work aboard cruise ships performing magic and how they began, little at a time, to add mind reading to their show. Tess is a former fashion model (which should come as no surprise) and also has a background in fortune telling. Tessa also talk about being a female artist in a predominantly male industry. We also chat about the emotional presentation given by Abbey Goldrake given at the 2017 MAGIC Live!

01:07:38 - Product Review: "ESP By The Numbers" by John Bannon which includes the necessary ESP symbol cards and online instructions as to how to perform this effect. Also teaches you a card trick using the same "force" but applied to playing cards. Recommended.

01:14:40 - Product Review: "Liquid Killer" by Morgan Strebler explains how to twist forks (tines, neck and shaft) so it looks like it bends like liquid at your fingertips. I found this a little difficult for my hands to accomplish this little "miracle", but I'm certain that "younger fingers" could do it. Worth your consideration.

01:19:05 - Product Review: "Unlock" by Morgan Strebler gives you three different ideas on how to unlock a mobile phone. The DVD explains how to unlock iPhones but not with Android, though they should be similar. Recommended.