567: David Kaye - The Method Behind His Silliness

In response to listeners’ requests for more content and conversations with children and family show entertainer, this week we go to the “top” and visit with David “Silly Billy” Kaye who is regarded by many as one of the best known kid show entertainers in the world today.

Before the Magic Word Podcast became a reality, I was part of a podcast produced by Dodd Vickers called “Magic Newswire”. For quite some time on Sunday evenings, Dodd put together a small band of us, each with specific backgrounds and skill sets, to talk with some of the biggest names in magic (like Johnny Thompson, Mac King, Jamy Ian Swiss, and others). One of the other “co-hosts” with me was David Kaye. Though we had known each other from our times together at various magic conventions, we got to know each other better through our Sunday evening gatherings online from our respective homes before that was a “thing”.

This is a performance of the magic trick called Princess In A Pickle, created by Silly Billy. It was shot at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. A great routine for your show. Packs really flat and plays big and funny for 7 minutes. Buy Princess in a Pickle at https://www.sillymagic.com/product/pr... Silly Billy performs children’s magic for kids in New York.

David gives us a mini-lecture on the differences in “appreciation” of magic for children of different ages. This is a wonderful, insightful and educational episode for anyone interested in performing for children, regardless if you are just getting started or if you have been entertaining children for years.

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234: FISM Italy - Day Three

On the third day, magicians created more magical moments. More stage competitions and the last of the close-up contests. That means tomorrow, I'll get to attend some lectures since there will not be any afternoon close-up contests to watch.

But today, between contests, we talked with friends and made new ones as I chatted with some of the talent from the gala shows plus a perspective from a competitor. We also chat with the new SAM National President, Dave Bowers.

the evening broke up the registrants into two groups. While one was at the Close-Up Gala, the other attended the "White Dinner" where everyone was encouraged to wear at least one white item, whether a white scarf, pants, Hat or carnation. The performers in the Close-Up Gala included: the Fat Brothers, Guy Hollingworth, David Williamson, Eugene Burger, and Armando Lucero with David Stone as the Master of Ceremonies.

the midnight show was actually a lecture by Dan Sperry on "the dark side of magic" And the midnight bar session featured Luke Jermay, Tony Montana and Juan Tamariz.

Street artists and their shills working the crowd during FISM 2015

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:01:33 - Dave Bowers, National President of the Society of American Magician

00:05:28 - Trigg Watson

00:12:08 - David Kaye, aka Silly Billy

00:23:03 - Topas

00:36:05 - "Mecki" Ludwig Gantner and Peter Pudill, from Vienna, Austria

133: Magic Year in Review - Putting the Band Back Together

In this podcast, I am joined by most of the old gang from "This Week in Magic" that was part of The Magic Newswire: Dodd Vickers, David "Silly Billy" Kaye, and Cameron Ramsay. Chase Goforth was "under the weather" and unable to join us on this podcast.

Many have wondered what Dodd Vickers has been doing since his hiatus from The Magic Newswire and his plans for the future of the website. The movie business in Atlanta, Georgia has certainly kept him busy but he has not neglected The Magic Newswire. Some exciting things are in store that include The Conjuring Arts Center. David Kaye has been touring a lecturing abroad throughout Europe and Africa during this past year. David talks at length about the College of Magic and the important work they are doing for the youth in Africa. Be sure to check out their website to see how you can help. Cameron has been performing, attending lectures and working with Andrew Mayne's new television show.

At time stamp 00:40:24 we kick off our discussion of what has happened in the world of magic including magic in the movies, magic on television, live theatrical magic productions, magic conventions, and more. We also mentioned a few names of those magicians who have passed on during this past year.

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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 2013. 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.