AboutJohn Gordon - Master Magician Expertise I am a professional performer, and attained status of Gold Star Member of The Inner Magic Circle and, over and above this highest degree, I am only one of 5 perfromers alive who has been awarded their coveted 'Silver Wand'. I perform at the highest level as well as train and coach both beginners and experts in learning a few tricks to creating a brand new award winning act. I ran The Summer School at The Magic Circle for many years as well as booked performers for the monthly public shows. I run a company called `MagicWorks` which provides magic for adult private and corporate events, television, film and theatre productions. I also hold training workshops and seminars, teleconferences and online training on using magic in business, performing at Trade Shows, Magic for Presenters etc and provide after dinner or conference talks and speeches all on the subject of business and personnel development. This includes creativity, presentation, online and offline marketing etc.
Experience Whilst I have been a performer for many years I now spend an increasing amount of time as a personal and business coach, using magic as a metaphor in my teaching and training sessions. I have several Internet Businesses that include Coaching and Mentoring entertainers in the whole business of self Branding, Promotion, Marketing and filling their diaries with bookings.
Question I'm a 19 year old, who used to be a past member during my younger day's at the Sri Lankan Magic Circle, and have performed several, party show and minor magic show.
However I would like to turn towards stage magic, therefore would like to know if there is any good book or DVD that will provide me a well informative guid in creating magical stage illusions myself.
I have seen a post of your earlier regarding the DVD and the Book of "Illusion Works" by Rand Woodbury, and would like to know if it is worth its price and does it provide in depth information and plans for me to begin constructing my own illusions.
Answer Varanga
It's great you want to perform on stage .... small magic has become so popular that stage magic is beginning to wane. Good news!
The best way to start is to read about the early masters of magic so that you get a full background and understanding of this style of performance. I can give you some book suggestions ... let me know what you have already read and I'll fill in some gaps.
Have you read anything about the lives, work, shows and illusions by Robert Houdin, John Neville Maskelyne, David Devant, Sorcar, Blackstone, De Kolta, Kalanag, Houdini, Selbit, Robert Harbin .......?
What kind of illusions do you wish to perform? Do you have a show on a full stage with proscenium arch in mind or smaller venues with perhaps a dance floor? The venue and other factors (like available assistants, whether you have backstage areas, lighting, tabs (curtains), wings etc will all determine what you should and shouldn't learn.
The Rand Woodbury books and video (maybe now DVD too) are good basic construction teachings about how one particular type of illusion can be made. However, unless you have stage assistants and offstage areas and a large van to transport it ... these are big illusions ... not cheap fold flat stuff.
Let me know more about where you may go with this and we'll see what's the nest step.
John Gordon
MagicWorks
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