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 QUESTION: Technology for performing magic is always improving. Aside from creating my own gimmicks from househould items and hardware stores, where are some good places to look for new things?
ANSWER: Hi Ryan
Great question! Treat this the first of a series of emails between us as it is interesting and I can help you here. But I prefer to do so little by little as it means you learn and explore as we go.
Yes the world is changing especially now at an alarming rate. And you are right that magic must keep up even stay ahead to a degree. When magic used technology that was not available to the public, it was easier to be astounding. If they didn't understand electricity, miniature tv, magnetism, xray etc then magicians were able to bamboozle far easier using some advances.
Now people (through improved communication) are far smarter. The internet has been responsible too for lay people learning magician's secrets. They maybe cannot or have no interest in performing but they know and shout out the secrets ie "there's two cards there" or "it's a pen with a magnet" or "look at his thumb".
I'm interested in what gimmicks etc you have created from 'stuff'.
When people have asked me where I buy things .. my answer is actually "I don't buy magic things ... I only use everyday items" and I DO like it to look that way. Of course I may use a hidden gimmick or two but never use boxes or bags or anything that looks like a magician's 'thing'.
When magicians ask I'd say my favorite magic shops are Woolworths (in the UK), Boots etc. these are general stores and hardware stores and Chemists. And it's true ... as you said.
To answer your question about where else: in your head!
You can find useful stuff anywhere and in anything. Who knows when a pair of ladies stockings will become the solution to a magic puzzle! And, believe it or not, that taken from two true examples (I could tell you about later).
However, I wouldn't focus on the method but on the effect. Create an effect in your mind. Then, and only then .... work out how you may achieve it. This will lead you top new effects and new solutions required and new gimmicks from new sources.
Write again ....
John Gordon
MagicWorks
PS Please give me feedback as it helps my status here!
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thats all they really are is things used to decieve. (Stuff to pull off a trick). Pulls, Card Bumps, PK gimmicks,etc. I even have a coffee table i built to make kitty disappear! Kids love it. The only reason I asked is because it seems that all magicians want to levitate and I am no different. I want to be able to do it live but with out confeds, special angles, or camera touchups, and I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding things that would be "invisible". I have even looked into speical effects, not a whole lot on constuction but learned alot about make up and prosthetics and the like. So the effect is already in mind, pulling it off unlike copperfield and angel is the only part giving me problems.
Take Care
Ryan
I am interested in the stocking examples! If you'd care to share.
ANSWER: Ryan
As I hinted at before ... the best way to find solutions is to detail the problem. Whilst it is general .. ie I want to levitate ... the solutions will be elusive. As soon as you narrow the focus ... be specific, the solutions will come. Even then ... allow it to grow like a seedling into a plant. Don't close the door on any thoughts as a bad idea may be a branch to a good one.
By specific, I mean ... something like. I want to walk into a square. It's surrounded by tall buildings with arches into the streets. People will be gathered at the edges. I go to the centre where there is a fountain. I walk over ...... etc etc.
Then go through and ask what STOPS you levitating. Why can't you and what you'd need ion tat situation. Then look at what's available, what are the advantages and disadvantages and explore the possibilities.
Sure you may later say ... ah ha ... but IF one side was not a building and no people I could do THIS or THAT.
Be specific and picture it in your mind.
--------------
Exploring special effects etc is great. The more tools you have the better. Otherwise, if all you have is a hammer ... you'll only be looking for nails.
------------------
For now I'll just tell you that the first 'invisible thread' that magicians used was gained by unpicking the 'gusset' from ladies tights. I was strong, about 18 ply, and slightly elastic. We used to spend hours unraveling lengths for small 'levitations' of bills, corks etc.
Now it can be purchased by the mile.
John Gordon
MagicWorks
PS Study the Old masters. Devant, Kalanag, Maskeline, Robert Houdin ...
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I've been looking into jeff mcbride, richiardi, amazing jonathan (if nothing else he makes me laugh), banacheck just to name a few, The only books I can find on the "old masters" is limited but dunninger, houdin, and houdini are the only ones i can find. Oh, what is the Ebook your advertising? Thanks again!!
Answer RYAN
Great that you've been looking and studying. Richiardi Jr is a superb performer ... does the absolute best Broomstick Illusion I've ever seen and his DeKolta Chair presentation is equally stunning.
Dunninger is interesting if you are into mentalism.
Robert Houdin is great ... deemed the father of modern magic, the man after whom Houdini nicked his name!
Who else have you tried to find? there's a TON of stuff both in general books and also specific volumes. Read the history books on magic.
Also see some of the old stuff now digitized. Some is at:
Also:
The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs
The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase
Magicians' Tricks by Henry Hatton and Adrian Plate
Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
More Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
Later Magic by Prof. Hoffmann
The Modern Conjurer by C. Lang Neil
Tarbell Course by Harlan Tarbell
Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard
You MUST read the Tarbell Course. I have a couple of sets of them!
Lybrary.com also have books by Will Goldston, Houdini .... it's a good resource.
the best shop I know for stocking actual books and have a collection of classics as well as recent publications:
