In Front of the Mirror

Hey everyone!

So I updated my iPod touch OS at the expense of losing my jailbreak, but now I can update my blog much more easily. So I should be posting far more often. I want to a public shout out to Nick. Keep with it man!

In other news, I’m looking to buy me a new and far superior camera this weekend. If I do, I’ll post a better one handed shuffle tutorial. Jene has also offered to help the cause by supplying her camera and filming skills. Thank you sweety!

Let’s make some magic my friends.

Cheers,

Alan

Here it is my friends!  The one handed shuffle!

I realize the video quality is low, so that’s why I’m investing in a better camera in a week or two.

This move is really one of those reputation makers.  I knowthe phrase is over-used, but after you learn this, try it for someone.  Most people don’t know that it’s even possible to shuffle a deck with one hand.  Heck a lot of laymen can’t shuffle well with two!

Cheers,

Alan

        Alright, I haven’t forgot about anyone!! Read the rest of this entry »

Recognition doesn’t come without actually going out there and performing. I know that sounds overly simple…but a lot of magicians and entertainers in general spend cumulative Years, with a capital ‘Y’ in front of the mirror or just performing for a close friend or relative but never actually go out and show strangers.

Some keynotes.

            Don’t be shy, come into every performance with confidence, if you’re not confident in your routine or are worried about screwing something up, did you practice it enough first? Make it perfect then go out and perform, it will help put you at ease.

               Be original!  Don’t dress up like Criss Angel, wearing eyeliner and black nail polish, well unless that’s your thing.   There is a reason you have friends that like you, what are they?  These things make you unique, and if these characteristics are shown when you perform, I guarantee you that you’ll just be generally more liked, and it usually goes a long way into making you someone that people want to remember.

          Look for big social gatherings in your community, such as events at your local library, a taste of the town event or a fourth of july celebration, go there and perform! Hand out business cards, get names and give yours.

          Online, it’s a little different, but the principles are the same. Perform! Go to sites like handlordz and mpt

and get involved in conversations. If you have a question, ask it! There is no stupid question, if someone’s a jerk about it and calls you a n00b then ignore them. Simple as that, they are just trying to get a cheap laugh. Also, if you know the answer to something, speak up! Tell them what you know, without being that aforementioned jerk.

I hope this helps, if I left a stone unturned, it wasn’t on purpose.  Comment and let me know!

Everyone have a great day and a wonderful weekend. I’ll catch you all soon!

Cheers,

Alan

My sincere apologies to all affected parties.  Some very unexpected things came up and I will be unable to post that video/blog that I mentioned earlier today.  I will be p0sting that and some other goodies tomorrow at the earliest possible time.  Please continue to check us out as things develop.

If you haven’t yet, comment!  Get your voice heard.  If there are any questions, thoughts, curiosities, tips or tricks anything!  Make it known. 

I started this site with the intent that it was going to be run more by the community than by me. I’m just here to give it direction and start the conversation.

Much love to all.  See you all tomorrow.

Cheers,

Alan

Hey all. This is just a quick update. Mostly quick because I’m writing this on my iPod and it’s a pain. Some new things to be added to the site soon. Forums,podcasts and an online store with magical goodies are all coming soon. I also am putting together a post that was requested by Isaiah, talking on how to get more noticed online and in your home town. That post should be up later tonight with some video as well.

See you on the flip side.

Cheers.

Alan

                 Ok, I’m going to share a crazy story from one of my performances.  I do not recommend that anyone do this…or at the least should be considered only after a lot of meditation and preparation before hand.

 I was at a point where I had been performing professionally for about ten years, had studied and spent a lot of time improvising. 

Say, you go somewhere, like a restaurant a lot and they know you as a magician, but maybe you leave your pack of cards in the car or something, kind not in magician mode, and it never fails that, someone wants to see a magic trick.  The cardinal sin for a lot of magicians, is when given the opportunity to do magic, instead, the magician apologizes and says “Sorry, I don’t have anything on me”.  If you’re a real magician then it shouldn’t matter. Right?

 So anyway, it started as a way to deal with those situations, then I got more and more into this area and thought process, to the point that it became my favorite part of performing.   I would play with “everyday” objects. Matches, sharpies, coke cans, diapers…you name it.  Ok, not so much the diapers…anyway, I read up on effects that had already been created for some of these objects, some not.  Where I found the literature lacking, I would apply basic magic concepts and principals to have something to work with.  One that stands out is using a dry erase marker as a “hot rod”.

So I get this call from the entertainment agency I’m working for about doing a show for an Easter get together.  At this point I’m feeling confident in myself, working on a lot of impromptu material and I made a judgement call.  Like I said, I DO NOT recommend this, at least not for a paying gig.  I went to the show with absolutely nothing on me.  I had the shirt on my back, and that was about it.  I did an hour set, with nothing and the audience had no idea that I was sweating bullets.  It was the single most important, fun and absolutely terrifying performance of my life and I learned a lot from it.

I do suggest leaving the house without your cards sometime.  Go out and when someone asks to see a trick, improvise.  There is a lot of great material out there on impromptu effects, but you have to dig a little deeper to make sure it’s not an impromptu effect with an object that cannot be easily borrowed.  Things I would look at are coins, pens, matches, napkins, drinking straws, things like that.

Just don’t do this for a paying gig.  It’s crazy, stupid and can get you in a lot of trouble with whoever is paying you to be there.

 If anyone else has any stories like this, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to share or ask.

Cheers,

Alan

This, is my first entry.  Well no duh it’s my first entry.

I guess it would be helpful to kind of explain why this is here, why I am here and what I expect to accomplish with this blog.

Let’s start with the first one shall we?  Why this blog is here… This blog is here as a window into my crazy world.  I’ve been becoming much more recognized in the magic community as of late, partially because of my work with Magic Network, and the rest being a very healthy body of work I’m constantly adding to for the benefit of amatuer and professional magicians alike.  So really this is like a text extension of my YouTube videos. Here I hope to continue to help  my fellow brothers and the occassional sister in developing and honing the art for their own success and personal enjoyment.  If anyone has any questions, seeking advice or my opinion, please feel free to contact me. 

Next we move on to why I’m here.

I’m here because my parents kind of…well probably not polite to talk about on first post.

And finally, what I expect to accomplish.

I hope to help the magic community by providing useful advice and information, including but not limited to new effects and probably a lot of theory and philosophy.

If you’re reading this, we’ve already made it this far, please continue to read, comment on what you’d like to see and what you think I could add to or subtract from to make this project as successful as possible.

Thank you all, much love.

Cheers,

Alan Paoletti