Getting ready to board my flight back home and reflecting on this year's Blackpool. For 16 years, Wendy and I have been displaying at this extraordinary convention. But this year was something truly special for me. 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth and all the incredible support. But far beyond that, I'm so pleased that people enjoyed the lecture and close up show. I was humbled and overwhelmed be to be a part of an amazing line-up. I really can't say thank you enough. 

There's a quote I've always loved from Harry Anderson, and I've been thinking about it a lot the last few days....

"With every turn in my life I have believed in magic. What makes this moment so wonderful is the suggestion that after all these years together, magic has begun to believe in me."

Harry said it way better than I ever could.  Thank you, Blackpool. See you next year!

​When I was about 14 years old, I was walking through a flea market in Cheektowaga, NY. To my absolute surprise, I stumbled upon a few glass counters filled with magic props. I stared at them for a bit and then asked the man working there how much the Dove Pan was.

He answered, “Do you know what that is?” 
I said, “Yes.”
He said, “Do want a job?”
That’s how I met Russ Ballaro  - and how I got my first job selling magic.

Russ was one of a kind. A colorful character surrounded by a cast of equally colorful characters.  They were drawn to him like moths to a flame.  I never met a person who hustled more than Russ - selling everything from gold and clothing to gag gifts and perfume. He eventually moved the flea market stall to an actual store that I worked at into my 20s before he moved on to other opportunities. Over that time, he opened a second store, as well as having kiosks at a local mall and county fair. I worked all of them - and often on my own as Russ was on the road with other aspects of his business. I can’t begin to explain how much I learned from that experience. It paved the way for me to open my own place when I was just 22 years old and the stories from those old days could fill volumes.

I was sad to get the call that Russ passed away earlier this week. He was only in his 60s and after a lifetime of hard work, he deserved a long and restful retirement. Sadly, that was not to be. Truthfully, time off wasn’t really in his blood. If there’s a way to keep hustling on the other side – I’m certain Russ is doing it. 

​This morning, I'm heading out to the woods to hunt down our Christmas tree. I get knocked sometimes about my love of all things Christmas - especially the music. I'm cool with that. I'm a magician. So, if you think you can rattle me about being lame - then you've got some serious work ahead of you.
 
I think one of the reasons so many people get tired of Christmas music is the repetition. Sometimes all it takes is a deep dive. In that spirit, here are ten seldom heard Christmas songs that should be added to your playlists. Enjoy (or scroll on, it's your call)….
 
Joseph, Who Understood - The New Pornographers
It's no easy task to track this down. It appeared on the Challengers Album - but ONLY on the Executive Edition. It will take more than a little work to locate it. Luckily, you can listen to it on YouTube if you're not up for hanging out in used record stores.
 
Old City Bar - Trans Siberian Orchestra
I'm not a huge Trans Siberian Orchestra fan, but I've always loved this particular track from their debut album. TSO may not be my jam, but magical realism is - so this song always gets me right in the feels.
 
Dear Santa - Ring Star
Commercial radio sure does love Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" and I've been known to keep Lennon's "Happy Xmas" on repeat more than a time or two. But give Ringo a little love this holiday season. If you still need more Beatles for the holidays - you can't go wrong turning up George Harrison's "Ding, Dong, Ding, Dong" on New Year's Eve.
 
A Dollar Short of Happy - Nick Lowe
You can picture Nick Lowe in a smoke-filled club playing to handful of slightly tipsy and troubled patrons.  It may be a little melancholy for the season - but all the best ones are.  
 
(It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.
You'll need a pick me up after that last song. This is it. Happy Ho, Ho, Ho to you!
 
Donde Esta Santa Claus? - Augie Rios 
I've noticed this song finally sneaking into some air play. It's about time. But it better be the Augie Rios version! If I hear anyone playing that abomination by Straight No Chaser, I'm coming for you.
 
The Secret Of Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
If you know this song, it's probably because of old Bing Crosby. It was written for him and there's no doubt his version is great. But the first time I heard Ella sing it, she broke me. 
 
Alone on Christmas Day - Phoenix
The holidays can be tough on a lot of people. I love the season, but I'd be lying if I said I never feel a little down. It's like the song says - you gotta keep moving on. Plus, Bill Murray.
 
My Dear Acquaintance - Regina Spektor
I'm pretty certain Peggy Lee was the first to sing this song, but Regina Spektor knocks it out of the park with her take. In fact, you need more Regina in all your playlists.
 
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
This might be the most well-known of the lesser-known songs on this list. It's not for everyone but it's always been a personal favorite. Sadly - the Pogues, Shane MacGowan passed away just a few days ago. When he sings the line "…won't see another one" it hits harder this year. There is a single less than PC moment in the lyrics, I hope you can forgive a poet this small transgression. Even if you know the song, give it a play and raise a glass to Shane this season.

Happy Holidays my friends and best wishes for the coming New Year!​

I never would have guessed when I started the Real Magic Roadshow back in 2013 – that 10 years later we’d still be hitting the road. I’ve written previously about how it was a pretty risky venture and my anxiety about our very first events was high. To quote an earlier post,

Ten years later that’s still true. And yes, I still get a little nervous just before those doors open.

Since that time The Roadshow has filled rooms across the USA, England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Scotland, and The Netherlands. The positive response continues to overwhelm me. We’re so lucky to be able to bring amazing and innovative magic to live audiences again.

​But we can't do it without you!

This March we’re pleased to announce six new locations for the Roadshow and if we’re heading your way, we hope you’ll joins us.

Get the full details at www.realmagicroadshow.com

​I was having a conversation with a friend some time ago about magic books that were influential to us as kids. We both shared some titles that were common among young magicians – Bill Tarr’s Now You See It, Now You Don’t, Hugard & Braue's The Royal Road to Card Magic, and Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook - just to name a few.
 
But there was one book that seemed unique to my list - Jay Boyar’s Be A Magician!
 
I’m sure Mr. Boyar’s book was not a big part of many magician’s lists. But as a young and budding magician, I checked it out of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library countless times.
 
I never owned a copy as a kid. In fact, in all my years in magic, I had never seen a copy for sale or even heard another magician mention it. But several months ago, I tracked down an old copy from a used book dealer. It holds up - and paging through it has reminded me of why it was so special.
 
Jay Boyar was a writer originally from my hometown of Buffalo, NY. The book contains many photos and references to the local magic scene and area magicians. Although, I must admit I’m not sure I realized that at the time. I was only about 10 years old after all and I’m not certain I even understood what a “local magic scene” was.
 
The book was illustrated by Tom Toles, a political cartoonist whose distinctive style was featured in The Buffalo News during the time of the book’s release. Toles later accepted a position in The Washington Post, where his work became syndicated across the United States. While the rest of the world remembers Toles as a Pulitzer Prize winning political commentator. I’ll always remember him for the remarkable illustrations he did for that book.
 
I am not overstating facts when I say many of those images have stayed burned in my memory for decades. The drawings were not only reflective of his inimitable style, but they also featured unique perspectives and imagery. Even as a young magician it always stood out to me that many of the illustrations featured female magicians, an uncommon find in magic books even today.

​The subtitle of the book was, “How to Put on a Magic Show and Mystify Your Friends”. Aside from teaching tricks – it focused on how those tricks are used to create a show. Topics included costuming, writing scripts, creating a compelling performance space, and approaching magic as theater. It discussed the value of finding a community of like-minded performers to help hone your craft. It stressed the importance of secrets and even devoted an entire section to the power of developing unique magic words.
 
Pretty heady stuff for a book aimed at elementary school children!
 
There was something about the combination Boyar’s writing style and Tole’s singular illustrations that struck a chord with me. It didn’t feel like the book was writing down to meet me at my level but instead challenging me to stretch myself to reach it. It may very well have been the first time I understood that magic was a collection of skills and abilities that went well beyond knowing a method. Even now, flipping back through its pages – I’m inspired.
 
It's funny how much of our lives can be directed by tiny movements in the wind.
 
Walking into an interesting shop.
Meeting an unexpected person.
Or picking up a book off a shelf.
 
I’m forever grateful for them all - and to all the people who taught me how to adjust my sails.
 
Be a magician? That sounds like a pretty grand idea.

There’s nothing quite like seeing real magic happen live and in person. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to magic - or David Copperfield. Seeing the impossible happen under real world conditions is something truly special.

It’s what the Real Magic Roadshow is all about.

No screens, no video demos, no online distractions. You’re there. In person.

You’ll see the magic happen live, just the way your audience will.
You’ll ask questions in real time, from the actual creator.
You’ll discover new and interesting effects, that you can’t find ANYWHERE else.

It won’t be long before the Roadshow heads your way, but space is filling up fast.

Experience an incredible day of amazing magic, valuable insights, and fun with your hosts Dirk Losander, Paul Richards, Daisuke Seo, Mark Mason, & Christian Schenk!

You’ll get all this for the absurdly low price of only $10. And that’s not all, just click on the location nearest you for all the details:

Boston, MA – Saturday October 15th
The Meadowlands, NJ – Sunday October 16th
Austin, TX – Saturday October 21st
Dallas, TX – Sunday October 22nd

By the way, are you curious what David Copperfield stopped by to see in the photo above? Join us at the Real Magic Roadshow and I’ll be happy to show you too. 

Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
'Cause everyone knows…

So maybe Neil Diamond wasn’t talking about a bunch of magicians gathering together when he sang those words. But we like to think that the Real Magic Roadshow shares a little energy with good old Brother Love.

It’s been well over two years since the Roadshow team packed our bags and headed out to see you. We’ve really missed it – and the truth is we missed you. We hope the feeling is mutual.

We’re joining forces again for a select few U.S. cities and if we’re coming your way, we hope you’ll join us. We’re keeping the cost at only $10 – which in 2022, is our first impossible feat! As always, I’ll be joined by some of the best magic creators and producers in the business including Mark Mason, Dirk Losander, and Christian Schenk.

We’re also adding Daisuke Seo to the line up! Seo Magic was founded in Japan in 1975 by Daisuke’s father and his products became legendary across Asia. If you’ve never seen Seo’s magic before – you’re in for an incredible treat! 

Get the full details at www.realmagicroadshow.com. Hope to see you there and please help spread the word!

​Spent most of last week with several hundred magicians at the IBM Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Wendy and I had a wonderful time and we are (as always) thankful for all those who stopped by and visited the booth. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the organization and while I was there, I thought a lot about how my hometown figured into the birth of that legacy.

If you’re a magician born in Buffalo, NY then it’s unlikely the name Gene Gordon is unknown to you. But I’m always a little surprised when the name is new to conventioneers from outside this neck of the woods.

If you belong to the International Brotherhood of Magicians - take a moment to look at your card and your membership number. It’s likely that it’s in the 50,000 range.

Gene was member Number 2. 

He founded the organization in 1922 with Canadian magician and friend, Len Vintus. Len was Number 1.

Gene Gordon was a performer, creator, producer, and magic dealer from an age when that combination was still pretty rare. 

Throughout the years I’ve have found myself “standing” in many of the places Gene would have been. His first magic shop was walking distance from my first shop on Elmwood Avenue. I even opened the doors of that shop with the help of Rob Allen - one of “Gene’s Boys” (a term he used to refer to the cast of young magicians who helped make magic and run the shop). Years later I would obtain the production rights to some of Gene’s most popular creations. And as a kid still in high school, I performed at Fantasy Island Amusement Park. Gene did that first - and Rob would do it next!

Sadly, I only met Gene once. I was a young kid and it was many years after he had retired. I had no idea where the future would take me when I met him. I wish I did, it would have been nice to say thanks. Standing behind the booth in Atlanta, I found myself thinking about all those intersections over the years. History is so very long – but our time in it sure feels incredibly short.

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to support us. And thanks to Number 2 for being one of the reasons we all came together in the first place.

Number 57580 owes you a drink.

I grew up two miles from the legendary Forks Hotel.

As a kid still in high school, I would go there as often as I could. Every year when the end of April rolled around, it was like the gods had come down from Olympus.

At some point during those 4F weekends, when the crowds rolled in to see the miracles downstairs. I would muster all my courage and quickly sneak up the bar room steps to the second floor. During those early uninvited visits I saw some of the greatest magicians that ever walked the face of the Earth and was given enough inspiration to last a lifetime. I don’t think I’ve achieved a greater level of awe than I did as I stood in the back of that room trying desperately to be invisible. I am forever grateful that Obie always pretended he didn’t see me.

Thanks for making it happen for half a century Obie, you’ll be missed.

​Recently while reading Jenny Odell’s book How To Do Nothing, I was struck by this passage:
 
“…what passes for sustained attention is actually a series of successive efforts to bring attention back to the same thing, considering it again and again with unwavering consistency.”
 
I’ve been thinking a lot about attention lately. Or more accurately – a lack of it. There is a great deal of discussion about the attention economy and who is in charge of what we focus on. This is not a new problem. Aristotle lamented distraction over 300 years before the birth of Christ and we’re still struggling to keep our eyes on the road. But modern technological advancements have put the universe in the palm of our hands.
 
Unfortunately, they located it right next to Tik-Tok.
 
Recent events have caused many magicians to shift to some online incarnation of their live performances. This transition requires more than a webcam. It requires a rethink of how we can maintain an audience's attention on devices so perfect for delivering distraction.
 
In the real world we have the power to physically fill a performance space, to look into a spectator’s eyes, to touch a hand, and engage in a million micro moments that come together to create a complete performance. Even then - it can be hard to hold an audience’s attention.
 
Moving those moments through a screen is challenging. It’s difficult to maintain audience connection when the means by which the show is delivered is also notifying the viewer of a Pinterest update and message from Twitter. These distractions pull the viewer from the moment just as a cell phone ringing does in the middle of a live show. The difference is that these distractions aren’t occurring just past the footlights – they’re happening in a room across town (or the country) - and the performer often isn’t even aware they’re occurring.
 
It could be that many magicians are simply not up to the task of crossing this divide. Nor should all magicians feel an obligation to do so. I still believe some mysteries need three dimensions to be truly enjoyed. But if you set off down the virtual road, I would wager that success lies in understanding that the online show is its own unique undertaking. Not a place to simply showcase your live show but the opportunity to present an entirely new one. It requires that we not only master new skills as performers, but also that we educate our virtual audiences on what is required from them. Will it be worth your attention? Only time will tell.