Blog Posts - Paul Richards

Magic Lessons from Non-Magicians, V2

1/31/2018

"Begin with the end in mind."
Stephen Covey

"If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it."
Elmore Leonard

"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you."
BB King

"To gain your own voice, you have to forget about having it heard."
Allen Ginsberg

"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun."
Pablo Picasso

"The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity."
Douglas Horton

"A year from now you may wish you had started today."
Karen Lamb

"If I had asked people what they wanted they would have said a faster horse."
Henry Ford

"Animation is about creating the illusion of life. And you can't create it if you don't have one."
Brad Bird

"Think like an artist. Dress like an insurance salesman."
Tibor Kalman

Seaworthy

12/31/2017

I’ve mentioned previously that I’m not a big fan of December 31st as the ultimate night for resolutions and reflection. But as the year winds down, it’s hard not to contemplate the last 12 months – as well as the additional 552 months that preceded them.

I am ridiculously lucky to make a living doing what I do. Yes, there are times I complain. I’m human and I try not to beat myself up too much about that. But the idea that magic has provided me and my family a life is simultaneously astonishing, humbling, and terrifying.

Astonishing because who would have thought I could shape a world out of some cards, coins, and a pocketful of odd items? It’s remarkable where this unusual assortment of tools has taken me and who it has allowed me to connect with. Sometimes I find it bordering on the absurd that I’m still following the passion that I had as a child. I’ll admit it’s taken some unexpected twists and turns but, all things considered, it’s made a pretty fine compass.

Humbling because who would have thought I could shape a world out of some cards, coins, and a pocketful of odd items? In truth, I know it’s not those items - it’s you. The people that have continued to support me along the way. I’ve been able to build a career out of doing something I love and working alongside interesting people. That’s pretty awesome and I am forever grateful for your granting me that ability. I hope I can continue to earn your support and patronage into the future.

Terrifying because who would have thought I could shape a world out of some cards, coins, and a pocketful of odd items? The future is filled with unknown battles and my weapons of choice are those odd little tools and my knowledge of how to use them. That can be a little scary sometimes. Like Roy Scheider heading out to deep waters to take on Jaws – sometimes I feel like a I should have brought a bigger boat. Luckily, everything turned out alright for Roy - so I try to keep a positive outlook.

It’s weird how the same sentiment can conjure up so many different feelings – but indeed it does. Perspective is a funny thing and the capacity to use it is one of the most powerful resources I know. That may seem like a strange thought to end the year on – but it’s been a strange year. So I’m loading up the provisions and soon I’ll be hoisting the anchor. I’m pushing this boat back out to sea and with any luck our paths will cross soon.

Focus

11/14/2017

Today’s post is about focus.

I went to see one of my favorite plays this past weekend – David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross”. There’s a speed and density in Mamet’s dialogue that I love. It’s like there’s not enough time to get out everything he has to say and he’ll be damned if he’ll dumb it down just to wait for some stragglers. The crowd responded oddly at some points - laughs in some deeply intense moments. I think the play has been parodied so many times that some people have a hard time not hearing certain memorable lines as comedy - instead of the drama that they actually are.

Where was I? Oh yeah, focus.

There was one audience member in particular that kept drawing my attention. She walked in late and took an open seat in the front row, just right of center. Immediately she began - loud laughing, wildly removing a coat in the middle of a profound bit of dialogue, talking to nearby audience members, strange stretching motions, even responding to lines from the actors. Everyone was visibly bothered – even the cast. It was hard not to ponder the situation at hand…

I’ve had my share of experiences with a less than attentive audience member. It’s can be so difficult to stay the course and not let their distractions become yours. It’s common practice to expect the performer(s) to muster through. But this particular moment reminded me how one person can really alter an experience - not just for themselves but for every person present.

In our increasingly over connected society, we paradoxically seem to be more disconnected to the world that is actually around us. Our devotion to the bubble we are all building around ourselves oozes out in ways we might not even imagine. We don’t care about the scene we’re creating because we live in a world in which that scene is the only thing that matters.

I looked back to her in the front row and realized she was intently watching the performance.

Then I snapped back to the present. A few scenes had passed during my silent drifting, Was that her fault or mine? I remembered a quote I read once…

“I've always been more comfortable sinking while clutching a good theory than swimming with an ugly fact.” I found myself trying to recall who said that.

Focus, Paul.

Eye Opener

10/26/2017

A therapist set half a glass of water in front of me and asked if I was an optimist or a pessimist. So I drank the water - and told him I was a problem solver.

Years ago, when I ran a walk in magic shop, I often encountered a problem when someone new stepped through our door. Was the person a potential customer or merely curious? After all, "magic shop" means something if you're a magician but - to the uninitiated - it can conjurer up a host of unrelated meanings. Even asking a direct question like, “Are you interested in magic?” could cause more confusion than clarity.

My solution was a small refrigerator magnet.

While browsing through a novelty catalog I stumbled upon a small magnet with the image of an eye on one side. When you tilted the magnet, the eye would blink. I bought a bunch of the magnets - along with the special coins used in an old children’s trick called Magical Block. This combo allowed me to make a penny apparently change into a dime when I placed the blinking eye onto the coin. I packaged the two together and gave it the name, “Just Looking”.

When someone walked in I would take a few moments to silently assess if they seemed like engaging. If they did - I would ask, “Can I help you?” Nine out of ten times they would answer with, “Just looking.”

“Oh, that’s over here.”, I’d respond.

“I’m sorry, what?” Now they were asking ME a question and that completely changed the dynamic of the conversation.

“It’s right here...”, I would say - gesturing them to come closer. I’d place the penny on our close up mat, touch the eye to the coin, and presto – the coin magically changed. I’d immediately direct them to the package on the counter so they could clearly see its name. “That’s Just Looking, it a great trick for a beginner. Do you do magic?”

In those few moments, they had drawn themselves into the experience and seen something pretty amazing. The also gained a firmer grasp on what all those strange things were that filled our shelves. That’s a lot to accomplish with so few words.

Whatever answer followed that question, at least we were both on the same page - and we had some fun getting there. I didn’t use this every time a new person strolled in but, when the moment was right, it broke the ice better than almost any other approach. In a sea of sameness, sometimes your best bet is being a bit unorthodox. If you’re having trouble opening doors, maybe it’s time to find your own little magnet.

Kintsugi

9/28/2017

A few weeks ago I had my head split open.

It was pretty wonderful.

I finally had the chance to see Derek DelGaudio's "In & of Itself". There’s a good chance if you’re reading this blog you probably have some knowledge of the show - or at the very least of Derek DelGaudio . If you know anyone who has seen the show they have probably struggled to describe it to you - and that should be the first sign that something very different is happening in that room.

I’m not going to explain anything from the show. Reducing it to its parts will fall short every time. All I can say is that it was the most authentic magic experience I have ever had in a theatre.

As much as I loved the show, it left me a little broken. I keep thinking about that word - authentic. I don’t think we use it much in magic, nor do I think creating authentic magic moments is something most magicians aim for. I know I’m guilty of it – and it cuts even deeper when you see how well it can be done.

If you have the chance, go see the show. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you’ve seen the show and thought it would be interesting to spend a couple hours getting inside Derek’s brain, then I think you’ll enjoy this interview with him on the Pete Holmes podcast.

Risky Business

8/31/2017

You may have heard that the oft quoted statistic that people fear public speaking more than death. I don’t know if that’s true - but I do know that if they included magicians in the poll I suspect “making a mistake” would trump both.

I always take time in my lectures to address the fear of making a mistake when performing. This can be a minor technical error or a larger failure – like an entire presentation that falls flat on its face. You can practice for years, you can diligently prepare, you can plan and rehearse – but it will happen and there’s no way around it. The key is to not let such fear paralyze you or stifle your growth as a performer.

In my formal and causal performances, I have more than a few routines in which I take calculated risks (with the possibility of failure) to potentially create a stronger magical moment. I like to refer to these moments as “tiny tragedies”. They serve two purposes – first, they prime my ability to respond to legitimate problems when they occur and second, they allow for real moments of impossibility.

In its simplest form, I might take an educated guess on details of a thought of word or card. I would do this knowing I can ultimately reveal the correct selection - but prior to ACTUALLY knowing the correct answer. The guess adds strength to the final revelation – either by making it seem like I knew something that I truly could not have known OR by setting me up to apparently pull success from the jaws of failure. Either way, I’m building my failure reaction muscle by learning to think more effectively on my feet.

The goal is to reduce the fear and anxiety caused by these tiny tragedies so that I can come through to the other side as a more prepared performer.

"Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise."

Step Into The Spotlight

7/31/2017

It seems like I just returned from the IBM/SAM Convention and I’m already prepping for the upcoming Magic Live event in Las Vegas. I’ve logged in about 30,000 miles of travel this year and its only July - with plenty of stops still scheduled for the remaining year. I’ve had a blast lecturing and performing the last few months and next year is looking even busier.

In the midst of all this travel, I’ve been working on our new releases for 2018. Some brand new items, along with an amazing classic from one of magic’s most respected names. Honestly, I can’t wait to share these with our community.

I've written previously about my new approach of selling strictly at live events and so far it has been received with overwhelming support. Not to mention, it's just plain fun! That's when it dawned on me that maybe some of you would like to join the action...

Over the years I've not only produced my own material but magic from a long list of well known creators. From Jay Sankey to Mark Elsdon to Joshua Jay to Luke Dancy, I've produced hits for them all - and maybe you can be next!

If you have an idea that you would like to bring to market, drop me a line – or better yet stop by and meet me in person at one of our events. I'm always on the lookout for creative and practical ideas to bring to the world of magic. For over two decades, creators have turned to me to help make their ideas a reality. All ideas are kept in the strictest of confidence and even if an idea isn't a good fit our line then I'll do my best to get you on the right track.

So get those creative juices flowing and connect with me soon!

Man In The Mirror

6/29/2017

I always believed that people get better by doing. But that’s not entirely accurate.

I remember going to see an acquaintance who worked at a bar doing magic. We weren’t fast friends but I had known him for years. He had been involved in magic for the entire time. I saw him at lectures and conventions. He visited my old shop regularly. He bought books and videos. All empirical data suggested a man who could deliver the goods.

Until I saw him work.

That data point changed all assumptions.

One of the first things everyone learns in magic is to stand in front of a mirror when practicing. We study our moves, our angles, our stance, we even practice our scripts – it’s all about us.

Do this long enough and you can get trapped there.

That’s what happened to the magician behind the bar. He had an audience in front of him but he was still performing for his mirror. He wasn’t bad really – he just wasn’t present. Or more accurately, it was as if his audience wasn’t present.

I often say that my magic changed immensely the day I moved my head approximately four inches. The day I stopped looking at my hands and looked up at my audience. The mirror can condition us to focus only on OUR actions. It can teach us a lot - but it can’t teach us how to engage with our audience. You’ll need to make a conscious decision to do that. It’s as easy as looking up and realizing there are people in front of you. Ask yourself how would you behave if there wasn’t a magic trick between you and those people. How would you speak and respond? The more you bring that person to your magic, the more connection you will make.

Happy New Year!

5/22/2017

I’ve always been a bit irked by the idea that we all agree on December 31st as our one reset button a year. We all make resolutions with the best of intentions. Then, when our enthusiasm wanes by the end of January – we’re left feeling like a bit of a failure and thinking, “There’s always next year.”

Well I’ve got great news for you.

Tonight, is New Year’s Eve.

Why force ourselves to believe in some arbitrary date to get started? As far as I can tell, every day is a new day to start fresh. In fact, you can really say the same of every moment – but maybe all that opportunity is just too overwhelming. Baby steps…

So tonight, have a nice meal. Maybe a drink, if that’s your thing.

Make some noise.

Tell the people closest to you that you love them.

Give some thought to what you want from life – then wake up and start the New Year right.

I’m rooting for you.

Good Ol’ Gil Pender

4/18/2017

I love Woody Allen’s “Midnight In Paris”.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned in that film but today I’m thinking about this scene in particular. Excuse the Greek and Italian subtitles. Unless you’re Greek or Italian, in which case – you’re welcome.:

Golden Age Thinking is a legitimate problem. It’s seductive to believe that the world was better in the past. I’m a sentimental guy, I understand those pitfalls better than anyone.

But I know I need to be honest with myself and admit the truth -

I like antibiotics.