Blog Posts - Paul Richards

Eye Query

5/24/2019

This month’s post is more question than answer.

What does visual magic mean?

Now more than ever, I hear the phrase used by magicians. However most seem to apply it to an immense and often conflicting range of effects. It seems to be a goal for many magicians but they can not explain to me precisely what it is.

If I place a coin into my hand, close it, and then open it to reveal the coin is gone – is THAT visual magic? Or must the spectator see the moment the coin is vanishes?

When is that moment?

There is a rage in modern close up to create material that is “hyper-visual”. Coins travel across a table without being touched, face up cards transform without cover, a playing card is placed on a black abyss of a table only to vanish a moment later.

Is that your goal?

Is it strong magic?

I’m honestly trying to wrap my head around it.

Case in point, I’ve always had a certain fascination with color changes. I’ve spent countless hours over my life working on these changes. But, generally speaking, none of them ever gets the reaction of displaying a card to a spectator, placing that card face down into a spectator’s hand, and having them turn it back up to realize that the card has changed.

No other change even comes close to that moment of impact.

My gut reaction is that what many magicians envision as visual magic lacks a clear establishing of facts just prior to the magic moment. When all of the known factors are unquestionably established and agreed upon (the card is the Two of Spades) and then those facts are shown to be untrue (the card is the Queen of Hearts). To me, the current brand of hyper-visual magic robs the audience of the solid mental footing just before the magic moment. Without it, the moment is weakened or - worse - lost.

Of course, it could just be me. That’s why I’m posing the question.

So I ask you…

What is visual magic?

Is it strong magic?

Shock the Magi

4/25/2019

If you’ve spent more than an hour with me over the course of my lifetime there is a good chance I talked to you about Peter Gabriel. If you’ve been stuck in a car with me, there’s a great chance that you were forced to listen to more than one of my countless PG playlists. Let’s just say, I’m a fan. Recently, the American Academy of Achievement posted a spectacular interview with Gabriel on their "What It Takes" podcast. He shared not only insights into his career but invaluable thoughts on living a creative life and succeeding at it. My recommendation is to carve out an hour of your life and listen to the interview. But here are few takeaways that I think might be helpful to any magician:

As a young man Peter Gabriel tried his hand in any band that would have him. R&B, rock, soul, jazz - it didn’t matter as long as he could play and learn.

The recent passing of Johnny Thompson had many people referring to his deep and broad knowledge of all aspects of magic, stage craft, and show business. I’m struck by how many people in magic today choose a specific area and stay focused on it forever. Broadening your study feeds you in ways you can never foresee. Do it.

When it comes to talent, he feels we would all be amazed at what we are capable of if we really made an effort AND let enthusiasm be our compass.

We’ve all heard artists suggest that hard work and persistence often trumps “talent” but I love that Peter Gabriel adds enthusiasm to the equation. Being excited and eager about anything is the juice that feeds us – without it, talent is pretty useless.

It’s hard to imagine early Peter Gabriel without the outrageous costumes. When asked why he did it, he replied, “…to get rich and famous.”

He adds more to that answer - but it’s interesting to note that’s his “gut” response. In retrospect, one would look at those early images of him and assume that they are witnessing a true artist trying to express something deeply profound. But as it turns out, the initial motivation was more practical. He wanted the band to get noticed. There is no shame in including a desire for success in your plans as an artist.

When asked what he feels his core talent is he said, “I’m a hustler. I try to get things to happen and I work hard.”

That’s an amazingly honest answer. Among Gabriel’s long list of job titles you’ll find artist, musician, inventor, story teller, social activist, and film maker - but he sees himself first and foremost as a hustler. Being a successful artist takes endless enterprise, don’t let anyone tell you different.

His thoughts about being a “Weekend Rock-star” are also pretty helpful for anyone that lives completely insulated within the magic community (both online and in the real world). In short, “It’s a fun place to get your ego stroked but toxic if it’s your permanent abode.”

Other lessons you’ll encounter if you take the time to listen?

The value of listening to “elders” with no stake in the game, other than a successful outcome for everyone. That fact that sometimes, you’ll need to spend a long time surround by crap to get to your goal. And perhaps the most important one of all…

“There will be plenty of voices that will say you’re crap, you can’t do this, it will never work. Don’t be one of them...”

Click here to hear to hear the complete interview.

A Lesson in Wunder

3/12/2019

"Every time an old person dies, a library burns to the ground."
African Proverb

I’ve always thought that phrase is the saddest and most true notion about death. There’s been a lot of ash in the air lately. Magic has lost some giants recently and the books on those shelves are irreplaceable.

One of those libraries includes the legendary magic creator, Steve Dusheck.

Steve always seemed to be a bit of a will-o'-the-wisp. You knew he was out there but he clearly decided who would get close. Sadly, for a man who created some of the most innovative close up magic of the modern age, his name was not often heard in recent years. That is not to say his magic was forgotten. It was out there, but often with little credit. I suspect a large part of why he chose to keep his distance from much of the current magic scene.

I only met him a handful of times and we corresponded for a bit regarding some of his ideas. I certainly would not claim to know him. But my first encounter with him was one I will always remember.

As a kid in high school, I worked at a local magic shop. The owner loved magic but knew little about it. Often that meant when he placed orders he relied on the magic distributor to make suggestions as to what he should get. On one particularly large order, we received a massive quantity of new magic from Steve Dusheck.

This was long before information was so easily and openly shared. At most, you had a few magic magazines to reference current names in the business and even those were far and few between. There were no online outlets to ask for input, seek out reviews, or study videos. In fact, there was no “online”.

As I was young, I knew very little about Steve. But I knew enough to be excited when I opened that box. I quickly began cracking open the little plastic bags thrilled to discover what ingenious new discoveries awaited me.

The first trick contained a fake flower, a piece of string, and a well-known plastic appendage. It didn’t seem like much - and I had a hard time believing anyone could create a miracle with what I found in the instructions. I moved on to the next trick and sadly I felt a similar pang of disappointment. In fact, it happened again and again as I quickly moved from one trick to the next, consuming secrets and methods in seconds.

What was I missing? Clearly no one would want these items, let alone be fooled by them. I put the box aside with a bunch of others and moved on.

Fast forward a few weeks into the future. It’s the end of April and time for the prestigious 4F convention. As I said, I was a kid and certainly not an invited member of the event. But I lived not far from the revered Forks Hotel and I often went just t to get a glimpse of the legends of magic that rolled into town every Spring. Occasionally, I would even be lucky enough to find myself upstairs to see a bit of the real work in action. This was one such night.

I cautiously moved into one of the small rooms where they occasionally had a dealer or two set up. To my surprise, there was Steve Dusheck! I looked at his table and was a little shocked to see several of the tricks I had “wisely” placed aside. I pointed to the one with the fake flower and asked him if he would show it to me. Without hesitation, he said yes and then – with one hand - vanished the flower in a flash.

It looked amazing.

I pointed to another one. Again, it looked great. Then another and another. Each time he took a trick I discounted as being nothing of note – and he made it look like a miracle.

My ass – as they say - was being handed to me again and again. All the while, Steve was smiling and generously showing his creations to a kid who had no right to even be there.

I learned a lot in that instant. About how magic is so much more than the sum of its parts. How it’s easy to overlook something wonderful because it takes a bit more polish and thought. And how it costs nothing to be kind to someone who just wants to see a bit of magic.

That box I buried came back out a few days later. Those incredible Dusheck creations placed front and center.

Magic is endlessly lucky to be filled with so many clever and kind people. Many have incredible ideas to share. They may not always be the “shiniest” and you may not always know their names. But maybe that’s the time to pay the most attention.

Rest in peace Steve and thanks for the lesson.

Next!

2/8/2019

If you’ve had the chance to check out my current schedule then you already know that we're bringing the Real Magic Roadshow back to Europe in just a few short weeks. This tour has us visiting eight cities in six different countries - with the same amazing team and ridiculously low cost admission.

One of the benefits of these live events is that attendees get the chance to see some of the best new magic live and in person before making the decision if it’s right for them. Not a video demo - but live and under real world conditions.

In the real world, EVERY performance is an audition. You have to continually perform like you haven’t been hired yet - because every audience member has the power to step away and move on. A choice that can’t be hidden from the remainder of the audience - and could even give them the idea to do the same. Holding an audience under these conditions demands that you create a strong a compelling magical experience. You can’t clean up a poor performance in “post production”. All you have is the now. I can’t think of a more effective way to sharpen your skills and build your chops.

It remains my favorite way to showcase my material - and I know the rest of the team feels very much the same. This time out the Roadshow is visiting:

We plan on adding more Roadshow dates this coming fall so stay tuned - and I hope I get to audition for you somewhere along the road.

By the way, if you've attended any of our Real Magic Roadshow events,
we'd love to get your feedback. Just click here to give us a quick review.

Out of The Mouths of Babes

1/25/2019

This week I’ve been working hard to catch up after returning from the Columbus Magi-Fest. If you’re not familiar with this event, you should be. Running annually for nearly ninety years, Magi-Fest is the oldest magic convention in the United States. After coming close to a final curtain call several years ago - Josh Jay, Andi Gladwin, and Tim Moore stepped in to offer some much needed life support. They, along with an incredibly hard working staff, have successfully transformed this regional convention into one of the premiere magic gatherings on the planet.

One of the most interesting additions made by the new team, was the inclusion of youth scholarships and numerous youth oriented programs. This focus on young magicians has gradually helped add a renewed energy to every aspect of the event. It’s also ensured that the future of magic is being well directed and nurtured by some of the best and brightest in the business.

I am endlessly amazed at how talented and deeply committed to the craft these kids are. In fact, this year, one of my favorite convention moments came from a young man of about ten years old. He was obviously well informed and skilled. But - even more - he was incredibly adept sharing his thoughts about magic. At one point, I asked him what kind of magic he liked. He stopped for a moment and then thoughtfully replied, “What’s most important to me - is that it’s engaging.”

I mentioned the kid was about TEN years old, right?

Over the years I’ve heard seasoned magicians say they dislike all manner of tricks for all sorts of reasons - I hate card tricks, mentalism is boring, illusions are lame - it goes on and on. But somehow this young man already held a valuable perspective. He knew it’s never about the props or the genre. It’s about YOU as the magician creating a shared and memorable moment with the audience.

Albert Einstein once said, “Any fool can know, the point is to understand.” We all agree that the speed of acquiring knowledge and skill in magic is increasing every day. But having watched and listened to many of the young magicians this past weekend, it would appear that the same could be said of gaining understanding.

Keep an eye on these kids. Support them.

I assure you, they are going to build a dazzling future.

The Debrief

12/31/2018

As the year comes to a close many people look to the months ahead and their future plans. A worthy pursuit - but one that can be greatly improved with a sold debrief of the past.

I’m a big believer in the power of earnest and regular debriefings. A sincere and thoughtful examination of what worked and what didn’t – and why.

I do it for shows, projects, products, meetings – in fact I do it for just about every aspect of my life. You’ll find countless resources extolling the virtues of good planning but far fewer that mention the value of a critical examination of deeds done. Planning often involves educated guesses based on the experience of others. But debriefing gives you something unique: evidence and insight gleaned from your own real world experience. That’s powerful stuff if you’re willing to mine through it with an open and honest mind.

There are a few keys to successful debriefings. Here are just a few I find helpful:

Record when possible. This won’t apply to everything but it applies to more that you might think. It can be a huge help in meetings, performances, presentations and brainstorming sessions. It may sound odd but I often audio record myself when I’m working through an idea - I simply speak out loud as if I was trying to convey the info to someone else. Personally, I think audio recording offers more insight than a video. Listening back can often highlight issues that you might miss when you might otherwise be distracted by the visuals. Of course it goes without saying that this must be done openly and with permission when others are involved.

Take notes. Whether you're listening to a recording or just mentally replaying an event, start getting your impressions on paper. We are inundated with information and data every waking moment. Even the most “memorable” moments can get lost in the flow. Think of those notes as your own personal cloud storage. You’ll be glad you have it.

Reflect. Now that you have the notes and data, it’s time to reflect. Doug Sundheim of The Harvard Business Review suggests four key questions to a good debrief:

What were you trying to accomplish?
Where did you hit (or miss) your objectives?
What caused your results?
What should you start, stop, or continue doing?

Remember you are doing this for YOU and no one else. The dissection must be honest to be useful. If you can do that, you’ll be rewarded in ways you can’t begin to imagine. Acres of diamonds, indeed.

So Happy New Year one and all…
Here’s to a future filled with happiness and success.
And a past rich with lessons to learn from.

Ou L'artiste Au Travail

11/30/2018

The last few weeks I’ve been hard at work locking down details regarding my new releases for the coming year. It’s always a hectic time – but exciting too. The pressure of looming deadlines helps me focus and guarantees decisions must be made.

But deadlines also mean paths not taken.

When I’m working on new material I generally come up with several alternate handlings, presentations, and sometimes even substitute methods. Even after I tune, tune again, and fine tune – I find myself making changes over time. It’s one of the primary reasons I’m reluctant to make magic videos. They only capture a creation at a point in time.

And that’s the thing about creation - it’s never done.

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” – and if you’ve ever seen his Oil & Water & Canvas Routines you know he’s a pretty savvy guy on such matters. I agree with Leo but, in doing so, I know that means…

every painting
every sculpture
every movie
every piece of music
every play
every drawing
every bit of magic

…is a snapshot of the art in that moment.

I know, equating my little tricks with art is a stretch. But Andy Warhol said "Art is what you can get away with." – so perhaps we can at least agree they are cousins.

There is no such thing as a finished product. Only products in development. Soon I’ll need to abandon the new products and set them off into the world. My hope is that others will find them and help take them to places I could not have imagined. The crossroads of art and commerce can be a dangerous place to stand and if my connecting art with products offends - then I’ll close with the wise words of the Scottish "scul?tor", George Wyllie.

"Art is like soup. There will be some vegetables you don't like but as long as you get some soup down you it doesn't matter."

Wisdom from the Road Well Traveled

10/31/2018

I’ve spent about one third of 2018 on the road. All that travel has inspired a utilitarian post - a handful of tips for my fellow road warriors:

I’m a bit compulsive above not having lint on my clothes. When a lint remover is not available, those sticky airline baggage tags make a fine substitute.
Toss some dryer sheets in your luggage. They help remove static and keep your clothes smelling fresh. They’re also surprisingly good at shining shoes.
I’ve made pretty decent collar stays out of a plastic hotel key and a pair of scissors from the front desk. If arts and crafts aren’t for you, paperclips work pretty well too.
Skip the antibacterial gel. It makes a mess if it pops open and often leaves your hands with a residue. Pick up hand sanitizing wipes. They travel better and do double duty when you need to wipe down an airplane tray or table top. My wife turned me onto these. They smell great and are 100% biodegradable.
Buy a USB Hub with a plug. This is a great one. It will save you from bringing a dozen different chargers and you’ll be a hero at the airport when everyone is scrounging for an outlet. If you forget your charger, most hotel TVs have a USB port and the front desk is bound to have a spare cable or twenty accidentally left behind by previous guests.
What's my must bring item for Las Vegas? This. Hotels can be dry as hell – especially in Las Vegas. Keeping this little guy on the nightstand while you sleep can be a lifesaver when it comes to preventing red eyes and a scratchy throat.
Losing your phone is the worst. Make a quick note on your phone with your name, email, and an alternate phone number. Take a screen shot and make that image your lock screen. It’s not a guarantee that your phone will return - but it will definitely help if it’s found by anyone willing to lend a hand.
Use the camera on your phone for backups. Take pictures of your driver’s license, passport, luggage, etc. Store these on secure cloud locations. It can be a huge help if any of it gets lost. It’s also an easy way to remember what room number your in.
Hitting the road for an extended period? Check out ExOfficio. Maybe this is too much information but they have great under clothes that wash and dry quick.

There are an overwhelming number of travel apps out there, a little research will reward you well. Here are just a few I use regularly:

I use TripIt to keep track of every detail while traveling – hotels, flights, rental cars, meetings - everything. It’s insanely easy to add plans to trips – just forward confirmation emails and it does the rest. It also has plenty of space to make notes if you need to add details from phone calls with travel companies.
Fly a lot? Hate wasting money? Try Hopper. It’s great and has saved my thousands.
Sometimes things happen and you need to find a room last minute while traveling. Walking into a hotel and asking if they have any rooms is a great way of saying, “Hi, I’m screwed and I’m willing to pay top dollar.” Check out Hotel Tonight, it’s a great app that connects you with hotels that have open rooms and are willing to offer same day discounts.
Did you know Google Translate will let you download nearly 60 different languages so you can use it offline? You do now. An absolute must when traveling abroad.
Offline Maps and Navigation is a great tool when traveling outside your data zones. Just make sure you download the maps you’ll need before you hit the road or in a strong wi-fi area.

Speaking of travelling outside data zones. Another useful tip is to search out apps specific to the area you are traveling. You’ll find many foreign cities have offline subway and train maps, as well as travel guides. These offline tools offer massive assistance when you’re outside your data area – and can save you substantial time and money.

Got a travel tip you’re willing to share? Drop me a line or comment below.

Relative Difficulty

9/17/2018

I try always to steer clear of the phrase “self-working”. I don’t believe any magic qualifies. No magic routine does itself, so it follows that all magic requires some degree of practice. Most – sometimes even the simplest routines – require a lot. Yes, some roads will be harder to walk than others - but be very careful what you attach to the words “too difficult”. I mean...

Selfless Promotion

8/31/2018

The first tricks I ever created and sold had no information listing who made them.

Not my name, no company name, no logo, no address – nothing.

This was back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Back then, I believed if I was standing in front of a magician, demonstrating a product with my own name on it, there would be no way for them to give me an honest reaction. Obviously, it’s hard to deliver real criticism to a creator when you’re looking them straight in the eyes. So I thought the best way to get real feedback was to stay anonymous.

I learned a lot from that approach. Sometimes, more than I bargained for.

I discovered what people really thought of my ideas. It was a great way to learn what people liked and disliked, while working directly in the trenches.

I also learned it made the products easy targets for getting lifted. I’d show up at a convention one year with a new item – only to see it sitting on other dealers tables the next. This was way before I was making products available wholesale. Yet, there they were – same tricks, same plastic bags, with horribly photocopied instructions.

But over the years I’ve come to learn the most important lesson from this approach. It was the other reason I didn’t include my name on those early products.

Fear.

Putting your work out there means that you can be the recipient of praise and accolades.

Keeping it anonymous means you can deflect the disapproval and rejection.

As time went on, I changed my approach but I’ve always been shy about self-promotion. I’ve tried to get better at it but to this day it often feels painfully uncomfortable. Someone once said, “If you’re not branding yourself, you can be sure that others are doing it for you.” That’s a great line. It’s too bad no one seems to remember who said it first.

We live in a noisy and crowded world. Often the only voice available to sing your praises will be your own. Don’t be afraid to.