Another White House Easter Egg Roll Memory

Tomorrow (Monday) is the Annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. I've been fortunate enough to perform at this event numerous times. A couple years ago I wrote about one of the funnier moments at the Easter Egg Roll and I thought I'd take a moment to share with you yet another one.

I'm not certain of the year, it might have been 2002, not sure. At any rate, I had created this show called "The Festival of Magic" along with my good friend Ralph Metzler. Together we presented this show of magic and comedy. We had taken the show to a number of small venues in the area and we always had a blast.

Kristine & I going through Security

I had the crazy idea of bringing the show to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll. So I called them and we worked it out. We had an unusual schedule of shows however. Some were on the White House Lawn and some were on the Ellipse, the area that is between the gated White House Lawn and Constitution Avenue. The Ellipse had numerous events for those folks that didn't have tickets to be on the Lawn but yet wanted to partake in the festivities. The only problem was, moving the show back and forth between the two locations because you had to go through security each time.

So, the morning of the Easter Egg Roll, we get the itinerary and find out where we'll be. Just so
happens we are on the Big Stage first thing in the morning. This is exciting because traditionally only the celebrity acts are on the Big Stage. So, there we were, Ralph, my assistant Kristine and myself performing an illusion before several thousand spectators. What could be more fun?

Dean and Ralph

Well, in the middle of the routine, an announcement was made that the First Lady was about to speak from the Balcony of the White House. Suddenly, as if by magic, that audience of  several thousand people vanished! They went scurrying up the hill to see the First Lady. We were still mid-routine when they left, lol. Ralph and I kind of froze and my girl Kristine was inside some box at the time. We just all started laughing and said, "Oh well!" and kept laughing. Such was our first show of the day, lol!

The rest of the day was fine and thankfully, our audiences stayed with us! In later years, my friend Ralph would play a bigger role in the Easter Egg Events by helping to coordinate performers and even was able to get the White House organizers to put up a 'Magic Stage' for magicians only. This kept the magicians in one location and prevented the back and forth from the Lawn to the Ellipse situation that we suffered from in 2002. Those were fun times.

To Read About Another Funny White House Easter Egg Roll Moment, click the link below
http://artistofmystery.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-white-house-easter-egg-roll.html

The New Steampunk Show Continues to Take Shape

I can't recall if I've mentioned this show on this particular blog. But for some time now I've been developing a Steampunk Magic Show. But more than a magic show. The desire is to actually create a magic play of sorts. In the mean time we are working out material, testing costumes and enjoying the process.

I've presented a lot of the material already but it always can be improved. And there is nothing like a video of the show to put it all in perspective. Our most recent performance garnered a standing ovation. But it was not without some holes.......these known only to us. One of the things that became apparent from watching the video was 'scale'. Many of the early performances were more platform based performances or small audience performances. But if you put this material in front of a large group, several hundred+ then it becomes apparent that the scale is a little small.

Thankfully, that is an easy fix and we've already begun to alter the material for much larger audiences.

The next issue is converting some existing material over to steampunk. My philosophy is 'why re-invent the wheel?'  So I'm taking routines from my Artist of Mystery Show and putting it into the new steampunk show. An interesting thing has happened when I did that. The material for Artist of Mystery began to grow. In other words, I began to discover and create new material for that show. So basically, we have TWO really wild shows to offer.

One of the shows this week was actually a dual show. Meaning, we did Artist of Mystery in the first half and Steampunk in the second half. It was quite strong. But now, it leads me to some new ideas, new ways to further develop this program. By the way, if you are interested in checking out the show you can go to www.SteampunkIllusionist.com

No More Goal Setting Continued

My previous post I mentioned I was not goal setting anymore. I used to make a new goal list every year. This year, I am NOT doing that. Mainly because I already have last years list. So the headline was used more to get you to LOOK at my article. I am not making a new list, but I can make adjustments to the old where needed.

One thing I did, was remake the covers to my Goals Book. I wasn't going to do it, but I still wanted the book to feel fresh, even if I wasn't going to be remaking the entire thing. You might notice there is a tag line at the bottom of the book. I do this for my own amusement, and this years is 'The Time Travel Year'. It has more to do with my emphasis on a new show than anything.

My goals are divided up into three sections: Career Goals, Personal Goals and Crazy Goals. The Career Goals are pretty obvious I think. Anything related to work is put under career goals, whether it's doing more shows per year, moving into new markets, anything like that. Personal Goals are things like weight loss, reading more, becoming debt free, that sort of thing. Finally, for me are the CRAZY Goals which are basically things that are more long term goals but not necessarily things that have to be done this year. Though I must admit, having looked over the list of CRAZY Goals, it's now time to move some of those things into other categories and get them accomplished.

One VERY IMPORTANT thing to do at the end of the year, if you are a regular goal setter like me, is to make a list of all the things you accomplished. I seriously have a LOT of goals and I know it will be impossible to get all of them done in a year. But I can look over the list and see how many I did get done and how many I'm close to wrapping up. It helps me to stay motivated and is an extra charge of energy for the new year! One thing I did not realize, I had actually been keeping the 'Accomplished' list for the past several years in the back of my goals book. Imagine my surprise to see how many more things were done than I realized!

So there you go. Probably the last tip I'll give you on goals. I don't like to reveal too much as it's often times lost on people. IF you are truly serious about goals and goal achievement then you'll understand everything I've said and be moving forward on your goals. If you have never set goals, there is no time like the present. Best of luck to you all!

2014 No More Goal Setting!!!

That's right, for the first time in ten years, I'm no longer going to start the year out with a 'new' list of goals. For the past ten years, I would begin in December, and sometimes sooner, to create a list of goals for the coming year. I would put these in a special book, specifically devoted to goal setting. But many of the same goals simply got moved into the next year. Something was wrong with this whole idea....

Actually, I was close to figuring it out last year. I also think I made more progress last year than any year in the past. I usually do knock a few goals off the list. But I have SO MANY, that it's staggering. Instead, this year, I'm simply adding -14 to the 2013 book. So it will be 2013-14. No need to waste paper. BUT that isn't all I'm doing.

What I did in 2013 and will continue to do this year is create more of a map, or plan for the attainment of the goals. Rather than simply 'list' them. By creating a plan of action or course of action, I think I can do more to knock out major goals.

I would encourage everyone to write down your goals for the year. If you only have two or three goals, then you don't have to follow my system. Two or three are easy to go after. 30 goals, well that's another thing entirely, and thus the reason for creating the action plan to move forward on them.

Please, do not think of goals as New Year's resolutions. No one keeps New Years Resolutions! Goals are entirely different and meant for the entire year, not just one day or one week. There are many fine books on Goal Setting and perhaps one of the first things you should do this year, if you've never worked on a goals list before is to pick up a copy of a book on Goal Setting. Go to Amazon.com look up goal setting. Take your pick from the list. Personally, one of my favorite books, not just on goal setting but on success in general is called and 'The Success Principles' by Jack Canfield. I have personally give out over 20 copies of the books to friends, that's how important the book is to me. I even own the audio version of the book. It's fantastic. Check it out on Amazon, I think you'll be very glad you did. Next time I write, I'll let you know the progress on this 'action plan'.

Summer 2013 Tour Always Gives Unexepected Surprises

There are many reasons why I love to do so many shows in the summer (usually 100+). The obvious reason is the boost to my income. Hey, I'm practical and take advantage of good times as best as I can. But there is another reason. The summer shows are usually a mixture of old routines and new routines. And of the new routines at least one and sometimes two become gems that stay in my regular line up.

A few years ago I created a goldfish production that was so popular it stayed in my show and actually went back into the show this year. It's also getting a slight make-over and will going into my new Steampunk Show.  Last year, was The story of the Great Pinetti and the routine that went with it. This also stayed in my show and was written up to be a children's book (looking for an illustrator now as I simply don't have time to do it).

This year there were three routines that I'm keeping. One is a signed card that ends up in an impossible location. It's fast and completely baffling. Winner! The next is a card trick that I have done in one form or another for more than 10 years. The trick is called 'Cards Across'. To my mind, the single best version of the Cards Across was done by Mac King. His routine defies description, but it's absolutely hysterical. I understand that Denny Haney had a version that was also quite funny and it is now being put out on the market by Scott Alexander. I've seen a video clip of this and it truly does look very very funny.

But I don't usually like to do things the way others are doing them. I tend to try and find my own way of doing it. If fact the method to my version is something I'm unclear about. It's not any method that I know of in print, but it's certainly MY method. The premise for the trick is what has always bewildered me, but this Summer I came up with an idea. It started as a way to get a quick visual joke into the show and then I incorporated that into the cards across and it worked. It played fine, not really over the top, but not poorly. It was good and I was happy but I must be honest and say I
 didn't think it was going to be a keeper. Then today, the rest of the routine popped into my head. It was the missing parts to the routine. The extra visual mid way through the effect, the additional jokes and a brand new kicker ending! Winner Winner! And it will be in both my regular show and the Steampunk Show.

The final routine was also a bit of a surprise because it was one that I had also done for a long tme. But I was forced to change an important detail of the trick. The trick was a borrowed ring trick ut I very rarely found anyone who either had a ring or if they had one they were not willing to lend it. So I opted for a slightly different borrowed object. This new object allowed me to change the ending so that instead of returning the borrowed ring to it's owner unharmed, I could return this borrowed object in a completely different state. It gave the routine a stronger magical moment because of the change in items. And once returned to the audience member I told them it was now their Good Luck Charm.
Well, fast forward to late October and I run into someone who not only saw my show during the Summer, but she also was one of the one's who received the 'Good Luck Charm'. She told me, "I still have the Good Luck Charm, and I'm keeping it forever". That is the kind of response, every magician hopes for months after their performance. Needless to say, that routine stays as is!

Except for the last few lines, I wrote this piece in early September, but never published it. So here it is, just a little late :)

Tour is Wrapped Up for Underground Magic Theatre

Yesterday, August 27th, I presented the final Traveling Underground Magic Theatre Show of the Summer. This whole thing was a bit of an experiment. Basically, I'm doing sophisticated and very strong magic for kids, teens and adults at Summer Camps. Usually, they are exposed to what are called 'kid show magic'. The basic difference between the two is that kid show magic tends to be a bit sillier and the emphasis is more on the overall entertainment rather than the actual magic. Kid show magic is GREAT fun and I am in no way trying to speak less of it or put it down. It's just a different style from the magic presented in the Underground Magic Theatre.

For starters, I opened with my Hula Hoop Effect. It's a big trick compared to what an audience would normally see. It takes a great deal of skill to do well and putting it into confined conditions with low ceilings is a huge problem. But I worked out a routine that made all of these issues non-existant. The reaction to the opening trick was overwhelmingly strong. I have many wonderful pieces of magic in my kid shows, but nothing has ever gotten the reaction that the Hula Hoop effect gets. The audience goes nuts for it.

Then it's followed by an old standard, the Misers Dream. Again, my Misers Dream is different from the normal fair because I use a clear bucket and some over the top sleight of hand. Sometimes though I coast, lol, and simplify the methods but the reaction from the audience is the same, they go crazy for it.

Both of these routines are done to music. The first talking routine is a clever twist on the Cups & Balls where spectators hands act as the table and the cups are placed in their hands. The reactions again are over the top because they are experiencing magic under conditions they don't expect.

The three opening routines are all historical in nature, or have some basis in magic history. I explain to the audience a little bit about the history of magic and how I have altered things to make them contemporary. Then I go into a very modern trick, a card trick using a cell phone. This is the routine that I usually bring up an adult. I found that their level of astonishment helped to sell the trick even more than I could. Basically, a signed playing card ends up INSIDE the phone.

Next I talk about HOUDINI and share some stories of his life and finish the talk with a story about Houdini which incorporates a wonderful piece of magic. It's a story of his first encounter with a young Charlie Chaplin. The routine is fun, mysterious and has an unexpected ending.

STEAMPUNK trick is next. This is a lesson in imagination. I get the audience to imagine what it would have been like if advanced technology had existed 100 years ago. I bring out a device that is essentially a small transporting device. This is right out of Star Trek, and we don't even have this technology today! But a borrowed object is caused to transport (vanish) and reappear in an impossible location. This routine also has a surprise ending.

The final piece in the show is my signature Goldfish Trick where a drawing of a goldfish comes to life. It's a smaller trick compared to everything else in the show, but the production of a live creature makes the effect BIGGER in their eyes.

There were other routines that were in the show and out of the show as the summer went along, and my favorite of those was the World's First Mobile Phone from the Year 1600. It was such a ridiculous concept that I wasn't sure if it would play and it went over great.

I will have to say the UMT was a hit. The comments after the show were just like the comments we used to receive when the UMT was an actual location. The kids, teachers, staff, everyone were completely blown away by the magic. Many people who had seen me before were stunned by the difference in what they usually see me do. The reason is because I'm really doing this as a different character. There is nothing silly or goofy in this show. That isn't to say the show is not fun, because it's filled with fun and laughter, but just a different kind of comedy.
 

I'll put some quotes below from people who saw the show and let you judge by their comments.

"Dean Alan, I always thought you were a good magician but now I know you are a great magician!"
Audience member

"I have seen  you perform many shows in the past 6 years and always enjoy them. But the changes you've made to the show are just incredible!"
Summer Camp Teacher

"This was the best magic show I have ever seen!"
A comment I heard at almost every performance

"You never age! I saw you ten years ago and you look exactly the same"
Comment by an adult, not about my show but I kind liked this comment!

The Return of the Underground Magic Theatre

Well, it's now official, the Underground Magic Theatre has returned. After an 8 year absence it's back! Kind of. I created a traveling version of the show which has been quite the challenge and also quite rewarding. This past Monday (June 10th) was the first show and it went pretty well. I had to skip one routine due to time constraints but other than that things went fine. Thursday I did the show again and this time I had to cut three routines because of time constraints. I'm still juggling routines in and out of the show and when you add audience interaction, the time fluctuates.

I'm pleased with my smaller version of the Linking Hula Hoops. I had to create a version that could play in venues with low ceilings. I had to eliminate some of the moves from the stage version of the routine and find suitable replacements. The great thing is in the process I not only found moves that would work in the smaller venues but also discovered a half dozen new sequences to add to the routine. It was a win win all the way around.

There are currently two 'steampunk' routines in the show but I've only been able to do one of them so far. Time has been an issue and oddly the routine that has been left out is called "Temporal Accelerator" which is a time travel routine.

The magic in the show is very strong. In fact, so much so I've noticed that folks aren't taking pictures because they are too caught up in the moment. I guess that's good and not good at the same time. I'm going to make an announcement encouraging photo taking before the show in the hopes that people will start snapping pics!

I've added a new Magic Fish routine in the show and it's in the process of evolving. I want to do more with it than I'm currently doing so I imagine by the end of summer this is going to be quite the show piece.

Below is a video of my Linking Hula Hoop routine shot during at the original Underground Magic Theatre. Today's routine is quite different, the music has changed, costuming as well as the various sequences in the routine. Enjoy this piece of history...