Last week we had the great privilege of visiting Trondheim in Norway. It’s a quaint little town full of wonderful people and beautiful sights, but that’s not why we were there.
About 4 years ago we first started hearing stories about a young group of magicians who could perform all our flourishes. We were incredulous of course. Soon though, we were introduced to them through video thanks to Allan Hagen. Witnessing their flourishes for the first time left us mesmerized. Not only could they perform the flourishes from The System perfectly, but they each had their own distinct style and repertoire of original ideas which was so refreshing to see. We were inspired and had to meet them.
It wasn’t until Blackpool 2009 that we all got together. They were, Allan Hagen, Chris Hestness, Erik Jansson and Jordan Lapping. After many sleepless nights sessioning and one kickass video, we knew we would eventually work together on something great.
About 6 months ago, Allan emailed us with an idea. After several replies, we knew it was time. We were on to something epic.
On August 3, 2010, we flew into Trondheim, hometown of Allan and Chris, for a week long shoot. As an avid amateur filmmaker and student of cinematography, Allan Hagen lead us through the most professional shoots we’ve ever experienced. With access to studio equipment, we took full advantage of it all and left with 650 GB of unbelievable footage.
As of now, we’d still like to keep specifics under wraps. However, details will come soon enough.
On June 16th we set out on a month long journey across Europe to present 18 lectures to over 600 magicians. The experience was unforgettable and one we plan on sharing with all of you via a little documentary that we filmed abroad. Until then, please enjoy this photostream and check back often as we will continue to add pictures.
If you attended one of our lectures please share your experience in the comment box below. Also, please email us photos and/or video if you took any so we can use them for our documentary.
“We live in a time where we expect to see amazing things before our eyes, like space ships streaking between stars. Dinosaurs returning to life. Whole planets blossoming with beautiful blue people. So how do you expect to impress people just by sawing someone in half or picking the ace of spades out of a deck of cards? Host Scott Simon visits the Conjuring Arts Research Center in New York to talk with director and magician William Kalush.” – Scott Simon, NPR
In this 9 minute interview Bill Kalush walks you through the Conjuring Arts Library and into the “rare book room” where he talks about magic’s earliest feats dating back 5,000 years ago up until modern times where a discussion takes place on how technology has transformed magic.
Download the podcast here, or listen to it now via the player below.
As a young magician just starting out I remember buying Mathematics, Magic and Mystery from the local bookstore only to quickly learn every trick within days. The effects and puzzles within are extremely easy yet impossibly effective. Apart from this book, I know very little about Martin Gardner, other than what’s on Wikipedia.
Several years ago a good friend loaned Dave and I his copy of The Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic, another book by Martin Gardner which is now long out of print. For nearly 12 hours we went through every page – all 600 – thoroughly marking it up with yellow sticky notes. We look forward to the refined edition of this book with commentaries by Michael Weber to arrive later this year.
The video above is titled “The Nature of things” and gives a nice profile of Martin Gardner with long time friend and magician/mathematician, Persi Diaconis.
We are very pleased to announce we have been selected as this years Special Guests for Ontario, Canada’s Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp. We are so excited about this and honored to have been invited. It’s the one event we’re most looking forward to this year.
We’ve heard so many wonderful things about camp from our friend Lee Asher and are absolutely thrilled to be apart of it. Simply put, we can’t wait!
We’re mostly looking forward to all the sessioning. We love teaching magic and jamming out new ideas and what better place than with a group of enthusiastic young magicians. Last year, everyone received a special gift from Dan and I, well, this year expect no less – although this time we deliver in person.
Camp will take place August 31st – September 5th at beautiful Camp White Pine (same camp used for the movie Meatballs). For more information and to register, visit www.sorcererssafari.ca.
Interview magazine has a great piece with David Blaine as interviewed by Adam Kimmel. Discussed is his involvement with the fashion designer and a scary stunt performed underwater in the middle of the ocean surrounded by great white sharks they collaborated on. Kimmel then asks Blaine about his next public stunt and if he has a “fantasy endurance test”. My favorite part of the interview though is a story Blaine tells about his experience performing magic for the burn victims at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. It really puts magic into perspective and reminds us of the emotional impact and healing power our art can achieve and as Blaine closes, “Things like that visit remind you of what is important and what matters.”
Well hello there! My name is Spencer and I’ve been put in charge of planning the Buck Twins European Lecture Tour. After nearly two months of hard work and hundreds of back-and-forth emails it looks like we finally have ourselves a “lecture tour.” I will be traveling along with them to film a documentary of sorts so I look forward to meeting you on this journey.
The Tour will take place from June 17th – July 9th. Read more…
This limited edition deck of playing cards was inspired by the original publication of The Expert at the Card Table, often referred to as “Erdnase”. Printed by the US Playing Card Company on a premium Aristocrat stock using the traditional casino Bee® back design with an added white border. The producer of these cards used the same color green as the first edition, as well as incorporated the look and feel of the book into every detail of these cards. With a box that mimics the cover, an elegant back design, custom jokers and Ace of Spades, and two ad cards with a reprinted title page and Preface, these cards beautifully pay homage to what many consider the “Bible” of card technique.
This second edition Bee Erdnase deck rivals any casino grade stock as careful attention was put into printing these on the USPCC’s finest press with their highest grade paper and finish. Combine artifice, ruse and subterfuge with elegance at the card table.
Watch Jason England, the worlds foremost expert on Erdnase, demonstrate a few sleight of hand techniques at the card table with the new Bee Erdnase Playing Cards.
Magic-Con 2010 was an unbelievable experience and one we will never forget. Syd Segal, Dave, and myself began this journey over a year ago and to see it finally come to an end put tears in our eyes. We did it! We actually pulled it off!
The turnout was astounding! 20 presenters, over 300 attendees all under one roof for 3 days of inspiration. How could we ask for more? We can’t! We owe each each and every one of you huge thank you – without you, none of this would have been possible.
Make sure to visit Magic-Con.org for all the latest information.
Sugar pills, injections of nothing — studies show that, more often than you’d expect, placebos really work. At TEDMED, magician Eric Mead* does a trick to prove that, even when you know something’s not real, you can still react as powerfully as if it is. (Warning: This talk is not suitable for viewers who are disturbed by needles or blood.)
*Residing in Colorado, Eric Mead has been at the forefront of magic for the past 20 years. His insight on performing effective magic, in any situation, will not only leave an impression on you, but also on your audiences.
