The Genii Forum

John B. Pyka

IF anyone is interested, I thought I'd share here... Big Daddy Cool & The Swing Kittens present a new model for theater performances! A lot of firends around the US can't make it to shows that I do in either Nashville or the SE, but we are taking that obstacle away! We will be streaming our Jan ...

John B. Pyka

I'll throw in my 2 cents. I heard the same frustrations from my readers of How To Produce Your Own Theater Show. I taught them the steps from conception to closing curtain, but I just assumed they knew how to sell their show. I WAS WRONG! So, earlier this year I released my full sales script with st...

John B. Pyka

Hey gang! I've been super busy and haven't been around much, but I did wan tto let anyone who may be interested know that I have released my book Theatrical Magic as an e-Book. There is a standard edition which is a revised and updated version of the original 2007 manuscript, and an Omnibus edition ...

John B. Pyka

Interview with Neil Patrick Harris:
http://entertainment.inquirer.net/11083 ... s-magician

John B. Pyka

Back then Hogan was immense. Largest person I've ever met in person!

John B. Pyka

On Friday May 20th I got the news at 11:30 AM that The Macho Man Randy Savage had died in a car crash caused by a heart attack at the wheel. I have to be honest with you, I cried. My breath was literally taken out of my chest. You see, Randy Savage was one of my longtime entertainment heroes. His la...

John B. Pyka

Hey there magic mavens! Joe M. Turner returns to Beyond Smoke & Mirrors this Tuesday May 3! Beyond Smoke & Mirrors is Nashville's ONLY weekly magic revue, featuring the top talent from around the area and around the country! Joe M. Turner has headlined the Magic Castle and is one of the busi...

John B. Pyka

Nashville Beyond Smoke & Mirrors at the Nashville Dinner Theater presents Las Vegas headliner and international award-winning illusionist Shawn Anthony, for one night only on April 26th, 2011! Shawn Anthony will be filming an episode of his new television series Shawn Anthony MYSTIFIED at the Na...

John B. Pyka

Street Alchemy Mastering the Art of Transformative Magic Monday April 25th - 6:45 PM. Location: 511 Paula Dr, Clarksville (Residence of Wallace Redd) If you would like to join us at 6:00 for pizza, please rsvp 931-216-5640 Questions and inquiries call Wallace Redd 931-216-5640 Or Russ Nowack 931-624...

John B. Pyka

It is still here. It was crazy here yesterday though!

John B. Pyka

Beyond Smoke & Mirrors, Nashville's only weekly magic and variety revue, welcomes Atlanta's top magical entertainer Joe M. Turner! Joe is a member of the Academy of Magical Arts at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, The M...

John B. Pyka

Check out this video for the 2011 season of Beyond Smoke & Mirrors!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz6Gw955dt0

John B. Pyka

Beyond Smoke & Mirrors Returns - Seeking Guest Performers! Nashville's only weekly magic & variety revue returns on Tuesday, March 29th to a NEW home at The Nashville Dinner Theater! The show will run every Tuesday starting March 29 and running through May 31. Produced by John Pyka Productio...

John B. Pyka

Hey! Bryan Dean is on the list of Board of Directors? He's the founder of MagicTalk, which I now own, and nobody has given me a dang Merlin! Where's mine? Oh, and you can openly criticize the IMS at <a class="postlink" href="http://www.magitalkforum.com">www.magitalkforum.com</a>...

John B. Pyka

And people just think I'm shallow and self centered because I post show related stuff...

John B. Pyka

If anyone is in or near Nashville, Tn this Monday Oct 18, we have a killer show at Beyond Smoke & Mirrors! Joe M. Turner is coming up from Atlanta to do his Magic Castle set, and he will be joined by the geek guru Side Show Bennie! Also popping in for the first time this season is my sometimes p...

John B. Pyka

Too bad. This is the stage I played with the Dymonds a few tumes... :(

John B. Pyka

Magician and Variety Entertainer Big Daddy Cool Johnny Dellarocca has issues a challenge to the entire Vanderbilt Football team. He claims that he is stronger than the entire team put together and that he can prove it Oct 4th at 7 PM, prior to the opening of Beyond Smoke & Mirrors at McFaddens. ...

John B. Pyka

i agree

John B. Pyka

Poppycock outclassed magicians with the element I scream about most - Character.

I also love Brad's analysis that magicians hide hunanity behind their props. Very true I believe.

John B. Pyka

I was being a little sarcastic. I do think a magician can actually win. But not with tricks alone. It's all about character - as evidenced by Prince Poppycock who will win the whole thing. Magicians take note.

John B. Pyka

Sadly, it appears that America does not like magic.

John B. Pyka

The gang formerly known as Music City Magic reunites to present a brand new experience! Beyond Smoke & Mirrors is Nashville's hottest new show - Mondays at McFadden's on 2nd Ave. 8 PM. $10. Visit <a class="postlink" href="http://www.facebook.com/beyondsmokeandmirrors">www.facebook.com/...

John B. Pyka

Oh yeah. I remember that! I actually worked up a way to make those boas appear on the girls as they turn away from me. I don't remember Duane ever talking to me about cruise ships. He mentioned something about some opportunities, but that was about the end of it. I've focused on theaters and dinner ...

John B. Pyka

I totally agree. I believe they were every bit magicians as those who use props.

John B. Pyka

Oh yeah? Which act were you? I met so many people that year.

John B. Pyka

All I can tell you is that we were booked for Bristol. A week out they contacted me and said that since Salsa did the same trick they didn't need us. We would have won too.

John B. Pyka

The trend is definitely changing, but mainly because magicians are failing to see changing trends and change with them. There is a reason why Cirque has taken over the strip and any magician who fails to see the reason will continue with the status quo and in the end, vanish him/herself.

John B. Pyka

Big Daddy Cool & The Swing Kittens were supposed to appear on the third show performing his dancing cane routine, but was bumped when another magician exposed the cane on the first show. Gee, sure hope that wasn't you Justin...

John B. Pyka

This may belong somewhere else here, but this seemed like the best spot... I am working on expanding and updating my book Theatrical Magic next year. And I have a few questions for those who have purchased and read Theatrical Magic. What I want to do is publish a brand new Omnibus edition with updat...

John B. Pyka

Actually, Steven Kline would be an amazing choice!

John B. Pyka

Funny. Thanks for the vote of confidence Ray. ( funny what late night conversations can yield) But I'm not part of the magic community anymore and certainly not on anyone's radar at the Castle! Lol!
But if they asked for a resume, I might send them one. Haha! Have fun at Unconventional!

John B. Pyka

Just goes to show, that you can learn something new everyday. I had never heard of that forum. Back in the mid 1990s the only forums I remember is Magictalk and magic.alt. I'll have to check out the archives at the aforementioned website. Thanks Joe!

John B. Pyka

NEW! Magictalk.com is now an official co-sponsoir of these awards. You all know Magic Talk - THE ORIGINAL magic discussion forum!

For this point on, the award will be the New Magic Order/Magic Talk Houdini Award for Excellence in Magic and The Variety Arts.

John B. Pyka

I'm just saying - I'm really trying not to be a bad guy. The disclaimer keeps it relevant for those who don't care, that's all.

John B. Pyka

The disclaimer is there for people like Brad Henderson who don't think news like this is worthy to be posted on a worldwide forum. So by telling them upfront, maybe they won't get their panties in a wad and give me heat over it.

John B. Pyka

**Disclaimer - I am posting this here only for those people who visit here that have appeared on, or been a fan of Music City Magic** MUSIC CITY MAGIC TO PRESENT FINAL PERFORMANCE Nashville On Halloween Night, Oct. 31st, the mystery men of Music City Magic present their final performance at the Hall...

John B. Pyka

Just for the record, I don't know who Brad Henderson is. Should I? And why? By the way a lot of people owe me an apology. I won't hold my breath - after all you are all a bunch of magicians - but you can find me at <a class="postlink" href="http://www.magictalk.com">www.magictalk.com</a><!...

John B. Pyka

Well Brad, with all due respect (and I mean with all due respect)it just seems typical among magicians to engage in Hermit Crab Politics. Not that you would ever do that, but I am almost 100% sure that your attitude would be different if you had been one of those nominated.

John B. Pyka

Thanks Steve! The votes were tallied by Athena Johnson and Robert Pierson. I did recuse(sp) myself. Voting has closed. The winners will be publicly announced on Oct 31, but we've posted the list of winners at <a class="postlink" href="http://www.magictalk.com">www.magictalk.com</a><!-- w -...

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