Search found 120 matches

by Doug Brewer
June 30th, 2010, 11:36 pm
Forum: Columns
Topic: Genii Speaks of Mr Beckwith, Mr Tempest and exposing
Replies: 12
Views: 4429

Re: Genii Speaks of Mr Beckwith, Mr Tempest and exposing

In the movie, The Incredibles, the bad guy, Syndrome' master plan is to use his secret technical powers to make a ton of money. Then, when he's through with it all, and he's banked all his cash, he wants to sell them to the general public. That way, everyone will have super powers, not just the Supe...
by Doug Brewer
June 23rd, 2010, 4:11 am
Forum: Columns
Topic: Genii Speaks of Mr Beckwith, Mr Tempest and exposing
Replies: 12
Views: 4429

Re: Genii Speaks of Mr Beckwith, Mr Tempest and exposing

I agree completely with Richard on this point. Also, in a private email to Richard, I asked my one point of the entire interview with Beckwith: who is Tobias Beckwith? I've heard the name, but Burger did not even explain why we were reading his interview. Is Beckwith a manager, agent, performer? App...
by Doug Brewer
May 25th, 2010, 2:20 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Luigi
Replies: 15
Views: 3458

Re: Luigi

I have a neighbor next door who has a Chinese chicken and he carries the thing around like a puppy. Very funny :)

Very sorry to hear about Luigi.

Doug
by Doug Brewer
May 21st, 2010, 1:42 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Close-up Magic on Letterman
Replies: 155
Views: 34939

Re: Close-up Magic on Letterman

To be honest, I'm completely puzzled by the show's seeming representation of the guest magicians as "props". Letterman introduces them, they sit sideways, and he says "let's go". There's no background on the magician, no brief chatting or chance to get to know the person - just &...
by Doug Brewer
May 19th, 2010, 2:28 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Close-up Magic on Letterman
Replies: 155
Views: 34939

Re: Close-up Magic on Letterman

Hey Frank - actually the cake out of the shoe can be quite funny. I think even Carney does some version. I would have preferred that . . . To be completely honest, I think prop magic (like WOW, or Hot Rod) are nice effects if the crowd already knows you and knows you aren't a hack. I have tons of re...
by Doug Brewer
March 26th, 2010, 1:37 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Perfect table for coin work
Replies: 12
Views: 4857

Re: Perfect table for coin work

Isn't there some law against gaffing Japanese coinage? I suspect that's the reason. I also suspect that the dude with the bad wig and mustache directly behind him helped on the arm through glass bit . . .
by Doug Brewer
March 23rd, 2010, 6:53 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Perfect table for coin work
Replies: 12
Views: 4857

Re: Perfect table for coin work

Yeah, I think Portal. (the music is a little distracting here)

Excellent coin work, however. I like how he takes his time and builds each segment up to be a miracle. The arm-through is amazing - I don't have a clue.

Doug
by Doug Brewer
March 23rd, 2010, 4:18 am
Forum: Magicana
Topic: Bottlecap Matrix
Replies: 19
Views: 6537

Re: Bottlecap Matrix

In a way, this reminds me of the Roth, Stonehenge Assembly (and yes, the Kohler routine) with the layout and initial steals. Good routine! This would play nicely in an impromptu setting, say at a party working on a carpet with specs looking down. Caplocation is done strictly with bottle caps (metal,...
by Doug Brewer
August 21st, 2009, 12:23 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Anyone Wantto Tell Us What Happened at Magic Live?
Replies: 29
Views: 6837

Re: Anyone Wantto Tell Us What Happened at Magic Live?

I'll point out some highlights for me, in addition to the evening shows and the overall feel of the convention that have already been covered. First, though, I'd like to say I thought the convention was very well organized and had a nice mix of business oriented topics as well as technical. Anyway, ...
by Doug Brewer
July 15th, 2009, 6:10 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Bro. John Hamman question
Replies: 11
Views: 3200

Re: Bro. John Hamman question

As a sidebar I want to say how great this book is (the yellow book written by Kaufman) and how great the material within it plays. This was one of the first books I bought when I got back into magic after college and it was unique in how the effects are set up and their psychology. It was such a twi...
by Doug Brewer
April 8th, 2009, 1:22 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Getting Bodies into Seats At Criss Angel: Believe
Replies: 136
Views: 28140

Re: Getting Bodies into Seats At Criss Angel: Believe

Brad: I actually thought the same thing, when I saw the "jumping the shark" with the matchbox car. Amos: I thought the first 15 minutes of Bolt (in 3D, mind you) was some of the best animated action sequences I'd ever seen. The movie then degenerated down to a generic "lost dog/sad ow...
by Doug Brewer
January 26th, 2009, 2:15 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Lynetta Welch
Replies: 13
Views: 6313

Re: Lynetta Welch

I contacted Lynetta about a year ago to make a ring hank for me (similar to the John Archer one). These are ridiculously simple in design, but I wanted it made right, so I went to Lynetta. She said, "no problem", but that she was working on another design for a ring vanish hank and that I ...
by Doug Brewer
January 9th, 2009, 12:00 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Josh Jay
Replies: 205
Views: 90688

Re: Josh Jay

If I may, briefly, get back on topic about Josh Jay: I think Josh has handled himself greatly in these environments. This is a tough gig and there are no "re-takes" if you screw up. Regarding getting nervous: I find that I get nervous in just about any new type of venue I haven't performed...
by Doug Brewer
November 5th, 2008, 12:46 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Criss Angel Believe Buzz
Replies: 446
Views: 163194

Re: Criss Angel Believe Buzz

I think combining two elements of these types of theater, that is, magic and a cirque-type performance - would be extremely difficult. Lance Burton actually has an avante garde type sequence in his stage show that lasts maybe 10 minutes. If I remember right there are set pieces that move in and out,...
by Doug Brewer
September 27th, 2008, 1:31 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: David Blaine - Death Dealer
Replies: 101
Views: 22224

Re: David Blaine - Death Dealer

As of last night I'm starting to have my lay audiences ask me if I saw the last David Blaine special (unfortunately I didn't). Asking them their opinion it is obvious that what we hold true for individual effects, holds true for TV specials - that is, they remember the last thing they saw. I had a n...
by Doug Brewer
August 25th, 2008, 3:20 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Passing of a Great Prestidigitator - Barry Price
Replies: 13
Views: 3905

Re: The Passing of a Great Prestidigitator - Barry Price

My sincere condolences, Jennifer. Barry was a great magician and practitioner of our craft. He developed some wonderful sleight-of-hand methods and just blew us away whenever we had the opportunity to sit with him. While I was never at his technical level with cards, he always treated me with respec...
by Doug Brewer
July 3rd, 2008, 5:02 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Revelation has landed
Replies: 123
Views: 47102

Re: Revelation has landed

DrDanny- My comment was more on the rather sudden appearance of three high-quality printed magic materials, as opposed to another dvd set or one-trick dvd (not how they line up against each other). All these are books I'm going to spend some quality time with (I haven't bought the Regal book yet, bu...
by Doug Brewer
July 3rd, 2008, 12:25 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Revelation has landed
Replies: 123
Views: 47102

Re: Revelation has landed

As a side comment, with the publication of Regal's book, now this book, and ultimately Zarrow's book coming soon, I'm especially pleased that the "written word" is suddenly hitting the market. These books are actually very reasonably priced considering how bloody expensive it is to produce...
by Doug Brewer
April 27th, 2008, 2:51 am
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: Interesting Advice . . .
Replies: 3
Views: 1279

Re: Interesting Advice . . .

Hi Dave: Actually that's not what my intention was of posting this. I think Blaine and Angel have worked hard to achieve their fame on TV. My point was more that we can achieve just as much success (maybe more) by not worrying about getting on TV, but by being original, and coming up with our own an...
by Doug Brewer
April 26th, 2008, 11:26 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: Interesting Advice . . .
Replies: 3
Views: 1279

Interesting Advice . . .

Here's a bit of advice from Bob Lefsetz in The Lefsetz Letter: "If you want to have a long career, write your own material. Be different, not the same. And don't go on television, it will shorten your tenure." It's advice to singers contemplating going on American Idol. Lefsetz thinks AI i...
by Doug Brewer
April 16th, 2008, 3:47 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show
Replies: 29
Views: 8465

Re: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show

Sounds good, Rick. Maybe see you there. And I'm with you on the free speech.

Hey, let's all talk about politics now!
by Doug Brewer
April 16th, 2008, 1:57 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show
Replies: 29
Views: 8465

Re: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show

Hi Rick: BTW, loved your work at the mentalism LVMI a couple years ago. I'm not offended by what you asked at all, but I certainly don't want to get into too big a back-and-forth. Regardless, I'll say this - if the Campus Atheists wanted to sponser a show and at the end of it they wanted to try to c...
by Doug Brewer
April 16th, 2008, 12:04 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show
Replies: 29
Views: 8465

Re: Commentary on the Andre Kohl Show

There are comments on the bottom of the article, including a response from Campus Crusade, that explain the events a little better. I would assume the truth of the story is somewhere in the middle - an over-the-top, whiny student review of the show vs. a more aggressive-than-usual sermon. Since Andr...
by Doug Brewer
April 2nd, 2008, 1:03 pm
Forum: Magician's Local Hangouts
Topic: Curtis Kam's First Chicago Area Lecture April 7 !!
Replies: 5
Views: 2737

Re: Curtis Kam's First Chicago Area Lecture April 7 !!

Curtis lectured in San Diego about a year ago. It was an excellent lecture and did not require "palms of steel" for what he was teaching. You'll learn a lot from this magic veteran.
by Doug Brewer
February 21st, 2008, 10:04 am
Forum: General
Topic: March Issue of Genii Now in the Mail
Replies: 83
Views: 18075

Re: March Issue of Genii Now in the Mail

I read the entire issue yesterday waiting in lines at Disneyland. My teenage daughter and her friends ditched me, so I was the lone Party of One for a lot of rides. Even though Marvin Roy has been on 6(?) Genii covers, I didn't really know much about him. Great story.
by Doug Brewer
February 18th, 2008, 10:21 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks Volume 1
Replies: 311
Views: 90018

Re: Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks Volume 1

Loved the review by Swiss in this month's Genii. He touches on the controversy of whether this properly serves as a legacy to a man who deserves our admiration. I think when all four (five?) volumes come out, we'll see just an incredible amount of material that hasn't been published and would probab...
by Doug Brewer
February 14th, 2008, 3:12 pm
Forum: Children's Entertainment
Topic: Haunted Hank
Replies: 32
Views: 39187

Re: Haunted Hank

A translucent hank (to capture a ghost) sounds fascinating to me. I would love to see how this looks live . . .
by Doug Brewer
February 11th, 2008, 2:26 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Remembering Doug.
Replies: 61
Views: 11833

Re: Remembering Doug.

Great anecdotes! What is really sad, I've found, when asked by laymen who some of my favorite magicians are, and I say "Doug Henning" a lot of them don't know who I'm talking about. And these are people my age, not younglings whose collective memory goes back 5 years. My parents got ticket...
by Doug Brewer
February 8th, 2008, 12:51 am
Forum: Children's Entertainment
Topic: Haunted Hank
Replies: 32
Views: 39187

Re: Haunted Hank

JC Wagner has a great card revelation using the Glorpy gimmicked hank. Eugene Burger has another two card revelation using it based on a Rosini(?) routine. Both of these I have used and they are very strong.
by Doug Brewer
February 2nd, 2008, 11:53 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: The Best Magic Magazine Of All Time
Replies: 58
Views: 19333

Re: The Best Magic Magazine Of All Time

Wasn't the double lift around before 1901?
by Doug Brewer
February 1st, 2008, 11:27 am
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: The Best Magic Magazine Of All Time
Replies: 58
Views: 19333

Re: The Best Magic Magazine Of All Time

I'd say it's the most important sleight for Erdnase-wonks, whose existence I was not quite aware of until I went to LVMI last year.

Quite an interesting bunch.
by Doug Brewer
January 31st, 2008, 4:18 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Cups and Balls
Replies: 75
Views: 35242

Re: Cups and Balls

I recommend Ammar's book/DVD on the subject, but I don't recommend his routine (other than his opening sequence). His loads, in my very, very humble opinion, are done on the wrong beat. There is no misdirection when he sequentially loads each cup. None. There are some nice moments in the routine, ho...
by Doug Brewer
January 30th, 2008, 9:26 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Translocation/shadow
Replies: 7
Views: 1838

Re: Translocation/shadow

John Kennedy's Translocation does have a "backfire" sequence taught in the write-up. This is a classic routine for good reason. Very strong, almost perfect tabled coins across, with simple props.
by Doug Brewer
January 30th, 2008, 9:21 am
Forum: General
Topic: February Issue of Genii Now Arriving!
Replies: 94
Views: 23133

Re: February Issue of Genii Now Arriving!

My center page popped off too. But this issue is a keeper.
by Doug Brewer
January 27th, 2008, 10:49 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Cutting on the ace
Replies: 79
Views: 18121

Re: Cutting on the ace

You're probably right, Jeff :) I think it may be me more in love with the method than the effect (but the effect is strong!) After all that false shuffling and the sneaky use of the crimped card, the red/black kicker IS probably the point . . .
by Doug Brewer
January 27th, 2008, 3:00 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Cutting on the ace
Replies: 79
Views: 18121

Re: Cutting on the ace

I've just revisted Eric Mead's Tangled Web book, and I am much more impressed this time around. (for some reason, I was completely underwhelmed the first time I read through this - maybe the hype did it in - but now I'm really enjoying it). Also, with the Zarrow issue in Genii this month, I've appli...
by Doug Brewer
January 25th, 2008, 2:42 pm
Forum: Magician's Local Hangouts
Topic: March Magic Shows in the Tokyo area
Replies: 7
Views: 2621

Re: March Magic Shows in the Tokyo area

Thanks Richard! Now that I'm finally re-registered I can reply. I did get ahold of Mama-san and she was very helpful. Unfortunately I was over an hour and a half away (one way) by train and because my plane was leaving at 4:50 pm, I didn't want to take a chance of missing it (it had been a long week...
by Doug Brewer
January 16th, 2008, 3:58 pm
Forum: Magician's Local Hangouts
Topic: March Magic Shows in the Tokyo area
Replies: 7
Views: 2621

Re: March Magic Shows in the Tokyo area

I was desperately looking for the October issue and could not find it before I left this week. I'm going to be in Tokyo tomorrow afternoon through the next day and I don't have clue where to go :( Could someone give me directions to at least one of the bars? Also, where is MagicLand (Ton Onosaka's p...
by Doug Brewer
January 15th, 2008, 8:55 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: the uncanny scot
Replies: 9
Views: 4003

Re: the uncanny scot

Ah, Richard, I thought for sure you had video of Ron for the book. Even something like the Hamman videos would be fine. I've known Ron for years on a professional basis through the Castle and ironically, have never seen him perform. This book is a real wealth of close-up material.

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