New Magic from a New Magician

Discuss the art of Children's Entertainment with your fellow performers.
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Spellbinder
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New Magic from a New Magician

Postby Spellbinder » July 25th, 2010, 7:17 am

"The Magic Coloring Book," a mainstay of kid show performers worldwide, is some four hundred and eighty years old ... probably more. "The Magic Storybook" was invented this year (2010) by a fifteen year old who has been studying magic since January of 2008. At first glance it seems like the same trick, but although the effects begin the same, with a book of blank pages, they proceed in a different direction guided by a different principle of operation. In "The Magic Storybook," a story page (with text and illustrations) appears, one page at a time. Between page appearances, the rest of the book is still able to be shown blank. Combine that with having the pages appear according to random choices by spectators, making each telling of the story different and unique, and you have something really new and special. The inventor is Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki (his magic name), who already has a long list of magic inventions to his credit, with no signs that he is running out of ideas. He has already come up with more variations on his own "Magic Storybook" effect by adding new magic principles and concepts, such as his "Pseudo-Magnetic Principle," and the "Consecutive Force Concept" found in his "Halloween Magic Storybook."

It is difficult for us old-timers to say good-bye to such greats as Ali-Bongo, Pat Page, Glen Falkenstein, Martin Gardner, and Tony Corinda, to name but a few of the recently departed. It is even more difficult to recognize new magic talent when it appears in a gangly adolescent. I suggest you might want to keep an eye on this youngster. He will be a kid show performer for a few more years as he learns his craft, but then who knows?
Phineas Spellbinder
The Magic Nook

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Re: New Magic from a New Magician

Postby Spellbinder » August 3rd, 2010, 3:14 pm

Before this post disappears again, I should point out that my intent was to find out if any other members of the magic community have spotted new talent among the youngsters just starting out? Has anyone met the next Harry Blackstone, or Edwin Hooper or UF Grant? Do kids even try to emulate the old timers or are they looking forward to becoming a David Copperfield, Criss Angel or David Blaine? Are there any aspiring magic clowns or kid show performers growing up around us?
Phineas Spellbinder
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Dustin Stinett
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Re: New Magic from a New Magician

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 3rd, 2010, 3:49 pm

Several of the kids coming up through the Castle Junior program are quite good. And I think what sets them apart from the pack is the fact that they are not emulating anybody.

Dustin

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Re: New Magic from a New Magician

Postby Spellbinder » September 15th, 2010, 11:18 pm

Qua-Fiki has done it again, this time with a Stepladder Escape/Substitution Illusion he calls "Stepladder Revenge." He figured out that the "Assistant's Revenge" was appropriate for an Illusionist, because the poor assistant is always the victim, getting pierced, cut in half, or otherwise mutilated by the illusionist. But, as an Escape Artist, he points out that it is the poor Escape Artist who is always being handcuffed, manacled, chained and tied up by his assistant. So this is the Escape Artist's way of finally getting revenge on his assistant. I like the way he thinks!

He has also come up with a very clever way to do it with an ordinary aluminum stepladder, some ropes and some secret somethings that can't be seen if you perform it correctly.

While this may or may not be something you want to perform for kids, Qua-Fiki notes that Escapes are definitely a young person's game and has called his book "Escapes For Teens."
Phineas Spellbinder
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Re: New Magic from a New Magician

Postby Spellbinder » May 19th, 2011, 8:46 am

Qua-Fiki's little cousin, Wiz Kid Wilhelmina, is not only giving magic a new viewpoint from a nine-year old, but from a girl magician, as well. She was always playing with craft projects, making boxes and tubes from plastic, cardboard, cans, styrofoam cups and what-not, but when she began transforming Santa Claus blocks (formerly a Skeleton in the Closet prop in our Wiz Kid Prop Collection) so she could start off with completely blank blocks and make the features appear on them, I was amazed but not too surprised because she is surrounded by magicians in the family. But she has continued to come up with new ideas, like her Teddy Bear (Hairy) Houdini and a whole new outlook on the dye tube adjusted for her tiny hands, but also turning the tube transparent, and the list goes on. Keep an eye on her.Her Magic Jacks have opened up a whole new field in magic.
Phineas Spellbinder
The Magic Nook


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