Search found 196 matches

by Peter Ross
January 10th, 2024, 9:40 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Brooklyn Magic Shop
Replies: 4
Views: 834

Brooklyn Magic Shop

I'm rooting for this little brick-and-mortar family-run shop. They opened in 2021, and are located next door to where I lived in the 1990s!
Finally, a reason to go back to Brooklyn :)

https://www.brooklynmagicshop.com/
by Peter Ross
November 25th, 2023, 10:13 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: AI Generated Magicians From The Past
Replies: 29
Views: 4383

Re: AI Generated Magicians From The Past

Bob, these are images created from scratch from a variety of text prompts I used in an AI image generator program. So in a certain way, I feel a sense of authorship about them. My choices about even a single word in the prompt changed the results entirely. It's been interesting to see what current A...
by Peter Ross
November 21st, 2023, 10:41 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: AI Generated Magicians From The Past
Replies: 29
Views: 4383

Re: AI Generated Magicians From The Past

I tried many variations of "Sawing a woman in half magic trick" but the results looked nothing like any recognizable rendition of the illusion in any form. They were creepy, bordering on horror.
by Peter Ross
November 21st, 2023, 3:09 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: AI Generated Magicians From The Past
Replies: 29
Views: 4383

Re: AI Generated Magicians From The Past

I mostly used generic prompts, such as "Vintage photo of a magician doing a trick with eggs." I also used ones that said, "Old photo of Ricky Jay performing a magic trick for an old lady," and "Vintage photo of Houdini performing the cups and balls magic trick."
by Peter Ross
August 31st, 2023, 8:36 am
Forum: General
Topic: Magic in NYC
Replies: 9
Views: 15512

Re: Magic in NYC

The must-see magic show in NYC right now is Asi Wind's Inner Circle, if you can get tickets. Great for the whole family!
by Peter Ross
August 8th, 2023, 5:31 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle
Replies: 38
Views: 13449

Re: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle

I had a wonderful opportunity to perform this trick last week while on vacation at a family camp in Maine. At the end of the week-long camp there was a variety show, and I was planning to perform it then. However, the Activities Director added “Ten Minute Ted Talks” (presented by campers) to the sch...
by Peter Ross
May 22nd, 2023, 7:58 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Copperfield piece on CBS Sunday Morning
Replies: 11
Views: 1270

Re: Copperfield piece on CBS Sunday Morning

D.C...comes off as not being fully present. He is there right in front of you, but you get a sort of overly polished and scripted version of himself and his personality." This is a very accurate description of the DC I saw a couple of months ago at the MGM Grand. The appearing spaceship was co...
by Peter Ross
March 27th, 2023, 8:57 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: A salvaged tutorial
Replies: 11
Views: 2597

Re: A salvaged tutorial

I think the original impulse for a place where magicians could share "fringe skills," is a good one. Among the ones Tom mentioned I would add Maker-type skills for building props with 3D printing and laser cutting. I recently was looking for info on the best ways to add hinges to 1/8"...
by Peter Ross
March 14th, 2023, 11:36 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Baritone magicians
Replies: 14
Views: 4593

Baritone magicians

Watching a clip of Blackstone Jr. with his deep, baritone voice, I was reminded of Max Maven, another baritone magician.
Any others, living or dead?
by Peter Ross
February 22nd, 2023, 7:52 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle
Replies: 38
Views: 13449

Re: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle

Does anyone else find the vanishing object presentations more deceptive than the "to feed many" presentations of this effect? I agree that the vanishing presentation is the one I'd defer to. However, I saw that a magician named Lew Books had a presentation for kid shows where his son woul...
by Peter Ross
February 20th, 2023, 7:51 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle
Replies: 38
Views: 13449

Re: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle

If you're performing at an Oscars party, you can make it the "Triangle of Sadness."
by Peter Ross
February 19th, 2023, 7:58 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Understanding the Bermuda Triangle
Replies: 38
Views: 13449

Understanding the Bermuda Triangle

I just discovered (for myself) the brilliant trick, Understanding the Bermuda Triangle, from Jim Steinmeyer's Impuzzibilities. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how great this trick is. It may be the best impromptu self-working trick I've ever seen, with a bonus that it isn't done with cards! ...
by Peter Ross
February 7th, 2023, 7:28 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Joint Magic
Replies: 6
Views: 1483

Joint Magic

Today I had a nice visit to NYC's newest magic shop, Don't Blink, run by Magick Balay. The shop was featured in Genii's The Eye a month or two back. In one of his glass cases were a bunch of joints, spliffs, and blunts. Magick said a friend of his hand-carves and paints them. They're very realistic,...
by Peter Ross
January 9th, 2023, 8:36 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juan Tamariz in NY Times
Replies: 21
Views: 2233

Re: Juan Tamariz in NY Times

Again, it's not whether it was a "big deal" or that Tamariz can do "any damn thing he wants." That's boring stuff. The interesting part is the reasoning behind his decision as it relates to the value of so-called exposure as part of magic's toolbox.
by Peter Ross
January 8th, 2023, 7:48 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juan Tamariz in NY Times
Replies: 21
Views: 2233

Re: Juan Tamariz in NY Times

I don't like it but sometimes you do what you have to do. Far more interesting, at least to me, is not whether he should have done it (breaking the magic "code"), but why he thought showing the workings of the knives to be the solution to his problem rather than show another trick. The as...
by Peter Ross
January 8th, 2023, 2:11 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juan Tamariz in NY Times
Replies: 21
Views: 2233

Re: Juan Tamariz in NY Times

I'm not disparaging Tamariz - quite the opposite. He showed a trick to the TV executive in charge of greenlighting a TV show for him and the executive wasn't bowled over enough to say yes. So what does Tamariz do? Does he show him another trick? No. Does he gather around more people and show the tri...
by Peter Ross
January 7th, 2023, 7:10 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Juan Tamariz in NY Times
Replies: 21
Views: 2233

Re: Juan Tamariz in NY Times

Interesting that in a desperate move to land a close-up magic TV show, Tamariz intentionally exposes a trick.
by Peter Ross
December 31st, 2022, 5:52 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Hot Rod force
Replies: 44
Views: 10793

Re: Hot Rod force

I was just throwing out ideas for Robert, a couple of which I've used quite successfully. If they're not your cup of tea - like the hot rod force isn't mine - then rock and roll with what works for you. That's cool. I'm just curious as to what it is about the spelling in the hot rod force that is d...
by Peter Ross
December 31st, 2022, 4:15 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Hot Rod force
Replies: 44
Views: 10793

Re: Hot Rod force

None of these seem as effective and fair as the Hot Rod force. There are six colors, so choosing a number between one and six is eminently fair and easy to understand. If it ain't broke...
by Peter Ross
December 31st, 2022, 3:50 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Did Tenyo screw up this optical illusion?
Replies: 29
Views: 9492

Re: Did Tenyo screw up this optical illusion?

One of the most effective presentations of this optical illusion I've seen was the simple display of it at The Museum of Illusions in NYC (Per "The Eye" another one of these museums has opened in DC). They had the two boomerangs mounted on the wall behind the glass at eye level. One could ...
by Peter Ross
December 31st, 2022, 3:32 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Hot Rod force
Replies: 44
Views: 10793

Hot Rod force

In the January issue of Genii, David Regal reviews "Our Very Best" Hot Knife Set. At the end of the review, he implores readers to not use the classic Hot Rod force when forcing one of six colors. He said the four-out-of-six chance of spelling of the number has "bugged the hell" ...
by Peter Ross
December 7th, 2022, 12:28 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Dani DaOrtiz
Replies: 132
Views: 82613

Re: Dani DaOrtiz

My son is still talking about that performance. He thinks DaOrtiz is the best magician.
We have tickets to see Asi Wind this month...
by Peter Ross
November 11th, 2022, 2:28 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Dani DaOrtiz
Replies: 132
Views: 82613

Re: Dani DaOrtiz

My 12-year-old son and I watched this the other day on Fool Us. My son, who is generally not that enthused about card tricks, said DaOrtiz's performance was the best ever he'd seen on Fool Us. I agree. Coincidentally, I listened to Penn Jillette's podcast today, and he said that if anyone watched on...
by Peter Ross
November 3rd, 2022, 2:06 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: RIP Max Maven
Replies: 69
Views: 11234

Re: RIP Max Maven

I am so sad to hear about Max Maven’s passing. I will always feel lucky and honored that I got to perform on the same bill with him for one special night and that he also got to witness my little act up close - offering kind, encouraging words (even though I succumbed to the “Max Maven Curse” - scre...
by Peter Ross
October 22nd, 2022, 9:26 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Deja Vu
Replies: 2
Views: 1417

Deja Vu

by Peter Ross
October 18th, 2022, 5:35 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Who is the best coin magician you have seen?
Replies: 82
Views: 16180

Re: Who is the best coin magician you have seen?

Herb Scher does the most amazing coin rolls I've ever seen.
by Peter Ross
September 11th, 2022, 4:26 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Danny's Panel Board
Replies: 26
Views: 6621

Re: Danny's Panel Board

I guess there will always be disagreements about what apparatus are perfect, with no room for innovation. With the Panel Board, I believe the lip is a legitimate improvement for ease of handling. It takes a move that requires much practice and consistency (getting the door to line up to the slot eve...
by Peter Ross
September 10th, 2022, 11:18 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Danny's Panel Board
Replies: 26
Views: 6621

Re: Danny's Panel Board

The bottle cap is just cover for when you do the move. Check out Evil Dan's routine in the video. It's nice.
by Peter Ross
September 10th, 2022, 8:30 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Danny's Panel Board
Replies: 26
Views: 6621

Re: Danny's Panel Board

I'm glad you used to do it fairly well, Richard. And I envy you for seeing Danny do it live. However, if you apply that same attitude about the lip to cards, then I guess you wouldn't like card gaffs either, which I know isn't the case, as you worship DeLand. Even Yedid agreed that the lip modificat...
by Peter Ross
September 10th, 2022, 7:53 pm
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Danny's Panel Board
Replies: 26
Views: 6621

Danny's Panel Board

I received one of these boards recently, and I agree with B. Henderson's review of the product in the Sept. 2022 Genii. I have two thoughts I'd like to throw out there: In light of the difficulty to perform this trick smoothly and consistently, I was happy to see Evil Dan's presentation in the accom...
by Peter Ross
July 14th, 2022, 10:21 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: GeniiOnline is Back in Action
Replies: 9
Views: 1668

Re: GeniiOnline is Back in Action

I'm assuming Genii Online has been dormant for weeks because R. Kaufman has been busy with New Greater Magic - a reason for which I am perfectly happy.
by Peter Ross
May 18th, 2022, 2:42 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Introductory book
Replies: 36
Views: 16240

Re: Introductory book

"And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming
He's found a book on magic in a garbage can
He looks at the pictures and stares at the cracked ceiling
"At the count of 3," he says, "I hope I can disappear"

Lou Reed - Dirty Blvd.
by Peter Ross
April 19th, 2022, 4:42 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blaine teaches magic
Replies: 34
Views: 2790

Re: Blaine teaches magic

With all due respect to Michael Weber (and I do mean respect), I think it’s unfair to dump on David Blaine like he’s doing. Of all the “top names in magic,” Blaine has to be the most mysterious and mind-blowing in the eyes of the public. He has people wondering what’s real and what isn’t more than a...
by Peter Ross
April 5th, 2022, 8:42 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: GeniiOnline is Back in Action
Replies: 9
Views: 1668

Re: GeniiOnline is Back in Action

I don't mean to sound snarky or unappreciative, but I have to ask, What is the point of Genii Online? After announcing its resurfacing last month with a promise of a new post every day, I see that it is struggling to meet that standard. I haven't seen a new post in days. It begs the question, does m...
by Peter Ross
March 3rd, 2022, 10:29 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: GeniiOnline is Back in Action
Replies: 9
Views: 1668

Re: GeniiOnline is Back in Action

Cool. As long as this doesn't take away time from Greater Magic :)
by Peter Ross
February 17th, 2022, 12:18 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: no-tear currency
Replies: 3
Views: 1036

no-tear currency


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