Search found 1521 matches

by Tom Stone
February 19th, 2024, 3:34 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day One
Replies: 12
Views: 1780

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day One

Richard Stokes wrote:Craig Petty, from the audience

Agreeing to volunteer when asked is a good thing, isn't it? I don't think it is wise to berate people for helping out.
by Tom Stone
February 19th, 2024, 1:31 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day Two
Replies: 4
Views: 1322

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day Two

CraigMitchell wrote:RICHARD ESSIEN MAGICAL BONES

When there's balance, it can be entertaining to read reviews that revel in the negative parts of an event. But not when it begin to border to being meanspirited.
Whatever you thought of Magical Bones's choice of assistant, it could have been phrased better.
by Tom Stone
January 24th, 2024, 7:37 pm
Forum: Other Magic Publications
Topic: Tom Stone Session Notes 2024
Replies: 0
Views: 1001

Tom Stone Session Notes 2024

https://wargmagic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/session2024-fb.jpg These are my lecture notes from the recent Session convention in London, containing six whimsical routines for parlor and close-up. 12 pages, 31 illustrations. Contents: ⋅  Mittens The magician show his hands and say it i...
by Tom Stone
January 2nd, 2024, 9:50 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: 6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 1148

Re: 6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024

Conjuring A is now full. The rest will likely be filled within a day.
by Tom Stone
January 1st, 2024, 5:16 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Mundane Tasks of the Unreal (full show)
Replies: 4
Views: 837

Re: Mundane Tasks of the Unreal (full show)

I’ve got to put it on record - this show has some of the most beautiful, logical, magical, brilliant pieces of stage magic (and more importantly, stage magic staging) I have ever seen! This sets a standard all stage magic shows should strive to achieve and which shows with 100x the budget couldn't ...
by Tom Stone
January 1st, 2024, 5:13 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: 6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 1148

Re: 6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024

by Tom Stone
December 29th, 2023, 7:22 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Mundane Tasks of the Unreal (full show)
Replies: 4
Views: 837

Mundane Tasks of the Unreal (full show)

This past month, my group Mystique and I have performed at the Stockholm City Theater with "Overklighetens Vardagsbestyr" (Mundane Tasks of the Unreal) – a compilation of past works. The full show is now posted on Youtube (80 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRnPt5cwrv8 Info about...
by Tom Stone
December 12th, 2023, 10:12 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: 6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 1148

6 day Conjuring Workshops in 2024

These workshops are intended for those dissatisfied with their current practice of magic, regardless of being on an intermediary, professional, or expert level. The workshops are 6 full days long, from early morning to late evening, packed with practical hands-on work, theoretical discussions, drama...
by Tom Stone
September 9th, 2023, 7:03 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Inventor of prediction method?
Replies: 3
Views: 3057

Re: Inventor of prediction method?

It is not exactly what you're asking for, but it seems related to Stewart James's "Half and Half".
by Tom Stone
September 9th, 2023, 5:04 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Tony Hassini speaks ...
Replies: 41
Views: 7077

Re: Tony Hassini speaks ...

Erik certainly wasn't praising him ... he very much was taking Hassini down the garden path ... and giving him enough rope to hang himself Yes, the intention was to give him enough rope, and then confront him with it. However, it is quite difficult to become confrontational if you're not used to it...
by Tom Stone
August 31st, 2023, 2:55 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12
Replies: 2
Views: 1129

Re: Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12

The three workshops "Conjuring A", "Conjuring B", and "Conjuring C" happened earlier this month. 43 participants from 12 different nations studied, collaborated and worked from early morning to late night during six days. Intense, but very fun! One participant's report:...
by Tom Stone
March 27th, 2023, 4:20 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: A salvaged tutorial
Replies: 11
Views: 2586

Re: A salvaged tutorial

Richard Kaufman wrote:I think an Elmsley Count is a fairly simple sleight to teach.

Indeed. The topic for the 'dummy' tutorial was simple... the software I tried to use was not.
by Tom Stone
March 25th, 2023, 11:48 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: A salvaged tutorial
Replies: 11
Views: 2586

A salvaged tutorial

There's a lot of fringe skills that are useful to magicians, but rarely are taught in the magic books. Like, how do you make a good disc for the Hydrostatic Glass, or how to drill holes in glass. Or how to mold a prop. Or how do you do those crochet balls for Cups and Balls? How do you sew a good De...
by Tom Stone
January 3rd, 2023, 6:01 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12
Replies: 2
Views: 1129

Re: Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12

The workshop is now full.
by Tom Stone
January 2nd, 2023, 12:29 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12
Replies: 2
Views: 1129

Conjuring Workshop in Sweden, August 7-12

The Conjuring workshop has been extended to 6 days. The course itself is free of charge, but there are costs for lodging and food (5 meals/day). If you're curious, there are evaluation surveys from 2018-2019 , and from 2022 - as well as personal accounts from 2018 and 2019 . The application form ope...
by Tom Stone
October 4th, 2022, 10:39 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: No-Egg-Bag Egg Bag
Replies: 12
Views: 4038

Re: No-Egg-Bag Egg Bag

Bob Farmer wrote:I am looking for references for this approach.
(SNIP)
This procedure seems obvious: has anyone else worked along these lines?

I'm not sure, but I think it might be worth checking Richard Osterlind's "The Challenge Glass of Water Production" from Three Miracle Routines (1986).
by Tom Stone
October 3rd, 2022, 4:09 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Tom Stone at the Magic Castle 2022
Replies: 0
Views: 2453

Tom Stone at the Magic Castle 2022

I did the Parlor at the Magic Castle last week.
https://youtu.be/rlOOZbaWvKo
by Tom Stone
October 1st, 2022, 2:57 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Christer Nilsson 1931-2022
Replies: 0
Views: 1195

Christer Nilsson 1931-2022

Christer Nilsson passed away September 29. He was an important figure who documented and reported everything that happened in Swedish magic from the 1950’s and forward.

You can read more here, with the aid of Google Translate:
https://magiarkivet.se/2022/christer-ni ... -memoriam/
by Tom Stone
August 13th, 2022, 2:59 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

Richard Kaufman wrote:This is the only thing which can be copyrighted.

It isn't a verb. Copyright is automatic.
by Tom Stone
August 13th, 2022, 2:56 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

Yes, the US joined the Berne Convention. But it never passed legislation to implement many of the Convention's provisions. So, there are things that are covered by copyright in European and other Berne countries that are not covered in the United States. Tom doesn't recognize this. Yes I recognize ...
by Tom Stone
August 12th, 2022, 4:08 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

Tom Stone does not recognize US copyright law as valid protection. When he talks about copyright protection, he is ONLY talking about what he believes is covered by copyright in Europe (including the UK and Scandanavia). I'm talking about all countries (180 nations) that are party to the Berne conv...
by Tom Stone
August 12th, 2022, 4:03 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

Noble of you to come to Tom's defense, but I don't think I'm going to be searching this Forum's history. I'm well aware of Tom's many comments on the topic of copyright and the Teller case in particular, and frankly, they are filled with a great deal of MISinformation. I am aware that there are a l...
by Tom Stone
August 12th, 2022, 10:12 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

The judges in the Teller case have no idea what they are talking about, and their nonsense can be completely disregarded. Teller’s representation was also pretty incompetent as they fought like hell to get the trial moved from Belgium, where creators have a very strong position and where it would be...
by Tom Stone
August 11th, 2022, 7:53 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

DennisLisi wrote:I have a sneaking suspicion that magicians take themselves far more seriously than their audiences do.

Yes?
Isn’t that true of every profession?
Movie directors take their profession more seriously than movie-watchers.
Will you tell us that water is wet next?
by Tom Stone
August 11th, 2022, 7:46 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Youtube Takers
Replies: 100
Views: 6316

Re: Youtube Takers

The inventor of course, can't copyright a method, unless it is truly unique--a "trade secret" as it were. All he can do is protect his 'intellectual property", which is the routine. Thus the exposure of the method is generally not actionable. I can’t make any sense of this text. Too ...
by Tom Stone
August 5th, 2022, 12:58 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

Since letters have been signed with Max Toth's name even years after his death in 2011...(example)
... is it legal to forge someone else's signature like that?
by Tom Stone
August 5th, 2022, 7:06 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

There's been a lot of changes on Hassini's site. Mostly deletions, but also a few changes. The name of Max Toth, who died in 2011, have been changed to Max Roth . As Vice Chairman, Max Toth have been replaced with the name Antonio Russell , who also is the President for U.K but doesn't have any cont...
by Tom Stone
August 3rd, 2022, 10:00 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: FISM 2022 - Day Zero
Replies: 20
Views: 2530

Re: FISM 2022 - Day Zero

Philippe Billot wrote:I can do it if I can get the informations.


https://fism.org/winners-00s/#2009
by Tom Stone
August 1st, 2022, 10:38 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: FISM 2022 Day 4
Replies: 44
Views: 4743

Re: FISM 2022 Day 4

I will ask again a question do the judges have students or acts they manage in the contest and is that ethical or curupt? I might be wrong, but I believe that Maga Caro once studied a short while for Henry Evans. Since she and her partner placed 6'th, with points that seem reasonable, it doesn't ap...
by Tom Stone
August 1st, 2022, 9:36 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

The funniest thing about this entire episode though has to be the number of Magicians who are forever available to fall for the 3 Card Trick. As the old saying goes "a fool and his money are easily parted". I can't trace where the humor comes in. It seems you think that just because someo...
by Tom Stone
July 31st, 2022, 11:31 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

You've not really addressed my main points relating to Hassini though Tom. I can't really figure out what your main points are. Out of around one hundred performers, Penn & Teller had problems scheduling one of them - eleven years ago. And due to that, you think that everyone should cheat and s...
by Tom Stone
July 31st, 2022, 6:40 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

Not quite sure what you mean by my expectations being exaggerated. (snip) To this day, whilst I have personally demonstrated the persona of a Saint, I enjoy the company of people who have lived their lives ducking and diving. They tend to be just a tad more interesting than the average brainwashed ...
by Tom Stone
July 31st, 2022, 5:52 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

At the end of the day, Hassini seems a bit of a character. I'd take him for a pint any day to hear his stories. You are of course welcome to spend your time in any way you want. However, there are people who have taken Hassini for a pint, and who have heard his stories. It might be a good idea to c...
by Tom Stone
July 28th, 2022, 11:34 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

Heh... he just changed one instance of "Max Toth" to "Max Roth". Once the editing of this page ( https://imsmagic.com/ims-officers.html ) is done, it will be interesting to compare it with the archived page at Wayback Machine and see which names he found most essential to remove:...
by Tom Stone
July 28th, 2022, 11:21 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

Seems the news have reached Hassini now. The "IMS Officers" page is removed from the navigation menu of the site - but it is still there, and is undergoing heavy editing. Most of the names I've mentioned in my article are now removed. I'm still finding out more stuff though... Regarding th...
by Tom Stone
July 28th, 2022, 11:50 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: FISM 2022 Day Three
Replies: 14
Views: 3015

Re: FISM 2022 Day Three

I have always thought that originality was over rated. Sometimes it is useful but it really isn't a big deal. The only thing that NEEDS to be original is your personality. Originality is largely misunderstood. It isn't an end goal in itself. When people aim for originality, it often become unconvin...
by Tom Stone
July 28th, 2022, 10:17 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: FISM 2022 Day Three
Replies: 14
Views: 3015

Re: FISM 2022 Day Three

Doing standard tricks with new methods but instead of thimbles using office supplies is not a step forward. I've been waiting years for a contest reviewer to have enough guts to point this out. I even have a book on my shelf by a well-known magic coach that argues that the object of your theme act ...
by Tom Stone
July 27th, 2022, 8:50 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

And if they do know what is really going on they aren't really being scammed, are they? I don't really see much in the way of victims here. The instances cover the whole range from being completely complicit to being completely scammed. The young guy in Croatia that I mentioned was victimized. He a...
by Tom Stone
July 27th, 2022, 8:05 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

It seems that Taylor Reed had a video on YouTube titled "Taylor Reed exposes the Prestigious Merlin Award", but apparently it was taken down and is currently not available... I just asked him. Turns out he didn't post that video, someone else did. He explained that he had been recorded wi...
by Tom Stone
July 27th, 2022, 11:30 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone
Replies: 62
Views: 6295

Re: Merlin award scam - an article by Tom Stone

I didn't expect it to be so elaborate with a real audience with candlelit tables! That's from this year. It was patched onto the end of the Magic Live convention, so a lot of magicians were already in the area. It is quite uncommon with such banquets. I believe this have only happened once before i...

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