Paul Harris....(info on him)

[sinamon]

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[John Smetana]

I think a reading of his essays in the A of A triology will give you some valuable insight into his thinking. Just my opinion..

All the best,
John Smetana

[Pete McCabe]

I've worked with Paul on a number of projects over the last couple of years.

First of all, Paul is incredibly nice and completely unaffected by the almost universal high regard with which he is held in the world of magic.

Working with Paul, I have noticed that he has a wonderful combination of extremely high standards and a remarkably open mind. So he's willing to consider any idea, no matter how crazy it might seem. And he doesn't care whose idea it is -- if someone else's idea is better than his, he goes with that. But he won't rest until an effect is done -- if it's almost done, that's great, but it's still not done.

One thing I have noticed about Paul's magic is that he relentlessly works to make things fun. If there's a difficult move, that's not fun, so he works to eliminate it. If there's something that is uncertain in performance, or overly risky, or anything that will make you uncomfortable while performing it, he eliminates it.

Hope this gives you some idea of how Paul is an extremely nice, fun, clever, creative guy.

[Pete Biro]

10 minutes ago he was at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas watching Mike Close do a card trick.

[Bill Duncan]

Originally posted by Pete Biro:
10 minutes ago he was at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas watching Mike Close do a card trick.

Good taste in magic apparently, in addtion to his other traits...

I've not had the pleasure of spending any real time with the man but I do recall seeing him sitting barefoot and cross-legged on the floor of a luxury hotel doing card tricks for some of the guests and a couple of magicians who were attending the New York Magic Symposium in Berkley Calif. back in the 80s. I remember thinking that seeing that taught me more about close-up magic than most of the books I'd read.

[Sam Kesler]

I don't know about you, but I'm going to meet him at the 2005 Las Vegas Magic Invitational June 12-14th. Mr. Harris is the Special Guest of Honor. Also John Bannon, Alan Ackerman, Michael Ammar, David Solomon, Eric DeCamps, and more. Can't wait.

http://www.lvmi.net/html/about.htm

[mark]

I am no authority on the man, aside from owning much of the available literature written by him. At LVMI year before last, I arose very early one morning, and took my morning coffee out to the pool for some quiet rumination. Pretty soon, some scuffing bare feet became apparent on the outside of my awareness, and up walked Paul Harris. Rather than allow my jaw its wish to drop to the ground, I played it cool. He asked if he could join me for breakfast, and I replied, of course. He sat, and we just became comfortable with the quiet, he asked the time, I replied, he couldn't believe he was awake that early, I couldn't either. We discussed what we had each been up to lately, and sort of avoided the subject of magic. I didn't want to mess up the vibe, and I just intuitively knew that worship was definitely not what he wanted. It was a most enjoyable time. Soon, a gentleman came out, and committed all of the sins I'd avoided - jaw hit the ground, he fawned all over Paul, and Paul reacted with being 'difficult,' but not really. To the question, "What are you doing now?" Paul answered, "Well, right now I am drinking this orange juice. Soon, I might be drinking this cranberry juice, or maybe not." After a bit, the gentleman got the message that Paul wasn't interested in writing the new bestseller in the magic world, for he had done that. He is constantly curious, constantly seeking, a student of the world, not just magic. I like the magic, but even more, I like the man.

[Guest]

Paul resides in the Vegas area now. I often see him hanging out at the Gary Darwin Meetings. He's very down to Earth and a great guy!

[Pepka]

Had an opportunity to sit and chat with him at WMS. Very nice guy and so down to earth. He says he's working on a DVD project of his material. Around 10 discs! This will a MAJOR deal when released. As it will include a lot of new material as well as reworked classics.

[Glenn Farrington]

Paul's a warm decent guy. I for one don't say that about many people...and very rarely about magicians. This is just a guess, but I bet he couldnt tell a lie even if his life depended on it. Oh yeah...and I hear he's talented too.

Not to sound to corny...but he's aces in my book.

[Guest]

In David Blaine's book, he described some "mystical" experiences he'd had with Paul. Have any of you had similar experiences? I found that very intriguing. If any of you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll be more than happy to post a few quotes from the book.

And hello, Pete McCabe. It's nice to run into you on the Internet. I loved the "Astonishing New Twists with Reality Twister" booklet. But I must say, nobody at any hardware store I have gone to knows what a #30 cap thread gasket is. They just look at me like I'm really strange when I ask for one. They ask what it's for, and when I tell them they REALLY look at me like I'm strange.

By the way, I'm gonna' go out on a limb and guess that Paul's title for that trick was "The Mighty Fine Rotation Penetration". And yours was "Ringfinger". Am I right? That first one just sounds too goofy not to be one of Paul's.

[Brian Marks]

Ive met Paul several times. We talked about how Jamy Ian Swiss's stance on Shattering Illusions was similiar to Paul's stance on his books.

[Dale Shrimpton]

I for one would love to meet up with him one day.


Dale.

[Guest]

I would love to meet him too, although there is no way I could make it to that convention in Vegas. Way too expensive. If he really wanders the country, maybe he'll wander out to Alabama some day. I know it's wishful thinking, but hey, let me have my illusions . ..

BTW, what is Paul's stance on his books? Just curious.

My stance on them is that they have some of the coolest magic tricks I've ever run across. Inflating a chocolate bar, levitating a milkshake, restoring a leaf to a tree . . .wow . . . who else thinks of this stuff?

[Lisa Cousins]

Originally posted by serling307:
In David Blaine's book, he described some "mystical" experiences he'd had with Paul.

Oh, do tell. I'm just dying to know.

[Guest]

Hello, Lisa. So you're from Albequerque? Have you heard Weird Al's song about the place? That is a great song.

Eh, anyway, I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic or serious, but I'll post the quotes from Blaine's book anyway:

"There's an intense mystical aura around Paul . . . he's living magic. Crazy things happen when you're in Paul's presence. Normally skittish deer came right up to him and ate food out of his hand. Later we were wandering around Estes Park, looking for a place to eat, engrossed in a conversation about Jesus, and right when we turned a corner and opened the door to go into a restaurant, we bumped into someone on his way out. `Jesus!' he said. I looked at Paul. `You guys scared me,' the guy said, and walked away.

"One night we were in some quiet bar watching some locals play darts. They weren't very good, but all of a sudden Paul yelled out, `Bull's-eye!' and the guy threw his dart, bam, right into the bull's-eye. That night some girls came up to us, and I told one girl her name, her mother's name, her birthday. Everything was just `on'. Paul was walking around the whole time going `Ommm. Ommm. Ommm.' I just knew everything we were formulating was exactly right."

I read that not long after I'd read a few of Paul's books, so I found it very intriguing to say the least. I wonder if Blaine made up those stories for publicity or if they really happened. That's why I was asking if anybody else had had quirky experiences hanging out with Paul.

[Lisa Cousins]

1. I've heard Weird Al's song.
2. I was being serious.
3. Thank you.

[Guest]

So I guess, in a roundabout way, what you're really trying to say is . . .

YOU

HATE

SAUERKRAUT!

:D

[Lisa Cousins]

All right now. After I had that mystical experience with Paul Harris at World Magic Seminar, I knew that I was duty-bound to have a look at those "Art of Astonishment" books, and they just got here yesterday, and so I've been dutifully doing the looking. He states:

"Can you re-define the experience for your audience so that the astonishment you've unleashed is a welcomed 'vacation state of mind' or do you use it as an act of violence to pump up your ego at the expense of making someone else feel weak? A witty comeback is not the answer. Laughing it off as 'just a trick' and quickly moving on to another effect is an insult to the astonishee ... and a confession that you don't know how to finish what you started."

Boy-HOWDY is that a point to ponder!

[Guest]

You had a mystical experience at the Magic Seminar? Hmmmmm . . . do tell . . .if you don't want to post it on here, e-mail me at serling307@yahoo.com. I'm all ears. I'd like to hear about you meeting Paul. I've always wanted to meet him myself.

[Lisa Cousins]

Matt, Paul Harris is going to be the Guest of Honor at Danny Archer's LVMI in June, and I'm sure you're welcome to go gaze upon him if you wish. I think you should. The event begins on June 12, which is my birthday, and I would consider it a gift to me if you would go to Las Vegas on that date and gaze at Paul Harris.

He continues "The trick is a tool. The astonishment is real. You're the one that unleashed the moment. So now what?"

See, I don't think many (any?) magicians give much (any?) thought to what comes next. I'm guessing that in front of the mirror it's all "Tee-hee-hee ... this will make them FREAK!" But then there's no reflection on what to do or say when you're looking at a face that's plainly inquiring "What'd ya freak me for?"

[Guest]

I was just wanting to hear about YOU meeting Paul Harris.

I can't go to that stupid convention. It costs a small fortune just to get in, and it's on the other side of the country. Such is life.

But I'll certainly listen, if you ever want to quit teasing me and tell me about your meeting him.

[oliver twist]

hey lisa in new mexico. What ever happened to fool's paradise at winrock shopping mall?

[Danny Archer]

Originally posted by Matt Graves:
I can't go to that stupid convention. It costs a small fortune just to get in, and it's on the other side of the country. Such is life.

Registration is $150, hardly a small fortune ;)

are you going Lisa? Maybe we can have Paul Harris sing you Happy Birthday ...

[Guest]

Don't get smart, now. That _is_ a small fortune for me. All I've got right now is a job at McDonald's. Believe me, $150 is a small fortune. It's a week's pay. A month's pay would be $600 . . .guess how much of that I get to keep for luxury? Not much. You guys might be rich, but not everybody in this world is.

[Richard Kaufman]

Okay, okay. $150 is a very small amount for WHAT YOU GET at a magic convention.
But, hey, if you don't have the dough, don't go.
End of discussion.

[Lisa Cousins]

Danny, are we talking about some kind of jumping out of a cake thing? Because that would be pretty tempting.

I did correspond with Matt Graves privately, and I know that he is a young guy. But Matt, I'm thinking - does your McDonalds have one of those "play places" where people hold birthday parties? If so, you should let them know that they could get a magician as part of their party, and then apply the proceeds to Paul-Harris-gazing.

Fool's Paradise at Winrock is fondly remembered but long gone. I believe that their stuff ended up at Magic Avenue. I believe this because I got an unusual goblet-style chop cup at Magic Avenue, and it had a Fool's Paradise price tag on it. But Magic Avenue is also now long gone.

[Pete Biro]

There is, sadly, no free lunch.

[Guest]

I can live with the fact that I can't go to these big-shot magic conventions, but I _don't_ like being taunted about it. The only reason I mentioned not being able to go was because of Lisa . . . she was really wanting me to come out there. And I was just telling her that I couldn't. Tough toenails. Life goes on . . . oblah-dee-oblah-dah . . . there are no free lunches. Who wants free lunches anyway? Hunger is the best appetizer.

Our McDonald's is a joke - no Playplace, no salads, no Dollar Menu. Until very recently, we didn't even have milkshakes! I'm really trying to get away from there.

I do show magic there from time to time though - and it really freaks people out. Like, about a week or two ago, I got one of the managers to make me a milkshake on my break - just so I could do Paul Harris's little milkshake levitation trick ("McGimmick" I think it was called). So I bring the shake back to the counter, and the manager thinks I'm going to complain . . . she's already getting defensive . . .and I say, "It's just too thick, see? It's sticking to my finger!" And when she saw it, her mouth literally dropped open. Rarely have I seen anyone so shocked. And then this woman walked up behind me to order, and when she saw what was going on, she just started laughing her head off.

I've also twisted some of our pens there, which also produced mostly shock . . . you have to understand, this is an extremely negative environment where anything as cheerful as magic seems very out of place. One of the people I twisted a pen for acted suspicious and almost afraid of it . . . as strange as that sounds.

And every now and then I'll vanish my time card and then sneeze it out . . . or something similar. A lot of the people there smoke, so I can do stuff with their cigarettes.

Sometimes I can even get people to enjoy it. And I figure if I could entertain them, I could entertain anyone. It truly takes a lot to lift people's spirits in that place.

And hey, I'm not too bummed out about not going to Vegas. There are a lot of magic meetings in Huntsville, close to me, I can go to. Maybe some day Paul Harris will find his way to one of them - or maybe not. He's not the only magician I admire, anyway - but he's definitely one of my favorites. Very unique, that fellow is.

That's enough jabber for now . . . I'll jabber more later . . .

But I'd still like to hear anybody else's stories about meeting the P.H. man - that was the original topic of this thread, I believe . . .

[sinamon]

(removed)

[Gord]

Not to get back on topic but........
I met Paul Harris very briefly the last time he was in Toronto to lecture. It must have been about ten years ago. I was new to magic and had no idea who he was, but it was a magic lecture and I was eager so away I went.
The night was undescribable. I saw some killer magic presented with a sence of humor that was out of this freakin' world. It blew my tender mind.
Afterwords there was the usual dealers table and I stood back of the crowd because a: they were really pushy and b: I really didn't know what to get, if anything. I was kind of shy, you could say.
After the crowd had thinned I slowly went over and looked over a few things. That is when it happened.
PH: Hi there.
Me: Um, um, hi.
PH: Did you enjoy yourself tonight?
Me: Um, um, yes.
PH: Good, I like it when people are entertained. Do you do close up?
Me: Um, well, kinda. I just started doing magic and you were my first lecture and ....
PH: Me, your first? How did I do. Was I breathtaking?
Me:Um )(nervous laugh) yeah.
PH: Good, I like it when I'm breathtaking. So you are new to the game eh? Do you mind if I pass on some words of wisdom?
Me: Sure, yeah, of course.
PH: You are going to have a great time doing magic, then you are going to have a lousy time but then, then it will get great all over again.
Me: Um, um.
PH: Not so good huh?

He then handed me copies of his lecure notes and the issue of the Magical Arts Journal he was featured in and said "Here, take these, on me. But don't tell anyone I gave them to you, I have a reputation to uphold."

(Please realise I am paraphrasing here and remembering it through the rose colored glasses of a passed decade, so he may really have swore at me and I just repressed it, but I think I got the story pretty close.)

I would like to mention that I had a somewhat similar experience with Michael Ammar in that they both seemed to really care about where I was in magic. In the case of Ammar I was a good four years in and thought I knew everything, but he still humored me.

[Robert Allen]

Paul Harris is a soft spoken, skilled, and genuinely warm and humorous performer. To me he really typifies all the good things I remember about my golden age of magic, the 1970's. I had the pleasure of attending a lecture of his in Los Gatos sometime more than ten years ago and was similarly disarmed.

If you read his books, particularly his early ones, his sense of humor and humlity comes through quite clearly. His magic is great, make no mistake, but there are many skilled magicians. Paul Harris is just a pleasent person to be around, period, which is extremely unusual in magic, and for that matter, in the world :) . I wish I could have a even a teaspoon of his people skills :) .

[Guest]

About twenty years ago I saw Paul, for the first and only time, perform live. It was at a local one-day convention.

When Paul began his act and let it be known that he needed a volunteer from the audience, a young woman of perhaps 19 or 20, dressed as a clown, immediately stepped forward to assist.

During the first trick it became obvious that the young woman had both a speech impediment and was having some difficulty understanding and following Paul's instructions. It appeared she had a hearing and/or a slight developmental disability.

I fully expected that Paul would do what I, and probably every other magician in the audience, would do in his place: finish the first trick, thank her, and get another volunteer to finish the set.

Instead, Paul kept her as his assistant for the entire act. It looked to be a challenge for him, but he did it not only with good humor, but with obvious enjoyment of the interplay with the young woman, and even the 'strange turns' that took place due to the communication difficulty with her. His volunteer had a GREAT time with him.

He's a gentleman and a genuine mensch...

[mark]

Lisa, sorry I haven't posted to this lately, I'll catch up with you there. My birthday is on the 11th, so maybe we can give each other a happy birthday hello. Haven't seen you since the stage show at Magic Live. (Your People Magazine ilustration gave me a new understanding for that soiree) Be well, and I'll see you at LVMI.

[sinamon]

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