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Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 7th, 2007, 9:23 pm
by Lisa Cousins
Paul's story about his decision to hand over $30,000 to a complete stranger literally brought tears to my eyes - and not just because of the beauty and the bravery and the generosity of it, but because I'd met him and thereby unwittingly exempted myself from his largesse.

What makes this incredible story plausible to me is how Paul admits that the original idea was to hand over all of his worldly possessions to a complete stranger, and how he just couldn't find the nerve to fully see it through. If he ever does decide to give that a try, I hope he will open the field a little more and consider an admiring acquaintance.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 7th, 2007, 9:56 pm
by Dustin Stinett
Eric Mead did a remarkable job on the piece: I wish there was more. I wasnt too crazy about the cover photo, however. My first reaction was Look, the Uni-magician.

Of course, that might be something PH could do: Anonymously mail unsuspecting magicians fabulous close-up magic.

Dustin

PS: Will I see you in November?!

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 7th, 2007, 10:34 pm
by Guest
Are we talking about a cover and story in Genii here?

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 12:07 am
by Dustin Stinett
No sir; it's the current issue of MAGIC.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 5:55 am
by Richard Kaufman
Genii will have a column from Paul Harris with new tricks beginning sometime in the next year.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 7:25 am
by Danny Archer
Eric story on PH was brilliant!...

Paul is such a unique and interesting character and I feel I know him a little better now...

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 8:37 am
by Andrew Martin Portala
Ya what a great story.
It really made you think.
Also it was real magic about the the $30.000

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 9:26 am
by Pete Biro
I have mixed feelings about that 30K giveaway. I hope the recipient doesn't just blow it and I hope Pual, when he gets older, doesn't need it for something real world, like health insurance.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 9:58 am
by Andrew Martin Portala
The guy he gave the money to has a handicapped child. The guy had to quit a promising career as an artist and spent his life and money taking care of his child.
Like Paul said," It was a good day"

Jump and the net will appear.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 10:14 am
by Lisa Cousins
I actually love the cover photo. And I also love how Paul says he doesn't think of himself as single, but as "married to the world." What a GREAT attitude! (Especially because the world doesn't mind a bit if you see other worlds.)

P.S. to Dustin: Yes, you will.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 11:25 am
by Guest
"Jump and the net will appear."
Words of wisdom, Andrew, words of wisdom.

Loooooved that article. Paul Harris is pretty inspiring.

Seb

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 8th, 2007, 11:47 am
by Guest
The cover photo is out-of-focus, a no-no not just on niche magazine covers, but magazine covers in general.

Eric Mead's article however is brilliant....not enough to make me want to subscribe to Magic, but brilliant nonetheless.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 9th, 2007, 7:02 am
by Guest
In the late 70's, Paul was my hero and my primary inspiration for abandoning all other types of magic and focusing my energies on cards.

I thought Eric's article was terrific! I did not want it to end. Paul continues to delight and inspire me.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 9th, 2007, 1:03 pm
by Guest
I just bought Magic Magazine for the first time in 4 years.

Richard, the Paul Harris article has that quality I would expect from Genii.

Hasn't Eric Mead contributed to Genii before?

Do articles get shopped around to different magazines?

I'm just hoping that I won't have to stray from Genii too many times in the near future.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 10th, 2007, 9:42 am
by Guest
Paul has always been one of my magic heroes, without a doubt. His playfulness has been a constant source of inspiration.
That said, I'm not so certain now that I wanted to know all of this about him. I thought I did, and I enjoyed the article as I read it, but couldn't help but feel a little... well, disappointed, afterward.
There is something to be said for not knowing. I like that Paul was kind of a mysterious figure. A wanderer in magic.
A good friend of mine put it succinctly: Never explain a joke.
That is to say, Paul is much more cool when we don't have a clue.
I suppose I'd liken it to the experience of someone showing you the secret of a magic trick that amazed and delighted you, y'know?

That, of course, is all subjective.
The one thing that I really felt should've been omitted was Paul's story of giving away the 30K. It's a wonderfully sweet story, but sharing it with the masses seems to take away some of the meaning. The other thing I couldn't help but wonder was if that cab driver wasn't simply spinning the same yarn he told to everyone who took a ride with him in an effort to increase his tips.

Just opinions, nothing more.
Make no mistake, I adore Paul and his work.

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 10th, 2007, 11:58 am
by Richard Kaufman
Eric Mead is one of our roster of excellent book reviewers, along with Mike Close and Jamy Swiss.

The Paul Harris article reflects a desire on the part of MAGIC to try and emulate Genii. I consider that a compliment. Every once in a while we do something that emulates something successful in MAGIC--that's how competition works.

The story was also obligated to go into MAGIC before I was aware of it.

However, we will get the tricks! :)

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: June 10th, 2007, 11:59 am
by Richard Kaufman
I forgot to mention one of Paul's patter lines that I've always found particularly funny:

"We will use a process as old as man himself--the process of elimination."

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: November 10th, 2013, 1:25 pm
by Joe Mckay
Richard Kaufman wrote:Genii will have a column from Paul Harris with new tricks beginning sometime in the next year.


Sorry - I know this will bug you Richard! :D Since you mentioned this six years ago.

But what happened to the Paul Harris column???

Re: Paul Harris in Magic

Posted: November 10th, 2013, 1:42 pm
by Richard Kaufman
It was a miscommunication.