This post is basically geared towards the magicians in the crowd, but I think you normal people will enjoy it as well.
Not long ago I was asked if there were any magicians or effects that manage to impress me. I’m assuming I was asked because I am quite ‘jaded’ when it comes to magicians. The answer however, is a big yes.
I still like finding clips of Doug Henning and Paul Daniels. Watching Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride and Ricky Jay is always a treat. There are guys like Shawn Farquhar who I’ve discussed in these pages before. Donovan, Tony Chris, Matthew Johnson, Ray Wong and of course the late Tony Eng and Sid Lorraine are also on my favorites list, all for different reasons, all are extremely entertaining. Ben Salinas, here in State College is just a hoot to watch, his smile and enthusiasm are infectious.
Montreal is a mecca for magicians. While there are many reasons for this, I honestly believe the majority or reasons can be attributed to Tom Auburn (Magic Tom). It always amazed me how many people I have come across that had been on his magic show. In University so many of my classmates would come up to me with the same, similar story: “…your family is in the magic business? Do you know Magic Tom? I loved magic Tom, I was on his show when I was a kid, and I never missed watching that show.” Nobody showed any shock that my father owned a magic shop. In BC, I got odd looks when people found out what I did. After Magic Tom passed away people would come to me telling me about the time they were on the show, eventually I would be asked if I could make an introduction, at which time I would have to deliver the sad news. I always had a hard time telling my friends and acquaintances that Magic Tom had passed away, every time they would get that look in their eyes as if I had just killed off part of their childhood.
Perhaps my father, or other magi from Quebec will comment on this post giving possible explanations as to why magic is so popular in Quebec. Because of this popularity Quebec has produced some excellent magicians. There are too many to name but a few examples are
David Acer: Unfortunately I can only watch him for short periods of time as my stomach and sides quickly begin to hurt from laughing so hard.
Richard Saunders: Crap man, I hate this guy. I once sold him an effect. I saw him perform it a few days later and I had no idea how he did it!
Roger Benoit: Never failed to amaze and amuse me. Roger may find it interesting that he is one of my favourite magicians.
Gary Kurtz: Gary would stand at the front door to the shop and call over to me. ‘Brian Pick up that deck of cards you are using and spread them face up on the table and think of one card when you have the card in mind shuffle the deck” That done he would then name the card I was thinking of. Doesn’t sound like much but believe me it is nothing short of a miracle
I was in the Montreal shop practicing a small cups and balls routine, (Three balls penetrate three cups) a customer walks in and offers to give me some pointers. I want to say it was Jean Boucher but can’t swear to it, anyway he has me set the effect up. We go through the routine together very slowly. I picked up the first ball made it vanish from my hand only to appear under a cup that is on the table. The ordeal is repeated with the second ball. I pick up the third ball and the customer says to me. ‘We should change this up, pick up the cup first so we can see that there is nothing underneath” I picked up the third cup and underneath it was my own wrist watch. Son of a Bitch!
Alain Choquette: I’m not even going to discuss Alain’s magic. He performed live on a popular french TV show and all the girls loved him. He made me quite popular by association, Thanks Alain.
Sorry there are just too many to name such as Romain, Carl Cloutier, Patrick Reymond, Blair Marshall, Ted Outerbridge, Lawrence Larouche and sorry to all those that I have forgotten to name here.
My point being is yes I am jaded when it comes to magic. Yes sometimes I tend to run the other way when I see a group of magicians, yes I may break out in a rash when I see somebody with a deck of cards. But in the end I can honestly say that magicians, despite their reputations as being complete nerds are some of the most incredible people around.
PanningForGold 