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Month: May 2017

Hampton Williams – So You Think You Can Dance Audition

Hampton Williams – So You Think You Can Dance Audition

Perfection comes in many forms.. A double lift so flawless or a second deal so smooth no one has a second thought.. Or perhaps a painting so real you assume it’s a photo.. until you see a brush stroke. In Hampton Williams case.. it’s a dance so entrancing, so involving, you choke up from the sheer beauty and emotion.

This is what entertainment is ‘suppose’ to be about.. Something that not only entertains, but moves you emotionally. You know you have achieved something special when you can bring other professionals to tears.  It’s extra special when you can make folks not normally inclined to watch and/or appreciate dance drool with envy.  Hampton has taken a dance, combined it with a story line,  and created a minor masterpiece many magicians should try to duplicate when scripting their routine.

This was from the 2013 season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Although Hampton immediately received the magic ticket to advance to the Las Vegas stage, he was like a fish out of water when forced to dance classical styles. It didn’t matter… The world remembers Hampton’s performance and his well crafted pesonal style moreso than most of the finalists.

This is one of my all time favorite videos of ANY genre… The Song is  Evanescence – My Immortal...   Take it from someone who knows a little something about both dance and magic.. this is the perfect blend of movement, music, story and characterization.  Although the judges chuckled at Hampton and his ‘story’, watching their expressions during his performance is priceless. By songs end they are believers.. they are fans of Hampton Williams.. and he has won over every performer in the auditorium …. EVERY SINGLE MAGICIAN who watches this will do well to study it and learn… not how to dance.. but how to put together an act that floors their audience…       Enjoy….

This is How You Climb the Corporate Ladder, by Magician David Kwong..

This is How You Climb the Corporate Ladder, by Magician David Kwong..

David Kwong at NYSM.gif

Magician David Kwong, known for combining his mastery of crossword puzzles with magic tricks, travels a lot throughout the year, and always with a red toolbox to hold his tricks.

To an audience, he’ll reveal only the contents of the box that are necessary — a pack of cards, a Rubik’s Cube. But the rest of his tricks and props remain a mystery, except when he’s passing through security at the airport with the toolbox, and Transportation Security Administration officials become suspicious of its contents. “They’re normal-looking objects with other things hidden inside,” Kwong explains. For example, one of his tricks involves hiding a dollar bill inside a kiwi. To make his case to the officials, “I’ve done a lot of magic at TSA.”

The mysterious toolbox notwithstanding, Kwong is revealing the science behind his magic and illusion in a new book, “Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion to Captivate Audiences and Unlock the Secrets of Success” ($22.99, HarperBusiness). Here, he illustrates how anyone can apply seven principles of illusion to their lives to gain a competitive edge — and protect themselves against manipulators or con artists.  Read more….

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/from-meeting-clients-to-job-interviews-magician-david-kwong-shows-how-to-be-your-most-competitive-at-work-2017-05-12

How To Become a Magician..

How To Become a Magician..

Sam Rowe Troy Von Scheibner for The Telegraph

Clean fingernails are essential to become a magician

Clean fingernails are essential and you will be poor for many years. Troy Von Scheibner explains why the life of a magician is not always magic.

1. You will be the most popular and hounded person at any party

Everyone is compelled to ask to see a trick as soon as you say ‘I’m a magician’. Then, once you show one person a trick, it’s scary how it spreads like a virus – then everyone knows you’re a magician and you have to do tricks all night. Obviously getting into magic you want to show people tricks, but sometimes you just want to chill.

2. You never leave the house empty handed

I’m always prepared, especially these days. People see me on TV so they’re like, ‘You’re that guy, show me something’. I might borrow an object off them, but I’ll always have a pack of cards on me. I guess if you’re a doctor you probably get it as well, like ‘I’ve got this thing…’ or if you’re a comedian: ‘Tell us a joke!’ It’s an occupational hazard. Read more…….

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/become-magician/