LIMAC

I’m going to be at The Long Island Magical Arts Convention this coming Saturday, will you? 

http://magicartsconvention.com/

Spencer Peterson

PS: Unfortunately, Tatanka will not be able to attend.

Twisting Revisited

Howdy, 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I’m going to try to get me and Tatanka organzied to try to post more often and consistently. I feel as if we’ve been hibernating and not it’s Spring time so we should wake up and get back on track. I would like to announce that we have reached 5000 total views of the blog since November, we’re proud. 

I would like to leave you with a video of my performance of Brother John Hamman’s Twisting Revisited, I hope you like it.

Spencer Peterson

With Spring Comes New Changes

Hey everyone,

We would like to apologize for not staying on track with our posts. Here is a reminder on how to get back into your schedule after a long holiday season.

With the end of winter comes the end of good and fun holiday times. Spring is seen as a time of renewal and rebirth. This is especially true with our lives in many aspects including magic. We must get out of our bad habits and get back into a schedule (as you can see with the Blog, we lost touch as well). Here are things you must take into account when starting again.

• Start practicing again. Routines, sleights, and effects are usually rusty at this time of year. Practice getting the motions and moves down.
• Get rid of old bad habits. Now that you are starting again, you may as well fix all bad habits and and start afresh.
• Make new goals. Challenges will help with your growth. It might be a good idea to work on new things and styles. For example if you are a card worker, work on coins. Or a close up magician working on stages.

These will help get you back on track in practicing and performing your magic.

Tatanka Tan

Back

I’ve been very busy lately with work and some travel, so I haven’t had much time to post. This isn’t a formal post but I just wanted to give you all a heads up on two new products on the market which caught my attention.

The first product is Tarantula by Yigal Mesika, an invisible thread hook which enables you to do some amazing things, like making a ring float onto a spectators finger. Some people are concerned if this is that same as the Spider Pen, an electric reel built into a pen, but it is not. On the website, you can preorder it for $69.99 instead of $75.00 and preorders also come with a FREE pack of Loops.

The second product I’m interested in is French Connexion by James Chadier and Mathieu Bich, a DVD with over 20 tricks and sleights which look great. Unlike the Bebel DVD, this will have english subtitles and clear, silent explanations. One of the effects in the trailer which really fried me is the rubber band effect. Click on the link to watch the video.

Spencer Peterson

Inspirations

If you would ask me to name my inspirations in magic, you would find that besides Paul Harris, and a few others, the rest is a list of non magic related people. Yet despite not knowing sleight of hand, these people have just as much magic in them as we do. We must acknowledge those that influence us for they are subconsciously a big part of us as magicians and people. I will give examples that relate to my self.

Dr. Suess played a huge part in my childhood, and stimulated my creativity. His books were a big help in inspiring my creative side.  He understands how to take the reader on a journey of fun and happiness.  You are drawn into the story, drawings, and lyrical format.  His books remind me of the wonderful essay that starts Paul Harris’ Art Of Astonishment series.  The stories in my opinion take you back into a childlike state of emotion.  They are simple, not clouded with unnecessary crap.

People can find there influences in many things.  It does not even have to be a person.  It could be a song, book, pet, or any object in the world.  Objects can inspire my creativity for magic, for example “how can I use that _____ to create an effect?”  while quotes from songs or books can inspire presentation aspects or theories on magic.

Look around you, Magic is everywhere.

Tatanka Tan

P.S  That is not an actual picture of me playing basketball.  I am actually good and wouldn’t carry like that kid is doing in the picture.

TA

I promised you guys a video of me opening the True Astonishments 9 DVD set, I later realized that this is not fair for those who did purchase the item, for it would reveal the contents of the box. So instead of a video, here’s a picture of my box.

Enjoy…

Spencer Peterson

Basketball

Guys, just wanted to apologize for the lack of posts from Tatanka. He has been busy playing basketball and should be back soon.

Spencer Peterson

True Astonishments

I finally got a message confirming that I will be able to pick up my True Astonishmets DVD set on Wednasday. I’ve been waiting for this for a while and it’s only 2 days away!!! I know Tatanka will also be getting the set, but he might get it slightly later than I do, if I do get it before him I will torment him. And just for you guys I will film myself unboxing the box, so if you’re unsure of what you’re getting in the set, you will be able to find out within the next few days.

Spencer Peterson

Licking

I work with magicians and people who think they are good at magic often. And one thing that a fairly high number of these people do is something that is in my opinion outrageous, licking their fingers before doing a card trick. This is not only bad for you and your deck, but it’s DISGUSTING for your spectators. The day I meet a laymen who wants to shake hands with someone who’s hands are drenched in saliva, I will give each and every one of you a panda. So if I ever see you lick your fingers around me, I have the right to slap you silly.

Now back to playing Rock Band 2, the best game ever.

Spencer Peterson

The Anti-Faro

I posted my video of me performance of what is know as one of the most difficult moves in magic, The Anti-Faro, about a week ago. I linked the video on a few of the magic forums which obviously created some controversy, but I want to know what YOU guys think.

The Anti-Faro was created by Christian Engblom and was first published in a set of lecture notes of his, then later published in Genii (May 2001)  and a DVD named Que Raro! I also wanted to point out that basically nobody can hit the move perfectly with the entire deck consistently, as you will see in the video.

Spencer Peterson