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Artist Q&A - Your Answers

Hey folks,

This is something I have thought of since this site started but never did it.

The challenge is simple, answer the questions from the T11 Artist Profile Q&A's. There seems to be a belief that unless you are a published, "famous" magician your opinion doesn't matter, which is a total farce.

We all have thoughts on magic, right or wrong, and we should share them.

In any event, here's my answers.

Q: What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?
A: Theory11 seems to be one of the few magic sites with ethics, both for its own artists and other creators. Knowing the unethical working of some other magic companies it makes me feel good to purchase here knowing that ethics are being upheld.

Q: What got you into magic?
A: I've had a fascination with magic since I can remember. Going to the magic shop was a monthly treat when I was little, getting a few small things and doing them for my family and even having a magician perform at my 8'th birthday. Eventually however I was 13 years old and in a time of utter confusion in my life. I learned one simple trick from Criss Angel (crazy to think of that now...) and that was the catalyst that started this whole amazing journey.

Q: How long have you been performing?
A: "Professionally", never (though I have done a few paid gigs). If you count all my time in magic and my fascination with the art I've been performing since I was about 3 years old haha

Q: Who is your favorite performer to watch?
A: There are so many, but I will name a few. Jeff Mcbride, Daniel Garcia, Mike Casey, Dan Sperry, Bill Malone, and Tommy Wonder come to mind at the moment.

Q: Do you have a favorite effect?
A: Thats like picking your favorite child... or perhaps the least mentally challenged one... However, Crazy Man's Handcuffs is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of pure sleight of hand.

Q: Tell us about the first time/effect you performed.
A: I have no idea... haha probably something from a magic kit when I was 3 or 4

Q: What do you see as wrong with the industry today?
A: Magic is no longer a brotherhood and art. Its a business and a "cool hobby". The true love of magic seems to be fleeting and it has been replaced with one-up-man-ship amongst magicians and companies. Who can out sleight, trick or flourish the other and, it seems, who can be more unethical.

Q: What's the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?
A: Daniel Garcia blew my mind several times when he was just jazzing up a routine... amazing. Also, I saw Dan Sperry's dove act last November and I honestly felt like a little kid again... just damn.

Q: What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?
A: Watch as much magic as possible and perform. TV, internet, DVD's, whatever... just watch. The only way to get better is by gaining experience (performing) and learning from other magicians experiences (watching).




Your turn.

C
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nov 30, 2007
682
1
Midlands, England
Hey folks,

This is something I have thought of since this site started but never did it.

The challenge is simple, answer the questions from the T11 Artist Profile Q&A's. There seems to be a belief that unless you are a published, "famous" magician your opinion doesn't matter, which is a total farce.

In any event, here's my answers.

Wonderful idea, I'm going to answer the questions, I think :)

Q: What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?
A: Theory11 is one of the few sites on the Internet that is genuinely friendly, and I love that. What with the Saturday Night Contests, Artist Diaries, frequent video updates, and all with their light-hearted humour, it's something so very invaluable and yet so many other magic companies seem deficient in.

Q: What got you into magic?
A: I think I'll begin with the same sentence any magician in the world will repeat for eternity when answering such a question...
I've had a fascination for magic ever since I was a small child. To cut a boring story short, when out in a shop with my parents at the age of about eight, I noticed a book about magic (The Art of Magic and Sleight of Hand - by Nicolas Einhorn). I took it home (after paying for it, of course...) and studied the book page for page, word for word, for the next year and a half or so. It was my bible. I performed for my family on various occasions, but for some reason, my hobby fizzled out. Anyway, about two and a half years ago, I started doing it again. Why? I have no idea. I believe it's something to do with a video on Youtube, but I genuinely cannot remember what rekindled my interest in magic. Whatever it was, I'm grateful.

Q: How long have you been performing?

A: I've never performed professionally, as such. But I have been performing casually for about a year now, at parties, etc.

Q: Who is your favorite performer to watch?
A: Wow, there are so many, for so many different reasons. Watching Jeff McBride on stage is amazing, his choreography and finesse is completely unrivalled. Watching Daniel Garcia or Wayne Houchin perform is also an experience in itself, two great, funny, entertaining magicians. Of course, Shoot Ogawa and, now, Dan Sperry must go on my list too.

Q: Do you have a favorite effect?
A: It's simple; no. There are far too many factors to think about. Give me about five years, and I'll return to you with a valid answer.

Q: Tell us about the first time/effect you performed.

A: When I was about eight, I used to show this particular coin trick to every person I could manage to get to look interested in what I was doing. It was a simple vanish, using the Down's Palm. Pure awesomeness...

Q: What do you see as wrong with the industry today?
A: People who are new to the art are, generally, starting off on completely the wrong foot. Inticed by free tutorials on Youtube and the like, any true views on ethics get ravaged by the need for an abominable instructional video filmed with a phone, which they are, unfortunately, accepting as the norm. I'm scared that if I elaborate, I'll be typing for far too long. I'll leave my point where it is.

Q: What's the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?
A: A routine by Yannick Chretien caught me off guard. I can't remember the name of it, and I haven't seen it since, but it seriously messed with my head. Beautiful work, I must say.

Q: What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?
A: Practice as much as you can. Practice until you can do an effect with your eyes closed. Then, perform it as much as you can. It's always important to analyse what happens in a performance, so you can adapt your routine and improve it for the future.

-Sam H
 
Aug 2, 2008
496
0
Cincinnati
Q: What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?
A: T11 is a place to come to be home when it comes to magic. Its a place where you can be yourself and where you can improve in your skills. Whether you have someone complimenting you or someone giving you harsh, but good feedback, you know there are plenty of people here who can help you advance your skills no matter what level you are. I feel fortunate to have be told about this place. At other sites, I never really got the feeling that I really could improve in the ways that I am here at this site.

Q: What got you into magic?
A: My cousin worked for David Copperfield and subsequently Chris Kenner and Hower Liwag. Having him tell stories of performances got me pumped to try it. Also, Celebracadabra opened my eyes as well. While many way scoff at this, I'm happy as it brought me to magic.

Q: How long have you been performing?
A: 10 months or so. Not very long, I know. However, I hope to continue performing for a while. We'll see how that goes.

Q: Who is your favorite performer to watch?
A: I've always loved David Blaine. I remember watching his specials when I was a little bit younger and how blown away I was. It was so fun to watch. Also, Chris Kenner's performances are amazing as well. I would kill to see him live.

Q: Do you have a favorite effect?
A: I'm a huge fan of 5 speed. I think its such a great effect. Just when you think its done, it hits your with something else. Watching that for the first time blew me away when I first started.

Q: Tell us about the first time/effect you performed.
A: Key Card. As simple as it was, having a weird sort of patter associated with the key card worked well when I performed it for friends. They were astounded. I still throw it out sometimes to get some attention. I still think its pretty underrated.

Q: What do you see as wrong with the industry today?
A: Copy cats. Now I'm not saying I'm not one myself, but all I see are people performing that same thing. I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but people performing the same thing is getting old. As certain members her have been saying, be original. I'm still working on it. But at least I'm trying!

Q: What's the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?
A: Coin Two was fun to watch. Homer has a way with coins that is amazing. It was one of those routines where you said, "I gotta have that!"

Q: What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?
A: Its great that you are joining in a fun hobby, but be realistic. Don't go thinking you are going to come up with an effect and sell it 2 months later. Not going to happen. Just have fun with it! Enjoy it. Do it for yourself. Do it for others. Its a fun hobby, but very few do anything more with it. Remember, its for fun!
 
Hmmm, I doubt anyone's interested in my opinion, but....

Q: What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?
A:Because.... It's very open, for lack of a better word. They put work into all of their products, yet T11 is not even based on products, it's based on magic and its community as a whole.

Q: What got you into magic?
A:My year 9 maths Teacher Marty Schmude. Showed everyone some tricks, and I got hooked. He started me off with a few decks, one svengali, and the Crash Course 1 DVD, and I haven't looked back.

Q: How long have you been performing?
A:Since I started, 2 years, and a month :)

Q: Who is your favorite performer to watch?
A:There's a few, I love how Wayne Houchin connects with his audiences, I love the technical and misdirectional perfection of John Carney, Bill Malone's always fun to watch too.

Q: Do you have a favorite effect?
A:Nope :D I do love all types of mentalism though.

Q: Tell us about the first time/effect you performed.
A:Ewww, I don't want to.
But if I must... it was the first day I started magic, and I had been practicing with my svengali deck for about 5 minutes, then my drama teacher wanted to see something. God I was nervous, and my hands were shaking like crazy. To be short, worst performance ever, but I learnt a lot from it.

Q: What do you see as wrong with the industry today?
A:A few things, but let's not get too serious here. I think DVDs, while not harming magic in anyway, are nowhere near as rich and thought out as books, yet everyone jumps straight to the DVDs. What's wrong with magic today is a 4 letter word called 'hype'. The one good thing about hype, is if you ignore it, it'll leave you alone. :)

Q: What's the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?
A:No trick has actually physically fooled the crap out of me. :D But... the last really really impressive trick was one I saw at a stage show, in which I girl just vanished into mid-air, simple as that.

Q: What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?
A:Find a buddy, a mentor, hell even a pet, to practice on, someone who can give you feedback on where you need improving, and what your strengths are.
 
Q: What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?
A: The difference for me is the community.
I feel much more 'at home' with the warm and welcome community that comes along with Theory11, and the Artists are (or even were) a big part of that.

Q: What got you into magic?
A: Rudy Coby, David Copperfield and Kash Gomez. After watching the above three, my interest has continued to grow.

Q: How long have you been performing?
A: 3 or so years.

Q: Who is your favorite performer to watch?
A: Magic; Wayne Houchin, Rudy Coby, Dizzi.
Flourishing; TheVirts, D&D, Alejandro.

Q: Do you have a favorite effect?
A: Old time favourite - Bruised
New favourites - Anything from Avenue

Q: Tell us about the first time/effect you performed.
A: The first effect I performed was 'STS by Jay Noblezada' at work. Once people realized I was a magician, they asked for a few more tricks, so I did a few simple Haunted Deck effects.

Q: What do you see as wrong with the industry today?
A: People trying to make a quick buck. New magicians bringing out tricks without any real life testing. The term 'Magician' being thrown around.

Q: What's the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?
A: Not to sound like a Theory11 'Noob' but Pressure.

Q: What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?
A: Practice, Practice, Practice. Perform, Perform, Perform. Success, Success, Success.
 
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