Singapore Magic Circle - 3rd Feb SMC Gathering Review

Magic Articles

[Enrico Varella is the founder and editor of The Quantum Ring, the official newsletter of IBM 115, Singapore since 1995. He has been published in The Linking Ring, and The Encyclopaedia of Card Forces (by Lewis Jones). He has received credit for his creation, the Tiepit (a jacket-less topit) in Bob Fitch's The Topit Workshop 3-DVD set (Kohler Magic). He is currently completing his omnibus of his Tiepit principles and application.]

In my last essay, which was more a summary of Bob Chua's Close-Up lecture on Misdirection Principles and Applications (3 February 2007), I briefly mentioned some specific principles of misdirection. I also introduced the concept of a 'System of Integrated Deception'.
Integrated Deception, my own jargon for the 'Misdirection Package' (coined by close-up magician, David Williamson), is a holistic combination of method, influence and applied psychology. Tommy Wonder wrote in his Book of Wonder (Hermetic Press) that 'we cannot perform magic unless we understand human psychology'. Human communication, and thus psychology, combine verbal and non-verbal language.

Main Menu

Home

3rd Feb SMC Gathering Review

Written by Shade
Sunday, 04 February 2007
Thanks to everyone who turned up. I think it was truly a blast seeing so many people at a single gathering. Anyway, here's just a few highlights of the event: The SHEER numbers We didn't expect SUCH a tremendous turnout. We dominated almost the entire second floor of Macs. Most people tried to come on time so the event started just a little late (as such events usually do). It was great meeting new guys and some old faces as well. Everyone mingled well, and I hope we didn't leave anyone feeling slightly left out. I know the biggest challenge in any such gatherings is getting everyone to know everyone else. I can't remember every face I met, but I hope to see you guys again at the next gathering - informal or otherwise! Uncle Bob Chua What can I say? He simply blew everyone away with his lecture. He was so natural at what he did - he didn't need to think about how to misdirect or present; he was it. You had to have been there to understand it. Come by for the next gathering and if he's there, ask him to show you a thing or two - you'll understand then! His 3 shells left every jaw on the floor. I'd say I saw more than half of us picking jaws off the floor at the climax of his routine. Simply the stuff of legends! Thank you Uncle Bob for being so generously open in your sharing. Enrico Enrico was kind enough to drop by and share his ideas informally at the jam sessions. He was - as always - dynamic and unconditionally generous with his ideas and time. He also helped to clarify some points that would've gone unnoticed - such as how Uncle Bob's routining was so natural that he didn't even think about what he did as Misdirection. We appreciate the support Enrico! Thanks! The FOOD! Well - it's Mac Donald's. What else can I say about the fast food generation? LOL The WetAXL I spilled HOT tea all over AXL. ROFL. I felt really bad when it happened, but now in retrospect, it sure is funny. Of course, I was dancing like a hot potato when it spilled on me too. STUPID me. The Linking Rings During dinner, we managed to convince Adrian to perform his Linking Rings. Even though he insisted that he wasn't well prepared we (read as "I") managed to bully him into it... haha. Anyway, he was a little rusty, but he pulled it off admirably. I don't do the rings but I sure appreciate the skill and finesse that goes into it! SALUTE to ADRIAN LEE Kenneth (aka Kennection) was also nominated to perform his version of the rings. And boy did he blow us away with his practiced moves (though he claimed that he lacked practice... I'd sure love to see what he could do WITH practice!). It was a great show Kenneth! Thanks for being sporting! Unfortunately, Aloy and the other mods missed this. MUAHAHAHA - they were outside Macs performing a highly sophisticated version of Daniel Garcia's "Warning". Jamming with Bread and Butter and Peanut Spread The great part about having so many magicians together is that everyone has something or other to show. This was an amazing session where almost EVERYONE showed something - it was awesome. I can only speak for the ones I came into contact with, so do feel free to add more if I missed anything (I'm sure I did... can't be everywhere at once!) Uncle Bob, Enrico, Gordon, Zi An, Axl, Hon and Jerome were jamming together at one table. I caught snippets of what they were doing now and then, but since my main objective that evening was to mingle and get to know more guys (so I can con them into performing for more people... haha) I didn't really get a chance to sit down with them until much later. Enrico and Uncle Bob were swapping pointers and what I got - even a few minutes - was really worth its weight in gold. I particularly enjoyed Enrico's sharing of some ideas on uncanny moves - what with the one handed bottom palms and stuff. Watching him demonstrate them was beautiful to behold - never thought I'd see such moves used. Haha - I stand corrected! I wish I had a chance to catch ZiAn do something, maybe next time bro. Hope to see you again at another gathering. ;P Zinally was entertaining some guys at the side as well - he was sharing some of his experiences and even produced an interesting hard rubber egg at one time - much to the delight of Joey and his new friends. Matthew and Joel were experimenting with the top change - must've been the inspiration from Uncle Bob's lecture and I hope they got it down at the end of the night. Ling made a new fan - she seems to have a following of guys that really dig her and all want to get inside her mind. (no pun intended). She might've started her own cult. Fuming took Aloy's rose deck by 'accident' (of course). And he was deeply apologectic when he realised how flustered poor Aloy was when he found out he'd 'lost' it. Huron was entertaining some fellas with his brand of heavy hitting mind blowing magic. From the responses, I gather he might be joining Ling's Cult leader status very soon. Yes - the jamming continued into the wee hours of the night. We retired to the Kopitiam for supper and the jamming continued until about 1 am. Gordon, Jerome and Axl came over to my place after that to do some more serious jamming. lol. It was magical overdose. We would go round robin, each performing an effect. Axl would go, "Buay Phai leh..." (that means 'not bad' in Hokkien) and we'd offer to teach it to him for '$30'. HAHAHA. Jerome did a fantastic Card to ear (yes - EAR) that topped things off with a deck vanish. Then he demonstrated how he got personal with coins - matrix after matrix. It was like he was on overdrive or something. Muscle pass after shuttle pass; goshman and tenkai alike - he was a demonstration of runaway magical performance. Gordon also showed Axl how to cheat at cards using his memory. And even offered to teach Axl how to do it for "$25" only! After all, it was 'buay phai leh'. It was seriously warpped. We ended our session at almost 4:30am. It was intense; but fun. All in, I had a great time!

Next >

[ Back ]