Discourse in Magic

Kiko Pastur joins Jonah this week to discuss aesthetic magic, challenging your creativity, and finding symbolism in an effect. Kiko is a magician from A Coruña, Spain, whose style draws on the beauty and wonder of our world. Growing up, Kiko discovered magic alongside his brother and his brother’s friend. Having grown up in the Northern part of Spain, Kiko’s magic became more inspired by Celtic roots compared to the traditional Spanish culture, resulting in his more poetic, serious approach to magic. Finding Beauty Art and entertainment are two different realms for Kiko. To him, entertainment means that the creativity is influenced by the audience, while art sees the creativity being influenced by the artist. Through the use of symbolism, metaphors and music, Kiko is able to explore the concepts of beauty and wonder in his magic. To add beauty to your magic, you need to refine your aesthetic and find what is beautiful in your life. By refining what you want to show the audience, you can create a world for them to momentarily join you in, to experience the world through your eyes. If you are looking to add symbolism to your magic, you need to know what you want to tell your audience. What do you want them to take from the performance? In one or two sentences, you should be able to describe the goal of the trick. Being Vulnerable Standing in front of a crowd and expressing what you find beautiful in the world is an extremely vulnerable moment. This is why Kiko believes so heavily in creating the proper atmosphere. You need a connection with the spectator for them to be open to the magic and what you’re sharing with them; you are letting them step into your world, so you want them to experience it how you do. Creating Challenges If something is too easy, it’s not worth it to Kiko. To him, art is an aesthetic challenge where nothing is ever finished for him – every act and trick will always be incomplete requiring further work. By imposing challenges and limitations on his creative process, Kiko is able to rethink his approach to problems, forcing him to take a new approach to executing the impossible. However, while most magicians focus on challenging the method, Kiko believes performers also need to challenge the performance, staging and the feelings of your audience. The Spanish School of Magic The Spanish School of Magic is broad and difficult to narrow down, says Kiko. It’s not quite clear to him what constitues the Spanish school, but he does believe that the Spanish thinkers are often focused on diving into theory and perfecting every aspect of the magic. Spanish magicians see it as playing: the logical and rational part of a spectator’s mind is given the chance to react as they join the magician in playing. Approaching magic with this playful attitude, you are not fighting against the spectator’s rationale mind. Where Juan Tamariz invites the audience into his happy world, Kiko invites his audience to indulge in the beauty of the world. Wrap-Up What do you like about 2019 magic? What do you hate about 2019 magic? Kiko likes and dislikes the globalization the internet has brought to magic. While magic has allowed magicians to connect with each other and see a variety of magic, it has also brought with it a wave of people believing they have to get good at magic fast. It takes time to develop and understand a craft. Take Home Point Jonah and Kiko both believe that you should play with the idea of beauty in your magic. Endless Chain Juan Tamariz Gabi Pareras Juan Esteban Varela Plugs Kiko’s Website Kiko’s Instagram Kiko’s Facebook     

This week Jonah sits down with Nate Staniforth to discuss disillusionment, determining your intent, and creating visceral effects. Alongside touring the college circuit, Nate is the author of Here is Real Magic and Clouds and Kingdoms.  At nine years old, Nate happened to stumble upon magic after being inspired by Lord of the Rings; he, like Gandalf, wanted to cast spells and seem unstoppable, so he went to his library in search of a book of spells. Instead, he found a book on sleight of hand and proceeded to spend hours perfecting a single coin vanish. After performing his new trick for his classmates and seeing them experience something they couldn’t process, Nate realized how easy it was to pull the rug out from under people, and he didn’t know what to do with this information. What Nate did know was that the reactions captivated him and he wanted to chase those reactions. Magic was never a recreation or diversion for Nate, it has just been a constant in his life and was the only option he could see. Finding Intent Before discovering who the best version of Nate is on stage, he went through several phases. For some people, the best version of themselves on stage may be mixing their magic with comedy and theatrics. In the end, however, to create visceral magic it comes down to the intent behind the performance. If you go on stage with the belief that the audience is there to praise you, you cannot create a real genuine connection with them. You, as the magician, are in service to the audience. For Nate, when he steps on stage, his intent is to make the hairs on the back of their neck stand up. He wants to be able to flip a switch in the spectators mind and have them realize the world through magic. Every trick Nate does in his show is built around this intent. Nate points to David Berglas and Tommy Wonder’s Books of Wonder as examples of magicians who have a clear intent behind their art. Disillusionment Having grown up in a small town in Iowa, Nate was unfamiliar with the realities of show business. After his first year on the college circuit, he began to burn out. He eventually hit a point in his career that, as a magician, there was nothing remotely magical in his life. When his disillusionment was starting to greatly impact his ability to perform, Nate took a trip to India to rediscover how he use to feel about magic. During his time in India, Nate began to write and explore different art forms as a way of creative release. The writing Nate did in India would eventually lead to his book Here is Real Magic which Jonah recommends to anyone feeling disillusioned with their art. Clouds and Kingdoms For Nate, it is one thing to talk about magic but it’s another thing to put this into practice in your work. In his book Clouds and Kingdoms, Nate breaks down a handful of the effects he uses in his show and shows how he applies his magic ideals in them. In magic, you have to reveal far more than you’re concealing to truly push magic forward; the other arts have discovered ways to play to their strengths and allow artists to talk about things that really matter in human life.  With magic often stopping at the “did I fool them?” aspect of the art, Nate strives to push further and capture the inherent wonder magic has. Wrap-Up What do you like about 2019 magic? What don’t you like? Ryan is excited that magic has entered a new golden age where we are seeing an influx of people from different backgrounds and circumstances. Endless Chain Wayne Houchin Rory Adams Take Home Point Ryan wants the audience to prioritize appreciating the work of other artists who are not magicians. If you want to drive your creativity, you have to live with other people’s works and let them inspire you. Plugs Here’s Real Magic Clouds and Kingdoms – Use the code Discourse at checkout for 15% off. Nate’s Instagram  Nate’s Website  Nate’s YouTube    

This episode Jonah sits down with Ran’D Shine to discuss performing on the college circuit, creating inclusive environments and the rich history of African Americans in magic. Alongside being a highly sought after, award winning magician on the college circuit, Ran’D is also a magic historian and educator. Ran’D’s journey in magic began as a graduate student attending Penn State for health education. One day he happened to walk into the student union room to see students sitting around a table doing card tricks. Soon after introducing himself, Ran’D and this group of students formed an official magic club at the university. After completing his degree, he went to study in South Africa for a year. While there, he managed to secure a teaching position at the College of Magic in Cape Town. During his time there, he had the chance to learn from the students and the faculty while honing his own skills. Ran’D eventually returned back to America where he worked at Penn State as a researched while pursuing his PHD in public health. After a year, he decided that what he wanted to do was perform magic full time. Representation & Inclusion A turning point for Ran’D, a moment where he realized that he could do magic professionally, happened in university. His friend handed him a Genii magazine where Hiawatha was featured on the cover and it clicked with Ran’D that there were professional magicians who looked like him. Seeing someone who represented him in the community was an important part in him realizing he could pursue magic full time. While they may be underrepresented in the community, there is a rich history of African American magicians who have helped pioneer magic; their stories have started to be unearthed thanks to people who have begun to conduct research and interviews into their legacies. One of the best things you can do to encourage underrepresented people in the community to participate is to just make an environment that welcomes them. People should feel like they connect to others and pursue their passions; nobody should feel alone while they’re pursuing their passions. The College Circuit The college circuit is an oversaturated, highly competitive industry that tends to eat most people who enter the industry; those who make it out the other side of the initial starting phase will most likely succeed. Ran’D explains that you always have to be on your A-game, constantly working on your act, and learning how to deal with drunk college kids who will call you on your BS. However, for Ran’D, it’s all a joy for him. The constant restructuring of his show and the logistics involved with the business keep the joy of magic alive for him. For those who want to get into the college circuit, Ran’D offers three pieces of advice: You have to have a solid hour act that you’ve had ring time with Be ready to adapt to different performance environments It’s a marathon, not a sprint Quiet Masters Produced and Directed by Kenrick ICE McDonald, Quiet Masters is a documentary that highlights the important history of black magicians from around the world. McDonald, the former president of IABMA and S.A.M., set out to capture the experience of black magicians from around the world, going as far back as the 1800s. Ran’D encourages everyone to watch the documentary to learn about the rich history the documentary uncovers. Heart and Soul of Magic The Heart and Soul of Magic is a magic show that features a rotating cast of African American magicians with diverse performance styles. Ran’D’s idea for the show began before he was a professionally performer. As he attended magic conventions, he would often see he was one of the few African American magicians present. Knowing there were more, he began to reach out to magicians he knew. Eventually, he was able to create a lineup that featured fantastic African American performers. Since 2002, the show has been on and off, but Ran’D’s eventual goal is to tour with the show. Wrap-Up What is one thing about modern magic you like? What don’t you like? Ran’D loves the resurgence of books in magic; this year alone, he points out, there have been some fantastic releases. He notes that a nice balance between books and downloads has been established. Ran’D wants to see people having less frivolous debates over magic. So many people are trying to be the next guru, but they’re trying to achieve that by belittling and talking down to people. Part of this is due to social media where context behind the words is often lost. Endless Chain Chris Jones Jibrizy Take Home Point Ran’D wants everyone to leave being aware that diversity in magic exists, and that you should be communicating with anyone disagrees with you rather than just yelling at them over the internet. Plugs Ran’D’s Website Ran’D’s Instagram Heart and Soul of Magic Quiet Master’s of Magic  

This week, Jonah sits down with Ryan Joyce to discuss the realities of touring, marketing a show, and working towards a solid show. Ryan is a Canadian magician who spent thirteen years touring the country with a stage illusion show. Ryan has also been seen on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, Canada’s Got Talent, and his YouTube channel with over 8 million views. Ryan’s first magic memory occurs in Junior Kindergarten when he seemingly made an eraser “vanish” and then “reappear” on the other end of the class. At such a young age, he learnt that he could do something to create a response. In his final year of highschool, Ryan convinced the student council and the school to spend $7,000 to fund his grand illusion show. Ryan described his hour and a half show as a “smashing mediocre success,” but it did what it needed to do: the right person in the audience saw the show, and Ryan received a 13 week tour offer, which turned into 13 years. Show or an Act? When Ryan was starting out, you had to decide if you were going to be a show or an act. Ryan has always been a show. For thirteen years, he traveled across Canada with a team of people to put on grand stage shows. And, over all these years, performing has never gotten tiring for him. He finds that when he steps on stage, he can get into a state that lets him flow through the show. Ryan enjoys the experience of 1,300 people experiencing the same feeling. Booking out Your Own Show Back in the 1990s/2000s, Ryan and his mentor Paul had a successful telemarketing company that would sell the shows. Eventually, this method became outdated, but, with the advent of targeted ads, reaching out to people who want to see a magic show has never been easier. Currently, Ryan is selling an event from ground zero. His starting point is nailing appealing branding right off the back so there’s a consistency across his marketing. One of his first pieces of content will be a short video that has the potential to go viral. From there, it’s about monitoring who’s looking at your content and marketing towards them. Pack Small, Play Big At one point in his touring career, Ryan was touring with a five ton truck to transport his stage act. Each stop they would have to setup, sometimes in less than ideal spots, and tear down the massive act, only to have to rebuild it later on. To add a new section to the show, they would have to rent out a large location to practice. While Ryan still enjoys the large stage productions, he has moved towards shows that he could easily replace the props for when the airport loses his luggage. Wrap-Up What do you like about 2019 magic? What don’t you like? Ryan likes that people are creating and finding their own identities without the fear that someone is going to steal it. Ryan dislikes when magicians put somebody down on stage who willingly came up to help. It’s uncomfortable for everyone, and your audience will probably leave believing you’re a horrible person. Endless Chain Joan Caesar Take Home Point Ryan wants the audience to remember: Be Interesting. Plugs Ryan’s Website Ryan’s YouTube Ryan’s Instagram

It’s another bite sized episode this week! This time, Jonah suggests an interesting way to discover your character. After the warm reception of the last Magician Appetizer, Jonah decided to release another one to further test the format. Next week the podcast will return to its regular format with the occasional serving of a Magician Appetizer.     

This week, Jonah is trying out a different kind of solo episode. Short but packed with information, the Magician Appetizer episodes are meant to whet your appetite for the larger topics discussed on the podcast. To start this new format off, Jonah explores the idea of putting on the shoes of your audience member. Over the past few months, Jonah has been listening to older episodes. In line with the theme of stepping into your audience’s shoes, Jonah has decided to delete most of the solo episodes believing that listeners won’t receive value from them. If you would like to keep or listen to the older solo episodes, you can download them before they’re removed from the site.  

On episode 161, Jonah sits down with Gordon Precious to discuss exploring life and searching for real magic. Besides being an incredible magician, Gordon has traveled to over 100 countries, owns an extensive magical apparatus collection, and holds the world record for being the oldest heli-skier at the age of 94. Gordon fondly remembers how his interest in magic was sparked. His uncle, who lived in Toronto, would often come visit young Gordon in Hamilton. Each time he visited, he would stop at the Arcade Magic Shop to purchase jokes and pocket close-up tricks. In 1937, around the age of thirteen, Gordon began to work semi-professionally, starting out at the Hamilton Lions Club and the Rotary Club. Eventually, Gordon decided he wanted to travel the world and fund his travels through magic. Searching for Real Magic During his 94 years of life, Gordon searched for real magic. His quest began at the Hamilton public library where he found books on how to perform magic. After exploring the juvenile section, he was allowed to explore the section of magic books that were locked away from the general public. Knowing that he wasn’t going to find real magic in the West, Gordon set his sights on India and Africa in the hopes that he may witness a true miracle. So, for three and a half years, Gordon traveled from village to village performing tricks for people. Everywhere he went he seemed to hear “you should have been here last week when this person performed a real miracle.” It would always seem like he just missed the thing he was searching for. While Gordon never saw these mystics or miracles in action, he did have the opportunity to witness various magicians around the world; he fondly recalls a magician in Delhi who gave him a vanishing bird cage and helped him land a ten minute spot in a nightclub. Gordon also remembers seeing a magician in Egypt named Gali Gali who was hoisted onto the deck of a ship Gordon was travelling on and performing what seemed like miracles. Exploring Life with Magic Gordon recommends magic to anyone who is interested in magic. It is intriguing to see wonderful presentations; it’s intriguing to learn how to perform tricks; and it is sometimes mind blowing to see what others come up with. At the end of the day, it is about enjoying magic and sharing your passion with those around you. During his travels, there’s one thing that Gordon holds true: love your fellow man, woman and nature. While it may be difficult some days, it is important to enjoy everything and be happy that you’re alive. Having prejudice and hatred towards other people, even if it’s hard some days not to, will only hold you back from experiencing life. Magic Collection Over the past 40 to 50 years, Gordon has acquired an extensive collection of magical apparatuses. He has a love for the beauty and ingenuity behind the tricks. He especially has an appreciation and intrigue for older electronic effects; Gordon has everything the Dutch magician Tony Anverdi created with his favourite being the Anverdi Key Box. Helicopter Skiing Gordon has always been an ardent skier and goes heli-skiing every five years. This year he set the record for being the oldest person to go helicopter skiing at the age of 94 — surpassing the previous record holder who was 91. The people in charge of the helicopter skiing operation filmed Gordon’s trek down the mountain which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/hreJznwyTZo Wrap-Up Endless Chain Cesaral Take Home Point Jonah really enjoyed the idea of enjoying life and respecting your fellow humans. Ben liked that, during his travels, Gordon never lost sight that magic was the means for him to experience the life he wanted. Gordon reiterates the idea that you need to love your fellow human. What do you like about modern magic? What do you hate? Gordon enjoys everything about magic whether it’s modern or old. If it’s clever and well presented then it’s great. If not, then it’s just bad magic. Final Words Practice hard, and you can never practice too much.

On episode 160, Jonah sits down with Michel Clavello to discuss finding the magic that’s right for you, how to share joy through your magic and producing magic products. Co-owner of Vernet Magic, Michel is a magician and mentalist from Argentina who has won several awards at major conferences for his innovative illusions. Michel was a ten year old boy in Argentina when he started doing magic. With limited access to magic, Michel only had the books from the library and a short, black & white television program where only a set of hands would demonstrate and teach a trick. At eleven, he discovered a magic shop in Buenos Aires which he attended with his friend. To this day Michel can still recall the beating of his heart as he approached the shop. Michel would soon discover a second magic shop where he would eventually meet the great magic masters who would become his mentors. While Michel currently performs mentalism, he explored everything as a child die to his deep love for everything in magic. From children’s birthdays, to close-up, to stage, to manipulation, it would only be at the behest of one his mentors that he chooses one area to focus on.   Mentors Throughout his career, Michel has had several mentors who have shaped his knowledge and passion for magic. From the magic club, Michel learnt under a man named Oscar Keller who became like a father to him in magic. They would often meet up multiple times a week to discuss and develop their magic, allowing Michel to go deeper into the craft. The magic club is also where he was introduced to Greco—his current co-owner of Vernet Magic. Michel also had two major masters who’s words still remain with him in all of hide performances; Juan Tamariz and Fantasio. Michel was fifteen when he met Juan; he was competing in a conference and Juan happened to be one of his judges. Throughout his career, Michel would attend Juan’s lectures and have the chance to watch him perform. Eventually, Juan would be the one to prompt Michel to choose a specific area to focus on and explore it deeply. Where Juan was the deep, insightful thinker, Fantasio was the artist. Michel would see Fantasio performing on TV and wanted to be like him. The two eventually became good friends, and, to this day, Michel can still feel his words whenever he performs. Competing For Michel, competing has never been about winning first place. While it was nice to win, competitions became a way for him to focus on accomplishing one thing. He needed to have an act polished by the time the conference arrived which prevented him from veering off to explore new areas of magic. Vernet Magic Michel, alongside his friend Greco, owns and operates Vernet Magic which is known for producing thumb tips and other strong effects. The two purchased the company in 1994 from Vernet and continued to create the products already in production; it would be over the course of a few years that they would improve and update the molds for the products. At his first conference when he was fifteen, Michel met Vernet, and it would be to him that Michel showed his first thumb tip to. Vernet, who had entered magic later in life, brought a childlike wonder in his approach to magic. At the competition the two competed in, he performed a stage illusion like a parlour trick, winning him first place over Michel. In terms of the products released today by Vernet Magic, Michel says they only take on and produce effects that they like. Whether they do the effect in their shows or it brings a genuine joy to them, Michel explains that it has to be a real, human effect because they have to spend time to bring the concept into reality; he doesn’t want to view it as an arduous task. Magic Library In a corner of his home, Michel has an extensive magic library. He finds a nostalgia in books that reminds him of being a child and opening the pages to learn a new secret. Between receiving the book in the mail and feeling the pages as he riffles through them, there is a magic, to him, in the physical book. He knows where every book is on his shelf and will spend time just going through his collection. With that being said, Michel still sees a value in eBooks. When he’s travelling, he knows that all he needs is his phone to bring the collection with him and continue his studies; he doesn’t need to bring unwieldy books with him in his bag or risk damaging them. However, Michel belio that you can’t get the same feeling from your phone. That tactile feeling brings a connection to the content that you seem to lose otherwise with a phone. Wrap-Up Endless Chain Juan Esteban What do you like about modern magic? What do you hate? Michel likes that we have entered into a new golden age of magic. Where before you had a handful of good magicians, you can now go to New York and see a handful of fantastic shows playing in different venues. Michel doesn’t necessarily like the route close up magic has taken for competitions. It’s playing for the screen, not the audience, but he doesn’t hate it; he finds it beautiful. He would just prefer they call it a more apt name like “screen magic.” Take Home Point Jonah resonated with the idea of doing magic that brings you joy. The better you can connect to what makes you happy, the better you’ll do moving forward. Michel agreed, adding that you need to bring passion into your work. He reminds us that magic is a gift; you are performing an effect for somebody that may change their day or life if done well. Plugs Vernetmagic.com

Gambling expert, Norman Beck, sits down with Jonah for episode 159 to discuss taking a logical approach, public speaking and when to take a bet. Alongside being a magician and public speaker, Norman has been the VP of Claims and Security for SCA for the past 24 years, spending his time working out how individuals may cheat the system. Norman’s interest in magic started around the age of eight. While he was attending an event with the Boy Scouts, he went on stage with a a magician for the first time in his life. Soon after, his mother gave him the Boy Scouts’ magic book and his interest continued to grow since then. Like most magicians, Norman started out doing children’s birthday parties while he was in highschool. In college, he began to do close up magic at a restaurant. It was at the restaurants that Norman grew his skillset and learned what to do and not to do. When he left college, Norman spent five years working as a police officer, using magic to connect with the community during their outreach times. After leaving his job, he moved to Arkansas and was briefly married. During his divorce, money became tight and he found himself leaning cold reading to get by. It would be years later that Norman would begin his current job of ensuring gambling games. Claims and Security If you’re hosting an event where individuals have the chance to win a sum of money, you’re probably working with Norman. To summarize what he does, Norman is the one flies who flies around the world, giving away money for contests like field goal kicks, publisher clearing house, or televised games shows. His job is to ensure that the games are being run fairly and, when there is a claim, that the claim is legitimate. Norman found himself taking on the job about twenty four years ago after his friend and Bridge player, Bob Hammon, contacted him asking if he wanted to join his venture. Previously, Norman had turned down the job offer as he thought the concept of insuring games of chance was absurd. However, finding himself trapped in his job as an insurance adjuster, Norman accepted the offer and moved to Texas where’s he lived ever since. When to Play When you approach a gamble, wage, or bet, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first being that, if it didn’t cost you anything to play, there is no downside to playing. The second major thing to keep in mind is, never bet in a casino. The odds are heavily in the house’s favour and the best you can hope for is a short haul. When determining if you should play a game or make a choice, Norman says it comes down to understanding what you’re getting yourself into. How are you spending your money? What knowledge do you have of the situation? What are the odds like for you, and how can you make them lean further in your favour? When you take a logical approach to a situation, you have a better chance of understanding what the outcome may be. Public Speaking A few years ago, Norman was asked to give a presentation about what he does for a living. Not wanting to do it, he quoted them an outrageous price, only for them to accept it. Begrudgingly, he did the speech only to learn that he actually enjoys public speaking more then magic. To him, where magic is away to help people momentarily escape the world, public speaking gives him the chance to help change the world. When he gives speeches, Norman recounts his time of coping with a brain tumour. Six or seven years ago, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a baseball after going to the doctor to have his hearing checked. Taking the fact that he could die out of the equation, Norman approached his surgery in a very systematic way. He visited a malpractice doctor to understand if the surgeons were as skilled as it was claimed; he spoke with previous patients who had undergone similar surgeries; he hired a doctor to sit with his family during the operation so that if any questions were asked, the doctor could help them make the right call. He tells this story when he gives his speech so that his audience can understand that you can do certain things to help when you’re approaching a situation. Norman goes on to say that if you actually want to be like him, you need to accept that you’re not that smart. Three People Who Shaped His Magic Over his lifetime, Norman says there have been three conversations that have shaped his view on magic. Don Alan When Norman was fourteen, he attended his first magic convention where the headliner was Don. Not knowing who Don was, Norman reserved three seats near the front of the room at the request of veteran magicians. After watching Don perform an hour of close-up, Norman knew that that’s what he wanted to do. So much so, that Norman told Don that he was going to do everything he did. Don, seeing a sixteen year old standing before him, told Norman to go home, get naked, and stare at himself in his mirror until he accepted that he was not Don Alan, and that if he ever tried to be, the best he could be is second. Don explained that if Norman wanted to be good, he would need to learn who he is. Jay Marshall Young and naive, Norman had the opportunity to speak with Jay Marshall at an airport. Not really knowing Jay, Norman asked “How do you know if a trick is good?” In response, Jay told him that “you don’t know if a trick is good. The audience will tell you.” Jay went on to explain that after you did a trick five hundred times for an audience, you’ll be able to see if a trick is good or not. Noram wrote this down in his notebook and has been taking it to heart ever since. Chuck Smith If you’re not familiar with Chuck Smith, Norman wants you to know that all the big names have made a trek to visit him. Chuck may not be a fulltime magician, but he is the smartest magician Norman has ever met. Fifteen years ago, Chuck’s wife, Thelma, was in the hospital for open heart surgery. At the time, she was not in good shape and they weren’t sure if she was going to make it. Being best friends, Norman went to visit Chuck and sat with him in the waiting room; Chuck was only able to see his wife for fifteen minutes every two hours. When Norman was leaving, he asked if Chuck needed anything, who then began to rattle off a list of magic props. While Norman left thinking that it wasn’t the time or place for magic tricks, he happily obliged his friend and brought back the props. When Norman returned in the morning, he found Chuck smiling from ear to ear. He informed Norman that he no longer had to follow the silly two hour rule and could see his wife whenever he wanted to. It was at this moment that Norman realized that people look at magic a lot of different ways, but at its core, magic is a key. Magic can allow people to unlock doors they would otherwise have no access to. Wrap-Up What do you like about modern magic? What do you hate? Norman likes Juan Tamariz recent book on the theory of magic: Magic Rainbow Norman doesn’t like that magicians who don’t have the flight time are selling tricks that just aren’t very good. Endless Chain Howard Hamburg Favourite Part Jonah liked the idea of stepping back from a situation and using logic to determine the route you should take. Norman reiterates two ideas: If you want to be good, get a mentor.If you want to be good, you need to get out there and perform. Plugs Norman’s Website TedX Talk Penn’s Sunday School

On episode 158, Matt Johnson joins Jonah to discuss escapology, adding human elements to your magic, and recreating your brand. You may know Matt for his water tank escape on Penn & Teller: Fool Us or for his semi-place finish on Britain’s Got Talent. Matt remembers a wind-up box at his grandmother’s house sparking his initial love for magic. While not a magic trick, it still gave him this magical feeling and caused him to want to know how a little box could play music. At the age of twelve, he started learning tricks and, after performing for Matt’s siblings’ birthday, a magician took Matt under his wing. Soon, he was attending his local shop every weekend right through his teen years. The magic shop was his grounding and it allowed him to immerse himself in everything from sleight-of-hand, to mentalism, to unicycling. At the age of eighteen, he was encouraged to follow what he loved and he began to perform for every venue – from bowling alleys to corporate shows. In terms of his interest in escapes, he first attempted them when he was sixteen. His first and last time in a straitjacket involved him dangling from a crane and simply escaping the jacket. At the age of eighteen, his interest in his escapes stopped and it wouldn’t be until three years ago that he took them back up. Restarting Escapes For his entire twenty year long career, Matt has been a full performing magician and a jack of all trades in the magic he performed. However, three years ago he hit a brick wall. His performances were becoming robotic and his passion for magic was dwindling. He knew he needed to change or he was going to stop altogether. Around this time, he had been visiting his local swimming pool to learn how to hold his breath. Matt was not training for an escape or for a magic related reason; he was learning how to hold his breath to understand the experience his brother goes through. Born with a rare genetic disease called Tuberous Sclerosis, Matt’s brother experiences seizures which cause him to be unable to breathe or speak, trapping him alone in his mind as he waits for the seizure to stop. As his older brother, Matt wanted to know what it felt like to be alone in your head, unable to breathe, so he took to the swimming pool to learn. Ultimately, Matt knew that to truly understand, he needed to be locked in a box so that even if he wanted to come out, he would still need to escape. So he built the water tank and began to rehearse. The four minutes he could do in the pool, quickly became twenty seconds in the tank. With the knowledge that you’re locked inside comes a whole new psychological game. That moment for Matt was when he truly began the struggle his brother was going through. The Human Element At the end of the day, Matt doesn’t approach the water tank escape from a performance perspective. He doesn’t train for it by learning free diving or breath holding techniques; the only training Matt had was the training he did through his sheer persistence at his local pool. That’s why when you watch Matt perform and he says that “after a minute thirty underwater, he’s in trouble,” he sincerely means that he’ll be in trouble. This, in Matt’s opinion, is what allows him to truly connect with his audience. And it’s that connection he’s looking for in his escapes, as people should be doing in all of their performances. When the audience is able to see that what he’s enduring is real and that there is a struggle going on, they actually care about him. They remember how they felt for him while he’s struggling to escape. Matt explains that magic is not about tricks, it’s about the audience remembering the connection you made with them. Because the audience can see Matt struggling, they want him to succeed. So, when he stands up, free from the tank, the audience is compelled to stand with him. Don’t Try This at Home For those who wish to take up escapes, Matt’s first piece of advice is: Don’t try this at home. Any escape is dangerous. If you’re going to attempt anything like an escape, you need have a spotter nearby with a key for the locks. If you’re practicing holding your breath, alert the lifeguards and let them know what you’re doing. You may pass out long before you reach your actual limit. With anything that has an element of danger, injury or death is a real option. You need to treat escapes with the utmost respect and professionalism if attempting them. Britain’s Got Talent It took five years for Matt to get on Britain’s Got Talent. Each year he would send in audition video after audition video. Eventually, in 2017, he sent in a rudimentary version of his water tank escape. During his audition, however, his water tank shattered at the two minute mark, flooding the stage. To remind him to not stop chasing his dreams, he got a tattoo on his hand that says: Never Give Up. For 2018, he applied again. Only for no one to reply. However, determined to get on the show, he continued to contact them until they finally got back to him. This was the audition everyone saw, and this was he water tank escape that changed his life. This was an important lesson for him as it reminded him to not give up. Penn & Teller His appearance on Penn & Teller came six weeks after his water tank exploded on BGT. Depressed, afraid to go underwater, and without a water tank, Matt wanted to give up. Instead, he bought a new water tank and sent it right to the Rio Theatre. Backstage on the show, Matt tried out the water tank only to find it was crushing his lungs and that he now felt claustrophobic. His assistant asked him what he wanted to do with Matt deciding that he would push through it. For those wanting to get on Penn & Teller, Matt reminds you that Fool Us is meant to exhibit talented magicians; it’s about taking the opportunity to showcase who you are and using the opportunity they give you. If you put on a good performance, people will want to come out to see you. Wrap-Up What do you like about 2019 magic? What do you hate? The ability to reach the magic community is both amazing and disappointing. Nowadays, it’s so easy for anyone ot be a creator and release their gems to the world. When Matt was younger, he didn’t have that opportunity to instantly connect with new magic from around the world. However, it’s primarily about selling magic to magicians now. Releases need to be flashy so that people will buy them–often resulting in distributors to pass over thoroughly polished material. Endless Chain Vitaly Beckman Christopher Taylor Bro Gilbert Take Home Point Jonah likes the idea of being persistnet and not giving up, alongside knowing the why behind what you’re doing. Matt reminds the audience to Never Give Up. Plugs Matt’s Instagram Matt’s Facebook Penguin Magic Journey In Plain Sight