Monday, March 26, 2012

Dallas Super Session 2012

I just returned from a great one day convention in Dallas. As always, I had the most fun post convention, as we were all just lounging around chatting. So many great things in one day. Bob White and Jared Kopf held a lecture/discussion that was fantastic. Jared is highly regarded as one of the top card magicians in the business, and rightfully so. His Muckless Muck, with gimmicks made by Gary Plants, is a fantastic effect that I highly recommend. He showed that along with some of the trick's variants. We were treated to a demo/explanation of Vernon's Matching the Cards routine. This is a classic trick that should be in your repertoire. Card Magic does not get much stronger to a lay person than this. Jared lectured shortly on Erdnase. I can slowly feel my thinking on magic in general changing, but I can't quite put it into words yet. I believe it is going towards the more natural/classical side of magic. I will try to put those thoughts into words in a later post. I need to let them form a bit more before trying to put my thoughts on paper.
   Being able to listen to Bob White was a treat. His notes and DVDs are some of my favorites. Every effect and sleight he uses, has incredible thinking behind it. It is one thing to be able to perform tricks and quite another to be able to explain why they work and why you choose to use them. Do yourself a favor and pick up his DVDs and notes as soon as you get a chance.
    Hanging out with Gary Plants is always a treat and you are guaranteed to get fooled at least once. Unfortunately, I missed his multiple selection routine in the performance part of the convention, but heard it floored those watching. I did see him perform some effects from the new Woody Aragon book, and that made me want to go back and pull some items out of there.
     I spent some time with Joe Anderson, who makes some WONDERFUL wooden props. Email me if you are interested and I will get you in contact with him. All in all, a great convention. These smaller conventions are always my favorites. As we see more and more of the larger conventions having to cancel , it will be these smaller ones that are able to survive. Find the ones nearest you and support them. I promise you will have a good time.