Hi gang:
Got a nice mention in tomorrow's Washington Post in an article about magicians and smartphone technology - check it out!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Our Wounded Warriors, and What You Can Do
I'll be at Walter Reed Army Medical Center this Saturday, July 16, from Noon-2 p.m. doing magic for families of our wounded warriors. In the past year, I had two more extraordinary privileges. The first was performing at the White House Halloween Party for the Obama family and 300 invited military families. The second was in December, performing at the Army Surgeon General's Holiday Banquet for the Army Medical Command leaders and the Sergeant Major of the Army.
I LOVE doing military events because it's like working for my family. As a child of two Naval officers, and with four generations of Navy in my family, this is a cause near and dear to my heart. I flew before I could walk. We moved from base to base, making new friends along the way. I know what it's like being in a military family, although thank God I never had to deal with a parent killed or wounded in the line.
So why am I telling you all this? It's because the needs are acute right now, and you can help.
Saturday's event is sponsored by Operation Homefront, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. By clicking here, you can find out what items and skills are currently needed to assist military families in the DC metro area. Here's the unusual thing - they mostly don't want your money. They need skilled tradesman to repair houses and cars, donations of vehicles, gift cards, supplies for care packages, party supplies for Saturday and so forth. Even in this tough economic time, that's probably not beyond your reach.
You can also visit servicemen and women - those who are here in DC may still be far away from loved ones. You can donate, and you can volunteer.
A word of advice: if you plan on visiting our troops at Walter Reed or anywhere else, don't plan on doing anything else the rest of the day. You'll be an emotional wreck. Seeing the courage, optimism, vision and faith of these amazing men and women will hit you hard. In the gut. And you'll never be the same.
I LOVE doing military events because it's like working for my family. As a child of two Naval officers, and with four generations of Navy in my family, this is a cause near and dear to my heart. I flew before I could walk. We moved from base to base, making new friends along the way. I know what it's like being in a military family, although thank God I never had to deal with a parent killed or wounded in the line.So why am I telling you all this? It's because the needs are acute right now, and you can help.
Saturday's event is sponsored by Operation Homefront, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. By clicking here, you can find out what items and skills are currently needed to assist military families in the DC metro area. Here's the unusual thing - they mostly don't want your money. They need skilled tradesman to repair houses and cars, donations of vehicles, gift cards, supplies for care packages, party supplies for Saturday and so forth. Even in this tough economic time, that's probably not beyond your reach.
You can also visit servicemen and women - those who are here in DC may still be far away from loved ones. You can donate, and you can volunteer.
A word of advice: if you plan on visiting our troops at Walter Reed or anywhere else, don't plan on doing anything else the rest of the day. You'll be an emotional wreck. Seeing the courage, optimism, vision and faith of these amazing men and women will hit you hard. In the gut. And you'll never be the same.
Friday, June 24, 2011
A Comedy & Magic Society show that is much more than just Magic!
Here is the announcement from producer Mark Phillips:
Summer is here; the relatives are all in town for the fireworks, but you still have a weekend you want to fill with fun. We can help! Come join the Comedy & Mystery Society on Friday, July 1st and Saturday July 2nd at 8 PM at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. We've got a special treat with two guest acts appearing both nights! (We may run out of room backstage...)
We have been trying to get Jesse & James to do our show since we started. Though they live nearby; they entertain all over the world, in theaters, on cruises, and as a featured act at Dollywood. Our schedules have finally aligned and they are bringing their newest show, "Mutts Gone Nuts" to the CMS both nights. These two consummate entertainers always stop the show and now they have a troupe of performing dogs to add even more action to their hilarity. Who says Vaudeville is dead!
In keeping with the
variety theme of this week, we are pleased to have Haywire join us again for both nights. With these two, you never know what to expect - magic, physical comedy, verbal fireworks - its all part of the Haywire package.
Our two magical guests, Eric 
Henning (Fri.) and Mike Kaminskas (Sat.), are both back for more fun with the CMS. Both are experts at magic up close and on stage, and both bring unique charm to each performance.
Our alternating producers and emcees for these shows are Brian Curry (Sat.) and Barry Wood (Fri.). Brian and Barry will prove to you that some of the best magic in the world happens in our own back yard. We hope you decide to come to both shows!
Once again, summer is our busiest season at the CMS and we hope to use this time to double our email list. We would be extremely grateful to have you contribute to our viral success by forwarding this article to any and all friends and family you think would enjoy our lighthearted, family friendly entertainment. They can sign up for future emails by sending one to me at markcards@gmail.com.
Close-Up Magicians George Woo, Jeff Eline and Nick Decutis will be on hand, ensuring that there is always more magic per square inch at the Comedy & Magic Society.
Come enjoy the air conditioned splendor and laugh until your sides hurt! The Arts Barn is at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland. For further information or tickets, please call the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394.
Summer is here; the relatives are all in town for the fireworks, but you still have a weekend you want to fill with fun. We can help! Come join the Comedy & Mystery Society on Friday, July 1st and Saturday July 2nd at 8 PM at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. We've got a special treat with two guest acts appearing both nights! (We may run out of room backstage...)
We have been trying to get Jesse & James to do our show since we started. Though they live nearby; they entertain all over the world, in theaters, on cruises, and as a featured act at Dollywood. Our schedules have finally aligned and they are bringing their newest show, "Mutts Gone Nuts" to the CMS both nights. These two consummate entertainers always stop the show and now they have a troupe of performing dogs to add even more action to their hilarity. Who says Vaudeville is dead!In keeping with the
variety theme of this week, we are pleased to have Haywire join us again for both nights. With these two, you never know what to expect - magic, physical comedy, verbal fireworks - its all part of the Haywire package.
Our two magical guests, Eric 
Henning (Fri.) and Mike Kaminskas (Sat.), are both back for more fun with the CMS. Both are experts at magic up close and on stage, and both bring unique charm to each performance.Our alternating producers and emcees for these shows are Brian Curry (Sat.) and Barry Wood (Fri.). Brian and Barry will prove to you that some of the best magic in the world happens in our own back yard. We hope you decide to come to both shows!
Once again, summer is our busiest season at the CMS and we hope to use this time to double our email list. We would be extremely grateful to have you contribute to our viral success by forwarding this article to any and all friends and family you think would enjoy our lighthearted, family friendly entertainment. They can sign up for future emails by sending one to me at markcards@gmail.com.
Close-Up Magicians George Woo, Jeff Eline and Nick Decutis will be on hand, ensuring that there is always more magic per square inch at the Comedy & Magic Society.
Come enjoy the air conditioned splendor and laugh until your sides hurt! The Arts Barn is at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland. For further information or tickets, please call the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Comedy & Mystery Society Show in Gaithersburg!
I'll be at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn TONIGHT, May 28, at 8:00 p.m. in the Comedy & Mystery Society show, alongside Brian Curry and Mark Phillips. We'll also have more magicians doing Close-up magic during the intermission! That's a crazy amount of LIVE entertainment for only $12-$15! The show is appropriate for adults and children age 10+
May 28, 2011
Comedy & Magic Society
Astounding magic and sleight of hand with interactive theatre and hilarious fun!.
Gaithersburg, Md 20878
Map & Directions
May 28, 2011
Comedy & Magic Society
Astounding magic and sleight of hand with interactive theatre and hilarious fun!.
Saturday at 8 p.m.
$15 Nonresidents / $12 City of Gaithersburg Residents
For tickets call 301-258-6394 or visit RecXpress online at recxpress.gaithersburgmd.gov
Gaithersburg, Md 20878
Map & Directions
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Gaithersburg Arts Barn Show March 25 at 8 pm
Hi Gang:
I'll appearing, along with Gary Morton and Barry Wood, in the Comedy & Magic Society show at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. We'll also have two excellent close-up magicians performing before the show and during the interval.
Tickets for this intimate 99-seat theatre max out at $15 - an incredible bargain for live entertainment of this quality.
It is going to be a great show so tell your friends, bring your family and come out and see entertainment as it was meant to be seen, live and in person.
The Gaithersburg Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland. For tickets, please call the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394 or go to https://recxpress.gaithersburgmd.gov/recxpress/Start/Start.asp .
See You There!
I'll appearing, along with Gary Morton and Barry Wood, in the Comedy & Magic Society show at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. We'll also have two excellent close-up magicians performing before the show and during the interval.
Tickets for this intimate 99-seat theatre max out at $15 - an incredible bargain for live entertainment of this quality.
It is going to be a great show so tell your friends, bring your family and come out and see entertainment as it was meant to be seen, live and in person.
The Gaithersburg Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland. For tickets, please call the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394 or go to https://recxpress.gaithersburgmd.gov/recxpress/Start/Start.asp .
See You There!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Continuing Education
I just got to take a lesson from the world's greatest parlor magician.
It may be hard to imagine, but magicians have continuing education, too. We have visiting "professors" who lecture and teach.
It all began in the 1920's, when, from time to time, a "name" magician, such as Howard Thurston, Harry Blackstone or Dai Vernon would be in town for a show, and would drop by a local magic shop or magic club. From informal get-togethers, these visits became teaching sessions. The students saw a chance to learn real-world routines and ideas from full-time pros, and the pros saw a chance to make some extra money on tour selling books, tricks and "notes" from their lectures.
In the Baltimore-Washington area, we are blessed with some active magic clubs and some of the finest magic shops in the world, and there are world-class magic lectures happening here nearly every month.
This month it was Marc Oberon from the U.K., who won the World Championship in Parlor Magic at FISM 2009 in Beijing, China. He also holds the distinction of being a British Champion, European Champion and the winner of the I.B.M./S.A.M. combined North American competition in 2008. When you watch the video below, you'll see why.
The video says more than I ever could about the precision, elegance and artistry of this amazing man. What you don't see in the video is his tremendous kindness and generosity as he patiently taught a group of magi his pet secrets. Some of these techniques are so advanced it will take great time and work to master them - but what fun! Fun for me, and eventually for you.
It may be hard to imagine, but magicians have continuing education, too. We have visiting "professors" who lecture and teach.It all began in the 1920's, when, from time to time, a "name" magician, such as Howard Thurston, Harry Blackstone or Dai Vernon would be in town for a show, and would drop by a local magic shop or magic club. From informal get-togethers, these visits became teaching sessions. The students saw a chance to learn real-world routines and ideas from full-time pros, and the pros saw a chance to make some extra money on tour selling books, tricks and "notes" from their lectures.
In the Baltimore-Washington area, we are blessed with some active magic clubs and some of the finest magic shops in the world, and there are world-class magic lectures happening here nearly every month.
This month it was Marc Oberon from the U.K., who won the World Championship in Parlor Magic at FISM 2009 in Beijing, China. He also holds the distinction of being a British Champion, European Champion and the winner of the I.B.M./S.A.M. combined North American competition in 2008. When you watch the video below, you'll see why.
The video says more than I ever could about the precision, elegance and artistry of this amazing man. What you don't see in the video is his tremendous kindness and generosity as he patiently taught a group of magi his pet secrets. Some of these techniques are so advanced it will take great time and work to master them - but what fun! Fun for me, and eventually for you.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Let It Snow!
This is a true story. It happened on December 6 of last year.
There is a show I do every year, a holiday party for military families. It takes place in a secure facility within a secure facility - it almost takes longer to get inside than to do the show! But once you're inside, you're in a fairy land of Christmas trees, lights, garlands and cotton "snow." Hundreds of children play games, color, eat popcorn and watch Christmas movies. There are face painters, balloon artists, clowns, costumed characters and elves - mostly volunteers. All this in
what is normally a loading dock.
Around 10:00 am, Santa arrives on a huge fire engine and holds court in the lobby. This is, by far, the most efficient Santa line I've ever seen. Every child gets plenty of time with the Big Guy, yet somehow the line keeps moving. At the end, the lilliputian petitioner has a bag of goodies and a picture with Santa.
During all this, I am doing close-up magic, "pulling" lights from the Christmas trees (the offices have a fierce tree decorating contest), making coins appear, and generally making fun.
Around noon, the 500 or so people line up and get lunch (which is fantastic) while I set up for my platform show. My holidays shows always have some different material, more if it's a repeat client.
This year, I planned to end with a classic Japanese piece, the "Snowstorm in China." This involves cutting tissue paper into a snowflake or other shape, tearing it up and immersing the pieces in water. The sodden pieces are squeezed out and fanned, and become dry confetti, which is fanned into the air and appears as snow.
It's a great piece, and with the right script and music, there's not a dry eye in the house.
It had not snowed yet that year, and so I ended my show by promising to add the one thing that was missing from that holiday season. The piece got a great response, especially from the kids, who rushed the stage to collect bits of the "magic snow" to take home.
As I was leaving the base gate, I had a wonderful view of the US Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Then I saw something else.
It was starting to snow!
Big fluffy flakes, like something out of a cartoon, coming down with purpose. I could hardly believe my eyes!
Then I thought of those kids going home from the party and seeing the snow - and their parents trying to explain for the hundredth time that it really WASN'T magic.
But maybe it was.
Then I remembered something that has had me chuckling ever since. Earlier that day, as I was entering the first gate,. a Marine corporal, bristling with armaments, greeted me. As he looked over my car, he made conversation. "So what do you do in your show?" he asked.
"I make it snow," I replied.
"No, really."
"Really."
Now all I could picture was that Marine watching me leave the base - and then seeing the snow.
Sometimes things just come together. I live for moments like that.
Merry Christmas!
ERIC
There is a show I do every year, a holiday party for military families. It takes place in a secure facility within a secure facility - it almost takes longer to get inside than to do the show! But once you're inside, you're in a fairy land of Christmas trees, lights, garlands and cotton "snow." Hundreds of children play games, color, eat popcorn and watch Christmas movies. There are face painters, balloon artists, clowns, costumed characters and elves - mostly volunteers. All this inwhat is normally a loading dock.
Around 10:00 am, Santa arrives on a huge fire engine and holds court in the lobby. This is, by far, the most efficient Santa line I've ever seen. Every child gets plenty of time with the Big Guy, yet somehow the line keeps moving. At the end, the lilliputian petitioner has a bag of goodies and a picture with Santa.
During all this, I am doing close-up magic, "pulling" lights from the Christmas trees (the offices have a fierce tree decorating contest), making coins appear, and generally making fun.
Around noon, the 500 or so people line up and get lunch (which is fantastic) while I set up for my platform show. My holidays shows always have some different material, more if it's a repeat client.
This year, I planned to end with a classic Japanese piece, the "Snowstorm in China." This involves cutting tissue paper into a snowflake or other shape, tearing it up and immersing the pieces in water. The sodden pieces are squeezed out and fanned, and become dry confetti, which is fanned into the air and appears as snow.
It's a great piece, and with the right script and music, there's not a dry eye in the house.
It had not snowed yet that year, and so I ended my show by promising to add the one thing that was missing from that holiday season. The piece got a great response, especially from the kids, who rushed the stage to collect bits of the "magic snow" to take home.
As I was leaving the base gate, I had a wonderful view of the US Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Then I saw something else.
It was starting to snow!
Big fluffy flakes, like something out of a cartoon, coming down with purpose. I could hardly believe my eyes!
Then I thought of those kids going home from the party and seeing the snow - and their parents trying to explain for the hundredth time that it really WASN'T magic.
But maybe it was.
Then I remembered something that has had me chuckling ever since. Earlier that day, as I was entering the first gate,. a Marine corporal, bristling with armaments, greeted me. As he looked over my car, he made conversation. "So what do you do in your show?" he asked.
"I make it snow," I replied.
"No, really."
"Really."
Now all I could picture was that Marine watching me leave the base - and then seeing the snow.
Sometimes things just come together. I live for moments like that.
Merry Christmas!
ERIC
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