...and on a sour note.

....I'd referenced Bro. John Hamman's packet trick, "Hamman Eggs" here a few months back. I sent that packet trick into the ether at Ring 266's Chinese Auction (fundraiser) a few months back as it's just too darned complex!! If you become exhausting just watching a packet trick.....imagine learning to perform it! ......anyone disagree??

The ole' Top Change

Y'know....heaven knows there's enough bragging that goes on all over the internet........but if you can indulge me for a moment: I've been killing lately with the old Top Change.......it's amazing the things that people do/do not "perceive" while you're performing. The other day, I picked up the card (after the revelation.....received well)..........did a quick top c---ge, revealed that....and the guy goes, "I don't understand! You never picked up the card!!" I'd done EXACTLY THAT 3 seconds earlier......in plain site! He was watching my hands while I did it!!!

That was a fun (brief) performance!

DiaMonte

You know...I know this is redundant but Diamond Jim Tyler's "DiaMonte" is one truly sweet effect/DVD.....I mean that!! Such a professionally produced video......nice stuff.....I'm am LEARNING THAT EFFECT!!

Diamond Jim Tyler lectures for Ring 266

IBM Ring 266 was lucky enough to have Diamond Jim Tyler lecture for our club earlier this month!! Video clips and photos to follow........I picked up a copy of his "Dia-Monte" DVD.....AWESOME!!!!!

Sweetheart Banquet

Ring 266 has performed the past couple of years for the annual Sweetheart Banquet held at Trinity Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. Unfortunately this year, the banquet was cancelled......so no performance.......and I had Danny Archer's "Animental" all worked up and ready to go!! Maybe next year..............

Videos

So, I'm glancing at my magic videos (not all of them, just the ones on my "magic" book case)...............21 videos.....I can't believe that I've got that many! .....plus a few more tucked away in my workshop........this might be becoming an obsession!!!!!!

Hold the Hamman Eggs

.....don't know why I'm such a sucker for packet tricks......I just am. "Hamman Eggs" just has WAY TOO MUCH STUFF GOING ON!!!!! Sheesh!

Ring 266's Christmas Party

The East Texas Court of Magic held its annual Christmas Party and show a couple of weeks ago. Loads of good fun and good food. Took both of my kiddos. Photos to follow.

Sideshow in Chandler, Texas

This is a brief bit of the bally-hoo heard from a side show talker with the Culpepper and Merriwether Circus based in Hugo, Oklahoma. He had his joint set up at the main entrance to the midway. This circus was performing in Chandler, Texas in October 2009 (at Winchester Park). He was a nice guy (I think his name was Bruce)......good Irish accent. He had a couple of fossil-stones and a nice little FeeJee Mermaid.....she was a beauty! I didn't attend this circus.....the only One Ring circus I've ever seen was the Kelly Miller Circus.

October and November

Well....I managed to miss the Dinardi dealer show held in October........I hear he over-priced his stuff......that's a shame. I enjoyed speaking to Mr. Graciano by phone, but in these times, he has to price his magical goodies at reasonable prices. I also missed our November meeting.........my wife went out for her birthday........oh well, she had a good time!!

Dinardi's Magic Shop

I.B.M. Ring 266 will host Roy Graciano, owner of Dinardi's Magic Shop in Shreveport, Louisiana in October. Roy will provide a dealer lecture at our monthly meeting scheduled for the first Monday in October (starting at 7:00pm). He'll bring a broad smattering of everything you might hope to find in any modern magic shop. Join us!

Kingside Castling

Jeff Stone has released a nifty little effect entitled, "Kingside Castling"......nice, takes a little bit of practice but nothing that a patient beginner can't handle. Find it at: http://www.stonecoldmagic.com

Jeff Stone lecture

Jeff Stone!!! He's a real swell fella and he came to Tyler this month. Jeff's first "away from home" lecture happened at Trinity Baptist Church in Tyler, the regular meeting place for the Tyler Magic club......photos of the lecture to follow.

Mail order magic has been around for decades and decades. http://www.mjmmagic.com has great prices and they ship fast! Check 'em out!

One Hot Summer

Well, primarily related to work, I've been on a bit of a magic sabbatical for about 6 weeks. But, things are better, so I'm getting back into the swing of things. I mailed my (very late) IBM dues the other day, only to find out they'd gone to the wrong address as the International HQ of the IBM has moved!! Sindie there told me by phone she was heading out to the Annual IBM convention, but would check on things after she'd returned on July 6th. If they've not been returned to me by then, I guess I'll just pay online by debit card....I dunno.....we'll see. I missed the last meeting of my local IBM Ring....and it was a great lecture on coin magic no less!

My son and I will be going to the July meeting for certain!!

Jeff Stone has released a new book: Stone Frixion Fire relating to the use of those Frixion pens that've been out for awhile now. Cool stuff!!

I'm still workshopping my little bizarre effect. Mark Kilsby and his son, Josh helped me out with that recently. Many thanks to them!

General update

I'm a little behind on posting.......in February, our local magic club held a Chinese auction at our usual meeting place: Trinity Baptist Church in Tyler. Lots of club members donated a wide array of interesting items......I'm sad to report that I won absolutely nothing!!! Oh well, there's always next year. The club raised quite a bit of money. Our March meeting was devoted to our annual swap and sell. I netted some key goodies at that event. My current favorite: a set of Buddha papers.

On March 7th, we (as a club) performed a benefit show at Trinity Baptist Church to assist a young lady in raising funds to go on a misson trip to Japan. There were some pre-show tensions between a couple of club members (maybe between a few club members is a more appropriate was to put it!) Nonetheless, the show went off quite amiably (I was a bit surprised to tell the truth)......lots of performers: Dillon Humphrey, Gene and Neta Colteaux, Janice Ernest and Mark Kilsby co-emceed [and both did a splendid job, quite frankly]. Other performers included: Johnathan Ernest, Robert E. "Pappy" Lee (yep, Robert E. Lee is his real name!)......there were a few more performers, but I forget their names at this present time.....sorry!
That's about it for now....check back soon!

Mark Kilsby as Santa

Upcoming Ring 266 events

Well, our Ring's V.P., Mark Kilsby, called me two nights ago to discuss some upcoming Ring events. I was tired, had left work late and wasn't in much of a talking mood (although he's a good friend......but you know how it is) anyway......he reminded me of the Chinese auction we'll be having at our February Ring meeting. He also told me about the Ring performing a little pre-banquet walk-around magic at his church's Valentine's Banquet in February. Additionally, he stated that the club would be doing a full stage show as a benefit at his church in March (him to M.C., me to be stage manager). So, busy magic stuff on the horizon.
Both of these events to happen at Trinity Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas (by the way!).

Stone Cold Magic

I've corresponded some (who says "corresponded" anymore??) with Jeff Stone of stonecoldmagic.com for some time now.......a real creative guy! Check out his stuff!

Duane Laflin

The Tyler Magic Club (in Tyler, Texas) enjoyed a fantastic all day workshop on Saturday, November 15th featuring Duane Laflin. The workshop was held at Trinity Baptist Church and was well attended by clowns and magicians from the greater Tyler area, Dallas and Shreveport. Duane is a super guy and a committed family entertainer.

Sponge balls

......been a bit busy lately. Not practicing on much, really. Have been fiddling around a bit with some sponge balls namely watching "World's Greatest Magic: Sponge ball magic" [2 DVD set)......pretty good stuff and working on some Chris Randall sponge ball stuff.

Tyler Magic Club (October meeting)

The Tyler Magic Club had a great meeting last night. Good participation. My presentation of Animentalism was received somewhat flatly (not saying I didn't deserve such a response!). We threw around some of my alternate handling ideas.....I'm going to move forward on this one. Conceptually, it needs to be darkened up just a bit!

MJM Magic

Ordered two decks of cards and a copy of Erdnase's "Expert At the Card Table" yesterday from MJM Magic.

Runic letters

I'm communicating with someone at themagiccafe.com regarding my idea using Runic letters.......more to come. This person has reportedly done some interesting things with them.

Only an idea

I've got an idea (and it's only an idea) about creating an effect using Runic letters........hmmmmmm. Watch here for more info to come.

Animentalism

Found a neat little trick in a 1999 issue of The Linking Ring entitled, Animentalism........not to be confused with Danny Archer's "Animental" (completely different effect). I'd been looking for a reason to buy a pack of blank-faced cards.......just the reason I needed! Easy to create and easy to perform. The effect was created by a gentleman from Singapore named Tan Choon Tee. .....could easily get away with just using index cards (if needed).

Flash string

......got some flash string in yesterday.....cool stuff!