Talkmagic.co.uk

mark lewis · Elite Member Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 2301

Allen my boy. You are in the presence of one of the world's greatest close up magicians. Actually I am the greatest but I don't like to brag about it since modesty is one of my finer attributes. Of course people care about what I say especially an egomaniac like yourself. How do I know you are an egomaniac? Oh, I know my boy. I know.

I have psychic powers and can sum up people very well. You love yourself immensely and are under the delusion that you are wonderful simply because you have won magic competitions which paradoxically prove that you may well be c*** (not the best).

You really must control yourself and not lose your temper. A good performer should have an abundant amount of sang-froid and not let anything bother him. If you cannot handle a mild irritant like myself on the internet how on earth are you going to be able to handle hecklers or people of that ilk?

Or come to that immigration officers who have the power to kick you out of the US for five years when you answer them back in a terribly rude manner instead of mumbling apologetically like you did when "performing" at the Buffalo Convention?

Anyway I have now seen a couple of your video clips and to my great regret you are not as dreadful as I hoped you would be. I would however advise you not to put your hands on people's shoulders. It is an invasion of privacy and most impertinent. I would accuse you of picking up American habits of over familiarity but alas I can't do that since I know you got kicked out of the US for a while.

However all is not lost. I shall give you a tip. Foreign entertainers are allowed to work in Canada without authorisation so you won't get kicked out if you come. They have conventions here you know with lots of dreadful performers so you will no doubt fit in.

If you do come here I would be able to give you a few further tips. I am always open to helping the younger generation providing they show due deference and grovel appropriately.

Jon Allen · ... Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Radlett

If anyone here is going to be at MAGI-FEST, I'll have the book with me. Even if not, I'll still have it with me Smile

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19000 Location: UK (62:AH)

Jon Allen · ... Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Radlett

Thanks Mandrake!

You will give in to temptation... give in to temptation... give in to temtation.......

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19000 Location: UK (62:AH)

I gave in... I gave in...

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19000 Location: UK (62:AH)

And today the book arrived.... to hell with work, it's reading time folks Very Happy

!!

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19000 Location: UK (62:AH)

Right at the start of this thread, Cameron Francis gave an excellent assessment of Jon’s book and, in true TM tradition, I thought I’d add my four penn’orth.

I’ve seen Jon work and lecture a couple of times and have had great fun with his Double Back and The Silent Treatment effects. What I really like is that Jon’s stuff isn’t overly complex but exhibits lots of original thinking in the way routines are developed and presented. As an example, I guess most of us know Crazy Man’s Handcuffs but Jon’s version uses that as just a part of a much larger routine involving 6 components. Jon’s take on Professor’s Nightmare is joy to watch and has just about the most satisfactory ending possible – something which many other performers don’t seem to include. This seems to be the key to Jon’s magic, take known or well established routines and ideas, turn them on their heads, add a huge dollop of original thinking and then hone it to perfection. The best news is that none of it is beyond the scope of most of us here, it really is that good. Jon’s concept that there’s no such thing as spectators who just sit and watch so he gets the audience involved in all the routines one way or another, is at the heart of his performances.

To start with we get the fully Monte on Jon’s IBM Act. Not just the what and the where but the how and the why. All the thinking involved in developing the routine is given and if nothing else the reasoning about effect number two being set up during effect number one, number three during number two and so on is priceless. Simple things such as how and why a genuinely innocent move can be used to negate the audience’s awareness of the same move later on which covers the sneaky work enabling the effect to be successfully accomplished.
In all cases not only are the moves fully explained, you also get instructions on making the props, preparing special gaffs, gaffing ordinary items on the hoof and so on.

The book is fully illustrated with black and white photos of Jon demonstrating each move and sequence and the explanations are very clear.

It would take pages to describe each idea or routine but the contents are:

If you’ve bought Jon’s lecture notes in the past you may find one or two of the above are familiar but they, and the rest, are all top quality effects and ideas from a first class magician. Certainly a book which should be in all Magician’s libraries, preferably open on the desk being read and referred to regularly!

Jon Allen · ... Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Radlett

Wow! Thanks for the review. It's great that you have gotten so much out of the book. It really isn't about the methods and I hope the thinking behind many of the routines has inspired you in thinking about your own routines as well.

I hope you have gone back to work now! Smile