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Theatrical Magic

By John "Big Daddy Cool" Pyka

A Magician is an actor playing the part of a magician…. Famous words, a famous quote. Too seldom do performers understand and use this philosophy! In this book, John Pyka uses his character Big Daddy Cool, and other original magical routines to teach you the premise and process of taking your magic from the realm of a puzzle, and making it in to THEATER!

Now, many of you will say "but, magic isn't theater," or "magic is entertainment in and of itself," or "the amazement is the meaning." Magic can (and should) be amazing, it can also be so much more.

A magic show doesn't have to be a string of special effects and nothing more.

It can tell a story, make a statement, or even instruct or educate.

Unfortunately too many performers have created shows that are nothing but a string of special effects, that has no meaning or relevance. This is one of the reasons that many people regard magic as meaningless diversion (usually for children). It is because so many magicians have made it so. We have removed meaning and relevance from our magic. How sad. So, how do we fix this?

Our hope is that this book will help make a difference. And you, by reading it may well be a part of the change.

Theatrical Magic, in the simplest terms, is magic that is character and story driven.

Whether it is known as Story Telling Magic, Bizarre Magic, Gospel Magic, or some other title, it is magic is that is used by the performer to accomplish several goals. 1) To tell a story, 2) to establish or showcase their character, 3) to solve a problem, 4) to make a statement, or 5) to instruct/educate.

Often, magic accomplishes several of these goals at once. Of course it should go without saying that a fundamental purpose of theatrical magic is to entertain, amaze, and create wonder within the story.

Sections Include: What is Theatrical Magic? The Story Behind the Stories: Swingin’ At The Roxy

Mambo Scarves - Tahloola's Demise -Titanic Thompson Sidewalk Shuffle - Making Magic Your Own Jiggernaut - Character Development 101 Character Study/Bio Close-Up Stage: - Wonder Pen-atration - Scotch & Soda - Houdini's Metamorphosis - Everything's Rosy - The Legend of Billy The Kid - What’s My Motivation? Analyzing The Christ/Anneman Alignment Move - The Grand Stage: The Vizier's Love - J Johnny's Angels - Snowstorm in Armenia - Adventures of the Blue Phantom - The Vampire - Exercise In The Absurd: AKA The Pirate Act - Food For Thought Other Voices: - The Key to Room 158 - Nelson Griswold w/ Eugene Poinc - Broom Suspension by Bill Palmer- The Shaman by Jason Michaels BONUS: Tricks for Monkeys - Ruthless Ambition - Discount Ring Flight and Recommended Reading.

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The Lizards Review

As we started with “Tractare”, we are going to write our own reviews of these books as they go to press. Sure they are bias, but they are also truthful.

Ok, so, when I read this book the first time, I thought WOW… how neat. A book that brings me back to my theatre days. Screeeeeeeeeeeeech wait, hold on, WHAT?? My Theatre Days? Yep- In addition to being a magician from the age of 4 to the age of 25, I was involved in theatre from the age of about 15 on. Several things happened to me as I became involved with theatre and with bizarre magic, I started to really dislike a lot of what I saw myself and other magicians doing, AND I started to treat what I did, weather stage or close-up, more like a theatrical play and less like a “magic show.”

But wait, what about that whole- A magician is an actor stuff? Yeah, many say it, but few understand it. So, What does this mean and what does it have to do with this book? Who I this book for and what’s inside?

This book DOES have magic and routines in it that you may or may not enjoy. They are all VERY well thought out and solid and entertaining. Some are real routines that have been on stage, others are works in progress, others are creative fantasies presented as exercises. BUT, more importantly, this book is Theatre 101 and 102 for those of you who have had little formal theatrical training beyond high school drama class.

You want new routines, there are here. But John, in his wisdom, has instead focused upon theatre and philosophy, using the routines to teach the fundamentals of character, plot, conflict resolution, theatre language blocking and more.

Don’t think for a moment that this is ONLY for those who do stage magic. I think that close-up and parlor performers more than anyone else need to look at surrounding their performance with the principles of good writing and character development even more than many on the stage.

Right from the start of Leaping Lizards Magic, we selected unique publications. Many of our titles focus on bizarre or storytelling magic because we feel that EVERYONE will benefit from learning and understanding the principles behind these unusual forms of our magical art.

I really feel like if you are new, seasoned but never thought about these things, or somewhere in between; taking the time to read this work, the works of Ron KOTAH Dayton, the other work of Shane, and our upcoming book by Tim Converse entitled “Scrolls” you will find your style of magic, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, growing, maturing and becoming a far more magical experience for YOU and for YOUR AUDIENCE….

And isn’t that the point?

 

Books, E Books And CDs

Click titles or images to see complete descriptions and free previews

   
 

Something new for students of cold reading or those who like to mic Tarot, palm reading or more with their mentalism.

BAUTA

In this master class, hard cover book you will learn a sophisticated technique for turning Cold Reading into Hot Reading where the sitter themselves gives you all the information you could need, and a WHOLE LOT MORE.

Ltd Edition Hard Cover book, includes 2 Audio CDs!

 

The Professor’s Nightmare The Awakening! Everyone knows it and does it, and audiences STILL love it. One of the biggest challenges is finding a presentation that is both unique and interesting, particularly when you know of other performer’s in your market using the same old patter.

Enter Ron Dayton and “Professor’s Nightmare- The Awakening” Written By Ron Dayton, aka KOTAH with a Foreword by Ed Solomon. This book offers 20 new routines for the tried and tested Professor’s Nightmare.

Well, over 30 years ago, Howard's lecture series features a self published set of manuscripts entitled OICUFESP.  10 volumes or chapters, if you will- each with 20 or so lages.

During our deal with Howard to publish his new works, we also were pleased to secure the re-print rights to these long out of print manuscripts. So, here, in a single over 200 page volume, we offer you access to these historc routines.  Mentalism, psychic entertainment and mental magic- these routines are clever and thought provoking and all have the same criterea- they are FREE of all sleights! 

This is the companion collection to Howard Adams' OICUFESP.   Years ago, Howard published a series of self working mentalism effects in the form of 12 monographs, each filled with a dozen or so effects.  Long out of print and unavailable, fans of Howard's work will be delighted with this book.  All 12 chapters, reproduced and bound in one volume.

Mentalism, psychic entertainment and mental magic- these routines are clever and thought provoking and all have the same criterea- they are FREE of all sleights! 

That's MINDESPA!

Dayton Wallet Workshop! By Ron Dayton

Do-it-yourself magical loading wallet plus two KILLER rotuines.  An inexpensive monogrpah that teaches you to make the wallet for yourself. You can make as many as you wish for your own use!

So, ya wanna be a busker???  This is THE handbook for those ready to build a tip and pass the hat!  Advice for working the street, and for working LIFE!  

If you consider yourself a magician, then you’re an artist and you belong to a tradition (Whether you like it of not.) with expectations from your peers and the laity. This form of art can only function gracefully if the operator works with perfection in his mind, otherwise it appears clumsy and transparent to the spectator.

In this book, Howard has created 66 self working packet effects using 6 cards each. (thus the title, get it, 666 Mentalism?) Each effect is explained in Howard’s straight forward, no-nonsense and to the point fashion and we have left them as he wrote them word for word. You can read a sample here.

Howard Adams has been around for a LONG time, and his specialty is self working and mathematical magic and mentalism effects. I have no idea how his mind can generate these kinds of effect with this much variety, but create he does.

Tractare A new book of close-up theatre from R. Shane, Author of Pentalogy and Automata.  This book is a MASTER CLASS in taking several germs of ideas and combining them. Not only do you get multiple full close-up routines which require NO complicated sleights, but you will learn where they came from, and how Shane constructed each routine. One entire section is like a master class in Cups and Balls (Or containers and things)  and ALL of it features Shane's unique narrative tone of voice!

 

Scrolls Bizarre magic, storytelling magic- call it what you will... This book has it all!   Santiago shares NOT ONLY many complete routines and thetrical vignettes, but his phillosphical approach to the PROCESS of making your magic MAGICAL!
Devil Of A Bar And Pub Winner of two linking ring awards, the author, known only as Scribe (And who's true identity is revealed for the first time in this book) this hard cover collector's item of a book chronicles the mysterious goings on of this Pub in Boston and the characters who frequent it.
Brainstorm In My Pajamas One of the most amazing idea books by one of the most prolific creators or magic, Former MUM columnists Ronald J Dayton.  This book includes HUNDREDS of ideas, routines, tricks as well as an autobiography AND a preprint of the long unavailable Dayton Razor Blade Miracle- a version of the classic razor swallowing trick which uses NO switch, NOTHING hidden in the mouth at the start or finish, and ONLY ONE SET of blades!
Theatrical Magic By John Pyka, this book is about making your magic into theatre.  For the new comer, it takes you backstage and presents some of the basics of stage craft, character development and more- as they relate to magic.  For the seasoned pro, Big Daddy shares scripts, routines and thinking from his actual performances, as well as some food for thought!  This books is a MUST for those serious about performing entertainment, NOT just doing tricks!
Cipher Speak By R. T. Stark.  Long kept hidden and secretive, and later released as an extra bonus to those who purchased out STark Grimoire, now released in print and E format.  This two person code system blazes new trails in that it uses SOUNDS not words to code information in a two person telepathy act. This allows the performer to use ANY WORDS they choose in keeping with the phonic system, and to CHANGE those words each time they speak.  The code is practically impossible to detect.
Hidden Numerical Forces You wanted a text book filled with insight, understanding and explanation of higher mathemagical principles at work- YOU GOT IT!  This new book covers the beginning and advanced work in an innovative way!  Offers not only original effects and routines, but ways for you to add these principles to your OWN ideas. Thomas Henry will make math SEXY!
Magictales Because the story AND the magic begin with YOU! What an amazing collection from this UK guru of storytelling and mixing magic with stories! Check It Out!
Dusting It Off  This book of fun routines, based on a classic magic text reference. Something for everyone from children's performer to bizarrist!
Automata Self working magic, with a touch of humanity! Already getting good reviews!
By Darkness Influenced  More food for your bizarre mood, by Ron Dayton's alter ego, KOTAH. Sequel to Darker Light!
Carney Pitchman Indian Chief   If you read Brother Shadow's column "Shadowland" in MUM magazine, then you MUSt read this- his autobiography. No magic tricks, but lots of real life magic in the form of stories and tales of days gone by!

Pentalogy 480 Pages of R. Shane's most powerful yet easy to do close up work. Not just magic... but emotionally gripping close up THEATRE! Some bizarre, some funny, ALL commercial and doable

A Darker Light By Ron Dayton's alter ego, KOTAH. A book of bizarre magic, poems, presentations and stories- with commentary by R. T. Starke!
The Stark Collection A two volume set of bizarre magic in a unique format that is as interesting as the material itself
Palm Reading Plain And Simple.  NO MAGIC, but if you do mentalism or bizarre magic, this book is a good introduction to palm reading.
Tarot With Tude NO MAGIC, but if you do mentalism or bizarre magic, this book is a good introduction to tarot cards and how to read them.
The Ogham And The Universal Truth Of The Trees NO MAGIC, but if you do mentalism or bizarre magic, this book is a good introduction to a form of divination based on the Druid Tree Alphabet. Great for setting a mood!
   
 

Quietus Of Creativity VOLUME TWO MIND CANDY Read all about it. No longer available from publisher, but can be found through your local dealer while supplies last.

Quietus of Creativity, Volume One Read all about it. No longer available from publisher, but can be found through your local dealer while supplies last.

 
     

Magic, Tricks, Illusions Etc....

Click titles or images to see complete descriptions and free previews

 

NEW NEW NEW

Dayton Wallet Workshop! By Ron Dayton

Do-it-yourself magical loading wallet plus two KILLER rotuines.  An inexpensive monogrpah that teaches you to make the wallet for yourself. You can make as many as you wish for your own use!

 
Dayton Razor Miracle E book  Long out of print, available for a limited time in E book format,  The Dayton Razor Miracle is unique in the world of magic in that there is NO SWITCH of the razors or thread, and nothing is hidden in the mouth at the beginning or the end!  Only one set of razors is used.  NOT FOR MINORS!
Slasher Packet trick from the pages of R. Shane's Pentalogy! Includes the cards needed for the routine, professionally printed, and a new simplified handling.
Self Openning Soda by Nefesh. A very popular monograph where you learn how to "psychicly" cause a can of soda to open with the power of your mind.  Includes impromtu version as well as method for doing this with a BORROWED soda can!
The Cousin Of All Book Tests! The first volume in a book test set we plan to release. This first book combines features of two POWERFUL book tests, in several ways.
Hatching  By Nefesch.  A Signed Borrowed Coin visibly penetrates a signed egg!!  A step by step monograph that leads you by the hand with hundreds of photos and complete description.  Also explains how to borrow an egg (not likely, but you get the idea) and do the same routine!
Nailed And Screwed  One of our Finger Food Monographs. A simple 3 page set of instructions teaches you how to freely nail a short nail into a block of wood. While everyone concentrates on the nail head, you rub it and it becomes a SCREW head...  The screw is the UNSCREWED from the block of wood with a screwdriver and can be given away!

Frozen!  By Nefesch.  Imagine, you borrow a coin and have it signed.  You drop it in your hand, and then stary to blow at your cupped fist. A white cloud billows forth, like breath on a cold day.  A few droplets of water drip out of your hand.  You open your hand and a lump of REAL ICE drops into the spectator's hand.  When the ice melts they will find that the object they saw inside the ice was their actual signed coin! Nefesch offers several methods in thos monograph.

The Stapled Card Mystery   One of our Finger Food Monographs. A card is selected, and lost in the deck.  A Joker is slide sideways into the deck, and a stapler placed atop the stack of cards.  Performer Hits stapler.  Next, the stapler is set aside, and joker is lifted and tilted so the cards above it fall aside. One card is seen to now be STAPLED to the joker. It is torn off, and handed to the spectator It is THEIR card, now with a staple tear in the center!
The UPC Miracle   One of our Finger Food Monographs. Winner of a Linking Ring Award!  This effect invloves an offbeat story, a deck of cards where every card has a bar code, and a series of printing, and change effects with a KICKER finish!  Comes with full instructions and you create the props yourself!

 

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