Jamie Cullum at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow night!

Trying new things at work

One of the issues I deal with nightly at work, is where people's heads are at when they're watching me. I'll clue you in, they just spent all day in Universal Studios being visually over stimulated by the most fantastic of things to look at and experience. Besides being a working studio with a tour, its also a theme park with rides (The Mummy Roller Coaster ROCKS!). Anyways, as the sun goes down and the park is letting out, there I am, fighting the loud music piped in where I perform, amidst an amazing array of architecture, neon and over the top store fronts. They're hot, tired, broke and emotionally bankrupt but, God bless their souls, they stop and watch me like a television commercial. If they could only see their own expressionless faces.

So, I ride the roller coaster of my own emotions as I try my best to entertain these people and motivate them to give me their money. . . it's no easy job. I play all sorts of games trying to get the types of reactions I want (smiles, laughs & applause).

Lately, I've been experimenting with something a little more organic. I'm trying to "OWN" the lack of reaction. I acknowledge it, I understand it and I accept it. No more lines like, "Is this an audience. . . or jury?" I'm letting the magic speak for itself, I give the audience an opportunity to respond, if they don't, I move on with no consequence to them.

I told another street performer friend about this strategy, he asked, "How's that working out for you?" I replied, "I don't like it, but I'll try anything".

On Saturday Afternoons In 1963 • By Rickie Lee Jones

The most as you'll ever go
Is back where you used to know
If grown-ups could laugh this slow
Where as you watch the hour snow
Years may go by

So hold on to your special friend
Here, you'll need something to keep her in :
"Now you stay inside this foolish grin ... "
Though any day your secrets end
Then again
Years may go by

You saved your own special friend
'Cuz here you need something to hide her in
And you stay inside that foolish grin
When everyday now secrets end
Oh and then again
Years may go by

Chill'en at the crib

People ask me all the time, "Don't you ever get tired of doing nothing?" The answer has always been a simple. . . no. I like to look at my life as though it was piece of art. Each day another brushstroke in the living and ever changing tapestry, that is the experience of life. Some parts of the painting in my mind are simple areas of nothingness, like a plain sky contrasting a busy cityscape. I gave up the real world to retreat to a fantasy. It's amazing that life is what you make it, even if it isn't real.

Totally digg'en my scene. I love where I live, and who I live with. I love that I work 3 hours a night doing the only thing I've ever wanted to do for a living.

Been trying to get to the gym 7 to 10 times a week. Feeling better than I ever have physically. The meat of the day is spent doing whatever the fuck I feel like doing. I answer to nobody. Yesterday, after the gym I caught the 12:45 Imax showing of the latest Bat Man movie. Polly and I had seen it when it first came out on the big screen at the Cinerama Dome, but I wanted to see it in an Imax theater as a bunch of it was shot with Imax cameras. Looked absolutely fantastic. Great movie across the board.

Been reading "The Magician and the Cardsharp". The story of Dai Vernon's quest for the legendary center deal and Allen Kennedy. Enjoying the read and loving going back in time to the New York City Inner Circle Sessions in the back rooms of magic shops in the 20's and 30's. I've been so lucky in my own lifetime to have met so many influential magicians. Even luckier to call so many of them my friends.

Here I am today, weighing in at 160 lbs. Been a little over a month since I started working out and eating better. I could show you the pot belly side view, but I'm feeling too good about myself to want to do that right now. Starting to build muscle and resolve. Worked with Morisio the trainer today. Half hour with him, weights, forward and backward lunges, work with the big exercise ball (an interesting exercise for the obliques), more weights. Half hour of cardio with music blasting in my ears. 5 laps in the pool. 5 minutes in the hot tub, 12 minutes in the sauna (working towards 15), shower, head home just in time to relax, fire up a cigar and watch the afternoon breeze by under the cloudless blue sky of california. What a life.

Interview du Jour • Harry Blackstone Jr. • Click here

Audio Interview with Harry Blackstone, Jr.

In this 1985 interview, Don Swaim talks with the award-winning magician, Harry Blackstone, Jr. about his first experience on stage at the age of six months, and the relationship between his father and Houdini. Blackstone is the co-author of There’s One Born Every Minute, My Life As A Magician and The Blackstone Book Of Magic and Illusion.

Nauseous

Cigar & Cards, originally uploaded by tfrank8176.

Have you ever heard of someone becoming nauseous from smoking a cigar. This would sometimes happen when I would smoke Cuban cigars. Never knew why that would occur . Every morning in Cincinnati, I would drop Max & Hope off at Montessori, getting me to work an hour before opening the doors of my store, "Carew Tower Magic Shop". I would spend that hour every day with my ass parked in one of the overstuffed leather couches at Strauss Tobacconist at 4th & Walnut. I would enjoy a fine morning smoke before work, shuffle cards and chat with the colorful cast of daily characters. Lenore, manager of this 100 year old cigar store was my friend and treated me exceptionally as a customer. One day I asked her about why one may become nauseous. She told me that the nicotine can sometimes mess with your blood sugar. Ever since then when that happens I would have a Pepsi and almost immediately feel better.

This just happened to me outside in the 92 degree heat, smoking a cigar down to the nub with a toothpick. Felt a little woozy when I stood up. Went to the fridge for a Pepsi, but passed it up, (Haven't had one in weeks); grabbed a plum knowing that it will turn to sugar, ate it and felt better.

Back at the Bowl • Paolo Nutini, Solomon Burke & Etta James!!

Chinese food at 4PM at Bamboo Village with Polly, then on home for a serious pre concert chill down, relax and watch the afternoon disappear. Nice thing about where we live, so close to the Hollywood Bowl. We've been doing a park and ride deal near Universal. Nothing but stacked parking at the venue, can make it a real pain in the ass to get out. Ran into a friend of Kirsten's, a fellow named Steve, he's a focus puller on Greys Anatomy. We chatted him up and found out that they shoot in an old studio in Los Feliz. Same place they shoot General Hospital. Love this town.

We got to the Bowl as the show was starting, picked up a couple of seat cushions and made out way to or seats. The opening act was Paolo Nutini , a fresh new face from the other side of the pond. Got to say he delivered an impressive set. With interesting vocal styling and a variety of musical influences, I dug it. Here's taste of what he does.



The Hollywood Bowl is outfitted with one of those giant turntable in the stage. Makes changing acts a piece of cake, The stage rotated and now filling the stage is Solomon Burke and large ensemble. He sits in a giant gold and red throne wearing a black sparkly suit. A big man, with a big voice, he put on a great show. A big fan of gospel, soul, blues and R&B, I just loved what he was dishing out. I first became aware of him a few months ago when he sat in with Widespread Panic at the Orpheum. Enjoy this clip of an old school showman. He has 21 kids, 86 grand kids and 20 great grand children.



Solomon kept saying this was his last song, then he would do another 3 songs, this went on and he milked the crowd. It was great. They finally had to just rotate the stage with the band still playing. There was a 20 minute intermission, then the time that we had all been waiting for Miss Etta James!! There were several times during her performance that I thought about my mom. She would have liked this concert. Somewhat familiar with her legacy of work, I was in no way prepared for her performing style. Go figure, she turns out to be this granny foul minded little nympho! Far out. She grabbed her crotch more times than than Madonna & Michel Jackson combined. At one point simulating fellatio with the mic. She took the audience on a wonderful journey. Dig the clip, her biggest hit (nestled in the middle of her set a REAL CROWD PLEASER)



The best part of the evening was sharing it with the woman I love. We made out in our seats like high school kids in heat. It was a perfect evening under the stars. Booze, music and my baby. My arm around her shoulder and my cheek against hers. My entire heart filled with love. Ummmmmmmmmmm

tiffeyes, originally uploaded by ikswolwap.

Summer Nights

Summer flying by. Pushing mid August and frankly, peak season is a big disappointment. Plenty of people, but my numbers are down by almost 50% from last year. Lots of things going on in the world that effect the economy. . . or maybe. . . I just suck. Feel like the rest of the country, working harder for less.

C'est la vie. Take it as it comes, go with the flow and enjoy life as much as one is capable of doing (that's actually my strong suit).

Spending a fair amount time at the gym. Most days starting and ending there. I like that it's so close to home and work. Haven't been loosing that much weight (6 lbs in a month), but I've lost 2 inches off my waistline, so I can tell something positive is happening. Fitting into a bunch of clothes I retired a couple of years ago.

Turning fat into muscle and trying to eat right, sounds like a plan to me.

Wasn't on the CityWalk street performing schedule last weekend, so I blew off Saturday and Sunday and spent some good time with Polly. Saturday we relaxed at home, watching movies and catching up on some kissing we missed earlier in the week. Polly prepared a wonderful sea bass dinner on a bed of spinach Sat. night.

Sunday afternoon we drove through the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains to Malibu where we spent a few hours in Paridise Cove. It was nice laying out on the beach with my girl. The temperature was perfect (in the upper 70's with a nice ocean breeze).

Tonight we'll be going to the Hollywood Bowl to see Etta James! Were both excited to her performance. Should be a great time.


ETTA JAMES, KEITH RICHARDS ROBERT CRAY-Hoochie Coochie Gal

What's NEW in Pollywood!!

Polly is getting another Department Head credit! For the last two (out of 5) weeks she has been working on "Merry Christmas Drake & Josh" a Nickelodeon movie of the week. What's neat is, a month ago, we saw a move called "The Wackness" staring Ben Kingsley and Josh Peck. . . the same Josh from Drake and Josh. This kid is great actor and held his own through half a dramatic movie sharing scenes with Ben Kingsley!

I visited Polly at work, last week for lunch. They were shooting exteriors in Encino. Nestled at the top of a hill, high dollar properties, looking good.

Friday night frustration

The heat of the valley gives way to the cool ocean breeze as I crest the hill, heading towards Santa Monica. Not on the schedule this weekend at the City Walk, I decide to give Westwood (by UCLA) a look. At 5:30 on a Friday night it looked a bit scarce. I imagined what it might look like at 8 or 9PM, but wasn't overly optimistic with regard to the demographics. So I headed to Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. I found a spot and set up to work. 15 minutes in and having trouble drawing a crowd. Relaxed, got it together, made a hundred bucks and it was time to move (Rule: all acts rotate every 2 hours. . . on the even hour. . . . 80 feet from where you just performed, 40 feet from the nearest performer). Fucking Shit! Got shut out on an 8-10 slot. Acts lined up and down the place, I called it a night, had no choice, wasn't gonna hang out for 2 hours to work a 10-12PM. Thought about heading back to Westwood or Hollywood & Highland; but once on the freaking 405 (which was a total mess at 8:30 on a Friday Night), I decided to blow it off and head home. Glad I'm on the schedule next weekend in my normal spot. Makes it a lot easier.

Another Great Day

Spent the day sessioning on the beach in Malibu with Aaron and Andi Gladwin. Pleasant discussions about the pasteboard's, examining the thought process of some of our favorite moves. It was a picture perfect day in Paradise Cove, Malibu, California. Andi, his girlfriend and another couple visiting from England. We all hung out on the beach, went in the ocean and enjoyed the afternoon after a couple hours of fun in the sun, we enjoyed a nice meal at the Paradise Cove Cafe.

On the way back Aaron and I stopped at a State Park in Topanga Canyon. We continued talking about magic, working out, comedy, pres-how exercises and just shooting the shit.

Video du Jour • Aaron Fisher • Gravity Half Pass

Germain the Wizard • Click pic to enlarge

Aaron Fisher ROCKS the Magic Castle!!

I'm lucky to call him a close friend. I've liked Aaron Fisher since the day I met him and been impressed with his magic and thinking even before we met. I sold my fair share of his excellent treaties on card magic entitled The Paper Engine at my magic shop in Seattle. Last night after work and the gym & I put on my suit and tie and made the short drive through the Hollywood Hills, past the Hollywood Bowl and to the Magic Castle. I was excited to see Aaron work. It was fun to watch him break in some new material and get strong reactions from the packed room. Tight 20 minute set including a nice stand up version of Twisted Sisters, a very original take on the card to wallet, with an even better ending, if you can imagine that. He finished up with a mental mind fuck that fooled everyone.

It was a pleasure seeing Billy Goodwin and Lisa Cousins. I'm feeling a bit more welcome at the Castle these days and enjoying the time that I'm spending there.

After Aaron's show, I went down to see Andrew Goldenhersh in the Close Up Gallery. First time I ever saw him work. I had heard good things, but never seen his act. He did beautiful close up magic, opening with an origami dollar butterfly, that turned into a real one. He also produced a little bunny from his long black hair, kinda freaky. My favorite part of his act was his coin work. Really tight, pretty handling's of both Translocation & Chink a Chink. Strong Magic performed by a nice and interesting cat.

Had a great time, closed the joint and had a mini session in the parking lot.

Busker du Jour • James James

IMG_2401, originally uploaded by mareike.liewald.

Video du Jour • Larry Pringle

T. Nelson Downs • King of Koins

King of Koins, originally uploaded by Dai Vernon.

Camp Paradise • Week 54

Had a good day today. Worked out this afternoon w/ Aaron, yesterday we trained with Morisio. It's fun getting in shape, who would have thunk. Going to work soon, to display my craft, make people happy and some cash at the same time. Then after a few hours of that sort of fun or frustration (we'll see how the evening unfolds). Probably go back to the gym for another round before going to the Magic Castle to see my pal Aaron Fisher who is working late parlor this week.

I felt like a girl trying on a couple outfits that were a bit snug even a month or so ago. A long way to go, but creating much better habits. Continuing to eat right (for the most part). Never been much of a drinker (some might dispute), so that's not much of an issue.

It's been BEAUTIFUL this week in Hollywood, CA

Palm trees, neon, over the top retail, sports cars you've never seen before, Bently's common.

Bitches. . . off the hook . . . now did I really have to say that . . . .