Friend Of the Devil by gratefuldead

Things you never thought you would see. . . pt. 3

Ran across this while surfing

Death don't have no mercy

Nikki • RIP (this shit SUCKS!)

Death is kinda final

not for me to say but is

Phone call on a Sunday morning

out of the Norm.

Nikki, what the fuck happened!

this wasn't supposed to go down this way!

We talked two days ago for a half an hour or more

what would Gramsie think as you floated out the door!?

Conflicted emotions, I'm all broken up
I don't know what to say. . WTF!!

Life is so full of uncertain twists and turns
a young mother marries and a child is born

But the mother barley gets her foot out the door
before her life vanishes and she is no more

Nikki, why did you go?
Why did you leave us?

was it your disappointment
or a grievance?

Life is a strange game where the stakes are high
and so am I
so why

why. . . do the innocent die so young

why. . do we go on. . .

why is life so cruel

Broken up and sad
we weren't that close

you were family
that mattered the most.

I'm surprised I make a living

magician_rabbit_hat, originally uploaded by sydsosurreal.

I go out every night, and I come home with money. I do magic tricks and entertain people. I live on my own terms and answer to nobody. It's just me and them, no agents, no bookers, no bureaucracy. They either like it or not. They pay or they don't. I try and feel a groove. Let me create an illusion. . . . let me sell a deck. Let me make the world a better place one smile at a time.

Off the web • What people are saying

Last night I went to see Tom Frank perform at the WC Fields bar at the Magic Castle. Tom is a friend of mine so I am a bit biased but that being said here goes my take on what happened.

Someone brought him a riser to stand on and it was placed before the stained glass window that shares a wall with the Library. Tom, a street performer, did a great set of magic and kept the crows entertained and buying drinks. When the Peller opened Tom stepped down from the riser and went over to the bar and performed at the bar itself. He was a working magic machine who understood the room and bar and used both at the appropriate time. He entertained and sold drinks.

But no this wasn't all that happened. The Piano Player was playing soft Jazz. Tom heard it and began to do his magic to the Jazz. The Piano player saw this magician using her music and timed the Jazz to coincide with his act. I don't know how to describe it except to say it was like a piano player at a silent movie providing back ground that was appropriate to what was going on in front of her. The two performed as one Magic hand in hand with Music.

I spoke with Tom afterwards and he told me it was his street performance skills that prompted him to use the music as his background and he went over and tipped the Piano Player. All in all the evening was a thing of beauty.

Tonight is his last night at the WC Fields bar. Please do yourself a favor and get down there to see how it can work.

Sometimes I go to watch friends perform, as an obligation or a way of showing respect. Last night was an experience I'm glad I got to see and enjoy in person. Do yourselves a favor, go see him and then let me know what you think.

And for those of you who are interested in a man who can draw a crowd, hold a crowd and perform some great magic, he has a lecture that he can do and has done for magic clubs in the past. So who ever has some sway in bookings for lectures it might be a great idea to get him to lecture to our magician members.

Have a great weekend and do come to see Tom Frank and the other magicians at our Club.

Maurice Newman


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More than one of my magic co-horts had told me to keep an eye open for Tom Frank, knowing that I had spent my formative years performing street shows. So, I just sort of hovered around the Inner Circle for a while, waiting for the right moment to introduce myself. As I had been enlightened as to his years of experience on the pavement, I was not surprised to see how Tom flowed easily from bar to platform - from patter to music, from small crowd of peers to larger crowd of civilians. When I got to talking with him during a little lull, and happened to ask when he might next perform, he said, "For you, Phil, how about right this minute?" Well, there were three other magicians with me at the time. We got to see a 'private' show (?) on the dance floor that involved Sonyee improvising on the piano, and soon morphed into a much bigger experience as patrons slowly filtered into the room. Granted, I probably related to him because Tom is as addicted to performing as I, but it was also fun to see things just "flow" so effortlessly. I agree with Maurice. If you can come in tonight, I bet you'll be tickled to see this one!

Phil Van Tee


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Why am I not surprised? Tom is a consummate performer with more flight time than (dare I say) a lot of the people who work the Castle. I am so glad to hear that he was able to work with the piano player. Tom's acumen for combining music and magic and having a pianist who 'gets' it, must have been sublime. She really is talented.

My feelings about the piano player are well known...I respect her talent and energy. I just feel that the presence of piano player (in general) is superfluous. But under these circumstances, I am thrilled to hear that all went so smoothly. Wish I was closer to experience Tom's performance. Knock em dead Tommy boy!

Doc Eason

magicians sparkle

magicians sparkle, originally uploaded by Robin O'Neill.

don the magician and family, originally uploaded by J_E_W_E_L_S.

Harry Blackstone Jr. • Floating Lightbulb

In my "In Box" (I have fans!)

Hello Tom,

Me and my twin boys were at Universal Studios on Thursday and Friday of last week 6/17 & 6/18 2010. On Thursday on the way out. around 7 PM we caught a glimpse of your performance (less then a minute of it).

We could not stay long as we had to meet some friends for dinner and were in a rush.

All my boys could keep asking was if we could come see you the next day since we were coming back. Well we saw your performance on Friday evening around the same time. 7 PM'ish.

You were awesome. A true performer and my boys really enjoyed your magic. They have been performing magic tricks themselves for 2 years now since they were 8. They are 10 now and still very much interested in Magic.

It was cold that night and you made a comment about getting wet in the water fountains. Well you probably did not notice it, but I was soaked to the bone after playing with the kids in Universal Studios in the water park. Good thing for them they brought a change of clothes, but since I did not I was freezing later that night as you were performing and doing business. I wanted to stay longer and so did the boys but we couldn't. We were just freezing your yatchez off.

All three of us wanted to thank you so much and let you know how awesome your magic is.

Keep up the good work and I have subscribed to your blog so we can stay in tune with what you are up to.

Thank you again,

Luke, Justin & Trevor.

P.S. We are from Vegas, but when we are in SO Cal Again in a few months, we might try to make it out to the Citywalk again.

What time do you usually show up and leave? Are you there 7 days a week?

'Carter Beats The Devil' Regains Magic Mojo

'Carter Beats The Devil' Regains Magic Mojo

In my "In Box"

Hey Tom,

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I'm enjoying your "5 Mystic Rings".

Really, really nice work!

Since I'm studying everything I can get my hands on, I've seen (or read of) a number of the moves before - but - one move just dropped my jaw ... the 'Pinky Hang' floored me! What a sweet move!

Is that your move? I've read through the Miller Routine book and didn't see it there (or anywhere else for that matter) ... OMG !
I love that move .. hehe.

What rings are you using (probably Owen's) and what size are they? Look like 13's or maybe even 15's?

Anyway, thank you again for putting out such a fine product.


Cheers,

Lee

Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist, opening Edinburgh Film Fest 64

Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist, opening Edinburgh Film Fest 64

Magic Castle Baby!

Castle In The Sand (AKA, Marc Summers' Mystery Magical Tour House!), originally uploaded by Adam Kissick.

Blueberry Cake

What am I supposed to do when I come home and I am confronted with this work of art. Damn her, she knows my weakness. . . anything she cooks. I'm a very lucky man to have a girl that loves to cook and bake. Sparky twitching involuntarily, kitty dreaming. Probably suffering PTSD from the beating he took this morning after eating a nights worth of knitting.

Looks like some kind of blueberry cake. Was as tasty as it looks. I try and keep my shit in check, but I'm convinced, she likes me fat and happy. For the most part, we try and eat healthy. However sometimes cravings win out. I've had a taste for ribs for at least a few months and finally gave in and tried a rib joint near our place. Was happy I did.

It's strange to think of the relationship that we have with food. It's not always healthy. How many times have I found myself eating my feelings. It's not right. Sometimes, I just want to do some damage on myself. . . . like nachos and cheese dip. Yum. I try and stay away from empty calories and processed sugars. That doesn't always work out. I have a weakness for the sour Jelly Belly's and just about any cookie Polly bakes.

There was a time, a year ago, when I had much better self discipline, I wasn't making any exceptions with regard to calories. Wasn't drinking hardly any alcohol and was on a strict NO COOKIE diet. I was going to the gym more regularly and simply, was in better shape. I've let things slide enough. Gonna get back with the program. . . . as soon as the blueberry cake is gone. . . I swear it. . . . no really. . .

Click Pics to enlarge and see their true deliciousness

, originally uploaded by Warren Gates.