Thursday, November 19, 2009
On our associates
Thus I have heard: When the first Magic Utopian discontinued his dealings with BUMS and other Bumblers, his nausea disappeared. He then entered into a deep state of Magic Utopia Mind-Set (MUMS). The first Magic Utopian lived in happiness and joy and was moved to establish this glorious Magic Utopia. Hence, he left with us the life lesson for magicians, "Don't associate with BUMS. Associate only with MUMS.”
What is MUMS?
MUMS is an acronym for a unique mental state found among some magicians called Magic Utopia Mind-Set. MUMS is one of the most perfected states of mental clarity a theatrical magician can achieve. It is achieved through processes both behavioral and mental. MUMS challenges traditional concepts of magic performance, attitudes, and approaches to theatrical conjuring. It resides at the opposite end of the spectrum from what is referred to as BuMS (Bungler Mind-Set; some parts of Magic Utopia believe the acronym stands for Bungo the great Mind-Set).
Mental processes associated with achievement of MUMS consists of taming impulses to consume mass produced industry products, curbing the desire to copy or steal from other performers, and reduction of ego. There are many additional processes in obtaining MUMS. These processes are a great challenge to many modern and post-modern magicians. MUMS training alleviates many symptoms associated with mainstream performance magic, mainly nausea.
Behavioral processes that help develop MUMS include script writing, rehearsal, understanding of various feedback systems, use of feedback systems, and absolutely the elimination of sucker gags from programmes. Sucker gags are a part of the BuMS mentality because they create an environment of stupidity. Either the audience member feels stupid (majority of mainstream performances) or the magician ends up looking stupid (a small minority of magicians). Since sucker gags are ego-based in nature, they have been eliminated from Magic Utopia. The removal of these obscenities has brought about great change.
Indeed, we hope the general idea of MUMS starts to catch on, but we fear magicians think us crazy. They often say to us, “What are you talking about? I’m an improv type and don’t need scripts.” Or, “I think feedback systems are too critical. My audiences always laugh at my tricks!” These kinds of things give us great nausea. When BuMS say these things, we resolve ourselves to help bring out the MUMS in them. It is sometimes an overbearing responsibility. We hope you will join us.
To learn about 'the practicality' of MUMS, please click here
Mental processes associated with achievement of MUMS consists of taming impulses to consume mass produced industry products, curbing the desire to copy or steal from other performers, and reduction of ego. There are many additional processes in obtaining MUMS. These processes are a great challenge to many modern and post-modern magicians. MUMS training alleviates many symptoms associated with mainstream performance magic, mainly nausea.
Behavioral processes that help develop MUMS include script writing, rehearsal, understanding of various feedback systems, use of feedback systems, and absolutely the elimination of sucker gags from programmes. Sucker gags are a part of the BuMS mentality because they create an environment of stupidity. Either the audience member feels stupid (majority of mainstream performances) or the magician ends up looking stupid (a small minority of magicians). Since sucker gags are ego-based in nature, they have been eliminated from Magic Utopia. The removal of these obscenities has brought about great change.
Indeed, we hope the general idea of MUMS starts to catch on, but we fear magicians think us crazy. They often say to us, “What are you talking about? I’m an improv type and don’t need scripts.” Or, “I think feedback systems are too critical. My audiences always laugh at my tricks!” These kinds of things give us great nausea. When BuMS say these things, we resolve ourselves to help bring out the MUMS in them. It is sometimes an overbearing responsibility. We hope you will join us.
To learn about 'the practicality' of MUMS, please click here
What is Magic Utopia?
Magic Utopia is an idealistic no-place for magicians, conjurors, mentalists, and other mystery performers, historians, scholars, authors, etc…who seek something different and unique in magic. Its location is not a specific geographical location or on any physical plane. Rather, the location of Magic Utopia is found through a complicated process of MUMS development.
Most members of Magic Utopia are concerned with the direction modern and post-modern magic seems to be drifting toward. Mass production, theft in various forms, and disregard for right performance are among the many reasons for the foundation of this Magic Utopia. Our annual increases in membership from around the world is encouraging. The collaboration among diverse artists is inspiring. Our dream of a good place for mystery performers is beginning to materialize.
Most members of Magic Utopia are concerned with the direction modern and post-modern magic seems to be drifting toward. Mass production, theft in various forms, and disregard for right performance are among the many reasons for the foundation of this Magic Utopia. Our annual increases in membership from around the world is encouraging. The collaboration among diverse artists is inspiring. Our dream of a good place for mystery performers is beginning to materialize.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Banned Books Week, 2009
Of the books that have been banned, censored, challenged, or burned, we find Reginald Scot’s “The Discoverie of Witchcraft” to be our favorite. First published in 1584, it serves as one of the few remaining primary sources of its time. Written during the Spanish Inquisition and historic witch trials, Scot’s book refutes much of the misinformation and hysteria that was prevalent at the time. Because of this skeptical view and his challenge to the Church’s doctrine, many of the book’s original editions were burned by order of King James I.
Looking at popular misconceptions surrounding “witches,” witchcraft, and the supernatural, Scot challenged many rumors of his day. Rumors such as witches killing farm animals or people by merely touching them are ridiculed. Scot also refutes rumors that witches can manipulate people’s minds, control the weather, cause men to cheat on their wives, and other ridiculous superstitions and outright lies. Scot’s treatment of how the law uses conjecture, rumor, and mass hysteria as a way to prosecute is illuminating. There’s no wonder why the authorities wanted this book out of the hands of the public.
For magicians, The Discoverie of Witchcraft is a special book in our history. Deep within its pages one will find some of the first words ever printed on the mystery arts and the secrets of conjuring. Here, readers can find our methods for coin and card magic, on making a book with color changing pages, knife swallowing, cutting a person in two, and more as presented by charlatans of the late 1500’s. Scot’s frenzy to debunk all things supernatural gave birth to one of our first magic books. For this, we owe him great respect.
Scot also covers popular misconceptions of his time in the areas of alchemy, soothsaying, Incubus and Succubus sightings, charmers, astrology, and others. We also appreciate how he investigated these phenomena “in the field” and then shared his results with the public. His challenge to the status quo is admirable. The fact that King James I ordered his book to be burned, however, boggles our mind.
In honor of Banned Books Week, 2009, we encourage you to read and discuss your favorite challenged or censored book. You can find a great list of banned books at:
American Library Association web page (click here)
Looking at popular misconceptions surrounding “witches,” witchcraft, and the supernatural, Scot challenged many rumors of his day. Rumors such as witches killing farm animals or people by merely touching them are ridiculed. Scot also refutes rumors that witches can manipulate people’s minds, control the weather, cause men to cheat on their wives, and other ridiculous superstitions and outright lies. Scot’s treatment of how the law uses conjecture, rumor, and mass hysteria as a way to prosecute is illuminating. There’s no wonder why the authorities wanted this book out of the hands of the public.
For magicians, The Discoverie of Witchcraft is a special book in our history. Deep within its pages one will find some of the first words ever printed on the mystery arts and the secrets of conjuring. Here, readers can find our methods for coin and card magic, on making a book with color changing pages, knife swallowing, cutting a person in two, and more as presented by charlatans of the late 1500’s. Scot’s frenzy to debunk all things supernatural gave birth to one of our first magic books. For this, we owe him great respect.
Scot also covers popular misconceptions of his time in the areas of alchemy, soothsaying, Incubus and Succubus sightings, charmers, astrology, and others. We also appreciate how he investigated these phenomena “in the field” and then shared his results with the public. His challenge to the status quo is admirable. The fact that King James I ordered his book to be burned, however, boggles our mind.
In honor of Banned Books Week, 2009, we encourage you to read and discuss your favorite challenged or censored book. You can find a great list of banned books at:
American Library Association web page (click here)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week: Suicide in Magic History
Suicide is preventable. One of the keys to overcoming suicide and suicidal thoughts is to talk or share these experiences with those close to us. Too many of our friends, family, and loved ones have fallen victims to suicide without anyone knowing that our loved ones were suffering. Below is a list of members of the magic community who we lost to suicide or have been affected by the suicide of another. A brief sketch of their lives and work is provided. These individuals were loved by everyone who knew them. We are proud to have them as part of our community, history, and family. Please share the magic of these individuals over the next week with your audiences or friends.
Theodore Annemann (1907-1942): Born Theodore John Squires. His mother was remarried when he was young, thus the name change. When Theodore was a child, he was very interested in magic and owned a commercial magic set that he often practiced with. His mother, however, thought it was a distraction to his school work. One day she threw his magic set into the fireplace and let it burn. Even though this memory stuck with Theo for the rest of his life, he would go on to be one of the most well known names in the history of magic and mentalism. Annemann was the author of many books on mentalism, including the posthumously released classic “Practical Mental Magic.” He also published a lot of his material in a magazine called "The Jinx" (which he edited, also). The Jinx would later be regarded as one of the most important periodicals for magicians of the 20th century. Annemann was married a few times and had one child by his first spouse. He was about to perform a dramatic bullet catch, indoors, on Jan 12, 1942, but committed suicide before the show. His presence and influence on the fields of magic and mentalism have been felt in terms of monumental proportions. He is one of our most beloved family members.
William J. Hilliar (1876-1936): In his professional life, Hilliar was an author, ghost writer, and sleight of hand performer. He also founded a very influential periodical, titled "The Sphinx," which would go on to be one of the most popular and important magazines for conjurors of the 20th century. Hilliar was also a life member of the SAM. As a matter of fact, President Harry Houdini inducted him into the society in 1918. Some have suggested that he may have been involved in the S. W. Erdnase affair. Of interesting note about one of his performances is that he once performed, in disguise, as Howard Thurston while Thurston was suffering from illness. The crowd knew none of this and offered a standing ovation to the wonderful ‘Thurston’. Hilliar fell victim to suicide two weeks before his 60th birthday in 1936. Hilliar's writings live on as a beacon of wonder and mystery in the vast sea of magic literature.
Hanco (?-1903): The magician known as “Hanco” performed magic in the early 1900’s. He was known for his escapes and his unique wardrobe, which was that of a prison convict. Hanco explained to his audience that he was an ex-convict and had learned his magic while in jail. The show featured a lovely female assistant who Hanco was madly in love with. Not much is known about Hanco suicide in 1903 other than it was followed by an argument with his assistant. His liberated spirit, though, lives on in today's magic community.
Harry Blackstone Sr. (1855-1965): Born Harry Boughton. After 5th grade, Harry dropped out of school and spent his free time performing magic shows with his brothers. When he was a teenager, Harry’s father (Alfred) fell victim to suicide, which forced him to find employment in order to support the family. Despite having to work full time to help support his family, Harry still practiced his magic regularly in his spare time. In 1905 Harry teamed up with his brother Peter and started performing sleight-of-hand magic in beer halls in Michigan (US). In 1911, after he perfected his act, Harry Boughton started performing under the name Harry Blackstone. By the 1920’s, Blackstone was the top box office attraction, beating out his rival Howard Thurston. In 1934, Blackstone's became the proud father of a baby boy who would, later in life, earn the title of one of the world’s greatest prestidigitators. Despite the challenge of family tragedy early in his life, Blackstone Sr. shared wonder, happiness, and joy with all the world and was always the 'life of the party' at magical family gatherings.
Further reading:
Annemann's Enigma: The Writings of Theodore Annemann. Edited by Todd Karr. Published by The Miracle Factory, 2008.
Annemann: The Life and Times of a Legend (1992). Compiled by and with commentary by Max Abrams. Published by L&L Publishing (Tahoma, California, US).
Booth, John (1995). The Fine Art of Hocus Pocus. Published by The Magic Art Book Company (Watertown, Mass., US).
"Sensational Tales of Mystery Men" by Will Goldston (1929).
Images located and obtained via Google Image Search.
More information on suicide and its prevention can be found at:
http://www.med.uio.no/iasp/
http://www.suicidology.org/
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
Theodore Annemann (1907-1942): Born Theodore John Squires. His mother was remarried when he was young, thus the name change. When Theodore was a child, he was very interested in magic and owned a commercial magic set that he often practiced with. His mother, however, thought it was a distraction to his school work. One day she threw his magic set into the fireplace and let it burn. Even though this memory stuck with Theo for the rest of his life, he would go on to be one of the most well known names in the history of magic and mentalism. Annemann was the author of many books on mentalism, including the posthumously released classic “Practical Mental Magic.” He also published a lot of his material in a magazine called "The Jinx" (which he edited, also). The Jinx would later be regarded as one of the most important periodicals for magicians of the 20th century. Annemann was married a few times and had one child by his first spouse. He was about to perform a dramatic bullet catch, indoors, on Jan 12, 1942, but committed suicide before the show. His presence and influence on the fields of magic and mentalism have been felt in terms of monumental proportions. He is one of our most beloved family members. William J. Hilliar (1876-1936): In his professional life, Hilliar was an author, ghost writer, and sleight of hand performer. He also founded a very influential periodical, titled "The Sphinx," which would go on to be one of the most popular and important magazines for conjurors of the 20th century. Hilliar was also a life member of the SAM. As a matter of fact, President Harry Houdini inducted him into the society in 1918. Some have suggested that he may have been involved in the S. W. Erdnase affair. Of interesting note about one of his performances is that he once performed, in disguise, as Howard Thurston while Thurston was suffering from illness. The crowd knew none of this and offered a standing ovation to the wonderful ‘Thurston’. Hilliar fell victim to suicide two weeks before his 60th birthday in 1936. Hilliar's writings live on as a beacon of wonder and mystery in the vast sea of magic literature.
Hanco (?-1903): The magician known as “Hanco” performed magic in the early 1900’s. He was known for his escapes and his unique wardrobe, which was that of a prison convict. Hanco explained to his audience that he was an ex-convict and had learned his magic while in jail. The show featured a lovely female assistant who Hanco was madly in love with. Not much is known about Hanco suicide in 1903 other than it was followed by an argument with his assistant. His liberated spirit, though, lives on in today's magic community.
Harry Blackstone Sr. (1855-1965): Born Harry Boughton. After 5th grade, Harry dropped out of school and spent his free time performing magic shows with his brothers. When he was a teenager, Harry’s father (Alfred) fell victim to suicide, which forced him to find employment in order to support the family. Despite having to work full time to help support his family, Harry still practiced his magic regularly in his spare time. In 1905 Harry teamed up with his brother Peter and started performing sleight-of-hand magic in beer halls in Michigan (US). In 1911, after he perfected his act, Harry Boughton started performing under the name Harry Blackstone. By the 1920’s, Blackstone was the top box office attraction, beating out his rival Howard Thurston. In 1934, Blackstone's became the proud father of a baby boy who would, later in life, earn the title of one of the world’s greatest prestidigitators. Despite the challenge of family tragedy early in his life, Blackstone Sr. shared wonder, happiness, and joy with all the world and was always the 'life of the party' at magical family gatherings.Further reading:
Annemann's Enigma: The Writings of Theodore Annemann. Edited by Todd Karr. Published by The Miracle Factory, 2008.
Annemann: The Life and Times of a Legend (1992). Compiled by and with commentary by Max Abrams. Published by L&L Publishing (Tahoma, California, US).
Booth, John (1995). The Fine Art of Hocus Pocus. Published by The Magic Art Book Company (Watertown, Mass., US).
"Sensational Tales of Mystery Men" by Will Goldston (1929).
Images located and obtained via Google Image Search.
More information on suicide and its prevention can be found at:
http://www.med.uio.no/iasp/
http://www.suicidology.org/
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
Friday, September 04, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Grabby Hands (a poem)
The student says,
"Grabby hands wanna touch everything.
Wanna touch the cards
Wanna touch the coins
Wanna touch the box
Grabby hands wanna touch everything!
Grabby hands wanna see everything.
Wanna see the thimble
Wanna see the wand
Wanna see the hanky
Grabby hands wanna see everything!
Grabby hands wanna know everything.
Wanna know the secret
Wanna know the answer
Wanna know the trick
Grabby hands wanna know everything!"
The master replies,
"Grabby hands touches but feels not.
Grabby hands sees but comprehends nothing.
Grabby hands knows but knows not.
This is the essence of our art."
(Written by The Magic Utopian, 2004, while climbing Mount Herrmann in the heart of Magic Utopia)
"Grabby hands wanna touch everything.
Wanna touch the cards
Wanna touch the coins
Wanna touch the box
Grabby hands wanna touch everything!
Grabby hands wanna see everything.
Wanna see the thimble
Wanna see the wand
Wanna see the hanky
Grabby hands wanna see everything!
Grabby hands wanna know everything.
Wanna know the secret
Wanna know the answer
Wanna know the trick
Grabby hands wanna know everything!"
The master replies,
"Grabby hands touches but feels not.
Grabby hands sees but comprehends nothing.
Grabby hands knows but knows not.
This is the essence of our art."
(Written by The Magic Utopian, 2004, while climbing Mount Herrmann in the heart of Magic Utopia)
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