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  1. Craig Browning

    Simple - One Thing Happens

    When I worked with the Kirkham show we did about 90 minutes of wonder featuring some of the most famous illusions in history (the actual props used by Kellar, Thurston, Blackstone, etc. ) and while the audience enjoyed the show there was one routine they talked about most; the Orange Bowls...
  2. Craig Browning

    The Complement Game

    Well, I can't do the photo part, but I do love how the bunny manages to levitate the magician in this shot.
  3. Craig Browning

    The Sins of Magic

    The Womanizer/Drunk performer. . . one of the biggest things that irks me on the forums is seeing threads about "How to Use Magic to Pick-Up Chicks". On most of these threads I deliberate ask folks "How Would You Feel if Another Guy Used These Bits on You?" Why? Because the "predator"...
  4. Craig Browning

    If You Could Meet...

    I'd have to go back in time a bit. My list would include; Richardi, in that he was an amazing theatrical artist and technician, not just a magical performer. He was likewise a master of terror, presenting Horror on stage long before the idea of Bizarre Magick actually took root. Ironically...
  5. Craig Browning

    Ever Wanted....

    I've been lucky enough to create several such fantasies, my favorites being bits in our last Macabre show tour in which we used a car display lift to raise the Buzz Saw about 10 ft. into the air, making it rotate as the saw cut through the young lady. . . using music from Phantom of the Opera. ...
  6. Craig Browning

    New tricks

    Learning magic is a perpetual process, it's not stopping and starting over again. We find a cache of bits we like to do and slowly we begin to replace certain routines with newer effects or handlings that interest us and help us "improve" upon or otherwise change how we are perceived as...
  7. Craig Browning

    How do you promote yourself?

    Dado has given you some sound in-put. I have a couple of questions to ask (which you also need to ask yourself), starting with the sort of target market you think your show would be appropriate for? There's no such thing as a "generic" show package, so who is your target; kids, families...
  8. Craig Browning

    21 by Shin Lim

    I'm curious as to why you would say this? I found SSS to be perfect to what I needed in a smoke production, which is the point here; you may not like the how of things, but the value in an effect or effect system is how applicable it is to you and your performance settings. . . I totally detest...
  9. Craig Browning

    What is Mental Magic?

    This is one of the most important points to come out of this thread even though it has little to nothing to do with the topic. I run in 16 year olds that boast about being a "Professional Magician" and yet they've never read the Wilson Course, Royal Road or any of the other preliminary texts...
  10. Craig Browning

    Best torn and restored opinions?

    Oops! I'm trying to help a gent in China with this problem; his $160.00 effect has been usurped and is now being mass produced by a group of hacks in China and sold for as little as $12.50. While I don't see it as a $160.00 effect, it's not a "cheap trick" either. It is this black market...
  11. Craig Browning

    Stage Show

    I'd say you need to study your magic history a bit. . . Harry Houdini was known as the "King of Cards" long before he was known for his escape work; the Great Cardini was one of the more amazing acts in magic, much of what he created is still being used by traditionalist. Thurston and several...
  12. Craig Browning

    Best torn and restored opinions?

    My first question has to be, "What the heck are you tearing up and putting back together again? A dollar bill? a Playing Card? Napkin? Newspaper?" My second point has to be that there is no "best" outside the one that works best for you that supports your persona and the artistic expression of...
  13. Craig Browning

    Strong as an oak

    When I was in my teens and twenties a "Cardist" or "Cardician" was in fact, a formally trained manipulator of the pasteboards who rarely used legit playing cards but rather, special types of palming & fanning decks. . . I've seen very few people incorporate the old fanning deck idea into all the...
  14. Craig Browning

    What is Mental Magic?

    I believe it, but you'll find the same thing being said by William Larsen, Sr.; Robert Nelson, Dante and many of their peers -- the old timers got it! Today's young people are selfish and have little to not respect for "tradition" let alone the idea of discipline. Mostly due to the fact that...
  15. Craig Browning

    What is Mental Magic?

    THEN DON'T DO MENTALISM! Based on your comment here, you don't get it. . . and I'm not saying that out of spite but because you are missing what we've been saying. You don't have to claim to be a "Psychic" for starters; Mentalism includes Memory Expert type demos, Hypnosis or Suggestion...
  16. Craig Browning

    Strong as an oak

    (Sorry William). . . between you and me Shea, I think it's the crotch angles that get him to watch. . . Truthfully, I'd say that Draven and Steerpike are like me, they watch with the hope of seeing actual talent at work; someone who is trying to ENTERTAIN us rather than another show off...
  17. Craig Browning

    What is Mental Magic?

    I damn sure don't want to ONLY do mentalism. And why is it a problem that I'm "all over the place"? I enjoy MANY different types of magic and mind reading. When I saw this line I just couldn't resist. . . If you want to do a variety of different kinds of effects STAY OUT OF MENTALISM! We...
  18. Craig Browning

    Voicemail Prediction

    Poor guy, my personality is rubbing off on him. . . Fact is ANY EFFECT involving a cell phone or eMail, etc. will not be accepted as genuine PSI like phenomena because it involves modern technology, something that's become a major pain in the tukkiss for working Mentalists. We've had to...
  19. Craig Browning

    What is Mental Magic?

    Not exactly true, William. . . effects like "Casino Royale" are obviously a trick when presented as are things like the Master Prediction Chest, Dream Vision, etc. in that they are prop heavy for starters and obvious production pieces. But as I said earlier, a smart performer will use this type...
  20. Craig Browning

    Stage Show

    Yousaf. . . think simple and think comedy. . . as I said, there are a lot of effects that give you time and can be played quite big such as Dean's Box, Paper Balls Over the Shoulder, I couldn't find a store link for it but I have a bit I'd gladly share with you involving this particular prop...
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