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The Magic Management Master Class
20th April 2002
Reviewed by a member of the YMC
The Young Magicians Club, The
Magic Circle's youth initiative, runs workshops for its members almost every
month and this month we were privileged to have Magic Management take over The
Centre for the Magic Arts in London for a day.
As we arrived, a timetable and details of each speaker were thoughtfully
provided and then up to the Devant Room for a formal welcome followed by the
first item from John Woolvett whose lecture, "Life Is Magic", showed how magic
should be made a part of your life, though not all of it! John explained the
importance of other interests to give our magic that necessary extra dimension.
He also explained how magic skills could be applied to "normal" life. He gave us
25 minutes packed full of great tips on performance and its details - all those
little things that push magic up to the next level.
Marc Paul, the "Worlds Greatest Mind Reader" showed us the first trick of the
day, with a seemingly impossible effect divining five cards, selected by five
spectators from a very mixed deck. After explaining this, he showed us an
apparently impossible prediction effect, where he correctly revealed a letter
and a number chosen by two spectators. I cannot stress the impact these effects
had on me and others in the audience. The methods were deceptively simple and
the results I have since had, performing the first effect are incredible.
One o'clock brought lunch, with close-up magic and questions hosted by Paul
Andrews and Anthony Owen. This was great; people had a chance to show off new
effects and ideas. Members were able to chat and 'session' with any or all of
the lecturers. I watched Guy Hollingworth effortlessly demonstrate various card
techniques which I will talk about later.
After lunch, expert pickpocket James Freedman (top photo) discussed "Opportunity Magic" in a
lecture which covered a wide range of subjects including David Devant, The Magic
Circle Library and an amusing story about a party in Piccadilly and a cheque
book! James's talk was mainly about how to take advantage of everything you and
your spectator may do, and perhaps turn it into an impossible trick. He also
showed us his very clever trick called Peek-A-Both, where a spectator finds his
thought of card by spelling to it.
Next, Guy Hollingworth showed us his brilliant version of Twisting The Aces
(with kings!), and then how to simplify this effect and add a kicker ending
using his Quartet card. Everyone was given the necessary special card as a
present. After this, he taught us some more advanced card skills whilst some
less advanced members left to take advantage of a separate workshop on coin
magic. Amongst other things, Guy showed us his handling of the Elmsley Count,
the Bottom Deal, Second Deal, Middle Deal and the Pass. These techniques were
very well explained and I think everyone gained something from this - I
definitely did. To round it off, Guy demonstrated his world-famous Reformation
which, even if you know the method, is absolutely incredible.
To finish off the day, Paul Andrews hosted a useful Question and Answer Session
and then brought proceedings to a close.
Throughout the day, each lecturer had provided free notes and handouts produced
specially for the event and as we left we were also each presented with a number
of magic magazines and a souvenir certificate signed by the Magic Management
team.
I'm sure everyone will agree it was a fantastic day, and that we all got a huge
amount out of it. So what can I say but thank you to Magic Management for an
absolutely outstanding workshop.