Introduce Yourself

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Permalink Reply by George Buckley on March 13, 2008 at 9:25am

My name is George Buckley and I live in Ruckersville, Virginia. It is just a little north of Charlottesville, Virginia. I have been a magician since 1982 and a clown since 1986. I started learning magic in 1982 after seeing a Gunny Sergeant on USS Hunley perform magic for three hours with just four half dollars and a deck of cards. WOW!!! Several of us “sailors” asked to be taught “magic”. Gunny handed us each an english penny and told us if we could make it disappear he would teach us anything. I headed to the University of Guam library and asked a lady if I could read some of the books. She asked if I was a student and I said “no” ( I just knew she was going to kick me out). She said I could read all I wanted, but I couldn’t check any thing out. I grabbed Bobo’s “Modern Coin Magic” and learned the French Drop and Classic Palm. I was the only one to show the Gunny how the penny could disappear. You see an American Sailor can’t spend an English Penny. It won’t fit in a soda machine and you can’t buy cigarettes or candy with it, it’s only good to learn magic and the Gunny wanted to see if anyone had the commitment to start to learn on their own. That was the first lesson he taught me, the most important lesson in magic, “Commitment”. I still carry that penny today and thanks to him I have performed at orphanages, hospitals, town squares, and Enlisted Clubs all over the world. In 1986, I was stationed in Groton, CT and had no one to play with. I looked for magicians everywhere. The only company I could find was in Hartford at a local magic shop and my money was more important than my friendship. I learned how to make my own magic and the importance of fellowship from them. Now, I make almost all of my own magic effects (Change Bags, Card Decks, Production Boxes and Show Boxes). One day, I found an article in the classified section of the base newspaper….”Ever wonder what its like to be a clown?”. Next week the ad said a class in clowning was being taught and that they would be teaching “magic” among other things. Magic?!!! I called the number and talked to the lady, she was teaching clowning, but didn’t know much about magic. She asked if I could teach a little about magic for a reduced registration fee? Why not, I love to learn something new every year, something that has nothing to do with anything else I’ve ever learned. I’ve learned sailing, surfing, ceramics, cake decorating, tying flies (for fly fishing), and how to play ukulele. Why not clowning….now, I been doing it for 20+ years and I’m still learning stuff. My father always said “you should learn something new everyday…whether it hurts or not.” That and his “honesty” are two things I have taken to heart. I currently own my own entertainment company “Mirth-n-Magic” and hold the position of Secretary for IBM Ring 320 in Staunton, VA. You can check out our newsletter at http://homepage.mac.com/gbbuckley/FileSharing7.html
Since then I have been a E911 Supervisor, Critical Incident Stress Management Counselor and Instructor, CPR Instructor, and GIS Field Technician. I’ve taught classes on Clowning, Magic, Balloon Sculpting, and Business Management. Now I want to entertain everyday. I long to hear the heart felt laughter of the young and the old. To see the wonder in the eyes of the child and the child in the eyes of the adult. To help that one person who needs to forget the burdens of their day and remember what it is like to be care free as a child. I’m looking forward to seeing how much I grow over the next year or two. My daughter says I should put a video on YouTube. Now there is Magicians.com, I guess we see what happens…. Thanks for letting me go on and on.

Remember..Never let anyone live in you mind rent free.

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Permalink Reply by The only "ISO" Clown, just foolingyou on March 13, 2008 at 11:57am

Hi there,
nice to see yet another Clown here.

I am from Mumbai, India and proud to be a self taught Clown ( as yet). It has its drawbacks though that I really cannot share my views, gags or even experiences. I have been doing White face till now and have just started experimenting with Auguste designs in private till I decide on a final face. I also intend developing an Indian Clown character later. Will share with you more later.

Welcome aboard mate. Join the Clowns Group on this site?

Coincidence or whatever, I too am from the Navy ( Indian Navy, Communications Specialist)...

Look forward to more interaction

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Permalink Reply by George Buckley on March 13, 2008 at 4:08pm

Foolingyou,
Thanks for the welcome, glad to see some other sailors in the group. I was a Data Systems Technician. I have made some wonderful Naval friends through my magical skills. I still hear from one who retired from the Spanish Navy. I am an Auguste myself. Started as a Tramp character and found I was more into the comedy side of things. My clown name is Two-Bits. I got the name from a book called "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton that I had read as a boy. The names struck me as neat... Sodapop, Ponyboy, and Two-Bit. Anyway, when it came time to pick a name, I didn't have to think to hard. I'll up load some photos later. Anyway thanks for the welcome. Hope I can chat more with you.

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Permalink Reply by Fumanchu on March 22, 2008 at 4:16pm

Wow, I just looked a bit through this thread and am a bit overwhelmed by the how long some posts are. Mine will be a bit short right now.

I'm pretty new to magic. I'm mostly into cards and am trying to figure out if I like flourishes enough to spend the time practicing on them or not.

Oh, and I was refffered by Mojo.

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Permalink Reply by Nick Roberts on March 22, 2008 at 10:08pm

HMMMMM,

I'm actually a bit UNDERWHELMED by how SHORT most of the posts are here...:).

As far as card flourishes go, or any sleight for that matter, the practice involved to learn them is well spent.

When the spectator is fooled by a move, or entertained by a flourish, it's worth all the practice time spent. Iii would not spend a lot of time on all of the fancy cuts (where you're holding multiple packets of cards ) as these are boring to laypeople.

If you learn a multiple cut, or two, wherein the deck is returned to an unshuffleed state (or where the top or bottom stock is undisturbed) then I'd say "go for it". Otherwise, I believe the time required to learn the multiple cut is not well spent.

I would , instead, spend time on fanning, etc. And if you're at a stage distance often, then it would be good to invest time into backpalming, etc.

Just my opinion,

Nick Roberts

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Permalink Reply by travis on March 29, 2008 at 9:23pm

Hi, y'all i'm Travis, I live in Scottsville Va., the middle of nowhere...

right now, magic is a hobby, an escape. when i practice, no one bothers me, and when i show what i can do, my friends look at me differently. i like street style magic, where i can show three or four tricks, and walk away leaving my victim(s) wondering "what the f---?". i made an attempt at stage magic at my school talent show, it could have been better...

i've been involved in magic for almost eight years now, and i still get the butterflies when i try new tricks, i havent really had a group of people to learn from, or to critique my tricks, so it's kind of slow going. i really like to freak the be-jesus out of people, (ie.- popping my eye out (1/2&1/2 creamer, not my eye) or stuff that makes people think that i'm going to need a doctor soon.) if anyone knows what i mean, suggestions would be appreciated.

i would like to get involved in party magic, a friend of mine wants me to show off at his brothers b-day, and i don't know where to start routining, or how to go about a long performance like that. my last attempt wasn't anything to brag about... not a total flop either... needs work.

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Permalink Reply by George Buckley on March 29, 2008 at 9:49pm

Travis,
I'm from Ruckersville (small world even for us middle of nowhere guys) and currently the Secretary for International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 320 in Stanton. We meet on the last Monday of the month in Fishersville. Our Ring Newsletter (of which I'm editor) is at http://homepage.mac.com/gbbuckley/FileSharing7.html
It has directions to this Mondays meeting in the newsletter. Feel free to drop by if you get the chance. I will be teaching Coin Magic with Pocket Change. Our members love to share ideas. One great effect you might check out is Brent Walske's Pyro Perception. It is a blister effect along the line of a Blaine or Angel type magic. Definitely makes people stop and shiver.

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Permalink Reply by james william farr on April 4, 2008 at 5:09pm

helle every one my name is james im from toronto canada i would just like to say hi.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Shea on April 5, 2008 at 3:35pm

Way back in the '70's i took a trip to New York City from Upstate to hit a Pawn Shop and buy a Banjo. I ran into Russ Delmar's Magic Shop and spent all my money there! i had a blast with the stuff i got but living in an area without a magic Shop I didn't pick it up until many years later when i found a shop in Albany, NY. One of the guys there convinced me to do some birthday parties and that got me started! From that point I did shows every chance i could as part time Professional until i was fired from managing a Radio Station the same day I went to Humor Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY The people there said i should forget about the Radio Biz and go to work for myself and that was the start of my full time professional career.

I now live in Virginia Beach, VA and one of my best friends here is the original Seance Master from the Magic Castle, E. Raymond Carlyle, who has been tutoring me in the mental stuff and I spend my summers working the BeachStreetUSA program here. Cool! I went from management to become a street walker, wait a minute...street magician/mentalist. That sounds better.

I am a member of IBM and Magicians Alliance of Eastern States. Used to be a member of SAM but I complained about them once and they harassed me ,so I dropped out.

Jack Shea, IM

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Permalink Reply by Jim Salabim on April 6, 2008 at 12:12am

Hello fellow magic friends,

I'm very new to this forum and would like to share a few of my tricks with you soon. I have a routine I created which is the perfect closer after you have performed "The Chicago Opener." I will add it to the video section as soon as I can.

If anyone needs any artwork for their lecture notes, please let me know...

JS

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Permalink Reply by Sukyi on April 7, 2008 at 3:20pm

Hey.

I'm Sukyi. I grew up in Malaysia but I'm from Texas and currently in Michigan. Flourishing is my trade and I do a few card routines here and there. Also have a bunch of Children's tricks up my sleeve for parties and what not.

Any Flourishers in Kalamazoo here?

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Permalink Reply by HaDi on April 15, 2008 at 7:13am

HI..i'm hadi from singapore
i been learning a lot of thing nowadaes
and im also busy with school
(need to juggle so many things..school,,magic,,diabolo,,crystal ball,,poi,,drum,,guitar and also flower sticks)
but nowadaes i need to study a lot except friday nights which i always go to the esplanade to practice all my stuff
i would like to learn a lot of things..and new magic!!!
being a magician also improves my confidence
but overall i only do magic in school,,camps,,learning trips where i did magic to a few of the parents and also to the children from the salvation army children's home
oh yea..
add me in msn if want to know me more
or make magic friends
teach me more magic also!!

msn:
dark_rayden7@hotmail.com

TNX

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