What Does this CLOWN Think He is DOING?

Is this a joke? No, unfortunately, it's not.

Once in a while, someone who really has no understanding of the need not to spread the secrets of the art too thin is elected to a high office in one of the magical organizations. This has happened with Carl Jones of Dallas, TX, who was elected Vice President of the Texas Association of Magicians. He planned to put on "Magic Weekend 2."

One of the goals of this program is "First - not only to introduce magic to people who have never done magic before, but to do so in a way that will allow them to leave on Sunday with their own bag of tricks which are ready to be performed! In some cases, you'll leave with an entire SHOW in a box that can be performed for a fee far in excess of what you paid to attend TMW!"

While, on the surface, this seems innocent enough, it's a big problem for many of us who have studied the art for years and have dedicated our lives to proper performance.

Mr. Jones, who is also a Shrine Clown, seems to think that magic is a commodity that, like any other, can be doled out to the masses, so they can earn higher pay with a couple of sleight of hand tricks.

Well, they can't.

It takes years of dedication to really become a competent magician. I doubt that Mr. Jones realizes this. In fact, after seeing Mr. Jones in action as MC at the recent SAM Convention in Dallas, I'm sure of it. I'm amazed that he would actually consider performing what he does in front of a crowd of magicians, much less the public.

In answer to his "Magic Weekend 2," I am planning to put on the following event.


Magic Weakened, Too!
The goal of Magic Weakened, Too! will be to go to the parts of Houston that are frequented by hookers who would like to get out of their potentially dangerous lifestyle and learn a new way of "turning a trick."

The advantages of this are tremendous. It will stop the rise in AIDS. It will give these ladies a new way of earning a living, and they won't have to wash up afterwards.

Or would this be prostituting our art?



Note:
Mr. Jones recently sent out an e-mail to the entire Houston magic club mailing list, explaining why he thought people should check with HIM before they "wasted any more money on MAGIC Live Conventions." I really don't appreciate people from outside the bounds of Houston using our mailing list, which we support with our club dues, etc. I asked him to remove me from his mailing list.

Surprisingly, I got a reply from him. Among its witty rejoinders was a statement that there are two kinds of people that he knows. People he spends time with and people he doesn't. He informed me that I was one of those he doesn't want to spend time with.

Fine by me. I've never spent any time with him.

I doubt that he would have much to offer.

For more information, send e-mail to bill@billpalmer.com


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©2007 Bill Palmer. All rights reserved. For permission to republish contact Bill Palmer at the above e-mail address.