I had many comments and emails about my last essay entitled ‘Guts‘. One of them that got me thinking was from Jack C. Caranci.

‘…performing, for me, is akin to flying a plane (long periods of calm interspersed by moments of sheer terror) for me that is where the guts come in – those terror moments when I try something new or better, try an old trick on a new audience.’

Jack refers to himself as an ‘occasional’ magician, and though I am a professional who has performed all over the world, I can deeply relate to his comment.

I clearly remember trying to show fellow magicians a simple trick when I was new to magic. I remember looking down at a pair of hands that were no longer mine. They insisted on shaking and the more I tried to stop them the more unstoppable the tremors became. I knew the trick inside out, I had practiced all the moves until I could do them perfectly. In front of a mirror I was a magical god; in front of an audience I was a bag of nerves… and the real rub of it was that I was doing a self working trick!

I could do moves and sleights with the best of them (when I say the best of them I mean the guys at the local magic club) but I could not do a whole trick or a routine without an internal earthquake – I had a bad case of stage fright.

Back then I did not know what to do and I was too embarrassed to ask people for help. This has led me to the following question ‘knowing what I know now, what advice would I have given me?’

Now let’s jump forward about 30 years.

I had taken a six month sabbatical from performing, to move to the USA, and was back standing on stage in front of an audience of 700 people in a packed theatre, I was half way through a routine that I knew inside out. I had done this routine many times before. I know it is funny and I know it always gets a great response including a fair share of standing ovations. I looked down at my hands and noticed that they were shaking a little. A few moments later my stomach knotted and I experienced what I can only call a ‘flop sweat’, every pore in my body decided to start leaking! I was experiencing another attack of stage fright. During the sabbatical I had lost my edge and now I was sharing Jack’s experience, the problem brought on by a long period of calm followed by a moment of sheer terror!

What was I going to do? Thirty years ago I had a simple coping strategy. I just avoided performing any tricks in front of an audience. But this time it was different, performing was what I did for a living and I had a wife and children who were relying on me, not performing was not an option!

Stage fright can happen to anybody, whether you are performing for two friends or a two hundred strangers. The good news is there is a solution and I guarantee that it works.

So here it is… The big secret to overcoming stage fright. The only way I know that really works. I didn’t know it then but I know it now. Are you ready? You probably won’t like it! I wish I could break it to you more gently but I am just going to have to blurt it out.

Feel the fear and do it anyway!

What would I tell me 30 years ago? I would gently encourage me to go out there and work through it. Even though my hands were shaking and my stomach was knotting. But you don’t have to just jump in at the deep end… you can start by paddling and getting used to the water. Find situations where you are more relaxed. Use those situations to build your confidence. Maybe that means performing to friends and family or you may be better in front of total strangers. Maybe it is in front of kids where you feel safe, or it could be in front of seniors. This first stage is all about confidence building. Small steps and small successes. As you build your confidence you will be able to go deeper into the water and experiment with different audiences.

It isn’t meant to be easy. If it was then everyone would be doing it. But the rewards makes us better people and we learn life skills that will help us as magicians and in many other walks of life. If you really want to be a magician then you have to do it anyway. What is the worst thing that can happen? A bad show with jokes that aren’t funny and magic that doesn’t work. When I taught my children to ride a bike I showed them that the only way to learn was to fall off. You have to learn how to fail before you learn how to succeed, and it is OK to fail. In my last newsletter I said it takes guts to perform – it also takes both perseverance and endurance to be a good magician.

So if you, like Jack, you are experiencing ‘long periods of calm interspersed by moments of sheer terror’ then you can do something about it… you need a bit less calm and a bit more terror!

I truly believe that you can do it. You can overcome the fear and then get so much more out of our wonderful art of magic. I know this because I have been there… twice!

And off to walk the dog again..

Keith Fields

On behalf of Entertainers in the Tri-State and other magic enthusiasts…

I would like to sincerely thank Chuck Arkin for his significant contribution to magic by his completion and distribution of Cincinnati’s Legends and Leaders of Magic. Chuck’s overwhelming generosity and his enormous effort, coordinated with Pat Hartzel, has produced an extensive and detailed history of magicians in this area. Chuck has certainly demonstrated his commitment to the world of magic and the clubs are blessed by his membership. Thanks again, Chuck – great job!!!

Paul Ketterer

Chuck has kindly offered to provide a complementary copy of Cincinnati’s Legends and Leaders of Magic to anyone attending the February 24th Keith Fields lecture who does not already own a copy. Here’s another great reason to attend on the 24th!

I have been very blessed and had an amazing career, making my living solely as a performing magician. Mainly working corporate events, cruise ships, trade shows and comedy clubs and in my early years Kids shows. And many of the things I have learned will be shared at my lecture.

This is the first lecture that I have put together and contains only material from my working repertoire… no pipe dreams, no half thought out ideas, no impossible sleight of hand. All my material has to work in front of real people who have paid to see me do a show, and that is exactly what you will get… guaranteed!

Alongside that will be loads of magic with my work on the chop cup, a borrowed bill routine, card tricks, close-up tricks, mentalism and my favourite routine for Kids of all ages!

And as a comedy club headliner with over 25 years experience I am sure we will have some laughs along the way!

Here’s a sample of Keith’s unique style of comedy magic…

If you missed the IBM/SAM Holiday party in January, you missed a great event, delicious great food and socializing, and also unbelievable entertainment.

First we honored Bill Brewe as the ‘Dean of Cincinnati Magicians – Emeritus’ for his many contributions to magic in Cincinnati. Also it was announced that Bill Pryor will reign as the current ‘Dean of Cincinnati Magicians’. Chuck Arkin also presented a certificate from the International IBM recognizing the 75th anniversary of Ring #71.

Patrick Thernes surprised most of us by demonstrating his musical talents as he sang several songs for our enjoyment.

Richard Osterlind followed with several mind blowing magic effects followed by a demonstration of his world renowned mental abilities.

On February 24th, Keith Fields will come to our ring for a lecture. Keith lectured last year for the SAM Assembly and did a fantastic job. He has a NEW lecture. Keith has also written a book on doing Children’s Magic and will be sharing his ideas with us. More information about Keith can be found in the article below.

More great magic will follow throughout the year: a lecture in March, our annual auction in April, and a lecture in May. We will also hold out annual elections in May. Of course we will conclude the year with a picnic in June, which will include the always fantastic War of the Wizards.

See you soon!

President – Ring 71
dhinton@cinci.rr.com
513-248-0773

(Click photos to enlarge.)

Larry Payne opened with several variations on the Hot Rod, a silk and ribbon routine that reminded me of the classic Sefalaljia, and closed with a deceptive ball and tube effect. ⇒

⇐ Don Hinton performed a Reverse Matrix effect, followed by an “Un-Card Trick” (performed with un-cards (blank cards), naturally). Don closed with a Card to Envelope effect.

Ian Adams, one of our youngest members, did a full program of card effects: a packet trick revolving around an odd back card, a behind-the-back location, a vanishing deck, and an effect using two Kings to hunt down the chosen card. ⇒

⇐ Patrick Thernes opened with the production of a glass of wine, then wowed the crowd with a five-minute Cups and Balls routine performed entirely to music. The final surprise, in which the three multi-colored paper balls merged into one, was especially effective.

After a brief break for snacks, the Ring reconvened and the judges announced their decision:

• 3rd place: Larry Payne
• 2nd place: Don Hinton
• 1st place: Patrick Thernes

Congratulations to all our contestants!

Visitation will be held Saturday, December 17th, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oxford Presbyterian Church. The memorial service will start at 2:00 PM.

For further details, please visit the Zig Zag Archive.

As you may have seen from Zig Zag articles over the past few months, Pat Hartzel and I are creating a book to honor Cincinnati’s Legends and Leaders of Magic. These are intended as not-for-profit books (at no cost to the magic clubs or recipients), to be given out as gifts, early next year, as we celebrate Ring 71’s 75th anniversary, and will also acknowledge the 90th anniversary of SAM Assembly 11.

For the “legends” part, we invite all Cincinnati magicians who have been performing for twenty-five years or more to send me a promotional picture and a brief biography (perhaps a page of information, that we can edit down). Some people find it easier to just have me interview them.

The “leaders” part is intended to include past president’s of the Cincinnati magic clubs. We have all the names of past IBM ring 71 president’s, though we are missing the names of past presidents (and years served) for the other Cincinnati-based magic clubs. Any assistance or names/dates you can provide will be much appreciated.

Our preference is to receive your information electronically via email, or snail mail if you prefer. However, to help facilitate people who want to come in to be interviewed, Betty Winzig has agreed to allow me to conduct interviews at Haines House of Cards during its regular business hours on Friday, November 11th (it’s a Veterans Day work holiday day off for me), and on Saturday, November 19th. Please contact me (email carkinwzrd@aol.com or call 513-236-4015) to make an appointment if possible, so that interview times will not overlap.

If you meet the criteria listed above, please download this information form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF). After filling it out, please email it to Chuck. You can also print it out, fill it out by hand, and mail it to Chuck at the address listed at the top of the questionnaire.

Count Marco’s Haunted Castle returns for its 49th year! The family friendly Haunted Castle is free to the public; however, donations are welcome. The Castle will welcome courageous visitors on Saturday 10/29 through Monday 10/31 from 6:00 to 11:00 PM. All are welcome. This year new backdrops have been added and the black light room has taken on a new look. Happy Halloween!

Rumor has it that Count Marco’s Haunted Castle can be found at 6791 Marvin Ave in North College Hill.

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