12 days of Christmas - the final day!

In the run up to Christmas 2012 I take great pleasure in sharing with friends, colleagues and contacts a selection of fine magic tricks and Christmas cracker jokes that have the groan control turned up to at least 11. 

Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman MIMC (Member of the Inner Magic Circle) says that jokes have to be bad jokes because it is impossible to tell a joke that will appeal to all age groups within the family; with bad jokes, however, it becomes a case of ‘us against the joke’, so it unites everyone.  So if it has to be bad jokes, you might as well go for the best bad jokes available – which are all available for the legendary Tommy Cooper.  Finally, a tip: Jokes from the Cooper canon do not have to be told or read in a Tommy Cooper voice, but it often helps!

A trick from a member of The Magic Circle and a joke from Tommy Cooper will be posted here every day in the run up to the Christmas break, so keep coming back and have a terrific festive break.

Nick 

Day 12 - Hans Klok – with an abundance of Las Vegas-style illusions

This is the sort of thing for which you normally have to go Las Vegas, but this year Hans Klok brought his show to London and visited us at The Magic Circle on his night off.

As he seeks to break a record for the number of illusions performed in a fixed time, there is almost too much magic going on to take it all in. 

Have a very happy Christmas!

I said to the waiter: "This chicken 
I've got is cold". 

He said: "I should think so. It's been dead for two weeks". 

"Not only that", I said, "It's got one leg shorter than the other". 

He said: "What do you want to do, eat it 
or dance with it?" 

12 days of Christmas Magic - Day 11

Day 11 - David Copperfield defies the Death Saw

–      probably my favourite illusion

I don’t normally approve of magic that plays of the possibility of anyone getting hurt, but this is extraordinary and combines scary drama with playfulness.

Two are cannibals eating a clown.  

One says to the other: 

“Does this taste funny to you?”

Day 9 - Kevin James – a very modern take on ‘sawing in half’

As one of the classic illusions, we see a lot of sawing in half at The Magic Circle but, so far, not quite like this.  It’s quite extreme and just shows what you can achieve if you take a classic and bring it up to date.

The waiter brought me a lobster.  
I looked at it and I said: “It’s only got one claw”.  
He said: “It’s been in a fight”. 
I said: “Well get me the winner”. 

12 days of Christmas Magic - Day 6

Day 6 - Laura London – yes The Magic Circle has women members too!

As one of the most glamorous magicians around, Laura travels all over the world working her own brand of magic.  Recently she caused a bit of a stir at The Magic Circle by staging a show with a selection of her friends from the world of cabaret, including – for the first time at the Circle – burlesque dancers!

And the back of his anorak was leaping up and down, and people were chucking money to him. I said: 'Do you earn a living doing that?' 

He said: Yes, this is my livelihood.' 

12 days of Christmas Magic - Day 5

Day 5 – Alan Shaxon

–      The Magic Circle’s most elegant performer remembered

Former President of The Magic Circle Alan Shaxon passed away just recently and will be much missed by members as one of the nicest people in magic, as well as one of the most skilled and knowledgeable.  The elegant way in which he moved while on stage, always knowing exactly where the next prop was positioned as he disposed of the previous one without you even noticing was always a great lesson to any magician – or anyone else who stands up in front of an audience. 

Here Alan performs the ‘Zig Zag Lady’, the classic created in the 1960s by his friend Robert Harbin.

“Doc, I can't stop singing the green green grass of home.” 

“That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.”     

“Is it common?” 

“It's not unusual.” 

12 days of Christmas Magic - Day 2

Day 2 - Fay Presto – Queen of restaurant magic

I am often asked what inspired my interest in magic.  The answer is very simple – Fay Presto, queen of restaurant magic and current Magic Circle Close Up Magician of the Year.  I hired Fay back in 1991 to entertain my staff at my PR company and was immediately hooked.  I had to know more – I started seeking out the shops, the conventions and any show I could get to.  Eventually I became a member of The Magic Circle and was able to refine the thinking that led to my coaching courses and my book Presentation Magic.

So I was in my car, and I was driving along, and my boss rang up, and he said “You've been promoted.” And I swerved.  And then he rang up a second time and said “You've been promoted again.” And I swerved again. He rang up a third time and said “You're managing director.” And I went into a tree.
And a policeman came up and said: “What happened to you?” And I said “I careered off the road.”