Ok, so I was going to publish the first part of this on Friday, but I didn't, so shoot me. I didn't even start writing it until just now, so publishing it would have been interesting, but whatever, that hardly counts for anything these days, especially since I expect this entry to get between 0 and 3 views, seeing as it probably won't have any search buzzwords in unless I make a conscious effort to add them. Which is very possible, depending on how much energy I have left by the time I get to the end of my ramblings. Incidentally, these are reviews from my own point of view, while I'm half asleep, so don't expect a full account or anything half coherent.

Anyway.

I did a double performance on Saturday, as part of being a Leader (well, technically a young leader) for a cub group camping weekend. I'm now shattered, as my usual audience is a little older and less energetic, and not half as awkward. That and I don't sleep very well generally, even without the after-nerves of a show (I only dwell on things, I don't worry before events. It makes exam preparation quite interesting actually...)

So, I arrived late for my first showing, meaning I had to set up with an audience there already. Which isn't good. Especially when the kids can't stay sat down while you do so. Most of the show went pretty well. I didn't realise until moments before that I hadn't prepared an appropriate patter, so it was kinda impromptu (preaching about recycling?) The kids really liked the magic coloring book routine, which surprised me, as it's a classic trick that most kids know the secret of, or can work it out before the end of the trick. I skipped the maths trick, as my audience had an average age of 5, maybe 4 years old.... so probably wouldn't appreciate it. My favourite trick was severely cut short due to lack of foresight, making a dice appear in my hat from a box usually gets me at least 5 minutes, as the impression of moving a dice from one side of a long box to another in order to make it look invisible can be achieved. This isn't so easy if one of the kids runs forward and grabs your hat while you hold a box in both hands.... but the magic was there, so it's not too bad, I think. This did however ruin my timings, and the final trick, a ring and rope routine using a german method was performed twice, once in german. To 4 year olds. Not good.

So, the ickle ones left, and I was flung pretty much straight into the next show preparation. I had to get changed into my outfit (having performed in scruffy trousers and a rude T shirt I put on a suit, but keep my trainers on... smart-casual apparently.) So, I had just enough time to reset my stuff, remove any spent tricks (shortening my act...) and to replace a ripped prediction, before my next audience arrived.

I didn't have enough time to set up.

I opened with a prediction trick, which wasn't too bad, nothing went wrong with it, so yay. The colouring book was abysmal. Every single kid, bar one, knew how the trick was done. They got to do some acting, so it wasn't too bad, but there are some MAJOR flaws with the trick which they picked up on. The ring and rope didn't have to be performed twice, and I stook to English, which I'm marginally more comfortable with. The dice trick was awesome. It really was. I got a great reaction, from the disappointed looks when I visibly transferred the dice (i.e. moved the dice before their eyes, no magic involved) to the sliding it around the box, to the revealing at the end. (one kid, thinking I was about to fail when I reluctantly said I would show them the whole box open, said "Its ok if you haven't made it disappear, as long as you tried your best" kinda cute really, if I was allowed to show emotions like that.)

The maths trick deserves its own paragraph. I don't know why, but its probably to break up the text, rather to introduce a radical new idea. Given a number between 34 and 99, I create a square in which over 75 combinations of 4 numbers add up to the given number. Its a really simple method which I can't reveal, and I can do it in about 30 seconds. The kids weren't too impressed by this. They took a while to add up the first couple of rows, and maths isn't very exciting. The adults watching from the side were impressed though, so I suppose it works better with older people... Still, I said I'd use it in my act, and I don't break promises.  )yeah, that's underlined, and this is in reversed brackets. I'm so cool.(

My style is usually close up rather than stage, so that was an interesting experience. It was great to get a few people tell me they really enjoyed it, and nobody didn't enjoy it, so its all good, I hope. I've got a lot to learn from it, including:

Children should be chained into their seats if under 10 years of age.

Speaking a second language to children under 10 may keep them quiet, but they won't understand a word you say.

Maths tricks are not advisable for use on children under 10 years of age.

Performing with a sore throat is not a good idea.

Even one innuendo is too many if parents are present. (I get the feeling I won't be performing at their birthday party)

Children will do anything to be chosen as a volunteer. That was fun :D (in an innocent way to anybody with a  sick mind)

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One of a pair of twins, and has an older brother. Nothing like either of them. He's funny, he cares about other people, he doesn't smoke, and he's into rock rather than rap. All things his brothers aren't. It was a monday evening when this was signed, on a table under a flag after I did the trick without a signature as a test. He's a pretty good audience in comparison to the two I had this weekend, which is a plus.

Alright Ladies and Gentlemen, I have my little free time back so I can write something less personal to me now.

Yes, that is a good thing ladies and gentlemen, because I don't write well about my personal life as me, not as James.

What do you mean I don't write well anyway? Fine, whatever, maybe I write a load of sh- rubbish most of the time, but I've gotta hit something good eventually, right?

(note, the above introduction does not mean I expect this to be world class material. it is simply an introduction, as I was told good stories start with an introduction and end with a conclusion...)

So, next comes the part helpfully named in essay instructions as "middle" Not the most descriptive of titles, but here we go.

I have a new pack of cards now, and I suppose I'm expected to use those instead of the rather battered signed set I've been using primarily. In truth, I always carry 2 packs of cards, one signed, one unsigned; but now I have another pack, I have to choose which ones to take and what gets left behind. Its not a nice decision. With a pack so worn, the cards don't flow quite as smoothly as is ideal for me, and people get suspicious as some cards are worn in different places to others (so I clearly memorise the card by the tiny unique batterings to the backs of the cards.) So I reach a problem. In order to reach the next level, I need to be able to perform comfortably with brand new cards, so there is no suggestion of me remembering stupidly minute details. (though I have pretty good eyesight, so I could probably work with a new pack if I was so inclined to mark the cards) The problem is... those cards are a part of me. They contain all the memories, the reactions of my audience captured in a single part of something bigger. I can describe the reaction from any of the signatures. (Try me, I don't mind, pick a card) It's not because I have a great memory, as quite frankly I don't. I can remember the situation because they were all so awesome.

As me, I used to feel I had few good qualities, there were always people better than me, and I was pretty average. I still am really. I've made my impressions on people, and that's how my life is going to progress... But as James Radon I get a second chance. I can be whoever I like, and give people whatever impression I like. I'm allowed to let people like me, as chances are I'll never see them again. I don't have to worry about keeping up appearances, as I can change the appearance I give out. It's pretty liberating really.

However, I can't do that comfortably with no proof that I did it. If I change so much, then what's to say I ever was anything. That's why I need these cards. They make me who I am.

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I could honestly choose any of them, but this time I'll let you decide. Pick a card, go for it!

So, I thought I'd try out this future posting thing, which means I wrote this.. yesterday. Well, actually I'm writing it right now, not yesterday.. but you wont be able to read it until tomorow, which will be today when you read this.... I think.

Thats why I don't do time travel. (amongst other reasons)

Anyhow, I'm going for mentalism today..or uh.. whatever day it is.

I generally don't go down this route of magic...I used to, but I don't anymore. Therefore I know all the theory behind it, but it tends to unnerve people, for the same reason I don't particularly like talking to psychology students shortly after their lessons. I know they could be analysing me for anything they learned recently, and I don't like what it would show about me... I tend to appear as a depressive on most psychoanalysis tests. Anyway, before I go on about my mental health and the reasoning for it, I'll get back on track.

I generally perform for people I'll see often, so them being unnerved by my prescence isn't productive... hence no mentalism tricks.

There are exceptions. I won't hypnotise people, or use inevitables, but I will work with probabilities and simple maths tricks.

For example. Think of a number between 1 and 10... most people choose 7. This can be used for all sorts of things I am once again unable to divulge... but if you want to make a magician's life easier, choose 7. (having said that, its  usually unimportant)

Ok, moving into dangerous territory there, and I want to keep my memberships, so I'm going to have to go off on a tangent.

Psychology of the stage name. That sounds good, so we'll do that.

Stage names seem to fit into a few main caegories, but like most things I try to classify, there are exceptions, so don't quote me on these.

Anagrams: for example, my name, James Radon, happens to be an anagram of my first and last names, using the first letter of my middle name to add a consonant. The name ssounds natural to me, so I keep it with minimal effort.

Clever names with meanings most people miss: My mentor, Mike November (or Miknov sometimes, depending on desired accent) chose his name by using 2 letters of the phonetic alphabet (obviously M and N) which appear on police records and mean that the person on record has a mental illness. Mike November likes to use mentalism tricks more than me, surprisingly, and that's why the name was chosen.

Child friendly names: These actually creep me out more than reassure me, which is what I assume the purpose of the names are supposed to do. If an entertainer came to my 5th birthday party called "Uncle Chuckles" or "Bobo the Clown" I'd probably be terrified. (then again, I have a rather large fear of clowns) If someone who I have to call uncle then proceeds to make balloon animals, shout noisily and generally act like a fool, then I have to question my family... especially if I never see them again and next year theres someone completely different, also called Uncle Chuckles.

Themed Names: If you do an act themed on police work, call yourself inspector whatever... or a voodoo magic show? then why not be a witchdoctor, whith a witchdoctory name? That's the advice I was given when I was told to find a stage name. Of course, I don't have a single theme, I do whatever the theme of the even is, so I can't have a themed name. (currently, my name would imply a scientific approach to magic.... which could be quite interesting actually)

Real Names: Some people decide not to change their name, and good for them. They keep their own personality, and if people love them, then its who they really are... of course if they're not so popular, thats also who they really are... And thats why I have a completely different personality for my stage persona. I have something to hide behind so I can be confident. (yup, I'm quite shy when not acting as James.)

Celebrity Name: People who choose random words and add them together to make a name. The same system used by most celebrities: choose something you like, and the name you wish your parents had called you. This covers cheesy names like Justin Illusion too. 

So, I'm sure there are more, but since i can't think of any right now, I'm not going to write them down right now... agreed?

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Psychology student. Therefore by rights I should be on edge around her. Then again, I spend a good portion of my day with her, so that would be even less productive than performing mentalism for a tutor in a recap lesson (since they become suspicious of everything, and also get distracted, asking for another trick) She seems to like a particular trick whose patter is based around probability, which is pretty cool (the interest, not just the trick) and though she can be a little blunter than some of my other assosciates, she has a pretty good sense of humour. Heh, she'd kill me if she found out I was complimening her to people she doesn't know.