A Magician's Creative Thoughts

As a magician and entertainer it is important and critical to the show that the audience is engaged by and very interested in the experience or story I'm sharing as opposed to just looking at the effects that are taking place.

The experience and/or story are there to support the magic but are key element to creating entertainment and not just a "look at me and the tricks I'm doing, aren't I cool" sort of thing.

See More at Illusions by Vick

a Magican's Resume

Just updated so I thought to post it here

Illusions by Vick
Vick Dias Gisin



Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(C) 443-540-9631
Shows AT illusionsbyvick.com
http://www.illusionsbyvick.com


Mission Statement - An artist and entertainer who’s chosen medium is performing magic. It’s my calling (and profession) to accompany you on a one of a kind journey, creating astonishment while delivering enchantments for you to contemplate and appreciate. To create an experience that engages you and encourages you to think and feel. To share something that touches you in the now and leaves you with you something to consider in the future. From a place where anything can happen and the ordinary can become the incredible. Wrapping interesting and intriguing stories around incredible effects thereby creating the experience we call magic (all while a smile plays around your lips).

Experience – 11+ years professional performing experience and intense study in the art of magic. Have been extremely fortunate to perform numerous public and private shows. A small sampling of recent clients include the British Embassy, B & O Railroad Museum, Mercedes Benz, The National Zoo, Alliance Française of Washington, Mechanical Contractors Association of Maryland, 20’s & 30’s Going Out Group, Herndon Festival, IDT Telecom, World Battery Recycle Trade Forum, Southern Maryland Hospital Center and John Hopkins.

Professional performing experience includes some very challenging and rewarding performance situations. For 3 years I was the lead entertainer at Muvico Theaters (now Cinemark) a 24 screen multiplex with an approximately 6,400 patron seating capacity in Arundel Mills, Maryland. Was featured doing warm up with movie going patrons, performing up to 25 times a day, 3 days a week. The entertainment was magic based and included skits, stand up comedy, character acting and story telling. I brought to life many leading characters from featured movies for patrons’ entertainment including Professor Snape, Willie Wonka, Captain Hook, Pirates and various medieval characters. We created all our own material including scripts, costuming and staging. While it was a great experience I left after 3 years as I had accomplished all I felt I could in that venue.

For 6 months of 2008 I was the featured illusionist for the Golden Triangle Cabaret on M Street at Club Ozio in Washington DC. The Golden Triangle Cabaret is a 1940’s theme Burlesque Review. While the show was being performed weekly I was performing two or three 10 to12 minutes spots of magic during each performance. The featured burlesque artist left and the show moved to a monthly performance schedule so I chose to leave the ensemble.

In 2011 am most often performing the Illusions by Vick stage or parlor show at various venues both public and private. Run time is approximately 45 minutes.

The Illusions by Vick show has been fortunate to play many venues which include but are not limited to the Oakland Mills Auditorium, Hillwood Museum, Harmon Center for the Arts, B & O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Harborplace Amphitheater, Grand Atrium, Magooby's Joke House and numerous public auditoriums, nightclubs and theaters. Everywhere from Mercedes Benz Dealerships to the Great Ape House in the National Zoo, beautiful assisted living communities with excellent theaters that easily seat 200 guests to performing as Professor Snape in the "dungeon" at the Annapolis Bookstore.

A short description of self, study and influences- Unique (aren't we all), resourceful, responsible, truthful, determined, hardworking, adventurous, occasionally charming and reasonably well spoken. I’m driven by a sincere desire to elevate the art of magic and to help return the art to the lofty standards and high regard it was once held in. Am always learning and eager to learn more. The works of Sam H. Sharpe have been a huge influence on my thought process regarding magic and performing (as well as the Fitzkie Trilogy, "Our Magic", Tommy Wonder, Robert-Houdin and Henning Nelms "Magic and Showmanship"). There are many schools of thought and great ideas.

Have been incredibly fortunate to be given guidance by an enigmatic figure (an actual card man) whose name I obviously cannot mention and to whom I owe a huge debt and gratitude. Also the very talented and respected Denny Haney has been kind enough to assist with direction in the art (and putting up with my questions). Jeff McBride was generous enough to help with one of my pieces. As part of my continuing education I often attend lectures, some of my favorites being Joanie Spina, Banachek, John Carney (twice), Darwin Ortiz, Michael Ammar, Howie Schwartzman, Christian Painter and David London. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked briefly with Joanie Spina and she made a huge, positive impact on my work. She is an amazing talent, director, teacher and humanitarian.

Much of the influences on my performing come from outside of the world of magic and include film, literature and music. Create something that engages minds so they think and feel and you have created art


What you receive when hiring Illusions by Vick – All the experience, determination and talent go into creating, performing and providing you and your guests with a unique, sophisticated and unparalleled entertainment experience. Every performance is more than just my dream; it’s my name and reputation on the line. More than that it’s also yours. How well I perform and the enchantment around the effects is the art. How well you and your guests enjoy it and will have Illusions by Vick back next year, the years after that and recommend Illusions by Vick is part of the business. I understand the importance of both the entertainment/artistic side and the business side and am able bring them together. I have to succeed at both for us to be satisfied. Anything less is unacceptable. When you pull back the curtain and peek you see that sometimes show business = 10% show + 90% business.

Washington Post Article about Smartphones, aps and magic

On Sunday an article ran in the Washington Post which I was interviewed for. While I only had a one line mention in the article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/magical-iphone-put-to-use-in-actual-magic/2011/07/15/gIQA6FqSKI_story_1.html here is part of the email I sent to writer Michael Rosenwald before the interview about Smartphones, aps and magic

Yes I'd be glad to share information and perspective on why I don't use technology in my work. I'll give you an overview here, a lot of it has to do with performing and presentation.

One of the keys to presenting good magic is to keep it from becoming a simple "trick" or puzzle and to keep it entertaining (why much of what I present is in narrative from that the audience can relate to) and make it an encompassing experience. Presenting a puzzle which many I-phone type aps or other magic aps do is a lose-lose situation for a magician.

If it seems like a puzzle the audience feels a challenge to figure it out. If the audience figures it out or feels they did that's not really magic. If they don't figure it out and still feel it is a puzzle the audience feels they deserve an answer, their focus becomes "how did you do it" as opposed to being entertained by the experience. Sort of like looking at the answers for a crossword puzzle when you can't find the right word.

If you show the audience a performance of magical entertainment that they become emotionally invested in, that stays with them. If you show them a tech trick it's just passing eye candy. They take nothing away from that experience.

Technology can also remove the human factor in performing entertaining magic (the audience has to like or at the very least have some emotional investment in the character performing, think about a movie, if you don't feel about the characters in some form the movie doesn't work), it can too easily become a "look at this, isn't it really cool" presentation as opposed to a human interaction that is amazing.

That all being said there are performers like Marco Tempest (who bills himself as a techoillusionist) who are doing amazing things, but he is an exception. The usual having a ghost or card show up on an I-Phone is too much like a "trick" or puzzle and not enough like an entertainment experience.

The focus while performing should be on the entertainer and not a piece of electronic equipment. If I'm showing a "trick" on my phone, who is doing the magic? The performer or the phone? Who's show is it? The magic has to have a source.

Kind of do we want to present Shakespeare or do we want to play a video game? Both have their place as entertainment but it's too easy to slide into simple tricks with a lot of technology instead of a real, emotionally moving (and I include humor in emotional investment) human to human entertainment experience. I want the audience to be moved or invested emotionally in some way. Doing it with technology can make it even more challenging and if not handled well adds another barrier to reaching that goal. Can you really decide to "like" a piece of equipment?

I really like this one, an on line magic trick

Click here to see a cool magic trick
It's worth taking a quick look at, sort of unusual
It's rare that I call something a trick but you'll understand when you see it

"Magic would be great, if not for magicians"

I can believe some of the things Christian writes here and it makes me ill

http://enjoythemystery.com/?p=151

This sort of thing leads me to often quote
"Magic would be great, if not for magicians"

Christian & Katalina are one of the best acts working currently
There are both incredibly nice and extremely talented
What makes them so enjoyable besides their obvious love and affection for each other is their presentation

I'll never be thrilled with performance about 70% of self proclaimed magicians, I'll never work the Magic Castle as I will never be a member of the IBM or SAM. I don't agree with their attempts at enforcing arcane ideas and not providing help upcoming performers need

The pity is so few want to be magical performers take the time to study acting, writing or get beyond the "look at me and what I can do" attitude to realize it's really all about the audience

Season's Greetings & Thank You

Seasons Greetings,
Vick of Illusions by Vick here, sending you my sincere wishes for a most joyous Holiday Season!!!

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for making 2010 the best year ever for Illusions by Vick!

Whether I performed shows for you or you attended performances, took time to inquire about shows, emailed or called to talk about the art of magic, called with questions about your events and performances or stayed in touch, please accept my most heartfelt gratitude .

Without you the Illusions by Vick show would be nothing, I know that every time I step on stage. You are what makes the show, what motivates and inspires me to create that special world we journey to during the Illusions by Vick show. That unique place where magic happens and is alive and well, even in this crazy and sometimes uncertain world we live in.

Every performance, every person I meet and perform for touches me in some way. You are what inspires and encourages me, what allows me to put all the heart, effort and dedication into every show. Meeting you, speaking with you in email, on the telephone and after performances drives me to create and share the most amazing magical experiences, to give you the best entertainment possible. That's where all the imagination springs from, wanting to create amazing experiences. You are the inspiration and the reason, night after night, week after week and year after year. I couldn't do it without you.

Please pardon me getting a little sappy but after 2010 I really wanted to take the time to say thank you, to let you know how much you and your support means to me and the Illusions by Vick show.

Here's to an even better year in 2011

As you know, I'm always here for you, a call or email away.

Please be well.

All My Best Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and an even better and prosperous 2011,
Vick
http://www.illusionbyvick.com

p.s. Special thanks to all the clients who booked Illusions by Vick through the Gigmasters Talent Agency,
you made Illusions by Vick Gigmasters Top Rated Magician in the USA!!

Our world badly needs more great magicians

I performed a show for a holiday party/house warming last night and it dawns on me how badly the world needs more quality magic performers. The party was all adults with one 5 year old child (the son of the couple that hired me) and the show went over very well (I overheard some very nice comments as I was loading out).

Afterward I spoke with both the husband and wife, the husband comments how when telling guests they would have a magician the remark was "Oh it's a party for children". The wife told me I must have amazing nerves as half of the audience (about 40 people) were men (who are engineers, wish I had known before) who at the beginning were skeptic and focused on figuring out "how" things were done. I explained how by wrapping stories around the effects and including the "skeptics" in the performance it takes away the focus on how things are done.

There are other aspects that come into play to remove the focus on "how" it's done and to make it entertainment. When adults think magic is only entertainment for children they are missing out on some of the finest entertainment in the world, some great, amazing and moving experiences and outstanding art and theater. That is why we need more quality magical performers.

Well I changed that small portion of the world, only 5,999,999,960 more people to go.