Inside Magic Favorite Magician Ricky Jay is so good, his magic can make people cry.

That’s how The Jerusalem Journal begins its very positive review of Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay.

We are told of a British journalist who dined with Mr. Jay in a café on a hot, sticky day. (The article doesn’t say “sticky” but we believe it was implied and will stand by our interpretation).

He related a story about Max Malini, “who once borrowed a woman’s hat, placed a silver dollar underneath it, then lifted the hat to reveal that the coin had transformed into an enormous chunk of ice. And at that moment, the journalist recounts, Jay lifted his menu with a flourish to reveal his own 1-foot-square block of ice, which materialized as if out of thin air. The journalist was so astounded by ‘this supreme piece of artistry,’ she says, that she ‘burst into tears.’”

Deceptive Practices lovingly created by filmmakers Molly Bernstein and Alan Edelstein will open this Friday, May 17th in Los Angeles. You can check out the official movie site for listings in other areas and states here.

The Journal says Mr. Jay keeps his secrets – particularly when it comes to magic effects or personal matters – but does perform some pretty amazing things for the camera and the audience beyond. It “unfolds like a magical mystery tour of Jay’s professional art and artifice. On camera, he transforms a paper moth into a real insect, flings a card at 90 miles per hour to pierce the skin of a watermelon and dazzles audiences with his specialty — astonishing card tricks — with maneuvers so virtuosic they defy the imagination.”

The documentary does trace Mr. Jay’s evolution and development from student of his late grandfather and amateur magician, Max Katz as well as Slydini and Cardini to budding performer in his own right at the age of 14 under the nom du magic Tricky Ricky.

We learn how he left home to work as a professional in nightclubs and on television shows like The Dinah Shore Show and The Tonight Show. He studied under Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller and learned the skills that have consistently made him one of the top cardmen in the business. How good is Mr. Jay?

“During a conference call from New York, Bernstein and Edelstein admitted to studying those tricks in slow-motion in the editing room, but said they still have no idea how Jay effortlessly transforms one card into another.”

The guy is good. Let’s not kid ourselves.

The critics have been pretty uniform in liking the film.

“Wonderfully engaging!” – New York Magazine

“Full of happy surprises. Card tricks that leave his audience speechless.” – David Edelstein, New York Magazine

“He puts on a smashing show, whether on or off the stage… Mr. Jay proves a hugely entertaining guide…” – Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

****! [4 stars] “(A) great enchanter! A reminder that deception, in the best of cases, is a pathway to transcendence.” – Keith Uhlich, Time Out NY

“A riveting look at Mr. Jay’s arduous, arcane pursuits through the prism of those who taught and inspired him to be one of the world’s great magicians. Some of his illusions are so stunning that they leave spectators teary-eyed – out of amazement, or perhaps fear.” – Robert P. Walzer, Wall Street Journal

“Grade: A- Intriguing. A true master magician. Shows practical magic can be just as thrilling as anything you see on Game of Thrones.” – Drew Taylor, Indiewire.com

“There is a great deal of sheer fun of watching him grow up from little Ricky Potash, a 7-year-old performer of surprising poise… to a shoulder-length-haired hippie in a three-piece suit working the daytime talk shows with gusto, to the wry elder statesman of today. Jay’s memories are… warm, charming and instructive.” – George Robinson, Jewish Week

“This introduction to Jay’s world and his most secretive fraternity…dazzle(s) you with its clips of Jay pulling astonishments minor and major with the decks of cards he is forever just unwrapping from their plastic… We see mad and gorgeous excerpts from his library of magic guides. Here’s a movie with magic.” – Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice

“So entertaining… Just watching this magician’s hands at work with a deck of cards is positively mesmerizing.” – Lou Lumenick, New York Post “You will be wowed.” – Scott A. Rosenberg, AM New York

Deceptive Practices opens at the Landmark Nuart Theater Los Angeles on May 17.

The post Magician Ricky Jay Can Make You Cry, He’s So Good appeared first on Inside Magic.

Amidst the rampant Facebook and Twitter speculation, Sorcerers Summer Safari Magic Camp just announced bringing in famed Las Vegas-based Magician Justin Flom as the special guest at Camp this summer.

With several best selling DVDs, a cover of IBM’s magazine and a ton of great unpublished ideas – Justin Flom has lots to offer the campers. Famous for his Ellen appearances, Justin Flom’s YouTube channel has also received international acclaim. The campers are going to love him!

The inspiration for asking Justin Flom to spend time at Sorcerers Safari, explained Mike Segal, owner of the performance art camp, “He simply loves magic and would be a perfect fit for camp and the kids.” Segal continued, ”And there really is no better way to spend quality time immersed in the art of magic than with one of your heroes. Who doesn’t love Justin Flom? He’s awesome!”

The idea of having the ‘rising stars of magic’ as special guests at camp is always one of the hot debates at the annual executive staff meetings.

Sorcerers Summer Safari Magic Camp chooses only the best of the best to come up as their special guest. After unanimously agreeing Justin Flom was a perfect fit, they asked and he gladly accepted.

“Justin Flom is going to have a great time up here, and so are all the campers and staff. Imagine all of the experiences he can recount about performing for Ellen, having his own headlining show, filming world-wide acclaimed YouTube videos, and the rest of all the legendary things he’s done,” said Sorcerers Safari thirteen year veteran, Steven Kline. “This is going to be our sixteenth year in operation, and I can’t remember a time when I was so excited about a special guest like Justin Flom.”

Kline adds, “I met Justin Flom very early in his career and it’s nice to see him blossom into a powerful, artistic force. Having him at camp is a win-win for everyone. We welcome him to our camp family with open arms. Having Justin is like having a long-lost brother come up for the week. I love it!”

According to Mike Segal, Sorcerers Safari grows exponentially with a high rate of return campers and staff. With luck, Justin Flom will love camp so much, he too, will return every year.

Check out the video showing just how pumped Justin is for camp this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V13KMyirXEg&feature=youtu.be

Are you ages 8-18 or know someone who is and would benefit from a week at Sorcerers Safari?

Learn more about attending with Justin Flom this year by visiting the Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.

The post Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp 2013 Special Guest, Justin Flom! appeared first on Inside Magic.

Magician Tony Spain announced he will be appearing in Las Vegas later next month.

He will bring his show of escapes, mentalism and kid show magic to one of the Strip’s show rooms.

He will send more details when he secures the financing for the theater.

He hopes to use the appearance to gain a foothold in the Las Vegas magic scene.

We will update this story as we learn more, probably.

Revisions: This article was revised to reflect the following changes to the original copy.

April 23, 2013 18:23 – Approximately 220 words referencing Mr. Spain’s prior shoplifting convictions and probation violations were deleted at the request of the magician’s agent/lawyer.

April 23, 2013 21:18 – Photo of Mr. Spain and former assistant, Rowina Shultz was removed in response to a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request from the Sears Photograph Studio in the Mystic Hollow Mall. The studio alleged in their takedown notice that they retained the copyright because the magician failed to pay the full amount owed and the image used was actually one of the proofs sent to the customer.

April 23, 2013 01:10 – Additional text – provided by Mr. Spain – was added describing his “skillful combination of the traditional Las Vegas elements of nearly nude showgirls and classic effects audiences will fondly recall from birthday party shows performed by kid show magicians like Hippity Hop Rabbits and Sucker Sliding Die Box.”

April 23, 2013 03:48 – Added quotes attributed to “Las Vegas Big-Shots” praising Tony Spain and his “unique approach to magic and the theater.”

April 23, 2013 06:40 – Removed hotel name “The Bellagio” from paragraph identifying site of Mr. Spain’s new show.

April 23, 2013 06:41 – Removed all references to the Nobel Prize for Magic following notification from the Nobel Committee that no such award is bestowed and, in fact, if such an award was given, Mr. Spain would be “the least likely magician to receive it.”

April 23, 2013 09:48 – Changed spelling of drug found in recent probation urine test from “chalk” to “Chock Chewables.”

April 23, 2013 10:22 – Removed quotes previously attributed to “Las Vegas Big-Shots” following notification from “The Las Vegas Big Shots: America’s Premiere Plus-Sized Trick Shooters®” that the title is subject to a US Trademark Registration and their organization has not endorsed any magician since an ill-fated co-sponsorship campaign with Chung Ling Soo’s 1918 tour of the United Kingdom.

April 23, 2013 13:15 – Returned quotes previously removed but now attributed to “Las Vegas Big Wigs.”

April 24, 2013 13:22 – Removed quotes previously attributed to “Las Vegas Big-Shots” and then “Las Vegas Big Wigs” upon receipt of cease and desist letter from attorney representing “The Las Vegas Big Wigs: Home of the Largest Artificial Hair Pieces in Nevada.”

April 24, 2013 13:24 – Returned quotes but now attributed to “Guys in the Know in Vegas.”

April 24, 2013 13:30 – Removed quotes (hopefully for last time) upon legal threats from “Wise Guys” who live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Changed home address and made phone number unlisted upon receipt of Wise Guys’ complaint attached to brick thrown through office window.

April 24, 2013 15:00 – Stripped article of any meaning or “facts” and vowed to never again publish any press release from Tony Spain or his people.

April 24, 2013 15:19 – Revised title of article from “Tony Spain to Appear at Bellagio Showroom!” to “Magician Tony Spain Might Appear in Vegas, Sometime.”

The post Magician Tony Spain Might Appear in Vegas, Sometime appeared first on Inside Magic.

Robin Leach reports via his always fun to read Strip Scribbles that Inside Magic Favorite David Copperfield and the MGM Grand have agreed to a three-year contract extension. According to MGM’s president, Scott Sibella The Hollywood Theater might be renamed The David Copperfield Theater this fall.

The theater will be dark for a about a month this September to convert the space into a new configuration. Mr. Leach also reports Mr. Copperfield will have a new show with new illusions for the show’s re-opening just before Christmas.

Check out the entire Strip Scribbles: Did you know that Elvis Presley had a son? – Las Vegas Sun News.

The post David Copperfield Extends Contract, Gets Theater Name appeared first on Inside Magic.

We are not a spy but of course, even if we were, we wouldn’t tell you for your own safety.  But we are a magician and that is somewhat like a spy.  Our specialty is Mentalism and that is very  much like a spy.  62.7 percent of our act is based on intuition, pre-show work and informed guessing.  Perhaps that is why we found so much of the information contained in former CIA operative J.C. Carleson’s new book Work Like a Spy: Business Tips from a Former CIA Officer.

Ms.  Carleson worked in the business world and then decided to join the CIA to serve her country and find adventure.  Along the way, she learned to collect, analyze and use information without detection or suspicion.  Those skills translated well when she returned to the corporate world and so her book is addressed to her new peer group – corporate executives.

Of course the ability to collect information from those who do not wish to give information – a doing so in a way that does not tip off your target – is what we as magicians do for a living.  Even if you are not into mentalism and work solely with automatic tricks requiring no “read” of your audience or volunteer, this book will help you tune your routine to the crowd.

On the other hand, if you are a mentalist or street magician, you need to get this book.  We pride ourselves in being very in-touch with our audience and able to easily pick up on their unspoken communication.  Ms. Carleson says we are precisely the type of person who could be a lousy spy.  Once you are convinced you can read people or discern truths from their behavior or background, you blind yourself to the reality of the encounter.  She provides a step-by-step method to acquire the skills you need to be successful building rapport as a business person, a spy or a magician.

We enjoyed the exercises she prescribes such as picking a stranger at random and learning the make and model of their car in a way that this perfect stranger has no idea you obtained the information.  You can do it – we know because we did it.  (But not on the first through fourth attempts).

Magicians need to pick the right volunteer to do their secret work and Ms. Carleson teaches us how to target the right person to obtain the information you seek.  How to then talk with that person to get the information without asking a single question and ingratiate yourself with your new found friend.

Granted, she describes some techniques that may be considered extreme for the average mentalist or birthday party entertainer: getting your target drunk; dressing in a manner that appeals to your target’s fetish; lying about your background or position to develop the target’s trust.  But there is plenty here for the magician looking to improve on his or her intuition.

Ms. Carleson is a fine writer – especially if this is her first book – and it is a quick but substantive read.  In fact, we read the book in an afternoon.  True, it is not a magic book but it is a good book with instant application to our profession.

Highly Recommended.

The post Inside Magic Review: Spy Skills for the Professional Magician and Mentalist appeared first on Inside Magic.