Assembly News
Meeting Minutes 2009
Next Meeting: Saturday March 13th 10am
!! MEETING PLACE !!
The FAIRMONT COMMUNITY CENTER.The address is:
217 S Cedar Avenue
Independence MO 64053
On the Website below the Community Center is the "A" tab on the map
Google map link
!!! Latest Sym news !!!
Keith Fields 7pm Tuesday March 9th US Toy and Magic
Shawn Farquhar 7pm Tuesday April 27th US Toy and Magic
US Toy 435 & state line
The last thursday of every month 6-8pm
All that are interested in balloon twisting! Totally Free!
We had a really good meeting.Eddie Pease our new Primary Adult Leader did a teach a trick.He made
a rope melt right through his neck.Mark Stillwell showed the kids how he could turn 1 dollar bills
into 100 dollar bills.Bob Klamm showed the kids different ways to use a change bag.And the we had a
real treat with Brian McElvain teaching the kids different ways to handle cards. Everyone really gained
alot of knowledge at this meeting. If you weren't there you really missed out.
Get ready for a fun filled meeting! We are going to have two teach-a-tricks.Mark
Stillwell will be teaching coins.Eddie Pease will be teaching solid thru solid with silks.
So everyone make sure you bring some coins and silks. And we would like to see some performances
at this meeting. So bring something you've been working on so we can see how it looks. And If there
is anything you guys are wanting to see at the meetings let us know so we can make it happen. Hope
to see everyone there. As a magical entertainer, I like to consider myself pretty
well-rounded when it comes to the markets I perform for and the
people that become my audiences. I never claim to be a jack of
all trades and make sure to only perform those shows that I feel
I am most qualified for.
However, there is a problem that I see that has existed in magic
for years. It is a problem I am sure we have all seen or been a
part of, yet maybe we do not fully understand why or maybe we
just simply have come to accept it.
When performing for an adult audience (whether it be a stage show
or strolling magic), why is it that you tend to get the feeling
that the person would much rather gouge their eyes out then have
to watch a magic trick? Why is it that this attitude is obviously
conveyed to you through body language and what they say to you?
Why is it that these people seem to think that what you are about
to do is going to deprive them of minutes of their lives they
will not get back?
It is really quite sad, but it happens all the time. You end up
feeling you have to fight an uphill battle before your show or
strolling performance even gets started. It is this feeling like
you have to "prove" yourself to them. It is a feeling that you
must absolutely work hard at "winning them over." So why is it
that adults tend to have this attitude towards magicians?
Well, for starters, it must lie in the perception that the adults
have as to what a magician is and what we do. This perception may
be a wrong one, but many adults simply feel that every magician
is exactly the same. This is a problem for sure, but it is
reality.
In their own minds, they often can sum up a magician as some
geeky guy wearing strange clothes that embarrasses people and
performs at their kid's birthday party. It is really quite sad,
but if you asked a lay person to be honest, I can assure you this
is how they see us. It is also the perception of how they see ANY
magician.
So why do they see us this way? Well let's have a reality check
here folks. They are right in many ways. Simple reality is that
there are so many bad magicians out there performing magic in
such a manner that it is embarrassing to themselves and the
audiences they perform for. There are many that simply take on
gigs that they are totally not ready for, but do it because "I
need the money."
There are so many magicians who simply do not understand the
concept of being a professional and yet others who insist that
magic is about jamming it down someone's throat and making them
look foolish in the process. If this is true, then no wonder they
fear us when we approach them.
So what do we do about this? What can we do to change the
perception adults have of us? What can we change in ourselves so
that we can fight this uphill battle and create a new perception?
For starters, we need to always remember to not accept every
single show that comes our way. Understand who you are and who
you ARE NOT. If you hate performing for adults but love kids,
then stick with kid shows. Do not force yourself to doing an
adult show simply because they money is good. It is not fair to
you, to your client and to every other magician.
You then can start to realize that magic is not about fooling
people or embarrassing them to inflate your own ego. It is about
entertaining and making people have a good time through the usage
of magic. You do not have to jam magic down their throats every
time and we certainly do not have to embarrass people in our
performances. Create magic that entertains and show respect.
Respect is a key here. Respect your audience. Treat them as a
guest in your own home and they will love you for it. Make them
feel good and make them feel appreciated. A magician is a lonely
person without an audience. Make sure the magic is for them and
not yourself.
We can also change perceptions simply by learning to be a
creative thinker of magic. STOP trying to be someone you are not.
STOP trying to perform a trick the same way everyone else does
because it is "the easy way out." Work on creating magic that
fits YOU!
You can then make sure that you understand a key word here. That
key word is "professional". Be a professional at all times. That
does not mean be one only when the show starts and stops when the
show ends. Being a professional is a state of mind that needs to
happen all the time.
It is how you talk to the client and how you approach adults at a
strolling gig. It is how you dress for the event and how you
handle situations that come your way. It is how you thank the
folks for watching your magic and sincerely appreciate them for
doing so.
When an adult audience sees a professional, they start to realize
that their perceptions of magicians may not have been correct. It
is up to us to work hard to change this bad perception but it can
be done. Learn the tips and techniques and suggestions I
mentioned above. If we do, maybe this uphill climb will not be so
hard in the years to come.
As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your
thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or
suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly
at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you.
SYM Assembly 9 SAM Assembly 38 IBM Ring 129 Magic related shows on TV: www.tvmagicguide.com.
Tuesday 6-8pm Johnny's - Prarie Villiage KS Friday 6-9pm Bob Evans - Village West KCK Stone Canyon in Parkville on Friday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm Kevo the Klown
Bringing Joy & Laughter to Kids of All Ages! Keith Fields 7pm Tuesday March 9th US Toy and Magic SYM Kansas City - www.sym9.com SAM Kansas City - www.samkc.org IBM Kansas City - www.ring129.com SYM National - www.magicsym.com SAM National - www.magicsam.com IBM National - www.magician.org Bradbury Books & Beyond (used & rare books) Klamm Magic Magic Supply Co Mind Games and Magic US Toy Everything Magical discussion board: Magic Classroom DONT MISS OUT!!!!
Lectures:
Greater KC Balloon Jam
February Meeting
March Meeting
An Uphill Battle by Kyle Peron
Meetings:
Location: The NEW Fairmount Community Center - 217 S Cedar Avenue, Independence
Location: The NEW Fairmount Community Center - 217 S Cedar Avenue, Independence
April 1st - 7pm
Radisson Hotel (a.k.a. Crowne Plaza Hotel)
I-35 and 95th St.Magic on TV
See the website for the details on the shows below.
WEEK OF March 8th - 15th , 2010
Now Appearing:
Eric Price
Wednesday 6-8pm Johnny's - Olathe KS
Thursday 6-8pm Waldo Pizza - Lee's Summit KS
Friday 6-8pm Minsky's Pizza - Prarie Village KSGene Hernandez
Saturday 6-9pm Bob Evans - Village West KCK
Sunday 12:30 - 3:30pm Granny's Chicken Ranch - Village West KCK
Tuesday 6-8pm Pizza Shoppe - Platte Woods MODevin Henderson
The Cafe at Briarcliff Village Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 pmKevin Emerson aka "Kevo the Klown" is now appearing at these fine restaurants every week:
Applebee's -Belton, MO - Every Monday Night from 6p-8p (Kids under 12 eat for 99 cents)
Applebee's - Harrisonville, MO - 5:30p-8:30p - Every Wednesday Night (same as above for kids)LIBRARY SHOWS
Magic and Recycling
Learn the importance of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Along with creative award-winning magic and colorful illusions, children will learn about the environment and what is happening to it. Through magic and humor, kids will discover how to help the planet along with their own future.
April 17th, 2010, Saturday at 2:00 PM ClaycomoSplash of Magic
This show will tickle the imagination, highlight the fun of reading, and encourage children to explore the library. Join the award-winning Paisano Family for lots of audience participation and the ever popular "teach a trick"
May 27, 2010, Thursday at 7:00 PM RaytownPrestige Illusions
Join Patrick Jones teen illusionist and his lovely assistant Lena, as he entertains us with close-up card tricks, stage illusions, and more.
March 25, 2010, Thursday at 11:00 AM Excelsior Springs
March 26, 2010, Friday at 10:00 AM Riverside
April 20, 2010, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Antioch Lectures:
Websites:
Clubs
Shops
4545 Wornall Rd. #805
Kansas City, MO 64111
www.bradburybooks.com
1412 Appleton
Independence, MO 64052
www.Klamm-magic.com
632 W Walnut
Blue Springs, MO 64014
www.magicsupply.com
www.mindgamesandmagic.com
2008 N 103rd Terr.
Leawood, KS 66206
www.ustmagic.comOther cool sites
Magic ClassroomYouTube Clip of the month
The Trilogy-Coin Magic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS6rQ6_Q3Ko&feature=related
Slydini Knotted Silks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndwm6-BbkXA&feature=related

