Die Frage mag manchen absurd, anderen geschmacklos vorkommen; aber jeder neue Trend oder Hype aus Medien und Gesellschaft, ob positiv oder negativ (wie eindeutig hier!), bietet dem zeitgemäßen Zauberer auch relevantes Vortragsfutter, ob ernsthaft vorgetragen oder eher augenzwinkernd.
Wie könnte man also die aktuelle Not und Ausnahmesituation zur Zauber-Tugend machen und dadurch vielleicht ein kleines bisschen erträglicher gestalten? (Humor darf schließlich ansteckend sein!) Hier sind fünf Ideen – natürlich nicht unbedingt zur zeitnahen Umsetzung (Wer will jetzt Zauberer sehen? Und wer wollte oder sollte jetzt unbedingt fremde Schwammbälle oder Karten anfassen?), sondern für die hoffentlich bald kommende Zeit “danach”:
Das Bild oben deutet es schon an: Schwammbälle als Corona-Viren, die plötzlich erscheinen, wild von Hand zu Hand wandern, sich verdoppeln und am Ende explosionsartig (Tom Stone!) vermehren, wenn wir nicht sehr gut aufpassen…
Die eher klassische Variante: Der Chicagoer Billardball-Trick wird zum Mailänder Corona-Fiasko… Tragisch! Als positive Note einfach nach und die Viren-Bälle wieder verschwinden lassen und die Gefahr bannen. Darauf dann einen guten Espresso!
Endlich mal ein sinnvoller Einsatz für den vor sich hin staubenden Kellentrick: Ein einfaches Holzstäbchen wird so wahlweise zum Rachentester oder Fieberthermometer. Am Ende verschwindet die Bedrohung natürlich so schnell wieder, wie sie gekommen ist!
Großes Revival für das Svengali-Spiel: Ein “frei gewählter” Kartenvirus verbreitet sich rasant von Stapel zu Stapel, bis er das ganze Volk infiziert hat… Zum Glück verschwindet auch hier der Spuk schnell wieder, und die Gesellschaft lebt so bunt und divers weiter wie zuvor…
Ähnlich gelagert, aber noch überzeugender und dramatischer zu präsentieren: Der Wild Card-Effekt hat endlich einen sinnvollen Plot (okay, den zweiten nach Tommy Wonder) gefunden! Der Virus ist nämlich so gefährlich, dass er blitzartig eine Karte nach der anderen “erwischt”… Zarte Gemüter drehen die Story natürlich um und bringen wahlweise einen Joker wie Jens Spahn, Meister Proper oder Jedi-Meister Yoda ins Spiel, um eine Gruppe Viren nach und nach zu deaktivieren! – Wer gerade kein Wild Card-Set parat hat, nimmt einfach vier oder fünf Karten und verwandelt diese nacheinander (per DL und Elmsley) in die “Virenträger-Karte” und zurück.
Bonus-Idee: Jetzt günstig ein paar Corona-Biere kaufen und mit den Kronkorken eine Matrix-Routine als Viren-Wanderung inszenieren oder den Virus ohne Umschweife per Spellbound Change oder à la Karate Coin unschädlich machen. Eine flotte Umsetzung (“How to Kill Corona in 3 Seconds!”) könnte in den sozialen Medien schnell viral gehen – und das wäre ja mal eine erwünschte Massenverbreitung. Prost!
“If you happen to fool Penn & Teller, that’s a bonus”
Hi Michael! When and how did you get involved with Penn & Teller: Fool Us as a magic consultant?
Michael Close: I met Penn & Teller about thirty years ago; I had been friends with Johnny Thompson since the mid 1970s. When I moved out to Las Vegas from Indiana in 1998, Johnny suggested that I join him in working with Penn & Teller on their stage show and television projects. This I did for twelve years, until I moved away from Vegas in 2010.
Johnny and I had the same mentor, a man named Harry Riser, who was one of the best magicians of the twentieth century. Consequently, Johnny and I looked at conjuring the same way. We worked well together.
The first season of Fool Us was shot in England. I was not a part of that season. When the show moved to Las Vegas for the second season, Johnny, Penn, and Teller suggested to the producers that I come on board as a second magic consultant. I have worked on seasons two through six.
And after the sad loss of Johnny Thompson, were you the only magical consultant on the show?
Johnny collapsed and was taken to the hospital at the end of the first full day of rehearsal for season six in Las Vegas. He never left the hospital, consequently I did the entire sixth season by myself. I have no idea if the producers will add another consultant for season seven, if there is a season seven.
In your opinion, what does it take for a performer and a routine to be “ready” for the show?
There are two aspects to this question. If you mean, “ready” to send in an audition video, it helps if you have an interesting or novel presentation and a strong effect. If you mean, “ready” to perform on the show–that is, you’ve been accepted by the producers–, then you want a tight routine, with any imperfections smoothed out.
I understand that the premise “You try to fool us–we try to catch you!” creates the necessary element of conflict of the show, but how much focus should the performer actually put on the aspect of fooling Penn & Teller?
The reason to come on Fool Us is that it puts you, your brand, and your magic in front of millions of viewers. If you happen to fool them, that’s a bonus. But it should not be the only reason you want to be on the show.
We all have egos, creative magicians have plenty of ego. We want the effects we create to fool our peers. But that can overshadow the real benefits of being on the show. Penn & Teller are extremely knowledgeable magicians. They have figured out acts that I thought were going to fool them. If you don’t fool them, I wouldn’t feel bad about that.
There have been some discussions why or whether this act or that actually fooled them or not. How detailed or full do the explanations have to be? Are you the judge?
During the time Alyson (Hannigan) interviews the performer, Penn & Teller discuss the act, working out possible methods. On television, this lasts about forty-five seconds. During the taping it can last up to five minutes, maybe more. This is also true of Penn’s conversation with the performer. It is almost always edited down for the sake of time.
In previous seasons, Johnny Thompson was the judge if there were any questions about whether the performer fooled them. In season six, I was the judge. As I have told magicians privately and at convention appearances, if you ever wondered, ‘Did that act really fool them?’ there is probably a story behind it. Penn sometimes recounts these stories on his podcast.
In season six, this aspect of the show–whether or not Penn&Teller were fooled–ran smoothly. If they said they were fooled, they were fooled. If they said they weren’t fooled, they weren’t fooled.
Michael Close backstage with Alyson Hannigan and Penn Jillette
Please describe your process of working with the signed acts until their performance. What are your main goals and your major contribution in that process?
I wear many hats during pre-production and during the two weeks we record the show in Las Vegas. During pre-production I evaluate every act the producers are considering. I make notes of the effect performed, what I think the method is, whether or not I am fooled, if there will be time problems when the act is too long, if there will be problems shooting the routine on the Penn & Teller stage when the act uses, for example, small props or a large number of spectators, and if I spot any technical–that is, magic technique-problems that need to be fixed. I also begin to make notes on what “secret words” Penn could use in his discussion with the performer.
Once the producers make their decisions, I go back to my notes to see how I can help. Many times, my help isn’t necessary. If the act is a professional who has done the routine a thousand times, probably any glitches have been worked out. Sometimes I discover small suggestions that help. I pass those suggestions along via email or phone calls.
For some performers, I need to offer more help, working with script, blocking, and technique. With some of the young performers I work on stage presence and delivering patter so it is clear and understandable. This I most often do over Skype, and it works out well. Something I work on most often with all performers is helping cut their acts down to fit the five-minute time limit. This is always challenging.
At which point before production do you want to “tick off” an act?
The most important thing is that these consultations happen as early as possible. My goal is to have everything worked out before the performer arrives in Vegas. I have discovered the hard way that trying to learn a new technique or action two days before you record the act is difficult. When the performer hits the stage, nerves happen. The new information disappears and muscle memory takes over. This happens with even the most experienced performers. It is best to have everything worked out early.
So what does your production schedule look like then?
In the two weeks the production crew and the performers are in Las Vegas, we record sixty-two magicians and thirteen Penn & Teller routines. This year we also recorded an April Fool Us Day special and a Christmas special.
I am responsible for watching a performer’s initial rehearsal with the director, assistant director, executive producers, and property master, the camera rehearsal, shot on stage the day of the performance, and the performance taping. If anyone needs extra help, I try schedule time for that. For the two weeks of taping, I work sixteen-hour days.
Michael Close on stage with Teller
Could you comment briefly on working with some of the recent performers I have spoken to, like Tom Stone, Wolfgang Moser, Pit Hartling, and Axel Hecklau?
I am always delighted when a professional performer agrees to appear on Fool Us. As I mentioned, they make my job easy. Sometimes it is not so easy to convince them to come on the show, and I understand this. I saw Tom Stone do the Quantum Logic routine at a convention in Lund, Sweden, in the fall last year, and I thought it was great. It took a bit of arm twisting to get him to agree to do the show. I’m so glad he did, and he was great to work with. I had high hopes he would fool Penn & Teller with this. But, regardless, it was a great spot!
Beyond that, I also enjoy discussing magic with people like Tom, Pit, and Axel. Pit and I spent some time on Skype working on his two-deck matching routine. For me, the pleasure is that I also learn things during the process. These guys are not just excellent magicians, they are also really smart people.
I did not know Wolfgang and Harry before they came on the show. Wolfgang did a terrific job and was a delight to work with. He and I had a lot of back-and-forth on this routine, mainly because he had to tighten it up considerably for television and in particular for the time constraints Fool Us imposes. When he performs this on cruise ships and other venues, he brings up twenty people and the routine is lengthy, so it was no small task for him to reconfigure it. I applaud him for his effort.
A special question on the Feel Box, invented by Boretti back in the 1990s, co-improved and performed by Harry Keaton: Was this trick really new for you, or had you or Penn & Teller seen a version of it before?
The Feel Box was new to me and also new to Penn & Teller. The only problem I had when I watched Harry’s audition video was it was in German, so I was unclear on exactly what effect he was going for. But I thought the trick was really great.
Final question: Where can performers apply for Fool Us, and what do they need to bring?
As of today, we have not officially received any word from the network whether there will be a season seven. So, doing anything at this time would be premature. However, if your readers would like to get prepared, they should record a demo video of the routine they want to submit. This can be in a real performance situation in front of an audience, or a casual video with friends or family helping. Regardless, it should be a full performance, with a rehearsed script. The key is the five-minute time limit. Also remember, Fool Us does not allow preshow or the use of stooges.
My Fool Us email address is fuclose@gmail.com. If you are interested in being on the show, drop me an email on October 1, and I’ll let you know the status of the show.
Thank you so much, Michael, for your time and for sharing so many details. Let’s hope for season seven then!
(Interview: Jan Isenbart)
Besides his job as a magic consultant, Michael Close is a world-famous card magician, a busy teacher, lecturer, musician, and magic author. His latest book, The T.O.M. Epiphany, came out just a few weeks ago and deals with strategies for turning tricks into miracles. He also publishes an extensive monthly newsletter and podcast interviews for subscribers. Check out his website here.
Addendum October 3, 2019:
As Michael has disclosed on the Genii Forum, Penn & Teller: Fool Us has been renewed for a seventh season. I look forward to it!
Der schwedische Top-Zauberer und Fachautor Tom Stone bietet vom 12.-14. August einen dreitägigen Profi-Workshop in Berlin an. Er gilt als Meister kreativer Effekte und ausgefeilter Methoden und Misdirection. Im Mittelpunkt des Workshops in englischer Sprache steht das Erschaffen von neuen Kunststücken und Routinen.
Ort des Geschehens ist der Zaubersalon des Magischen Zirkels Berlin. Die Teilnehmerzahl ist auf zwölf begrenzt, der Preis beträgt 455 Euro.
Oh, sweet bird of youth! Every once in a while a new kid appears on the block and just blows you away… This time, Noel Heath from Gothenburg, Sweden hit us oldtimers right between the eyes, as Tom Stone spread the word and linked to Noel’s video called “ACE” on YouBurp. Have a look, I’ll wait…
<<>>>
So, what’s your response? I say: Damn! Just as I was starting to get pleased with my DL and Elmsley Count…
But honestly: Amazing stuff! When cardistry finally meets card magic! Fresh, smooth, artistic, and utterly meaningless. Sign o’ the times?
Let’s hope his school grades are below average. Or life isn’t fair.
In general, the suffix “-ism” tends to indicate the ending of a rather unpleasant word, think fascism, communism, racism, or FISM (disclaimer: no relations between these). Beyond that, many -isms seem to have in common that they describe a hierarchial belief system which is based on a strict yet simple manifesto with (pseudo) religious undertones; their proponents feel chosen and superior and, therefore, air dedication and determination; they share strong convictions, a simplistic “we vs. them” view of the world and, sadly, a tendency to sentence, banish or even harm dissenters.
The same applies, along less violent terms, to Tenyoism, which roughly translates as the plastic ersatz religion of arousing childlike pleasure by immersing yourself into buying, hoarding, displaying or playing with Tenyo miniature magic props, which are cheap and colorful, sometimes ingenious, and often a bit shabby and embarrassing. (In other words, a bit like sex toys, only for older boys.)
Collectors drip and drivel when you casually mention strange lingo like “Parabox” or “Magic Coin Case”. They are also willing to pay serious money for rare pieces in perfect condition, which often means “unopened”, which in itself signifies the eternal conflict of burning desire vs. cool self-restraint: by buying the desired item but refraining from opening it, you transcend the cheap urge to play or to perform. Instead, you purify yourself by worshipping The Prop for its sheer presence and beauty in and out of itself.
Despite their cheap appeal you cannot help but admire many of these Tenyo creations. They foreshadow redemption from us majishuns’ eternal search for the next “real” big thing that we can actually perform, as they promise the perfect miracle in your hands: easy to do, instant reset, usually very visible magic, and sometimes even examinable props. In a few cases, Tenyo tricks are just that: Some of the best close-up miracles you will ever find and ever do.
Besides, magic masters like Tom Stone and many others ably demonstrate what’s in a toy and how to develop great routines that go well beyond Tenyo’s brief instruction sheets.
Take a look, for example, at this clever, organic performance of Tenyo’s Zig Zag Cig (T-110) here:
Like every religion, this one has their bible, too. It’s a two-volume hardbound book teaching and preaching the gospel, published by Richard Kaufman only recently, and it’s aptly called, well, Tenyo-ism. Buy it!
Some links on Tenyo to further whet your appetite:
ZZZAUBER 