KillerMagic80: I first watched your performance at Blackpool magicians convention. you was hilarious! Excellent man! Everything from your lecture, master class, close up magic, to your stage performance! Especially the last two!

I got your deadlock routine that time, since then I got your ''On Screen'' DVD, ''Open traveler'' and ''Extreme close up'' tapes. Very useful material included, great routines, hilarious funny clips, and overall entertaining videos.

How about releasing a DVD of you performing close up magic in front of a live audience? I would be more interested of watching your presentation, of watching your repertoire, performing the routines on real people instead of just explaining the tricks or even present them for the camera. Like I said in your tapes you have lots of funny clips. I really wanted to see some magic clips at least. If you have anything like this I am really interested.

If not, well its just an idea to have in mind for the future or if you wouldn’t like to release a DVD or tape like that, you can include it on the Sankey - Acer sessions. it will be great to watch your favourite routines, or your magic act. (Explanations section doesn’t have to be necessary, although it would make a great DVD!!)

Tell me please what do you think?

David Acer: Hi KillerMagic80 (by the way, that's my brother's name!),

First of all, thanks for the kind words. Secondly, Jay Sankey is currently preparing to produce a live close-up show at an intimate theater in Toronto this Spring. He has already confirmed some amazing talent, and the plan is to tape the show(s) for a DVD.

The bad news - I'm not available on the dates of the show, so I won't be participating. However, it sounds like the production will result in exactly the kind of live DVD you're looking for, so if he ever does it again, I'm definitely in.

KillerMagic80: That would be great! Pity you will not be in (I will e-mail Jay Sankey to change the date!) Really? Your brothers name is killer magic? He is a magician and uses it as a nickname?

David Acer: It's not just his nickname - KillerMagic80 is his real freakin' name! KillerMagic80 Acer!!!

KillerMagic80: This is really cool!

I am interested to know how you discovered your own unique presentation style.

In my opinion this is a talent and its not coming through a "special effort to find out your own style". My question is did it come from you spontaneous, natural? Or you really study other performers to define your own style or you went through books or other sources? Am I becoming a bit silly for asking this? But really your opinion will count for me.

also if you can recommend me some source (books or DVD's, tapes) where I can go through this I will really appreciate it. (Not necessarily to include tricks. they can be non-trick sources.)

Dale Shrimpton: The only way to find your style, is to go out there and do it. In actual fact, that should read " go out there and do it wrong". You soon learn by your mistakes. So, go join a theatre group.

However books on Acting will also help. Not books on magic.

David Acer: That's a great question. I don't think you ever really "discover" your own presentational style. What happens is, you have this idea of who you want to be on stage (e.g. mysterious, wacky, clumsy, debonair, nervous, cocky, etc.). Usually this is a natural extension of who you are in real life. Then you start doing shows in this character, and, as time goes by, who you are on stage and who you are in real life slowly move towards each other. When they meet in the middle, then, finally, every action, every line, every word will come across as truthful. That's the day every entertainer strives for.

Regarding books or DVDs, I'm afraid that watching and/or reading work by someone else on how you can develop your own style is a contradiction in terms. Find a comedy club, or a restaurant, or a bar, or anywhere that will allow you to perform as close to nightly as possible and get to work. Otherwise you will have to unlearn what you read in a book or saw on a DVD before you can start learning how to perform as yourself.

KillerMagic5000: Thank you very much David. I really appreciate it.

Jason Waskett: In your book you rate the Art of Astonishment series very highly. Is there an effect that particularly stands out for you and why? Be it technical proficiency, innovative idea, just the thinking that went behind it, or maybe just the simplicity of it. The "now why didn't I think of that?"

David Acer: That's the beauty of the Art of Astonishment books - there really is no one trick that stands out. It might be interesting, though, to compile a list of Paul Harris's five or ten most important effects - the five or ten tricks that have had an impact on magic beyond just our appreciation on first reading.

Certainly his "Ultimate Rip-Off" has spawned multiple variations over the years. "Solid Deception" inspired magicians to up the ante for their climaxes to the Ambitious Card, resulting, at least philosophically, in things like the Omni Deck, the Bolted Deck, Daryl's Ultimate Ambition, and the like.

And of course, "The Cardboard Connection" was an insanely popular plot for over a decade, resulting in some interesting variations, including Paul's own, much improved version, "The Immaculate Connection" (I also always liked Terri Rogers' approach, "The Boromian Link," wherein the cards are folded diagonally).

Anyone care to add to the list?

Jason Waskett: Hi there, thanks for spending time here with us. I watched Penn & Teller last night and thought it a great moment when an Egyptian magician fooled Teller with his cups and balls, as did Teller who gave him full credit. May I ask the last time that you were fooled?v

David Acer: Yesterday. I bought a newspaper and paid with a handful of coins, only to realize later that I spent the penny/dime gimmick that comes with "Spare Change." Fooled me completely.