Admin: We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Duncan Trillo as our next "Special Guest" at Magic Bunny.

Duncan Trillo is most widely known as the driving force behind one of the most popular magic Internet sites around the net; MagicWeek.

MagicWeek is the number one site for UK magic news and reference around the globe and, if you haven't yet visited this site, I would strongly recommend that you add this to your personal favourites.

Duncan is a very busy man and we are honoured to have him at these forums. I shall look forward to reading your questions and his replies; I know that these will prove to be an absorbing read.

MagicSamX: Welcome Mr Trillo and thank you for taking time to come and talk to us on Magic Bunny

Mouser: Thank you Mr. Trillo for taking time from your schedule to come to this site and answer our questions.

Michael Jay: Yes, a big "Thank You!" to you, Mr. Trillo for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us for the next week. This is greatly appreciated!

Duncan Trillo: Many thanks for inviting me, I'm looking forward to it.

Shaun Robinson: Hi Duncan,

Thanks for taking time out to visit here. Lets hope your stay provides us with some...Va va voom?

Anyways, to the chase. I was wondering on what your feelings are on magic and the internet. You produce magic week, which you obviously put alot of effort into, and the same goes for the other ventures (corporrate magicians index etc). What do you think the net adds to magic? How do you feel about e-books? How do you feel about the rising trend of magicians that e-llusionist and the like are spawning?

Look forward to your thoughts.

Duncan Trillo: Hi Shaun,

It’s a good question. Magic on the internet? I guess I prefer not to see methods disclosed but know that that isn’t really possible. To a degree you have to accept the technology and go with it. Just ten years ago the only way to find out about magic as a layman would have been to have done some real leg work, hunting out magic shops, magic magazines, books and so on. Now you can find out about anything in detail, with just a few mouse clicks. This is still just the dawn of the whole internet revolution in real terms I think.

What does the net add to magic? Lots: Forums such as this one, easy access to ‘What’s On’ in the magic world, contact with like-minded people, access to a vast range of magic products, the opportunity to see video demonstrations of tricks…

How do I feel about e-books? To be frank they aren’t for me. The first thing I do when I buy some new software that only comes with “on disc” instructions is to print off the manual. (I’ve got one that runs to 300 pages of A4 but I’d still prefer that to hunting around on screen!) Some people like e-books and see them as good value, they just don’t suit me.

How do you feel about the rising trend of magicians that e-llusionist and the like are spawning? I’m not up on e-llusionist, so can’t really comment on that one (I’ll have a proper look at their site)

All the best,

Duncan

MagicSamX: If you had to pick just one part of your professional career that you are proud of what would it be?

Duncan Trillo: A tricky question! I think it has to be the transition period from being at school and thinking “I want to be a professional magician” to actually being one. So, it’s not a case of being “proud” so much as just being pleased that “I’d cracked it.” My first professional contract was for a 13 week summer season at a little theatre in North Wales in 1980 (2 x 10 minute silent spots) which was rapidly followed by two back-to-back 6 months contracts cruising in the Caribbean. A great way to start a very unpredictable career!

All the best,

Duncan

Frazz Davies: Dear Mr. Trillo,

I have seen your act a couple of times and enjoyed it on both occasions. However, both times I have never had a particularly good seat and when it came to the thimble manipulations I have to admit that I was sat there wondering what was meant to be happening; I couldn't really see what was going on.

Recently I watched an old appearance of yours on Wayne Dobson's TV show and it made sense - your thimble routine is really really good.

My question is this: How suitable is thimble manipulation for the stage? The same could be asked about cigarettes or coins but thimbles are, let's face it, very small.

Riser Magic: Fraser

Not all thimbles are small. I've turned some custom wood sets for stage work that were as big as shot glasses. Painted with day-glow fluorescent colors, they are very visible. I believe Joe Mogar (of Mogar's knives) has a fairly new book out with about every thimble move explained. I hear that it is quite good.

Jim

Duncan Trillo: Hi Frazz,

How suitable is thimble manipulation for the stage? Not very!! In fact come to think of it what is a grown man doing manipulating thimbles in the first place!? My real passion is card manips, the thimbles in cabaret are fine (I treat them in a “whimsical” way) but really can't recommended them for stage at all. (They are on my “must replace this routine” list, and have been for years!)

All the best,

Duncan

Mouser: Whenever we start any major project (in the way that you begun MagicWeek) we can never anticipate some potential problems or the impact that some aspects of the project may take. Gradually, we modify our ideas and hone the project accordingly.

In what ways has Magic Week changed from the initial project that you devised from the very start of this project. Are there aspects that have been removed due to lack of interest? Are there aspects that you never anticipated that would be popular - aspects that have enticed you to move in a different direction from you originally anticipated?

Duncan Trillo: Hi Mouser,

Thanks for your question. MagicWeek changes every week so in that sense it is ever changing, but in actual fact it hasn’t changed much from its original outline. I spent a lot of time working on the initial design, layout and content before launching it.

I dropped a “contact” page as I didn’t have any real control over who used it and thought that the sensible thing to do. And the “Mail Box” section was originally designed for emails from readers… but thanks to magic forums there was really no need for it, so it changed to quotes from “happy readers!”

The “Lecturers” page was added at a later date and has never really taken off. I know that lecturers that advertise on it do well, but I’ve always been surprised at how few bother to promote themselves.

Apart from that it's a case of "stay on target."

All the best,

Duncan