JONATHAN B

Maven Clone

A while back there was a discussion about a chap (Indonesian I think) who 'appears' [heavy irony intended] to have pinched your look.

I think his name is Deddy Corbuzier

I was just wondering if it was true that you called him "that fool"

(I'm hoping it is)

MAX MAVEN

I don't think I have ever made a public reference to this fellow as "that fool."

What I have said, when asked, is that the problem is his, not mine. He's not the first to appropriate my image (there are at least two others, on two different continents, although so far as I know both have stopped).

I can't imagine what he gets out of it, in the long run. I have enough trouble looking into the mirror and seeing my face, and can only wonder what pleasure another person could get looking into the mirror and seeing my face...

TOBIAS

Reprints

You are a prolific author. You have already commented on some new things you are working on, but do you intend to reprint some of your earlier books, either individually, or in collected volumes?

MAX MAVEN

It's possible. The previous collections (Focus and Prism) have met with good reactions, and I've had some discussions with my publisher, Stephen Minch, about doing other collections. However, none are of top priority at this time.

JONATHAN B

Eugene Burger

You don't have to be very familiar with your or Eugene Burger's work before you become aware that you have collaborated on a number of projects and are firm friends.

As an outsider you seem to be quite different kinds of people doing quite different kinds of magic.

Why do you think it is that your working relationship with Eugene is so successful? Do you perhaps have qualities that complement each other or is it the fact that a close friendship helps the creative process? Perhaps something else?

MAX MAVEN

Eugene is my best friend, and I think both of your statements hold true. Our artistic goals are not identical, but have a great deal in common.

Our friendship goes back about 26 years, and each understands the other's work with an unusual thoroughness. If we were both trying to achieve the same thing, that might make it more difficult to analyze the other's efforts, in the same way that it can be difficult to analyze one's own work. But the differences provide a certain amount of perspective, while the similarities provide trust.

GARY SCOTT

Future projects

You have wrote some of the most absorbing and creative material ever for the magic community. What is in the plans for your future writings both magic and non-magic related.

In the Videomind series, you relate a few times to the discussion of' audience management' and how ' there is not enough time on the tape to go into detail on the subject'.

As you have complete mastery over this subject.....will you be tackling this subject in any form of manuscript or book to be published at a future date?v

I'm sure that this would be a very much valued read and input for all magic performers across all genres.

MAX MAVEN

I have several projects in various stages of development. Last summer I taped two separate DVD projects for L&L, each with a different theme (and each making use of the DVD medium in ways that have, so far as I know, not been done in this field). The first project is in the editing phase (lagging because of limitations on my time), and will hopefully be released this fall.

I won't reveal the precise topics of those releases, but audience management is one of the elements.

As for other projects, the next major book will be a history of Japanese magic (that has been dragging on for years), and eventually the long-promised book on the Gilbreath Principle.