Impromptu Tricks

Sinajar: Hi Paul, thanks for taking the time to come here. I have a ridiculously stupid question I want to ask you, but it's a quick one.

Do you have a favourite packet trick? And are there any tricks that you carry around with you on a day to day basis in case anyone asks you see a trick.

Paul Daniels: If I had to only have one packet trick (which I rarely bother with them anyway) it would be Oliver Mackenzie's My Drink Trick. In the opinion of some highly rated magicians, Ken Brooke for example, this is the greatest of them all.

I don't deliberately carry anything, a pack of cards mostly I guess, because I can do tricks with just about anything.

Sinajar: I can't seem to find out about Oliver Mackenzie's My Drink Trick, Could you possibly describe the effect?

Paul Daniels: To a storyline, the four cards in your hands keep on changing, fronts and backs. I don't think that anyone sells it now because it took a helluva lot of getting the right backs!

Ronnie Barker

John Doe: I assume you must have crossed paths with Ronnie Barker at sometime in your career. It is a great shame to hear he has passed away. Do you have any memories of him you can share?

Paul Daniels: My memories are everyone's memories. A lot of people say he was a great comedian, but that is not true, he was a great comedy actor, as were Hancock and Rossiter. I met him at a couple of BBC parties is all and we exchanged a few laughs. Nice man.

Andy C.: Gotta pass this on.

I received an email from my brother. It says that someone has suggested that as a small token of remembrance of Ronnie Barker, everyone should light "Four Candles."

Paul Daniels: Very Nice Indeed.... Great idea.

Age

Timnicebutdim: There's alot of young magicians around, here there's some that are around 13 or maybe even younger. So, my question is - do you think it's possible for an audience to take such a young magician seriously? Have you ever seen a young magician perform and got appreciated for the magic he's doing, instead of getting an 'aw look, he's doing all this and he's only xx years old, his mother must be proud' reaction?

My idea is that to be taken seriously, it takes experience and that comes with age. Be interesting as to what you think, and what you have seen.

Paul Daniels: Like it or not that attitude of 'he's only' comes with the territory. Don't regret this time of life, enjoy it 'cos you only pass this way once! I have never seen a really young magician who has mastery of all that is necessary to 'sell' the magic to the audience. I know many of them think that they can... 'cos I did!!!!

Non-magic TV

Magicman007: Paul, I can see you're extremely busy here so I'll keep this brief!

In recent years we have seen you on non-magic related TV shows such as Ready Steady Cook, and I was wondering if you ever get a little frustrated when they ask to see a magic trick? or have you got so used to it that you now come to expect it and so prepare something just in case? Or does your love of performing mean you are ready and willing to perform magic at any time?

Also, what's Louis Theroux really like?

TamMcLaughlin: I saw the Louis Theroux program and remember the clip of you appearing on Ready Steady Cook when someone asked to see a trick. The "freely" selected a card and as soon as they took it you said something like "3 of spades - it's quicker that way" and walked away. It was very funny especially because you had said to the producers that you were not there to do any magic for them.

Paul Daniels: I don't get frustrated or disappointed or anything really... it's just that I find it strange to arrive at where I am and they DON'T want me to do tricks sometimes. It is what I am best at!!!!

I now have in my repertoire a whole load of quick, instant, tricks that have quick impact and they are always upon my person. TV in particular has no time for long tricks.

Louis is a nice guy.