What Questions did you ask?

Andy C.: I appreciate you giving us your time here on Bunny.

In order not to waste the opportunity, and on the basis that "we don't know what we don't know." What questions did you ask of any stars in the entertainment field when you were starting out and developing your career, or are there any questions that you would have expected someone to ask on here that hasn't been.

Paul Daniels: I didn't ask such questions because in those days the vast majority of stars did not talk to 'opening acts'. Even today they tend to be protected by managements and I have no idea what they are protecting them from.

The advice that I got was rarely to do with magic anyway...

'Never make love to someone unless they have as much to lose as you do!'

'Try to be a really good 'second top' because tops of the bills tend to come and go quickly, but second tops work forever.'

'Always put away 10% of your money into long term accounts. Save up to be rich.'

Influences

The Magician: Hi Paul, what magicians had an influence on you when you first started out in Magic?

Paul Daniels: I have answered this more fully elsewhere, but in brief, I didn't see other magicians until I was in my 20s, so I developed my own way of doing stuff.

Hecklers

Joseph Magic: Hi Paul, thanks for coming on here- I met you briefly at the YMC autograph party (part of TMC centenary) and where I introduced you to "Everybody's magic" which you had no idea you had contributed to!

Anyway- 2 questions really.

First, how do you handle hecklers who want you to do "that trick that the guy on TV...." and "can you do that one where..." etc.?

Second, what is your reply when someone asks to examine gimmicked props and decks? Or do you just not use them?

Paul Daniels: If you leave a 'space' for a heckler to get in at you, then you should have spent some time writing what you would come back with.

Do "that trick that the guy on TV...." Answer suggestion: "It's wrong to do someone else's act, but I'll show you one from my own act...." and "can you do that one where..." Answer suggestion: "Yup, but you've seen that one.... have a look at this."

Such answers must be given positively, without hesitation and whilst moving into the next trick.

Someone asks to examine gimmicked props and decks? Whenever I have used such items (and I do try not to) I have usually 'cleaned up' or switched them towards the end of the routine and/or usually in the MOMENT of surprise.

Patter and Illusion

Turgon: First off thanks for taking the time to reply to all these posts, it's very generous of you to take the time to do so.

So I was wondering what you first (fairly) large scale illusion (eg. zig zag box) was, when you got it, and where you stored it!

I would also be interested to know when you think of your patter? Do you think of it on stage or does it just come into your head at odd times?

Paul Daniels: I think my first reasonable sized illusion was a Jack Hughes Doll House, the one with the empty garage on the back. Thanks to pin hinges it packed fairly flat so it didn't take up much room. If you are going to store illusions try to keep them in a place that is not damp.v

Nowadays my patter comes to me naturally as I work and that was the way with most of the TV shows. Very rarely did we have a 'script' as such. Early days, as I have already written here, I had a routine for writing patter.