Internet Forums

Graham Nichols: Strapped in tightly Paul? Ok, deep breath, here we go!

Do you think internet magic forums, such as this, help to create better magicians?

I feel that they are great for research help, but otherwise are keeping the participants away from reading about, practicing and performing magic. For this reason they are actually a negative force. Heck, there are some who have made thousands of posts. As I typed that last sentence I found it quite disturbing on several levels.

Paul Daniels: They are like magic books. You read them and if you pick up ONE tip... it's worth the time.

Scripting

Jonathan B.: Continuing on from my Eugene Burger question, do you share his enthusiasm for written scripts of magical presentations?

Paul Daniels: Not for me... but Eugene tells stories around his magic. He needs the script. I don't tell stories. I try to vary the words in my shows all the time in all the presentations so that I don't fall asleep!

Question from my Dad

Andy C.: My Dad is one of your biggest fans, he took me to see you at the Aquarious in Chesterfield when I was a mere 17 year old Police cadet. I believe you called me a "Plodlet"!

He wants to know if we will see you at Blackpool anytime soon. I'm sure with the range of merchandise you have out now it would be a massive money maker for you in the dealer section, and an even bigger benefit to the attendees to see you lecture.

Paul Daniels: I used to go to Blackpool when I could, but now I don't. To be honest I don't admire the 'management'.

Andy C.: I attended your master class in Birmingham, and enjoyed it tremendously. I learned a heck of a lot from it, and it has more than paid for itself in BOR sales, gigs gained from publicity from avenues that I wouldn't have explored before, and particularly, in my voice working through 2 days working at a music festival, when it had more or less disappeared after the first day. I was particularly impressed by the amount of time and energy you put into it all, and your honesty and openness during the event, and during our emails afterwards.

I suppose I ought to ask a question after that so...erm…What was the best or most unexpected question you received in the Q and A sessions, and did you learn anything that you didn't expect to during the events.

Thanks for giving your time here. Superstar is a much overused phrase, but it can certainly be applied to you.

Paul Daniels: Thanks for all that praise... I must sit down now!

The questions did not surprise me. What did surprise me was that, because we are led to believe that the American magicians are all wonderful and all that jazz, was that so many of them turned out and made notes from a wee fella from Middlesbrough. I guess it is the classic case of the other man's grass.

A lot of magicians have benefited also from the collection of Q and A on the DVD because they didn't hear all the questions at all the sessions.

Eugene Burger

Jonathan B.: In Mastering the Art of Magic Eugene describes an effect that he performed on your show (amongst other places). Do you have any particular memories of that?

Paul Daniels: Which effect? Eugene did several on my shows. We are great friends and I cherish that friendship. He is a great entertainer.v

Jonathan B.: The particular effect I was referring to was "Dracula and the Sorority Girls"

"I also performed this routine at one or two American magic conventions and my last performance was on Paul Daniels Live Halloween Special on the BBC in 1987 ... Paul and Ali Bongo helped me make many changes in the script. There are no sororities, deans or coeds in the British consciousness" (Mastering the Art of Magic p:168)

Perhaps, though, I could broaden the question out and ask whether you have any particular memories of those times (plural)?

Paul Daniels: In specific terms not really. We did what we always do between rehearsals and takes... we just sat and chewed the fat.