Lucien De Silva: Hello Ron,

Thank you for your kindness in contributing to this board; it’s wonderful to benefit from your knowledge and experience.

I’m sure it will have been asked before, but I wonder . . .

What has been the most useful piece of advice given to you in your career as a magician, and why was it so useful?

Thanks

RBauer: Hi, Lucien...

Thanks for the welcome.

Without thinking too deeply on this, the one bit of advice that immediately (and often) comes into my mind was provided by a fellow thespian while I was in my mid-teens. He said, “Ron, you’re a very likeable and entertaining guy. And, despite the fact that you’re still a junior, we like to invite you to our parties and see your tricks. But, I think you should know that it’s not a good idea to always be on.”

I’ll admit that this comment came as a shock. The truth is, up to that moment, I had been doing my best to memorize every joke and story in every Bob Orben and George McCathy book I could get my hands on. And, unfortunately, never missed an opportunity to try to be funny. I simply ignored when a joke didn’t go over, and either laughed at it myself or kept on quipping. (SHUDDER!)

Since then, I ALMOST NEVER tell a joke or gag (NEVER a “practical” joke) in social intercourse. For some reason they don’t even come to mind unless I’m performing or writing a performance script. An odd outcome, but I’m still grateful to that guy. (I must still carry some latent embarrassment, however, because I’ve not been able to recall his name for over forty years!)

Mister Toad: May I commend you on the content of your magic booklet series. Some magicians may be either positive or negative regarding the amount of direction and support that your books provide but I firmly believe that you have added a great deal of additional insight to your works. It is then up to the choice of the reader how they adapt this for their own use. I wish that other magicians would take a leaf from your book.

My question: what were your thoughts leading up to the publication of your booklets regarding this issue. Had you always wanted to provide a comprehensive written support for readers or was it something that evolved from a different perspective?

RBauer: Well, Mr. Toad, I would think that one who makes a full commitment to an idea (unless your reputation has been exaggerated) that you would not only welcome, but demand full details and all pertinent related information about a presentation.

I'm sorry, while I can’t come up to such stressful standards, I try to provide as much as I believe can to give a person full measure for his investment of time and money. These are, remember, performance scripts with blocking of props and other directions. They're not magic tricks.

Besides, I don’t come to the buyer's home or venue to enforce my advice. I leave it to you and those “some magicians” to make your own value judgements. I did. That’s how I chose the material, the support, and the application that makes up the contents of the RBPS Series.

I hope that answers your question... RB

PS How are things as Toad Hall? Are you collecting magic books now? (You are THAT Mr. Toad, aren't you?)

Mister Toad: I'm sorry, but I think that you may have confused me with someone else.

Mister Toad: I hope that we would all like to leave this world a little bit richer for our passage through it.

Forgive me if this sounds morbid and I apologise if you (or any other reader) has suffered a recent bereavement, but how would you like your audience to remember you after you have passed on?

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it be?

Darmoe: Well... I've been discouraged to post things like that here... (something about "fowl language" perspectives and virgin ears...)

RBauer: Epitaph? I hope this is VERY premature.

How about: "See? I told you I was sick!"

W.C. Fields already beat me to my first choice: "I'd rather be in Philadelphia." Or Dublin, or Seattle, or Liverpool, or Paris... Pick a place that's not first on your list of places to visit. (No offence, now! It's a joke... Well, I think it's a joke.)

Darmoe: Yea... but from what I remember about you 20 years ago, that one's appropriate

Sean:

Good choice ;)

Andy C: In Old Bugs Bunny Cartoons, every so often a Situation would Arise where a jester or other entertainer was in Front of A Medieval King (Yosemite Sam) And had to entertain Him. After a few seconds the Bored King would pull a lever and the Jester would fall into an Alligator Pit.

Faced with those circumstances, with one shot at entertaining someone, Life or death, What effect, From Your Range or Not, Would you choose?

Cheers

RBauer: One shot, eh? This will take some thought.

Let’s see... What unsuspecting soul doesn’t deserve a STRANGEr (highly efficient word) hopping up to him and frantically waving about a wrinkled red rag? What young lady could ever resist the dirty clown noses in her hands trick? Of course, if there was a table, one could always TEACH a trick. For example, simply by performing MATRIX (any kid will be happily duplicating the pickup move before you get a chance to hop to the next victims).

But, wait a moment. Over the past couple of decades it has become clear that magicians are offensive to a high percentage of the public because of the relatively recent trend toward “in your face” “show and tell” magic tricks.

Okay, this isn’t THAT recent of a phenomenon. Somerset Maugham immortalized the offensive amateur magician in his essay “Mr. Know-All.”
To wit:
Then he seized the pack.
"Do you like card tricks?"
"No, I hate card tricks," I answered.
"Well, I'll just show you this one."
He showed me three.

Ah, the “magic trick” “show-and-tell” approach has a well-earned reputation. Doesn’t it?

IF I were forced to confront Yosemite Sam, however, my “one-shot” choice would have to be “The Bullet Catch Trick.”

(Look to the audience to find your answer.)

Seamus: Hiya Chumbo! So this is where you're hanging out when you should be workin'.

I've known RB for some time now and seen him do his stuff in all manner of situations and conditions. The only thing you won't get from his books is how much he enjoys himself when he's performing. It is quite infectious. A session with Himself is a jolly romp I can tell you. I can't remember if he left that part out — enjoy yourself.

Did you leave that part out?

RBauer: You didn't miss a word, my good friend.

Your stenography skills are clearly outstanding. That clerical class I insisted you take was not time wasted. I always try to recommend such useful skills because they come in handy at magic shows where one might pick up a few good lines... may an entire act!

(Talk to you soon...)

Rickyglew: What are your views on people like "the masked magician" who tell the secrets of magic to the public?

RBauer: I have what I’m sure will be considered a politically incorrect take on the Masked Magician series...

I think it has done the public’s impression of magicians some good!

More than one person has volunteered to me how much they preferred the “masked magician” specials to other magic performances. Why? Because they enjoyed trying to figure out the tricks, then see if they were right! Like a quiz show?

I have run into a surprising number of people with this attitude. (Admittedly I’ve prompted them in the general direction, but didn’t tell them to reach that conclusion. Still, they invariably did!)

When asked how other magicians compared, again there was a consensus. Too much claiming of magic powers. Lacking in believability. Not a professional as other forms of theatrical entertainment. Along those lines...

If you can get most people to open up (to INCLUDE YOU OUT of the category of “magician”), they’ll invariably tell you bad things about magicians you don’t want to hear.

(What about that enthusiastic reaction? "Well, he was good, but I saw how he..." Something isn't comforting to me about these afterwards!)

To put it bluntly but succinctly, the in-your-face, prattle and twaddle of the ever-growing breed of instant magicians is taking its toll on our the public.

I suppose you could consider the “good side” of the public’s impressions. There’s a growing percentage of the population (in the US and elsewhere) that tolerates such silliness because the “like magicians.” Whenever someone tells me this, I am eager to have a conversation (mostly, I interrogate the poor soul). Do you know what’s revealed? Magicians aren't generally considered to be first class entertainment. Generally, expectations are so low... Well... "Oh, my little nephew, Leroy, used to do those magic tricks! Kids love magic, don't they?"

Have I surveyed the English-speaking world? No. But, I have associates who are interested in taking on such a task because their findings match mine!

I don’t like this development. It’s not how things should be turning out. But, such is the trend, and, until or whenever magic societies, and anyone considering confronting the public with their magic talents, take our craft and our art more seriously, we must thank the Lord that Harry and Gandalf are out there presenting the intrigue and fun and adventure of magic!

PS The Masked Magician hasn't done the harm to magic as have the "instant magicians." But, you can find out. The next time you meet with magic colleagues, spend some time working out presentations for some of those “exposed” secrets, then test the public’s magic knowledge. You’ll be surprised and delighted with your results. You see, unless you’re presenting a trick as a puzzle, there’s an endless amount of power inherent in our secrets. Make discovering the secret as the subject of the trick, and pay the consequences.

Mike Giusti: Lions, Tiger, and Bears, oh my!

Dear Mr. Bauer:

I've been a fan for some time now and was good friends with Mr. Jerry Camaro for about 10 years before his untimely and very surprising passing a few years ago. I remember a routine that he did of the late Senator Crandall's named "Cut Up Card Trick." I always loved the trick and loved watching Jerry perform it. I would not perform it, however, since it was in Jerry's repertoire at the time.

Recently, I have acquired some of Jerry's possessions, namely books, notes, and periodicals. I've come across the trick again both in written form and in type and began to track its history. According to the documents, the trick was dictated to you, Mr. Bauer, from Clark Crandall himself. WOW! You did a wonderful job writing down not only the details and handling of the effect, but also reminiscing with the Senator himself.

My question is this:

How do I obtain permission to perform this effect in my act? I am trying to do the correct thing by learning as much as I can about the effect's history, etc., especially since Mr. Crandall himself revealed that he had imparted the effect to a close, select few. Since you are the person who had the closest contact with the Senator, I am seeking your advice, approval, or disapproval, in which case I completely understand.

Thank you for your time in this matter. If you have any further questions for me, you may contact me directly through my web site at:

Many thanks to you,

RBauer: Mike...

I’ve been waiting to hear from you, and, of all places, here you are!

You’re website is terrific. Is that you in the sunglasses?

Tell me later... for now, let’s see if I can resolve these issues with the Crandall item.

First, you are without a doubt a noble fellow, so feel free to snip and psychoanalyze away. The “Cut-Up Card Trick” is all yours. I’m sure Clark would have been delighted to have been asked. He was not happy with a few Chicago magicians who simply lifted it.

Second, in a few weeks, #13 in the RBPS Series will be available, and guess what it is... Ah, you already know... It’s “Senator Crandall’s Cut-Up Card Trick.”

And, third, just for the record, one day Jerry called me about that trick because he had seen Paul Chosse turn Camero's bar to bedlam with it. (I don’t know if it was Chosse’s comedic skills, or the fact that it’s a supposed psychological test, and the Bedlam influence... Geeze! What am I babbling about?!)

Finally, John Dowdy told me you had the impression that the "second fellow to get permission directly from the Senator" was Jerry (the first being yours truly). The fact is, I was the SECOND person that Clark actually gave permission to for its use. The first was Dr. Stanley Jaks. (Remember, though, this was in the early sixties, and he could have bestowed this blessing upon many others in subsequent years.)

BTW, using another’s material with permission is strictly a matter of honor and pride (and sometimes fear of violent reprisal) because there’s no way to legally protect an idea, only a specific expression of an idea. (This is a can that I’d, perhaps, not open at this time!!)

So, Mike, send me your address, and I’ll put you on the mailing list for a complimentary copy of #13 “Senator Crandall’s Cut-Up Card Trick” as soon as it comes off the press at E-Gads.

Best wishes... RB

Mike Giusti: First, I'm so glad I was finally able to connect with you, as my emails didn't seem to be getting to you (probably on my end). I was very cautious and hesitant about putting this out here in public, as I didn't know how else to contact you. So please forgive me if I have overstepped my boundaries here... In fact, the reason I AM here, is because I heard you were going to be the special guest!

Second, a hearty thank-you to Mr. Dowdy, who has been more than kind in trying to connect the two of us!

Thirdly, WOW! What an incredible response, and I can't thank you enough for your kind offer and your blessing to perform this terrific effect that has Crandall written all over it! I always look to perform what others do not, what is currently not a "hit," and this is a real gem!

Yes, that it indeed me on the web site, although I was thinking of using my cat instead for all the promo shots, LOL!

I'm always asked by magicians when they see me perform who I'd like to meet if I had the chance. My answer is always the Senator. Unfortunately, a lot of them don't even know the name Clark Crandall, which is really unfortunate. In fact, the only time I've ever seen him on film is on Don Alan's "Magic Ranch" series. Reading up on him, I've found that he was usually at the center of lots of controversy and scandal (see Crandall's newsletter, "Comments," if you can find it, you guys). It seemed to escalate and contribute to his feelings towards other magicians the same way it did Don Alan. Or, the whole blamed thing is one big joke, he he he.

So what can we do about others? Nothing. We can only control ourselves and our actions. By doing the morally correct thing, we make the magic world a better place, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem to us! I'm a firm believer in that! You probably already know this, but from what I've read, the Senator sure seemed to be happy and at peace when he was with you, Mr. Bauer.

And ah yes, Paul Chosse! What a guy! What a performer! What a true friend! Paul has to be one of the most underrated and knowledgeable magicians around. I wish we could see more of him as I call him the Dark Knight of Magic-appearing and disappearing when you least expect it, LOL!

Thank you again for your offer. My address is:

Magical Mayhem of Mike Giusti
5438 W. Morris
Fresno, CA. 93722
USA

If you would like to keep in contact, my email is:

mike@mikegiusti.com

A real pleasure to finally catch up with you!

Kind regards