Michael Jay: Before I ask one last question, Ron, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for honoring us with your presence over this past week. You took your time to answer many questions and I appreciate that you are a busy man. I think the greatest thing about this is that we not only got one of the legends of our profession to take his time with us, but that this is something that you've done exclusively for this site. Thank you so very much, Ron.

I realize that your Private Studies Series is an ongoing work, that it is yet to be fully complete, but of the ones that you have published, which is your favorite and why? I realize that picking a favorite from them would be like picking a favorite child, never the less we do tend to favor one of our children over the others. So, if you had to pick just one from your series, which would it be?

RBauer: Mike... How right you are about favorite children, but it does not apply in the case of the RBPS Series.

The tricks are just there for the other stuff! It’s one big introduction to techniques and tips (from my point of view) for winning audiences over to magic as a primary entertainment. Perhaps to get the public to recognize magic as the important theater art that it deserves to be. (If you need more on what was becoming a paradigm for this ideal, check the writings of Maskelyne and Devant. Did I mention David Devant was one of my most important inspirations?)

To help a student get a grasp on how the presentation and technique work together, I choose #1 Gadabout Coins Revisited. This one is the easiest to to use for measuring results. Once how to get the results is understood, most of my students actually get excited about studying the reactions of the audiences. And, they come to agree that there's no more gratifying feeling to a true lover of the magic art than to experience the moment I call the Ideal Situation.

For those who haven’t read my stuff, the IDEAL SITUATION: The audience now has the worst possible perception for them, and the best possible perception for you.

When this happens, you know the PAYOFF is going to be fun for you and them. Know what I mean

Dowdy: Howdy RB!

We've had this discussion many times but for those not as fortunate as me, could you give everyone here a little history on the "Card to Wallet?"

Also, your thoughts on having a card signed.

Thanks in advance,

RBauer: Howdy, Dowdy...

Of course, you mean “The Card to the LePaul-Kaps-Balducci-etc. Wallet."
We’ll have to wait a few months for THAT, won’t we?

Spilling the beans now won’t make me get to that project any sooner, young fella!

However, I’ll comment on one point because I can’t resist. (You probably knew that!)

Signing cards?! It’s a STAGE WAIT (a bad thing) if it’s just about signing the card! Dave Williamson understood that when he came up with a resolution for the signature. Remember? He takes it back off the card so the deck won’t have a card with writing on it! (Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!)

I used a semi-brilliant (compared to DW) excuse for signing a card when I did Card(s) to Sealed Envelope in Wallet beginning back in my Kenwood days. Two volunteers helped me in what turned out to be a futile attempt to swindle the insurance company. They had to sign the two selected cards to make everything legal! (You can’t beat the insurance company, though.)

You see? No stage wait because it was part of the plot!

PS In those singular situations in which an item needs to be marked for future identification, sometimes it’s necessary, others it doesn’t strengthen the illusion a wit! Think about it.

PPS Oh, for those young lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) out there who know better... Did Leipzig, Vernon, Malini, Scarne, Kort, Lorayne, Marlo, and on and on not have your deep understanding of the public?

Chuck: Can you tell us, about, Mr. Trix?
Do you have any Cute stories to tell?

RBauer: Mr. Trix Enterprises...

For nearly a decade, beginning in 1968, I had a company of magicians,
clowns, puppeteers, and party planners.

Our offices were located in the center of downtown in the prestigious suburb of Birmingham, Michigan.

Although unknown in magic circles (except locally), it was a hugely successful operation developing into the most successful children's entertainment operation in the Michigan/Ohio area.

We worked every high visibility kids-oriented event and venue in the area from Motown to the Malls. And, thousands of small parties and schools.

When I turned my interests and activities to television production, the company slowed down, the group broke up, until it closed.

Proverbial Rabbit: Ron,

I've seen two of your booklets to date, earlier you said that someone else did your illustrations for you. (great job btw) Did you do the rest of the layout yourself? How hard was it and what would you recommend for any young magician's wanting to publish their own material?

Thanks,

RBauer: Sandra Kort (youngest daughter of Milt Kort) did my design and illustrations for the Private Studies. She's a graphic artist, which gives me an edge. But, there are many "templates" and other help available.

If you want to produce your own books, there's advice galore on the Internet. Look under self-publishing to get started.

Computers (word processor and page layout software if you need to position a lot of graphics and text in specific positions on pages) and printers are the basics.

Don't forget to look at franchises for help with your final product. In the states, Kinko's and Speedy Print and places like that.

Good luck... RB

chicago jim: My name is Jim Bergstrom and I've known Ron Bauer for almost 20 years. We met through Milt Kort (by the way, have I missed the Milt Kort forum?).
These two wise, generous, and patient men have shaped my opinions and tastes in too many ways to number. Thank you both.

And now, THE REAL SECRET ABOUT RON BAUER. . .

It's Ron's THEATER BACKGROUND that makes the difference in his presentations. Like all true theater each trick in Ron's series has an "arc". Compare these intelligent treatments to the typical "routines" submitted by the same handful of "big names" in every new book on the market (and lately there's nothing more routine...)

Here finally is the SECRET. . .
Do these lessons exactly as they're written. Don't kid yourself into thinking you'll improve them by 'personalizing' them! Relax . . . Ron's done all the HARD WORK! And YOU'LL get all the credit.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING RON!

By the way, no one has mentioned the 100+ BOZO shows you wrote and produced. Turning BOZO into an Action for Children's Television Award winner couldn't have been easy...

Talk to you soon!

Michael Jay: Earlier tonight, I was at a birthday bash for Ron Bauer and he asked what was to become of his interview. I explained that the next couple of days were for the "thank yous," but that he was no longer required to answer questions. His reply:

So gang, if you have any questions that are entertaining (you gotta make the man laugh ) then put them up quickly, because Ron will answer while we finish out our thank yous. If you haven't noticed, Ron has a quick and sharp wit, so see if you can match wits with the master .

The forum will be locked in only two or three days, so get them in if you've got them.

Again, thank you RB for all of your time and effort with this forum. You are one hell of a guy .

Lucien De Silva: This question is more philosophical than entertaining, but I hope that it’ll appeal to you.

If a being claiming to be omnipotent appeared before you, what would said being have to do to prove His credentials (i.e. to prove He wasn’t just a brilliant magician)?

RBauer: Well, Lucien... I’m glad you said “being” instead of he or she! But, omnipotent? I can’t begin to imagine such an entity. Could we bring this claim down to something of which I can conceive? How about claiming to be a wizard? Or, a sorcerer? Or... a witch?

I’d have to see Gadabout Coins Revisited performed without the extra coin before I’d be convinced.