Vanish Magic Magazine no. 39

Criminal Intent, Gotham, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick
Harris, Late Show with David Letterman and Paramount
Pictures Morning Glory in 2010 (we both have screen time
in that one), commercials for Brisk, Liverpool clothing,
Verizon, The Money Store and traveled for the USO.
In 2009 Morgan appeared on The World Magic Awards
performing the Table of Death and was given the award
for best Escape Artist.
After leaving Worlds of Fun, we concentrated on
expanding some of our shows into 90 minute formats,
playing road house theatres and Performing Arts Centers.
In 2014, we sold out the Super Star theatre at Resorts hotel
and Casino in Atlantic City with Spooktacular.
In 2016 John Bundy and Morgan received the Christopher
foundation award for illusionists …
… and …
… in the fall of 2016 my book was ready. Tricks’N’Treats,
the book of Halloween magic was on the shelfs of magic
shops around the world. Plus we returned to our roots, Six
Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, to present a revised
and updated version of Slash for their Frightfest nights.
And now … well who knows, we keep going forward, are
flexible, resourceful and don’t give up.
… a short essay by John …
WHEN MAGIC BECOMES THEATRE.
No one sets out to be a magician. It usually starts by
learning a trick or two, then as the repertoire grows, a
show develops, and by “develops” I mean a succession
of effects without anything linking it all together. This
presentation is personality driven. It is all about you and
not about magic. The magic is a vehicle to make you into
someone an audience will want to watch. As time goes on
the show becomes an act. The effects are structured in a
way allowing you to take the audience from point A to B,
with varying pace. Even at this point it is still about you.
You are a “pop” star, who at the end of the day is selling
your persona to the audience. It may even be a fabricated
version of yourself, yet, it is the image you wish them to
see. The most successful performers allow some of their
true self to be apart of this image. However … when a
performer assumes the style and characteristics of their
magic heroes, they becomes a parody.
Along time ago I realized I was not going to be one of the
GQ type magicians. When a producer wants a magician
to plug into a review show, looking like a male model is
a clear advantage. The days are long gone for the likes of
Golden and Kalang. The image of the magician has moved
VANISH MAGAZINE
www.VanishMagazine.com
35