Christmas round up, thoughts on magical capatilism and the meaning of names

It's been a month since my last gig. The intention was to spend this time learning new material, honing what I have and separating the wheat from the chaff (or at least working out what effect works best where). We all know where good intentions lead.

 I've not been idle, but I haven't worked as much as I should have. I've reread "Seriously Silly" and taken some notes on where to improve my kids act. I really think I can put together an amazing 50 minutes show. I told my friends about the educational aspect of the show and the way I wanted to encourage a love of learning and they were impressed. The kids loved trying on my hat and steam punk goggles so I think a mad steam-punk inventor will be a good character. I just need a name, someone suggested "Doctor Dean Q.ED". This isn't bad but I thought maybe of resurrecting the title of "Professor" as used by so many real and fictional magicians in the past.  Costuming this will be interesting. I think I'll be using my tailoring skills a lot for it. I've always wanted to make a Steam Punk outfit but the expense put me off, but now it's an investment:)  There are some books I may grab in the new year to this end. A  friend of a friend has written he definitive steam punk costuming guide with a lot of projects in it. Also there's apparently a book out there on making steam punk soft toys which could b handy for making a little 'side kick'  to use in appearing and disappearing acts.

  Now here I've touched on two things which I need to think about my full act. One buying stuff. I have a fear reaction at times which I try to sure with cash. Even though I have many wonderful books into which I've only delved a little I will panic and buy more effects and books at times. Now some things I simply had to buy, such as new cards and some props for kids magic. A selection of gaffed cards is always handy to have about in-case I see a cool effect in a book that requires one and I want to try it out straight away.  So with the Christmas gifting season upon us I had to think long and hard about what to put on my wish list for my family. I am lucky in that my family are very generous and so are many of my friends. My oldest friends chipped in for buying 'The Berglas Effect" as an early Christmas present for example.  However my wish list is more as an aide to me than it is to others. I decided not to get any more card magic stuff.I simply have too much here which I've not read yet, or fully worked on. I craved "drawing room deceptions" but have yet to try the harder slights. I lusted after the "the berglas effects" but am only now finding the time to go through it. So this part of my blog is aimed at any relative newcomer to our wonderful craft. |Don't feel like you must have ALL books and DVDs in magic, there's too many. Before going out hunting for new material please do have a good long look at hat you already have, you may be very surprised. So I popped a fun book about magic anecdotes and thoughts and some thread and balloon stuff on there. I'm not expecting any of it at all (everyone has already been far too generous ) they're simply there to remind me that after thinking long and hard these are what I need next, and not some flashy new card effect.

HEAR THAT any of my friends who found this blog? you've all been far too wonderful already, NO presses this year, you've given me enough :) The wish list is just an aide to myself on what to get next AND mentioning it here is for other new comers to have a  think about. Are we tempted to try and BUY wonder and  astonishment instead of creating it?

The second thing I hit upon in the kids section of this long post (note to self, stop blogging whilst medicated!) was that of name. Now with my good friend Harvey I perform as "Cane but Able". IF I am to go full time I may need a performing title to go solo. Many years ago I came up with "The Masterless Magician". I was happy with this, it implied a magician who has no master, or so I thought. Any of my friends with a background in martial arts (or watching Jackie Chan films) understood the name. However others thought it implied I was not masterful, that I was a bad magician. Now it makes no difference ether logically my interpretation of the name makes sense over theirs. The fact that the public can mis-understand this name means it's a bad one. So now I need a new name for grown up magic as well, unless I use 'Cane but Able' as a solo performer too. any ideas?
So yes if you have any input on these ideas feel free to comment. For my part I'll be taking a book home to Wales do study during the few peaceful moments there and plan to thrash some magic out next week and in between Christmas and New Year