So Whaddya Do: Magician

So Whaddya Do provides an inside look on how to break into your dream career.

Each week they explore a different career: Monday they post a video interview, Wednesday they follow up with some 'Job Jargon' (common words or phrases used in that job), and Friday they answer questions from YOU and post additional helpful info/tips/must-reads.

Magician / Entertainer
They spoke to Josh Beckerman at Tannen's Magic Shop in NYC about what it takes to be a successful Magician/Entertainer. Let's hear what he had to say...

The Bullets:

Josh always loved being in the spotlight and found his niche with magic.

He earned the nickname Card Boy, doing tricks for friends and teachers in middle and high school. His nickname followed him to college where he was known as Card Man, entertaining co-eds at parties on campus. Though entertaining was his dream, he majored in business just in case.

After graduation, he moved to New York City where he tried his hand at stand up comedy. Unfortunately, that wasn't paying the bills so he got a job in finance but continued to entertain at parties and charity events in the evening.

It took four years, but Josh made a name for himself and was able to quit his day job to focus exclusively on his career as a full time magician/entertainer.

Keys to Success: Confidence and persistence.

First step: If you're new to the trade, learn some tricks and try them out on friends and family. Tannen's Magic Shop is a great place to start. If you're ready to get that first job, contact event planners to see if they're in the market for an entertainer.

Colbert Report: Health Care Magic

Stephen Colbert performs magic tricks such as the classic Cups and Balls, flash paper, and the Vanishing Ketchup Bottle to show how the Democrats are trying to pass health care reform. 

The Colbert Report is a spin-off from and counterpart to The Daily Show that comments on politics and the media in a similar way. It satirizes conservative personality-driven political pundit programs, particularly Fox News' and The O'Reilly Factor. The show focuses on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. The character, described by Colbert as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is a caricature of televised political pundits.

Larry Willmore had a comedy bit on The Daily Show With John Stewart last year (see blog here) stopped at our store to get some new magic tricks. He said "The Daily Show's magic is far better than the The Colbert Report". Let the battle begin.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Health Care Magic
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform

Grand Illusions

Grand Illusions

No Rabbit in a Hat, but Steve Cohen Has Magic Up His Sleeve

By N. R. Kleinfield
Published: March 3, 2010

Steve Cohen, who directs his sleight of hand and other tricks for the upper crust, performs as the Millionaires’ Magician.

In the article from this past Sunday's New York Times, Steve talks about his career and his start at Tannen's Magic Camp as well as a recent visit to the shop.

"For four summers, starting when he was 12, he attended Tannen’s Magic Camp on Long Island. A fellow camper was David Blaine and his counselor was Johnny Ace Palmer, a skilled close-up magician. While in high school, Mr. Cohen got $20 an hour to walk around doing magic at a local restaurant."

Read the full article here.

Magic on the L Train

Tannen's Magic friend and NYC magician Doug McKenzie posted this video "Magic on the L Train".  See the power of the Drawer Box and Tannen's Magic's Change Bag in action!

Two Primo Italian Magicians

This week at our store in New York City we had a visit by two famous Italians magicians Andrew Basso and Alessandro Politi. Both stopped by and did some serious shopping before heading out to the World Magic Seminar starting this Sunday in Las Vegas.

The WMS is the premier convention for both professional and amateur magicians sponsored by world famous magicians Siegfried and Roy. The WMS began 32 years ago as the Desert Magic Seminar and is held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the seminar, Lance Burton hosts a special week-end event is held for teen magicians.

Andrew Basso, 24, is from Trento, Italy is considered "One of the younger and most successful escape artist in the world". 

Engaged in over 120 live shows every year, Andrew is currently leading the Italian television programme "Street Magic" where he puts his abilities to the test, in real settings, "on the road", improvising with the public his incredible magic and illusion experiments and his breathtaking escapes.

Andrew has already accomplished dozens of stunts, including:
THE COFFIN OF DEATH: Andrew has only seconds to free himself from a coffin with explosives before a car drives into it at 80 mile per hour.
THE UNDERWATER CELL: Andrew is chained and locked in a cell that is lowered underwater and has to hold his breath and escape before drowning.
ESCAPE AT 40 METERS HEIGHT: hanging head-down from a crane, 130 feet away from the ground, bound in a real straight-jacket, Andrew performed this air escape in record time!

Alessandro Politi, 33, from Savignano sul Rubicon, Italy is a comedian, cabaret artist and actor. He was named Italian Magician and Comic of the Year in 2006.

He is most famous for his portrayal of a weird Scottish magician Martin Scozzese, that calls himself the "Grande Mago" (Big Magician).  Alessandro holds the Guinness Book of World Record for the greatest number of  magic tricks presented underwater for an audience. Check out this hysterical video.

Instead of Abracadabra

Instead of Abracadabra (Istället for Abrakadabra) was nominated for a 2010 Oscar at the Academy Awards for best Short Film (Live Action). This short film written and directed by Patrik Eklund is about a young man who dreams of becoming a magician, while his exasperated father wishes he would find himself a job.

The film premiered at the Gothenburg Film Festival in 2008, where it won the short film prize Startsladden, worth about $140,000 and the honorary prize as audience choice. The film was shot in Piteå, Sweden in the autumn of 2007. 

Cast:
Simon J Berger – Thomas
Jacob Nordenson - Bengt
Anki Larsson - Gunilla
Saga Gärde – Monika

Four New Tannen's Magic Lectures!

Tannen's Magic Lecture Series announces four new lectures at our New York City store.

Joe Monti
“Monti's Back in Town”
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Doc Dixon 
“Practical Close-Up and Platform Conjuring”
Thursday, April 1st, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Dan & Dave 
“Visceral amazement. Bliss. Abstract wonder. Extreme optical abstractions.”
Monday, April 5th, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Luis Otero 
“Enlightened Card Magic”
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Click here for more information.