Creating magical moments...

A journalist recently asked me the age-old question: "What is Magic?"

Without batting an eyelid, I replied: "Something that creates wonder!"

And thoughts raced through my mind... Thoughts I had not listened to before.

When you witness a Hariprasad Chaurasia or a Zakir Hussain perform, you are so wonderfully impressed, and can only say, “It was magical”!

The maestros create magic with their music. They create a wonderful and mystifying feeling that touches one and all, and leave us in a state of enchantment, of magic.

And then there is this field we are associated with – called Magic. Most of us perform magic, only because that is the name: like music.

But as the maestros take Music to the level of Magic, shouldn't we who call our craft by that name, try to make our performances wonderful, mystifying and of course enchanting; in another word, Magical?

Should we not aspire to take our craft and its performance to the levels of Magic?

Should we not be looking at creating a magical moment for our audience each time we are performing something?

Should we not be touching our audiences’ lives and minds in a way, that they remember being entertained by us for the rest of their life?

PS: This article originally appeared in the June 2008 issue of the VMN.

Magical Moments with Prof. Baas

Once a magician, always a magician! This is what comes to mind when I think of the octogenarian Prof. Baas of Mysore (alias B A Srirangaraj).

Prahlad Acharya, Giridhar Kamath, and myself drove down to Mysore on January 15 to spend an eventful evening with the 88-year-young senior magician; an experience that will always remain in my good memories.

Prof Baas, who has been a little under the weather due to the cold winter, took all of five minutes to return to his jovial and enthusiastic self – sharing jokes and anecdotes from an exceptional memory that puts the rest of us to shame!

He promptly proceeded to enthral the amazed trio with some devastating magic effects, including his inimitable magic closing umbrellas! The best effect of the evening was one where a freely selected card (no force) turned out to be the only card with a different back, and matched with the only card in the wallet!


Photo Caption: Prof Baas’ highly entertaining
card effect has Giri & Prahlad in splits...

The hours spent together breezed past in no time, and we look forward to spending more time exchanging magical thoughts with this gifted magician. I use this opportunity to wish Prof. Baas good health and longevity; May the Grace of God continue to shine on this talented personality.

You may send in your good wishes and letters to Prof. Baas at # 1050, 4th Stage, T K Layout, Kuvempu Nagar, Mysore 570 009.

Nakul

PS: This article originally appeared in the January 2007 issue of VMN.

Tune in to Magic Broadcast

Season's greetings to you, my friend!

Following up on my write-up about magical blogs, I thought it best to push some agenda and try to get more of my magician friends connected.

The IndianMagique eGroup completed three years of existence on December 03. It is alive and kicking thanks to the support of nearly 40 magicians from all over the country, including some top names.

Serving as a common platform for Indian magicians to discuss the art of legerdemain, membership to the IndianMagique eGroup is strictly restricted. For more details, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianMagique. To join the largest Indian magicians’ community online, send blank email to IndianMagique-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

After the self-indulgence, let me move on to an interesting topic.

If you are one of those who have the luxury of a broadband connection, then you should visit www.magicbroadcast.com. One visit to this Online Radio Station dedicated to Magic and Magicians, and you will keep going back for more.

On air since October 2004, Magic Broadcast – Radio for Magicians broadcasts magic tricks, interviews, music, and more 24/7 for magicians across the globe. So whether you use WinAmp, iTunes, or Windows Player – MagicBroadcast is the station to tune in to!

You also have the ability to download these as Podcasts, and play them through your iPod or iTune player.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nakul

PS: This article originally appeared in the December 2006 issue of VMN.

Magic in the Blogosphere

I welcome the Magic Academy's foray onto the blogosphere with magicweekly.blogspot.com, and this gave me the idea to write about magician bloggers.

But I was in for a shock! Most of my favourite blogs have either disappeared, or have not been updated in some time, like my own indianmagician.blogspot.com (which has warranted an update in a long time). Most missed among these is John W LeBlanc's Blog - www.escamoteurettes.com/blog (Update on 30/1/2007: John is back! Do drop in to his blog!)

Let me share a couple of thoughts on two notable blogs, and express the hope that all my blogger friends find the time and more thoughts to share.

cardopolis.blogspot.com - David Britland, the accomplished author of many magical tomes maintains this blog. These "Random Thoughts of a Magical Nature" are truly a treat for all serious performers, because David shares the real secrets behind a good performance. And sometimes, in a generous mood, he shares some magic effects too!

thinkingmagicians.blogspot.com - Walt Anthony’ blog for the "Thinking Magicians," truly lives up to its name. Walt defines a 'Thinking Magician' as one who "rejects the limits & clichés of today’s trite & stale ideas of what a “magician” is or how “magic” is performed".

Blogs to keep an eye include: intenselymagic.blogspot.com, magicunlimited.typepad.com, magicandconjuring.blogspot.com, ibmsnightmare.blogspot.com, www.magician.org.uk, peacelovesmusings.blogspot.com, and loads more!

Nakul

PS: This article originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of VMN.