It's all coming back to me now...

So I have been struggling all summer with the show, I was thinking I could just tell people the magic show was at 9:00 and pump out one big show a night. After about the 3rd little show, I realized that wasn't going to work - I just can't say 'no' when someone wants to see magic.

The whole thing with the business license inspector has had my head all backwards, I was talking to "Larry the Karaoke Guy" and he asked me how business was? It was the first time in five years I've ever heard him refer to what I did as "business" which shows just what the City has done to us, they are trying to change the way we think about what we do. I reminded him that I'm not in business and mentioned that I filed an appeal with the Council on that issue.

So now that my appeal is filed I can focus more on what I should be doing, my show. Tonight I felt was the first night I really nailed it. I've reduced the show to only three tricks, two of which are of my own design. I've been starting with Mis-led for it's strong ability to pull people in closer, my new and improved linking ring routine, and closing with my Sword-and-Rope. After the show, I hand out balloon swords for all the kids - which works well after I've done a sword trick.

Overall, it's been short fast and people seem to enjoy it. I am going to consider taking Mis-Led out of the act and then have a show where every trick is of my own creation. I just need one more trick to do that successfully. I dunnu, still thinking.

Now to the topic you actually care about ... video? Yes, we are filming this summer - in fact we have a brand new camcorder that films straight to DVD! That means higher quality, that means better audio, than means no more crappy analog VHS-C rips! But we have been short on time, and really haven't even watched what footage we have taken. Basically, we are filming one hour a night and will eventually go through it all and release some videos for everyone to enjoy! :)

-JoeJoe

It's on ...

Today I put on my top hat, waltzed into the City Clerk's office and presented my appeal. I don't think she took me very seriously at first, but after she read through the first few paragraphs of my four page appeal she became very nice and told me she would take care of it.

Apparently, she will give a copy to the City Attorney and he will present it to the Council at tonight's meeting, which was about five hours ago. She told me these types of issues normally get sent to executive session. So all I can do now is wait and hope.

At least, that's all I can do on the "official" front ... unofficially I have begun wearing my the business license in my hat band while performing, and plan to do a rip-and-restore routine with it. Barefoot Landing has offered to reimburse me for the license, but I told them that would not be necessary as I do intend to fight this. After all, it is not about the money ... it is about the principle of the matter.

-JoeJoe

Sacrifice art for profit?

My mind is being sidetracked by a request (translation: demand) by the City that I get a business license. I don't know what these local yocals think, but the Supreme Court has ruled that street performers do not need the same licenses and permits that vendors and merchants are required to have ... so I'm gearing up to fight the City over this.

Some history for people that don't know me: I started out as a street magician, when I first moved to Myrtle Beach I was excited to be in a beach resort where I could perform. Only, the City Attorney claimed I would be arrested on the spot if "any money exchanged hands". While disappointed, I was not deterred ... I could still be a magician and began a career in show business.

I did pretty good, resident magician at 2001 Nightlife, MC at Coconut's Comedy Club, along with all the other places I performed around the beach. But something happened ... the deeper I sank into the "business", the less "show" there was. At some point, I just quit. Stopped. I didn't have the passion, I didn't feel the love, I no longer enjoyed what I was doing.

A few years down time, and it started to come back to me ... I realized why I wasn't happy. I decided to come back to magic, but this time I was going to do it my way ... and not the way the City Attorney wanted. I asked Barefoot Landing if I could street perform on their property for tips, and they granted me permission. I was happy again.

In my years at Barefoot Landing, I have been able to focus on the "magic" and not on the business ... and in that time, I have accomplish a lot. I have created several illusions of my own (Disappearing JoeJoe, the Sword and Rope, Solo Slice), not to mention I have now graduated into larger scale illusions like Snowstorm and the Floating Street Lamp. I hope to make a building levitate by the end of the year, and begin testing designs that will allow me to make a tree vanish before a live audience!

That is art ... there is no "business" in what I do. I could not do these things if I was worried about profits. This time around, I am not going to let the City take my art away from me. I do not "sell" anything, I do not "charge" for anything. I am not legally required to have a business license. And I am going to defend my rights. I refuse to let the City of North Myrtle Beach take my art away from me - I simply cannot sacrifice my art for profit, it means too much to me.

To be continued....

-JoeJoe

Let The Magic Begin!

So last night was the first night of the 2007 Summer Season, and I must confess ... I was ill prepared. I've spent so much time working on my YouTube videos, that I really haven't given the summer shows much thought. That all ended last night as I had to think fast and put together some type of show, which was surprising similar to last summers show.

But last summers show just didn't cut it for me, I intend to change things up this year and we are thinking of exactly how. First, we are going to bring back the Disappearing JoeJoe box and I have already made repairs to the water damage it suffered. Second, instead of pumping out a lot of little shows this year, I want to pull off one big show and spend the rest of the night having fun with the balloon animals. I feel this will be a lot less stressful on me, and since I really don't have anything left to prove to myself anyway.

I will be using a personal amp that attaches to my belt for this big show, and I now have an electric pump for blowing up balloons - which means I will have a lot more energy to expend on my shows this summer! I have also cut my hair ... well, trimmed my bangs anyway. Which is to me extremely significant as I honestly can't remember my last hair cut - we're talking something around the 20 year mark! That's right, I haven't had my hair so much as even trimmed in two decades ... so this is to me, a big change - maybe not so much physically as I don't look that different, but mentally it is huge!

Ok so, I'm getting ready to go do it again ... pictures and video of the summer season will be posted again this year, so if your not subscribed to my blog there is no better time to do so!

-JoeJoe