While most teenage boys hide copies of Playboy under their mattress, I preferred playing cards ... I used to sit in bed at night and practice sleights and moves for hours on end. As I have grown older, my interest has faded and I must confess I no longer put forth the effort I used to.
But over the last few weeks, I've been getting the itch all over again. I've about driven Dana to the point of insanity, rehearsal every day ... new tricks ... new routines ... building this ... decorating that. This summer will be, without any doubt what-so-ever, my greatest magic ever! I can't even recall the last time I was this hungry for it.
We are working towards three new routines - one, an improved Linking Ring routine that will hopefully pull crowds. This will not be the usual close-up routine I have done for years, but a whole new routine using a complete set of 8 inch rings.
And we are working on a new rope routine, based on the world famous Tabary Rope Routine. If you haven't seen Tabary work a rope, you have no idea what rope magic is all about! I first saw Tabary do his routine at Desert Magic Seminar back in '92, and it totally blew me away they way he could work an entire stage for an audience of thousands with nothing but a piece of rope.
And lastly, we are considering bringing Cups n Balls into my act ... most buskers do Cups n Balls, but I've never been fond of the trick myself. But then again, I was never fond of the Floating Cigarette so what do I know? The idea is to try it out and see how it works for us ... just finished building a new table to perform on:
I found out today that Stevie the Stilt Walker passed away last month. Stevie was a regular performer at Barefoot Landing and would walk by my pitch every night, usually around 7:00. Well liked by everyone, he will be greatly missed this summer.
This is one of my favorite routines, a simple card trick. This clip was filmed in 2006 at Barefoot Landing. If you are a magician and want to learn how to do this trick, join my new Magic Joint. Hope you enjoy. : )
I've been on a broken foot for two weeks now, but that really hasn't slowed me down much. In addition to opening my new website, and releasing a new YouTube video, Dana and I are making preparations for my sixth season at Barefoot Landing. We have talked with them, and are expecting a new contract in the mail any day now.
Last year, we were under prepared ... we were running a flea market on the side, had the City up our rear end, and a lot of personal issues floating around. This year, we are coming back with a huge big bang and none of the baggage! We are currently reviewing footage taken last year, and are tweaking the act and coming up with new material. We are also working on the set, the old bar stool is now a new magic stool and is going to look great in front of the Magic Shows Stand!
-JoeJoe
PS: We will have another YouTube video released very soon, and like the Last Great Unknown Link, it will come with an instructional video available to all members of Magic Joint!
It is with a heavy heart that I had to put my friend and companion to rest, Foxy Loxy.
I don't know how old Foxy is, I rescued her from the pound almost 10 years ago. I found myself living alone and wanted a watch dog, and there was just something about her that I just had to bring her home with me.
The next day she was here alone when my Dad stopped by. He opened the door and they saw each other ... they both just stared at each other ... eventually, he walked in and Foxy let him pet her. Ever since then, I always joked that if you wanted to rob me, she would hold the door open for you.
She was an escape artist, I couldn't keep her locked up no matter how hard I tried. I had to keep a lock on the gate, as she knew how to lift it with her nose. I dug up the entire fence and buried chicken wire. The next day, she dug a hole and ripped the chicken wire open with her bare paws. She was a sled dog, and loved to pull me on my Razor Scooter. She loved to swim through the swamp as much as she loved to run through the neighborhood. I used to get so frustrated, having to give her a bath before she could come back in the house.
She has brought a lot of magic into my life, now she runs through the heavens ... and I will miss her very much. She may be just a dog to everyone else, but to me she was so much more. :(
Dana and are finally getting around to watching some of the DVD footage we filmed last summer at Barefoot Landing. We accumulated over 300 hours of footage and have not yet processed even half of it, yet alone watch it. In fact, there is some footage that we may never get around to watching.
Here is a small show where I performed my linking ring routine, "The Last Great Unknown Link". Somewhere on this blog there is another clip of this from the year before. This time it's done with larger rings and is an entire routine (not just a clip).
If you are a magician and are interested in learning exactly how I link the rings without the use of a key ring, then feel free to join my new Magic Joint site. Members get access to a video tutorial where I share the secret with the magic community, and best of all it's 100% free to you! After you join, click "Articles" and you will find the tutorial under "Secret Shop".
Like many aspiring magicians, I have over the years created a trick or two worthy of sharing with the general magic community ... and I believe I have found a way that I will be able to release my secrets to the magic community! Introducing http://magicjoint.com
Magic Joint is where I will be publishing a collection of articles including my unique linking ring routine, stripper deck handling, Disappearing JoeJoe, and even my sword-through-body! It is not a cookie-cutter website, I hand scripted the entire thing from scratch. I know what every subroutine is for, I know what every variable holds ... and I have grand ideas on how to make this the most unique magic destination on the web!
It is still in a beta-testing stage, but registrations are open and the forums are fully functional. Stop by and check it out, Dana and I really like the blue-stars yellow-trim layout we designed for it. It looks good.
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Street performer extraordinare, the Amazing JoeJoe
has hitchhiked from coast-to-coast performing his
unique brand of magic and illusion on Main Street USA.
