February 11, 2019

Delineation

February 11, 2019/ Andy Lastname

Hold on…

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Sorry. Had to dust off my keyboard.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in with feedback in regards to Magic For Young Lovers. It was pretty overwhelming. I knew the material was strong, because I’ve performed it all. But I still never really know how these things are going to be received by the people who pony up the money to make this all happen. So I’m glad to hear people felt it was worth their investment.

Okay, so let’s say you came to this site late and you’ve been reading everything in order and you’ve finally gotten to this post. Going forward from this point you’re going to find the posting to be slightly different. Posts will be shorter, they’ll go less in-depth into the topics, and the posts will be generally dumber, I would guess.

Originally my idea was just to put everything I wrote in regards to magic on this site. I thought of myself as someone who wrote a blog and maybe would sometimes collect some of those blog posts and put them in a book for posterity. But then I realized, “Aw, fudge. I’m the best writer in magic period, not just on a blog. That means I have to find the best outlet for different content. I can’t just dump everything on the site.” Fully-formed tricks, in-depth theory, or detailed testing results are they type of content that is probably not best presented in blog form. That’s what I’ve been learning.

One thing I was surprised by with the feedback on MFYL is how many people mentioned a post or a trick from the book that had been on this site for a year or two but it didn’t really connect with them until they read it in the context of the book.

So, I’m not just saving the “best” stuff for the books and other publications as a reward for the supporters, but also because I think that’s the context that they shine better in. It can be hard to appreciate something when it’s posted for free for everyone to view.

I fall into the same trap. I’ll see a trick in a magazine and think, “Oh, that seems pretty good.” But it’s not until 8 years later when it’s released as a paid download that I really recognize how strong it is. That’s human nature.

So going forward you can expect:

Short, but more frequent posts. I don’t know if I’ll be on a schedule or not, but it will probably average five or so posts a week.

More posts that fall into these categories, which are what blogs do best: short, punchy posts; posts with a lot of images; posts with video and gifs; posts that are dealing with something timely; posts containing ideas that aren’t yet fully-formed; stupid posts.

Posts that present the start of a conversation on magic theory/practice. Rather than try an encapsulate an entire idea in 2400 words, I’ll spend 500 giving you the basic idea and supporters will get the more fleshed out version later on.

More behind-the-scenes stuff.

Early February Check-In

February 01, 2019/ Andy Lastname

The email about “Season 4” will go to Season 3 supporters Feb. 13th. I wanted to give you some time with the new book to see if you felt it was worth your investment to sign up for another year.
Any untaken Season 4 slots will be made available on a first come-first serve basis later in February and will be announced on the site.
If you were too lazy to watch the video in the last post, the Jerx returns on Feb. 11th.
There seems to be a resurgence in people saying, “If you have good audience management, people don’t want to look at [insert magically altered object here].” If you believe this, I would take this test for dementia, because there’s something wrong with you. Your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. Wanting to look at the object is part of the normal, human response of taking interest in what you’ve shown them. You can’t “manage” your way around that. I’ve written about this 1000 times already (See WWJD, and Final Exam for a couple examples) so I won’t get all into it again. It’s just annoying because it’s the laziest sort of non-answer to legitimate concerns. “Doesn’t the audience want to see the bottle with their cellphone inside it?” No, no. You just need proper audience management. I always like to ask them what this sort of “audience management” would look like if I were to see it. They never have any real response. It’s just a phrase they use to avoid dealing with the realities of the effect.
Our girl, Stasia, is releasing her Empty Cup Oracle Deck soon. You can buy it on her Etsy site. If you’ve got at least three brain cells rattling around in that big melon of yours, you will see the many opportunities to use this in a magic/mentalism context. It’s naturally more intriguing than a deck of cards, but the imagery is simpler and more easily interpreted than a tarot deck. Pick one up and support our friends.

January 29, 2019

For Everyone

January 29, 2019/ Andy Lastname

For Book Buyers

The Digital Appendix is now live. See the “Final Book Info” email for more details on that.

For Non-Book Buyers

I received a bunch of emails this weekend from new readers who want to pick up the second book after hearing something about MFYL elsewhere online. Unfortunately, other than maybe a couple stragglers, the books are all spoken for. If you’re new here, I’m not a book publisher. I write this site. People who like it support the site. In turn they get rewards at the end of each season. This year, one of the rewards was the book. But no, there won’t be a second edition or an ebook or anything like that. That would ultimately undermine the investment of the people who supported the site. I realize that’s kind of annoying, but I haven’t hit on a better system yet.

For Non-Fans

I received a few emails this weekend asking what I thought about some negative comments about this site on a message board. My response was, “huh?” The truth is, I don’t read a single thing about this site, positive or negative unless the person writes it to me directly. This isn’t because I see it as a one-sided conversation, it’s the opposite. If people have something worthwhile to say, I want them to get in touch. I can’t be chasing down shit written all over the internet. I just assume if someone is going out of their way to read something they don’t like and then write about it somewhere else, then their goal is probably not to discuss whatever issue they’re pretending to have, or else they would have come to the source.

Here’s the thing… The Jerx has been responsible for me working with or corresponding with 90+% of the magicians I admire in the world today. I have a waiting list of people who want to support the site. I receive emails every day from people with embarrassingly nice things to say. This site is pretty much a source of pure delight for me. Someone on a message board has an issue? I can’t even pretend to give a shit.

For Fans

January 25, 2019

Checking In

January 25, 2019/ Andy Lastname

Magic for Young Lovers is now sold out. I have a few extra I held onto just in case my accounting in regards to how many I needed was off in some way. If those end up not being needed then they will be included in the Latecomer’s Package. Which is everything I ever released in one package for people who found this site after these things had been released. There are only a few of these packages available, because there are only a few of the items within the package available.

Season 4 will start in early-mid-ish February. An exact date will be announced here soon.

The Season 4 reward/bonuses won’t be discussed much here, as discussed in this post.

If I don’t come back for Season 4, it may be because the FBI is monitoring my emails and they notice a lot of suspicious activity and discussion in regards to known sex offenders. This is because every time some magician diddles a cub scout my email lights up like a pinball machine with people letting me know.

So just so we’re all aware… yes, I know that magician David Oliver was arrested for sexually assaulting three boys.

Here’s David Oliver (real name David Hussey) at his arraignment.

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I know what everyone is thinking… “Here’s another celebrity pretty-boy who feels he can take whatever he wants just because he’s a hot piece of beefcake.”

The accusations seem to come from multiple sources and according to one article:

The report says Hussey (David Oliver) was told of the allegations while in the hospital this September. A friend of Hussey’s, who was there at the time, told police he was “visibly upset” and that Hussey told her “I may have done something inappropriate.”

So while I’ll withhold my judgement until all the details are out… that doesn’t sound good.

It’s upsetting. Almost as upsetting is the fact that this is what it looks like after getting treated for skin cancer, apparently.

Couldn’t we invent like a gauze beanie or something? Is that really the best our modern medical treatment has to offer? Slap a couple maxi-pads on his head and send him out the door?

Well, this is an awkward transition, but a few weeks back I recommended playing a little game with yourself where you imagine all the quotes in Penguin’s promotional emails are from people talking about their dicks after getting plastic surgery to make them bigger.

I missed this one originally, but a friend forwarded me the email for an effect called Gone Fishin’, which featured a bunch of quotes from satisfied recipients of penile enlargement surgery…

"Breathtaking. In the right hands it can be a miracle. I love it." -Marc Salem

"A miniature masterpiece" -M Bean

"This left my wife and daughter SPEECHLESS." -Dave Medeiros

Ah yes, there’s that typical high-quality sort of magic writing I’m known for.

Hope you’re all well. I’ll check in again soon. Enjoy the book.

January 21, 2019

Coming Soon

January 21, 2019/ Andy Lastname

Shipping the next couple weeks…

Magic For Young Lovers

The Jerx Deck #2 Squishers (inspired by Bulldog Squeezers)

January 16, 2019

Mini Update and Some 2018 Music Faves

January 16, 2019/ Andy Lastname

Quick Updates…

If you’ve paid in full for the book expect an email later today with details on the shipping info/fee. If you don’t get the email (make sure you check your spam and your email that’s associated with your paypal account) let me know.
If you were on the monthly payments and you started later in the year, expect an email next week about paying off early (if you want to).
If you didn’t buy the book and you’d like a copy, I have about 14 extras. They will be available as of this coming Monday. Check back here then if you’d like a copy.
The Winter issue of the X-Comm Newsletter will come to subscribers this weekend.
The books and decks will ship in a few batches, starting next week through early February.

2018 Music Faves

I’ve already posted a lot of my favorite songs from 2018 during last year, but here is a round-up of some of my favorite songs of the year that haven’t found their way to the blog previously.

My taste in music leans towards 60’s influenced indie-pop, garage-pop, punk, psychedelia, folk, power-pop, and that sort of thing. If that doesn’t appeal to you, go kick rocks.

Favorite Single of 2018 That Sounds Like a Single from 1966

Flower Garden by The Lazy Lies (Barcelona, Spain)

“Wouldn’t it be amazing if good deeds made people beautiful?”

Buoyant and sunny, a perfect piece of pop-music that—if it didn’t mention pictures getting likes—you would assume was from your parent’s generation. Unless you’re significantly older than me… then you’d think it was from your own generation. Or maybe you’re a baby and your parent’s generation is the 90s, in which case get out of here, baby! This blog is for adults. Although I gotta hand it to you, I like a baby that can read.

Somehow this only has 97 plays as of me posting it here, which is mind-boggling to me.

Favorite Punk Song of 2018

Some Mutts (Can’t Be Muzzled) by Amyl and the Sniffers (Melbourne, Australia)

Woof woof.

My Most Played Song of 2018

Italian Jeans by Stufft Crust (San Francisco, California)

Garage/surf/punk. Every night I have a little dance party for myself (a habit I recommend for everyone). This was my favorite song of 2018 to bop around the apartment to.

Favorite Power Pop Song of 2018

Give You What You Want by Greg Pope (Nashville, Tennessee)

I’m a sucker for this type of rhythm—constantly pushing forward. It sounds like a train rumbling down the tracks.

My Favorite Talky Songs of 2018

By “talky” I mean these guys aren’t great singers, but they still put out some catchy songs that I enjoyed this year.

Hospital by Art Brut (Berlin, Germany)

Eddie Argos, the lead singer of Art Brut, “nearly died” of peritonitis this year. He wrote this song while recovering.

Favorite Line: “They tried to make me go to rehab and I said… ‘That’s probably a very good idea.’”

Sexy National Anthem by Cheekface (Los Angeles, California)

I have no clue how to categorize their style—the guy just pretty much talks over the music— but this band has some of my favorite lyrics of any band I came across this year.

If you like this, check out Dry Heat, Nice Town and I Only Say I’m Sorry When I’m Wrong Now.

First Date by St. Lenox (New York, New York)

This doesn’t really qualify as “talky” but he does have an unusual singing voice. I think I connected to this song because one of the cafes I work out of regularly is a very popular spot for first dates and I love creeping on them and listening in. It’s a real learning experience in regards to interacting with new people and how terrible most people are at it.

Favorite Psychedelic Song of 2018

The Rain is Out by Gloria (Lyon, France)

Gloria is a band I’ve mentioned a few times before on this site. They’re one of my absolute favorites. They’re a pretty “gentle” psychedelia band, but they still qualify. I really like the way the song starts, with each instrument coming in individually with the same riff. Plus the video is delightful. It looks like it was made by the people behind Manos: The Hands of Fate.

Favorite Song I First Heard In A Commercial in 2018

Love You So by Bleu (Los Angeles, California)

This slick, glossy piano-pop song was one I first heard in a commercial for ebay. I tracked it down and found out I like the parts of the song that aren’t in the commercial even better (because it has the F-word in it, so if you’re that baby I mentioned before don’t play this song!).

Favorite Hip-Hop/Rap Song of 2018

Ace by Noname ft. Smino and Saba (Chicago, Illinois)

I used to love rap and hip-hop. It used to be the most fun, most aggressive type of music. It was all about partying, smoking weed, fucking hoes, shooting up a city block… fun stuff! Now I listen to rap and it makes me want to blow my goddamn brains out. It’s so depressing. I listen to a song and think, Is this about… fucking voting? Or some other dull shit. Yes, I know, it’s good to be socially conscious and all that, but I’m trying to shake my little booty here. If it’s not that sort of thing then it’s a song about how depressed they are. WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!?? Are people really that miserable? Do you want to listen to people talking about how sad they are?

Anyway, Noname is a young rapper out of Chicago. I dig her style and specifically like this performance because it revs up the tempo of the song on the album which is especially impressive on her verse and Saba’s verse. And I like how she sweetly says “thank you” at the end of the song.

Favorite Folk Song of 2018

Rang Tang Ring Toon by Mountain Man (Durham, North Carolina)

See, now here’s a subject for a song I can really get behind: dancing around the house, skinny dipping with friends, and cooking beans!

Folk music isn’t necessarily my favorite genre to listen to, but I’d love to be in a folk band; 3 or 4 people crowded around a microphone singing about the Sloop John B and Tom Dooley. That’s my dream.

These ladies have a classic Appalachian-folk sound and their harmonies are just spot-on.

Favorite Album of 2018

Hollow Ground by Cut Worms (Brooklyn, New York)

This isn’t a ground-breaking album by any means, but I listened to a couple hundred new albums this year and this one had the highest percentage of songs that I actually kept in my itunes playlist.

This description from their Bandcamp page is pretty accurate:

“Max Clarke has a knack for conjuring up warmth in his music, like endless summer or ageless youth. The 27-year-old’s debut LP, Hollow Ground, crackles with the heat of a love-struck nostalgia, woven together with a palpable Everly Brothers’ influence and retro sound. It reaches back into decades of plainspoken, unfussy, and squarely American storytelling and pulls it forth into 2018.”

Here are a couple of my favorites from the album:

January 09, 2019

Updates

January 09, 2019/ Andy Lastname

“As a magician, the most shameful thing you can say is, ‘I do Out of This World with half a deck, because it’s faster.’

Wait, check that, the most shameful thing you can say is, ‘Yes, officer, I molested the birthday boy.’ But the Out of This World thing is still pretty pathetic too.”

— From the effect, A World Out of Time in Magic For Young Lovers

Just a quote from the upcoming book so you know that I haven’t just written one of the greatest magic books ever, but also an important piece of art.

So, a Book 2 update. When we* contacted the printers last week to see if the most recent shipping date we’d received from them (January 8th) was still accurate, we got this reply:

“Manufacturing is running around 3 days behind schedule. They are working overtime and weekends to get caught up so check back on Monday and lets see where we are at.”

On Monday we wrote back and heard this:

“The ship date is 1-14-19.”

So that’s the latest news I have there. I will keep you updated. Assuming that date holds up then we’re looking at an end-of-the-month-ish date for delivery from me to you.

[* This isn’t the royal we. When I say “we” on this site, it usually just means “not me.” I get a good amount of help on certain logistical aspects of running this site and producing the products. I’m not dealing directly with the printers. Hence “we.”]

Pre-illustration photo and illustration from the trick Ass to Mouth from Magic for Young Lovers

Season 4 Q&A

Are you definitely doing another season of The Jerx?

There’s a good chance, I think.

The first question I ask myself is, “do I have the content for another year?” I do. The next question is, “Is there interest in another year?” I’ll know that when I put out the call to this year’s supporters to see if they want to sign up for another year. If there is enough interest in another year, I’ll do one.

How will the (potential) next year be different?

Well, there are three types of posts here that require a lot of time on my part: effect/presentation posts, theory posts, and research posts. These types of posts will no longer be on the site and will instead be in publications for supporters only.

Not everything that could potentially fall into one of these categories won’t be posted, but the more fully realized effects/presentations (which is something I haven’t posted on this site for a while now), the fleshed out theory, and the posts related to focus-group testing or other long-term research won’t be up here anymore.

Wait… so what types of posts does that leave? Making fun of Ellusionist? Joshua Jay photoshops?

Yeah, mostly. There will be shorter, but more frequent posts. Imagine the typical Friday posts, but spread throughout the week.

Oh, I see. So you’re going to take the good stuff away and make people pay for it and just leave the dumb stuff here?

I’ve been saying for a couple years that I’m going to be shifting my focus to the people who support the site. If you thought it was “good stuff,” you would have hopped on to support it already. Right?

Yeah, but…

Look, I get it, you’re thick as pigshit and you can’t fathom why someone is only willing to devote 100s of hours of his time for free content and not all of his time. I’m a true monster.

You’re just trying to make money.

Well, yes… to a certain extent. This is time consuming and it’s taking away from time I would be using for other work.

But money is only part of the equation in finding the balance between my time, my interests, my need to eat, the niche focus of this site, taking care of the supporters, etc.

If money was my primary focus, I would not have stopped allowing new supporters for this site.

Yeah, I don’t get that move at all.

Well, there are two reasons for it.

The first reason has to do with how I see the “business” of this site. I don’t see it as people paying me to produce a $260 book every year. I see it as a type of consulting service. Most non-professionals don’t have the time, energy, or social circle to try something out 20 or 30 times in a casual situation. But they like the that someone is, and they’ve found some value in the ideas and effects generated by the time I devote to that pursuit. I see it less as selling a product and more as providing a service. And if you’re providing a service, you can’t just take on unlimited clients. I’m at the point where I have enough people on board to keep the site going, but not so much that I can’t read everyone’s emails and at least consider ideas and suggestions they send my way.

The second reason to limit supporters is as a form of anti-piracy.

Huh? How does that work? Won’t there be even more bootleg copies of things if there are less legitimate ones to go around?

Well, maybe/maybe not. If I write a book and give one copy to my friend, and he’s a good guy and doesn’t share it, then there is no piracy and there is only one legitimate copy. At the same time, anyone who wants can go to Penguin and buy an online lecture—there are unlimited copies for sale—and yet people still steal the content.

Fewer copies means I can keep better track of what’s out there, and who is screwing me over. But ultimately is very difficult to stop people from ripping you off. I will be able to find out who did it and terminate their “membership.” But who knows what I can or can’t stop completely.

So as much I want to be anti-piracy, my way of doing so is to come at it from the opposite end. I’m going to be pro-supporter. By limiting the number of supporters, I’ve created a situation where it’s better for you to support this site rather than rip me off. First it’s better for your state-of-mind because you don’t have to look in the mirror and think, “I’m a piece of shit.” But it’s also better for supporters financially. Supporters of this site will have a physical product to enjoy. And one that was made in smaller quantities than there was a demand for. Which means there will always be a secondary market where you can at least get your money back. So it’s pretty much free to support this site.

So here’s what a potential Season 4 holds:

For Non-Supporters (and everyone else): You will still be getting a bunch of content here, but it’s going to be of the less in-depth, less substantial, more fun variety. There will probably also be more off-topic posts as well (music, life-advice, things I’m into.)

For Supporters: Once the initial Book 2 mailing is complete, you will get an email with more details about staying on to support the site and reserving your spot in the new super-secret magic society. That email will include the details about the rewards for Season 4 which will include Jerx Deck #3, a physical publication of some sort, the pdf newsletter, and access to at least one exclusive effect that I’m thinking about releasing that won’t be available anywhere else. For the most part, this is going to be discussed off this site. (Either on a new separate site or via email.)

For Non-Supporters Who Want to Be Supporters: Any Season 3 supporter who chooses not to sign up for Season 4 will have their spot made available for someone else to take. I will have a sign-up for people who’d like to be on the waiting list posted here in a couple weeks.

I know this is all stupidly complicated, but it is how it is.

I’ll be back next week with any further updates I receive from the printer. And for the few of you who like the music posts, I’ll be posting some of my top songs from 2018.

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