Duplicity Named Among Best Tricks of 2008

Wayne Kawamoto over at Magic.About.com has named Duplicity as one of his top tricks of 2008.

The man has taste, that's for sure.

Thanks for the kudos, Wayne, and I'll be sure to pass them along to Mr. John Bannon as well!

Back to our regular program

Wow, it was really nice to have 4 days off from my trip to Las Vegas, then come back to work for 2 days before our Christmas break.

While in Vegas, I saw:

• Steve Wyrick's Real Magic
• The Mac King Comedy Magic Show
• Dana Daniels
• Criss Angel BeLIEve

I had also intended on seeing The Amazing Johnathan, but his show was cancelled due to Johnathan's not feeling well. A big disappointment, to say the least.

I also got a chance to visit the Gary Darwin Magic Club and deliver my lecture. Naturally, the night of my lecture, a lecture I had been planning for months, Las Vegas has to receive the largest snowfall in history. Let's just say, the weather negatively affected the attendence. Nonetheless, those who were there had a great time, and Darwin himself called my lecture a "welcome surprise."

2009 is set to bring a lot of great innovations from us. We'll remain focused on bringing high-quality, affordable magic to the masses. I think we've got some very nice items coming down the pipeline, so stay tuned!

Happy Holidays

From all your Fun Inc friends, have a happy holiday. We'll be back on Monday!

Inferno Card launches Wednesday!

The Inferno Card will be available beginning this Wednesday, Dec. 17th! Be the first to obtain the hottest card revelation in your town. Never before has this item been as widely available in the U.S. as we're making it now!

View the video, and prepare to be wowed.

NBC's The Office: Exposure!

For those long-time readers of the blog, you may know that I'm a fan of NBC's "The Office." The annoying boss, played by Steve Carell, is alluded to in the show as being a magician. One scene even featured him attempting a straitjacket escape ending, predictably, in failure.

But was I shocked when I happened to glance at a few of the Web Exclusives from a recent episode, and saw flagrant exposure of the Thumb Tip! Warning: Some of you may cringe while viewing this. Not just because of the exposure, but because you probably know someone who actually performs it like this!



If only he had our Thumb Tip DVD or our 101 Tricks with a Thumb Tip booklet, this could have been avoided.

Expert at the Dinner Table

I'm excited to announce that Tomas Medina’s At the Table, the latest DVD release from Fun Incorporated is set to arrive at the Fun factory early next week. This hour+ long instructional DVD serves up a complete menu of astonishments -- each one perfectly suited to drop of the hat circumstances: in bars, at restaurants, and even the family dinner table. Learn tricks with sugar packets, coins, watches, the human body, and much more!

Here's a sneak preview of the artwork.

FUN around the Internet

We'll start off today's post by mentioning that FUN Inc. has taken another giant leap forward into the 21st Century. Our very own spokeself, Hokus J. Pokus, has gotten himself a Twitter page. You can follow him here: http://twitter.com/funinc. I put a Twitter badge on the sidebar, too.

Second, our friends over at iTricks.com (who, for some reason, are really nice to us) have posted the review of John Bannon's Spin Doctor. Also of note is the awesome shout-out Derek gave to me.

W00t!

New products from Alakazam USA!

We recently became a distributor for Alakazam USA. The company, established first in the UK by Peter Nardi, expanded into the U.S. market not too long ago. Peter himself is a stitch; I have overheard a few phone conversations where he had Tomas laughing pretty hard.

We started out with a few products, and I have little doubt that we'll be expanding the number of Alakazam products we carry before too long! Here's what we have so far:

Z6 by Wayne Dobson: This booklet includes six fantastic routines hatched from Wayne Dobson's slightly Z wallet obsessed brain. Wayne has come up with a host of effects designed for the extremely versatile "Z wallet." Each effect is explained thoroughly, detailing; materials required, Set Up, and Performance.

Celebrity Deck by Wayne Dobson: A utility principle with a variety of applications. Once again, a devious deception from the mind of Wayne Dobson.

Erazer: This is one trick you will want to get your hands on. Adrian Gower has taken the Brainwave effect to new and exciting limits. Make sure your spectators wear a helmet; so they don't make a mess when you blow their minds!

The Grail by Mike Rose: A Card At Any Number effect for the real world. No sleight-of-hand? No equivoque? No switches? No extra props? No problem!

Zenner-Tech: Alakazam's Zenner-Tech is a very direct and commercial ESP test. No extraneous props, no 'sticky' cards and no sleights. It is perfect for a formal close-up or mentalism performance or as an encore piece when you need to perform a killer closer. The spectator makes all the decisions and yet the outcome is guaranteed, every time!

The podcast is up!

You can hear Gabe, Tomas, and I on iTricks online now!

Click here, or subscribe via iTunes!

FUN Crew on iTricks!

Yes, it finally happened.

Justin Robert Young of iTricks.com has taken leave of common sense and invited Gabe, Tomas, and I back to the podcast.

Keep an eye on iTricks.com on Monday when the podcast goes live!

New Product: Inferno Card!

Just when you couldn't get enough pyro effects, FUN Incorporated is proud to announce the upcoming release of Inferno Card!

We have obtained a source at last that can print a card onto a piece of flash paper. Imagine the awesome transformations as a card burns and transforms into a spectator's signed selection! The possibilites are only limited by the imagination.

Tomas and I will be heading out tonight to film some live performances using these, and we'll have them up on our website and on YouTube before long!

FUN featured in Pittsburgh

Our good friends Tom and Linda of The Cuckoo's Nest were recently profiled in their local newspaper. In addition to being a great article, the online version includes a video of Tom and of some demonstrations.

What's the very first trick shown in the video? A classic maybe, like coin in bottle or sponge balls?

All those moldy oldies took a back seat to the new kid on the block: John Bannon's Spin Doctor!

Click here to read the article!

Lance and Royal Magic

iTricks.com recently spotted an article published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal by Mike Weatherford. Weatherford compares Criss Angel's new school of magic to Lance Burton's old school. Readers of this blog know where I stand on that. In fact, so does iTricks!


Anyway... along with clips from the article, iTricks.com also posted a photo taken, presumably, inside the Lance Burton magic shop in the Monte Carlo. Recognize anything?

You can clearly see the Royal Magic logo on our "Amazing Magic Tricks with Rope" DVD and our "25 Amazing Tricks with Scotch and Soda" DVD (I know it's the Scotch and Soda DVD because it's orange).

If Royal Magic is good enough for World Champion Magician Lance Burton, then it's good enough for you! Ask for it by name at your favorite magic dealer.

And speaking of Lance, I just found out he's going to be on hiatus when I'm in Las Vegas. Oh, the cruel irony!

Viva Las Vegas!

Call for suggestions!

I'm headed to Las Vegas for my first time ever, thanks to the guys at StreetofCards.tv. I won their "Amish Knot" contest, and with it a week-long vacay at Sin City, to include a lot of magical extras. In addition to seeing the top magic acts in the world, like Lance Burton, Mac King, and Penn & Teller, to name a few, the SOC-TV crew arranged for me to present my humble lecture at the Gary Darwin Midnight Magic Club.

So, aside from the numerous shows to see in Vegas, what else do you think I should check out? Leave your comments for me by Dec 14, 'cause that's when I'm heading west!

BTW, if you'd like to see my winning video, check it out below:

Artist Spotlight: Diamond Jim Tyler

"If you ever meet Diamond Jim in person, make sure you ask to see his handling of the Mental Photography Deck." -Tomas, November 2008

Today we'll spotlight products from a true class act. I had the privilege to see Diamond Jim Tyler perform and lecture last year at the Motor City Close-Up convention. I only got to see DJ, since that weekend was my big move from Michigan to Chicago. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed watching DJ's smooth, low-key presentations with outstanding technique.

Bamboozlers: "The book teaches the reader how to do amazing and funny things with common objects found around the house or in a restaurant. It is a collection of bar bets, brain teasers, jokes, puzzles and magic effects that I've collected over the last 20 years." I recommend this one just for the Red Bull trick!

SentiMental Postcards: Back on the market after a long hiatus! Diamond Jim Tyler's mental gem is a routine with heart that packs flat and plays big. This effect will amaze any onlooker and leave them with a “warm fuzzy” inside. When you can grip an audience emotionally it becomes easy to take on the role of a tour guide and escort them on a magical journey.

Mirrors DVD: Mirrors have a lore that date back to ancient times. Legends that surround the looking-glass are said to lure or repel spirits. Fortune-tellers use this mystical apparatus to read auras and make predictions. Stage magicians have used smoke and mirrors for hundreds of years to amaze their audiences. And now these magical reflectors have been brought into the hands of close-up wizards to further their mythology in an intimate gathering!

Shameless Self-Promotion Department

In the shameless self-promotion department, I would be remiss if I did not blog about the book I recently authored, Mysterio's Encyclopedia of Magic & Conjuring. It's on shelves at most major bookstores, including Borders and Barnes & Noble and has been getting good reactions from magicians who've encountered it. The tome is some 360+ pages, and illustrated by Tony Dunn. It contains instructions for well over 100 tricks, including card, coin and close-up effects, The Cups and Balls, as well as parlor tricks and even stage illusions.

The premise is that I wrote the book after discovering the effects and notebooks of a famous magician who died in 1936, "Mr. Mysterio." Many of the descriptions in the book were supposedly drawn from Mysterio's notebooks and a manuscript he was working on at the time of his death. For fun, I mixed in real information about various magicians (Malini, Thurston, Kellar, etc.) Mysterio might have encountered during his illustrious career before the footlights.

I'm pleased with the end result and think budding magicians everywhere will be, too. If you pick up a copy, post here to let me know what you think!

What's a Double Discount?

When a customer of ours logs onto the FUN Inc website, there's a section in the Wholesale Magic category that says,"Double Discount." This portion of the website is only visible when a customer logs onto the site. There are two ways to save when buying Double Discount items. 1) All products listed in this category have been reduced in price (from 25-50%) from their original wholesale prices, and 2)If you purchase $100 or more in Double Discount merchandise ( mix and match ), you will automatically receive an additional 10% discount on that merchandise!

There are some fantastic finds on these pages. For example, I am a huge fan of the Newspaper Prediction by Eduardo Kozuch. This is a very smart and super easy newspaper prediction that most performers will LOVE. Yes, the pieces are disposable, but you get enough for 50 performances. A wonderful item at a NEW FUN price.

The Double Discount pages contain more than just tricks! There are many wonderful book titles on these pages. Stage magic fans will enjoy FANTASIO-My Canes and Candles. This book features all the secret "work" on Fantasio cane/candle products. Yes, all the Fantasio's appearing and vanishing canes, candles and wands: their care and maintenance, complete effects and routines, and innovative ideas that could only have been thought of by their inventor. A great book at an unbeatable Double Discount price!

Stock up now, as quantities are limited! And remember, bigger savings mean bigger profits for you. Oh, and once again....you must be logged on to view the Double Discount pages. Have FUN!

My convention weekend

Both Gabe and I attended conventions this weekend, him in Boston for Collector's and me in Detroit for the Motor City Close-Up Convention.

I always enjoy attending conventions, and this one was no exception. The performers were all outstanding, but it's the late-night sessioning that really makes this convention unique for me.

I was fortunate to find myself chatting with Geoff Williams, a brilliant comedy magician from Minnesota. He had observed a short set I performed in the morning where I did a Rising Card effect (with a borrowed deck!) and a Water Suspension. The Rising Card effect was presented with some humor and comedy, and the Water Suspension was presented with a little more mysticism and wonder. I had felt some trepidation when I came up with the Water Suspension presentation, because it did seem to be at odds with all the other humorous routines I normally perform.

Geoff told me he noticed that inconsistency in my character. He offered some great advice about diagramming your persona's character traits, and if an effect doesn't fit in, then it should be cut.

All this goes back to what I wrote about last week, when I discussed the value of input from more experienced performers. They know what works and what doesn't, and the best way to learn is from those who have been there before you.

I'll take Geoff's advice and work on this presentation, and as I do, I'll have a better understanding of what it takes to make my character unique. After all good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.

The Value of Veterans

I marked yesterday's Veteran's Day in a different way than I have before. I have always given my utmost respect to our veterans, particularly as a member of the Sons of the American Legion. But yesterday I joined a club in Chicago called The 3 Sheeters Club. The 3 Sheeters is a club for entertainers - you'll find magicians, musicians, clowns, comics - nearly every type of variety act. Most of the members are long retired from show business, and have been club members for 20-30 years on average.

It brought to mind a passage I read in Eric Evans' book, "The Secret Art of Magic." In the book, Evans relates various principles of magic to those in Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." It may sound morbid, but really it makes sense: When performers have a great show, we "kill." When we do poorly, we "die." A natural extension of this way of thinking would give the moniker of "veteran" to those who made a career out of performing.

In the picture above, you can see me in the center of the photo (in the blue shirt). I'm getting feedback on my performance that evening from Dirk Losander, Johnny Thompson, Billy McComb (the white-haired gentleman, my hero), and Whit Haydn. This is from Michigan Magic Day 2005 in Flint, where I had a giant shift in my way of approaching performance, thanks to the advice of these veterans.

The best way to improve yourself as a magician, really as any sort of performer, is to learn from those who came before you. Seek out one of these show business veterans; they are more than happy to share their wisdom and experience with you.

It's finally here!

The third and final installment of John Bannon's Fractal Card Magic series has finally been released. Spin Doctor is on its way to your favorite magic dealer. Be sure to check out the first two installments, The Royal Scam and Duplicity!

Why twist when you can spin?

New Items for Children's Entertainers

We have two new products geared specifically for the children's performer.

Magic for Older Children: Ireland's top children's magician, Pat Fallon, shares his secrets for entertaining children in the difficult 'tween years. This DVD contains strong magic, plus footage of Pat performing a live show. The kids go wild!

A Lifetime of Magic and Art: Edd Patterson shares both his amazing life story and the original magic that helped shape his long career and a professional performer. Includes a bonus DVD with footage of Edd on stage!

The holiday frenzy begins!

With the holiday shopping season now officially underway, now is the time to stock up. Here are a few of our recommendations:

Magic Sets: the FM-240, FM-540, and FM-640 Card Kit are always big sellers around the holidays.

Stocking Change Bag: The magicians' classic utility device with a holiday theme!

Miracle Factory Books: These mega-tomes are excellent gifts for the serious magician. We carry Roy Benson by Starlight, Essential Robert-Houdin, The Secret Ways of Al Baker, and A Wonderful World of Hand Shadows.

And don't forget about our Royal Magic Discount. Sufficient quantities can qualify for 10%, 15%, or even 20% off! Be sure to inquire when placing your next order.

FUN hits the airwaves...again!

FUN Incorporated and owner Graham Putnam were featured on last night's news broadcast on Chicago's ABC 7. Graham talks about the company and demonstrates the manufacture of our flagship product.

Click here to view the broadcast!

Society of World Deaf Magicians

The only encounter I have had with a magician who is also deaf is my dear friend Ron Jaxon, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ron has got talent in spades - he's a creative consultant with Sean Bogunia, is a recognized authority on using Invisible Thread, and has some of the best card moves I have ever seen.

I figured that a magician who is deaf was quite rare. I was wrong.

Recently, Tomas forwarded to me the latest edition of Magic Hands, the newsletter of the Society of World Deaf Magicians. The organization connects deaf and hearing magicians worldwide, and hosts an annual festival with gala shows and contests.

I'm having a little trouble tracking down a website for the Society, but if anyone knows it, feel free to post in the comments.

Kaleidoscope Cards - New and Improved

We're just finishing up a run of Kaleidoscope Cards here at the Fun factory - a new and improved version of this classic impossible coincidence effect.

For the uninitiated, here's a rundown of what a spectator sees: You and a spectator each select two a card from a deck made up of more than 50 different back designs. Amazingly, the backs of the chosen cards match! Even better, the faces of the selected cards match, too! The triple whammy comes at the end of the trick, when you explain that of all the cards that could be chosen, you and your spectator chose the only ones that were different. When you turn the deck over, all of the rest of the faces are the same card, a different value than the ones chosen by the two of you!

For years, Fun has manufactured this effect - which is virtually self-working - with bridge-sized cards. We're now making them with poker size cards, and at a very reasonable price.

Fun in the Archives

One of the perks of working at America's Largest Magic Manufacturer is the storied history of our company. Having been around for soooo long, we've accumulated a vast archive of old magic books. Every so often I like to check one out, take it home, and absorb the information.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend time with our old friend Dr. Tarbell. There is so much information in that set of books, it would be possible to own the set, nothing else, and still have an excellent career as a professional magician. Sure, the patter is pretty dated, but the effects remain solid as ever.

For those of you who are into this new-fangled Internet technology, I suggest checking out the audio archives of The Magic Lantern. They do interviews with magic celebrities like Marc DeSouza, Al Cohen, and Bill Palmer. But my favorite interview was the one they did with Denny Haney. In fact, they wanted to cram all of Denny's wisdom in, so they split the episode into a 2-parter!

In those interviews, Denny discusses his first brush with the Tarbell series as a teenager, and how he advocates it to all the budding magicians that wander into his shop. As he says, "We consider it a good day in the magic shop, anytime I sell a Tarbell Volume 1. When I sell two, it's a great day."

So, take a moment to go back into your archives. Re-read Royal Road to Card Magic! It's amazing the insight you find when you re-read those books that got you started in magic. Remind yourself why those books got you started. You'll be glad you did.

String Them Along!

As John mentioned in yesterday's blog, I am involved with two more Royal magic DVD projects.
The Card Magic Essentials DVD is very good. For the price, it's going to have a lot of great information. Usually on beginner videos/dvds, the material is rather basic. No "cool" moves are taught.
This DVD has Elmsley Counts, Double Lifts, Controls, Forces, and even shuffles. Wish this was around when I got started. Also, I am very proud of my AT THE TABLE DVD. No, it's not as zany as my Geek Magic release, but it's still fun to watch. It's a great collection of impromptu magic. No throw away material here.... all good stuff! Oh, and a customer of mine was surprised to learn I was the magician on ROYAL's Amazing Tricks With Rope DVD. Many customers really enjoy this DVD. It features a slew of effects! Even how to make a stiff rope gimmick! Plus it's priced very nice. I always do well with it when I lecture. For years I have been watching instructional magic videos/dvds, I still can't believe I'm making them myself!

Coming Soon

The forums have been abuzz with the imminent release of the final chapter in John Bannon's Fractal Card Magic Trilogy: SPIN DOCTOR. We're waiting on some supplies, but the DVD and art is all ready to go. We expect to have this one on store shelves beginning in November.

Second, we have a release from the Royal Magic line of DVDs: Card Magic Essentials is a project I alluded to earlier on this blog. CME is going to be a basic reference for the most crucial moves and sleights used in card magic. Geared for the beginner, I predict this one is going to popular!

And lastly, we are wrapping up the final details for another release in the Tomas department. "At the Table" is going to feature lots of impromptu gags, tricks, and bits that can be done while hanging out at a bar or restaurant. Great stuff here from everyone's favorite Customer Service Manager.

Stay tuned!

FUN Inc sightings!

Last week I mentioned The Masked Magician's feature on one of our products, the Universal Floating Gimmick.My keen eye has spotted FUN products in yet another video venture: Reel Magic magazine. I don't know if it is on purpose (probably not), but David Regal's review column is filmed at The Magic Apple in Studio City, CA. In the background of the most recent episode, I noticed a few FUN products in prominent locations.
The Art of Levitation DVD and Boris Wild's Wild Poker Trick are clearly visible on the left, behind David. I'm not sure, but I think it's Bolted Aces inside the display case on the right. That's definitely a Royal Magic product, though. Also note that David's new book, Approaching Magic (BTW, awesome book), is on the counter behind him.

Is this subliminal advertising on the part of Reel Magic? You be the judge.

Delightfully Creepy Halloween Magic!

From private parties to pumpkin patches, magicians generally work a variety of engagements during the Halloween season. I'm sure many of our customers are being asked for delightfully creepy Halloween themed magic tricks. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Made popular by Harry Anderson, the Needle Thru Arm is a must have for gore loving fans. Looks so real, but thank goodness it's not!
2. Andrew Mayne has been very popular in the past number of years. His products are always fresh and hip. FUN carries his ARMBUSTER booklet. This is a clever method of gimmicking an ordinary power drill to apparently pass through your arm. A very
convincing illusion.
3. A reasonably priced SWORD THRU NECK! Magically push a 23 inch sword through the frame and the spectator's neck. Spectators see the sword pass through the middle of the stock and come out the other side. A classic!
4. Take a look at the SWORD THRU FINGER. This is a mini version of the SWORD THRU NECK. The perfect Halloween giveaway! Super inexpensive. Halloween is a FUN time of the year. If you need any other suggestions, please give us a call!

R-H-P is H-O-T!

It's being called one of the best tricks to hit the market in recent times. A sleeper hit. An under-the-radar smash.

Cameron Francis' Red Hot Prediction continues to gain steam in the magic world. Recently, I found myself demonstrating behind the counter at a well known Chicago magic shop. The gentleman I was talking with described his performance style and stituation, so I demonstrated RHP. The gentleman bought it on the spot!

As I was performing, the store's manager was watching from afar. "Why haven't I been doing that one?" he exclaimed. "If I had taken the time to learn it, I would've sold dozens of 'em by now!"

The best part - it takes only moments to learn. Magic shop owners and demonstrators have to learn a lot of magic, with precious little time available to them. RHP is a surefire hit, everytime, and takes only moments to learn.

Just take a look at this thread on the Magic Cafe!

Add this one to your display case before we run out.

Magic Dealers of the World: UNITE!

Despite the collapse of all civilization amid a global financial meltdown, we at FUN have been working diligently to serve the magic world with the same high standard of service as always.

Our focus of late has been to expand our global network. One of my first ideas when I started at the company was to monitor magic news globally via a Google News alert. It has been helpful many times, but none quite so much as when an item ran across my desk about a new magic shop in Guam.

Guam, the tiny unincorporated U.S. territory in the South Pacific, is about three times the size of Washington, DC. A hotspot for tourists, the island now has its own magic shop, The Trick Stop, catering to the local population of 160,000 and to the thousands of tourists that pass through each year.

It is shops like these that keep magic alive all over the world. If you know of a small shop in your corner of the globe, let us know about it! I don't want to rely on Google News alerts for everything!

What Happened to the Magic Box?

Last week (or was it two weeks ago?), David Blaine's latest television special hit the airwaves. The Dive of Death landed with a resounding "thud" in many an American household.

Ten years ago, I would have been glued to my TV set on the night of the broadcast. Blaine-mania and magic-on-tv-mania had what I took to be a stranglehold on the magic community in general. Every magician I interacted with seemed set on watching whatever magic appeared on TV. It was as if watching magic on TV had become part of every magician's job description, be he an amateur or professional. Magic shops used to report waves of phone calls on the days following a major TV magic special. Is that still the case, still the trend? I'm not so sure.

It now seems that fewer members of the magic community are as dedicated to tuning in on broadcast night than before? Is this simply a matter of personal perspective (since I don't watch them anymore, that doesn't necessarily mean that no one watches them anymore), or does it have something to do with the way entertainment is being consumed these days? Or worse yet, is the culprit of my suspicion directly related to a general disinterest in magic on TV in general?

It seems that the second supposition above - the good 'ol Internet's effect on broadcast media - is the most likely answer. While I didn't see Blaine's special on ABC-TV, I did check out the disappointing finale and the part where Big, Bad Bill Kalush shoots Blaine in the mouth (for real) on YouTube. And guess what? If more of the special were available on YouTube, I'd probably watch those clips, too.

So, dear readers, is there a general malaise out there in TV-magicland, is streaming video killing off TV (as I recently heard reported on NPR), or is there some other impetus for my possibly incorrect hypothesis that magic on TV just ain't the all-consuming magic community rallying point that it used to be?

Customer Service Friendly TOMAS!

One of the many perks of working for FUN is that I get to chat with just about every magic store owner in the world! Fortunately for them, I KNOW MAGIC LIKE A NERD. I get asked plenty of questions in regards to products and magic in general.

I am very familiar with not only our line, but with all the products we distribute. I know what they do, how they work, who makes them, and which are better than others. I've even coached tricks to shop owners via telephone! If, for whatever reason I am stumped, then my co-workers will have an answer for sure!

Why am I telling you this? Many customers have complained to me that other wholesalers aren't too familiar with their product. Product that most would consider "basic", like thumb tips or Svengali decks! Not at FUN! We all know our stuff. Please feel free to call me with any comments, questions, or even suggestions. I am always here to help!

FunInc.com Improvements

It took a long time, but I finally finished a pet project of mine: to categorize every single one of the 2,100 items listed on FunInc.com. If you visit the site, you can click on "Magic Tricks, etc." under Wholesale magic to see the various categories.

Along with Gabe, he and I combed through every single item individually to update descriptions, images, and categories. It was a tedious job, but one we knew our customers wanted and appreciated.

We have been experiencing some server issues lately. Our ISP is working on that, and things seems to be moving faster than the molasses-like crawl we had last week. Rest assured, you can always contact the FUN team at 1-877-4-FUN-INC to speak to a real live person. Often it seems the art of interpersonal communication gets lost, but I know that Tomas and I both love interacting with our customers. We only wish we could teleport ourselves to your shop in order to demo products live! Sadly, the technology is too far away.

I really think this internet is going to take off...

As Exposed on TV!

For those of you who missed the newest reincarnation of our old friend, The Masked Magician, MyNetwork TV last night premiered the first in a new series of specials continuing the Breaking the Magician's Code series. Personally, I was watching the vice-presidential debates, but I recorded the special for later consumption.

As was expected, he gave away methods to mostly large illusions, but I was surprised to find quite a few close-up effects were exposed as well.

In one of the close-up segments, MM tipped a method for floating an aluminum soda can via a thumbtip and suction cup: FUN Incorporated's own Universal Floating Gimmick!

Despite the outrage that I should feel, I am mostly amused at the decision to expose the Floating Gimmick. If anything, my hope is that magic shops around the country will experience a demand for Floating Gimmicks rather than DeKolta chairs or the old Vanishing String Quartet trick.

Which, going back to Valentino's speech, is exactly what he wants. He wanted to generate more interest in magic, and I think it's fair to say he has. Despite the last several specials, this series hasn't hurt magic - it certainly gives a point of conversation when I introduce myself as a magician. I will use whatever I can use to build a rapport with my audience.

To be honest, this is not the first time MM has exposed a FUN Incorporated product. Take a look at what he's done with our venerable Magic Coloring Book.

Propless Wonders

Last night I had the opportunity to see a rare public performance by Ross Johnson, one of America's premier psychic entertainers and star of Fun Inc.'s Simply Psychic DVD. Ross' show relies on his theatrical ability to entertain rather than flashy props. It's a study in simplicity, an economy of motion.

Aside from Simply Psychic, here's some other resources you can look to for minimum props, maximum entertainment:

Twisting Arm Illusion DVD: This is an impromptu routine, which is easy to do and uses absolutely no props. The magician asks a spectator to copy his actions. Both place their hands palm down on the table and begin turning them in a clockwise direction. The spectator turns his hand part way, while the magician turns his hand in a full circle one and a half times!

Pen Sation: This has been a very popular item, and it's lean toward the impromptu is part of its success. Divine a thought of number, word, or symbol. Even though you had your back turned, you are instantly able to name the original thought! An outstanding utility tool for mentalists. Great for Living and Dead tests!

The Piatt Envelope: This is one of the most devious and ordinary looking props a magician and mentalist can use. The concept of multiple outs is a powerful weapon when used in a mental effect. Books have been written on the subject and hundreds of props have been invented to produce the desired results. The Piatt Envelope is among the best and fairest methods ever invented for this purpose.

If I want any lip out of you.....

I'd rip it off! Let's face it, no one likes dealing with hecklers. But if you ever have to stop one, you'll be glad you made the investment in STOP THAT HECKLER! Professional magician/ventriloquist Tom Ladshaw put together a treasure trove of one liners you'd use.

No more cringing in fear when people heckle you. Feel confident knowing that if politeness and civility fail, you're fully equipped with the right heckle stopping ammunition. I highly recommend it!

Here are some sample lines:
"And THAT'S why I work alone!"
"Where did you park your broom?"
"That's why there's only ONE microphone."

And my personal favorite,"on a scale of one to ten....shut up."

Restaurant Magic

I've spent the better part of the last two weekends substituting for friends of mine at their various restaurant gigs. Knowing that I worked a restaurant back in Michigan for some years prior to my move to Chicago, they were confident I'd do an admirable job.

Thinking about the way I used to do things, and how I've developed over the years, is an eye-opening experience. You truly can see how you grow and improve your act, performing the same routines over and over during the course of your shift.

Here are some of my personal recommendations for the discerning professional:

BKM Wallet: This classy leather wallet allows for the ever-popular Card-to-Wallet effect, be it a finale for your Ambitious Card, or an instantaneous card-to-impossible location effect. This wallet gives you the option to perform with a palm, without a palm, or even a card-to-sealed envelope!

5" Linking Rings: These babies are my bread-and-butter effect. Not only are they visual, but can be performed in a spectator's hands, inches from their nose, with no table required! They can fit comfortably in either your jacket or pants pocket. With the right routine, you can even perform surrounded! What more could you ask for?

Chop Cup DVD: Why carry around a bulky 3-cup routine from table to table, when you can condense it into one? The chop cup remains a mainstay in workers' repertoires for a reason. This DVD offers several routines, so pick the best parts from each one and create your own! We also stock a variety of chop cups.

A FUN Excluisive!

Have you seen our selection of FUN 6 foot silks? They're of top shelf quality and absolutely stunning! These items have been out of stock for too long! Our 6 foot silks also make excellent production items and even back drops.

I've never heard any negative feedback in regards to these products. And why should there be? They're FUN. Oh, and you can only get them from FUN Incorporated.

Remember to ask us about our 36 inch silks. Same look and quality, but smaller.

Blaine-ia!

After the David Blaine special last night (which I missed, since I had a show to do myself), I knew that my email box would be flooded with advertisements with phrases like "as seen on David Blaine's special" and "as performed by David Blaine."

Sure enough, a litany of magic blogs have posted the breakdown of David's magic effects from the show. So, I thought it might be helpful to the dealers to know what is available to them.

Silver Impression: Alex Lourido's brilliant version of melting a coin in your hands.

The Raven: As seen on David's first special, you can create a true moment of astonishment as a coin vanishes from a spectator's open palm. Many effects are possible!

Bending Metal DVD: You will learn how to bend, forks, spoons, keys, coins, and much more.
This DVD will show you how to use all of the powers in a magician's arsenal including timing and misdirection to perform these mental miracles.

Twisting Arm Illusion: An excellent impromptu effect that can play very well in the guerilla magic environment. Freak some people out with this!

Rising Cards: Always a classic, the Rising Cards effect has spawned many methods, but it's hard to beat this one. Also, check out our (Almost) Impromptu Rising Cards, using a borrowed deck!

Where Will You Go?

It's not a deep, metaphorical question. It's the title for FUN Inc.'s latest release, from the mind of Eddie Z. "Where Will You Go?" is a dead-easy prediction routine that can play big or small, and leaves lots of room for comedy byplay.

A small stack of cards is shown, printed with flags from various nations. After a mix, the spectator eliminates cards one by one - no mental force or magicians' choice. The final flag remaining, Mexico, is shown to have been predicted by having an "X" marked on the back.

To prove that Mexico was indeed the predicted outcome, the other flags are spread on the table. When turned over, they spell out M-E-X-I-C-O!

Shipping tomorrow, we'll be filming a demo video very soon.

Coming Soon: Card Magic Essentials

We're wrapping up the final edits on the newest DVD project from FUN Incorporated: Card Magic Essentials. The concept for this project was not to make yet another DVD with card tricks, but rather a video toolbox of the crucial moves and sleights that are applicable to all facets of card magic.

While not a complete reference encyclopedia on card technique, we have given you the "essential" things you need to know, shot in multiple angles (including over-the-shoulder). Everyone's favorite FUN Incorporated customer service manager/part-time handsome person, Tomas Medina, lends his hands and voice to the project.

In addition to all the information on disembodied sleights, you will also learn a few tricks with their explanations . All this, for what we expect to be a very affordable price. Be sure to look for this one in your local magic shop before the end of the year!

On an unrelated note, I just wanted to share this video that I saw posted in Tim Ellis' blog, Magic Unlimited. If you ever wondered what your average day was like if you could do real magic, this is what it might look like. Notice the lack of card tricks, though...

The Exposure Issue

Where do you stand?

Most more-than-casual magicians have personal stance on the issue of exposure. No, not that kind of exposure; the exposure of magic secrets to the general public. What's yours? Are you a vehement opponent of the practice? Do you offer up secrets free of charge whenever anyone asks you how "it's" done?

I stand squarely on the fence on this issue. On one hand, I feel that anyone sincerely interested in magic will seek out secrets, so information of this nature should remain sub rosa. Seek and ye shall find.

But I also whole-heartedly believe that the exposure of magic secrets - not blatantly, and not on TV ala the Masked Magician, mind you - is a good thing, in the right venue. A book for the general public, ala Jim Steinmeyer's Hiding the Elephant, tips big-time methods like the workings of the Maskelyne-Kellar levitation. So what? If this excites one more person and sends them to a magic show, magic shop, or interests them in magic in general, then I'm all for it.

Make them work for it a bit (by picking up a book and - gasp! - reading), and the information they uncover is, I believe, well-earned. For those that are still uninterested after sating their desire to know how magic works, I'm of the opinion that the exposure won't matter in the long run. Shortly after they consume the clandestine knowledge we as magicians share, they forget about it, and you, the entertainer, will likely be able to fool them with the very same secrets they think they know.

How do you like us now?

Many of our customers receive weekly emails from me in regards to new product. They are crammed with product descriptions, information on items back in stock, and other FUN facts. Now these emails will look better than ever!

They use to be crude cut and paste jobs. Now they should be more useful than EVER. John and I are very excited here at FUN Incorporated.

Oh, and if you're not on my email list, please email me at tomas@funinc.com or call 877-438-6462 (in the U.S.A.). Sorry, only customers get to receive these emails.

Three Card Montes in spades

By that title, I mean that we carry a lot of Three Card Monte variations. Along with the Shell Game, the Monte (also known as Find the Lady, Chase the Ace, and many others) comes in all sorts of varieties for your magical pleasure. Of course, I don't need to tell you about performing these outside a theatrical context, right? After all, if you take to the streets to run the hustle for real, expect to be taking an ambulance ride shortly after you begin.

Royal Magic Three Card Monte: This is our staple. We've got versions that include a Blank Card or the Tree of Diamonds. These are our most popular custom item for trade shows and giveaways.

Sidewalk Shuffle: A Martin Lewis classic has been streamlined for an even greater impact, with three phases and an incredible surprise climax.

The magician displays three blank jumbo-sized (4.5" by 7") cards along with an Ace. One of the blank cards is placed aside and a "three card monte" is performed with the remaining two blank cards and the Ace. The spectators can never find the Ace, but no wonder...the magician reveals that all three of the cards in his hands are blank and it was the Ace that was placed aside!

Find the Ace: Since every finger-stretching card man is anxious to learn the secrets, Leo Behnke has put them down in this book. He played with the moves when he was a teenager learning the basics of card craft, but it wasn't until he saw Jay Ose work that he knew what it meant to be able to fool people with Three Card Monte.

Beat 'em, Cheat 'em, Leave 'em Bleedin': A compendium on the short con. Includes a section on the Monte, marked cards, loaded dice, and double-headed coins.

Another Score for Solomon

David Solomon's Thoughts Across has to be the most underrated Fun Inc. product of 2008. It's received less attention than everyone here at the Fun Factory thinks it should.

Luckily, the Linking Ring is on our side. A review of the product in the latest issue of the International Brotherhood of Magicians' journal calls recommends Solomon's trick highly. We do, too.

Speaking of Solomon, Fun has a new, very clever Solomon creation in the pipeline. It'll be a long, long time before the effect is released, but it's a doozy. Stay tuned.

Here's the video:

Bamboozlers from Diamond Jim Tyler

Since I had the chance to see Harry Anderson's "Hello Sucker!" special from HBO, I've been interested in bar bets and con games. Not that I'd ever want to try throwing the Monte myself, but just to lift a couple of drinks from my closest friends. Simon Lovell published a book to the lay public called "How to Cheat At Everything" that's got several nifty little betchas, but Diamond Jim Tyler has got a real winner in his "Bamboozlers".

This elegant little book is pocket-sized for your jaunt to the pub, along with a ribbon marker and gilded silver edges. There's dozens of bets in there that'll be sure to keep your pocket jingling with your buddies' change. You might want to pad it with some of their bills to keep the noise down.

My personal favorite is an impromptu liquid suspension using a drink that you see everyday.

Here's DJ's vid on the book.

The World's Most Useful Coin Set!

I'm pretty sure most magicians have DRAWERS FULL of magical merchandise they do not use. Imagine owning a gaffed coin set which enables you to perform just about EVERY coin classic imaginable. This is it.

Make sure to watch the video demo for our new MIRAGE COIN SET. Yes, we've seen many of these routines before, but this is a one-stop-shop on gaff coin sets.

All in all, this is a great product! With Craig Petty's Mirage, 100's of routines are possible (the DVD shows you 7). The coin set is mega-gaffed and extremely useful. There's no way you're tossing this into your "magic dresser drawer".

Working magicians would appreciate the versatility. With MIRAGE, you're ready to perform coins across, hanging coins, matrix, and copper silver. The set is wonderfully produced and the DVD is jammed with moves, routines, and theory. Highly Recommended.

"Stars of Magic" returns!

After a long time out of print, Meir Yedid has decided to reprint "Stars of Magic." This book features the true greats, like Tony Slydini, Dai Vernon, John Scarne, and Francis Carlyle, just to name a few. This book has been the foundation of truly dedicated students of sleight-of-hand magic. It has spawned the careers of many professionals working today, and sparked hundreds of applications and variations.

Here's the copy from Meir:
If you have not read and learned the magic contained in this book you have no business calling yourself a close-up magician. The magic by John Scarne, Dai Vernon, Bert Allerton, S. Leo Horowitz, Emil Jarrow, Francis Carlyle, Dr. Jacob Daley, Tony Slydini, Ross Bertram, Nate Leipzig, and Max Malini helped shape the art of close-up magic as we know it.

Here's some video of Slydini himself performing the Paper Balls (found inside this book!)

Our trip to Houdini's

Last week Tomas and I traveled to Manitowoc, Wisconsin for the annual Houdini Club of Wisconsin convention. Both Tomas and I lectured and performed on stage and close-up. I was fairly nervous, being my first convention booking, but Tomas was truly a pro.

My friends at Street of Cards were on hand to document the convention via web and video. They already posted video of Tomas' close-up set.



My lecture was the first event upon arrival on Friday. Having only lectured two other times before (and even then, in front of friendly hometown crowds), I was apprehensive on how it would be received. After all, the main items in my lecture are classics: things like the egg bag, cups and balls, and linking rings.

Fortunately, folks liked the blend of trick/explanation and theory that I offered. Kenn at SOC wrote this on their forum:

Classics are classics for a reason.

Ask John Sturk. His afternoon lecture featured three classics that John has made his own. He shared the routines and thinking that have made his brand of street performing a favorite all over the Midwest. No e-llusionist kid here. Sturk shared a style and philosophy that harkens more to Cellini and Gazzo and less to some other media phenoms.

Clean, crisp magic coupled with enthusiastic audience participation are the hallmarks of Sturk's performance. I hate him. He will always be younger.

That last part is tongue-in-cheek. Kenn is actually a good friend.

Friday and Saturday culminated in public evening shows. Tomas killed, as usual, with the Cigarette-Eating Act on Friday night. I was on Saturday's show. Tomas told me he was sitting near Marshall Brodien (of TV Magic Cards fame and Wizzo of The Bozo Show), who kept murmuring very positive comments during my act. I was flattered.

Then, after the evening show on Saturday, was the Houdini's Got Talent contest. Any conventioneer could participate with any kind of act, be it magic, ventriloquism, or anything else. I got up to play a little Duke Ellington on the piano, and took home the trophy. More flattery.

All in all, it was a lot of fun. I got to meet several of FUN Inc.'s customers, most of whom I usually talk to by phone. I also hope I inspired a few of the attendees to use one of my ideas, or adapt it to their own program.

Trusted Reviews?

Is there a single source, a single opinion you trust when it comes to reviews of new magic products?

In the last several weeks, we've posted links to and excerpts from a wide variety of reviewers here on the Fun Inc. blog.

My question is: which sources are the most trusted when it comes to product reviews? Websites? Chat/discussion boards and forums? Magazines?

I have my own answer to the question already, but won't cloud the discussion on this topic by posting my thoughts here. Let us hear from you. We'd like to know what you think!

WPT Gets Reviewed

We knew we had a winner with Boris Wild's Wild Poker Trick, but iTricks.com's Derek Merdinyan has confirmed it.

You can read and hear his review here, but here's my favorite part:

"As far as packet tricks go, I really want to commend Boris Wild and the crew at Fun Inc for putting out a packet trick that goes above and beyond what this humble magic reviewer has come to expect."

Standards are Standing By...

My favorite question to ask well-known magicians is: When asked to "do a trick," by a layman, what do you do?

I've found the answers fascinating, especially when the magician answering the question is known, in the fraternity, as a "creative type" who invents his own tricks and has developed a reputation for generating (and publishing, marketing or otherwise selling) new and interesting magical ideas.

The most common answers, even from these magicians are: Ambitious Card, Triumph and Twisting the Aces.

Why is it that even these, the most prolific, creative magicians resort to old chestnuts when faced with a request of this nature?

Talk amongst yourselves.

Super...magic?

Recently I had the chance to watch "Batman Begins." I know, I'm way late to the game there, but I needed to watch it before I go see "Dark Knight." Watching the movie reminded me of the old days (OK, so not that long ago) when I read a number of superhero comic books.

So I wondered if any of my favorite heroes' powers could be duplicated by any of the magic I know now.

Here's what I've come up with.

Telekinesis: Any sort of PK or levitation. The Art of Levitation DVD and our Floating Bill package are two resources I'd look at. Also, try Dan Harlan's Financial Attraction for a unique hookup!

Invulnerability: Definitely, the Needle Through Arm. Also good if you wanted to demonstrate super healing powers. An Arm Chopper or Finger Chopper would work well, too.

Telepathy: Read minds. Freak people out. Our Simply Psychic DVD has got more than enough material to convince folks you are a genuine mind-reader! Mental Yarn would also be a very powerful tool.

X-Ray Vision: Well, we do have the X-Ray Tube. That might work. We've also got a clever card effect from The Magic Apple, called X-Ray Vision.

Super Speed: I suppose you could use a vanishing/production item - perhaps an Egg Bag, where you remove and replace the egg faster than the audience can follow? How about coloring a Coloring Book at lightspeed, then erasing the colors?

The Houdini Convention

I'm always flattered when people think of me for conventions. I don't really lecture too much, maybe 10 times a year. I do even less conventions. This coming weekend should be a lot of fun! Both John Sturk and I will be attending the Houdini Convention in Manitowoc Wisconsin. We'll both be lecturing and performing in the close up and stage show. My stage show is mostly stand up comedy magic. I will do the famous balloon swallow from Geek Magic, a rope routine, a story card trick, and mind reading stunt. Normally I'd end with a cigarette manipulation act, but I'm pretty sure the theater won't let me "light up." It's getting harder and harder to perform that act.

My close up material is very strong. It's what I enjoy most. I will perform the cardiologist deck, the exchange, my handling of skinner monte, a coin routine, and a dice routine. Personally, I think my close up material is magician friendly. Also, it will be a nice little teaser for my Sunday lecture. I've been to many lectures. Yes, I like to buy new products, but I really enjoy those performers who teach routines with everyday objects. Therefore, I will try not to make my lecture a dealer demo. Although, I do have lecture notes and 5 dvds to sell. I've gotten better at lectures.

For those interested in the Houdini convention, you may want to click HERE. It will be a lot of fun. Personally, I can't wait to see my co-worker John. I think he's going to be a big hit!

Upcoming Projects

We're in the final editing stages of a new FUN Inc. DVD project. The goal of the project was to provide an inexpensive resource on some essential skills that all close-up magicians should have. We tapped everyone's favorite kid with glasses, Tomas Medina, to star.

We also have two card-related items in the works, but not with poker-sized Bikes! One is a jumbo card effect, the other is a strolling magic prediction effect using flags from several countries.

I can't give too many specifics on release dates, but I'm sure you'll see all of these things before the end of the year.

In the meantime, I'm working on getting dealers equipped for their last conventions of 2008. We've got what magicians want!

He Likes Us! He Really Likes Us!

The latest issue of Genii, which features Steve Cohen on the cover, contains two flattering reviews of Fun Inc. products by David Regal.

The first is about Troy Hooser's Shellraiser, of which Mr. Regal writes: "The magic Mr. Hooser teaches is good stuff, so to received the props as well as proper instruction at this low price is an offer that, for many, should not be refused." For those of you who are unaware, each copy of the Shellraiser DVD includes an Expanded Shell, and the suggested retail price is only $25.00.

Regal's second review is of Boris Wild's popular follow-up to his hit trick, Very Wild. This one's called WPT. For a mere $15.00, you receive a thorough instructional DVD in French and English, along with the special cards to perform the effect. Regal writes: "This is one of those tricks that a hobbyist could perform, but would look great in the repertoire of any working pro." Regal also calls the trick a "great deal."

Thanks, David. We couldn't agree with you more!

Magic for the terrible 'tweens

An article on ChicagoTribune.com recently tackled the issue of what activities to encourage boys aged 8-13. Too old for kids' stuff, and too young for high school stuff. So what exactly can you do to help entertain them?

According to this expert: magic!

Magic. Consider a magic book or kit for boys who aren't the best at sports. Hart said boys in this age group want to awe their friends and illusions can do the trick. "It isn't magic in the kid sense but sleight of hand, Hart said. "It can raise the self-esteem of someone who isn't great at sports."

Read the full article here: A cure for bored boys.

FUN hits the social networks!

Please take a moment to examine the new buttons on the left for Facebook and MySpace.

We set up the Facebook page (become a fan!) yesterday, and I was surprised to find we already had fans like Stan Laurel and Mindy McConnell. What's even more surprising is to find that Stan has been dead for 40 years and Mindy is fictional.

Also be sure to friend Hocus J. Pocus, FUN's spokes-elf, on MySpace. In those two spaces we'll also be posting images and videos of upcoming projects. Stay tuned!

David Goring's Exchange

Several years ago, the FUN staff gave me a prototype sample of The Exchange. We purchased the rights from Mr. Goring but didn't know how to correctly market the item. The Exchange came with no instructions. Gabe Fajuri gave me the sample and said,"what can you do with this thing." I fiddled with The Exchange for several weeks and developed many uses for the item. I then demonstrated many of the tricks to the FUN staff. The rest is history.

The Exchange has been a surprise success for us at FUN Incorporated.

Personally, I thought this item was so useful that it HAD to come with an instructional DVD. The DVD featured almost 20 variations of the gaff. The DVD even gave instructions on how to manufacture/fit your own Exchange deck. The DVD gave the deck a lot of value. The other day I went on youtube and stumbled on many performances of Mr. Goring's trick. Apparently, the trick has a following. Almost all the comments were positive. One magician even said,"finally, a not crappy card magician on youtube!" Flattering, but it wasn't just me.

It was the deck itself. Yes, I toss in flourishes...but that's because I can. The deck can be handled like an ordinary pack. No one would ever guess it's gaffed up the wa-zu. Make sure to check out my stellar demo! Although I've never spoken with Mr. Goring, I understand he's pleased with the final product. I'm very flattered the FUN staff kept me in mind for this project.

Preparing for Houdini

Tomas and I are less than two weeks away from our appearance at the Houdini Club of Wisconsin's convention in Manitowoc. Tomas is a veteran of conventions; he's lectured and performed at several. This is my first time as a scheduled convention attraction, so I'm starting to get pretty nervous. All these magicians paid money, booked hotel rooms, and they get stuck with... me?

I plan on channeling that nervous energy back into my performances. I'll be in the close-up and stage shows, plus a lecture. The two lectures I've done around Chicago were well-received, so I hope I don't mess too much with what appears to be a winning formula.

My dear friend Mike Powers was lecturing in town this past weekend. Mike is now a retired professor of physics and mathematics, author of 3 books on magic, and an awesome guitar player. I caught the lecture, then had dinner with him and his wife, Maria Schwieter, who is a Chavez graduate and award-winning magician herself. A great time was had by all, so I thought I'd promote one of his products in the blog today.

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Mike Powers' Diminishing Returns is one of the hottest card tricks ever created!

Now, it's back with a vengeance! On Bicycle Stock!

Here's what happens: Show the deck, faces and backs. A spectator names any card in the deck. Yes, any card. Remove the named card and set it aside, face up.

Spread the deck. The entire deck has shrunk to half size! The selected card is now the biggest card in the deck!
In a blink, the entire deck grows back to normal size, but the selected card shrinks to mini size! This looks wild!

Finally, the selected card visibly grows back to normal size! Wow!!

Diminishing Returns comes complete with a fully gaffed Bicycle deck (56 gaffed cards) and a typeset and illustrated manuscript. And, it's easy to do!! If you can spread the deck on the table, you can do this routine!

Plus, you get a free bonus, The Defective Deck!

Diminishing Returns



The Defective Deck - FREE Bonus with Diminishing Returns

FUN isn't just about magic...

The other day I was on the phone with a customer. I mentioned to him that we carried a complete line of jugging supplies. Apparently he wasn't aware that we were more than just magic supplies. We try to keep a nice variety of pseudo-magic related products. Our line of juggling supplies range from scarves, balls, clubs, instructional DVDs, Diablo's, and even knives. In fact, our juggling knives are excellent. This three knive set features wooden handles and a carrying case.

Also, FUN carries supplies for balloon artists. We carry a fine assortment of qualatex balloons, pumps, and instructional DVDs. Our Balloon Magic Made Easy series has helped plenty of balloonists start their career. All you need are the first three volumes and you're set! This series is a must have!

FUN Incorporated is also H.Fishlove, which means we are the creators of the jumbo comb, jumbo sunglasses, jumbo toothbrush, rotary spaghetti fork, Hypo-Phony, fake vomit, Talking Teeth, Phony Faucet, and the WORLD FAMOUS TRICKY DOGS. Beside our own novelty line, we also distribute many other wonderful practical jokes from around the world. Can't find an item on our site? Please contact us for further information. Ask for TOMAS, I will try my best to help.

Back from Colon

I'm back from my trip to Colon, Michigan, and boy are my arms tired. The rest of me is, too. 4 non-stop days of magic, plus my additional responsibilities as a spotlight operator for all four of our big evening shows would turn anyone into a walking zombie when they got back to work on Monday. But, I'm glad to be back, and I'll have some photos in the near future.

My friends at www.streetofcards.tv were filming and webcasting from various locales around Colon, so check their website as they upload the footage in the coming weeks.


This was my first year on the Abbott's stage crew, filling in for one of the spotlight operators who just couldn't make it this year. All the stage crew members are performing magicians, giving us special insight into the needs of the performers.

The experience gave me a perspective on what goes on behind the scenes of a magic show, and a better idea of what the stage crew needs from a performer in order to put on a good show. I will definitely keep the experience in mind as I put together stage routines. They are the guys that really make the person on stage look good.

Stay tuned right here for more updates. I'll get the pictures up as soon as I can!