In this newsletter:
Reconnecting with Mr. Magic, the first magician I ever saw!
Upcoming shows and appearances for How to Fool Your Parents
A brand new crossword: Wow wow!
Mr. Magic
I tell this story on page one of How to Fool Your Parents. It’s one of the most indelible moments of my life — when I saw my first magician and was inspired to study the conjuring arts!
I was seven years old and my parents took me to Bauman Farms in Rochester, New York to pick a pumpkin for Halloween. Outside the barn was a magician, performing on a portable close-up table. He was bald, bespectacled and had a bunny rabbit. He performed a trick that is still today considered one of the strongest effects in magic: the sponge ball trick. He placed a little red sponge ball in my hand, made a second one disappear, and with a wave of his wand he asked me to open my hand. I suddenly had both sponge balls! But then something happened that I will never forget. He performed the trick again, on my father. My father is a scientist. He’s the smartest man in the world. And when my father opened his hand to discover both of the sponge balls, I turned to him and asked him how the trick was done. He flashed me a sheepish grin and shrugged, “I have no idea.” And that’s when I knew I wanted to be a magician. And this is very much the spirit of How to Fool Your Parents. It’s a book that empowers kids to be the smartest person in the room.
But back to the magician. I called around for years trying to locate him. There were some unanswered emails and unreturned calls from the farm. But eventually I found out who he was: Bob Bauman, Mr. Magic — or “Uncle Bob” as the Bauman family calls him. They sent me these photos:
Last week I performed at the Rochester Fringe Festival. It was my first show in my hometown other than performances in the high school cafeteria. Bob, now 80-years-old, came to the show. We chatted for a few minutes after and he told me he loved the show. What an absolute thrill it was to share The Enigmatist with the man who inspired me all those years ago! His response? “I taught him well” haha.
Two weeks away! “How to Fool Your Parents”
Here’s Mr. Magic on page 1. These twenty-five Brain-Breaking magic tricks hit shelves on 10/8. Pre-order a copy here and let’s get to foolin’!
There’s a lot more where that came from, including secret codes and stories from magic history. Again, you can pre-order a copy here and please spread the word to kid magicians (young and old)!
Upcoming Shows/Apperances
With the upcoming book tour for How to Fool Your Parents, there are a lot of chances to see (and learn!) some magic.
Teaching and performing magic dates!
10/13, 3pm: Los Angeles - Barnes & Noble at the Glendale Americana
10/18: TODAY Show
10/19, 2pm: Philadelphia/Haverford - Children’s Book World
10/20, 5pm: New York - 92nd St. Y
10/22, 7pm: Washington, DC - The Lincoln Theater
Here’s your new crossword: Wow Wow!
This is Thursday level crossword. I was inspired by this past week’s baseball heroics by 17-Across. I hope you enjoy it. Solve it here. As always, please let me know what you think in the comments.
Events
Interested in booking me for your next event? More info here on private parties, corporate speaking & performances and team-building puzzle hunts.
Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards
Enigmas: Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards. Included within this unique deck are four very special puzzle cards. Solve them all to unlock an online Puzzle Hunt! Available here.
Oh, how good!
Well THAT's a delightful story. Why I am I not surprised your dad was a scientist. And how lovely that you got to find the person who inspired you. Not many get to do this, or have the oomf to walk up to them and share their impact.