If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development. [Aristotle]

True or false: Houdini invented the illusion known as Metamorphosis.

I'm known as a magical trivia expert in my part of the world. I've entered a number of trivia contests and have never lost. In one of the contests it came down to me and a sitting president of the IBM. I won. (In all fairness, IBM presidents are not elected based on their knowledge of magical ephemera.)

What is Professor Hoffman's real name, and what was his (non-magical) profession?

I hate that I'm considered a trivia master. It sounds so... trivial. What really interests me is the history and development of our art. I want to advance magic, and it's really hard to know where you're going if you don't know where you've been. Physicists understand that. Writers understand that. Painters understand that. A lot of magicians seem to have a problem with the concept. Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque could not have developed cubism without understanding the works of Paul Cézanne. There would be no Sherlock Holmes without Poe's Inspector Dupin.

According to the Professor himself, is his common nickname pronounced Day, or Die?

If I'm an inventor, history tells me what's been done before. If I'm a performer it tells me what kinds of acts and characters have worked and what kinds have not. And if I'm involved in magic in any way, a deeper knowledge of magic can only increase my love and appreciation for the art. Trivial? I don't think so.

Name at least three former talk-show hosts who started their show business careers as magicians.

Book 'em, Dan-O

One time our magic club had a "Discuss Your Favorite Magic Book" night.

I was able to narrow it down to 17.

I love books. I love the feel, and the smell, and the look of books. I also love language. I enjoy reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, and playing word games. And, being a magician, I especially love magic books.

I have magic books in my living room, in a bookcase in my hall, in my bedroom, in the spare bedroom, in my car, and, frequently, in my bathroom. I have titles from the 18th century (reprints, alas) and ones released last month, and most years in between. I've read every one at least once.

I have books on card magic, coin magic, and mentalism. I have books on stage magic, general magic and the history of magic. I have performer biographies, books on magical philosophy, and things so odd I really can't classify them. I have hardbacks, paperbacks, pamphlets, handwritten notes and various combinations of the above.

Contrary to what a number of today's younger magic set say, I learn better from books. Don't get me wrong; I have DVDs and tapes, and I think they have their place. I just think that books are superior for most of what magicians need to learn. Want to know how much content is on the average DVD? Equivalent to two column inches in a newspaper. That's it - two column inches. A little surprising, huh?

And what do books put in all that extra space that DVDs don't have? Many times, in the best books, they put the things that make a good trick a great one, and a good magician a great one. The author will go into the thinking behind an effect: why "this" and not "that." He or she will go into the thinking behind an effect - the precedents, the false starts, the breakthroughs. Being able to get inside the head of an author like that allows us to really understand an effect. We know where it came from, and why it is the way it is. That allows us to be more thoughtful if we wish to make changes to the effect.

So what are some of my favorite books? Email me with your interests and I'll try to get inside your head a little, and make you think a little about my choices.

The way only good writing can.

October

I love October. Fall is in the air. (Yeah, right. Yesterday it was 92 degrees here.) The good movies start coming out. And one of my favorite holidays happens on the last day of the month.

I celebrate by getting dressed up in an odd costume, attempting to invoke the spirits of those departed, and participating in other odd rituals that would be frowned upon most other times of the year.

October 31st. Ah yes, National Magic Day.

What did you think I was talking about?

...but don't take my word for it...

You'll find plenty of experts on the internet. If you don't believe they're experts just ask 'em. And the qualifications for "expert" seem iffy at best.

An example from MySpace: A young gentleman went on to several magic groups asking how to get booked. He was given several pieces of advice, ranging from really bad to...adequate. A week later this same young man came back to the same groups touting himself as an expert, saying he was going to put out a newsletter with tips on various aspects of the magic industry, including (you guessed it) the best way to book shows.

More than once on similar groups I've seen posts of this type: "I just got booked for a show next month at the Poobah Lodge. What tricks should I do?" People then offer up advice on what kind of tricks they think the Poobahs would like. I don't think I've ever seen the answer I'd like to see: "You mean you took a paying gig without having an act ready? Call them back, cancel, and apologize profusely for wasting their time. Then create an act before ever accepting a paying gig."

Magic is a wonderful hobby, and once you get caught up in it it's only natural to want to share it with the world. And knowing the best way to do that is tough if you haven't been at it for very long. So how do you go about polishing your act, putting on shows, and then maybe even charging for those shows?

I submit that you don't ask in a group on the internet. Read the classic books on magic. Find a mentor. Go to a magic club. Seek out successful magicians and find out how they did it. If you go on to some group and get advice from some anonymous member with a user name like "crayzee4majic" then you're liable to be getting information on what new tricks to add to your first gig next month.