I first met Alain Nu a number of years ago at the IBM Convention in Minneapolis. Jeff McBride introduced us and then asked that Alain show something. Alain obtained a few spoons and proceeded to make my brain melt.

At least that’s how it felt.

I mention this because I received a call from Alain yesterday and had a chance to see him work a local college show. These can be trying environments for any performer but Alain seems to blossom under these conditions.

He is a fantastic mentalist who has an uncanny ability to make everything he touches more astonishing. Even hardened skeptics will walk away from Alain’s show a little shaken! His metal bending skills are arguably the best on the planet. Like a psychic sculptor, he seems to create a unique work of art out of each utensil that comes into his hands.

It was great catching up with Alain and a blast to watch him make minds melt again.

He only gets better and...

...I know EXACTLY how she feels!

Had a chance to see John Cassidy and Dana Daniels working at the Erie County Fair yesterday. I’ve seen them both at magic conventions and I’ve always enjoyed their acts. They both did an excellent job and it was a pleasure to see how these two pros handle the conditions of a fair performance.

I’m a long time fan of Dana’s and it was really interesting seeing him work in the real world. He had a particularly difficult setting with considerable crowd noise surrounding his outside stage and a rain soaked audience. He even had to deal with a train whistle that occurred throughout his show! He handled it all like a trouper and show was dynamite. I’ve always believed you can learn more from watching a professional work in the real world than by spending days in a magic lecture. I’m not talking about stealing material! I’m talking about the education you get by watching a pro approach audience management, staging issues, act construction, and more. Watching good performers is like getting a lecture in stage craft and showmanship. That’s why I’m so surprised when I see so few magicians supporting live shows.

Support these acts! It not only demonstrates to producers that there is paying audience for such shows, but it can make you grow as a performer as well. There are lessons to be learned everywhere...