WHAT? You Want Me to Change My Act?!

by  LUNA SHIMADA

Times have changed and so have the roles and expectations of the artist/booker relationship. There was a time when all you had to do was create a kick ass 10-15 minute act and you were set for life. This was your bread and butter act, the act that would take you places, the act that you built your reputation on and no one messed with it, no one! You were a tight, professional complete package. You were the great …[ insert your name here]  But then the rules changed and nobody told you. You had to find out on your own, the hard way. Now all of sudden your out of your comfort zone, you’re panicked, you’re angry, “How dare they ask ME , the great [ insert your ego’s pet name here] to change, to take this out of my act,  etc, Don’t they know my act is written in stone and cannot work without these components? I won’t be as great if I have to change THAT! “

Has this ever happened to you ? Because if it hasn’t , it probably will. It has happened to me on a number of occasions and the first time someone booked me for a very important show and told me 1 hour before the show that I couldn’t use my fire on stage, I was totally panicked. OH NO, now what? You know that feeling? Knots in the stomach and so on. Well, being unprepared for the unexpected is a horrible feeling indeed so I have learned one of the most important instincts you can develop. Adaptability.

There are several things that have to happen within your psyche in order for this to work  to your benefit. You have to get your ego and your emotions under control and quickly develop a sense of detachment to your material otherwise it’s gonna be Diva time and your probably gonna do, say or act in a manner you will later regret and will not be beneficial to you or anyone else concerned OR that energy will just fold in on you and you’ll have a bad show. So yes, skip the obsessive focus on the problem and move straight to the solution and do what needs to be done. You can always pacify your wounded ego later or simply see the lesson in it and be proud that you stepped up and met your challenge head on with flying colors! Now you are prepared for that scenario should it ever come up again.

I was once on a show at a magic convention where I was sharing the bill with another magician who felt it necessary to request from the producer that I take my opening Mask out of my act because he wore one on stage too and saw it as taking the edge off his act. The image I open with, which was important to me artistically and personally, not to mention that my father SHIMADA was the first to employ theatrical masks in a magic act and my ego felt a certain entitlement. Then there was the whole restructure of my choreography and the Segway effects, removing that mask created a whole chain reaction of effects that required a total restructure of the first 2 minutes of my act. Since it was very clear that the bookers valued their illusionist more than me and I was given a take it or leave it ultimatum,  I choked it down and moved right onto the solution, in spite of the fact that I felt dis respected, I knew something good could come from it and chose to use it as a challenge to overcome.  The end result was awesome, I got a standing ovation and they even chanted my name at the end of my act. So it was a victory dance for me. You see,  a negative can always be turned into a positive if you choose to get your ego out of the way and let your creativity take the drivers seat. By the way, I harbored no ill feelings for the illusionist that requested this but instead felt grateful that he placed such a challenge upon me, he doesn’t know what a blessing it was, for it gave me an opportunity to see what I was made of and I grew from the experience.

There are other challenges that come up too. You get to a show with other magicians on the bill and they are doing the same effects as you and want YOU to take yours out! Well in my personal opinion I think the one doing the trick the longest with the reputation for that effect, should always get seniority and first choice, but that rarely happens so my suggestion is if you can take it out and it doesn’t effect the integrity of your show too much than, that’s the quick solution, but if it does or you simply need the time and you have no replacement routine, then you gotta be humble and offer to let the other act go on first, before you so they feel they get the edge on performing it first. That is if your ego can handle it Trust me you’ll be rewarded for this later…I know. Or you can once again just be the Diva and throw an atomic fit! That always gets results doesn’t it?  No you get no rewards for that but plenty of stories about you circulating, hey it’s all publicity, right? It takes a bigger person to make the changes and sacrifices that are needed. You build karma points that way! Not to mention an important skill set, once again adaptability.

Ok so how about the person that books you after they’ve seen you do your act and then asks you the day of the show if you can do more time than what he booked you for?  You can direct him to the contract agreement, you can ask for more money or you can make your client happy and say well you booked me to do my act but just this one time, I can do an extra routine or two for you. Now they feel good that you’re willing to go the extra step to make them happy and the chances of getting more jobs or referrals will increase through that source.

What if you get to a corporate job or a nightclub gig and find out that that they have a DJ, that it’s a rave and they want you to perform to their music instead of yours? Once again, can you, will you adapt? Maybe you could have a different routine on the sideline that you can do instead that could fit the situation nicely. I usually bring out my linking rings or rope in those situations, it can be performed to any music and lends itself to open improv.

I have some simple solutions that are really just common sense but important to implement if you want to be prepared for the unexpected. The answer is ALWAYS be prepared for the unexpected.

1.) Many venues don’t allow the use of fire without a permit, or even if you do. If you use fire, always ask ahead of time if you can use fire and if not, be ready to have alternatives in place. Same goes with animals in your show, this can always affect where you will be staying as well. All these things need to be clear before you arrive at the venue on the day of the show.

2.) Always find out who is on the show with you if it is a Magicians line up. Inform the producer in advance of what you are doing by sending them a list of effects you are performing to avoid duplication which saves a lot of trouble later.

3.) If you have extra material and routines, always bring them with you, just in case something happens, you have extra material or a fall back routine in the event of a prop breaking or otherwise. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it I say.

4.) Always be at your best, especially when things are at there worst. A calm demeanor breeds a clear mind which is necessary for problem solving.

5.) Last but not least,  get your ego in check and cultivate detachment and adaptability.

People are waiting to experience you, not your magic tricks, they are just your tools.

Remember, there is a chance they have not seen you before so they don’t know what to expect anyway. Your persona should outweigh your effects.

It’s not the strongest that survives the Chaos, it’s the one most able to adapt to sudden changes that insures survival.

So good luck and I’ll see you on the other side of evolution!

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People Who have Exceptional Qualities

Scarlette

She is known by many names….

She is a mystery unto herself………

A sister of the family of Fire

And the heart of unquenchable desire!

She is the wild winds of change

And Kaos of transformation

The Great Awakener

A bridge to cross over.

Her back is so tender from the weight she has born.

Yet she sacrifes all for all so that others may be reborn!

She is beauty and grace unlike any being on Earth

An Angel chained to this Earthwalk for the sake of

greater truth.

She is a child of infinite wisdom and innocense

yet discovered

She is a warrior, Protectress

Of all Women and Children

She is love incarnate in a perfect Violet Flame.

She is fragile and  kind and often in great pain.

For no one has given as much to life as She

Nor anyone been so misunderstood

And yet we still need her to fight our

Battles that we may be understood.

Oh Praise! My Dear Sister a Goddess here on Earth

I honor and cheirsh thee for all that you are worth!

A shining star, a wonderous Rose with such

beauty uncompared, I give Love to you with all my heart

A rainbow flame to bear

To light your path along your way to greater destinies

The God that awaits you

Is one that will never forsake you and will see you as you are

A rare and brilliant jewel of life, the only one by far…..

MARIA

She is a bright light with a heart of gold

She gives of herself freely and is never too bold

She’s an Angel of Music, Jester and Sage

She is sometimes so sad and feels her own pain

She knows how to laugh and that’s all that matters

Her humor and antics make the roof almost shatter

She plays like a child and knows how to school

She is teacher, mother and totally cool

She is a spoke of the wheel of the sacred union

A medicine woman of ancient communion

She loves with all her heart and her soul is a mirror

She’s my soul sister and I need to be near her

 

SEAN

He’s a trickster and a child at heart

Full of vibrant energy , keeper of the hidden spark

He’s a new age man with high tech hands

He’s a team player and part of the band

He’s an inventor of ghostly apparitions

He is full of un sung songs and ambitions

He questions everything but has all the answers

He gazes at the cosmos and watches the dancers

He’s kind and honest and full of compassion

His heart is carefully hidden but runs deep with passion

He knows not what he wants, it’s hidden in the dark

He thinks he can fix it, he questions his own heart

The moon is the light that can quicken his spark

The light of their union can’t keep them apart…

 

BRIGHT NIGHT

I am a child of Nature

Born on wings of gossamer threads

I am fairy friend of eleven decent

And Prince of the Fey

I dance under my beloved‘s sky

For she is my one desire

I bask in sun of the desert heat

For no God is as great as He

I levitate on the winds of fate

For I am he the Enchanter and

Weaver of Dreams

All things inanimate hear my music

And dance with me

For I am Magi, Lover,

Wizard and Child

I am fare of face and

Full of Grace

I am the Bright Night

Of Eternities embrace

My Week with Sean Bogunia

My Week with Sean Bogunia

by Luna Shimada

I had been thinking about The Dancing Hanky Illusion for a long time. At first because my ex husband Losander performed it a lot in his show, I really wanted to find new ways for him to improve his routine but he seemed convinced that what he was doing was just fine. Ok so then my mind started wondering to the idea of what I would do if I had the right tools to perform this effect in the ultimate way possible. Of course for me, there was only one person that would know how to do that,  which is Sean Bogunia. I first heard about him through the magic grapevine about 8 years ago as his inventions were creating quite a buzz. His name seemed to pop up in all kinds of conversations around magic groups and conventions. I became fascinated  by the technology he was putting out and thought it was very innovative. Perhaps too innovative for the low tech , low maintenance magic geeks that dominated the market of magic apparatus and product envy. But there was a new breed of magicians emerging into the market place too, the techno geek magicians who were all too ready and excited to take on something that is not only one of the greatest stage illusions of all time but they can play it and program it like a video game, wow! Too cool! Now having come from the low tech school of self made props myself, I didn’t catch on to this for some time. I was always afraid to employ electronics into my act as I didn’t want to be dependent on something that could potentially go glitchy on me. Well I got over that. So now here I am some 8 years later and I am itching to work on a long lost idea I had a while ago. I pulled out a plexi glass production box that I had stored in my shed. I found it when I was putting away my Xmas decorations last year and decided to bring it into the house. Then I started thinking about Sean and how I should contact him to pick his brain… No sooner did I have the thought when he randomly sent me a private message on Facebook introducing himself as a fan of mine! Wow, coincidence? Perhaps. I prefer to call it synchronicity. So this message spurred on a discussion and eventually, a connection that developed into a strong respect and friendship for each other. It was then time for me to take the next step and invite him to Las Vegas to brainstorm with me on this routine or routines as in my typical fashion, I usually have more than one presentation in mind and like to work simultaneously on it from different angles. As soon as he arrived , I could feel a great synergy between us and so we got to work on setting up his PTS. system. A very amazing an innovative thread system that allows one to have complete control of the object you are floating and animating from the direction which is 3D, to the speed and it’s all fully programmable to ones specific timing. Because of this, you have access to an array of movements that can give your object a true personality.  I was amazed, I never imagined being able to work with something like this , having always been dependent on my own timing and skill sets. This system enables you to do all the work in advance so that once you get on stage, you don’t have to control anything , leaving you free to focus %100 on your performance and character. Spending a week with Sean and getting to know him as a person and as an inventor was inspiring. He is so down to earth and humble and knows his craft so well, I even watched him collaborate with Losander on an idea and in the midst of it ,he dismantled an old RC helicopter to salvage parts and in moments fashioned a apparatus that would serve the very function Losander was looking for in his new Table upgrade.  That just blew my mind! I think he is a genius but if you ask him , he would totally deny it cause what he does comes so natural to him. That is what makes him special in my opinion. His brilliance stems beyond what he currently has on the market. He is constantly working on new ideas and improving and taking his works to new levels. He does great custom work and is a great engineer and designer as well. I have him working on several other ideas now  and I look forward to creating new and exciting concepts with him in the future. Our week together was punctuated with fun times, deep conversations about various subjects other than magic ( imagine that!)  and I did multiple performances for him to familiarize him with my style and creative process and our friendship and respect for each other grew to new levels. The week flew by in the blink of an eye. That is what happens when you fall into the gap and get into the zone. It was an incredible and unforgettable time.

If you are ever looking for something extraordinary for your show, you should definitely look into the innovative mind of Sean Bogunia. There is so much more to him than the sum of his parts and products.He is changing the way magic is performed and paving the way to new dimensions, merging magic with technology. He can make real magic…Happen!

Contrived Concepts & Con-Trap-Tions!

In light of more recent discussions I’ve had lately, my mind goes to ponder on the concept of Contrived routines which simply make no sense. I have to say that although I am excited that there is more thought going into our magic these days, I fear that the extreme may be inevitable in the conjunction of the creative process. When  and how do we know when we have gone too far? Does it say anything important, is it uplifting or are you just purging some deeply embedded catharsis?

There are a few ways you can go but I think the first thing you need to establish before anything else is, what is your end result, do you want to do a card trick, fool someone, make a statement, send a message? All of the above?

Vignettes and story telling is all very well but unless you can tell the story with passion or play out a vignette with authenticity, it’s just not gonna cut it! It’s like watching a bad actor act. The illusion is shattered the moment they open their mouth or step out on stage for that matter, body language says it all. So it’s the same with a magic act weather silent or speaking. You have to know that the direction you’re taking is familiar ground somewhere, it can reside even in a feeling or better, an experience. It has to be real. I see so many people trying to put little themes together in hopes that it will set them apart from the rest of the herd but it won’t if it doesn’t say something about who you are.

For example, let’s say, one wants to do a piece about coffee and all the magic happens around coffee, making coffee, drinking coffee, vanishing the coffee, re appearing the coffee changing it from black to white and on and on…sounds like a neat idea BUT is this person a coffee drinker? Because obviously he or she would have to be if this act is suppose to say something about who they are or why they do what they do, OR did they not think that far? Perhaps they are not even looking beyond the objects themselves. I mean If this were me doing this act, not only would I have to drink coffee, I would have to be an absolute out of control, obsessive, tweaking java fiend! Then, I could bridge the relationship between me and the purpose behind magic with coffee. It has to make sense, I need to drink coffee to make magic and then drink more and more and then it runs out, OH NO, I need more! (motivation) and then you have a concept for a performance piece not about coffee but why you need it, why you have to make it and change it and create more.

Oh dear am I exposing a bit too much about myself? So ok compulsive addictive personalities are always fun to play with on stage especially if you are one, most of us don’t want to admit it but we all are in some form or another, addicts. Well, you do magic, don’t you? That makes you kinda weirder than the average person so maybe you should look at that.

Anyway back to concept. A theme is ok if it’s with relatable objects that make sense to you and your persona. Or ask yourself why you are attracted to certain types of magic or props like cards, coins, ropes, etc… or perhaps you like certain styles and aspects like levitation, disappearing and apparating, objects, or you’re a hopeless/hopeful romantic and your magic themes around love and relationships or you’re eccentric and like to play weird games or you’re a storyteller and like to use magic to illustrate a message. There are many ways to go but please really take the time to feel deeply about what you are doing and make it an extension of yourself. Stop trying to be clever and hooky for the sake of getting attention. You have to be honest about who you are and what your strength and your limitations are. Especially the limitations. Listen to input especially from other professionals that have been at it longer than you and define what your true power really is. Audiences are looking for authenticity these days, why do you think reality shows are so popular even though they have become fake contraptions of themselves, people still buy into the illusion. Isn’t that weird? It’s the ultimate fake out, it’s all real…but it’s scripted…but it’s real….honest, it is…you’ll see, on page 4 he’s gonna walk into the restaurant and catch her with his best friend and then he’s gonna….ok ok.

Let’s just keep it real, ok?

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EXPLORING THE REALM OF THE FEMME FATALE By Luna Shimada

Calling all ladies! Calling all men! Here is a world of intrigue

perhaps we can tread.

As someone who has literally grown up in a world of show-business and

living in the world of Magic, my eyes always turn toward interesting

themes and variations of how magic itself can be interpreted and

particularly women’s role in this most unique profession. It is a

question indeed that is raised quite often and yet, it has a very quiet

voice. I therefore will endeavor to raise my voice in the light of this

subject.

I am pleased to say that I am seeing a lot more women come unto the

scene and this is encouraging but, I also see that it is rather

unfamiliar territory and we are still new in our exploration of this

art. Although I think it is of utmost importance to develop and master

basic and intricate skills, it is equally important to develop one’s

character, style and presentation. Both skills and presentation need to

be in balance. Too often we see a beautiful women fully taking

advantage of her stunning appearance but moving around a series of self

working props. In a world where sex sells and women are under constant

pressure to capitalize on their physical appearance, this limits us

somewhat in the world view of things, does it not? Ah but beauty comes

in many forms and disguises. I always like to spice things up with a

little drama. Hence we are given a wonderful opportunity to not just

capitalize on our assets but explore the many faces of the women’s

diversity and power.

Enter center stage is The Femme Fatale, the wild women, the black

widow, the Siren seductress, whatever you wish to call her for she too

has many faces. Not all are necessarily evil, they are mysterious, and

misunderstood. She has her roots deeply imbedded in the history of magic,

witchcraft and the occult, not to mention myth and legends. Still, she

never fails to make others sit up in their seats and pay attention. If

a man can play the role of a dark sorcerer and impale, saw in half and

decapitate people (mostly women) then why not us? Of-course I am not

speaking of a vengeful nature but rather a liberating one that dances

and sings and lets down her hair in such abandon that she does not seek

the approval of a narrow minded view point. Do others not fear her

because of her free spirited ways and passion to live life on her own

terms instead of others? We do not have to be in a corner, ladies. Turn

yourselves loose and don’t be afraid to see what leaps out of that

beautiful soul of yours. You’re probably wondering what does this have

to do with performing magic tricks. Everything, because

Character+Danger+Mystery=Intrigue and that gives your magic texture.

Now I’m not saying you can’t just show an effect the way it is and play

it straight, patter and all or if you’re silent, the token head jerk to

cue audience applause……But why do something in an ordinary way when

you can do it in an extra-ordinary way. Try to be an original, why

waste your time and energy trying to be like someone else. Let that

super heroin out of the closet, unleash the alter-ego, or simply be

yourself if you’re different or interesting enough. If you’re not sure, ask someone, and keep asking until someone gives you an honest

answer. If it’s not the answer you’re looking for, start working on

yourself. Explore and celebrate the beauty and power of being a women

in your deepest sense, and here lies the answer to your secret power.

Happy Hunting!

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The Pitfalls of Magic by Luna Shimada

Ok so another insomniac night for me so fingers, here we go. Tonight my question is …why is there so much repetitive crap out there and doesn’t anyone just…create from their own mind anymore? There was a time in the not so distant past when a magician like any other struggling artist, had to actually come up with ways to create magical effects on their own with out the aid of instructional video/dvd’s and all the multi media and resources now available to us.  There was a time when you actually had to read books to learn magic and even better, learn from a master and then go out into the world of “non- magicians” and test it out. There were no real jamming sessions and sharing ideas . NO! magicians were too afraid to get ripped off! and one’s personal secrets were …well..guarded secrets.  And for good reason too.  Back in the day there was minimum exposure to magic and secrets of the trade were things to be sought after. They were discovered or passed down from one magi to another or found in books which had to be obtained through special means.

Now with all the many resources out there, we have an avalanche of generic material and not only material but entire acts and routines that are all ready to go so you don’t have to do any work to it but memorize the included script that come with the instructional DVD. Of course we also have more copy cat acts in the world than ever now because magic has become so simple stupid and the consumer totally expects that. They want to buy a trick on monday and perform it in their show wednesday! Unfortunately that breeds a lack of creativity in our business and the general public is even becoming educated and over exposed to these various effects too. Over exposure also makes you lazy and it dumbs you down. So how does one break this momentum of mediocrity? Cause let’s face it, most magician’s these days are long on bravado and short on imagination. So for starters:

1)Listen to your gut feelings and not what others want to make you into

2)Practice and work on your own as much as possible. Solitude creates originality.

3)Keep your ideas and material to yourself until you are ready to unveil it in a major public arena.

4)Be secretive and selective about who you share your ideas with. People will steal your shit if they like it and not give you credit for it. If it’s good, they will tell you it’s bad or flawed so they can take it from you and justify it later.

5)Find a mentor  and don’t work or process with anyone else. Work private one to one sessions.

6)And last but not least. Never give away anything for free, always get something for equal or greater value. Think about what they have to offer and then set your terms. Know your own value and self worth.

There is so much great material out there and wonderful improvements and variations of great classic effects too. Think about how you can bring your own original twist or flair to it. Change the script, the structure or premise and you have a new original routine that reflects your personality.

No one says you have to perform the routine exactly like it is on the DVD either. Experiment a little and explore all the possibilities. Find and discover your inner archetype and then spend some quiet quality time with him or her. I have the best practice sessions with all my many selves and then after that we kick up our feet and party!

Go! …..go fish!

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SURVIVING IN THE LIFE OF MAGIC & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Times are hard! There’s no work anywhere! Things are slow….No one goes out anymore to watch live entertainment.

These are some of the things I hear everyday and it isn’t long before we all start to buy into these ideas. Granted it may feel true to your experience but what are we going to do about it?

I pose these questions to myself everyday and so now let’s discuss this. Let’s start by assuming that you are someone who is financially challenged everyday and yet you are cursed  ( or blessed) with this personality that screams creativity and you have a problem with authority and no patience with the idiosyncrasies of other people. Then you’re basically %100 certifiably unemployable. Don’t feel bad, mate, I’m right there with you, you’re not alone. In fact, far from it. There is a large growing number of underground, out of work , surviving community of allied artists all around us and we are all feeling the crunch! Shit,  we are passing the HAT again. It’s true, it’s come down to that!

But necessity is the mother of invention they say, yes it’s cliché but it also happens to be true. What better time than now to truly re -invent yourself, but not only that, how about re -inventing the paradigm altogether? The great supper clubs aren’t around anymore, the cabarets and variety theaters, gone practically. Not much television work to speak of, at least nothing that pays. And if you wanna get a shot at having your own show anywhere, you better have the 3 M’s all lined up, Money, Management and Marketing, which all go hand in hand right? Cause you can’t seem to have one without the others and if you have none of them then it’s the hat for you.  Don’t be discouraged though, it’s not as bad as it seems. An old tradition like passing the hat can have it’s merits and can be re introduced into our society in a positive way like it has been employed at Jeff McBride’s Wonderground, in fact it is this very type of gathering that is bringing us all together for a common cause.  Again we are all just being asked to become a lot more resourceful and creative in how  and what we want to manifest in our life.  What I have come to understand about my life in these terms is that although I have had several illustrious careers in my life time already and thousands of wonderful nostalgic memories of great times long past from the “hey days’ of show business. I cannot live in the past and make decisions about my career now based on what I have known. Everything is different now. But what I have come to realize is that gratitude, community and support and sharing are a part of what makes my world make sense.  There is strength in numbers and when you can share your vision with others for a common cause like survival, like self expression and you come together for the love of it, cause people, that is what we do! We entertain, we share ourselves, we express our thoughts because we are the Mirrors of life.  So grab a colleague by the hand ( or neck  if you have to) and get out there and start creating your own venues and platforms and reflect back to the world what you have to offer, fill them with your essence and give them something in the flesh that they cannot get from sitting in front of their computer or TV. Sounds dirty doesn’t it?  Well if you go out there with the same kind of passion then you’d see results very quickly. Yes,  internet  and technology has it’s place and function in the market and there’s nothing wrong with making some money with it, do it! BUT let’s not forget that the real experience is not in the “virtual entertainment” which is a mere replication of an experience. It’s about

“Enter -attainment “ You have have to show up in person to experience the real thing, the tastes, smells and sights and …the Energy. Use technology to spread the word but get those people out of their homes and out into the streets and into your seats and once you have them, Give them the experience of a life time, you only have one shot at this so make it count otherwise they are gonna go home and say what a waste of fucking time that was! But if you do it right, they will come back for more. Re define LIVE entertainment as we have known it.  What can you give them that they can’t get any night of the week siting at home pulling up youtube videos? We can’t lose our ability to connect with people in the real world cause if we do, then we will become dead lifeless things.  Use that fire in your belly while you got it to create some heat and get out there and blaze! The world needs us, they always have, they always will, they just need to know where to find us so do what you can to make it easy for them to and remember, we are stronger in numbers. DO IT!

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