INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2006]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

Steve Taylor Entertains Two Magic Clubs

Steve Taylor presented a lecture to Assembly 31 and Ring 10. Jim Croop, Ring 10 President, introduced Mr. Taylor. Steve has performed 9 times at the Magic Castle and lectured there 5 times. He has performed or lectured in all the states except Alaska. The lecture emphasis was on Promoting, Marketing, and Motivation using magic. Lecture notes were available that included creating and writing educational magic programs.

Steve stressed that it is important to incorporate the message into the magic and not have the message separated from the effect. Libraries, Schools, Trade Shows and Corporations are willing to pay much more for a program with a motivational message, such as (Say No to Drugs, Anti-Bully, Read More, Teamwork, etc...). Each theme should be appropriate for the venue.

His methods were introduced using easy to remember letters, "C", "I", "A". The letter "C" should bring to mind the word â??combineâ??; that is, taking two or more effects to present a message changing the effect from a trick to a meaningful routine. The second letter, "I", causes one to think of the word â??illustrate.â?? This means that one should not use the standard magical patter associated with the effect but one should adjust the patter to promote the desired message. The last letter, "A", is for the word â??changeâ??, meaning one should change the effect to enhance the message.

He then introduced these concepts for Family Audiences: if you fool the audience they will remember the trick, if you make them laugh they will remember the show, but if you touch their heart/emotions they will remember you. When possible always make the spectator the "Hero." If you want to get rehired, you want to play to the adults, principals, librarians in addition to the younger set. One third of all the humor should be directed at the adults. Steve presented many combined magic tricks that were used to illustrate an assortment of motivational messages. He used these examples to show how these routines were used to play to an assortment of venues. Poor weather did not deter attendance for a very successful evening.

Bob Vasileff, Scribe