I want to thank you all for the ton of emails I got about my column. I love you all, and I have missed you too! A strange thing happened: I was dancing on the bar at the Ritz, and singing "See What The Boys In the Backroom Will Have" when I heard a shot that missed me. Of course, I knew it was some disgruntled amateur from THAT internet club. They are still jealous that I know the secret of David's ONE illusions, and they are still talking about it. I went out of my way, without disclosing the secret, to explain it, (the research etc.) 45 people answered and only 5 got it right, including a 15-year-old lad. The others all screaming "camera tricks," BA, and different versions for stage and TV. They just don't get it. I've been with David and seen the illusion MANY times, and believe me I know how it's done. But they still scream I'm wrong. If I ever decide to work again, with David's permission I will open with it in the middle of a circus ring!

For example; As you all know Harry Jr. was one of my very dearest friends, and his hookup for the floating blub is unique. No one really knows his way, it has never been explained (no, he was not hooked to Gay). None of the books can not explain his method, and I would NEVER reveal it. But I'm sure if I said that, all the jerks would say I don't know what I'm talking about! That's the point I'm making: if someone who knows and has been around these people, listen to them! Next month I'm going to reveal my very own method for the Floating Ball and of preparing the thread with color and paint, that makes the thread almost invisible. I have only told a very few of the method I used for the Floating Ball, I got so many questions about it, that I have decided to expose it, since I no longer need it. The ones I told could not believe it until they tried it.

Enough on that, I'll let the club fight about it. Oh by the way,going back to David's "ONE" illusion: I was perusing "GERMAIN the WIZARD," a great new book, and there it was! On page 415 is the basic way the illusion is done (yes, it's that old)! It's just a sketch but he has the basic idea. It's also in 4 books that I know, but remember they were vanishes, David brilliantly made it into an production! Once again I say RESEARCH!

The Golston books are goldmines. You look at it now and say "No way was this done." But oh yes, it was! Of course, we don't use that many traps anymore, But with steps, props, etc. for the getaway, they all can still be done (check Osborne books)!

I hope all of you in the New York area will get to see Paul's fabulous new show that's running all summer in Salem, NH, at Canobie Lake Park. It's called "MYSTIQUE!" and it's mind boggling. l'll be up to see it.

Now for my words of wisdom, for it's almost cocktail hour. I received a wonderful email from a fan, that is REALLY working about being original, he even writes his own music and sews his own costumes. He is very hurt about the magic contests all the conventions have. Let me say right now, the only fair one is ABBOTTS. It seems he enters this and never wins, however he does place second, which I told him was not bad. But it seems the winners are always someone who have copied someone else (IMAGINE THAT) or used a DVD and did it move for move, same patter, same bad jokes, same music! Where pray tell is the originality? He says it's just like high school, when it was just a popularity contest, and all your friends do all the clapping and yelling how great you are, even if you stink! But here is the second placer, and now he has his own show (albeit a small room) in a new casino being built right now, where he will be performing daily.

He worried that it was such a small venue. I told him it dosen't matter, you are out there, practicing, and getting paid. (I wonder what the winners are doing and IF they are working everyday?)

Forget the contests, leave your egos in the dressing room, and start working anywhere you can (sometimes even for free) to put you're your name and face in front of the public. Believe me, I did many free shows in my career, and it works. Forget all the new illusions everyone is doing and work on your style and look! The best of luck to you! I just love guys who work on being different! This young man will go places in the magic world. And you can too. Forget what everyone else is doing and try to do you own thing! No matter what, keep it going, I have fallen off the best of stages, brushed my self off and said "For my next trick" and the audience loved it. So did my bartender! Well I have rambled on enough. Please keep the emails coming, I love hearing from you all, my website will be up soon! I hear the cocktail shaker shaking so it's time to go! See you down the road.