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What does it mean to be a magician?

© Rick Mallars

     I'd prepared myself mentally and physically the night before the show. Standing backstage, waiting for the lights to dim, the music to cue, I nervously glance over to one of my assistants and smile. She returns the smile and suddenly I'm aware that I have forgotten something! I quickly pat down my tuxedo to make sure I have everything in its proper place and find that I am missing a large silk foulard that I will need in the beginning moments of my first routine.

     Where had I placed it?

     I glance to another assistant who is watching me pat myself down as if I was on fire, she mouths the question:

     "What's wrong?"

     I shrug my shoulders mightily and mouth back:

     "My silk, where's my silk?"

     She looks past me to the wall directly behind my right shoulder and smiles. I quickly notice that she is pointing to a large silk hanging by itself where I left it not mere moments ago.

     Where was my head?

     As I experience a brief serendipitous moment, I quickly snatch the silk from its hanging spot and ram it into the front pocket of the tux. By this time, it's obvious to everyone in my cast that my nerves are slightly frazzled, my hair is standing on end and my tails are stuck into the back of my pants. As my assistant reaches over and gently un-tucks the tails, I receive a smile of understanding and consideration. This night, I would be performing for over two thousand people on a large stage built specifically for my crew and me for the first time in my career.

     Suffice it to say it was a big moment.

     I take a deep breath and exhale as quietly and calmly as I can and go through my mental checklist once more to be certain I am not forgetting anything else. My candles are in place, my roses are in place, and the silks are all finally in the proper places as I pat myself down once more, just to make sure. I look across stage and see that the larger illusions are all ready to go. The Tubed-Out illusion is exactly where it's supposed to be along with the On-Target and Jumbo Card on Seat illusions. My Water Torture Cell is filled and ready to receive me when the time comes. Every item is in place for the Dancing Handkerchief routine and I can see that my newest levitation illusion is properly prepared and ready to float on command.

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