The more and more I look at words the less they make sense to me at all. But recently it is all I have been doing. I am currently writing my new live show it has been more of a task than I first anticipated. Any performer will tell you that they take pride in what the do which in turn makes them develop it to a point of where the are satisfied with it.. Not happy but satisfied. I will never be 100% happy with ay show I create because in the back of my head Im always thinking of new things to add and weaker things to take out.

Its an ongoing process and when I say its annoying I really mean I love it. Who wouldn’t? I get to take my time and create moments the make people sit back, catch there breath and say “WOW”. So even though the process of writing the show gets to me at times I can honestly say the outcome is more than worth it. So this Is my question to you. What do you do that really gets on your nerves but you could not live with out it? Is it that little guitar riff you just cant get but god knows you will keep on trying or is it that painting you just cant get to look right even though everyone else things its perfect as is

The reason I am asking is for the new show. Im toying with the idea of obsessions and what takes any given thing and makes is cross the line into obsession for us. Feel free to mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a small not on what is yoru hobby/passion/job and let me thank you in advance as it will help me with this new show..

Alan

Well it is that time of year. That very special time of year when you spend time with the people you love the most and try and shed the worry's of the year that has just gone by.

Now I know I am still a young man but today marks a pretty big point in my life. Today marks my one year anniversary as a full time magician and I must thank each and every one of you.

This time last year I took the crazy step of being a full time performer and in the first few months, I will not be ashamed to admit I was petrified. But with the love and support of my friends, family and of course you, I have made it this far and everything is on going great. I am happy that you fine people out there see something in me and respect what I do enough to support me. So before I get to soppy.

THANK YOU and have a great 2012

Alan

Tonight saw me venturing out to a 21^st birthday party for a young man named Andrew. I love performing to any one and any time but these type of events let you adjust your effects a little to be more personal for the clients. Tonight I started with the my close up set and the night went in to full swing quickly. People laughing and cheering and generally having a good time but then I saw him.

This little 13 year old boy in the corner just not having a good time at all. As I approached the table I changed my usual introduction and substituted it with “Good evening, my name is Alan and I am the magicians assistant for the evening.” I then followed on by getting little Adam up and performed all my routines as if I was the assistant and he was the magician. After the short set and his ten minutes of fame, all be it at one little table, he was beaming with pride and had started to enjoy the party a little more.

I later found out from his mother that he had just recently lost some one rather close and he had been a little quiet for about a month, this was the only thing to make him close to his old self again which for me, makes me feel great and judging by the praise from the family it made little Adam feel a little better about him self.

What is the moral to this little post. Well, its simple. All performers should be able to adapt what they do to suit their clients needs. But it also helps being able to take the spot light off yourself and adapt your act a little to give some one else the lime light for a while. All in all it would have been a fantastic night even if this did not happen but I must admit, It made it ten times better.

Do not be afraid to adapt, change and progress. Be afraid when you notice your are not!

Alan

This weekend saw the start of my holiday period gigs in RED in Greenock. This club has some fantastic regulars as standard who are always up for a laugh but this time of year just makes them even better and brings out the best in everyone else.

This point was highlighted at the first table perfectly. As I started to perform for them a young lady by the name of Emma comes bounding over to the table and yells “ AW THE MAGIC MAN” plants a massive kiss on my cheek and says “ Right I demand a trick”. Now do not take that the wrong way. I love performing parlour and stage shows where I have my own space to do what I need to do but this is the exact reason I love going back to the trenches in the very town I got my start.

The night basically followed suit with that first table. All Super energetic and happy to participate with the magic. So after the night of moving from table to table and making the little light inside the already bright and happy folks get a little brighter. Having my little ears deafen a little with the screams of delight as the impossible seemed to happen in their own hands, then being fondled as I stood for the photos that where demanded I found it extremely easy to understand why I love my job.

Now I know this blog has basic been me saying I love my job but what it is really here to do is thank everyone at RED for giving me a great time in doing my job and thank you for having a great time in the process. Hope to see you all soon.

On a side note. How do I get lipstick out of a white shirt? Answers on a postcard please.

Alan