Magic Stories

Sorry, I’m Not One of the Inner-Circle
Paw Lawton

Paw Lawton shares his thoughts with us about the "cool people" in our trade. Paw worked as an agent and advance man for the Li'l Tom Hardy show.

I really enjoyed the Melinda, the First Lady of Magic, show while it lasted at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. I know I’m not supposed to say that because the same magicians in the inner circle, who told me I shouldn’t like Darren Romeo’s show or even Rick Thomas’ act, have informed me that her show was no good.

They should know, they’re not performing anywhere so they have plenty of time to evaluate shows. They know all of the cool people in magic. Us working folks might have to squeeze in a show during a vacation or on a business trip.  We might have to pay cash for our ticket and even sit near the back.  If we are lucky, maybe we can shake hands with the performer afterwards or have our picture taken with them. 

Those kind of traits make us ordinary but it doesn't mean we love magic any less than the "cool guys" the "insiders" who know everyone, know everything and can tell you why your trick isn't new ("it was done in 1902 by the Siamese Twin Magician Team of Hocus-Pocus — I think Pocus did it first, though"); why you'll never make it ("fat guys never make it in the biz," "women can't be taken seriously," "your accent will keep you from getting gigs," "your lack of a hook — like being too fat or too skinny, being a pretty woman or a foreigner — will keep you from hitting the big time). 

I'm not trying to be petty. I am sure some of these men — and they seem mostly to be men — were actually talented at one time and maybe some of them got a show or lecture date on that talent; but not recently.  They're too busy skimming through the latest book to point out errors, or avoiding the crowded masses yearning to learn at conventions.  That's a full-time job.

The cool guys know all the magicians everywhere. They've had drinks with the magicians I paid to see while drinking my two drink minimum. I'm not cool and I didn't care.  I was honored that the performing magicians in Vegas would take the time to even talk with me, after all, what did I know? I was just some guy who liked to watch magic. I didn’t care if I have seen it before – I like to see how others do it. (And don't take that dirty). 

I didn’t care if the performance failed to include the very latest in finger-flicking – I was sort of judging the show by the audience response and most of them couldn’t (or shouldn’t) pick up on the latest sleights learned at the feet of the masters.

Anyway, I’m sorry that Melinda’s not performing any more. She kind of gave me hope and that’s a good thing to have. Seeing her made me feel that those who loved performing magic could work their way to the top doing what they loved. If you ever had a chance to see her…

Paw Lawton

Paw Lawton shares his thoughts with us about the "cool people" in our trade. Paw worked as an agent and advance man for the Li'l Tom Hardy show.

I really enjoyed the Melinda, the First Lady of Magic, show while it lasted at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. I know I’m not supposed to say that because the same magicians in the inner circle, who told me I shouldn’t like Darren Romeo’s show or even Rick Thomas’ act, have informed me that her show was no good.

They should know, they’re not performing anywhere so they have plenty of time to evaluate shows. They know all of the cool people in magic. Us working folks might have to squeeze in a show during a vacation or on a business trip.  We might have to pay cash for our ticket and even sit near the back.  If we are lucky, maybe we can shake hands with the performer afterwards or have our picture taken with them. 

Those kind of traits make us ordinary but it doesn't mean we love magic any less than the "cool guys" the "insiders" who know everyone, know everything and can tell you why your trick isn't new ("it was done in 1902 by the Siamese Twin Magician Team of Hocus-Pocus — I think Pocus did it first, though"); why you'll never make it ("fat guys never make it in the biz," "women can't be taken seriously," "your accent will keep you from getting gigs," "your lack of a hook — like being too fat or too skinny, being a pretty woman or a foreigner — will keep you from hitting the big time). 

I'm not trying to be petty. I am sure some of these men — and they seem mostly to be men — were actually talented at one time and maybe some of them got a show or lecture date on that talent; but not recently.  They're too busy skimming through the latest book to point out errors, or avoiding the crowded masses yearning to learn at conventions.  That's a full-time job.

The cool guys know all the magicians everywhere. They've had drinks with the magicians I paid to see while drinking my two drink minimum. I'm not cool and I didn't care.  I was honored that the performing magicians in Vegas would take the time to even talk with me, after all, what did I know? I was just some guy who liked to watch magic. I didn’t care if I have seen it before – I like to see how others do it. (And don't take that dirty). 

I didn’t care if the performance failed to include the very latest in finger-flicking – I was sort of judging the show by the audience response and most of them couldn’t (or shouldn’t) pick up on the latest sleights learned at the feet of the masters.

Anyway, I’m sorry that Melinda’s not performing any more. She kind of gave me hope and that’s a good thing to have. Seeing her made me feel that those who loved performing magic could work their way to the top doing what they loved. If you ever had a chance to see her show, you could tell she loved what she was doing – entertaining folks. You can’t beat that.

I even got my picture taken with her after the show for free and have that picture up on my mirror for when I decide to shave.

Now, the Darren Romeo show is a different matter. That guy was a good singer and a very good magician. The cool guys, the guys on the inside, nailed him before he took the big stage of the Siegfried and Roy Theatre at the Mirage. “You’ll hate him,” they told me.

I went to see his show after reading Tim’s review on this site. He’d heard the same stuff about the show but said it was very good. I saw it – twice – and thought it was great.

It’s no more now, though. I hear they will get him an evening show and that’s great news for him and for those who couldn’t come up off the $30.00 for a great show, good music, pretty assistants, and a free drink. This is in a town where you can’t even back up your frontline bet with double odds for less than $30.00.  In the meantime, he is wowing them in Branson.  Brett Daniels is wowing them in Branson too.  Of course, the cool guys, the insiders, don't think Branson counts. 

I’m not a magician but I’ve been around them – and other performers – for years. I’ve booked magicians where they’d never normally get booked because I played up how they affected the audience rather than their skill.

I can tell you from my experience in the game that there is no way in blazes you’ll sell a booking manager or “entertainment director” on a magician who can do a one-handed center deal.

You will sell them on a woman magician who is pretty and can do a great show or a young man who can fill a giant stage with energy and great singing while he tries some pretty tough effects to pull off.

Maybe the real inner-circle guys got to the hotels. I think I liked it better before the joints were run by major hotel chains. Of course, back then we didn’t have so many magicians on the Strip or even downtown but we did have entertainment.

Tim’s dad used to have a saying that seems applicable here, “It’s not what you did; it’s what the Warden thinks you did.” The Warden here – the cool inner-circle guys – know better than the audience. That’s great for them but based on my experience in the business, it is a rare booking agent that keeps his or her job by ignoring talent and entertainment.

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