-1-
When I toured with Odyssey Dance Theatre's "Thriller" program, I took advantage of the
amphitheater's workshop during the day to finish a new illusion. The star of the illusion was "Fred,"
a full-size human skeleton from a medical supply house who had been given a serious makeover to look
like a rotting corpse. Because he was jointed like a regular person, the best way to travel with him
was to just strap him into the passenger seat of the van and drive around. I had a lot of fun waving
to the Highway Patrol and ordering food at the drive-through because of all the reactions Fred
got. The best reaction, however, came the morning I left the keys for the van in the ignition and, yes,
couldn't get back in. As I was using a rigged-up apparatus of various bits from the nearby Home Depot
to try and open the door, a man walked past and without even hesitating said, "Oh, what's the
matter? Did the dead guy lock you out?"

-2-
I was hired to take part in "The Magic of Music" playing in Abravanel Hall, home for the Utah
Symphony in Salt Lake. The associate conductor and his staff loved the illusions we proposed --
especially the climactic levitation and mid-air vanish of a girl to the tune of "When You Wish
Upon a Star." At our next meeting, I requested a tour of the facilities. With growing horror, I
realized what I should have remembered: the hall isn't built like a standard theater. There were
no wings, no flies, no black backdrop curtains. The entire area is framed with fine hardwoods on
all sides. Among the many restrictions imposed upon us, we had no way to install any of the trappings
an Asrah requires. I spent a couple of sleepless nights. In the end, the audience was treated to a
girl, shrouded in fabric, floating beautifully over the orchestra a split second before the
music reaches its crescendo as she vanishes from sight. Moments later, with an 80 piece orchestra
playing the concluding strains, the girl reappeared on the third balcony and I experienced one of the
most amazing ovations of my life.

-3-
We were booked to do an opening illusion segment for a musical at the nearby community college.
The outdoor stage was made of concrete, which meant that the props rolled very smoothly on and
off. Unfortunately, it also faced west, which meant that by the time the audience had gathered for
the evening show, the stage had been baking in the sun for at least eight hours. Our opening illusion
is an appearing girl illusion and my assistant was loaded in while I did a sound check with the stage
manager. On the tech sheet, the prop was listed as needing to be rolled out before the music began.
One of the crew pushed the illusion out onto the stage so it would be ready to go, not realizing
that my assistant was inside. The only way for her to get out was for me to let her out. By the time
I realized she had been rolled out onto the stage several minutes had gone by. The audience was
treated to the sight of me and a stage hand taking the illusion apart instead of performing it (to
music though -- that cue had gone off without a hitch.) My assistant was flushed, sweating and
unconscious. Fortunately, we revived her before the ambulance got there and she was fine.

WARNING
answers below

This Months Winners:

Magicman4@...
Bobstaple@....
Victor@S......

The lie was number 3

Voting Results:

1 - 23%
2 - 41%
3 - 36%