March 2013
Official Publication of The Society of Young Magicians
Levitation
The Floating Bill Effect
S.A.M. SPOTLIGHT
S.A.M. Spotlight
WWW Whats on the Web
A brief look at what’s happening in magic on the Internet
The Floating Bill
See it performed Live
http://vimeo.com/28929083
2 March 2013/The Magic SYMbol
CONTENTS
2 Spotlight - Convention Ad/What’s on the Web
WHAT’S INSIDE
10 Floating Bill Trick Performance
4 Letter From the Editor 11 Member Profile
5 Floating Bill Trick 12 SYM Pin Program
6 Floating Bill Trick set-up 13 SYM Pin Program
7 Floating Bill Trick Performance Pages 14 -17
Stars of Tomorrow Aplications
8 Floating Bill Trick Performance for Stage and Close-up.
9 Floating Bill Trick Performance
S.Y.M. WEBSITE S.A.M. WEBSITE
www.magicsym.com www.magicsam.com
The Society of Young Magicians (S.Y.M.) sponsored by The Society of American Magicians, is a world-wide organization for
youth, ages 7 through 17. (At age 18 you graduate to membership in The Society of American Magicians.) The purpose of S.Y.M.
is to promote interest in magic as a wholesome hobby that will help develop self-confidence and skill, the ability to speak in pub-
lic, discipline that comes from learning, practicing and performing magic, and a sense of service to others through helping others
learn magic and by performing magic at charitable events.
The Society of Young Magicians has nearly 100 local chapters, called Assemblies, around the country. Adult supervision and
instruction are provided by qualified members of the Society of American Magicians, one of the most prestigious world-wide
organizations of its kind.
HAVE A QUESTION? NEED ADVICE?
CAN’T FIGURE OUT A TRICK? NEED GUIDANCE?
DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT IN MAGIC?
The S.Y.M. has a panel of mentors ready to help you.
Associate members who do not have an Assembly in their area now have a place to turn.
Even members of a local Assembly can participate in this mentoring program. This is a
free service and part of your S.Y.M. membership. To contact the SYMentor, simply e-mail
your questions to:
SYMentor@magicsam.com
Your question will be directed to someone who will help you from our panel of experts.
Parents of SYM’ers may also write with questions.
Be sure to get permission from your parents before writing.
Magic SYMbol
Letter from the editor The
Michael A. Raymer
“Enjoy the Journey, Volume 29 Issue No. 3 • March 2013
The Magic SYMbol is a monthly publication
don’t worry about Michael A. Raymer, Editor
the destination. ” Bruce Kalver, Consulting Editor
Articles are written by the editor
unless otherwise noted.
Recently my wife and I took a weekend trip
to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We Editorial Offices:
stayed in a town called Pigeon Forge which
The Magic SYMbol
is at the foot of the mountains. The area has become a big tourist attrac- Michael Raymer, Editor
tion and there are a number of dinner theaters, show theaters, museums 5512 Pavilion Way
and attractions. One such attraction is a place called Wonderworks which Louisville, KY 40291
502-231-0689 or 502-644-7829
is an upside down building. funmagic@iglou.com
At Wonderworks you can see Terry Evanswood’s magic show. Ter-
ry puts on a wonderful show of illusion, close-up and stage magic. We
S.Y.M. National Director
thought it to be one of the best magic shows we have seen in some time.
Now on the trip there we took a leisurely pace and enjoyed the ride - as Jann Goodsell
cars sped past us we would look at each other and say - “look at that, they 329 West 1750 North
Orem, UT 84057
aren’t even seeing any of the scenery.” Every one was in such a hurry to 801-724-9758
get to their destination. Fax: 801-802-8925
At one point in his show Terry stopped to talk to the audience bravesjann@comcast.net
and he said “Would you like to see that again?” Audience screamed “Yes!” Dues Payment
Terry said “I can’t show it to you again” he paused “You see I have to follow Change of Address/ New Memberships:
some rules and does anyone know what the number one rule of magic is?” S.Y.M c/o
A young boy screamed “don’t show a trick twice” Terry said, “That’s right” Manon Rodriguez
He said “the reason he doesn’t show tricks more than once is that people will National Administrator
P.O. Box 505
figure it out.” He said “when I started performing magic I wanted to find out Parker, CO 80134
how it all was done, and now I know. You see when you discover how a trick manon@magic.bz
is done it takes away the magic and makes it less fun.”
Terry then said that he wanted us to “not worry about the destina- The Societyofof
The Society
tion but enjoy the ride” he said “Watching a magic show is fun, if you don’t Young Magicians
Young Magicians
try to figure everything out but just enjoy the journey.” He then introduced Board of
Board ofDirectors
Directors
his next effect and continued the show. Afterwards there was a long line
to take picture and greet the cast of the show. It was a great magic show Executive Board
JannExecutive
Goodsell • AndyBoard
Dallas
and we really enjoyed it. Bruce Kalver
Jann Goodsell • Andy Dallas
Terry also has a mini magic museum full of items he has collected Ed Thomas • Hope
Bruce Kalver
Anderson
over the years including many old magic sets, props of famous magicians Ed Thomas
Lance Burton ••William
Hope Anderson
Andrews
such as Harry Blackstone and Houdini and some magical figurines. Ad- Jay Gorham • Char Gott
Lance Burton
Connie Hatherill• William Andrews
• Arlen Solomon
mission to the magic museum is free and the show was $14.95 for adults. Marlene Clark
Connie Hatherill • Arlen Solomon
Discounts for children and students. Hope you get a chance to go see his
magic show and enjoy your journey.
See you next month, HAS YOUR S.Y.M.
MEMBERSHIP EXPIRED?
If it has you should be receiving your renewal
information by mail, please remember to renew
your membership.
4 March 2013/The Magic SYMbol
The Floating Dollar Bill Levitation
THE EFFECT:
This is truly one of the greatest magic tricks ever invented. With just a little practice you will be able to
perform a miracle. The effect is that you borrow a dollar bill and roll it into a loose ball which is then placed
onto the open palm of one of your hands. The bill rises up off your hand and then floats from hand to hand.
Your hands circle around the floating bill, dispelling any thought on how it might work. The bill is then hand-
ed back for complete examination.
THE SET-UP:
You will need some magician’s thread (a special fiber designed specifically for this trick) You are usually
supplied with enough thread for well over 100 performances wrapped around a playing card. Unroll about 4
feet of thread from the card. The first thing you will notice is that the thread is not invisible. You will need to
prepare the thread for the trick. If you look closely at the thread, you will notice that it is made up of many
individual fibers. To prepare the thread, you will need to separate one of these fibers from the thread.
Unroll 4 feet of the
1) Hold onto the end of the thread and separate out one of the individual fibers. The best way to do this is to
pluck at the end of the thread until you are able to grab onto one of the fibers. Be patient. You may need to
try several time before you are able to get a single fiber.
Hold onto the end of the thread. Pluck out a single fiber.
March 2013/The Magic SYMbol 5
Levitation
2) Hold onto the fiber by pinching it between your thumb and fore-finger. With
your other hand, push down the remainder of the thread. You will find that the
thread easily slides down, exposing the individual fiber.
3) As you push down the thread, you will find that it will bunch up. At this point, if
you continue to push down, you will break the individual fiber. To prevent that from
happening, all you have to do is move your free hand below the “bunch” and gently
coax the thread down. This will straighten out the thread and allow you to continue
separating the fiber. You will need to straighten out the thread every few inches.
Carefully straighten out the
thread when it bunches up.
4) After you expose about a foot of fiber, it will help if you stick a tab of scotch tape to it’s nearly invisible
end. The best way to do this is to simply wrap the fiber around a small piece of scotch tape several times and
then fold the sticky part of the tape onto itself. It will now be easy to keep track of the end of the fiber.
Wrap the individual fiber
around a piece of tape.
Fold the tape in on itself.
5) Continue stripping out the fiber until you have approximately a 4 foot section. Break off the fiber and
wrap this end around a second piece of tape, but this time don’t fold the tape upon itself. This fiber is now
ready to perform The Floating Dollar Bill.
Wrap the other end of fiber around
a second piece of tape.
6) Stretch the thread back to it’s original length and re-wrap the unused thread back around the card for lat-
er use. This thread can be used for literally hundreds of performances. If you do not want to immediately
use the stripped out fiber to perform The Floating Bill, you can store the individual fiber by carefully wrap-
ping it around a card. This will prevent the fiber from getting tangled or broken.
6 March 2013/The Magic SYMbol
Levitation
THE PRESENTATION:
This trick uses a two point hook-up, meaning that one end of the fiber is hooked-up to an object, such as a
table, and the other end of the fiber is placed in your mouth. Before you want to perform the trick you want to
attach the tape at the end of the fiber to a wall, lamp shade, table . . . whatever is appropriate and at waist level.
You want to do this ahead of time and just let the thread hang there until you are ready to perform. As long as
the fiber is out of the way, no one will notice it.
1) When you are ready to perform the trick, secretly take the tab of tape that is dangling and place it into
your mouth, between your gum and cheek. You can do this while no one is looking or while you are clearing
your throat.
2) Slowly lean your body back until you feel a slight tension on the fiber. You
want to be careful not to lean back too far because the fiber will break. With a
little practice you will easily be able to feel what is the proper tension on the
thread.
3) Borrow a dollar bill from a spectator and hold it at the ends. It is important
that you hold the bill below the thread. Bring the bill up using both hands and
crumple the dollar bill into a ball around the invisible thread. As you crumple the bill, Place the end of the
fiber in your mouth.
lean forward a little bit to put some slack in the fiber so that you do not break it.
Hold the borrowed bill by the ends
underneath the fiber.
March/The Magic SYMbol 7
Levitation
4) Place the bill into the open palm of one of your hands. As you move back, you will create tension in the
thread. If you move back far enough, the bill will lift up off the palm of your hand and apparently levitate.
(The spectators will not notice the movement of your body or head because their attention will be directed at
the bill.) When you are floating the bill, do not make any quick sudden movements.
Place the bill into the palm of your hand.
Roll the bill into a ball around the fiber.
Creating tension on the thread
causes the bill to float.
5) The farther you move your head back, the higher the bill will float. I usu-
ally rub my right fore-finger against the bill and it appears if the static charge is what is causing the bill to
float. Then, when you remove your finger and the bill is floating, it really fries the spectator's mind.
Place your finger against the bill.
Cause the bill to float, apparently Remove your finger and
magnetized to your finger. display the floating bill.
Important Note: Only let the bill free-float for a few seconds. The longer you leave an object suspended
in mid-air, the more likely the spectators will suspect that it is hanging from a thread. The spectator is also
more likely to grab the bill, break the thread, and ruin the trick.
8 March2013/The Magic SYMbol
Levitation
6) There are a couple of moves you can use to disprove, in the spectator’s mind. that you are using a
thread. These moves are similar to a stage magician using a ring to prove that there is no support when he
floats somebody.
A. Using both hands (being careful not to touch the thread) slowly move your hand around the floating
dollar bill. You can easily move your hands at the sides, top, and bottom of the bill without disturbing the
thread.
Move your hands around the bill . . . . . . being careful not to touch the thread.
B. Touching your thumbs and fore-fingers together, you can form a ring with your hands. With the
thread running through the center of this ring, you can move your hands down around the bill. Only do this
once or twice, being careful not to touch the thread as you move your hands. This is a very effective move.
. . . Move your hands down around the bill.
Forming a ring with your fingers . . .
7) By moving your head and body, you can give movement to the bill. As you move your head, the bill will
move accordingly. You can cause the bill to float from hand to hand or down to the table. You want to prac-
tice this part of the trick so that you can make the bill move slowly and smoothly. Remember, the spectators
are watching the bill so they will not notice any head movement.
March 2013/The Magic SYMbol 9
Levitation
move your head and body
slowly to the right until it rests in your right hand.
Start with the bill in your left hand
8) When you are finished performing the trick, unroll the bill from the thread and hand it back to the specta-
tor. While he is examining the bill, pull the thread from your mouth and let it drop down.
Unroll the bill and hand it back to the spectator.
TIP: If, during the performance of the trick, the bill slides down the thread, it means you have to roll the bill
into a tighter ball around the thread.
10 March 2013/The Magic SYMbol
SYM Member Profiles
– Meet your fellow SYM Magician -
Send us information about your magic show, where you are per-
forming or other information and we’ll write up an article about
you in the magazine. Please include a photo of you performing if
you are able to.
We Want You
To Share your magic! Y
O
Have pictures from your SYM assembly meeting? U
Send them in!
Have a “new” twist on an “old” trick?
Share it!
Have an article you wrote on a famous magician?
Send it to us!
Send by email to: funmagic@iglou.com
By mail to:
SYMbol Editor
5512 Pavilion Way
Louisville, KY 40291 USA
March 2013/The Magic SYMbol 11
12 March 2013 /The Magic SYMbol
Close-up Stars of Tomorrow
2013 S.A.M. Convention
The Society of American Magicians invites young magicians ages 7 through 17
to audition for Close-up Stars of Tomorrow performances that will take place
during the 2013 S.A.M. National Convention, July 3 through 6 at the Marriott
Hotel Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202
The S.A.M. will hire six talented close-magicians to perform as Close-up Stars
of Tomorrow at the convention. Each performer will receive a stipend, two
convention registrations (one for the performer, the other for a parent or
guardian), plus a year’s free membership in the Society of Young Magicians.
Each performer will have at least two opportunities to perform during the
convention.
To audition:
Submit an eight-to-ten minute DVD or YouTube link of you performing
close-up magic. The audition does not have to be professionally produced,
but it should show your performance style, costuming and props that you
would use if you are selected to perform. You may submit more than one
performance segment on the video.
You must include the attached application form, a brief biography and a
photo suitable for printing in the convention program.
You must submit your application by April 1, 2013.
NOTE: Materials cannot be returned.
Address questions and applications to
Arlen Solomon SAM4arlen@aol.com
3670 Round Meadow Ln.
Hatboro, PA 19040
2013 S.A.M. Convention
Stars of Tomorrow Stage Show
The Society of American Magicians invites young magicians ages 7 through 17
to audition for the Stars of Tomorrow Stage Show that will take place during
the S.A.M. National Convention, July 3 through 6 at the Marriott Hotel Crystal
Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202
The Stars of Tomorrow Stage Show is a professional show that features
young magicians and is among the most popular events at the annual
convention.
Each performer will receive a stipend, two convention registrations (one for the
performer, the other for a parent or guardian), plus a year’s free membership in
the Society of Young Magicians.
To audition:
Submit a DVD or YouTube link of the act you plan to perform in the show.
The act should be 5-10 minutes long and appropriate for stage. The video
does not have to be from an actual show or be professionally produced, but
it should include the effects, music or patter, costume and props you would
use if selected to perform. No pyrotechnics may be used. You may submit
more than one act on the video.
You must include the attached application form, a brief biography and a
photo suitable for printing in the convention program.
The S.A.M. also is looking for a young magician to emcee the Stars of
Tomorrow Stage Show. Emcee applicants should also include a sample of
introductions, jokes, and emcee bits in their audition videos.
The deadline for receiving applications is April 1, 2013.
Note: Materials cannot be returned.
Questions and applications may be submitted to
Marlene Clark 203-689-5730 (h)
274 Church St., #6B 203-598-4958 (c)
Guilford, CT 06437 afuntime@comcast.net
2013 Stars of Tomorrow
Close-up Application
Please Print Clearly!
Performer:
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Stage name: _______________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Website: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________Cell phone: ___________________________
Email address: ______________________________________________________________
Birth date (month/day/year): __________________________________________________
(Must be age 7 through 17 at the time of the show.)
Parent or guardian:
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________________________________
Cell phone: _________________________________________________________________
Email address: ______________________________________________________________
Society of Young Magicians Member: □ Yes □ No
S.Y.M. Assembly number and location: ________________________________________
S.Y.M. leader’s name and contact information: __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Biographical Information (use the back of this sheet or attach a separate page): how
long you have been doing magic; where you have performed; activities besides
magic; who has helped you with magic; other information you think is important.
Audition Tape: □ DVD □ YouTube link: _____ ________
Photo: □ Included □ Attached in email as JPG □ Other ____
Send completed application to: Arlen Solomon
3670 Round Meadow Ln.
Hatboro, PA 19040
Applicant’s signature: _____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian signature: ________________________________________________
Date: __________________________ ___
Questions? Contact Arlen at SAM4arlen@aol.com
2013 Stars of Tomorrow
Stage Show Application
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY!
Performer:
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Stage name: _______________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Website: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________Cell phone: ___________________________
Email address: ______________________________________________________________
Birth date (month/day/year): __________________________________________________
(Must be age 7 through 17 at the time of the show!)
Parent or guardian:
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________________________________
Cell phone: _________________________________________________________________
Email address: ______________________________________________________________
Society of Young Magicians Member: □ Yes □ No
S.Y.M. Assembly number and location: ________________________________________
S.Y.M. leader’s name and contact information: __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Biographical Information (use the back of this sheet or attach a separate page): how
long you have been doing magic; where you have performed; activities besides
magic; who has helped you with magic; other information you think is important.
Audition Tape: □ DVD □ YouTube link: _____ ________
Photo: □ Included □ Attached in email as JPG □ Other ____
Send completed application to: Marlene Clark
274 Church St., #6B
Guilford, CT 06437
Applicant’s signature: _____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian signature: ________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________
Questions? Contact Marlene at afuntime@comcast.net;
203-689-5730; or 203-598-4958
