Since his first professional performance in 1968, DARYL has achieved extraordinary success in Magic. Using awards as a measurement, DARYL earned the gold medal at the World Congress of Magic (the "Olympics" of Magic), in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1982, and 6 Academy Awards from the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California (no one has earned more). Twice, his peers voted him Close-Up Magician of the Year (1980 and 1981), twice as Parlour Magician of the Year (1986 and 1987), and twice as Lecturer of the Year (1988 and 1992). The list goes on and on with victories in every major competition he has entered.
Interviews by name:
David Roth - Marvin Berglas - Todd Diamond - Six - Kevin Parker - Daryl
Simon Lovell - Paul Carpenter
Interview with Daryl on January 17, 2007...
David: What was your first trick?
My very first trick was a Svengali Deck and this is what got me started in magic. I still remember the force card was the two of diamonds and to this day, this is my favorite card.
David: What was your first professional performance like?
It was actually pretty good! When we were quite young, two of my brothers and one of my sisters had a little family show that we would perform at various locations. My older brother played the piano, and my younger brother and sister and I would sing. As part of the show, I would do a magic spot and it was always well received. Now that I'm older, I suppose that we were just "cute".
David: How do you get started as a professional? How do you get into Trade Shows?
I think my very first "paying" show was for a family sized pizza! We used to perform our family show on Thursday nights at Shakey's Pizza Parlour for their "Sing for your Supper" event. I performed my first trade show when I was eighteen years old. I remember visiting the offices of Kaiser Aluminum where I auditioned and pitched the idea. They went for it!
David: What magicians do you find the most inspiring? Do you find that they have an effect on the ideas you come up with?
Today, I am most inspired by the creativity of Gaetan Bloom and Juan Tamariz. Their work shows me the value of looking at magical problems from every conceivable angle.
David: Do you do any public performances?
Yes, I occasionally perform for the public (nightclubs, fund-raisers, etc.), but most of my work is for private and corporate functions... and magicians!
David: What plans do you have for the future?
I still travel a bit but I try to stay at home as much as possible and spend quality time with my wife Alison and our two young daughters Laura (4) and Annabel (17 months). From home, I'm able to perform local shows and create magic which I market through my web site www.FoolerDoolers.com
David: Where do you do your lectures? Do you lecture all over the US?
Yes, I still lecture all over the U.S., but I also perform and lecture in several other countries as well. Recently, I returned from a tour of France and I'll be leaving soon to perform and lecture in Germany. I have also confirmed a lecture and performance at a magic convention in Brazil later in the year.
David: What is your fondest memory from your career so far?
There is no question about this one. Most magicians would probably guess that it was when I received the gold medal at the World Congress of Magic (F.I.S.M.), but actually, it was the time that Dai Vernon came in to watch my show at the Magic Castle SEVEN times because he was completely fooled by one of my effects. After his seventh viewing, I let him off the hook told him how it was done.
David: How much material do you usually perform? Are these the same effects performed over and over, or do you change out your routines on a regular basis?
Great question! Although you could say that I KNOW literally hundreds of tricks, I pretty much PERFORM the same dozen or so all the time. I tend to get comfortable in what I do and I may try out a new trick every once in a while, but not often.
David: Tell us an unforgettable story from a show of yours...
The first time I met Jimmy Grippo was at the Magic Castle in front of Dai Vernon and several other very talented and knowledgeable magicians. Jimmy asked me to perform something so I decided to show him my favorite magician fooler. It was an impossible card location and after the selection and return, I could tell by the look on Jimmy's face that he had no idea how I would be able to find his card.
Jimmy picked up the deck, ran through it looking at the faces, he then gave the pack a quick Overhand Shuffle then he placed the deck back onto the table. I knew he had located his selection, shuffled it to the top of the deck then he palmed it off into his right hand. It was an interesting situation, I knew he had his card palmed in his hand but he didn't know that I knew. I wanted to finish my trick, but I didn't want to embarrass Jimmy by exposing him to the rest of the group.
"I'm going to attempt the impossible" I said, "I'm going to cause your card to vanish from the deck. What was the name of your card?" After being told, I cleanly spread the deck face up on the table and proved the selection was gone. "Jimmy, with your right hand reach into your right coat pocket and remove your selection!" He did and everyone was amazed. Only Jimmy and I knew what really happened.
David: Do you have advice for aspiring magicians out there?
Wow, that's a tough question! For a beginner, here are six points that I think are very important for learning and performing magic.
- Use magic to make people feel good -NEVER to insult, embarrass, degrade, etc.
- Keep your effects simple and easy for the audience to understand. Remember the words of Dai Vernon "Confusion is not magic".
- Start with very simple magic and advance slowly but steadily.
- Do not perform a new effect in front of an audience until you can perform it properly.
- Learn whatever you decide to perform flawlessly. There is no excuse for sloppy technique or presentation.
- If you make changes or improvements to an effect, be sure to, eventually, contribute it back into the body of magical knowledge.
David: I have all eight of your 'Encyclopedia of Card Sleights' videos and I find them to be a great learning tool. What prompted you to make these videos and what made you choose the particular contents that are included on the volumes.
I decided to make the card sleights videos because I remember how difficult it was for me to learn sleight of hand techniques from the printed page. I didn't know what the technique was supposed to look like and there was no one I knew who could teach me.
Many years later, Louis (president of L&L Publishing) contacted me because he had the idea of producing the series and he heard that I was already working on a similar project independently.
I chose the specific sleights to be included in the contents because I thought they represented the "basics" with enough variations for each student to select his or her particular favorite techniques. You may only need one or two "forces" for example, but if I teach you ten different methods, you can choose to master the ones you prefer.
DVDs available here
As a respected full-time, professional magician what would be the one piece of advice you would give to any magician new to the art form if they wished to further their career.
Learn simple, sure-fire, angle-proof commercial effects that you can perform under any conditions. Master them and perform them flawlessly then add an interesting presentation! Don't waste your time with complicated methods for effects that you can only perform under very restricted conditions.
