Podcast Archive

Listen here for free to any of the Mark Leveridge podcasts stretching back to Jan 2019


The Feb/Mar 2024 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Thoughts and opinion on The Session 2024 convention : why strolling and table hopping magicians should be more happy with their ‘lot’ : working out the method for a new trick is not the hardest part : how to identify if you have any verbal tics and why you need to get rid of them : ‘Confusion isn’t magic’ – taking a look at the truth behind Vernon’s sage remark : how to avoid putting right what isn’t actually wrong! : is your show marketing speaking to the right people? : making your act consistent with your performing personality : the fine line with truth in marketed trick publicity


The Dec 23/Jan 2024 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Why trick hype is not just marketing : the challenge of stopping mobile spectators in order to entertain them : the joy that is Totterdown Tricky Thursdays : dealing with the dreaded “look kids, here’s the magician for you” : Andy and Preston Nyman, putting the fun back into magic : news on the third volume in the Four-midable Magic Series : how to get the benefits of post show analysis : why Jay Fortune’s Dream Maker’s Manifesto could be useful for you : how to deal with loud background music when working tables


The Oct/Nov 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

New Magic Circle president Marvin Berglas could be the right person to re-focus the club and its aims : Richard Young re-ignites the flame under the Magicians’ Podcast : some fun definitions of what magic actually is : how restricting the kid show space can be beneficial : the increase in magic pay-per-view websites : do we all have a personal ceiling for our magic improvement? : reflecting on the huge changes in magic show marketing : ageism can affect the way people view you as a magician : so much to gain from reading magic books


The Aug/Sept 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The Magic Circle looks at its degree system : it’s not more tricks we need, but better info about how to present the ones we’ve got : has hyperbole in show publicity gone a bit too far? : volume 2 of the Four-midable Magic Series is released : the reasons why magicians are often impressed by tricks which lay people may dismiss : listen to a fun story from the It Could Only Happen Live archive : UK currency is so poor for magic use : for the first time, a podcast competition! : show enquiries, where speed of response matters


The June/July 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Why I travel 3000 miles to attend a magic convention : attention to detail brings its rewards in trick creation : the importance of rhythm and pacing with moves : wise words from Jon Armstrong : avoiding presenting magic on auto pilot is key with repetitive performing : how books on tricks can be unexpectedly inspiring : replies to three interesting questions posed at the Commercial Close Up Refresher Zoom Session : beware of misunderstanding definitions of amateur and professional


The April/May 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The key to good magic for lay people : Paul Brook explains how to accentuate the difference between strolling mentalism and walkabout magic : patter lines and on-stage behaviours that change to comply with modern sensibilities : altering tricks to suit reduced capabilities : the rise in popularity of audio learning : letting new effects break into your established playlists : inspirational magical moments : introducing a crash course in strolling and table hopping magic : finding new material in unusual places


The February/March 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Reflections on The Session 2023 : should a reviewer have to apologise for his opinions? : children’s entertainers more than ever need to consider whether they offer value for money : an evening discussing bringing magic to the marketplace : being self-contained for shows proves to be a real boon : the importance of ‘flight time’ in honing an act : announcing the Four-midable Magic Series of e-books : a brave move for one of the world’s biggest magic dealers : why lecturing is a skill in its own right


The December 2022/January 2023 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Retiring from Magicseen but not MLM : FISM competition acts are uniquely designed for their end purpose of winning : a lecture invitation that comes from an extremely unlikely place : are we using a narrower range of objects in the magic that we present? : defining the different types of spectator we encounter when performing : magic in the theatre : strolling magicians need to be aware of their performance surroundings : coping with the rigours of December bookings.


The October/November 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

What makes for a great convention? : performing for famous people doesn’t make you a better magician : the hazards of becoming a semi-pro entertainer : Paul Anthony’s epic magic task : the magic club pecking order : when it comes to magical fame, be careful what you wish for : there are not many commercial close up tricks : dip into some of the contents from E-Club Pro : let’s ask the question (again!) about whether card tricks are boring!


The August/September 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Changes are afoot for MLM updates : technology and magic – finding the balance : taking a look at Andi Gladwin’s theory about incremental changes leading to new magic : PR can be a great way to promote your shows if done correctly : discussing whether show deposits are worth the hassle : when stage names might be a good idea : the importance of good eye contact for performers : how to stop nerves by countering all your worries


The July 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Contemplating what is likely to be the next big thing for magic : does street magic really actually exist as an entertainment format? :  the importance of self-evaluation in magic : defining at what moment a prop, move or idea can be classed as ‘public domain’ : Marc Paul’s Masterclass – an exercise in total professionalism : analysing the unofficial magic contract between you and your audience


The June 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the UK could be good news for magicians, or might not! : magic ‘shedding’ is a necessary task that most of us try to avoid : is it time for your image and look to have a re-vamp? : Tony Nicholson’s new book poses interesting questions about magical honesty : if you missed the chance to attend the Inner Circle Zoom Card Session, help is at hand : customer benefit advertising copy can help to sell your shows 


The May 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Analysing how magic can be made strong in different ways : Craig Petty’s MagicTV scrapes the barrel with one of his recent interviewees(!) : news of an upcoming Zoom event : is it OK to wear sunglasses when working outside in bright sunlight? : the dangers of using livestock for magic : the power of independent comments : time can be of the essence when doing shows


The April 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

It’s not just our audiences who need protecting from COVID at gigs : the danger that lots of online show enquiries can produce a response fatigue : lay people may struggle to see your show fee as anything more than an arbitrary figure : info on two great value e-book bundles : the importance of reacting sensitively to an audience’s mood or attitude : understanding that anything that can go wrong, at some point probably will


The March 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

You and your magic may get frozen in time, but that’s OK! : are you brave enough to accept and use the evidence offered by video of your practice? : the pros and cons of magic collaboration : I reveal who the biggest exposers of magic actually are : my top three TV and film cliches : children’s shows provide an important service for the future of magic


The February 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The challenges you face as a magician the older you become : getting props examined might make the trick less convincing : why most of us keep those ancient useless magic props that we store at home : Blackpool defies the odds : how to avoid ‘site rage’ (!) with your website : creativity often relies on a vivid imagination


The January 2022 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Reflections on how different the magic world was when I turned pro 40 years ago : be wary of allowing comedy to overshadow the magic : has COVID forced the demise of some traditional entertainment agencies? : listen to a true story of a show mix up taken from E-Club Pro’s It Could Only Happen Live archive : I challenge the assumption that a good act should never comprise of a succession of disconnected tricks : Leveridge Legerdemain is now launched and available for magic clubs to book : procrastination is a bad habit!


The December 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Are the public nervous about arranging events this Xmas? : the conundrum facing the magic product reviewer : announcing the Zoom premiere of Leveridge Legerdemain, my new lecture : taking advantage of unexpected situations can lead to truly memorable moments in shows : if you want to invent a new trick, create a context for it first : why sleight of hand may not be fooling lay people as much as you think


The November 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

What effect is Brexit having on the magic world? : after a long show lay off it’s a surprise what elements of the performance are slow to return : why Zoom lectures should still be offered alongside live events : E-Club Pro Select offering cherry picked routines for individual non-member sales : when it comes to magic projects – carpe diem! : strolling magicians have to be good at getting and keeping attention because their audiences don’t have to stay and watch them


The October 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

I’ve missed the funny things that spectators say at live gigs : magic at the drop of a hat is not for me : top performers can create an impression as much by HOW they perform as by WHAT they perform : Megan Swann’s rise to President of the Magic Circle should be more about her abilities than the fact she is the first female to hold the office : a life of writing is recognised : sleight of hand or self working? – a choice that can define our interest in magic : seeing magic through the eyes of my grandchildren


The September 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Even when performing live you can’t always judge how well your act is being appreciated : a definition that explains why strolling magic is often so memorable for lay people : details of how to join the E-Club Pro Live Open Event taking place this month : six reasons why you may not have got that booking – and price isn’t necessarily the main one : David Regal believes effect is always more important than method : assessing how much performers need to still consider COVID protection measures is not straightforward 


The August 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Children’s feelings can be hurt if our trick presentations are not targeted properly : there is an art to reading product reviews in magic magazines : routines regularly used in gigs may still need some rehearsal following the COVID lay off : a story from E-Club Pro’s It Could Only Happen Live on my close brush with disaster with a brand new idea : Jamy Ian Swiss maintains that magicians are ‘honest liars’ : if you want to use topical gags/material, make sure everything is genuinely current and not out-of-date


The July 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Zoom events can be more than just a poor substitute for a live show : why we shouldn’t let fascination with moves cloud our judgement about what looks natural to an audience : should you change tricks to suit the audience or the performing situation? : post-pandemic show fee levels may need adjusting to reflect the uncertainty still felt by many bookers : fantastic value to be had from E-Club Pro Select : ‘carbon dating’ magic and magicians : a couple of chuckles


The June 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Humble beginnings are often the starting place for greatness : the destructive side of social media affects magic too : the different types of spectators we have to deal with when performing : what does the impression your website gives say about you? : access to marketed magic is so easy these days : magic is more powerful than we sometimes realise


The May 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Podcast Special – The 6 Things To Get Ready After Lockdown

This month, rather than selecting a random mix of topics to discuss, I am having a theme for the podcast. With the UK coming out of lockdown and with the strong possibility that entertainers will very soon be able to work live again, I identify and then discuss six areas of our work that we might want to look at in advance of performing again in order to ensure that we hit the ground running from the first booking.


The April 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Plot and effect – the difference as explained by Doug Dyment : announcing the arrival of E-Club Pro Select : hybrid conventions may be the way forward for some magic event organisers : the secret to finding a receptive audience for your magic as you grow older : details of an online session in which the attendees decide the content : how to harness one of magic’s most potent performance weapons


The March 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

I consider Marc Oberon’s assertion that there’s an art to being helped when you ask for advice from your magical peers : the many different types of trick endings that we can use for our magic : age relevant lines and patter themes are strong when used correctly : announcement of a new Premier E-Routine : COVID has changed the relationship that we have with our audiences : it’s easy to lose the will to respond to show enquiries at the moment


The February 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

A lack of magic knowledge can hinder progress : live performance is a catalyst for stimulus in other areas of our magic lives : listen in to the audio track from an episode of E-Club Pro’s It Could Only Happen Live : why the opening few words of your act can have a big impact : Zoom has enabled magic groups to continue to function : if you were a REAL magician, would you still do card tricks?


The January 2021 Mark Leveridge Podcast

New Year magic planning may be almost impossible, but there are some positives : children’s entertainers are not always given proper credit for what they do so well : announcing the E-Club Pro Live Open Event : the four ‘E’s of entertainment that make for a good performance : what you wear at gigs says something about you as a performer : “mentalism is the last frontier of magic where some people believe that it is real” says Marc Paul


The December 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Unearthing the treasures that reside in a magic book case : analysing the diverse elements that go to make up humour : printed advertising is an important part of your online promotional push : reflections on the presentation of my first Zoom lecture : if your magic life was to be rebooted, what would you do differently? : I reflect on what a world in which magic is not that interesting to anyone would be like!


The November 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Reflections on the first ‘virtual’ Magic Circle Young Magicians’ Club J-Day : have magicians these days become too impatient in their magic lives? : Eric Eswin suggests that magic clubs should not be so strict about preventing their members from revealing secrets to the public : Zoom magic is rapidly becoming a recognised sub section of general magic : lay people’s view of magic can be very revealing : this December will be unlike any other for us magicians!


The October 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

A round up of how magic continues to deal with the coronavirus epidemic : how necessary is it to change tricks in your act or repertoire? : the importance of getting the balance right between promotional costs and benefits : positive role models can provide a real boost to your magical progress : magic guilt can lead to ‘over-proving’ : are you world class at getting ready?


The September 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

If social distancing restrictions continue, will this lead to smaller events, and if so will it have an impact on the size of fees we can command? : Dave Jones’ epic Facebook rant strikes a chord with some and upsets others : patter acts should sometimes learn when NOT to speak : why September would be a great time to join E-Club Pro : when magic was not a good fit for street performance : the importance of getting yourself in the right frame of mind before a close up show


The August 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

We are all having to get used to different ways of working when entertaining via Zoom : the top magicians are those who learn how to relax and pause when performing says Christopher Barnes : why we shouldn’t care about what people say about our show : when having a disaster is actually very lucky : are digital magic magazines more acceptable than digital books? : Dani DaOrtiz reverses an old magic adage that says you should never tell the audience in advance what you are going to do


The July 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The lockdown aftermath may initially change the tricks that we can do in close up : Morgan and West contend that the strolling magician has to fight for the attention of his audiences : enjoy the tale of my brush with the law extracted from E-Club Pro’s It Could Only Happen Live : female magicians have to try that much harder to succeed in magic it seems : the rise of the podcast shows an increase in the popularity of audio information : your magic fan base changes as you progress through your magic ‘career’


The June 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The British Ring online ‘Nonvention’ seeks to fill the gap left by the cancellation of their regular event : I reflect on Lance Burton’s assertion that performing is like Groundhog Day – you keep repeating the same act until you get it perfect : redundant phrases and useless messages – a round up of my ‘favourites’ : will you be fooled by The Tube Of Wonder? : blogs are good to do as long as you know who you are writing for : the question is not whether a printed book is better than a digital one, surely it’s the quality of the content that counts


The May 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Magic steps up and produces a number of projects to keep magicians in lockdown interested : taking away the ‘parachute’ helps to raise levels of perseverance for pro magicians : formulating a sort of magic risk assessment can help in dealing with performance glitches : learning how to control all aspects of your performance life can pay big dividends : Richard Young’s Magicians’ Podcasts and Dynamo’s Beyond Belief provide some welcome magical distraction : creativity is better when it is driven by plot more than method


The April 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

What the coronavirus means to us magicians : do table hopping magicians always have the right to interrupt people and insist that they watch some magic? : Tony Middleton suggests how you can get a hotel residency, and I wonder whether this is good practice for all entertainers : we need to lead bookers to the right type of booking conditions, not just accept what they think that they want : I announce a new Video E-Book Release featuring coins and purses : there is no substitute for the live performance as a means to refine new magic


The March 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The pressure of walking around the Blackpool dealers’ halls : I reflect on Simon Caine’s assertion that mind readers shouldn’t make predictions : has the CineMental trailer set a new standard for online video dems? : E-Club Pro is in its 10th year and is a formidable online magic resource : I present an argument that magic exposure is not only necessary, but is in any case an outmoded concept that’s not worth worrying about : going ‘old school’ and dealing with all show enquiries by telephone might be an advantage


The February 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Reflections on the Session 2020 and anticipating the Blackpool Convention : how to avoid spectators challenging you when you perform : are you guilty of using redundant phrases, words or patter in your act? : a discussion on crediting ideas properly and thoughts on Andi Gladwin’s ‘open source’ concept applied to magic : Magicseen sets off on its 16th year of publication and goes from strength to strength : taking a step back to evaluate your act or technique can be very beneficial


The January 2020 Mark Leveridge Podcast

I chat about what makes December a unique month for shows : Ian Brennan learns a lesson regarding lecturing for young magicians which raises some interesting points : if all magic can be categorised as a puzzle, or as a trick, or as an extraordinary moment, as suggested by Ken Weber in Maximum Entertainment, then should we all be working towards more extraordinary moments? : let’s make 2020 the year in which we commit to supporting a live magic event : adopting strategies to help with remembering trick sequences gets more important as you get older : since most modern marketed magic comes with little or no props of any quality or note, what are magic collectors going to be seeking out in a hundred years time?


The December 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The changing nature of magic conventions means that the most successful and sustainable events are those which are focused in terms of their theme or content : how do you decide how many tricks to carry when performing strolling magic? : audio books are a great learning tool for those who say they don’t read books any more : a good performing style or personality can help dictate the type of magic you choose for your act : the decline of general theatrical agents has removed a quality control mechanism : manage your bookers’ expectations if you want to avoid them being disappointed with you


The November 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The dilemma that mentalists face when seeking to make their shows entertaining to the lay public : organising your performance workspace can be key to putting on a good show : the brand new E-Club Pro Live lecture for 2020/21 is ready to book : it’s surprising how hackneyed the responses can be to magic and magicians : David Regal claims that there is a need to fail in order to achieve great things, but is this universally true? : a New Release is announced of a classic effect for stand up or for a close up show : your magic bookshelf can reveal a lot about your magic pathway


The October 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Magical chat in different environments keeps things fresh for the four of us in the CCC :  if magic takes place in the minds of the spectators, does it mean there’s no magic when no one is watching? : a month into the life of the new MLM website it seems to be finding favour with many customers : three types of magical exposure are considered : how to free up time to be consistently magically creative : I break patter down into half a dozen different types : does the ‘magician in trouble, then comes good’ plot still have any relevance?


The September 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Tommy Cooper provides a great definition of the difference between pro and amateur magicians : examples of how magic leaves a uniquely long lasting impression with spectators : the Real Magic Roadshow is coming to a town near you : charity and awards night dinners create special circumstances for table hopping magicians : themed costumes are usually impractical and a total liability for us : should on stage helpers be required to stand or sit during their time with you?


The August 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

I consider how big a factor performance risk can be when considering trick methods : predicting how magic will be sold in the future is put into context by a blog article I wrote way back in 1995 : the new MLM site is scheduled to launch at the end of this month and I give an insight into what it has taken to make it happen : magic is pretty unique in the way it can be used to put across messages or help others in a variety of ways : if the effect is everything, does it matter at all what the method is, or will literally anything be suitable? : the key question to ask if considering turning full time pro


The July 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Podcast Gold

Each year I like to put together a special ‘reprise’ edition of the Podcast in which I look back over the previous 12 months or so and select half a dozen of my favourite topics to create a special compilation. If you are a regular listener, you will hopefully enjoy hearing the chosen tracks again, and if you are coming fresh to the Podcast, it should give you a good flavour for what it is like. Here are my chosen topics:

I discuss whether social media ever really delivers in terms of creating actual bookings or whether we are simply deluding ourselves : cancellation clauses in performance contracts can cause more problems than they solve : do you feel a bit uncomfortable performing for people who know you very well, such as family and friends? I look at why this might be : when creating new magic, should you start with the effect or the method? : is getting to the magic ‘moment’ as quickly as possible, always the right way to go? : online booking agencies make for lazy enquiries and encourage potentially unfair price comparisons


The June 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Magic that is designed to be filmed for social media use may not always be suitable for real world performance : it pays to be aware that lay people assistants may misinterpret your instructions because they are intimidated by being up on a stage : magic that impresses us can often be seen completely differently by lay people : when people retire from their real job it provides the opportunity to do more magic and to become ‘professional’ – but what do the magic pros do? : when is it right to work for free in order to put yourself in front of the right people? : online agencies have created a race to the bottom in terms of fees leaving most of the good entertainers with no bookings


The May 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Does Uri Geller really still need to make wild claims in the media? : if your spectators have paid specifically to see you perform there is perhaps more pressure on you to deliver than if you are just the ‘hired help’ : getting started at a gig as a strolling magician can be tricky to know the exact right moment to jump in : I consider the assertion by Dr. Kuhn that magic is an enjoyable sensation because the audience knows that magic is not real : Anthony Owen’s demise is a real shock and a huge loss to magic : the second hand magic market is surely going to be affected by the lack of physical trick instructions : I anticipate my annual trip to the marvellous 4Fs close up magic convention in the US


The April 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The show fee debate rages on, but I make the case that all fee amounts have equal validity : if you never perform magic for the lay public, does that mean you should have no involvement with magic at all? : we are all guilty sometimes of performing tricks that we like and not necessarily ones that our audiences like : musicians can teach magicians much about dedication : if you could create the perfect magic convention, what would it look like? : lay people are sometimes impressed simply because they do not know the secret rather than by the skills that brought about the magic


The March 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Blackpool is over for another year and I give some observations, including comments on those gold wrist bands! : Morgan and West show the way to look at classics and create something better : Ian Brennan reveals a singular way to get your name remembered by spectators : Judging Arrival Times – an audio advice track extracted from a recent Mark’s Monthly Message : is getting to the magic ‘moment’ as quickly as possible, always the right way to go? : the variety of dealers at Blackpool is even more diverse than ever


The February 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

Reflections on The Event and The Session from last month : do mentalists have a more difficult job than magicians presenting their effects as strolling entertainers? : if you want to work your magic for local businesses, get involved in your local business community : why face-to-face conversation will stimulate and progress your magic quicker than anything else : when creating new magic, should you start with the effect or the method? : the biggest challenge for busy performers is maintaining a freshness and spontaneity of presentation


The January 2019 Mark Leveridge Podcast

The launch of the new Mark Leveridge Magic website is getting closer and I give an update about what it will be like : I reflect on the latest Magic Clips get together and compare it to the traditional magic convention : why do some spectators think it is OK to rummage through the magician’s clothing if they want to find out how a trick is done? : the sophistication of some modern dealers is amazing when compared to 30 years ago : if a spectator can come up with even a simplistic and inaccurate explanation for your magic, it still diminishes the impact of it in their eyes : the true story of the lady spectator who found a way to get maximum value for money


 

 

 

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