"BUTTERFLY IN A BOX" WINS MEDAL AWARD

Yes1 my hard work is finally paying off. First before I go into the details of the Ace's close up magic competition I would like to say what a privilege it was to perform with all the other magicians competing. Their was some outstanding entertainment. The competition was sponsored by http://www.pjstrickshop.com/ and was held at Rocky Vanders http://www.yelp.com/biz/rocky-vanders-cafe-prospect-heights in Prospect Heights. Great service and burgers I must add. The contest started with a 9 magician line up. I was in the eighth position to perform. I opened up by saying

 "Hi I'm Mark Presley and no! I'm not related to Elvis. Thank you, Thank you very much. Ever since I was a child I was always taught that if you want to be remembered to have to be different and separate yourself form the others. Tonight! I hope to accomplish just that. To be remembered and to transport you to a magical place. I remember when I was a kid I used to love playing with toys. My IMAGINATION would actually take over my body and mind. I guess at a early age I knew I was going to be a magician, because everything I touched turned magical."

Well that was the script I wrote for the opening followed by some dramatic thunderous music that was master edited for the competition. I performed a original thimble routine that evolved using a toy police car. I than performed a variation of David Copperfield's "Dream of Ace's" Last, For the grand finale I unveiled the "Butterfly in a box" effect. Keep in mind this is still in somewhat beta testing mode. I really wasn't planning on winning. I just wanted to try it out in extreme conditions, which where I was performing it, was extreme. Bright lights, close -up contest and people practically two feet away from me. Going back a little, about three weeks or so I invited a magic distributor, inventor and manufacturer that ships magic effects all over the world for a private preview of the effect at the magic contest. It was a chance I was willing to take, because it could just bomb out, but since this was my creation, my effect I had the confidence and knowledge of what kind of circumstances, surroundings and conditions I could perform it for. Tonight I decided to push the envelope a little.

I really wasn't going to perform it after I got there. In fact I was really going to just shorten my routine and take the "Butterfly in a box" out. Thanks to my new magic friend Jimmy Chung, who came over to support me. He gave me the little push I needed to just GO FOR IT! It was very rewarding to hear people cheering and clapping at the end of the routine.

I was pleasantly surprised to win the bronze medal. After the effect I approached the magic distributor and said "So, would you guy's like to do some business?" followed by a huge authentic smile with a "YES! I think we can work something out." Well anyway it's getting late and I have to turn in. I would like to end with a topic "TRUST YOUR GUT" you natural instincts know you more than your emotions. Sometimes the two conflict trying to confuse one another. This is where you have to sometimes balance yourself between the two. Listen to the one that is calling the loudest. That is usually the one that's right.
-IMAGINATOR-