10/05 Meeting minutes:

Schindler Wows LI Mystics!

Massapequa, NY - The LI Mystics were joined at their October meeting by Regional Vice-President Clem Kinnicutt for a lecture by the Dean of the S.A.M , George Schindler.

    The business meeting was shortened to allow more time for the lecture, but the club still took some time to welcome new member Lou Johnson, and discuss plans for an upcoming Hurricane Relief benefit planned for the end of the year.
 

    George’s lecture began with some simple effects that demonstrated the theory he has taught for years - Entertainment first. A clean and well-planned no-table sponge ball routine quickly became a near miracle in the spectator’s hands, and when coupled with George’s rapid-paced one-liners a piece of solid entertainment. George’s subsequent explanation showed the simplicity of the moves (he even taught them to a young guest), and emphasized the importance of entertaining, instead of “just doing tricks”.

His Card-to-Pocket/Ambitious Card routine was brilliant in its simplicity, and allowed time to focus on the presentation. George mixed his own proven effects, such as his use of a folding coin rolled up inside of a dollar bill and finger ring (which I first learned from him back in 1975), with a comic updating of a classic Tarbell knotted silk trick. Everything in George’s lecture demonstrated an elegance in the performance that belied the simplicity in its working.

    For a finale, George unintentionally delivered a very valuable lesson that we all could use - how to handle a situation when things go wrong. His Rising Card deck refused to cooperate, and after several restarts, George was forced to switch to another deck. Unfortunately, the gremlins apparently migrated with him, and the problems continued to plague him. Despite George’s growing frustration he had the entire Assembly in hysterics as they laughed along with his one-liners and good humor while he tried several different ways to make it work. In the end, he may have given us the strongest proof of his original theory - that the entertainment is more important than the magic. George was entertaining even while struggling with the deck, and demonstrated how a true performer overcomes difficulties and can put the needs of the audience before those of his own ego. - Pat Darienzo