ILLUSIONQUESTS INTERVIEW WITH DAVID SEEBACH

This book is spectacular, and everyone who saw and read the proof just loved it. It's a perfect combination of old and new as everyone had their own favorite part. Probably the best thing to do would be to ask a few questions we came up with while reading "Illusionquests".

Question - In article 103 you talk about using a DeKolta Chair in a mentalism routine which required you force a card. For the Illusionist, what card force would you recommend?

Answer - For this routine I kept the force card in my pocket until I came to that individual. I palmed the card out and placed it atop the deck and then used the "slip force" move.

Question - Article 60 you show a picture of a young college student who went on to be a top star in Magic, unfortunately it stumped us and the answer eluded everyone. Can you tell us now who the young man in the photo was?

Answer - He was NOT a star of magic. That's my college friend, Bill. You'd know him as Willem Dafoe.

Question - Article 36-38 focused on the mismade lady and who invented it. You had a poll of readers vote as each claimant presented their evidence. With that in mind, who invented the mismade lady illusion?

Answer - Probably conceived by Chuck Jones, but worked out and constructed by Les Smith.

Question - In article 82 Mark Walker (author of the ghost book) was the first to guess correctly that the secret visitor at your Illusions in the Night show was in fact David Copperfield. You offered him a free dinner at your brothers restaurant with all the fixins if he made it to Milwaukee. Did he ever take you up on that dinner?

Answer - Sadly, no.

Question - In article 33 you state that the four most practical illusions for the novice illusionist were the Broom Suspension, Substitution Trunk, Guillotine and Bow Sawing. In todays world, what would be the 4 or 5 illusions you would suggest to a novice illusionist?

Probably the same four.

Question - In the chapter "So you want to be an Illusionist" you mention a tall blond assistant who was "discovered" while doing your show. Have any other assistants gone on to bigger and better things (ala Joan Rivers)?

Not that I know of.

Question - Who designs your sets especially those fantastic backdrops?

I've had two scene painters create backdrops for me. One was college friend and former onstage assistant Laura Easey-Jones.

Question - Is Asrah the greatest illusion of all time, if not, what is?

Visually, and dramatically (for me) it is.

Question - Clowns are the #1 Halloween prop and have been for the last several years. I personally have 6 animated clowns in my Halloween display including one clown doing a card trick. With their success in the horror genre, do you feel you might have underestimated clowns contribution to entertainment?

Clowns have taken a turn that I couldn't have predicted. Now they're the 'Boogeyman.'

Question - Article 77 you wrote that clowns were upset about being portrayed poorly in a movie, how do you think they feel being the #1 horror display at Halloween?

I'm not sure most of the birthday party clowns have a sense of humor.

Question - Lance Burton contacted you and asked permission to use part of your multiplying bottle routine. With that in mind do you feel ethics amongst magicians has gotten better since the New Tops days?

Sadly, I do not.

Question - You have won the Christopher award and the Gwynne award, not many can say that. Has anything in your magic career topped that?

Within the magic profession they're the top two for me.

Question - You have a degree in theatre and it is so evident in your illusion show, the timing, the costumes, etc. Regarding a career in magic, do you feel a theatre degree is needed or would taking a few classes give the novice the tools they need to perform on stage.

Not necessary, but recommended. Most magicians are woefully ignorant of basic theater and would benefit from classes and participation in non-magic theater programs and experiences (community theater).

Question - There are only 2 Matildas' Closet illusions and you own one of them. Is this the holy grail of illusions or is there something even more unique out there?

A third one was cut out by Owen's, but I don't think it was ever assembled. Their Tea for an Oriental Potentate is a one-of-a-kind... and it's in my storage unit right now. So, it's unique.

Question - In article 87 you mentioned the mentalism effect Dream Vision with the directors chair was too over the top and most people suspected a stooge as that would be the only way this effect was possible. Are there other effects you consider too good or too strong?

I sometimes think the Buzz Saw Illusion is TOO impossible (they see EVERYTHING!). I think some of Copperfield's televised mega illusions stretched all credibility. They got people to tune in, but were just too, too much.

Question - In article 87 you did not reveal how you did the directors chair but wanted to see if anyone had suggestions. Did you ever reveal or market this effect.

For the director's chair bit I had a male assistant pre-select a participant. She was given a clipboard with the questions I would ask her onstage so she could think of good answers. She kept the paper which included the question about what her onscreen name would be. But, it was a mentalist's clipboard...

Question - Greg tells the story that Senor Rai's circus would stop by for a few hours when traveling the Detroit-Chicago route. One year the animal trainer let the baboons out so they could stretch a bit but did not secure the leash well and they immediately got into the trees and the good people of Colon had to worry about monkees throwing "stuff" at them from the trees for a few hours. A few years back you brought your tiger to Colon for a show, when the tiger wants to stretch its legs or go relieve itself, did someone walk it around Colon?

Years earlier we brought a big, male African lion to Colon (1983 I think). We stayed at the long-gone Wood Motel in Strugris. The trainer took him for a walk on a leash at the intersection of US Hwy 12 and MI Hwy 66. I think it made the paper (and made Greg happy).

Question - In article 92 the smoke machines did not function, did you ever find out what went wrong?

My original fog machines were Rosco units that were prone to failure. I relaced them with Viper units that have never failed. I gave the Roscos to Chezaday!

David, thank you for taking the time and answering our questions. The book is a joy to read and the best news of all is it will be released in time for the 86th Abbott Get Together. Hope to see everyone there!