Busking

I think many people have a poor grasp as to why I busk (street performing) I believe it will be beneficial for everyone if I begin by saying why I am NOT there. 

I am not there because I don't have a real job. I am not there because I don't have a home. I am not there to hit on your girlfriend or try to take her away. I am not there to embarrass you. I am not there to shout obscenities in front of your children or abduct them.   In fact, I'm not even there for the money.

The real reason why might come as a surprise:

I am there to connect with YOU. 

I genuinely want to meet you and share an impossibly good time with you. 

I am there to share a laugh with you and your friends. I am there to make you look good for your date. I am there to delight your children and give them a unique experience. I am there to hone my art. I am there to amaze you with magic - the likes of which you have never even imagined. I am there to give you something at absolutely no cost which you can then give away as you please without losing any of it - Something eternal - a tale of the time you once met The Great Wizard Hammond.  

I am there for the ones who have never seen magic or have simply forgotten of its existence. I don't even mean magic in the classical "I wave my wand and now there is a rabbit in my hat" sense. I mean the magic of a warm smile and friendly handshake. I am there to unite my audience - to make them forget which of them is the CEO and which is homeless. To simply gather around the storyteller and enjoy the experience together. 

I invite you to approach me or any other street performer with the same mindset I have when you approach me - The possibilities are endless.  

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The Great Wizard Hammond

Inspiration I - Sherlock Holmes

In my short 26 years (21 of those learning magic) I have encountered many characters - Both real and fictional. 

Of them few have left much of a mark, regardless of the point that I try to learn from everyone I meet.  In these blog posts, entitled "Inspiration," I will address those shining few that have.

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Sherlock Holmes. A name which many would say needs no introduction.

For completeness-sake: A fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1886. Largely a rebellion against other mystery/crime books of the time which relied heavily upon "coincidence" or "blind luck " for the hero/detective to find and capture the bad guy.  Sherlock, unlike others, relied solely upon his keen wit, logic, and reasoning (as well as his trusty companion Dr. Watson) to solve crimes. 

More recently, Sherlock has been revived in a BBC television show starring Benedict Cumberbatch. This modern spin holds surprisingly true to the books and even includes inside jokes for readers. Baroque (a favorite for me) and modern styling are seamlessly thrust together in quite an interesting juxtaposition. Especially true in this rendition, is how near madness and genius really are. Other enjoyable themes include the rare "human" side of a thinking machine like S.H., the inescapable downside of being an addict (with surprising upsides), and most recently, the inevitable reconciliation of one's past. Despite mixed reviews, I would say the new series sheds a very new light on an old hero. 

Sherlock uses his incredible observation skills, coupled with a very logical mind, in order to uncover the hidden truth. Whether he is observing people or crime scenes, his mind deduces the logical outcome and acts upon that conclusion. In this way Sherlock makes much of what is hidden to us, "Mere mortals" obvious - Elementary. Sherlock isn't the type to gloat once he has arrived at a conclusion, however, he is quite famous for allowing things to unfold as they may have while secretly manipulating the final outcome in his favor. Quite a stylish sentiment considering the fact that often lives are on the line. 

Sherlock and I share a very lovely view of life. Simply stated - Life is a game and the game is afoot! 

Sherlock Holmes encourages me every single day to be the man I want to be. He is a constant reminder of the standard "Brains over brawn." In his more recent escapades he has brought to light the great strength which can be found in a bond of true friendship, love, and understanding. Striving also to remain my true self, regardless of which hat I am forced to dawn at the beginning of each day, is a lesson Mr. Holmes can, perhaps, teach us all. 

Finally Sherlock reminds me always to keep an ever vigilant eye out for a solution which lies just beyond what I am seeing now, to keep an open mind even when things seem impossible, and above all, to trust in myself.

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The Great Wizard Hammond 

What's in a name?

Many people have asked me about the moniker I have chosen - "The Great Wizard Hammond."

People often suspect it is simply a stage name chosen to give me prestige, mysterious allure, or to conjure (No pun intended) images of grandeur from the golden age of magic. In truth, it is all of these things as well as a small tip of the hat (oh god)  to one of my favorite films of all time. 

For the most part, I prefer to avoid the cliched, anachronistic mantle of the magician. There are, however, bits and pieces which can be dusted off, or in the least, learned from. The title is an unavoidable one. For years I have been introduced as everything from a "Master illusionist" to "Magic Man," or my least favorite, "Just a guy who does tricks."  Ultimately when people hear these things they immediately begin to make assumptions about who I am and what I'll be doing. 

Finally, I decided that I should find something which allows me to approach this subject on my terms - Something which conveys a small piece of who I am. This tiny piece of self-revelation is sequestered away behind the smoke and mirrors of tradition - precisely the way I would like to reveal something about myself to others. I want to make people think and work hard to figure these things out. Much like a puzzle, the real enjoyment is in putting it all together to reveal the final picture. 

Howl's Moving Castle, a book by Dianna Wynne Jones which was later adapted into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, has inspired me and the magic I do on a daily basis. From the thought put into the magical system Howl uses, to the characters and their development, each facet of this story resonates with me on a deep level. If you haven't seen it yet, I would highly recommend it. Not only is it an acclaimed animation miracle, it has a great story. 

Howl, a great and terrible wizard (maybe?) uses many pseudonyms in the book. One of them is "The Great Wizard Jenkins."

The Great Wizard Hammond serves me in the same way, or perhaps I have found my true name in the spaces in between. 

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The Great Wizard Hammond