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