The Professional Touch by Billy McComb

My oh my is this a great ebook! If you intend to earn a living doing magic or if you simply want to make your performances more professional then do yourself a favor and read and study this ebook. There are decades of experience bottled up in its wisdom. And on top of this it is fun to read.

The ebook starts with a superb introduction by Kirk Charles reproduced with kind permission of the Linking Ring. The ebook is edited and illustrated by David Britland with extra illustrations by JAT. And Martin Breese is the publisher. It was also Martin who recorded on tape Billy's recollections from which this book was largely created.

Billy McComb was one of the world's top cabaret magicians. He has worked all kinds of venues and performed all kinds of magic and in this ebook he shares some of his many experiences, thoughts and routines and describes how you too can give the professional touch to your act. Being a professional means thinking about your act in a commercial way. Here Billy deals with such points as misdirection, patter, close-up, opening effects, cabaret - in fact a wealth of information gained during his many years as a professional entertainer.

Billy touches on so many varied and interesting subjects connected with show business that it is impossible to list them here. We can promise you that reading about them will be an entertaining and educational experience. In addition to the tricks and routines explained in this ebook, Billy has also included complete descriptions of three cabaret routines used by him for many years. Every nuance of the performance is explained. Not just how you do it but, more importantly, why you do it.

A study of these three routines and their construction should pay dividends when applied to your own act. This is professional magic by one of our most entertaining professionals. Amongst the routines and effects described you will find The Nap Hand routine, the Ring on Stick and Billy's Bill in Lemon.

1st edition 1987; revised in 2003; digital edition 2010; 100 pages.

Table of Contents

4. Contents
7. Foreword
8. Introduction

   William's Words of Wisdom

11. What Are You Going to Wear?
12. A Beginner's Tricks

    McComb on Patter

14. Where the Patter Comes From
14. Tape Recorders
15. Timing and Pointing
16. Keep It Clean
16. Learning Your Patter
17. Repetitive Gags
18. Pinching Patter

    McComb on Misdirection

    McComb and the Professional Touch

22. What Went Wrong?
22. Signs of the Amateur
23. Knowledge is the Key
23. Working Out a Presentation
23. The Rice Bowls
25. William's Torn and Restored Newspaper
26. William's Presentation Wand
27. William's Fantastic Fez
28. William's Hot Book
28. William's Square Dancing
29. William's Fizzling Firework
30. The Eggs and Glasses Inertia Trick

    McComb on Close-Up

31. Introduction
31. Cigarette Through Handkerchief
33. The Shrinking Napkin
34. Challenge Silk Vanish
35. Oliver Mackenzie's Drink Trick
36. George Blake's Recurring Card
36. Thought on the Pea Can
38. The End

    McComb on Cruising

    McComb on Opening Effects

43. The Six Card Repeat
44. Golf Ball Through Handkerchief
44. The Torn and Restored Airmail Letter
44. Pat Page's Easy Money
45. Leopard Silk
46. Just Chance
46. The Professor's Nightmare
47. Invisible Card Trick
47. Red and White Ropes

    McComb on Cabaret

49. Be Bookable
49. Dealing With Your Audience
52. Humour
52. Cleanliness
53. Your Trademark Trick
54. The Role of the Compère
55. Get Organised
55. Learn From Everyone
55. Be Bold
56. Cabaret Defined
56. Contracts
57. Travel Light
58. Nerves
58. Get Them to Relax
58. Be Sneaky
59. Salesmanship
59. Heckler-Stoppers
59. Please the Ladies
59. What Is Right?
60. Comments and Suggestions

    The Professional Nap Hand

63. Requirements
65. Preparation
65. Presentation
70. Playing the Hands
74. Final Comments
75. References for Further Reading

    The Professional Ring on Stick

77. The Effect
77. Introduction
78. What You Need
79. Preparation
80. Presentation

    The Professional Bill in the Lemon

88. The Effect
89. Method
89. Requirements
89. Preparation
92. Forcing the Lemon
93. Switching the Bills
94. Vanishing the Bill
95. Cutting the Lemon
96. Revealing the Bill
96. Where Everything Is Placed
96. Presentation
98. Patter
99. Conclusion