27/03/2024
It’s hard to fathom that my FOOL US journey has now come to a close.
I’ve been sitting on this experience since last August, waiting in secrecy to reveal a brand new performance piece and share the emotional roller coaster that I doubt I’ll ever ride again. Now that it’s over, it’s only fitting that I reveal the truth:
I didn’t fool Penn & Teller.
WE fooled Penn & Teller.
It truly does "take a village" to catch the big guys off guard and I have a plethora of people to publicly acknowledge that contributed to the success of the routine.
First off, I have to thank my sweet wife, Julé. She has always been one of my most influential creative collaborators. From constructing props to reviewing rehearsal footage, she was with me every step of the way. Julé even wrote the opening joke in my routine that had Teller’s head snap back with delight. In addition to taking care of our twin baby girls, she would always make time to answer the ongoing onslaught of, “Hey Babe, what do you think of this?” My wife is truly Wonder Woman.
When it came to magical composition and groundbreaking development, I turned to Brent M Braun. Few people in the world of magic can wear the number of hats that Brent wears so effortlessly. He donned the hat of problem-solver, engineer, artistic director, counselor, advocate, and chief strategist. My goodness man! Where would I be without Brent Braun? Thank you, Brent, for relentlessly thinking about this routine, directing my efforts, and bringing all of your gifts to the table. This ‘win’ would have never been possible without you.
Other amazing magicians, that I am honored to call my friends, generously contributed their knowledge, suggestions, and critical eyes:
Rmax Goodwin, Gregg Lancaster, Cody Fisher, Sam Sawyers, Ben Whiting, Drew Murray, Kostya Kimlat, Grant Price, Ron Wilson, and Jamie Salinas.
Fellas, you all know what you did to help me raise the bar. Thanks for being part of my review committee and board of directors. You casted your votes, raised your concerns, and helped me put forth my best.
And while not technically a magician himself, my Dad, Tom Jackson is one of the most magical guys I know. Thanks for helping me take the first steps by heading to the ‘magic workshop’ aka the garage to wield equipment on my behalf that I know nothing about. Also, my mom, Carolyn Jackson, whose true life lesson I was able to share on national television. Love you both.
A hearty thank you is also extended to Joel Bartsch and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. When I asked for a “laboratory” to experiment with this routine, they immediately opened their doors and allowed me to work out the kinks in front of their patrons. The first performances were rough, and yes, there were times when the trick failed. Several times. Like a honing steel sharpening a blade, the routine began to take form. I learned a new wrinkle with every performance: what to say, what not to say, when to do the sneaky stuff, and when to wait. Without an audience, you learn nothing. Thanks, HMNS!
And lastly, I have to thank the “Bad Boys of Magic” themselves, Penn & Teller, for their intellectual integrity and willingness to set the record straight. They were true gentlemen behind the scenes. Thank you for providing a platform for magicians to showcase their work at the highest level with a team of professionals who want nothing more than for you to look and feel your best.
I’ll close with this:
As much as the premise of the routine was geared towards Teller's past experience as a Latin teacher, Penn Jillette was also incredibly top-of-mind when it came to the trick's creation.
In the January 24th, 2001, episode of "Bravo Profiles" Penn and Teller, Penn said something that has stuck with me for years. At the very end of the episode he states the 3 things he’s looking for in someone else's performance.
He said: "If I go to a show, I Iike to learn a vocabulary thing, I like to learn a history thing, and I like to learn, most importantly, something from the heart of another human being. I'd like there to be some form of communication. I believe that if you don't have that, you don't have a good show."
Well... I took Penn’s words to heart.
I wanted to ensure that all 3 items were included in the performance:
1) Defining the word 'clew': the antiquated term for a ball of yarn.
2) The history of the word 'clue' from the Greek myth of Theseus.
3) The monologue at the end of the routine (where the yarn ball is unraveling) where I lay out my belief that the beauty of magic lies in connecting people.
Thank you again for everyone that cheered me on and left encouraging notes. The opportunity to perform on the legendary Penn and Teller stage was a true honor and one that I’ll never forget.
