2009 – A Busy Year of Entertaining other Entertainers.

I have so much to be thankful for. This year has taken me to some wonderful cities to meet many great people and teach at conferences for Magicians, Speakers and Entertainers. It is fun to share my original comedy methods and magic inventions.

It was great to travel to warm Florida and work with Harry Anderson, Charlotte Pendragon and Harry Allan at Daytona Beach, Florida State Magicians Annual Convention. Before the stop in Florida I had an opportunity to lecture and teach in Norfolk, VA.  This workshop was a presentation of my inventions and ideas on comedy magic. I shared many of my creations and the crowd was very receptive. Everyone is looking for something new to make their act stand out so I was thrilled that they really liked the indeas I brought.  I also like to teach the methods that make the comedy stronger.

I meet so many unique and amazing people in this business. One gentleman, Sergeant David Rosado, works in the Sheriff’s office in Chesapeake, VA and uses his magic to encourage kids to say no to drugs.  He said that he picked up many good ideas at the workshop.  I may be seeing him again next fall as he is the president of his local Society of American Magicians in North Carolina and he said that he plans to get his group to invite me to speak there.

In August of 2009 I was the banquet entertainer and taught Comedy Writing Techniques at a convention of entertainers in Indianapolis.  Back in May of this year I was invited to teach 4 workshops on subjects ranging from Comedy Writing to Business Building and Marketing Techniques for Entertainers in Calgary, Canada. I was honored to be their headliner act that year and I was thrilled by their reception to my show at their banquet.

In February I was the headliner Act and taught three workshops for entertainers at a convention in Williamsburg VA.  There were many fun and funny entertainers here and it was a joy to M.C. their show and be their featured act. It is fun to meet other entertainers and to share some of the things I have discovered in my years in this unusual business. I learn so much from the people I get to meet that I am doubly blessed.

It is an special honor when your peers invite you to come and entertain them.  I am a bit nervous as some of these folks have been in the business a lot longer than I and they have seen it all.  But I realize that, like anyone, they love to laugh and have a good time. I relax, do my best, in my own style and watch them enjoy the show. It is fun to see their reaction. Many come by and comment on how much they laughed and that their sides hurt, etc. Everyone needs a good laugh once in a while.  I find great joy in bringing laughs and humor to people. It’s a wonderful life.

Keys to Corporate Success

Working as an author with Capstone Press taught me a lot about what is right in business and the corporate setting. My awesome editor Aaron made me look great. As did the photo artist and graphic designers.  A top notch team at Capstone Press! They all strove for excellence and in the end the four hard cover books really look great.

I had the opportunity to observe their process from start to finish and was amazed at their efficiency and skill. Teamwork like this is an example of excellence to all businesses.

I observed several keys to corporate success.

The First Key is:  Clear Communication. The editor and I had many helpful dialogs that made my writing go easier as it was clear what they were hoping for in a finished product.  This made everything smooth all work out for the good in the end.  They work with hundreds of authors and were very patient and kind to me. This encouraged my creative output.

Around 55 tricks were selected from the ones I developed for the books. Each one had to be written in a clear and readable style. Inventing some tricks was fun. Others were adaptations of old tricks doen with new props or storyline. Writing out the method for the magic tricks can be a challenge; we plotted out the photos and made sure it would be understandable so the readers could actually make the tricks work on their own.  Aaron, the Editor simply encouraged me to do my best. Thanks to him, I came out looking great.  I also saw clear communication between the departments and this kept the project moving along at a brisk pace. Communication should be clear and concise so no one’s time is wasted. Aaron was a gem. His kind suggestions and clear guidelines made the text and flow of each book come out in a superior way.

Each person that was involved in my books were also working on various stages of several other books at the same time and they went from one project to the next with excitement for their work and with cool confidence. Clear communication was a major key to this team’s success. They knew how to do their job and they did it well, and worked well with each other. This brings us to key #2.

Key #2 – Hire people who are experts and let them be free. At Capstone press I saw extremely creative people working with excellence and style. The results of their work was artistic, and in many cases very stunning. I paged through many of their other books and the body of work was absolutely excellent.

The photo artist who took the pictures for the book was equally skilled and had a keen eye for the composition of the photos. She set me at ease and it was a relaxing and fun photo shoot. Setting the subject at ease goes a long way to the overall quality at the end of it all. There were hundreds of photos taken in one day and you can see in the books the playful way it all came together to teach the subject in a fun and clear way.

The key is to hire experts and let them do their thing… excellence will result.  A great team needs one more thing in their people. This characteristic is: to be just plain nice people.

Key #3  The key is to simply be kind and nice. This is simple yet can be difficult. These seem like obvious skills that we learn in kindergarten and from our parents, but without these attributes no business will last long. To keep a positive working environment is vital. If there is bickering or putdowns in the office, creative people shut down and the negative effects can come across to the clients or customers.  A positive attitude and cheerful disposition can be cultivated in ourselves and spread to others. These are valuable traits that bring joy to the days work and contribute greatly to success.

Key #4 Set reasonable goals and achieve them. This team knew what they were capable of and they set goals that were challenging yet, doable. They worked out the approximate time needed to achieve each goal.  In my case, there were four deadlines one for each book.  The deadlines were tight but within reason. When I got approval in each magic trick I would go forward and write the final draft.  Of course there were many changes and adaptations and it was fun to see the books evolve throughout the creative process.

Brad Childress has a great year with the Minnesota Vikings

Magician Norm Barnahrt with Vikings Coach Brad Childress

The Minnesota Vikings have had a stellar year under the direction of head coach Brad Childress.   He is an excellent coach who allows his players freedom to adapt to the situations that face them. Brent Farve was that final key component that made this team what it is today. Each player brings certain skills to the game, but together the teamwork has made this year’s Vikings one of the best ever. We all wish them continued success as the season moves forward.

I have had the opportunity to  entertain with my magic and comedy two years in a row at Coach Childress’ home and have enjoyed meeting his excellent coaches and staff.  He has a very sweet family too.

Joyce Payne – A Creative Whirlwind

A photo Joy sent after I won an award

Joyce Payne’s Nickname is “Joy” and this is a perfect fit. Her joy for living is infectious. She has entertained and delighted audiences for years. She inspires me to do my best.

Joyce strives for excellence and is very creative in the process. Her attention to detail is excellent. One example is the way she color coordinates her act, from props and backdrops to shoes and jewels. She explodes on stage in a whirlwind of excitement that grabs the audience and gets them laughing with her comic presentation.  As a lecturer and public speaker, she is equally dynamic as she delivers her creative ideas and insights.

Aside from serving children at her church and in her community, she has served in many capacities in the W.C.A. Most recently as competition director. Her attention to detail is an skill that fits nicely with her creative approach to work. Life is full of challenges and having an open and creative mind is a great asset.  Joy does not seem to let problems affect her mood and attitude. She has a keen eye that is always looking for creative  solutions.

Creativity starts with attitude. A ‘can do’ spirit and a positive outlook will lift a person and keep the mind clear so solutions can pop to the surface.

I admire Joyce greatly and most of all I cherish her years of kindness and friendship. I like people like Joyce because, being around her encourages me to strive to be like her.

Today’s Key: Find great people to hang around, some of that greatness could rub off on you!

 

MN Author Norm Barnhart’s four hard cover Magic Books – Now in Paperback!

The beautifully graphically designed books that came out 2 years ago are now combined in a deluxe paperback and a very reasonable price.  Capstone Press did a fabulous job producing these books.  I was invited on board to write these books and it was a very challenging process and the deadlines came up very quickly.  It was fun to create the tricks and write the secrets in a style that can be understood by even reluctant readers.  About half of the material are my original tricks and the other half are variations on old classic magic tricks.

Check them out, by searching by my name at Barnes & Noble.com, Target.com or Amazon.com.

Or order on my website, click here

The Magic Book would make a great gift for any youngster between age 5-15. I think it would be a great gift for an adult too. You can learn the tricks very easily and do them for your kids and grandkids. Then show them how you learned it from a book and off they go with a love of reading as they realize all the cool things you can learn when you read.

Teachers will discover many good magic tricks that they can use in their class rooms. Check my website for more on how teachers can use magic in their classrooms to motivate reading, teach writing , speaking  and science.

Comedy and Magic Convention at Daytona Beach

Florida Stage Convention Features Harry Anderson

 

 

Harry Anderson, the beloved judge on the Comedy TV show Night Court, presented a lecture and show at the Florida State Magic Convention this fall.  I was M.C. on the Friday night show and presented my comedy act for the magicians. On that same stage right after the show, Harry presented a unique lecture along with magical historian and card expert Jon Racherbaumer.

This lecture was a huge treat as it gave us an opportunity to see two experts discuss the history of our art and focused on the life and magic of Ted Anneman.  Harry Anderson and Jon Racherbaumer presented several amazing magic effects that were in the Anneman tradition as they discussed his methods and philosophy.   There are many approaches to the art of magic and Anneman was a lone wolf who created some diabolically mysterious and clever methods for tricks.

It’s fascinating to study and learn about the art of magic and consider the hidden methods of some of magic’s greats from the past.

This was also a very unique opportunity to hear many very funny stories told by Harry Anderson about his life in Magic.  Many years ago I enjoyed Harry Anderson’s hip and cool comedy magic when he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live and other TV appearances. He made it big as a magician and was hilarious and clever in his approach to Houdini’s strait jacket escape.

Next thing you know he was a TV star with his role as the Judge on NBC’s Night Court.  He later had another hit TV show, Dave’s World .  Most recently he owned a very successful restaurant/theater in New Orleans. This was sadly destroyed during the hurricane and never rebuilt. He and his team rode out the storm in that theater. He watched his dream fall apart and I hope someday he will be able to move forward and put together another cool spot like that.

Harry Anderson’s witty insights and amazing stories from his life in show business were a great bonus to this evening.  Show Biz, like life, has many ups and downs and it was a joy to hang out with this modern legend.

So the World May Hear Gala Benefit

It was a thrill to bring magic and smiles to the families at the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s hearing aid distribution event this summer. Around 150 children received hearing aids at the Starkey Event.

I love to see the smiles on the children’s faces as they react to the comedy and magic.  It is all very visual so they like it, but it was fun to see some of the kids as they came out with a new hearing aid and how they commented on what they were able to hear.  That’s real magic!

This is a great organization with wonderful work giving out hearing aids in countries all over the world.

To learn more ot contribute to this great organization check their website:

sotheworldmayhear.org

I’d like to thank the nice folks at the Starkey Foundation for inviting me to the spend the day doing magic with the families at the distribution, it was a joy.

I’m also grateful that the team at the Foundation saw my magic and enjoyed it and invited me to return two nights later to do strolling magic and comedy at their special event for the visiting audiologists.  I met some very sweet people from all over the US who came into town for the big Sunday benefit gala.  That night Elton John, Billy Chrystal and many others rocked the Exel Center and raised over $4.6 Million.

The Starkey Foundation does such a great work to help kids all over the world hear.

Norm With Sheila Raye Charles

I recently had the pleasure to perform again with Sheila Raye Charles.  Sheila is a very gifted and dynamic singer. The audience was thrilled by her original music as well as the songs of her father Ray Charles.  Sheila also shared her difficult yet awesome life story.

This was the second time I got to enjoy her wonderful music and be her opening act with my comedy magic. We are looking forward to more events like this.

Humor is the Magic in Relationships

My sweet wife and I just celebrated our 27^th Anniversary and I was reflecting on how humor is such a vital part of any relationship.

Researchers have proven the value of humor in the workplace. It is an important asset to successful teambuilding and customer service.   Anyone who is married more than 7 months probably realizes the helpful effects of humor in their relationship.

In the dating stage of the relationship almost everyone says that they adored their companion’s sense of humor. But after being married I discovered how vital that humor is to a healthy balanced relationship. We need humor to help us over the rough spots in life. If we can laugh at our slipups, mistakes, blunders and just plain bad choices, we are on the path to forgiveness and understanding.

I’m known for being a funny guy, but my wife has the best sense of humor.  Who else could so humorously bring me down to size?  Recently, I stepped out in my new swim suit, struck a Charles Atlas pose and said, “ah, a Greek god!”  I was quickly out-quipped by her comment, “More like a geek god.”

My sweetheart works in a bank. Once she brought a small gag gift, hand held device to her office that emits a small spray of sparks. It is like a joy buzzer that shoots sparks off a wind up flywheel.  This was the day the computer guy came to do check ups.  Before he came she surprised each of her co-workers with this same device.  Finally the computer guy arrives and after he tools around a bit she says, “Well there is one other thing about this computer, whenever I touch this button…” She lightly touches the number 7 on her computer keyboard and at the same time lets the sparks fly. The guy about does a double back flip, “shut it down – where’s the power supply!!!…” Everyone else who had been tricked by this device earlier got to enjoy seeing the computer expert encounter a very unique problem.  When he realized he had been tricked, he was the best sport of all and he laughed like crazy.  He probably still tells his friends about that crazy woman at the bank.

We all need a bit of humor to spark up our day.   Humor helps us realize we are simply human. We have troubles and challenges but laughter brings joy to our lives. It mixes things up and brightens our day. Go spread some humor.

Rockin’ with the Hollywoods

Rockin' Hollywood & Norm Barnhart

One of my favorite Twin Cities Bands is the Rockin’ Hollywoods.  These guys capture the fun and flavor of the fabulous fifties.  They cover the songs in a great way.

I’ve had the privilege of working with them at several venues including the Medina Entertainment Center, Sheraton Bloomington and the Radisson St. Paul.

Most recently I did the keynote kickoff for the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association and came in the night before my speech and was very happy to see the Hollywoods on stage doing their great act. Great vocals and expert musicianship.

I had a great time doing my motivational keynote and it was very well received. President, Wade Carlson said, “This was fantastic. You tailored the message for our group and along with the humor it was a perfect fit for us. Thank you, I received lots of positive feedback from the team.”

Learn more about my motivational keynote programs on Teamwork, Service and Humor in the Workplace at:   InspireBiz.com