Over the weekend, we attended a birthday party that featured a professional magician. He was great. His name – Mr. Magic.
Simple, appropriate, yet rather generic.
It got me thinking. If I was a magician, what would my magician name be? I’ve come up with a couple of possibilities, but none very good or satisfying:
Agent M. (International Man of Mystery)
Major Magic (“Reporting for duty. My mission: To amaze and bewilder”)
The Man Behind (or in front of) the Curtain
Mr. A. B. Cadabra (I kind of stole this one from Sesame Street’s Abby Cadabby)
Dr. Magic, Ph.D (I know, I know, the “Dr.” and the “PhD” are redundant)
And the wildly inappropriat (particularly for a child magician):
Chuck N. Amazing!
Is there a formula for this type of thing (like there is for adult entertainment/porn star name)? Something like the name of your first pet and the street you lived on as a child? (For the record, mine is “Jake Royal” – emphasis on the “al” in “royal,” drawing it out to get the desired effect.)
I already have a rock star name, which I discovered somewhat by accident. About four years ago, Karen and I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on our way to a wedding in Indiana. Turns out it was either cheaper or the same cost to get a membership as to get tickets for two for a single day. But, when I filled out the membership form, I used my standard sloppy handwriting, which was misread by whoever input the data.
So when I was mailed my membership card, it said “Chuck Purney” rather than “Chuck Putney.” I was extremely disappointed, until I realized that I had unwittingly stumbled upon my rock star name. What serendipity! Every time I got a mailing from the Rock and Hall of Fame, it came to Chuck Purney. I enjoyed it so much, whenever I signed up for a musical-related mailing list, I used (as you have probably guessed) my rock star name: Chuck Purney.
On a somewhat similar note, I’ve also given some thought to my autobiography. Some potential titles:
Chuck Putney, American Dreamer
Chuck Purney, American Rock Star
“Some People Pursue Happiness, I CREATE It”- The Life and Times of Chuck Putney
That last one is based on an incredibly appropriate (at least I think so) Chinese fortune cookie I received once.
Anyway, back to my hypothetical search for my magician name. Having failed to come up with an adequate stage sobriquet, I turned my attention to devising a name for my hypothetical show.
Dad’s ‘Magic’ and Cheese (I would mix in really cheesy jokes, and also reference my enthralling blog)
Where the ‘Magic’ Things Are
Let the ‘Magic’ Rumpus Start (if you haven’t picked up on it yet, I’m a huge fan of Where the Wild Things Are)
Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
Also, the wildly inappropriate (particularly for a child magician):
How the ‘Chuck’ Did He Do That?! and
Where the ‘Chuck’ Did That Go!?
I think it would be incredibly fun to be a child entertainer. Not necessarily a magician but maybe a storyteller or an American version of Raffi. How could you not look forward to work if it involved a guitar, music, telling jokes, applause (I’m assuming) and the adulation of children (which I’m also assuming)?
I always felt I would make a great song and dance man, especially for an audience of children, were it not for my pitch dyslexia, my inability to play the guitar, and the fact that people find my singing voice, well, let’s just say, less than appealing.
While I lack the skill set for such a career, maybe Charlotte or Luke will be so inclined and gifted. I’ll have to start thinking about their stage names.
I hope you enjoyed today’s serving of ‘magic & cheese.’
