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Branson Magic in November

11/2/2020

It's November already... so much has happened, and yet there's a ton more to go for this season!

First, something which was (for me) AMAZING. Anyone who knows me will know that I like reptiles. I have a boa constrictor that has been my pet since I was 18 years old. To this day, I get a thrill any time I'm lucky enough to find a snake in the wild. Now, lots of non-snake people aren't exactly as excited when they see a wild snake. Usually it will be a harmless variety such as a corn snake or rat snake- but of course, when you ask them, it was always a copperhead (and quite often it chased them through the forest...). Anyway, look what I found sunning itself on the road:

That's actually a southern copperhead! These sightings are quite rare. Yes, it's a venomous snake, but if you admire it from a distance (this photo is zoomed in), there's no need to worry. What a privilege it was to see this beauty in it's own setting!

A couple of entries back, I mentioned a fellow magician by the name of Dave Hamner. Dave came and saw our show, and we were finally able to get out to see his. Here we are after the show:

If you come to Branson, you absolutely need to see the "Hamner's Unbelievable Variety Show" while you're here! Dave and Denise specialize in magic with big parrots. They also perform stage illusions with their own unique twist- including a levitation with an ending that I absolutely did not see coming.

More than that, though, Dave and Denise are truly kind and friendly human beings. Dave is also a pastor and on Sunday mornings, there's a church service in their theater. We had been looking for a church home while in Branson and we've found it at Dave's place. We're blessed to call the Hamners our friends!

Here's a "fun" thing that happened last week. This is an illusion that we call "Table of Terror":

For this illusion, I'm chained to the table beneath those spikes. The spikes are held up by a single rope, which is set on fire. I have to escape before the rope burns through, sending the spikes crashing to the table. Well, we were filming some video and I had a close call. See these holes in my costume?

We do several illusions which appear dangerous but are actually very rehearsed, and this is one of them. Still, having two spikes driven through a garment- while I'm wearing it- is not something I want to do again!

We've had some great guests at our show recently. Here's a guy and his wife that we knew from way back:

That's William Smith and his wife Luna. William is pastor of Lakeshore Baptist church in Monroe Louisiana. Back in 2017, we performed for a wonderful audience at Lakeshore- and more than three years later, we were surprised to see William and Luna in our audience in Branson!

And... here's the most incredible thing that has happened in a VERY long time. See these two?

Last Wednesday, I was at the customer service counter at a Branson Walmart. The guy in the picture, Cody, was next to me. He asked about the purple beard (it's a great business card!) and when I told him I was a magician, he bought two tickets from me right there on the spot. What? Who does that? Well, that night, we had just begun a new time slot for Wednesdays- and that usually takes time to catch on. Cody and his wife ended up being the only two in attendance. Not good, as we still have to pay our tech team! So, I'm beginning the show and I'm certainly going to give my all even if there are only two people- but still, I'm going into it knowing that we're going to lose money tonight (and we really can't afford that).

Well, have you ever had a moment where God grabs you and says "I've got this"? Long story short, Cody and Elizabeth left us a very nice tip that night. Cody didn't do it to gain recognition so I promised him I wouldn't go into details. Here's what's astounding, though- this season has been rough for every performer in Branson (Covid) so we're all experiencing less-than-stellar ticket sales. So, with us being a family of seven, we're saving every penny we can to make this thing work- and at a time when we really needed help, this random guy buys two tickets at Walmart (based on my story that I'm an illusionist at a theater in town) and then leaves us an incredible blessing that he didn't know how much we needed. Again, I promised him that I wouldn't go into great detail but wow, thanks Cody and Elizabeth!

So, here we are into November. We were able to take the kids trick-or-treating in a nice neighborhood, along with our friends Banachek and Anna. Their show is finished here in town so yesterday morning they headed back to their home in Las Vegas. November is also when the Christmas season officially begins here in Branson. We'll be adding several new Christmas pieces to the show soon.

If you're thinking of visiting Branson, right now is a perfect time! This is one of the few places anywhere that live entertainment is actually happening. Yet, with all the craziness in the world, it's not nearly as jam-packed as usual. We'd love to see you at the show!

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family, friends, and 'incidents'

10/18/2020

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For this post, I went with the simple title of "Family, friends and incidents" because that looked better than the more accurate title of "Family, friends, and injury"!

We've had lots of visitors from our home town lately. Paula's Mother, Father, Stepfather, Brother, and cousin all came to see the show at various times this week. In addition, some friends came all the way out here for a visit. Next weekend, it will be my side of the family that arrives in town.

So, that's the "Family and friends" part. What about the 'incidents'? Well, in the last blog post, I wrote about seeing Garry and Janine Carson's show. Since then, they've come to see our show- and both of us had a nice little glitch in our shows! Here we are with them:

As we were watching their show, they had a technical issue where their sound stopped working. Garry handled it just fine and they kept right on going, but I know he hated it. Every performer wants a seamless show. Well, when they came to see us, we had an issue with our opening illusion. We, too, kept on going, but it was not what I wanted the opening of the show to look like- and definitely not with other magicians in the audience! I joked afterward with Garry that perhaps we're bad luck for each other! He laughed, and so did we. Just gotta make it better next show!

What about 'injury'? Well (ugly picture warning)... check this out:

This happened yesterday when we arrived at the theater. I was walking backstage, through an area I pass through every day, and it was pitch black. I ended up walking full speed into a square steel guardrail. Have you ever run so forcefully into something that you're sure you heard your bones crack? Well, this was one of those. That's a deep cut! Anything on the head is sure to bleed a lot and this one had me leaving a blood trail through the hallway. Once we got the bleeding under control (sort of), the concern was how to get through the show. There's an upside down underwater escape in this show and I wasn't sure what would happen. With less than 30 minutes until show time, I was finally able to do the old super glue trick. Did you know that it's totally safe to use regular super glue on a cut? It's true! I confirmed it years ago with several doctors and one of them told me it's basically the same thing they use in the operating room. So, we got through the show and everything went great. When the show was finished, our friend Katie (who just happened to be in the audience, and just happens to be a nurse) advised that it didn't look like stitches would do any good, so super glue it is. The only thing we're still trying to decide now is which one I resemble more- Chucky, or Scar from The Lion King!

This was Saturday, and our next show is Wednesday morning. We have that 3 day break every week and it's a good thing because we always have a lot to catch up on. There's prop maintenance, costume repair, and a zillion other things. Paula, Faith, and Clay made a quick trip back to Cincinnati for an orthodontist appointment. There's also the business of doing everything we can to let more people know about our show, and last night, we had a chance to do a big radio interview. Here are Silas and I backstage with "102.9 the Z":

Silas is a natural when it comes to things like this. He's sharp, quick witted, VERY outgoing, and totally comfortable in front of an audience. Seriously, this kid could be introducing the President to the rest of the world's leaders, and he wouldn't break a sweat.

One other really cool thing happened this week. There's a guy named Brian Clarke who, along with guitarist Mark Boyd, does an acoustic show on Wednesday evenings. Brian plays popular songs but he also tells the stories behind them- and it's very entertaining. Well, here he is after his show this week:

That's him with Paula's mother, Valerie- after he had just given her the guitar that he used in the show! Seriously, who does that? How cool!

So, I say this all the time but it's true- you really should come visit Branson! There's a lot to see and do here. Plus, with this being Fall, the Ozark mountains are SO beautiful! Come on out and say hi!

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Branson magic in October

10/10/2020

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Seems impossible that we're already well into October! We've been here for 5 weeks now. The show is going great- it's reached that point where we're really comfortable with everything we're doing, so now we can work on fine tuning each element. As for the audiences, they have been lots of fun, and have been leaving AMAZING reviews on tripadvisor (they're too nice!). You can see everything at www.tripadvisor.com - search for "Phil Dalton Theater of Illusion".

We're also meeting more and more great entertainers here in town. Two days ago, our show didn't exactly have the largest audience, but one of the attendees was a guy named Dave Hamner. Don't recognize that name? Every magician knows who that is. Dave and Denise Hamner are known worldwide for their magic act with big parrots. I used to watch them on TV when I was younger- I literally memorized their entire act, move for move. So, two days ago, our lighting technician walks backstage right before the show and says "Hey, Dave Hamner is out there". Wow, no pressure, right? I'm happy to say that the show went off without a hitch. Dave had a great time and was awesome to talk to afterwards. He runs his own theater here in Branson and kindly invited us to see his show as soon as we can.

Here's another magic couple in town:

That's us with Garry and Janine Carson. Garry invited us to see their show tonight. In a word, it was INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend it if you're in the area. I don't remember the last time I saw a show that was as fast paced as theirs- Garry packed an amazing amount of magic into the performance. Garry and Janine will see our show next week. I hope they like it!

Here's Silas on stage with Garry:

...and here's Lydia being levitated in that same show:

Here are Faith and Clay onstage with Banachek (performer from the theater next to ours):

And of course, Silas is learning more and more from Chris McDaniel, master of the Western arts:

So, we're all having a great time. I'm literally watching the kids grow up before my eyes. Eli has become a fierce Uno player:

He'll laugh out loud when he throws a "Draw 4" your way!

If you have the opportunity, you really should come visit Branson this Fall. It's family friendly, there's a ton of world class entertainment here, and it's a beautiful place. We're living right alongside Table Rock lake and I've gotta say, these Ozark mountains are quite a picturesque scene to wake up to every morning.

Hope to see everyone soon!

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Branson is amazing so far!

10/2/2020

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So- we've officially been in Branson for just under a month. We're having a blast!

Our show takes place at the Branson Star Theater. This is an amazing (and historic) building. This stage was once the long time home of stars like Willie Nelson, Mel Tillis, Loretta Lynn, and Yakov Smirnov. Every time we take the stage, it's crazy to think of the talented folks who have performed in that very same spot. What I love most, though, is how available the stage is. Our show is featured here so we have complete free run of the theater any time we want. Literally, if I have an idea at 4 AM, I can go into the theater, turn on the lights, and work on that idea. We're really not used to having a spot where our show is always set up and ready- but we are loving it!

The audiences so far have been amazing. When we perform in a new spot, we never really know which part of the show the audience will respond best to (and it really is different depending on the geographical area of the country). In Branson, though, the people are great. This is a show town and people seem to really get into that.

Here's something else that's crazy. Lots of performers know each other, given that our paths tend to cross quite often. We love to meet new folks who have a passion for what they do on stage. Here in Branson, we've made quite a few new friends- singers, dancers, and a lot of very talented musicians (this has always been a country music town, so the musicians here are amazing). Here's one guy who's really cool, though:

That's me with a guy named Banachek (we both had the day off so we got together for a barbeque because, well, why not). Banachek is part of a variety show here in town called "Masters of the Unusual". If he looks familiar, it might be because you've seen him with Criss Angel on the show "MindFreak". Banachek is considered to be the best mentalist in the world- and by mentalist, I mean an illusionist who specializes in mind reading and related stunts. BUT- Banachek is quick to point out that he makes NO claims of psychic abilities. He is the first to tell you that what he does is accomplished purely by natural means. When he was a teenager, he was part of a now famous secret experiment called "Project Alpha", in which he convinced a lot of scientists that he was psychic and could bend metal using his mind. After being studied for two whole years, the project was finally exposed as nothing more than trickery. The whole point was to prove that psychic abilities aren't real, and that even a leading scientist can be fooled. Look up info on Project Alpha if you want a fascinating read.

Here's another great guy. This is Chris McDaniel:

Chris is a Western Arts performer. He does amazing things with whips and ropes, and he holds a world record in whip cracking. Silas wanted to learn the art of bullwhip, so here's Chris graciously giving him his first lesson. It's not every day that you get to learn from a world champion!

And... here's one more very talented individual:

See the lady on the left? That's Anna from America's Got Talent. Here's what she does:

Have you ever held an orange for someone to shoot from your hand with a crossbow? Until yesterday, neither had I. There are no tricks here- that's a very real arrow and a very skilled performer. To be honest, this wasn't scary because this is what she does. It wasn't even a thought in my mind that she could miss, so at that point, it's just a really amazing thing to be part of. So cool!

So... if you're anywhere near Branson Missouri, you really need to come see all the amazing things in this town- and let us know you're coming so we can say hi!

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We're at a big theater in Branson!

9/22/2020

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So... 2020 has been crazy, and we signed a contract with a major theater? What???

It's true! Our full scale illusion show is currently appearing at the Branson Star Theater in beautiful Branson, Missouri! But how? The only explanation I can provide is that it's a God thing.

2020 has been insane for virtually everyone on earth. As for performers... well, every entertainer I know has watched their 2020 schedule completely clear out. As for our family, we were all set to tour the nation this summer as usual. Then covid hit- and long story short, our last big show was in mid-March. It's now mid-September, and most major places are still closed to shows of any kind. Even if we were able to magically reschedule each of our tour dates for today, the story is the same across the nation- one state hasn't reopened, another isn't allowing any gatherings of more than 10 people, etc. Even big entertainment towns, such as Las Vegas, are still under lots of restrictions.

So, about a month ago, I got an unexpected call from a friend. He's a lighting designer who's also struggling for work right now. He had been brought to Branson to rig some lights in a theater. The director was looking for a show that was ready to go NOW. My friend calls me and as casually as most people ask "Would you like to get lunch?", he asks "Ever thought about bringing your show to Branson"? What??? Long story short, over the next 11 days we drove the 600 mile trip 3 times back and forth, got all the loose ends tied up in Cincinnati, and brought our entire show to the Branson Star Theater (and thanks so much to the folks who so generously helped us move this mammoth load of equipment across the country). This theater is amazing! Here's what our show looks like on the stage:

We went from having no definite shows on our calendar to having our biggest contract ever. Wild how things work out, isn't it? Here's the thing, though... I do not believe in coincidences. I've always prayed for guidance, that our family would make wise decisions to follow God's will for us. The way that this has all happened, well, this just doesn't happen. Even the place we're living while we're here is something that we could not have found under normal circumstances.

Right now we feel beyond blessed!

Our show is currently 10 A.M. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. If you're anywhere nearby, come say hi. There's a lot to see and do in Branson- this whole town is amazing, and we're honored to make it a bit more magical!

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Yosemite, Kentucky

7/22/2019

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Our summer tour has been amazing!

Last night we wrapped up an incredible whirlwind journey around the country. We performed in Yosemite, Kentucky for Mt. Olive Christian church. This was the 31st state that we visited this summer!

Every venue is different. Some have big stages, some have small stages, and some are a big open area with no stage at all. We travel with our own curtain and backdrop system so our backstage always feels like home. We have everything back there to get set for all aspects of the show.

Eli, of course, has better arrangements than the rest of us:

That must be nice! I wish I could take a nap backstage!

The crowd for this show was awesome. They packed the place with folks from multiple surrounding counties:

Thanks again Yosemite! We had a great time- and you were a fun crowd to wrap up another tour!

Every time we hit the road to bring the show across the nation, I love to look at the final numbers. Faith is our statistician- she keeps a notebook with records of starting and ending mileage, where we ate each day, where we stayed, and tons of other info.

For this trip we logged a total of 11,216 miles over 54 days, traveling to 31 states! For most states, we were only there for one show- but this time we did multiples in Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, and Florida.

We ate at a total of 19 McDonald's, 5 Burger Kings, 8 Taco Bells, 7 Pizza Huts, 7 Subways, as well as 38 additional restaurants (most more than once).

Hotels- there were 16 different hotel chains where we spent our nights. Most were awesome but there were those few where you get settled in for the night and then you discover the french fries that someone spilled behind the bed last month. Usually, though, by the time we arrive at a hotel, we're ready to get some rest- so those things aren't as big a deal as they might be otherwise.

We made sure to allow time to see the sights along the way! This time we got to see the Rocky mountains, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone national park, Craters of the Moon national park, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Shoshone Falls, a baseball game in Milwaukee, an amazing reptile zoo, Appomattox in Virginia, and so much more! We visited every imaginable landscape, from the mountains of Colorado, to the giant hills of South Dakota, to the deserts of Utah, to the beaches of Florida, and the list goes on and on.

I really hope the kids know how amazing this is, that we've been so blessed to have this opportunity to see every part of our country over and over. We have friends in literally every state. The kids are always asking when we're returning to different areas so they can see the friends they've made!

So, last night we stayed in southern Kentucky. This morning, at an exit off of I-75, we met up with the youth group from our Cincinnati church and dropped off Faith, Clay and Silas:

They're going to a week long youth camp in South Carolina. Paula, Lydia, Eli, and I headed back down to Nashville where we'll be for a few more days. All of us will officially arrive back in Cincinnati this Saturday. We'll perform all around the city in August and September, and we have our annual month long run of shows at the Cincinnati Zoo in October. Then we'll hit the road again for our fall/winter tour for the southern USA, set to begin in November.

So, as I've said so many times before, this truly is a beautiful country we live in! I would highly encourage everyone to travel and see the amazing sights out there. Just find a way- because a short time later, the expenses will have been worked out and forgotten- but the memories will last forever. My children are growing entirely too fast, so I want to spend every moment I can with them. We really are blessed that we get to spend this time together!

To those in Cincinnati- we'll be performing there in the coming weeks and months, so make sure to come say hi at a show soon. To our friends across the country- we'll be in your neck of the woods within the next year! We're booking the fall tour right now so keep an eye on the tour dates section of this site.

Thanks again America for a fun filled summer tour!

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Tallahassee, Florida and Mobile, Alabama

7/20/2019

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Two days, three shows, and three states!

Since the show in Leesburg, we had a couple of days off to enjoy Florida. We stayed for two days in a town appropriately named Treasure Island. The ocean is much calmer and clearer, and the kids were thrilled with the assortment of shells to be found. Here's Silas near the beach, feeling like the karate kid:

We moved on to Tallahassee for two shows. The first was a small show at an educational center- nothing huge but we've been there for the last six years straight! On more than one occasion, it has been our first show in Florida that year.

Our second show of the day was the big show, for our friends at Celebration baptist church. We've performed there at least seven times that I can think of. Here's Faith showing what a gymnast does to warm up before the show:

This was a big crowd, and they were great! We're always happy when we find out that we'll be returning to Celebration in Tallahassee. We hope the next time comes along soon!

The next day we performed in Mobile, Alabama. The venue was a huge Christian drug and alcohol rehab place called "Mission of Hope". They're very serious about what they do and they have a no nonsense policy. When we got there, they had six guys unload our trailer in record time. Ordinarily it takes a bit of time to unload (and we know what we're doing), but when you have six big guys and you can just point, it's truly a luxury that we don't have often- and we sure appreciate it when we do!

So, what better place for a magic show than a strict rehab community? After all, isn't magic just for kids? Well, if you've ever seen our show, you'll know that we don't do a "kiddie" show. Sure, the kids in the audience will have a great time, but we want the entire family to have fun. In this case, we had an audience comprised entirely of adults who are dealing with some very serious addictions. Our show carries a strong message about hope that is found in Jesus, and this place is founded on the same thing- so we were able to really connect. Over all, we had a great time!

This was an afternoon show, so we headed out right away to get some miles behind us before stopping for the night. On the way out, we passed something that we remembered from last time:

That's a rail car stacked atop two trailers. Ingenuity at it's finest!

We drove all the way to Nashville, Tennessee and spent the night. We'll be here one more night before our show tomorrow in Kentucky. We like to stay more than one night in a spot if possible, because it's less checking in and out of hotels. Today, Eli made a friend at the pool:

Isn't it amazing how kids are just automatically friends when they meet? We could learn a thing or two!

Doing what we do involves a good deal of time driving. That means lots of car meals, which Eli has mastered:

Yeah, good parenting right there . . . but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Here's something else we do all the time- have you ever ordered a hot fudge sundae at McDonald's? Most people have, and most people don't eat the nuts they give you for the sundae:

Well, years ago we started hanging onto those those little packets. We drive all over the country with those sitting in the console. When we pass an area where there are ducks, the kids like to hop out and feed them. The peanuts are perfect!

These ducks happily ate nuts from Alabama and (I think) Montana. You know, we love to see all the amazing things around the country, but it's incredible how much our kids love something as simple as feeding ducks. In fact, when we performed in Las Vegas, we took some time to see the Vegas strip among all the lights- and yet the highlight for the kids was when they got to stop outside one of the mammoth hotels and feed some nearby ducks. Mark my word- one day some smart person (probably the same guy behind the adult coloring books) will create an "experience" where adults pay $59.99 to enter an "exclusive" area where they'll get to feed ducks. I thought of it first!

So, tomorrow we head on to Kentucky for the final show of this tour. It's crazy how fast these trips always fly by. It seems like just yesterday that we were laying out the route, and tomorrow, it'll be finished. Now, we'll still be heading back to Nashville for a couple of days for some private events, but that route we worked to fill with shows will be finished once again. There will be one more blog post for this tour- watch tomorrow for final mileage, state count, and all the statistics from these past two months!

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Leesburg, Florida

7/16/2019

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Last night's show was in Leesburg, Florida- and the folks there were incredible! We've done our show in front of all size audiences, from thousands of people to only a few, and usually the bigger the crowd, the louder. As for Leesburg- this wasn't the biggest show we've ever done, but they had the enthusiasm of an entire stadium!

Our day began in Orlando, when Silas woke sporting a Flock of Seagulls hairstyle:

80s music all the way!

This hotel was roughly the zillionth place we've stayed around the country. There's something that's always amazing to me as we travel- here we are, out on the road for a long time, nowhere near our home in Cincinnati, and yet no one is homesick, ever. Sure, you're always glad to get back to your own house, and it's great to see friends that you haven't seen in a while, but the important thing is that our family is all together- and that's all that really matters. As long as we're with each other, it's home wherever we are. Every day, Eli asks "Go our room"? Even the two year old is totally fine with our arrangements- and he's having a blast!

As we headed north, it was lunch time. Now, if there's somewhere unique to the area, we usually try to go there. Today it was Mcdonald's. What's different about that? Well, in Orlando, you can visit a GIANT two level McDonald's which contains a "Dave & Buster's" style amusement place, a 22 foot tall playplace for the kids, a pizza section and dessert bar, custom made omelettes, and tons more!

If you're in the area, definitely check it out.

So, it was on to Leesburg.

I still get excited every time I see that. It means we get to do our show there!

Pastor Ron was incredibly helpful in getting everything unloaded. He also ran and got fried chicken for everyone- something we hadn't eaten in a while! He set us up with a backstage room, had cold water for us, and lots of other things that just really made us feel welcome.

When it was showtime . . . remember when I said that these guys were enthusiastic? Well, here's part of the audience:

That's about half the crowd- certainly no record for audience size. But WOW, they were loud and fun! We certainly hope we can come back to Leesburg sometime soon. Thanks again Pastor Ron!

Tonight we're staying in Treasure Island, Florida. It's on the beach, on the gulf side. So far on this tour, we've been on the road 50 days and visited 28 states- and in Florida, we've stayed at three beaches on two coasts. Did I mention that we're incredibly blessed?

Tomorrow we head toward Tallahassee for two shows there, then it's on to Alabama. We can't wait!

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Daytona, Cocoa Beach, and Orlando

7/14/2019

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We've had a VERY eventful week!

When we're scheduling a tour of any size, Paula tries to arrange a few days off when we're near somewhere of interest. What could be better than the beach? After performing in Jacksonville, we spent time in Daytona and Cocoa Beach before today's show in Orlando.

One thing the kids love to do at every beach is to go crab hunting at night. There are usually lots of small ghost crabs that run across the beach all night long- you simply bring a flashlight and a bucket, and see what you can catch. In Daytona, though, we didn't see any. We only found this guy who we rescued from a tangled mess of fishing line:

In Cocoa Beach, though, we found quite a few!

We also went to "Cow Day" at Chick-Fil-A in Daytona. Once per year, there's a day where you get a free sandwich by simply wearing something cow related. In Cincinnati, we go all out- but in Daytona, we had to settle for cow spots that we drew on paper:

Surely you've been to Chick-Fil-A before but if not, well . . . every time we're there, I'm amazed at the VAST difference between them and every other fast food restaurant. They understand your order, they get it right the first time, they're fast, they constantly check to ask if you need anything, they're friendly, they take your tray if they see you heading toward the garbage . . . they're just leagues above everywhere else.

We also got to do something really cool in Cocoa Beach. This area is known as the space coast because this is where lots of shuttle launches happened. July 20 also happens to be the 50th anniversary of the moon landing- so on Saturday morning, there was a parade which included 13 astronauts. Here's Silas shaking hands with Rick Hauck, an astronaut who flew three space missions:

So, this morning's show was at Calvary Chapel Orlando. These folks were very accommodating during our set up. They rearranged their usual stage to make everything fit. Here are Paula and Faith backstage- doesn't everyone spend their mornings behind a curtain sitting on a giant crate?

The show was great and the folks were awesome! We had lots of fun. Orlando is definitely a place we look forward to seeing again soon! After the show, the Pastor and his family graciously invited us to their home for lunch. We ended up talking for quite a while- it's such a blessing to make new friends all over the country! Thanks again Pastor Juan!

Tomorrow evening we perform in Leesburg, Florida. It's only about an hour away, which doesn't happen often. We're really looking forward to it, so if you're in central Florida, come on out and say hi!

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Asheville, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida

7/7/2019

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It's been a very busy week since we performed in Delaware! We've had a combination of travel, performances in North Carolina, more travel, and a show this morning in Jacksonville, Florida.

Asheville NC is a great place. We spent four days there! I had private shows on three of those days, and we got to check out the town on the fourth. Back in 2017, on our 50 shows-50 states-50 days tour, we had absolutely zero days off- which meant that we didn't have time to really see any local sights. Ordinarily, though, we try to schedule our travel so that we have a little time off. That's the case this time. We've seen so much!

We also were able to reacquire Silas. He went to summer camp just before our show in Mooresville, Indiana. Paula's brother picked him up and drove him all the way to Hocking Hills, Ohio, for camp (thanks Jason!). After a week at Camp Wyandot, Jason brought him back to us in North Carolina (thanks again!). So, Silas wasn't there for shows in 4 states. We were able to make adjustments and the shows went great, but it just isn't the same with a cast member gone- not to mention the fact that we missed him a lot! We're glad he's back!

After North Carolina, it was on to Jacksonville. We arrived at our hotel and . . . well, the adventure began! Now, I am not one to complain when things aren't perfect. But here's the list from last night: The hotel advertised that they accepted a certain type of payment, only to switch when we got there. The air conditioner in the hotel leaked water so bad that there was a puddle which covered a significant portion of the carpet (discovered, of course, after we were settled in). The coin laundry turned out to not accept coins (credit cards only- seriously, credit cards to run a washer and dryer?). After Paula washed a load of laundry, the dryer gave an "offline" error and wouldn't run (dryers now need to be online???). Then, when we ordered pizza for dinner, it literally took almost two hours to arrive- and when the driver got to the hotel, he called his manager (and had his phone on speaker, so we heard the manager insult us)!

Again, though, I'm not one to complain. These things rarely happen, and when they do, you just have to laugh. You know that the next day will be better. Today certainly was!

We arrived to set up for our show in Jacksonville. It was a morning show at University church. Pastor Jake met us and showed us the stage- it was perfect! They also had double doors with no divider, and a straight shot into the performance area- again, perfect! We had plenty of space for this one, with a nice backstage:

The audience was great! We later found out that many folks today were visitors from another country, and spoke very little English. This proves what I've always said- the great thing about magic is that it's visual, so it'll be fun even if you don't speak the same language!

After the show, Pastor Mark offered to take our family out for lunch. As we were leaving the parking lot of the church, we were reminded of a place we saw years ago when we were last here. Now, before I show you this picture, understand that all I'm doing is showing you a picture. No comment from me- just showing you an image of a restaurant in Jacksonville. The food here is probably amazing.

Ever seen a business name like that? We sure hadn't. I don't know the story, but I do know that the place has been there for more than 30 years. Looks like the owner has a sense of humor- and is perhaps a brilliant businessman, because he gets everyone talking!

We didn't eat there, though. When in Florida, we always try to hit "Whataburger". It's a restaurant that we don't have in Ohio. It's funny- when you ask the average kid what their favorite restaurant is, they'll usually tell you someplace local to them. But with our kids, they'll say "Well, in Chattanooga, I like _____, and in Seattle, it's _____- but in Honolulu, I like _____". There are also the places that we used to have in Cincinnati, but are now gone- such as Friendly's. We know where in the country to find those and always try to do so when we're there.

So, we have a few days until our show in Orlando. We're in Daytona Beach tonight:

I'll say it again- we are incredibly blessed to get to do what we do! We've been on the road less than two months, and we've been able to visit 26 states so far. We're going to enjoy a few days here before our Orlando show, after which we head to Leesburg (a new city for us). The kids always look forward to Florida shows- and so do we!

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Branson Magic in November

family, friends, and 'incidents'

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Branson is amazing so far!

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