The Magic Network Community Blog

Can't tell you how awesome it is to have a crew of people like mine supporting you in your magic.  they help me with tons of stuff and as time goes on  my crew gets bigger.  but the bigger things get the more its important to reach out and help others.  Not just helping my crew members or even my fellow TMN members, but helping those in need.  I have thought in the past of doing different charity things like performing for St. Jude Childrens Hospital or other such things and then an oppertunity came up to get involved with Autism Speaks.
Autsim Speaks is a lot like my Crew, they all work hard to support and help eachother. they Provide hope to often frusrated families and with everyones help one day may find a cure for Autism.  I began researching autism and autism speaks. so have several of my crew members.  We are going to be doing some projects to help them, so I will keep you all up to date so you all can check it out. 
Even though Molsen23 was the one who originally thought of Autism Speaks, I have since made it a passion of mine.  most people dont know i grew up with learning challenges. Althought its not the same as autism, it really spoke to my heart. 
I may have a Big EGO lol, But I also have a big heart and so does my Crew. so proud of all my crew members stopping at nothing to make these projects for autism speaks a reality. 
Thank you to my Crew, Molsen23, and to anyone who chooses to help support us in anyway.  find out more at www.justinthemystifyer.com/autismspeaks

Well another crazy month is closed and another is beginning.  working on 2 youtube videos this month and planning a special New Years Eve Mystifyed Live show.  Also will be adding more pages to my website and we have begun the search for our band members.  Clock is ticking down to tour time still about a year and a half out but doesnt feel like its that far away, I'm sure Molsen23 would agree.  Seeing the ever developing setlist and stage designs gets me excited!  I think this is my shortest blog ever lol well in the words of V CHEERS!

I feel bad that I have not been on TMN as often lately, I sooooo need to catch up.  I miss contacting with so many awesome people here. I have excuses of being busy, which I truly have been busy, but I need to put off the excuses and instead turn to determination.  TMN has helped me grow as a performer and I need some magic grow power once again. 

My Live shows on my website have been So much fun, mixed with a plethora of technical problems. lol but I had the GREAT HONOR of having V as a guest on my last show! That was so much fun and we promoted TMN quite a bit on the show.  V also did some great mentalism effects on the show as well.  I can't thank you enough V you ROCK!!!

My next Live show is my Halloween special, I am drawing inspiration form Séances, Ghost Hunters, and Mystical Spiritualism.  I won’t give away too much but have created a few new effects for the show as well as having modified a few old ones.  Most of my Live shows have been focused on interviewing and not just performance driven, this show will be different.  Beginning to end will be pure magic.  
I hope that you can all watch and give me feedback. I will be on Halloween, 10-31-10 at 7pm CST on my website www.justinthemystifyer.com click on the Mystifyed Live link.
ENJOY AND THANK YOU ALL!
~Justin

Well it's official! Mike Olsen is my Executive Producer and my Transition to stage magician has begun.  If any of you missed the Live announcement, you can catch the recorded version on my website. http://justinthemystifyer.com/live You have to  become a member to have access to the backstage area but membership is free.  I see that several of my friends from TMN have already become members to my site.  THANK YOU ALL. 

I'm really excited about the whole situation.  I had not been on TMN as much last monthly largely due to my dental issue and due to all the work that has been going into laying the foundation of this epic adventure with Mike.  I missed you all. I truly did.  I will be on more as time allows but when I'm not I still think of you all.  I will be putting out more blogs about all of the steps were taking to making this thing happen.

This process is not easy by any means.  It's crazy challenging but I am confident that the support from my TMN friends will fuel me to continue to push myself. 

lastly Big shout out to my friend Andrew J Speirs ! congrats on member of the month! keep up the good work my worthy opponent ;) haha

Wow! Its been a while since I last blogged. kinda going through withdrawal.  So here is what I've gone through so far this month...where to begin?

Well let me first start my saying a HUGH THANK YOU To V and all the staff at TMN for having selected me as member of the month for July.  I had the opportunity to purchase some great magic from ExoMagic thanks to the helpful guidance of Alex from ExoMagic.  I received Audio and Liquid Metal.  I will be doing reviews on them both soon.  

My Q&A Video will be Pre Released on Sept 1 Via my first issue of my Monthly Newsletter!  I have been meaning to get this monthly newsletter from my website started for quite some time, and then I had this great Idea...If people sign up for a free account on my website they can sign up for the newsletter in which I will offer a special link to the Q&A video before I make the video public.  I would love to see all my TMN friends sign up for this so you all can have the exclusive pre-release links too.  All future videos will be released in this fashion, FYI.  

For most of August I have not been feeling well, I had a bad sinus and ear infection that lead to an infection in my mouth causing me to have an abscessed tooth.  some of you may have read my tweets on it all.  I have been in quite a bit of pain and finally had no choice but to remove the broken tooth that had gotten infected.  but the tooth is out and I'm recovering now. thankfully. 

I also have announced on Twitter that I have some big news to announce but I wouldn't tell them what it is...well I would tell you all either.  No yet anyways.  On Sept 4th at 7:00pm CST tune into my Website www.JustinTheMystifyer.Com to witness the Live Event and find out what all the news is about.  Check out the site before September 1st and sign up for the free account and free newsletter too.  

Today is the close of the first full month of me actively using my TMN membership.  I had opened the account here several months ago and didn't do much with it.  Last month I decided to see what I can do here and how it can help me.  I have to say Ive been blown away!

What took me so long to really embrace this experience I will never understand.  This last month has been monumental for me.  I have had so many people share their wisdom, encouragement, and wit.  I enjoy reading replys to my blogs, comments, pics, & Videos.  I have used the momentum to go ahead and advertise my site here, create and edit 2 new videos thanks to everyones input, and take several other steps towards taking my career to the next level. 

Molsen23, V, MM,  & AndrewJSpeirs have been instrumental along with many other members out there.  

Molsen23 and V have kinda been like Magic Coaches if you will.   helping push myself but also letting me know if I was going in the right direction or not.  I could really feel their support in wanting to see me succeed at my Magic Goals.

Millionaire Mike You have one crazy sense of humor at times :) I love how you challenge me to keep thinking of new ideas.  every time we have chatted it has gotten my creative juices flowing. 

Thanks to an inspiration from Molsen23 I'm going to do a Q&A Video for people to get to know me more as my next video on YouTube. If anyone of my TMN friends want to submit a question just send me a video clip to my e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I will cut and edit the clips together. Will be accepting video questions until August 1st. I will release the video at sometime after that.  Release date to be announced. 

Thanks for all the support.  I look forward to your questions.

Justin The Mystifyer

p.s.  I'm trying to get more subscribers on YouTube so if any of you could add me that would be great! 

I really took to heart all the advice I received from my friends here on TMN in regards to my videos.  The former videos I had were a year old and had a grocery list of things I personally had found wrong with them.  I really wanted to start putting out better quality videos, so all of your comments proved very valuable. 
I used video editing software to edit the old videos together into an introduction video to introduce myself to the world.  I was able to add music, something I felt my other videos lacked.  I was able to show case the best parts of many tricks in less time then some of my previous videos took to show one trick.  I was able to add my logo and one of my poster and merch designs at the end that included my logo again and my website. 
My thought was to get my name out through repetition through both the use of my logo and the beginning and the end; and with the repeating introductions from several videos collage together.  I then transitioned from who I am, to what I do.  By showing key parts of several videos in several settings and even including some photos, I was trying to piece together a visual portfolio. 

My future videos will certainly have similar feel.  No more: "dead air" on the videos, having props drop out of the camera's view, patter that simply explains what they can see I am doing as if the could not see what I was doing.  They will have: more self-promoting (logo, website, ECT...), More Music (I love music and my fans do too), more mystery (Hey, I am the Mystifyer, why do stuff that is predictable).  I hope to continue to get all your feed back to further better myself. 

Thanks Sincerely

Justin Jaeger The Mystifyer

Lately I've been working hard to take my magic to the next level.  There have been several of my friends here on TMN that have helped incouraged me to do so.  My ultimate goal as I have mentioned before is to transition from a street magician to a stage illusionist.  Not an easy task.  Been having to take things one step at a time.  gradually mixing in some larger tricks to my street performances;  adding at least one more performance each month until my income from my shows allows me to do magic full time.  eventually in a few years I will have fully transitioned for a part time street magician to a full time large stage illusionist.  TMN members have helped me giving me advice, wisdom and encouragement.  I want to thank you all and hope I can return the favor to each of you someday.
Justin Jaeger
TheMystifyer

I would like to thank all those who took the time to comment on my videos.  The comments you all gave me have been well received.  I knew that the videos need work, but now I have a better idea where to focus in on for future videos.  I have to say, I did feel quite vulnerable at first posting my videos to be critiqued but I am glad I did. 
Lately I have been working on some Thumb tip tricks.  I would like to get some of those on video too just to see how natural the moves look; perhaps I will post some of those videos too then.

I up loaded my YouTube videos.    I want to use them as tools to make better videos so please comment on them.  I know they are not the best quaility and I would like to shoot future videos on a better camera.  I also want to add music & spectators.   I shot most of the videos by just postioning the camera and watching myself in the tiny 1"x1" screen, so needless to say the footage is choppy and I cut in and out of the shots.  The audio is not the best nor is the lighting.  I can be my worst critic but I think that is true of all of us.  I would like to hear what you all think; what you like, dislike, think i should work on, think i should change, ect... I am open to ideas.  I am counting on my Friends here at TMN to help me evolve into a better performer.
Justin Jaeger, The Mystifyer

P.S. don't forget to tell me the thing I'm doing right too. :)

I'm going through the transition from Street Magic to Stage Illusions.  It has always been my goal to do stage magic.  I've been receiving helpful advice from TMN members.  I feel that I can never have too much advice so if you feel lead go for it.  I would like to bring Street Magic flavor to the Stage and Stage Illusions to the Street.  I will keep you all posted as I go through this transition and thank you to the TMN members and staff who have helped me so far.

Hey Everyone, I just set up an online Merch store for free.  I know that sounds like an advertisement of some kind, but i just wanted to share with you all what I did. 

Ok let me first start by saying sorry if i blog too much, but i just like getting my thoughts out there and hearing back from you all.  Now back to my on-line Merch store...

I set up an account ar CafePress.com it was real easy, I up loaded an image of me with my logo and website address and that was basically it.  the site walks you through it, you can have a free site or a paid site.  I may upgrade to the paid site in time but for now the free site will suffice.  The take all the orders, make products on demand so there is no need to order large quanities of Merch and store them, you don't need to pay for the merch up front, once an order is placed by your customer, they take the payment, make and ship the product, offer 24/7 customer support, and send you what ever mark up you choose to set on your merch.  and they offer a large variety of products.

the reason I had to share all this is so if anyone is looking to have a cost effective way to promote yourself with merchandise you can try this and see how it works for you.  Feel free to check out my store so you can see what I'm talking about. http://www.cafepress.com/TheMystifyer

Good luck
~Justin The Mystifyer

Just read the replies to my blogs so far.  Thanks for all your comments.  I feel like part of the family here already.  Some of you have known me on Twitter; I have also brought some of my fellow magician twitter followers to TMN as well. 
I have to make a confession and perhaps I am not alone, but I had always felt slightly intimidated performing for other magicians.  It has not stopped me from doing so, but I sometimes would begin to correct myself in my mind before they would have the chance to correct me.  I found that in that mind set I was more likely to screw up. 
Thanks to the support of some great friends on here I have began to set that mind set aside.  It is not that other magicians are here to point out any errors to embarrass me, but to help me.  They know what to look for and can spot flashes that others cannot. 
Magicians helping magicians can be an invaluable tool no matter what skill level you are at.  I know welcome and grow from the wisdom of my fellow magicians and hope to help others as I too have been helped.  I could see form the beginning that TMN was that safe haven for growth as well as a place where I could be challenged. 
This place is not a collection of magician...it is a Family of Magicians.

I started my Twitter account a little over a year ago.  I did it mostly for fun and out of curiosity.   I quickly learned how powerful a tool it could be.  I have been able to grow to more than 1,400 followers and counting.  I've gotten shows form followers who would have otherwise never heard of me.  I also meet some very talented magicians who lead me here.  I have nothing bad to say of twitter outside of the occational random crashing.  I owe much to my Twitter Presence.   In much the same way I Predict the same results for joining The Magic Network.  I will do my part to help promote it too.   ~The Mystifyer
By the way feel free to follow me in Twitter too. if you mention this blog I'll follow you back. My Twitter name is @TheMystifyer

It was refreshing to perform again yesterday after not beening able to for several weeks. It seems everyone includeing my brother was moving one weekend after another and they all called on me to help. Finally getting my own stuff caught up now including updating my profile on here, will be adding pics, videos, and more this week and hopefuly will be getting the chance to network a little.  Hope everyone's day ROCKS!  I will blog more later...I promise :)