Hi, I’m Paul, and I’m the new owner of The Wunderground Magic Shop. Stop in and say “Hello” and see what transformations we have in store.
Though many of you may not know me, I’ve been involved with magic for almost forty years. You’ll find my name in Penn and Teller’s books and on the alt.magic FAQ. I started as a demonstrator in a shop called The Joker’s Wild. It was a wonderful opportunity because I got to explore all the apparatus as well as learn new moves from the magicians who stopped by.
Along the way I took a detour and got a Ph.D. in computer science. It was the right choice at the time, and I joined the faculty of the University of Michigan before starting a company building flight simulators for the government. But I never lost my love for magic and juggling. It taught me new ways of looking at problems, better techniques for simulating reality, and strong presentation skills when pitching projects, dealing with foreign governments, or motivating employees.
Right now in Michigan , we’re going through some tough times. I need your help to make the Michigan magic scene something spectacular. In tough times people turn to magicians to offer hope. It was during the great depression a magician rose to fame proclaiming “Nothing on Earth can hold Houdini a prisoner!” As people would watch Houdini escape from strait jackets, shackles, and chains they could believe that nothing would hold them down either. That despite the hardships they faced in their own lives, such difficulties were nothing compared to being nailed in a box and thrown into a frozen Detroit River .
So, I’m counting on you to inspire a new generation and presenting you with a challenge to create magic that people will respect and admire.
At the shop we’ll offer tips, lessons, and lectures. If you’re just starting out, we’ll have classes and charity performance opportunities. If you’re more experienced, get us your promotional material, put your card on our bulletin board, and add your name among our referrals. If you have a talent for making props, or have items that you no longer use, we buy magic tricks and supplies, along with juggling items, and puzzles.
But most of all, I need your comments, suggestions, ideas, and feedback. Let me know what you like about the shop and what we could do better.
Hope you make an appearance soon!
Sincerely, Paul Nielsen The Wunderground Magic Shop
