Ali Bongo and the Too Perfect Theory

[@cpuuk]

Ali Bongo was a TV magician from my childhood (UK), that I remember well- a fun magician.

[@DavidDellman]

I think it's a high compliment to describe him as a "fun magician." I would like to be remembered that way myself

[@MexieMex]

I met Ali Bongo many times too, he was practically always at the Circle back in the day and he was a true gent, always willing to chat and brainstorm magic, no matter the level of the person. It was a great loss to the magic community when he died.

[@DavidDellman]

Thank you for sharing Mexie. Happy Holidays to you and a great New Year

[@ghostmagicshow4026]

Interesting on the too perfect theory..merry christmas david to you and yours

[@DavidDellman]

@@ghostmagicshow4026 and a very Merry Christmas to you too

[@edward2785]

As always great information David. Ali Bongo was indeed a wonderful entertainer, I'm just sorry I never got to see him perform live. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas.

[@DavidDellman]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, also. I have been reading your messages ... I hope you have a wonderful 2025

[@rinkydinkfretboard8737]

Ok here’s food for thought. Things can be cyclical. In comedy repetition is funny until it becomes boring. But if you keep pushing it anyway, it eventually becomes funny again. Maybe more so. For a while at least. Maybe too perfect is absolutely a thing up to a point, beyond which the level of impossibility is so great, that it becomes wondrous again. Would go some way towards explaining the apparent diversity of opinion. And of course everyone’s threshold will be different. Dependant on their experience and personality. Happy Christmas!

[@DavidDellman]

Good food for thought. Thanks for sharing and merry Christmas to you too

[@jethro1963]

I remember as a kid having "The Bongo Book" on my wanted list. Never did end up getting it.

[@DavidDellman]

Its a good basic beginner book and I think you can still pick up a used copy on eBay and secondhand booksellers

[@jethro1963]

@@DavidDellman I promised myself no more books until I read everything I have but I may make an exception for two final books. Martin Lewis Making Magic and maybe the Gene Anderson book. As an aside, you have talked about L&L videos before and I think they are excellent as well. I have pretty much all of the World's Greatest Magic Teaching Series but I was at a Canadian magic dealer website and noticed them being sold for less than $20 Canadian, I think that's a great price and is probably better in the US. I would highly recommend them. Not sure why but I love everything (non card related) Bill Malone does ie colour changing knives, Slydini Knotted Silks etc.

[@DavidDellman]

@@jethro1963 At one point, I was addicted to the L&L DVDs. I have an entire bookshelf full of them. Now, I tend to download the Penguin lectures directly to my computer

[@jethro1963]

@@DavidDellman I have about 300 of the Penguin lectures but I still need to complete the Harlan Tarbell series. I'm at 75 with a few over that. Wow, I just noticed, Dan Harlan, Harlan Tarbell, don't think I made the connection before.

[@jethro1963]

I have a magic etiquette question. Would it be considered tipping the gimmick if I asked for the make and model number of a gimmick that already I know what it is. I have the Robert Baxt Penguin video where he explains his T&R Newspaper. I also have another book where he says I can get the method for the newspaper prep. Is it breaching etiquette to ask the specific name of the gimmick. If I bought the trick it might cost 10 times more (including shipping) when I already know how it is done. Is this a breach of etiquette as I am very careful about exposure but need to find the answer.

[@ExHobo73]

So many die during performances or I say doing what they love. It kind of makes sense. Your heart's pumping faster and the body is reacting to the excitement. Can't be good for the spectators though.

[@DavidDellman]

In some cases, audiences think it's part of the act, but I am sure it's shocking when the truth comes out.

[@andyw10]

I believe it was Rick Johnson who came up with the idea of the “too perfect theory”. And Ali Bongo was the ideas man behind the David Nixon show and Paul Daniels magic Show. And he was adviser of “Jonathon creek “ series in U.K. And Ali Bongo book was one of my fist books when getting into magic.

[@DavidDellman]

@@andyw10 thank you Andy

[@jethro1963]

I knew he worked on the Daniels show, I just went back to look to see what his title was - Magic Associate

[@andyw10]

@ And advisor , he made a lot of the card items.Paul once said if they needed an item last minute Bongo would make it and it would be perfect in cardboard.

[@jethro1963]

Ali Bongo was also in the hilarious movie "Magicians" in 2007 with Robert Webb and David Mitchell. This is one of my favourite comedies, it's kinda racy and not for kids but very funny. Andrea Riseborough was one of the magician's assistants and is as funny as she was 10 years later in The Death of Stalin, which had the same type of humour IMO. Highly recommend both movies.

[@DavidDellman]

@@jethro1963 I haven't seen them. I will check them out

[@jethro1963]

What a coincidence, just last night I watched a video with a comedian talking about David Copperfield's Statue of Liberty illusion.and that it was funny David wore a trenchcoat and walked with a limp :) Can't remember now where I saw it.

[@harryhocus7367]

Please turn up your mic.