AGT Finals Breakdown - America's Got Talent

It's season 8 on America's Got Talent and here's how I see the final 6!

I'm shocked that several, large, artistic performance groups were cut out of the finals. We are left with some serious solo acts but it really opens the door to anyone's chance at winning this season of America's Got Talent. However, considering the demographics and types of acts left, I am not going to be too surprised to see the first magician win this show! As a consultant to this act, I will keep my personal opinions out of the equation and look at this very subjectively and honestly.

Acts from the finals

Here my breakdown:

Some of the acts I figured would have posed the biggest threat are now gone. It was somewhat disappointing, but that's what demographics/marketing/looks/editing/postioning will do to acts in a show like this. We can only look at the six remaining acts at this point. What we have left are THREE music/singing acts. One comedian, one performance dance artist and one magician. In my humble opinion, the most creative, skilled and experienced performer is clearly Kenichi Ebina. He creates most of his own technology and choreographing. His stuff is amazing. As a comedian, Taylor Williamson has a fun character people love. He stands out to me as well. The opera styled trio of Forte is great, but I can not connect with them since they admit to coming together for the show last minute and do not know each other. Demographically speaking, the country singer might pose the biggest challenge to Collin's since half of America connects with country music. That said, it's looking pretty strong for magician Collins Key because of the package he has become marketing wise and the followers he's gained during the show. Let's break this down more:

• Until Collins, nobody has ever crashed AGT's Twitter account before.

• No contestant that was a complete unknown has gained so much popularity that there are literally mobs of fans to see him outside the show.

• To top it off, AGT producers would likely see long term potential in a very young 17 year old.

• He has a tremendously large fan base.

• He is very young and has the package look which ties into the marketing of a show like this.

• Magic is at an all time popularity.

• A magician has NEVER made it to this point of the show.

It's anyone's game this year... But one can dream that because magic is so popular outside of AGT this year that it's the time a magician wins this thing.  In fact, I know first hand since producers called me nine times this year to discuss me doing magic pranks on the show. They recognize how popular magic is right now. It has to help. People appear to be ready for magic. It feels like it's time to pass on a musician. That's my gut feeling this year. As I said before, it's anyone's game at this point but it sure feels like Collins is able to pull this off for numerous reasons. The stars have aligned amazingly for this opportunity. He has a "different" type of act that appeals to most demographics.

Those are just some reason's I would not be shocked if it happened. I'll be supportive either way it goes down. Good luck to you all;)

Check out some of the performances from all the amazing performers in the top 6.

America's Got Talent, Final 6:
Magician
Collins Key:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwBUeCrYZ00

Dance Artist
Kenichi Ebina:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrQhouxJd5s

Comedian
Taylor Williamson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OWm-lfkkPg

Operatic Tenor Singers
Forte:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va46wJidIvw

Singer
Cami Bradley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZrO5fcUZ8I

Country Singer
Jimmy Rose:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG2HCkUgXCg

Regardless, we will know the results this week! It's pretty exciting stuff. Here's wishing everyone the best of luck in their career and chance on AGT. If Kenichi pulls out the win, I would not be shocked at all - plus he gets an extra point for also incorporating magic in his acts!

I think Collins proved he has star and stage abilities with his last couple tricks. Check out some of Collins' PAST performances this year on AGT.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter or check out my YouTube videos!


As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

Inside a magician's mind - MSN video

Check out this great MSN video - Inside a magician's mind

MSN contacted me to see if I could be their magician for a 18 part series called "From the Streets" based around unique people or entertainers around the country. Since I came "from the streets" before being adopted so to speak, it was a perfect fit. Of course, I agreed. It's a short and sweet clip, but was super fun to make that afternoon. Santa Monica has a lot of great people to mess with! Let's face it, 90 degrees out, beautiful people, tourist trap... equals easy pickings;)



Here's me and some of the crew form inside.com who was hired to do this series "From the Streets" for MSN. This was shot in Santa Monica, California on the popular 3rd street promenade.

As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

Learn Killer and Simple Magic Tricks

Looking to learn magic tricks? Look no further! Jay Sankey, one of my favorite thinkers in magic, stopped by my YouTube Channel to share some fun tricks anyone can do anytime. Check out these FOUR FREE TRICKS you can set up in seconds! I love teaching easy to do magic that have big impact. Unless you are going to do magic for a living, it's pointless to learn advanced psychology, pick-picketing and sleight of hand when you can be up and running in one minute! Enjoy my friends!



Was that not a blast to watch? 11 minutes went by in a blink. No, it was not hypnosis. It's the clean and fun teaching of my bud Jay Sankey. He teaches ENDLESS tricks over in his camp. Check it out at InsideDeception.com - You can tell him "The Ice Breaker" sent you. It's great stuff for all ages and skill levels. While you are here, check out my "Dating Magic" book.

If you are still reading and did not watch the video, the four tricks consist of:

1. Breaking a piece of stir stick off and making it vanish and appear under any location... a friends purse, a friends coffee, etc.

2. A hilarious "phone" trick! Make your phone vanish, catch on fire, break it, crush it or roll it into a ball and kick it away. 

3. An awesome prediction with fire and fingers... No, don't worry, we are professionals: Imagine drawing a hand on a napkin. Let your friend light a match and burn the underside of any finger they choose(on the napkin silly, not you!). "OUCH!" you say... and immediately show a massive blister PHYSICALLY on your finger tip THEY burned on the paper. I know you will be doing this today! :)

4. Lastly, a great bar bet to get a girls phone number!

Go check out Jay's online magic training school or check out my products as well.


As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

Collins Key Magician America's Got Talent

If you watch America's Got Talent, you certainly know the name and face of Collins Key! He took America by storm with his amazing auditions with mental magic. Unlike large, glamourous acts, Collins charms and defies logic with seemingly everyday, simple items. From predictions and influence to magic and sleight of hand, this kid is someone to keep on eye on! Isn't it refreshing to see a fun magic act by someone just being themselves? No Glitter, no hype.

After a couple days of brainstorming in the "secret lair"

I'm so proud to see him attack this pressure and television show engine like a pro. I can tell you first hand, as their creative consultant behind the scenes, that he has everything it takes to be the next superstar of magic. He has the hole package: hard work ethic you have to see to believe, supportive family, serious chops (that's magic talk for being a bad ass with your hands!), connection with fans and ridiculous charm and looks. Did I mention he's 6'4"?! In fact, he shut down the AGT twitter feed from so much female attraction. Very rarely does a contestant start of on a show as a completely unknown and generate this type of following so rapidly. Keep in mind he just turned 17. The host of AGT, Nick, said he's like the Justin Bieber of magic.

Check out his facebook on AGT

Collin's before it all took off. He aint a bad editor either!

If you do not watch AGT, here's some of the early auditions before he went to the finals. Trust me, there's a lot more in store with Collins. You've seen nothing yet.

Watch a dollar vanish to a popcorn bag:

Watch a chosen page from a book transport to an envelope:

A premonition appears in the most impossible place:

Using magic to get a date:

Collins smashes a $250,000 watch and alters time:

At AGT Finals. A YouTube Prediction:

At AGT Finals. Collins gets cards to switch in judges mouths:

And the show end with a new twist on some old tricks!

Check out Collin's Official Site

(UPDATE: As you very well may know, Collins made the top 6 finals day. We learn tonight the results!... The results are in and he made #5 in 2013! Not bad for a young, new magician!! We are going to see some great things from him in the future! You'll see;))

You can stalk him on twitter here: https://twitter.com/CollinsKey
You can follow me as well: https://twitter.com/richferguson

So funny - the emails and comments floating around... Listen, I'm proud of Collins Key for PUTTING HIMSELF OUT THERE on AGT at 16, now 17. I/he never said he was the most experienced magician... but he's the only one to make it far (and NO magician has ever made the finals) on the show and he has my respect and support for taking on the challenge and opportunity. So many people sit at home and complain about others who TRY. Get over yourselves, show some respect and wish others well. :) Life is short, support each other and you'll be rewarded.

Please SHARE this page and I'll be sure to add more of his AGT videos in one, nice concise spot.

As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

the UNORTHODOX collection DVD - Card Magic

Want to learn card handling and magic tricks? Get the UNORTHODOX collection - a DVD on card magic plus some other strange techniques with rubber bands, coins and more.

This DVD is like your own private lecture on card techniques and more outside the box ideas with cards and other objects. This DVD is 15 years in the making and ripped right from Rich's working material.

"I didn't start doing magic until my late 20's. If I saw magic on television, I'd try to come up with a way it was done. Most of my thinking was 'wrong'... but led to some very useful tools I use in my magic today! It's time to share it." - Magician Rich Ferguson

Learn a KILLER utility move that's a strange hybrid of a second deal, palm and double lift. Imagine being able to secretly switch cards, visually change cards, hide cards, add cards, produce cards and do dozens of other sleights using ONE unusual move.

It's available September 2013 through your favorite magic shop, from Rich Ferguson's Store or from Murphy's Magic Supply.


As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

The Sal Paradise Bakery and Sandwiches in SLO

The Sal Paradise - Bakery, Sandwiches & Focacceria (formerly Sal's Sandwiches and Beer) is located in beautiful downtown San Luis Obispo just catty-corner to the Mission. It's a magical place! Why do you ask? Well, first of all, the food is great and it's perfect for people watching. However, they are extra magical for asking yours truly to create one of their sandwiches. It's called The Magician. Let's me break it down for you...

This has been one of my favorite sandwich forever. The avocado takes down the spice a bit and makes it more creamy... you might say it's makes it "vanish" a little. It's a nice level medium spice with lots of FLAVOR vs just hot for the sake of hot. The cucumber gives it some more crunch and a tiny refreshing taste and texture. You might say that cucumber is "invisible" and subtle. You would not really notice it was there unless I told you. It's freaking GOOD. Try it. There is a tiny surprising kick of flavor and spice after you finnish eating. You might say it "appears."  Warning, it's thick like most of their sandwiches. Beware of rooftop mouth damage! Take you time eating it;)

If you are looking for places to eat in San Luis Obispo, visit Sal's. Ask for "The Magician"... It's so gratifying to make that sandwich "disappear!"

As you can see from Sal's Menu, The Magician consists of:

BREAD:
Dutch crunch

MEAT:
Salami
Turkey

CHEESE:
Pepper jack Cheese

VEGGIES:
Tomato
Cucumber
Romaine Lettuce
Pepperoncini
Avocado

CONDIMENTS:
SAL'S SAUSE (Spicy Chipotle Mayo/Ranch type flavor)

Check out Sal's in SLO or visit their other two hot spots downtown:

The Sal Paradise 
https://slosals.com
1028 Chorro Street
San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401
805.541-1300

Kreuzberg CA - Book Bar & Coffee Lounge
http://kreuzbergcalifornia.com
You never know who you'll run into at Kreuzberg. Check out this prank:

Sidecar - Dinner & Drinks
http://sidecarslo.com

Speaking of magic combined with eating, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN

Masters of Illusion Magic Show

Masters of Illusion showcases some of the greatest magicians from around the globe on one stage! Masters of Illusion LIVE is a traveling broadway level stage production, while Masters of Illusion is a made for TV magic special. They are produced by the same talented minds included Gay Blackstone, David Martin and Al Shwartz.

Sneak peek at the stage set up on MOI!

Yours truly will be featured in the 2013-2014 magic special Masters of Illusion on the CW network. This primetime television show will be unprecedented with 13 full episodes of magic! It's created by Associated Television International. Sony Pictures will be handling international programing. Stay tuned!

Later after filming with spectators on stage

A variety of magic and performers including escapes, grand illusions, comedy, mind reading, animals, sleight of hand and much more will be showcased. Performers include greats such as Franz Harary, Rick Thomas, Andrew Goldenhersh, Jonathan Pendragon, Christopher Hart and Ed Alonzo. It's a star-filled line up not to miss.

Spencer Horsman and Rich Ferguson

Ed Alonzo, Rich Ferguson and Christopher Hart

What did I do on the show? A great collection of magicians did a couple tricks each for various episodes. My two effects were quite different from one another. One was a comedy mind reading trick that goes wrong again and again... then is finally saved by someone randomly picked from the audience by the spectator on stage. It must be a weird feeling to freely think of a word and choose someone random that tells you the word! This type of effect leaves people someone confused, so it will be interesting to see how it looks on TV! The second effects was a bizarre demonstration of coincidence vs. fate. A couple is asked onto the stage. A deck of cards are shuffled and placed onto her hand. I take one card and place it in my jacket pocket sticking out, facing me. He picks a card out-loud... it is the one in my pocket. Coincidence, luck, chance? I think not! He holds his chosen card. He turns his card over and the mate to the card turns over in her hand. Fate? Luck? Chance? Next, we tear one card while the other is being held by the lady and the tear goes to the other card... then he writes something secret and special on the card and it also appears on the back of her card... Fate. I do not know how they do this stuff!!! Oh, wait a second...

As always, please consider bringing me in for your next exclusive private party or corporate event! Hiring "The Ice Breaker" to interact with your special guests makes your event unique, fun and memorable!

Thanks for sharing the magic! E-mail Rich Official Website Local: 805-234-7469 National: 877-RICH-FUN