Director's Notes: 222 - Makarov the Magical

About 6 or 7 years back, Night Vale was on the JoCo Cruise. We performed our show and got to share time on the ship with wonderfully nerdy fans and really amazing artists (like Maureen Johnson, Aimee Mann, Jean Grae, etc.)

And among the guest performers on the ship was a magician named Eric Jones. He's very good. Check him out if you get a chance. 

Of course, I don't believe in magic in the same way I don't believe in Santa Claus. But still, I love the suspension of disbelief that comes in all live arts, and part of the wonder of magic is the firm knowledge that magic isn't real, that there is a logical explanation for how this trick was done. And yes, you cannot think of one such solution.

My first night on the ship, I met Eric at the blackjack table. It's the one form of casino game (or gambling in any form) that I feel comfortable playing. And I was watching him win hand after hand, as I lost hand after hand. I allowed myself $100 to put into blackjack on that weeklong trip. Once it was gone I was done playing.

And I burned through $90 in about 20 minutes at that table next to Eric, and I think he won every hand. Finally, as I was putting $10 down for one final go, he bowed out. As he got up from the table I said, "I want your secret to winning here." And he said, jokingly but with a straight-face, "it's not a secret. it's magic. and you can have it. you'll start winning now."

He patted my shoulder and left. And I won the hand. And the next and the next. And 30 minutes later I was up $100. So I called it quits. Each night I played 30 minutes of blackjack, and each night I came out up, and by the week's end I had won about $450. 

I definitely don't believe in magic, but I believe magic is real, if that makes any sense. Magic is about wonder. It's about suspension of disbelief. It's about opening yourself up to all the illogical, inexplicable powers of the universe. Whether that means a miracle recovery from a health crisis, or just winning a couple of bucks at a casino table. 

Ugh listen to me going on about believing in things that aren't scientifically possible. Such a gemini thing to do. 

-Jeffrey Cranor
February 15, 2023