Doc Dixon: Funny, Funny Funny.... Mind Seizure

2024-01-30

“Magic without humor is inhumane,” says Doc Dixon, a comedian magician, who luckily for his audience, delivers both in equal measure. He keeps the audience laughing so that they never see the magic trick coming, resulting in what he calls “mind seizures.” For Doc, it’s just as important to be fun as it is to be funny. This cat-and-mouse dynamic of delivering the unexpected may be an extension of his thrill-seeking personality and his desire for the unexpected, according to his handwriting. Bart reveals that Doc has a very particular ...

This cat-and-mouse dynamic of delivering the unexpected may be an extension of his thrill-seeking personality and his desire for the unexpected, according to his handwriting. Bart reveals that Doc has a very particular trait in common with the late broadcaster Larry King. Bart would know—he shares a wild story about appearing on Larry King’s show and how he made Larry laugh at the most inappropriate time.

There is such a diversity of venues for magicians to perform in that they will probably be the only survivors of the apocalypse—along with cockroaches. Doc explains the difference between performing at a corporate event versus a comedy club (besides the money) and the dreaded request that corporate hosts always make.

Before Doc was happily married, he made a request of his own to a former girlfriend, and her reaction was something of a mind seizure in itself. Join the fun (and funny) on this episode of The Bart Show to hear that story, as well as to learn the similarities and differences between magic setups, comic writing and comic structure, and why applause is like applesauce.

Quotes

“It's a good feeling. But you don't get addicted to applause. My job is to create a show that makes people want to clap and laugh a lot. So there's that kind of pride and craftsmanship. But do I have this kind of needy ego thing? Not really. I have that needy wife and kids who need to eat. (1:58 | Doc Dixon)
“I think a lot of what I do in terms of not just being funny, but being fun. I want to have fun with people. Because I think, I don't want to say it's a level above funny, but it's a different thing that the interactive nature of magic can do that a strict monologist can't or doesn't do, because it's not a fun interactive thing. But knowledge is knowledge. It's the basis of a good stand-up comedian.” (4:40 | Doc Dixon)
“A lot of magicians are great comedians, because that's what they go for. David Copperfield is the goat as far as magicians. Incredible. There's parts of his show that are funny. But I would not call him a great comedian. The parts of the show that are intended to be funny are indeed funny. Yeah. But the parts of the show where the wind is blowing through his hair. That's dramatic. It's dramatic. I don't do drama. But he's awesome.” (5:48 | Doc Dixon)
“Building dramatic tension is key. One classic joke is, ‘I remember before I was married being on the road, the women constantly, constantly banging on my hotel room door. I finally had to let them out.” (20:33 | Doc Dixon)

Links

Connect with Doc Dixon:

https://www.docdixon.com

https://www.instagram.com/doc.dixon/

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