2001 Mindfreak on Broadway
sure that theatre was filled and that I could build the word
of mouth. While I was doing that, I was out there hustling,
I was talking for myself. I would literally go in and try to
sell a TV special, and eventually, because I had the live
show, I was able to get Dina Vanjelisti in to see the show,
and she was at that time from the ABC Family. She came
in and saw it and did a deal with me. I hired my lawyer at
the time to do the contract and I had a television special.
Myself and John Farrow, that’s all it was at the time. John
Farrow is still with me after 20 years. I didn’t have any
money or anything; he just did it because he believed in
me. We went and we shot a one-hour special, which was
part of something called 13 Days of Halloween. It was
13 days of original programming. We won, not only the
the world and never delivered anything, so I just did it
myself. After I did Madison Scare Garden I pursued trying to get magic builders to invest their illusions and
they could have a piece of me, and at the time, no one
did it and I’m so happy that they, because you know I
don’t have any partners.
I eventually wanted to put this show on in 2001, which
was Mindfreak on Broadway and 43rd. I was supposed
to play like 12 weeks there and the McMahons gave
me the opportunity to do it. It was a banquet; it wasn’t
even a proper stage or theatre. I had to have my cousin
build me a platform that was 11x12 and about 9 inches tall. It was in the round and I had just a few lights. It
was in a basement but I didn’t care. It was an opportunity and was a prime location, so everyday Nick and I
would go out, tuck my hair that was down by my thigh
into a hat and I’d happily go out handing out flyers. I’d
go out on stilts, I’d do whatever I had to do to make
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