KOZMO

thats me on the left and a guy a busker named sketch in the middle and kozmo on the right we're in new orleans

People are always asking me my opinion about Koz, so here’s my two cents;

I first met Kozmo back home in new Orleans when I was learning how to street perform professionally. We started talking about street performing and he started bitching about his day and I told him, “what are you talking about you’re living THE DREAM, your doin it!”

When ever I talk to Koz this is the story he always brings up. Then he tells me that what Cellini gave him he could never repay…

Yeh fellahs, he learned from Cellini.

He also took instruction from Gazzo.

He has been the biggest voice in promoting Cellini’s name in the united states and one of the biggest in promoting busking for magician’s through film not to mention other venues.

When I was learning, it was these dvds that were crucial for the speed of my learning.

When I came back to the states from Europe, New Orleans wasn’t workable [huricane Katrina]. And it was Kozmo who directed me to good solid pitches over the phone around the country so I could support myself.

He’s the one who told me about ocean city.

When I wanted to meet Danny hustle in Boston {one of my heros at the time}, it was kozmo that made that happen.

When I wanted to learn how to make bigger hats, Kozmo showed me his methods.

Back home in new Orleans we would hear tales about the size of his hats, so me and the other fellahs spent a week hangin around and watched his hats and they were big, just like we heard.

The thing about Koz is when he goes out to the pitch, it’s NOT ABOUT BEING A MAGICIAN, tradition, perfect mechanics, artistic integrity, style, finesse, good taste and form [not that he doesn’t happen on these occasionally].

With Kozmo and this is important fellahs - It’s ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT AND THE MONEY.

Yeh, ENTERTAINMENT AND THE MONEY, the thing most of us forget as magicians. Maybe one of the more important of the top ten.

When Cellini told us, “there is no art without money “ Koz took this to heart!

Is Koz important?

Well, if you think making money at busking is important then yeh, he‘s important.

But if you think magic is more important, you might have a problem.

Don’t get me wrong from what he has told me he loves doin magic and some stuff he does he does impeccably.

But with our tradition he is not a fanatic. Sacred doesn’t come to mind for me with Kozmo.

You see, I believe I am a fanatic and what bothers me, is I feel Kozmo is much more talented then me. Both mechanically and entertainment wise.

He has been workin the street longer then me and it shows and I don’t believe I will ever catch up.

Insult to injury, he makes stronger hats.

I’ am not flattering him, infact, this is my honest opinion and I truly wish it was not true.

Do we owe him thanks....yes.

Even if mine is reluctant.

Thanks Koz wish I could repay you but I don’t see a way.

I would hope one day that he would hold our art sacred also……no wait a minute that would give him even more reason to be cocky and he’s already too cocky to hang around with.