The Traveler’s Tchotchke Award, a prestigious honor bestowed upon magicians who wield their craft with elegance, resourcefulness, and above all, the power of storytelling.

The Traveler’s Tchotchke Award: Where Simplicity Meets Sorcery

This coveted prize celebrates the fusion of two essential elements in magic: simplicity of props and the art of storytelling. Let us explore the essence of this remarkable award:

The Simplest Props, The Deepest Magic

1. Less Is More

In an age where elaborate illusions and grand apparatuses dominate the stage, the Traveler’s Tchotchke Award takes a different path. It honors magicians who create wonder using the humblest of tools—a deck of cards, a silk handkerchief, a single coin. These performers prove that magic resides not in complexity, but in the mastery of the ordinary.

2. Elegance in Simplicity

Picture a magician who, armed with a single matchstick, transforms it into a blazing inferno. Or one who conjures a rose from thin air, its petals unfolding with grace. These acts, seemingly unassuming, hold the audience spellbound. The Traveler’s Tchotchke Award recognizes such elegance—the ability to extract magic from simplicity.

The Power of Storytelling

1. Whispers of Mystery

Every trick, every illusion, carries a tale. The magician becomes a bard, weaving narratives that transcend the mundane. The Traveler’s Tchotchke Award seeks performers who infuse their acts with intrigue, leaving spectators pondering long after the curtain falls. These are not mere tricks; they are whispered secrets, shared across the veil of reality.

2. Stand-Alone Enchantment

The chosen stories are those that need no preamble, no elaborate setup. They stand alone, like ancient fables or forgotten spells. Imagine a magician who unfolds a yellowed map, guiding the audience through a lost city. Or another who reveals a locket, containing memories of love and loss. These tales captivate, even without the flourish of rabbits from hats or levitating assistants.

The Quest for the Traveler’s Tchotchke

Magicians vying for this award embark on a quest akin to a mystical pilgrimage. They seek inspiration in flea markets, dusty attics, and curio shops. Their props are not mere tools; they are artifacts imbued with whispers of forgotten enchantments. And when they step onto the stage, they carry with them the weight of centuries—the magic of simplicity and the allure of stories.

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The Travelers Trophy is named in honor of our brother & friend in magick Lary Kuehn, aka T. Everett Bookings, III, aka, The Traveler. His books on bizarre magic can be found here.

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