This is nearly three hours of video taken in November, 2008 at the first “Senior Pitchman’s Reunion” by Whit “Pop” Haydn and Nancy Magill.

Advertised as the “Senior Pitchman’s Reunion: 60 Years old or better–Fakers Only! No NCLs! No 40 Milers!” it took place at the Boulder Station in Las Vegas.

This video is an incredible look into the lives and work of pitchmen and women.

Pop Haydn with Arnold “The Knife” Morris and Phyllis

Many of these men and women are multimillionaires from selling svengali decks, slicers and dicers, knives, mice, squirmies, pens and medicine both in front of live crowds and on television. They tell wonderful tales about the joys and pitfalls of their craft, about the methods and tricks, about what it takes to be a pitchman, about how pitches are crafted and learned, about good delivery and timing and–most of all–about what it means to them and why they live the life of the pitchman.

This information is inspiring and helpful not only to potential Svengali or mouse pitchmen, but to anyone who has to gather a crowd, hold their attention and get a certain response from them.

The techniques that work for the pitchmen can be applied to almost any performance. This is like having a chance to meet many of the best and most successful pitchmen in the world, and have them share with you the secrets to their success.

For more information, or to buy, go HERE!

Here are some short clips of teaching session from “In the Life” with Doc Jon.

This is taken from almost four hours of video available as a $10 download at:

Pop’s Magic

Join School for Scoundrels in an amazing weekend with a real card and dice cheat who went by the name of Doc Jon. Doc lived an extraordinary life as a dealer, mechanic, cross-roader, and as a card and dice cheat for crime mobs in Las Vegas and Hawaii, as well as for the Yakuza in Japan. He sits and talks with us for nearly four hours on these videos, telling us his thrilling life story and talking about what it takes to be a successful cheat.

This is not a video for those with sensitive ears. Doc Jon uses more expletives and insensitive language than Tony Soprano, and talks about mob activities, brothels and strip joints as well as his cheating skills and stories.

He talks about being busted with a gang for drilling the slots on the floors of Las Vegas casinos, about betrayals and friendships in the world of professional gamblers, and about going to prison for running a juiced dice table in an illegal gambling house for the Milano Family in Los Angeles.It is fascinating to hear about this strange life from a man who has really been there, and who has spent time in prison and was nearly blown up by a car bomb as a result.

Doc Jon talks about how you develop the moxie to move under fire, and the difference between being a great card handler and a true card cheat. This is the real deal, and the authenticity and authority of the story is apparent from the very beginning. He teaches how to handle a deck of cards in a way that won’t make a pro grimace. He shows some never-before published cheating moves and advanced handlings and nuances on some of the classics. He explains chip stealing moves as well as card handling. He talks about what is actually useful and important and tips his method for marking and re-sealing a deck of cards for Blackjack. A great unpublished version of the Mexican Turnover is also shown.

This is a fascinating and gripping story filled with humor and danger, and a remarkable “real world” feel. This is a rare glimpse into a life to which few ever get a peek. Doc’s story explains how he moved from a young dealer for the house, just looking to learn how to protect his game, to a full-fledged card mechanic, crossroader and dice cheat.

For more info, or to Buy Now!

These two downloadable files contain more than two and a half hours of video, and are essential for anyone who has ever considered working in the pitch business. Anyone who has pitched a product will find in inspirational and touching. But magicians and other performers can also learn a lot about drawing and holding a crowd, controlling their thinking and making the people do what you want.

Pitchmen and women over 60 years old, No JCL’s! They each take time to talk about their work, give some advice, and tell their stories. The pitchman–demonstrating and selling a product on the street corner, in a both in a flea market, carnival or fair, in a special exhibition at Wal Mart or other big box store, or so often on television infomercial–is familiar to most everyone.

These are the people who sell magic card decks, blue-block sunglasses, dancing puppets, Ginsu knives and kitchen gadgets, and all the latest and greatest inventions for modern life that you can imagine. They demonstrate and then sell to the crowd whatever product they happen to be pitching.

But the life-style, skills and vicissitudes of the pitchman’s world are as mysterious and interesting to those outside it today as they have been for more than 100 years. This is a wonderful video that features more than twenty senior pitchmen–men and women who are 60 years or older or have been in the business more than 20 years. No “Johnny Come Lately’s.” Each one sits down in front of the camera and talks about this fascinating world, giving advice on pitching and talking about their lives, their expectations and what it takes to make it in the business.

They also tell wonderful and entertaining stories and jokes, and you can see the camaraderie, and practically feel the fun and warmth this groups shares with each other. Anyone who has pitched a product or thought about pitching for a living, or just finds people interesting and this lifestyle unique will find it inspirational and touching.

For more info or to download, go here: Pop’s Magic