A Four King Weekend, or, What I Did for Love

Let's get the nasty little detail that brought us all together this past weekend out of the way - Michael Mirth has cancer.  My dear friend, one of my Magic Tribe, one of the Pair of 3, has fucking cancer (no, I will not excuse my language).  

I met Michael at the Magic & Meaning conference 2 years ago.  At the time my goal for being there was fairly simple, I wanted a mentor.  I ended up with several, as I've mentioned before, but Michael was the first to step up - without knowing my full background and skill level, the man simply volunteered.  Since that time we've become solid friends, brothers really, and his advice has been invaluable as I've gotten back into performing.  So yes, on top of being a gifted & skilled magician, he's good people.

It's been a grim few months - concerned for Michael, not sure how to help.  The whole "entire country apart" thing doesn't make it easy to just drop in and do things to lighten the load.  On top of that, Michael has always gone quiet for blocks of time (sorry, Michael, calling you out on that, HA), so I could only imagine how he was doing, often imagining the worst.

Then, a rare call from Michael.  He had talked to the other member of our Tribe, Jonas Cain, and they were considering doing a benefit show to raise funds for his treatment and living expenses.  There was a pause, and the question was hanging in mid air, unasked.  I answered it anyway.  "I'm there."

Michael decided that, as there were going to be four of us performing (another friend of his, Phil Van Tee was added to the bill), that the show should be called "A Four-King Comedy and Magic Show."  The title certainly described what the four of us were bringing to the table, but more than that it made it clear that Michael wanted to keep it light.

I got to LA on Friday and Michael picked me up at the Burbank airport.  He was smiling, but I could see the moment I saw him that there was pain - and probably a lot more of it than he would admit to.  We had lunch, talked about the show, and I grilled him about the cancer.  The long and the short of it is, things are not good and our medical system is letting him down.  Maddening.

As Jonas was coming in much later that night, I decided to join Michael for his regular gig at a BBQ joint that night.  I recently edited a video of his live show, but had never seen him perform live, and as he went from table to table I was amazed at his skill to adjust to all the different audience dynamics that a restaurant gig throws at a magician.  Not a hint of health issues - he was large and in charge of the place, and had every table in the palm of his hand.  Only in the moments when the place emptied out would I see the tells - a grimace, a bit of a limp, a deep sigh.  But the second another family would walk in, BOOM!!  Ladies and Gentlemen, MICHAEL MIRTH is in da house!!

Saturday morning, Jonas picked me up from my AirBnb and we drove to LaVerne for lunch and a bit of a tech rehearsal.  Jonas Cain is our other Tribe member, rounding out our pair of 3, the brother who softens the rough, sarcastic edges of the group.  He is honestly one of the most positive, kindest souls I've ever met - he even runs a website called Hashtag Positivity.  I met Jonas the same weekend I met Michael, and when we were paired off for some exercise at conference, we were the last 3 left, hence the Pair of 3.  Jonas works harder and performs more than anyone I know, yet always has a smile on his face and an encouraging word, despite that challenges he has faced in the past.

At lunch I met Marcelo, our DJ and MC for the evening.  He and Michael had met through gaming, and I was happy to hear that Marcelo was but one of the people in LA who make up Michael's local support system.  More good people.

The event was held at LaVerne Brewing, where Marcelo has a regular DJ gig.  Part brewery, part tap house, it was the perfect setting to house the benefit, and I know we're all grateful to them for giving us the space for the evening.  After set up, we all paced, waiting for the audience, each with our own crosses to bear.  I could tell Michael was in a lot of pain, and Jonas and I were both hitting the jet lag wall (which for me included a blinding headache).  But as the house filled, we came to life - we were there to give these people a great show and raise some money for Michael.

The show is a bit of a blur, honestly.  

Phil, a veteran of comedy clubs and the Magic Castle, opened the show with a well-oiled routine that had the audience howling. 

 I came next, did what I do, and I'm told it went well.

  

Next was Jonas, the Purveyor of Positivity, and he rocked the house... smooth, funny, totally engaging (his bit with Michael had me in tears).  

Finally, the man of the hour, Michael Mirth.  It was a tremendous performance, a Master in his element.  If anyone in that audience questioned why this man is so loved and respected, they didn't by the end of the set.  He closed with a beautiful "Snowstorm" routine, and as the last flakes came down and he took a deep bow, the crowd stood as one for a standing ovation - not a dry eye in the house.

You would think that nothing could possibly top that evening, but you would be wrong.  I won't lie, there was some serious sleeping in the next morning, but Michael and I grabbed lunch, spent some time browsing The Magic Apple magic shop (my first time - thank goodness there are still a handful of Brick & Mortar shops left), and reflected on the night.  Always my trusted Mentor, Michael gave me some critiques of my act, and suggested ways to make it better, and he had, as always, some wonderful ideas.  Michael told me that the event had turned out better than he imagined, both from a show perspective and the money raised.

The last stop for the weekend was the Magic Castle, the holy temple of magic in the heart of Hollywood.  Michael is a member, and although he wasn't officially slated to perform, several floor managers grabbed him and had him do several close-up sets around the Castle.  I watched the same tricks many times that night, and even having a bit of an idea of what he was up to, Michael still fooled me every time.  Yes, I became a gushing school boy when I met Jack Goldfinger (of Goldfinger & Dove), and Milt Larsen, the father of the Magic Castle.  I got to see my friend Clinton Combs from the Mystery School, became friends with Bob Caroll, a friend of Jonas's and a talented magician in his own right... even walked past Gay Blackstone (even if I didn't realize it until Michael told me).  Still, I did not let Michael get too far out of sight.  I was thrilled, as always, to be at the Magic Castle, but I was there for my friend.

Michael drove me back to my room after the Castle.  We were both pretty quiet, lost in our thoughts and pretty much spent from the weekend.  As we said our goodbyes, the pain was obvious on his face - physical?  Mental?  Both?  It was hard to say.  Suddenly, the Four King Weekend was over, and everything that goes with endings.  

Michael Mirth has cancer.  We did some things that I hope helped him out, but the road ahead is long and rocky.  If you feel it, Michael does have a GoFundMe page, and if anyone in the greater LA area has an event coming up, perhaps a holiday company party, reach out to Michael and he'll make it an event to remember.  These are the things we do for love.