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As this article goes to press, The Gamesters have finished one month of their three-month run in Greg Thompson's "Dancin' in the Streets" at a brand new Harrah's Casino. They will also do their show at the S.A.M. National Convention in New Orleans and at Abbott's Magic Get -Together in Colon, Michigan. Then they pack their bags for Asia and South America. It didn't start out like this though for the Gamesters. We now go back some 20 years and over 100,000 miles to where it all began.
 New York to Philadelphia, 184 miles
Magic has surrounded Douglas Leferovich all his life. His first professional show was when he was four years old, performing the color-changing silks in front of his pre-kindergarten class. Something fun to do as a family, Doug, his older brother John, Dad, and the back-bone of the group, Mom, started doing birthday parties, school assemblies, and company picnics under the name, "Magic by the 3L's." From 1981 to 1987, Doug was fortunate enough to be a camper at Tannen's Magic Camp. Learning from experienced counselors and big name guest performers and lecturers, Doug saw for the first time that magic could be a career while always maintaining a fun and exciting atmosphere. He also met his good friend Sebastian Goldstein. From Doug's early stage acts at Tannen's to the many phases of the Gamesters act, Sebastian proved to be a great creative source. In 1990, at the age of 17, Doug performed magic during his speech as class president at his high school graduation. Leaving for college in the fall, he had already performed at Lincoln Center in New York and on NBC News.
 Austin, TX to Philadelphia, 1697 miles
Seth Yudof had always been fascinated by mechanical things. Seth's first experience with magic was simple rubber band tricks that his father showed him. But it was no surprise that he was completely amazed when his dad showed him how to get a marked coin into three nested matchboxes. At nine years old, Seth bought the "Presto Magic Set", and, along with his nested matchbox trick, he performed his first birthday party show for friends of the family. Though he maintained his interest in magic and never passed up an opportunity to buy a trick from a magic shop, Seth soon focused his artistic talents on music. Starting with his musical base in piano, Seth picked up the guitar in junior high school and never put it down. He became an accomplished musician and made many professional studio recordings of his own music. He concluded high school by performing at his high school graduation.
Magic 101: University of Pennsylvania
Doug and Seth met in Magic 101... No, that would have been too easy. Doug studied as a communications and marketing major. He chose this career path in order to showcase his creativity and his artistic abilities. Seth went to Penn to pursue a mechanical engineering degree. Though he continued to perform music, he wanted a more dynamic and artistic career than engineering. Seth often helped Doug to design and build new tricks for college performances, and Doug helped Seth paint banners when his band performed.
 The first sign of a potential joint act came senior year. For spring break, Doug and Seth went on a cruise ship with their college buddies. There was a talent contest on the ship, so Doug and Seth threw together a three-minute cigarette and card manipulation act just hours before performing it. They got a standing ovation on the ship, which left them wondering if they might actually have a future performing magic together.
With only one semester left before graduation, a magic consulting gig on the musical Barnum would change their future paths. In addition to consulting, the two were asked to do an act together in this college production. With two months to opening night and no duo act existing, Doug and Seth had a lot of hard work to do. Though they wore black tuxedos and they did many standard magic effects, the audience response was overwhelming.
Philadelphia to Los Angeles, 2,463 Miles
The only time Doug and Seth left the apartment their first year in Los Angeles was to work regular jobs, buy food, and get materials to create the first Gamester act. All of their free time went into rehearsing, choreographing, and building the act. They videotaped every rehearsal to learn from their mistakes and to help with the blocking of the segments in the act.
 Magic Mentor: Los Angeles to Eagle Rock, 32.4 Miles
If a superstar in magic wanted to give you advice on everything from how to do magic for a living to whom to send your tape to work all over the world, wouldn't you listen? Into the Gamesters' lives walked Tony Clark, who gave the Boys, as he has always referred to them, two extremely valuable things: his time and his experience.
As Tony continually worked with the Boys on their act, he saw their drive and their willingness not only to take in information, but also to share and help others. So, in August, 1995, Doug and Seth, at the suggestion of Tony, were counselors at West Coast Wizards Camp.
Southern California, 345 mile radius
Besides the obvious fun of working with some incredibly talented kids at West Coast Wizards, the Gamesters broadened their creative pool by meeting fellow instructors like Bob Markwood, Brian Foshée, Andy Amyx, and Erich Troudt. However, Erich would not only be a creative force by giving the Gamesters ideas for their act, he would help them get their act on stage.
 With the act at a semi-professional state, the Gamesters needed stage time. As you'll see, throughout the Gamesters' young career, magic has not only allowed them to do what they love but it has also proved to start life-long friendships. Erich, with the help of the theatrical magic and illusions of Enrico de la Vega and Lisa and the comedy/juggling of Bryson Lang, put together and started selling a four act show titled "Quadrafied." Since the Gamesters only had ten minutes to contribute, their friends did more time to help Doug and Seth focus completely on their new and ever-changing act.
As more and more magician friends saw their act, people realized that the guys were onto something bigger. So, after one year in L.A., Doug and Seth sat down and re-focused the act. They now started to view the Gamesters as a marketable entity and a character concept, and not simply a magic act. After talking to audiences after shows, the Gamesters determined that older people loved the zoot suits and the swing style music, and that the kids liked the bright colors and big, cartoony props. Looking beyond the stage, the Gamesters had a professional cartoonist draw characters of their on-stage personalities "Lefty" and "Sly", to further develop the overall concept.
 Los Angeles to Las Vegas, 324 Miles
It finally came in the mail. Never had one word on a postcard meant so much before. Accepted. Doug and Seth were notified that their act was accepted to compete at the S.A.M. convention in Las Vegas. Both Seth and Doug's parents as well as Tony Clark always encouraged them to set specific goals and work toward them. Though not your standard competition act, the Gamesters' goal was to take home the first-ever Originality Award. Everything in Vegas was just right. Doug's family had flown in from New York. Tony Clark on his dark night from his show Phantasy in Lake Tahoe was there. Erich flew in the night before the competition to help back stage. Enrico and Lisa were in the competition with them. The judges notified the contestants that this new award might not even be given out that year, so the Gamesters were thrilled when, on July 11, 1996 at 4:30 p.m., they won the Originality Award.
Los Angeles to New York, 2546 Miles
Back in L.A., Doug and Seth talked to their ever growing circle of magic friends, like Nathan Burton, and realized that they needed to construct a new telephone booth that was light weight, with the final goal that it would break down small enough to fit on an airplane as excess baggage. Along with this construction, another reconstruction of the act took place, this time the focus being the characters and not just the magic. Now, regardless of what magic effect they performed, Doug and Seth performed it as "Lefty" and "Sly." Everything started to make sense because each movement and magic effect had a motivation.
The new and improved version of the act was debuted on April 19, 1997 at the 88th Annual Salute to Magic in New York City. This great show is put on every year by S.A.M. Parent Assembly #1. It was like performing for family, especially because Doug has been a member of P.A. #1 since he was sixteen. Lots of words of encouragement and helpful hints by members after the show let the Gamesters know they were finally on their way to great things.
  
The future, countless miles
In the Gamesters' short career, they have developed a reputation for their energy and dedication, both on and off stage. How is Doug floating in the air on the cover? Like so many things the Gamesters do, I don't know. But, I'm sure it took hours of preparation and never losing sight of this extremely creative goal. Instead of focusing on the "how-did-they-do-it" side of the picture, I focus on seeing a great and complete photograph. Is this something you see on every street corner? Of course not... that's why the Gamesters are on the rise.
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