* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*  New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine 
*  www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #35
Date: Sunday 20th August 2000
Editor: Alan Watson
www.alan-watson.com
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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editors Message
2. Illusionist Killed Almost Instantly
3. Danny Archer - great commercial routines
4. "Protecting Magician's Secrets"
5. Magic school up and running
6. Magic report from Israel
7. Magic Cruise on the Q.E.2.
8. The show "Lounge Wizard"
9. Competition
10. Escamotage 1, Escamotage 2
11. Cape Town calling
12. Fantasy In Black 2000 lecture
13. Going blind in my right eye
14. Pat-Trick & Melissa - engaged
15. I'm based in Amsterdam - Jonathon Acorn
16. Miniature Baseballs - Mike Rogers
17. Information about different clubs in Australia
18. Charlie Chaplin in United Arab Emarites
19. Pet Expo in Hamilton
20. Update on the Day of Magic - October 22nd
21. A reminder to "Magicana" contributors
22. Diarise these events
23. News Items
24. MagicNZ e-zine archives
25. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine
26. Subscription Management
27. Contact Information.

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1. Editors Message
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Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One 

A big THANK YOU! to Gene McCarthy who has generously sponsored a new top end 
computer programme for running a sophisticated on-line Internet magazine. This 
will be a major step forward as it will help me automate and offer a more professional 
service for the MagicNZ e-zine.

Great to catch up with Phil Cass and Phillippa who flew into Auckland on Thursday 
for a one-off corporate show on Friday.

Leanne Seagraves, daughter of Scottish professional magician Bill Seagraves, 
e-mailed me to let us all know Bill has purchased a property in Taupo. A container 
with all his household effects including his computer will arrive shortly and 
we look forward to his contributions soon.

Have you diarised the Danny Archer lecture in your area yet? If not, do it NOW! 
For more details see item 22.

Great to see Auckland magician, Peter Evans is up and about and has recovered 
from pneumonia.

Remember if you have any magic news please drop me a line: alan@watson.co.nz

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2. Illusionist Killed Almost Instantly
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Message from Leo Ward

News from the U.K. illusionist Richard Kyall who won the British Ring Shield 
a few years ago was killed while doing a commentary for a stunt show. According 
to press reports he was laying down at the end of a line of people for a motorcycle 
ramp jump & the motorcycle landed on him he was killed almost instantly, his 
real name was Colin Burns he was 59.

On a separate issue the stage competition in Auckland at the Dolphin Theatre 
says no smoke or fire. Does this include cigarettes & Fantasio candles or do 
they mean flash pots & fire torches?

I apologise for the awful grammar but I'm using a tiny & I mean tiny keyboard 
in an Internet cafe in Helsinki.

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3. Danny Archer - great commercial routines
----------------------------------
Message from Tony Griffith (UK)

Thanks again for the NZ Newsletter. I really enjoy reading it as it brings back 
many memories of my three visits to NZ. I think you are doing a great job for 
New Zealand Magic.

We will miss Bill Seagreaves over here, but he is your gain. A great magician, 
and a really nice man as well. I must call in and see him when we are next in 
the Taupo area.

Glad to see Danny Archer is lecturing for you. We had him over here in the UK 
earlier this year. I hosted his lectures in Bath and Weston-super-Mare. You will 
all enjoy his magic, and he has some great commercial routines. If you are near 
where he is lecturing, make sure you catch him. You won't regret it. Apart from 
being a very good magician, he is also a most charming man as well.

Likewise, you must also see Daryl. Even if you don't do any of his routines, 
you will enjoy the personality and presentation. He has to be the best magician 
of his style of magic in the world today. Make sure you have a set of coloured 
pocket knives to hand as he has a fantastic routine.

It was my pleasure to have organised his recent 27-lecture venue of the British 
Isles in May of this year. He got tremendous reactions wherever he went. He and 
Alison make a lovely couple, and Judith and I were invited to his wedding a couple 
of years ago. It was a low-key affair, with Michael Ammar his best man. In fact 
I was the only other magician there........and no magic was performed. I am staggered 
by Daryl's Millennium Lecture Tour. Look up his schedule on his web site, and 
you too will be amazed. He will have done over 200 lectures by the time he is 
finished. He gives out tremendous energy when he performs, and how he does this 
night after night amazes me.

If you are into card magic, you can do no better than get a copy of Steve Beams 
Semi Automatic Card Tricks, Volume 3.It is packed full with great commercial 
card magic. It follows the format of vols 1 and 2. I am already using a number 
of Steve's routines in my corporate work. Contact Steve of 919 387 2999 (USA) 
for details and orders. 

On a personal note I will shortly be undertaking a mini lecture tour myself of 
the UK. Next March Judith and I will be doing a lecture tour of Norway and Sweden 
We will be travelling by train and really looking forward to seeing the beautiful 
scenery there. May 2001 will see another lecture tour of the Eastern part of 
the USA, while the ' Land of the Long White Cloud' is still scheduled in our 
diary for late 2001. On this visit we will look forward to renewing friendships 
and making new ones, and showing some new magic.

Regards to all of you

Tony Griffith
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tonygriffith

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4. "Protecting Magician's Secrets"
----------------------------------
Message from Zaney Blaney (USA)

Steve Dacri's love of the Lance Burton Show hit the mark right on....Lance is 
a great magician, and a great guy. It appears everyone agrees. 

Lance is doing my Zaney Blaney Ladder Levitation on his forthcoming TV Special. 
It's in the can, but the airdate is not set yet as far as I know. I just finished 
a year's work building six more of my illusion. I hope its appearance on Lance's 
show will spur a few more sales.

I am almost certain you probably send your newsletter to Abb Dickson, our new 
president of WAM. (e-mail address is: AbbDickson@mindspring.com I will forward 
this copy to Abb to make sure he knows of your efforts. He can pass on any new 
WAM news. And there is news at the moment, about WAM's newly published book, 
"Protecting Magician's Secrets". Also our proposed new legislation we will try 
to get Congress to enact. This will be our next big goal, and various "stars" 
of magic will sign on to help accomplish the task. But let Abb pass on the details. 
He is doing a great job. And it is a BIG job.

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5. Magic school up and running
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Message from Chuck Fayne (Aust)

Things here are going well. I have the Magic school up and running and so far 
the people who are truly interested have found me. 

In December we will be here three years (hard to imagine) we get our citizenship 
in a couple of months as soon as they decide to have the ceremony. I will head 
back to the States in May for the Sacramento A! Multi media convention, then 
a week at the Magic Castle, again in May...for Rich Bloch and then down for another 
week at the Castle...Lots of travelling but its worth it to see all the gang. 

The kids are growing like a weed--my son is going to be 13 (size 12 foot) and 
my daughter is going to be 11...I am going to be older...your kids must be moving 
out...Please write and let me know how you all are. See ya down the road...chuck

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6. Magic report from Israel 
----------------------------------
Message from Yosi Notkowitz (Israel)

The Joint meeting of The SAM Holy Land Assembly 184 and ISPAM-Israeli Magic Club 
took place on August 13 at the Avia Hotel in Yehud. The meeting was opened by 
Dandy we reported about the spoons bending competition that was in Jerusalem. 
The magicians had to bend as more spoons in 5 minutes. The first prize winner 
was Yoav Eliyao who got the winning certificate from Dandi. This new competition 
should be copied by other Assemblies, it was great with a lot of good public 
relations.

Yoav Eliyao performed his spoons show, he bent 50 spoons in 3 minutes with a 
revolver, eyes and with a sector companied by oriental music. Our guest, Michael 
Takeoff from Baltimore/Maryland showed us his interesting video about "education 
magic for children" and performed a very splendid comedy show with CD-striker, 
comedy wand, rings, and Israel flag. Michael's show was very good, very comedy 
with a very good showmanship. Dalya Peled performed a card trick about eyes looking 
test. After dealers business our summer meeting finished.

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7. Magic Cruise on the Q.E.2.
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Message from Trev Lewis (Wales)

For the last six years Repro Magic have held a Magic Cruise on the Q.E.2. Trevor 
Lewis has hosted each cruise and guest lecturers and performers have included 
Paul Daniels, Bob Ostin, Peter Kane, Patrick Page, Mel Moore, Tom Owen, Simon 
Lovell, Alicadabra and Walt Lees. This year the Cruise takes them to Cape Town 
but don't try to book this one as the Cruise is fully booked. 

For the record the dates are 15th November to 2nd December. Next year the routine 
changes a little with a flight to Las Vegas, some magical days at this venue, 
fly to New York spend a couple of days there and return to Southampton on the 
Q.E.2. Check with Repro Magic if you are interested. 

----------------------------------
8. The show "Lounge Wizard"
----------------------------------
Message from Ross Skiffington (Aust)

Here is a JPEG of the poster for the show "Lounge Wizard" that I am presenting 
at Capers in Melbourne and the Glenn Street Theatre Sydney.

Dates:
Capers in Melbourne October 2,3,4,5 Glenn Street Theatre Sydney November 27th 
to December 10th.

It is a 90 minute plus (there will be one intermission) theatrical presentation 
that will introduce some character magicians all played by myself and Wendy. 
We are both looking forward to doing it and hopefully we will all have a lot 
of fun! See you there!

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9. Competition
----------------------------------
Message from Paul Gordon (UK) - Viallupade@btinternet.com

I thought you might like a "Magic NZ ezine only" competition/special offer. If 
anyone is interested in my book Nocturnal Creations - the first 10 'correct' 
emails (plus postal addresses) I receive (with correct answer to question below) 
can have the book for ONLY £10 (or USA $15) - saving you a LOT of money! (Send 
cash in post if outside of UK.) Book will be sent airmail. Q: Aside from Nocturnal 
Creations, name any other of Paul Gordon's Hardback books. Answers to: www.thebestinmagic.com 
- click on my email to reply, and note my postal address. (I will notify the 
first ten correct entrants asap.) 

-------------------------------------
10. Escamotage 1, Escamotage 2
-------------------------------------
Message from Barry Price (USA) - Barrymprice@cs.com

I have three new books out, all beautifully illustrated and highly accurate.

They are: Escamotage 1, Escamotage 2 and Palming For The Terrified. Thankfully 
sales have been brisk and steady.

I also have a new routine I cautiously would say it's a seminal routine. What 
do you think of the effect? 

Performer shows an American silver dollar, waves his hand over it and--presto!--there 
are now two half dollars. Again the hand passes over the other and, instantly, 
there are now four quarters. Would Price end there? Never, sir!

Again the hand waves over the open hand and--voila!--there is now a handful of 
U.S. dimes in place of the four quarters.

I put my hand in the air and--flash!-- a coin purse appears. The purse is brought 
over the closed fist. The purse is touched to the fist and, the grand finale--a 
fistful of pennies appears. The routine ends here.

Those who have seen the routine, well, the answer is predictable. I must say, 
it blew them away.

By the way Alan, I have a completely different lecture that I just did at the 
Castle. It was extremely well received.

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11. Cape Town calling
-------------------------------------
Message from Wolfgang Riebe 

Just returned from Europe and busy doing some TV shoots this week.

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12. Fantasy In Black 2000 lecture
-------------------------------------
Message from Don Drake (USA)

I'll be taking my Fantasy In Black 2000 lecture on the road starting Sept 26 
in Colorado Springs. I too have lectured at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and 
Kas (the guy in charge of the lectures) told me it was a very strong lecture, 
and he liked it. I'll be in Wichita KS on Sept. 20, Magic Inc in Chicago on Oct. 
3, and I have several lectures in the NYC area up through Halloween. Here are 
some of the quotes on my black art, from some famous magicians:

"Anyone can take Dondrake's black art, and build a million dollar act out of 
it!" Lance Burton

"I saw Dondrake lecture at the Magic Castle, I thought the lecture was very strong, 
I liked it." Kaz (at the Magic Castle) Feb. 20.

"Dondrake is a black art wizard! I use his black art in my act!" The Amazing 
Jonathon.

"Buy Dondrake's book!" Frances Willard

"I'm sure Dondrake's book will excite and inspire many magicians in the future!" 
Norm Nielsen

"I use Dondrake's black art materials, close up! Allan Ackerman

" Amazing techniques that the world will never see!" Jeff McBride

" Who says you can't use black art close-up?" Lee Asher

If any lecture club is interested in an entirely different and new type of lecture, 
please get in touch with DONDRAKE at:dondrake@aol.com. or go to black art secrets:
http://member.aol.com/dondrake/home.htm.

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13. Going blind in my right eye
-------------------------------------
Message from Trevor Yates (ZA)

I hope to be able to give you more news for your excellent newsletter after my 
operation. I am going blind in my right eye, and like Ron I have to have an operation. 
First they have to treat glaucoma an eye infection. They will be admitting me 
on the 21st; for tests and operating on Tuesday the 22 August. I am dictating 
this letter to my wife, Duille - who types very slowly. That's ok because I'm 
dictating the letter very slowly.

I would like to tell you of my trip to the U.K. last month where I tried to meet 
up with Wayne Dobson. Cheers for now and thanks for a magnificent newsletter 
and all about FISM.

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14. Pat-Trick & Melissa - engaged
----------------------------------
Message from Pat-Trick & Melissa (Aust)

Melissa & Myself have just got engaged and are hoping to actually tie the knot 
in January 2001 at Las Vegas around Desert Seminar time, If any NZ magicians 
are going to be there they can join the party.
----------
Editor:
CONGRATULATIONS to your both, Michele and I are thrilled for you both. 

-------------------------------------
15. I'm based in Amsterdam - Jonathon Acorn
-------------------------------------
Message from Jonathon Acorn (NZ)

Well it's a bloody mixed bag of a summer over here (I'm based in Amsterdam) Hot 
days cold days, wet days and so on. Ho Hum ...I guess I get enough sun anyway! 
It's always quite an experience to arrive in Amsterdam after the regimented way 
of things to 'anything goes'!!. I love it here mostly except for the doggy doo 
and the general messiness.

I find myself walking and biking around constantly looking at all of the quaint 
architecture and tree-lined canals full of picturesque house barges. etc.

I had a clown festival to work in as soon as I got here. So there I was on stage 
in Vondel Park generally retrying to remember some Dutch words to throw in at 
the appropriate places when I found myself looking at a familiar face looking 
at me.....Steve London!!!!!! The last time I saw Steve was on the Gold Coast 
when we were working for the City Council there .So Steve was on his way to Poland 
to busk at some festival. He is over here for the summer season and then I think 
he is off back to Oz!

A few days later I was in Vlissingen ...a seaside port (Holland) who hosts a 
large festival each year. I love this festival, the audience are such fun and 
the organisers are great people. Once again the damn weather played up, but rain 
did not stop play!!!

Not only was the weather a hassle..so was my trundler (trolley). On the Sunday 
it was raining quite a lot and I had to walk to the rain cover site. To do this 
I had to cross 3 roads. In the middle of each road my trundler's wheel fell off. 
Each time stopping traffic and each time looking more like a Laurel and Hardy 
movie. This was the pre show I think!

So next on the agenda was Austria and to a City called Linz. This is Hitler's 
Birth place so no German Jokes!!!!! Again a very beautiful city with mind-boggling 
architecture that constantly kept me looking up...much to my personal endangerment!!!! 
Yes I bumped into lots of friends!!!!!!!Constantly!!!!!!

Austria has of course the scenic Alps and Tyrol etc ...it doesn't have the food 
for me though...Only so much Sausage is interesting.

Gent (Belgium) holds a lovely festival and this town next to Brugg is ancient. 
Castles and Cathedrals and cobblestones. All connected by canals. I climbed up 
one of the churches spires ....450 steps!!!! What a view....not a hill to be 
seen! So then a city in North Germany...Bremen sitting on the banks as a big 
river. A large festival called La Strada. (the street). Hard work but lovely 
audiences.

I'm working at Madame Tussauds at present...entertaining the crowds waiting to 
go in (just like Rainbows End!!!!) It's a couple of days a week which covers 
my costs and lets me get on with working on some new magic. I have bought a very 
nice set of Cups from the local magic shop - cost me a fortune, but I'm really 
enjoying working with them.

Nick Nicholas was over here for a couple of days but is now back at Covent Gardens.

Rob McClaren is doing well here in Amsterdam. He is working as a stand-up Comic.
 
I'm off to Switzerland soon and then Berlin ...then I go to England to see my 
brother before going back up to Japan for a while
then back to Auckland. I'm hanging out to go fishing!!!!!Well every body this 
letter was as bad as a slide show so I will finish for now. Good luck and keep 
smiling!!!!
Acorn

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16. Miniature Baseballs - Mike Rogers
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Message from Mike Rogers (USA)- RogersCard@aol.com

Many thanks to everyone for your strong support of my products over the years. 
This note is to let you know about a new item I'm adding to my line of Miniature 
Baseballs.

In addition to the standard white having red stitches I'm now offering the same 
balls in red leather having black stitches. They are absolutely beautiful. Of 
course I'll always have the standard white balls.

Same sizes and same prices. 

E mail me for a complete price list of my items.

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17. Information about different clubs in Australia
-------------------------------------
Message from Graham Etherington (Aust)

>From time to time I get requests for information about who the contacts are, 
for different clubs in Australia. Because of this, I have now included a page 
on my Website giving basic information for each one. These may be seen at www.mrtricks.com.au/clubs.html 
It is up and running now although I am still waiting for information from W.Aust.

-------------------------------------
18. Charlie Chaplin in United Arab Emirates
-------------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany (NZ)

Well, here I am as Charlie Chaplin in the UAE. What an amazing place, incredibly 
hot, (about 30 degrees at 6am when I arrived and climbing). The response has 
been overwhelming; to the point where I think many of the people here believe 
I am the real Charlie Chaplin! On my first day, I had a man come up and say how 
much he enjoyed my father's work. My agent said to him "Don't be silly ... it 
was his grandfather!" Almost on a daily basis we have had press conferences, 
already filmed several TV shows, which are both live and pre-recorded. 

I am working with a Laurel and Hardy duo from England who are amazing. The three 
of us go out in character after work and are swamped by people. The shows are 
going great and already hotels are wanting to know when I will come back. If 
I can get myself a contract that would last several months here then that would 
be great.

It's very different than working anywhere else in the world. There are so many 
nationalities and the many different versions of the name Charlie Chaplin that 
I've heard are staggering. To be able to work here isn't easy because of government 
regulations. Every entertainer has to go through strict government regulations 
and a process that takes months to work out.
 
There are heavy fines if you are caught performing anywhere without a licence. 
Every act is screened and not all are allowed in to the country for whatever 
reason. Every hotel will have undercover agents checking on the entertainers!! 
The dancers in the show where I'm staying are not allowed to mix and mingle with 
guests and during their breaks have to go upstairs. 

It's not like at home where you just turn up to a show and do your gig. Here, 
every time you perform in a hotel, the hotel has to pay 700 dollars for you to 
perform (a licence)!! I had no idea of the impact that Charlie Chaplin would 
have in this part of the world. Thanks to Wayne Rogers for his help in this new 
show, the new comedy magic and ideas are working wonderfully Wayne, especially 
the new appearing 'wooden' ladder.

Next week I take the show to London then Holland. While in London my agent here 
has arranged some meetings with agents who book cruise ships and other hotel 
shows based out of London. Priscilla and I now realise that New Zealand is not 
the place to be for this type of show so we are seriously thinking about moving 
to where the action is, which I think might be Europe.
 
We have a lot to talk about. Priscilla has been offered a six-month contract 
here in Dubai with her Latin/American dancing but we still have some more contracts 
to mull over before we can accept anything.

-------------------------------------
19. Pet Expo in Hamilton
-------------------------------------
Message from Bill and Mandy Reid (NZ)

Mandy and I had a great time at the Pet Expo in Hamilton last weekend. There 
was a great crowd through the show, rained Saturday and a fine sunny day Sunday. 
Our shows went well, although we had one or two interesting moments. Both Mandy 
and I lived in Hamilton for a number of years, and it was good to catch up with 
people we had not seen for some time, the only magician that we caught up with 
was Graham Rogers, who was also at the show.

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20. Update on the Day of Magic - October 22nd
-------------------------------------
Message from Tony Wilson (NZ) - twilson@xtra.co.nz

We have received 14 registrants in the last seven days and numerous enquires.

DARYL has also e-mailed to say how much he and his wife Alison are looking forward 
to their New Zealand visit. They plan to have a few days rest in Vanuatu after 
their busy Singapore and Australian visit before flying to Auckland so they will 
be refreshed and ready to enjoy the big day.

It's first in, best seats, so book NOW.

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21. A reminder to "Magicana" contributors
-------------------------------------
Message from Michael Woolf (NZ) - Editor "Magicana" Magazine

I'm working on the issue for October/November: please send your contribution 
as soon as possible. 

The next issue looks to be the best yet!

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22. Diarise these events
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Monday 2nd October Auckland - Danny Archer lecture
Tuesday 3rd October Palmerston North - Danny Archer lecture
Wednesday 4th October Wellington - Danny Archer lecture
Thursday 5th October Christchurch - Danny Archer lecture

Sunday 22nd October - IBM Ring 160 Day of magic - Auckland

Thursday 12th - 16th April (Easter) 2001 - 26th New Zealand Magicians' Convention 
- Christchurch

If you require more information about the above events go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive 
to research for more information.

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23. News Items 
-------------------------------------
If you have any news items that you feel the majority of our subscribers would 
be interested in please e-mail me so I can include them in the next e-zine.

The magician who e-mails me a particular news item FIRST will receive full credit 
at the top of that item.

If the news is of major importance I will send them out immediately as a Newsflash.

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24. MagicNZ e-zine archives
-------------------------------------
Back issues of the MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive

Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access.
User Name: ezine 
Password: newzealand

When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded.

Eg 001nov6.txt first three numbers denote issue number then the date.

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25. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine
-------------------------------------
You will now be informed well in advance of coming events and kept right up to 
date with the latest news. 

MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, late on Sunday night.

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26. Subscription Management
-------------------------------------
Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. 
We value every subscriber and respect your privacy.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html

The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors.

Neither MagicNZ nor Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of 
any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. 

We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit.

>> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied 
in its ENTIRETY <<

(c) Copyright 2000 Alan Watson

-------------------------------------
27. Contact Information
-------------------------------------
Alan Watson
Ph. (9) 483-9274
Fax. (09) 483-9274
Mobile 025 95-7070 
e-mail alan@watson.co.nz
www.magician.co.nz
www.magicianz.com