* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #289 Date: Sunday 10th October 2004 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.alan-watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================   1. Editor’s Message   2. The Magic Circle Centenary Celebrations - SOLD OUT   3. Paul Daniels Walks Off Reality TV show   4. IBM International President Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures   5. Governors Proclaim October 25-31 As National Magic Week   6. New, Houdini Beer Stein   7. Help From Viking Magic For Those Affected By Hurricanes   8. The Ipswich Magical Society’s Annual Convention   9. Cal Weisman Passed Away   10.  More Black Art Breakthroughs   11. "Magic In Las Vegas" For October, 2004   12. Readers Of Out Of The Hat   13. Norwegian Magician Living In Thailand   14. Latest Rip Off From - Magic Makers Inc   15. Comedy Color Changing Rose - Jamie-G   16. The Amazing Orchante Saga   17. e-zine Archives   18. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editors Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Drive by shooting at Siegfried & Roy's house. Go to: www.cnn.com/2004/US/10/04/siegfried.roy.shooting.ap/index.html -------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. The Magic Circle Centenary Celebrations - SOLD OUT ----------------- Message from David Beckley (UK) Reserved places for The Magic Circle Centenary celebrations in July 2005 have sold out 10 months before the opening day on 20 July 2005. There is now a waiting list and anyone interested in joining this list should complete and return the registration form (available on www.TheMagicCircleCentenary.co.uk) but send no money at this stage. Nearer the opening date any available places will be allocated in the order of application. ----------------- 3. Paul Daniels Walks Off Reality TV show ----------------- Message from Paul Daniels (UK) Regarding the 'un-reality' show, The Farm, there really was no hidden agenda. In the past we have turned down Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here for a very simple reason, we found them boring. There is nothing to do on those programmes but sit around all day and look at each other. When The Farm was proposed we were still hesitant but it was put to us that we would be WORKING and that the concept of the programme was to teach us 'townies' about the way the countryside guys work and about the food chain. Townies in general have no knowledge at all of such stuff and as this show had been so successful in other countries we started to consider it. As soon as other shows found out a bidding war started and the money did go up. a LOT, but we decided to do The Farm for half the money another show offered for a very simple reason, we found the idea interesting. The production company, by the way, did not tell us who the others were going to be and names sort of drifted in and out of the newspapers with no one except ourselves being named as definite. Being me I went through the rules and the contract with a fine toothcomb and we were picked up at different times to go and do the show. Debbie went in first as I had a late night cabaret to perform. On arrival I had my first surprise. We had been told we were going to stay in a farmhouse and I assumed that it would be 'of today' but this was the set from The Waltons. We had been told about the dormitory arrangements; no cameras in the bedrooms; there would be penalties like no coal and no hot water if we failed the tasks; in my contract it stated that the company WILL provide writing materials on request, and so on. This place had only one shower space, with a hand wash basin and a toilet in the same space, for all the men to use, and one for the girls. Totally inadequate. Farmers don't live like this. Farmers are modern, have palm pilots, computers help to run the farm, dishwashers etc. They do not live in the 18th century. There were cameras in the bedrooms and the girls had to get dressed in a cupboard. The AGA would not work properly and this turned out to be because one of the instructions had not been given to us. The water would switch to ice cold. Oh yeah? I believed that these were more in line with Big Brother tactics to fray nerves and get the participants grumbling. Why can't TV show people just being happy any more? I like happiness. After 2 days of requesting the writing materials none were forthcoming. Add to that the simple fact that families could not watch this programme because of the endless non stop stream of foul language, even beyond the F word, and I knew that this was not where I should be. I also felt that nothing would change unless someone did something positive so I walked. I did not enjoy leaving; I wanted to get stuck in. Debbie stayed in The Farm. I'll find out why when she comes out, but it was her decision and she has done very well on there I think, showing people just how competent she is. I have always known that, but the world views magicians' assistants as bimbos. As for me, I have already done two more paid TV shows since I came out so it hasn't harmed my business at all, nor will it. There were so many other little things that I don't want to be boring by listing, but for 'magicians' to write in quite personal criticisms when they don't know the full story, and when they have watched 50 minutes of edited down TV, is very very strange to me. Perhaps it is because they have no knowledge of the top end of show business or even the mad mad world of modern television, so I won't be too harsh in my views of the critics. Best wishes to all your readers Alan, and to those who have supported us. As for those who are critical. well, it is ONLY a TV show. It isn’t real life and it isn’t the end of the world. ----------------- 4. IBM International President Tony Wilson’s Magical Adventures ----------------- Message from Tony Wilson - IBM International President 2004 - 2005 After a busy three days in Prague we flew to Madrid, Spain for an (almost) non magic holiday to visit parts of Spain we were not able to see last year when Mary and I, and my daughter Amanda, travelled together before we went to FISM in Den Hague, Holland. We picked up our rental car from Madrid airport and set off for Toledo for our first of thirteen nights in Spain. In that period we covered 2,750 kilometers visiting Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Tarifa, Gibraltar, Malaga, Almeria, Granada, Alicante and Valencia. We had no accommodation booked but managed to find something each night. We had problems with our computer notebook both downloading and sending so visited computer cafes to check urgent messages on our NZ server and tried to respond to the most urgent. Our next official engagement was in Malta in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, Italy. We needed to overnight in Germany (near Frankfurt airport) to catch our Lufthansa flight that landed in Malta about noon the next day. What a wonderful sight it was as we landed in brilliant sunshine and was met by Vanni Pulé, President of IBM Ring 202, (Malta Magicians Society) for over 15 years and an TVP for the IBM for a similar time. Vanni had invited Mary and me to visit Malta and had kindly arranged a variety of magic and non magic activities for us in the six nights we had available. Our first official event was a Buffet party at his home that evening with approximately 40 local and some visiting international magicians present. Vanni, and his charming wife Mary Anne had prepared a sumptuous buffet dinner for all those who attended. The evening was casual and gave us the chance to meet a lot of people before other formal events that were planned for the following weekend. I managed to download over 200 emails from Vanni’s home that evening at midnight but ran out of time to send 30 plus emails in our outbox. The next morning was spent sightseeing with Vanni as our tour guide before returning to our hotel to rest and relax and adjust to the heat and sun that Malta is renown for. A Malta haircut (short, short, short!) and more time spent on our computer difficulties took up most of that afternoon. A` quiet dinner that night with Vanni and Mary Anne at a nearby restaurant gave us some time to catch up on IBM business and International Relations which we both have strong interest in fostering and improving. More sightseeing in this country with 350,000 residents took place the next morning with Vanni as our personal tour leader and guide. A day time visit to his home assisted me with discussions on IBM matters and also gave me the chance to admire Vanni’s artistic talents as well as his DVD and Video Magic Library. Next week the rest of our time in Malta. ----------------- 5. Governors Proclaim October 25-31 As National Magic Week ----------------- Message from George Schindler - 718 336 0605 Showbiz10@aol.com New York - October 5, 2004 John Apperson, National President of the Society of American Magicians, proclaimed the week of October 25 to October 31 as National Magic Week throughout the United States and Canada. For more than seventy seven years the Society recognized the anniversary of the death of Harry Houdini with a special "week" of events to highlight the charitable work done by members of the Organization, the year round. The Governors of nine States have already declared Magic Week (Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, and Michigan. Nevada, South Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin), with local Mayors and city officials around the country expected to do the same. During the year the members of the S.A.M. perform for Senior Citizens in nursing homes, plus in VA Hospitals and for schools and libraries for children who cannot afford the luxury of live entertainment. The free shows are part of the service programs by its members. Magic Week is when the magicians can take their bows. Public magic events and exhibits will be taking place all over the country at shopping malls, schools and libraries. See the History of the 77 year old event at Press Inquiries link www.magicsam.com ----------------- 6. New, Houdini Beer Stein ----------------- Message from Adam Steinfeld Below is a link to a feature Halloween story on the new Houdini Beer Stein, about 6 paragraphs down mentions me, & new novel HOUDIN LIVES! www.steincollectors.org/steinmo/2004/Houdini.html ----------------- 7. Offer Of Help From Viking Magic For Those Affected By Hurricanes ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez – S.A.M. National 2nd Vice President Just a reminder that through the month of October, Viking Magic is offering a 40% discount to individuals who were affected by the hurricanes and now are trying to replace their magic effects. Please be sure to mark your order clearly on the subject line, etc. as a "Hurricane Special" so that they can charge you properly. Thank you for choosing Viking Mfg. and Collectors' Workshop in your quest for the finest in Magic. George Robinson Jr. george@vikingmagic.com www.vikingmagic.com If you would like to receive our e-newsletter once a month and take advantage of our monthly specials and updates send your e-mail address to us and we'll do the rest: newsletter@vikingmagic.com ----------------- 8. The Ipswich Magical Society’s Annual Convention ----------------- Message from Simon Shaw (UK) The Ipswich Magical Society’s Annual Convention, now in its 17th year, will take place on Sunday, November 7th, at Needham Market Community centre, Needham Market. Full details can be found at www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk/eveconv2004.htm This year’s convention looks set to becoming one of the best yet, apart from anything else, Andy Nyman will be there during the whole day. He will be lecturing and performing in the gala evening show. During the day there will be various lectures, an hour of close up magic and many dealers including Studio9, The Card Collection (Cards4Magic), Aquarius, Camtryx, Andy Nyman, Alakazam, Kaymar etc. The close-up sessions will include Mike Rose (currently a finalist in the 2004 Magic Circle Close up Competition) and Matt Edwards (winner of the 2004 Magini Shield close up competition)  Check out the website for more details. If you wish a registration form email me at convention2004@bananafish.org.uk or phone on UK - 01394 270838 ----------------- 9. Cal Weisman Passed Away ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez – S.A.M. National 2nd Vice President It is with great and deep sadness that I pass this message along . we have lost a dear friend this afternoon. Cal Weisman passed away this afternoon, while in the hospital. Too young to leave us, he will be deeply missed by so many of us who loved him. Cal was Vice President of SAM Assembly 280 - Miami, Vice President of Magic City Conjurers, Founding member of SAM Assembly 274- Sam Schwartz Assembly Boca Raton, Florida, and a member of Ft Lauderdale Magic Society. A very talented characturist as well as magician, he was very active in the magic community in South Florida and was loved by all who came in contact with him and his wife Irene. The deepest of all condolences to Irene and the family on this loss, too early, too soon and too hard to conceive. At this writing there are no details for services but I will send something out as soon as I hear what arrangements are. ----------------- 10. More Black Art Breakthroughs ----------------- Message from Don Drake (US) I have finally finished my new book, More Black Art Breakthroughs. It is a 68 page, comb bound, 8 1/2 by 11 inch power-house! I have put the last 8 years into this one. It picks up where the original left off, and has all-new material. There are 16 new and original illusions, including Kirby Romine's "Magician To Confetti" and also the Alan Ackerman inspired effect "The Shattered Card'. It also has complete plans on how to build and use, all my new props, from stage to parlor to close-up. There is a section on lighting, and I also teach you how to use EVERYTHING! This is my life's work, a labor of love, and if you now own the original, Black Art Breakthroughs, this one picks up where the other left off! The retail price is only $29.95 plus $3.85 for Priority Mail, and $2.50 for standard postage in the US and Canada. Other countries please add 20% for shipping. WANT TO SAVE SOME MONEY? I am making a special offer for this month ONLY. If you order now you can save $3.85 right away. Order before October 31 and I will pay the postage priority mail, in the US and Canada. Foreign countries can cut their costs to 10% until the deadline. You won't believe Darwin's great illustrations and both covers contain new posters. Believe it or not there is A Spontaneous Creation Of A Blackdrop (how to do a black art illusions when there's no curtain!). This one is a killer! It will be on my website soon, but if you wish to take advantage of the free shipping you must order before Houdini's Death Day! NOTE* If you order before Oct. 31 I will reduce the price to $25. ONLY if you order through Paypal.com or send me a check or money order before the deadline. How's that for saving. Please note: I can only take credit cards through paypal.com. Your total savings would be $3.85 + $4.95. That's a big $8.80! My e-mail paypal.com is: dondrake@blackartsecrets.com Web: blackartsecrets.com ----------------- 11. "Magic In Las Vegas" For October, 2004 ----------------- Message from David Neubauer (US) (www.dnmagic.com) Production Shows: Amazing Johnathan 10 pm, (Dark Thurs.), Riviera. Escape - The Magic Show Dixie Dooley and Shedini 8:30 pm, (Dark Sun. - Wed.), Riviera. Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas 2 & 4 pm, (Dark Sun.), Tropicana. Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. La Femme Stephan Vanel 8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand. Lance Burton, Master Magician 7 pm Tues-Sat & 10 pm Tues. & Sat. Monte Carlo. Mac King Comedy Magic Show 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) Harrah's Clint Holmes Theater. Magic and Mirth Tony Blanco - www.tonyblanco.com Wed-Sun, various times, Excalibur. Ovations Fielding West, Jason Byrne 9 pm, Lady Luck. Penn & Teller 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio. Quicker than the Eye Collin Foster 8 pm, (Dark Tues. & Wed.), Westin Hotel. Showgirls of Magic www.showgirlsofmagic.com 8 & 10:30 (Dark Mon.) (Adults only 2nd show), San Remo. Splash Dirk Arthur - Rivera. 8 pm, also Tues-Sat at 10:30 pm. (Dark Fri.). Spotlight Will Roya, Mark Bennick - www.spotlightshow.com 7 pm, (Dark Fri.), Bourbon Street. Steve Wyrick 7 & 10 pm, (Dark Tues.), Aladdin. V, The Ultimate Variety Show Jeff Hobson, Nathan & Sarah - www.vtheshow.com 7 & 9 pm, Aladdin. World's Greatest Magic Show Kevin James, Joseph Gabriel, The Majestix, Kozak. Derek Roberts & Billy Fergueson (pre-show). Special Guest Magicians listed below. 9 pm nightly, 7 & 9 Fri., 2 pm Sun., Greek Isle. Restaurants: Eric Allan Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley) Fri. - Sat. Jayden LaCross TGI Fridays, Wed. & Sun. News: Xtreme Close-Up Magic starring Steve Dacri begins a special engagement at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino in the Kabuki Lounge. Show dates: October 25 through November 6. Two Shows nightly at 9 pm and 11 pm, (dark Sundays). General Admission for this special engagement is FREE (one drink minimum). Ask about VIP seating. For further information, contact Jackie Brett at the Imperial Palace (702) 794-3114 www.STEVEDACRI.com. Until then, Steve is doing his Xtreme magic as part of the pre-show fun at Ovation, downtown in the Ovation Theater at the Lady Luck Hotel. He will continue to do so until the Imperial Palace gig opens, and possibly after that gig ends. The Imperial Palace is indicating they may want this to turn into a long term engagement. We shall see. "Ovations" opened with Fielding West and Jason Byrne, and Steve Dacri as the "Xtreme" MC (however Steve is planning to leave the show by the end of September for another project). $34.95 with the choice of either a hotel buffet or $10 rebate. 9 pm - Lady Luck. Collin Foster's "Quicker than the Eye" has moved from it's 6 pm slot to 8 pm, (Dark Tues. & Wed.) at the Westin Hotel. Rick Thomas will soon be opening his own retail magic shop at the Tropicana. The shop will be located at the front of the casino where Thomas will do a meet and greet with his audience. Will Roya's "Spotlight" recently celebrated its 100th show. IBM Fantasma Ring 257 is presenting Juan Tamariz in an evening lecture/performance at the McBride Magic Center on October 13 at 7:00 pm. Info: www.ring257.com on the "Events" page. Oktoberfest is just around the corner, so Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas is getting in the swing of things beginning Sept. 18 and going through Oct. 31. The restaurant will have live entertainment and authentic Bavarian food and beer. Along with music the restaurant also will feature magician Losander mid-days and early evenings Oct. 11-31. A number of celebrities are expected, including Will Smith, Renee Zellweger, the Rolling Stones, *NSYNC and our own Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy. One of my "Vegas Magic Team" is Peter J. Shield. Peter has just moved from Las Vegas to the island of Malta. He writes to all of you to "extend my sincere best wishes and thanks to my many magical associates in Las Vegas and at the Castle and to all your readers. I will be actively engaged in 'Magic' both with GoingGlobalTV.com and with the very active Maltese Magical Society - President Vanni Pule (http://www.vannipule.com) and I know any visiting magi will be offered a most cordial welcome as was I on my recent visit. Readers can stay in touch via http://goingglobaltv.com or http://worldofunexplainedmysteries.com. Regards Peter J. Shield". October, 2004 Through October 10: Christopher Hart: - World's Greatest Magic Show - Greek Isle. October 11-November 2: Mike Micheals - World's Greatest Magic Show - Greek Isle. October 13: IBM Fantasma Ring 257 presents Juan Tamariz - www.ring257.com - McBride Magic Center. October 25 - November 6: XTREME Close-up Magic (Steve Dacri) - Imperial Palace 9 & 11 pm. Free, 1 drink min. November, 2004 Through November 6: XTREME Close-up Magic (Steve Dacri) - Imperial Palace 9 & 11 pm. Free, 1 drink min. (dark Sun.) November 3-December 2: Arden James - World's Greatest Magic Show - Greek Isle. November 14-16: MINDVENTION - Las Vegas' First Annual All Mentalism Convention - San Remo Featuring: Bob Cassidy, Alain Nu, Terry Nosek, Mark Strivings, Richard Osterlind, Chuck Hickok, Brad Henderson, Bruce Bernstein, Lee Earle, Larry Becker and more! www.LVMI.net. ----------------- 12. Readers Of Out Of The Hat ----------------- Message from Brenton Foale (Aust) Dear readers of Out of the Hat, and members of the Monash Young Magicians Club, Some exciting news I wanted to share with you all. First of all the Monash Young Magicians Club will be returning in a few weeks time. I need a "show of hands" all current members who intend to return to meetings as the poor attendance in recent months was the reason for the club closing doors for a term. Your attendance is important; otherwise the club will not survive. Please reply as soon as possible, so we can start organising our return. We will also have our presentation night of the awards that some of you have won for 2003/2004, and hopefully we will be able to organise a photographer from the local newspaper for this. The other exciting news is : On Friday 15th October yours truly will be performing with Elise (Miss Daree) and Meaghan (Miss Tyque) on channel 31 in Melbourne at 5.30 pm. The show is a talk back show and they have asked me to perform as "The Black Fantasm" with both the girls performing two short brackets between guest interviews. The show is going to air live. So make sure you tune in for it. ----------------- 13. Norwegian Magician Living In Thailand ----------------- Message from Arve Lisland Maybe you can be able to introduce our Magic Company: www.maxello.com I am a Norwegian magician living in Thailand for the last 14 years and running a Magic Shop here. We are manufacturing and selling our products world wide. Remark: All of our prices are FREE shipping unlimited weight. Best regards Arve Lisland Maxello Magic mail@maxello.com www.maxello.com ----------------- 14. Latest Rip Off From - Magic Makers Inc ----------------- Message from Tim Ellis (Aust) Just to let you know, this is the latest rip off from the guys at Magic Makers Inc. www.magicmakersinc.com/CrushedandCured.html An unauthorised DVD of a poor version of Anders Moden's 'HEALED & SEALED'. They even have the nerve to mention Anders' name in the blurb about the trick so you might think that he's given them the okay to do it. He has not, and he's trying to get it off the market right now. Do NOT support the rip off merchants who are stealing money from Anders, and MANY other creators. I draw your attention to their website not to promote their products, but to make you aware of what items to avoid if you see them for sale on a website or in a Magic Shop. If any products on their site that look similar to items you are familiar with (eg: Pen Thru Anything) don't be surprised if they are unauthorised copies of the original. We can help put an end to the rip offs by not purchasing ANY products made by Magic Makers Inc, and by boycotting dealers who sell Magic Makers Inc products. We can all help put an end to this theft within our business. Take a stand. Buy ONLY the original products. (If you want a DVD of 'Healed & Sealed', just wait a little longer. Anders is almost finished making his, the ONLY authorised teaching video.) ----------------- 15. Comedy Color Changing Rose - Jamie-G ----------------- Message from Jamie-G (Canada) (For Children's birthday parties) Effect: Some time during your show, you grab a child from the group of children. Then you take a blue rose put a silk over top of the bud of the rose. You ask the child to blow on the silk and it will disappear. The child blows on the silk you pull the silk away and it is still there. You don't know why it didn't work. So now you cover the rose back up and this time you ask the child to point their finger at the rose and count to three. O.K. you pull the silk away and the rose is still there. What's going on here? (Meanwhile the children are laughing and having a lot of fun at this point.) The magician tries it one more time but this time we are going to use a magic word. On the count of three I need you to say hocus pocus.1.2.3. Pull the silk off and the rose has changed color. (From blue to red.) Props: You need to buy two different color roses. I'm using a red one and a blue one. Green electrical tape and some cardboard or a small ring of metal. I use a piece of a pop can. You also need a handkerchief or a silk. Construction: The red rose is just left alone. The blue one has to have a leading chamber. Next with your little ring of metal you put the petals from the blue rose around it to cover it a little bit. Make the surrounding petals look like a rose. Put the green tape around the bottom to hold it together. Next you take a leftover petal and cover the whole that is made at the top of the rose concealing it. Now you should have a full red rose and just a top of a blue rose. Show Set-Up: Grip the petals of the red rose and put the petals inside the blue rose. You should be able to push the blue rose all the way down so that you can't see any part of the red rose. Now you should have a full blue rose. (HINT: if you use a twisting motion the blue rose will cover the red one a bit better and stay on snug). Note: All this stuff can be purchased from a cheap dollar store near you. Method: Hold the rose in your left hand, take you silk in your right hand and cover the rose. When you are ready to produce it grip the bud of the blue rose and lift the silk and the bud off at the same time. Ditch the silk in your pocket or table. Patter: Okay boys and girls. My favourite time of the year is the spring time. You know why, because spring time brings flowers and I love flowers. Now what I have here is a blue rose and to do this magic I need a helper. Now here's what we are going to do. We are going to put a silk over the rose and on the count of three the rose is going to disappear. 1.2.3. Next you go to pull off the silk and the rose is still here. Do this one more time but this time you get the child to point his finger and count to three. When you pull the silk off the blue one is till there. Okay now we have to do something special. Maybe we have to use a magical word. One the count of three were are all going to say Hocus Pocus. 1.2.3. Hocus Pocus the rose is now red. Lets give our helper a big round of applause. Also it will help you out a lot if you use your acting skills and if you use music to your magic and it is good music use your acting skill and move to the music it makes your magic 100% stronger and more magical. (You must move to the music and the magic and put both of them together and trust me it will look great a real master of magic" even if you are just starting out). There isn't nothing here too hard to do give it a try and hopefully you have some new magic. ----------------- 16. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 19 During the 70s, the majority of my work was in hotels. The show was in three segments, the first being ‘MAGIC’ - pure sleight of hand - the second was the ‘FAKIR’ act, which consisted in sequence of ‘Fire Eating’ – ‘Sword Swallowing’ – ‘Beds of Nails’, and the famed ‘PSYCHIC SURGERY’. The third segment was the ‘MIME’ act, which by that time, was a far cry from the innocent 1960/61 Mount Maunganui ‘Sound Shell’ days. It had been ‘Spiced-Up’ and tended to be just a little naughty! The Fakir act always got fantastic response, but it was the Mime act, which ‘blew’ the audiences away! Mind you, the Pub crowd was pretty well ‘liquored up’ by the third segment, so a ‘slightly’ naughty mime act was just what the crowd was ready for. I should mention for non New Zealanders, that Lounge Bars in New Zealand hotels, are large - most that we performed in held at least 500 people, some, 1000 or more. Another thing, most people thought that the ‘Fakir’ and the ‘Mime’ artist were two different people! I guess the outfits had a lot to do with it; as ‘The Fakir’, I was dressed in a royal blue turban and matching Ali Baba style pantaloons, silver cummerbund and again, matching curly toed silver slippers. 4” wide copper armbands, and, as most genies are depicted - I was bare-chested - which finished the ‘LOOK’. Years later, while performing in Mexico, I had armbands custom-made in copper and silver -expensive, but beautiful. When you have spent years developing a ‘class’ act, everything must spell ‘Quality’. ‘Shoddy’ is not acceptable on the ‘World Stage’ scene. As the ‘Mime artist’, I was dressed in a very slick, ‘Shimmery’ Suit. ‘TOMMY’S MILLION DOLLAR SUIT’ is how my dear friend, TREVOR KING always described it. Trevor is, in Show Biz’ Circles around the world - a much loved New Zealander, he was Tour Manager for just about every major imported International show to come to New Zealand’s shores - from the Beatles, to the Vienna Boys Choir. I’ve done it again, haven’t I - ‘Time-Tunnelled’ into the future. I’ll throw the lever into reverse, and will meet you back in the past. Page 20 The Early Sixties 1960 – the first six months – I’m sixteen (666 - Oh You Devil, You) and on a steep learning curve. Trying to swallow a sword, practising sleight of hand, ventriloquism, and miming, sneaking into the shed to practice – without instructions - fire-eating (using the 2-stroke lawnmower fuel mix – yuck!) Hypnotising anybody I could lay my hands – or eyes on – (including myself – preparation for the bed of nails, among other things) and reading anything to do with magic, hypnotism, psychology and yoga techniques. ‘The New Zealand Society of Magicians’ club in Auckland; it’s the first time I’ve met a group of other magicians up to then, I’ve been a self-taught ‘lone wolf’ non-conformist and a law unto myself. I felt rather out of place for a while - everybody’s magical knowledge was far more advanced than mine. Having being brought up in ‘the back of beyond’ (Raupunga), I just didn’t know about, or have access to, the huge range of Magic literature, dealers, or the lectures available to the ‘city boys’. If I were just starting out, I would procure everything that the late DAI VERNON has ever written, said, or had filmed! Applying his teachings with the same diligence as you would a University degree, you WILL BE a ‘master magician’ – not just someone who does tricks and puzzles! JOE BROWN’S NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR STARS – TALENT QUEST - £1000 FIRST PRIZE – I didn’t win, a singer, Joe Nathan, did; singers always do. I’ve never heard of a magician/novelty act winning a major talent quest – promoters love them, as they add variety and interest to an otherwise boring programme! If eventually you decide to become a full time professional, more than likely you, like me, will have the personal satisfaction years later, to still be performing professionally when most of the ‘flash in the pan’, so-called ‘Singing Stars’ have long gone (digging a ditch somewhere) and you will have earned a damn sight more than a £1000! (N.Z $3000). Phew! I have been wanting to say that for years! My pal Sal, in Las Vegas, could get me five times that for a five-minute stint on Television - anywhere in the world - all expenses paid! Shame I couldn’t make that sort of money EVERY five minutes - that would take a miracle - not ‘magic’! After the Talent Quest finished, the Joe Brown organisation picked the ‘best’ and put a show on the road – the ‘SEARCH FOR STARS GRAND NEW ZEALAND TOUR’. It ran from July 5th to August 9th 1960 - From Invercargill to Whangarei, to pack -out houses. (The promoters must have made a small fortune). It was a punishing schedule, but what an experience; - finding out how things should be done, discovering WHAT NOT TO DO – ON AND OFF STAGE! Theatre craft, stage deportment, entrances and exits and, how to speak not just to the people in the front rows, but also those in the back, and up in the circles. So much to learn – I came home a much wiser person. For young magicians out there, who may be reading this – performing your magic well is not enough. In my library of magic books, I have two about Stagecraft. There is a trilogy written by Dariel Fitzkee; - the first is ‘SHOWMANSHIP FOR MAGICIANS’. Although published in 1943, the principles and conventions there in are as true today as they were then. The other is; - ‘MAGIC AND SHOWMANSHIP – a Handbook for Conjurors’, published 1969 by Henning Nelms. Read these, put their principles into practice, and your magic (or any other type of entertainment) will benefit enormously. When the Search for Stars tour finished, I was left high and dry, so for the remaining 4 months of 1960, I got a job at the local newspaper in Papakura (doing Weddings, 21sts, etc, just wasn’t enough to live on), but I sure gained valuable knowledge about advertising, layouts, and publicity. Also met the diminutive ‘Rookie’ news reporter, Wendy Munro - she was very attractive and the size of a ‘Pixie’ - weighed practically nothing. The reason I mention Wendy, is because a few months later, in 1961, I started doing the bed of nails, and came up with the ‘great idea’ of having a razor-sharp blade set into a vice, and placed under my neck while laying on the nails! Wendy would walk sideways up my body, until she was standing right on my throat. Because she weighed so little, I could still breathe. Very dangerous though, the slightest movement of my head or neck and…! Works on the same principle as walking up the - ‘Walking Up A ladder of swords’; keep your feet flat – AND DON’T SLIDE! The slightest, infinitesimal movement sideways, and I will be - ‘HELLO, HOPPY’! ------------------ 17. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives ------------------ Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) ------------------- 18. 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 Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. 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