* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #467 Date: Sunday 10th December 2006 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. Tragedy At The S.A.M. Hall Of Fame And Magic Museum 3. Update On Jonathan Pendragon 4. Crash Course On Kidshows Europe Tour 2007 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 38 - Nick Lewin 6. Learning To Expand Your Creativity And Imagination 7. Broken Wand - Jim Conner 8. Life And Tragic Death Of Oscar "Dante" Eliason 9. 20th Annual Magic Jamboree 10. The Amazing Orchante Saga 11. e-zine Archives 12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Richards Webster celebrated his 60th Birthday last night which was well attended by 90 people from all over the world. Adey Ramsel acted as compeer and the entertainment was superb. The line up included local magicians Kris Kardo, Ken Ring, Alan Watson and special international guest David Alexander from the USA. ----------------------------------- Joint IBM / SAM 2008 - Louisville, Kentucky July 21-26, 2008 John Apperson tells me that the joint IBM / SAM 2008 registrations are flooding into take advantage of the Early Bird registration rate of $295 US which closes off on December 31st 2006. As from January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007 - $395 January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008 - $495 July 1, 2008 - to convention - $595 BOOK TODAY for the special rate of only $295 Check out the conventions new website: http://www.ibmsam2008.com/ A 2008 Convention Registration form may be found at: http://www.ibmsam2008.com/registrationform.html ---------------------------------- Tommy Orchard is now back online after having major difficulties with his ISP with broad band connection. Refer item: 10 ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Tragedy At The S.A.M. Hall Of Fame And Magic Museum -------------------------------------------- Message from John Engman, President of Hall of Fame 2617 Whitney Drive Alhambra, CA 91803 Tragedy At The Society Of American Magicians Hall Of Fame And Magic Museum Tragedy has befallen on The Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum in Hollywood, California. In December 2004, an electrical transformer located in a nearby underground vault owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ("LADWP") malfunctioned and caused fire and smoke to be emitted. The smoke and fire contained hazardous substances, which migrated into and contaminated our Museum. The contamination has closed our Museum! There is no access, except by trained personnel in hazmat suits. We cannot have access to or remove any of our artifacts, memorabilia or records. The LADWP has not accepted responsibility for the contamination and the cost to clean the Museum. We are preparing to file suit to recover our damages. The initial cost of litigation will consume our treasury and we need to immediately raise additional funds to undertake the necessary steps to litigate with the LAWDP to establish its liability. We are looking for benefactors and others to help us raise the necessary funds to save these valuable, historic magic artifacts which have been accumulated through generous donations of many magicians over the last thirty-five (35) years. Donations large and small will be greatly appreciated. The SAM Hall of Fame is a 501(c) (3) corporation and donations are tax deducible to the extent allowed by law. Your donations may be made payable to SAM Hall of Fame and Magic Museum, Inc. and sent to: SAM Hall of Fame and Magic Museum Post Office Box 27610 Los Angeles, California 90027-0610 John Engman, President of Hall of Fame 2617 Whitney Drive Alhambra, CA 91803 USA -------------------------------------------- 3. Update On Jonathan Pendragon -------------------------------------------- Message from Nicky McAllister Several people have asked for information on Jonathan's current condition, so he and Charlotte have asked me to write an update and circulate it around the magic world. Jonathan is doing very well and continues to amaze all his doctors not only with the speed of his recovery, but also by the fact that he survived the accident at all. Three of his vital organs were pierced and each of these individual punctures was potentially fatal. As one of his surgeons said, "He truly has a STRONG life force." An unfortunate by-product of the surgery, though, is that he now suffers from deep vein thrombosis - deadly blood clots. He is being treated with anti-coagulants in order to prevent further clots from developing, and the condition is being monitored with blood tests on a weekly basis. However the prognosis is good and it is believed that, in time, he will make a full recovery. He and Charlotte are spending most of the holiday period at home now, having completed their Fall tour. Jonathan performed on all the dates and, although they had to make a few temporary changes to some parts of the show, his performance was as good as ever, and they received rave reviews and standing ovations at every show on the tour. Their Samoyed dog, Kashmere, who essentially saved Jonathan's life by licking his face until he regained consciousness following the accident and thereby enabling him to call 911 on his cell phone, is enjoying her new-found fame. The story of her actions (http://men.netscape.com/story/2006/10/26/magician-saved-by-dogs-kisses) has been picked up by AP and appeared in many publications throughout the US, and she is also being considered for awards from Petsmart and the Milkbone Dog Biscuit Company. Jonathan says, "I want to thank everyone who has sent thoughts, prayers and messages my way. The e-mails, letters, flowers and gifts have given me hope and I am happy to be a part of the greater Magic Family." -------------------------------------------- 4. Crash Course On Kidshows Europe Tour 2007 -------------------------------------------- Message from David Ginn (US) As many of you know, in the past I have done lecture tours of Scandinavia (2003), England/Scotland (fall 2004), Italy/Spain (2005), and France/Switzerland/Belgium (2006) . . . all very successful both in new friendships and sales. This spring I am available to present my Crash Course On Kidshows lecture in Holland, France, Germany and Austria in about 8-10 cities only. Here are the dates: March 27 - April 5, 2007 The Crash Course lecture runs about two hours, and during that time I share magic and comedy for children, showing many of my favorite routines: Hocus Pocus Hare, Middle Diddle Silk, the Future Fungus, Silver Sceptre, my Big Black Magic Hat & Bunny Hat routine, plus the newer Hot Flip Flops and my version of Billy McComb's Mccombical Deck. Magic philosophy is interwoven with the tricks to make both a fun and educational evening. For bookings please contact: Pascal Marc 35 rue de l'abbaye de cluny 59520 Marquette Lez Lille France PH: 33-(0)-6-16-721300 email: enigmagie@wanadoo.fr -------------------------------------------- 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 38 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) Barnaby: who makes it look like magic. This week I want to introduce you to a performer who takes the art of juggling and manages to make it look like magic. Originally an English professor, Barnaby began his practice of juggling when he discovered how much money one of his students was making as a juggler! Shortly thereafter he 'gave up his day job' and became one of the two finest jugglers it has been my pleasure to witness. If you feel that he doesn't belong in a series entitled 'Meeting With Remarkable Magicians' then you've never seen his trick of lighting a cigarette in his mouth with a match thrown from behind his back. I have one or two firm rules that I cling to in the variety world and one of them is that no juggler should be allowed to perform on a stage until he has watched Barnaby perform. Why? The answer is simple because he has created a persona that elevates his performance to a level of artistry that is seldom seen in a juggler. His stand up comedy and feats of juggling are unique and display a dedication to character that is rare indeed in the juggling world: or the magic world either. Many jugglers begin their career performing on the street and this carries several negatives if they move their act on to a stage. There is a cookie cutter quality that becomes annoying. Barnaby skipped the street performer stage and his act is much the stronger because of it. The moment he walks onstage you know Barnaby is a one of a kind. He has long (very long) white hair that makes him look like a cross between Buffalo Bill and a hippie who has been stranded for too long in the traffic en route back from Woodstock. In his immaculate tuxedo he looks somewhere between dilapidated and distinguished! When Barnaby opens his act he quietly stands center stage for a moment or two before remarking, "I just wanted to give you a chance to absorb me." Then the act proceeds at a leisurely and controlled pace that is far different from the breakneck pacing of the average juggler. He eschews the wiseacre remarks that are as interchangeable as the tricks of other jugglers. He understands something that every performer needs to learn: people are watching him and not just the things he is doing. This is something we all need to absorb in the entertainment industry. If you have never seen Barnaby perform I heartily recommend that you do, or at the very least try and pick up his DVD. If you have a love of the performing arts you will not be disappointed and you may learn a lot! As for Barnaby's name it harkens back to his professorial roots. The first person that can tell me its origin gets a signed copy of my new comedy magic CD. 'The Magic of Laughter.' Good luck! Please send your responses to nicklewin1@mac.com. -------------------------------------------- 6. Learning To Expand Your Creativity And Imagination -------------------------------------------- Message from By Kyle Peron E-Mail: Magic4u02@aol.com I thought I would share with you some thoughts on thinking creatively. Being an artist and a magician, I often get asked by people and students in my SYM (Society of Young Magicians) assembly, how do you think creatively and how do you come up with acts and routines that are different from the norm? Because of my artistic background, I think it has really taught me how to think about my magic in a totally different fashion than I think most people do. It has allowed me to be more open and creative and not feel like my ideas are being forced through a funnel. Being an artist, I always say the only difference between an artist and anyone else is the fact that I have learned to SEE. People shake their heads and do not often understand what I mean by that. Let me try and explain. Learning to see is far more than just looking and saying I understand what I am looking at. For example: a person is told to draw a tree. They do not look at the tree or understand the tree at all. Their brains are programmed that a tree looks a certain way and so they draw what their minds have registered a tree is supposed to look like. BUT, they are not really seeing it at all. Their minds have already placed in their subconscious a preconceived image. Whenever someone says tree, this image pops into their head and completes the thought. But that image is not truly how THAT particular tree looks. You're really not seeing at all. You're seeing while wearing blinders. You come to realize that every tree is different from the other. The texture is different, the branches and color, how the atmosphere interacts with it and so on and so forth. So learning to see is all about opening up your mind to really study something and to looking past the obvious. You force your brain not to construct these preconceived images but tell it to look at every tree as a different object entirely. It is a tough process to do but anyone can learn to do it. This way of thinking and seeing is how I tend to view everything now. It has helped me to always observe and to be open to any thoughts and ideas for my own magic. Because of this, I feel my magic has become much more creative and entertaining and has become more of an extension of myself and my personality and character on stage. I get ideas for my magic from anywhere and everything. I do not get my ideas for magic from magic. That sounds funny but it is so true. I find that my ideas come from nature, culture, music and just about anything. Even a cool shape of furniture can spark an idea or generate a thought. When you learn to open yourself up in this manner, you will find that your mind is more free to truly create something new and different. Too many of us tend to look at the wrong things for inspiration. We are so used to going to our magic videos or books or acts we have seen in the past. This is fine to get yourself excited about the project, but it tends to force you in a certain direction of copying or mimicking what you see. It limits you greatly. The best suggestion to thinking creatively is to not go to the magic books or the videos just yet. Step away from it totally. Open yourself up to exploring the idea or object yourself and you will be amazed at what ideas you can generate. I hope this has helped give you some ideas on how to think creatively and I would love to hear back from anyone else who has done this or who has their own ways of being creative. As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. Kyle Peron Magician and Illusionist Graphic Designer and Illustrator (Specializing in Logo creation) www.kyleandkellymagic.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Broken Wand - Jim Conner -------------------------------------------- Message from Charles Clayton I am sad to post that Jim Conner passed away Sunday, December 3. He will be missed. Please share the following with others in the magic community. A memorial service was held Saturday, December 9, 2006 11:00 a.m. at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. A Broken Wand ceremony was performed during the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a contribution be made in Jim's memory to the church or the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund. Cards may be sent to: Lucille Conner 8608 Wandering Fox Trail #204 Odenton, Maryland 21113 Magic * Comedy * Illusion Clayton and Company Family Entertainment For All Occasions www.claytonandcompany.com P.O. Box 348 White Marsh, Maryland 21161-9998 Office: (410)440-5200 Fax (410) 297-8138 Home: (410) 575-6288 Free "Complete Birthday Party Planning Guide" available on my website. "We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams."  ---Jeremy Irons Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin. ~anonymous~ -------------------------------------------- 8. Life And Tragic Death Of Oscar "Dante" Eliason -------------------------------------------- Message from Alfred Hayes (Aust) Kent Blackmore (Sydney - Australia) will talk about some of Australia's earliest performances of magic by visiting magicians in the 1880's at The Royal Historical Society on Monday, 15th January, 2007. The talk will cover the life and tragic death of Oscar "Dante" Eliason, the controversy over Houdini's exploits in Australia in 1910 and the life and travels of Australia's greatest illusionist, Leslie Cole, "The Great Levante". Kent is the biographer of "The Great Levante" and his historical research has been published in a number of books and trade journals. Time: 5-30pm for 6-00pm. Venue: History House, 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Cost: $7-00 includes light refreshments on arrival. -------------------------------------------- 9. 20th Annual Magic Jamboree -------------------------------------------- Message from Stan Kramien (US) Please do visit us at http://www.magicjamboree.com Hope to see you there. You can now charge it through Pay Pal using a major credit card ----------------- 10. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Hi everyone, Just a quick note to let you know we have broadband on again, and a new ISP, hence a new email address; three actually - amazingtom@uwclub.net (default address) veronica1@uwclub.net orchante@uwclub.net Still don't know what the fault was, but it has taken 8 weeks to get someone round to fix it. BT (British Telecom for non Poms) engineer finally came today. He arrived at 9:30am and after several trips back and forth to the telephone exchange and keeping fit by clambering up and down various telegraph poles, together with several heated discussions with other 'Fix-It Experts', via his mobile, between them they finally resolved the problem around 4:30pm. He tried to explain what had gone wrong (nothing to do with our computer/equipment) but had great difficulty doing so as he, and all his cohorts weren't exactly sure themselves!!!! What is great is that our speed is now 6.8 Mbps, something to do with the local telephone exchange being only half a mile away. Cheers, regards, love and all that... Tom & Veronica -------------------------------------------- 11. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.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) -------------------------------------------- 12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html. Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely redistributed, but not sold, to other magicians if copied in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer. © Copyright 2006 Alan Watson