* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #500 Date: Sunday 20th May 2007 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. Congratulations On Magic New Zealand Reaching Issue 500 3. The Magician Directory 4. MAGIC Live Update! Sold Out, But... 5. 'Remarkable Magic' #6 - Nick Lewin 6. Undoing A Bad Reputation - By Kyle Peron 7. Eddie Tullock's Broken Wand Cermony 8. Franz Harary - Tropicana In Atlantic City 9. Proposed Dominik Magic Advertising On Magicauction.com 10. Magicana Website (http://www.magicana.co.nz/) Been Upgraded 11. Happy birthday Society of American Magicians 12. The Lecture Network Has An Auction 13. Sam Powers Returns To The Reef Casino 14. The 16th Annual KIDabra International Conference 15. Magic Camp Scholarships 16. Magic Updates From San Diego, California 17. Bristol Day Of Magic 18. Broken Wand - Charles Pemberton 19. US Magician Robbed, Hijacked In Khayelitsha 20. The Amazing Orchante Saga 21. e-zine Archives 22. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Nick Lewin tells me that he has had a great response to the promotion for the McComb Trilogy. Orders are flowing in! For more details e-mail Nick at: NickLewin@aol.com. ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Congratulations On Magic New Zealand Reaching Issue 500 -------------------------------------------- Message from Marlene & Bill Seagraves As a Scotsman now residing in New Zealand I look forward to receiving the ezine each week as it informs me of all the up to date happenings throughout the Magical world. Managed to catch your presentation on TV of you presenting the three sword suspension. Once again your grand-daughter Aleshia stole the show. -------------------------------------------- 3. The Magician Directory -------------------------------------------- Message from David Bonsall Dear fellow magicians, I'm the creator and webmaster of The Magician Directory (www.magician-directory.com). It's a worldwide guide and directory of magicians. This is a non-profit website that I make no money out of whatsoever. I run it as a hobby and even pay to advertise at the moment out of my own pocket until it becomes better known. It's a fairly new site so only has about 100 magicians at the moment, but hopefully it will become the largest definitive resource of magicians in the world. So may I please ask you to donate a few minutes of your time to register your details on the site in the area of your choice? It is absolutely free and all I ask is that if you would like to support the site and make it more popular, then add a link back to it from your website if you have one. Eventually this will become compulsive, but as it's still fairly new, you do not have to do this. If you do not have the time or resources to do this, then I will gladly enter your details for you taking the information and a picture from your website with your permission, just email back saying it's OK to do. (I do not wish to infringe on anyone's copyrighted material). Entering your information on the site will help promote both you and your website for the cost of just a few minutes. Many thanks and kind regards David  info@magician-directory.com -------------------------------------------- 4. MAGIC Live Update! Sold Out, But... -------------------------------------------- Message from Stan Allen (US) Since we announced back in March that MAGIC Live! is sold out, I've been getting the same question: "Is it really sold out?" And the answer has always been: "Yes, but..." The "but..." being: "There are always a few cancellations, and we're working on adding some seats to the theater, as well as an extra close-up show. So, don't delay. Please, get on our waiting list today!" We anticipate being able to start releasing registrations next week. If you're not on the list, go now to the MAGIC Live! Webpage at http://www.magicmagazine.com and follow the instructions under "Register." Hopefully, we'll see you at The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, August 19-22. -------------------------------------------- 5. 'Remarkable Magic' #7 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from - Nick Lewin (US) Remarkable Magic # . Eric Lewis: prop builder and master magician. Two weeks ago I wrote a column about my friend Peter Reveen and due to the perils of writing a weekly column as you travel around the globe an error was introduced into my work. My column about Peter was written in the Tokyo airport and transmitted to Alan as I walked onboard my plane to Thailand! Somewhere along the line before that message was transmitted I pressed the spell check button on the document and every Reveen in my article became a Raveen. My apologies go out to Peter for my inadvertent error and my thanks to all those who emailed me to point out my mistake. One email I received was from Carl Williams in Los Angeles. I go back a lot of years with Carl since we first met in 'The Magic Wand' Lee Searle's magic store in Pasadena. Carl mentioned that it was Eric Lewis that made the wonderful apparatus that Peter uses. In his email Carl goes on to express his boundless respect for both Eric Lewis and Peter Reveen. His email hit a trigger in my brain. I had met Eric Lewis at the Magic Castle in the 70s but I never got to know him as I much as I would have liked. He was a very charming and genuine gentleman and I remember our meetings very clearly. Eric Lewis had the rare quality of concentrating on you very carefully and tuning carefully into what you were saying: it is a great quality and one that is shared by Eric's son the magically multitalented Martin Lewis. The piece of Remarkable Magic I want to talk about this week is the amazing piece of magic that brought to life a rather ragged little hand puppet and turned it into living, breathing and emotional little sidekick. The routine was a really powerful piece of entertainment that appealed to all ages and every audience. The segment was as perfect as anything I have ever seen in a magic show. The bond between Eric Lewis and his hand puppet created a two-man drama that was as funny as it was touching. What made the routine really special were the little touches and care taken over their onstage partnership. Thinking about it later, I suspect the attention that Eric shared with his partner/puppet was the same energy that he used when he focused on young comedy magicians and took the time to be 'in the moment' In talking with him. He was not just a very humble man but also perceptive and determined and I really do wish I had got to know him better. However I still have a gloriously clear memory of Eric who took time out from his comedy magic show to use a card trick and a puppet to create the illusion of life onstage. As always send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net and check out my website at http://www.NickLewin.com -------------------------------------------- 6. Business Card Marketing - By Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from By Kyle Peron (US) E-Mail: Magic4u02@aol.com There are really 2 approaches to take with a business card. There is a branded calling card approach, and there is also a "business" card approach. I have done both for myself, as well as designed both for magic clients of mine. Both are different and do different things for you. The choice is really up to the individual and what he or she wants to get out of the card. So, one thing you have to determine is if you want your card to be a true "calling card" or more "business" card. There is a difference between the two, and they both can work for you. It really is a matter of personal preference and what you want your card to do for you. A calling card is mainly a continuation of your brand message and brand identity as carried across all forms of your marketing. It may have your logo identity on it, as well as your various contact information, website, phone number, etc. A business style card is one that will have this information on it but will actually work as a way to generate business for you. It becomes more of a marketing vehicle and might include using the back of the card in some sort of way to give the person an incentive to take action to call you, go to your website, etc. Also, business cards do more than convey the information that's printed on the card. A card that's ugly, dirty, printed on perforated paper, or full of corrections screams loud and clear that you're an amateur. No matter how many wonderful services you offer, if your card brands you as unprofessional, you lose business. A clean, creative, professionally printed, and visually attractive card on the other hand, conveys a positive first impression that lingers long after your initial meeting. Still, a savvy businessperson knows that adding your unique marketing-oriented text to a business card, in addition to contact information, pays off. One strategy is to add text that gives your unique, specific customer benefits. For example: 1) Easy to PAY "Credit Cards Accepted" 2) Easy to get HOLD of "Requests handled within 24hrs." 3) Easy to get ADVICE or INFO "Use our simple Information form." 4) "Present or mention this card for a free magic trick." 5) "Receive your first show at 25% off by requesting a promo kit." 6) "Log onto kyleandkellymagic.com for current discount coupons!" 7) "Free upgrade to our deluxe package by mentioning the number on this card." 8) The back of the card can be a useful calendar. 9) Survey, redeemable for a free gift - could direct them to a web page survey, where they fill it out and get a free gift or discount. 10) Punch card for frequent clients - acts as a referral rewards system. 11) A fun optical illusion, magic trick, or question where they can be directed to your website for more like it or for the answers. 12) A calendar of your upcoming public performances. 13) The card could be a magnet to be used and seen on the fridge by the prospect. 14) Could have a listing of most common measurement conversion chart - gives them a reason to hold onto it for their use. 15) A list of your top 5 tips for a successful event. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with having your card be just a "calling card". If you have other marketing materials that have a call to action that you use, then a calling card may not be a bad way to go as it is a continuation of your brand identity. However, you could have your business card doing double duty by not only listing your contact information, but by having an effective call to action as well. No matter which direction you go in, always remember that your business card is a direct representation of what you do, what you are about, and the services you provide. Do not settle for second best or for a card that looks "cheap". A professional and high-quality card will say a lot about your services long before they even begin to read it. Make your card work for you. It is hard this day and age to get folks to understand that the first impression you often ever make on a prospect is in the materials you send out to them. If this is the case, why wouldn't you want these materials to be designed in the best way possible? Too many folks have PCs and desktop publishing software. It is too easy to create artwork and get them done up that everyone thinks they can do it. What they forget to realize is that graphic design and communications through graphical means is a learned skill, and one that takes a long time to understand and to do well. I take pride in the fact that I spent 5 years in art school getting a double degree in graphic design and illustration. Those hard 5 years were spent studying, learning, and applying design ideas and principles to give me the knowledge I need to design print material that communicates the message of my clients the best that it can. Design is not about making something look pretty. There is so much more to it than that. This is why I take pride in the designs I create for my clients. It is a process where I really find out what makes the person, service, or business unique, and then create graphics that communicate this message clearly to his or her marketplace. 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 Chair Suspension Ebook Author http://www.magicenhancer.com/ChairSuspension.html ----------------- 7. Eddie Tullock's Broken Wand Cermony ----------------- Message from Gene Urban (US) Just wanted to pass on the info on Eddie's Broken Wand ceremony that we will be holding here in Phoenix at the June IBM Ring 55 meeting on Tuesday 19th June. If you are planning on coming to the ceremony, please let me know so I can help with any arrangements you may need. If you see that I've missed someone in the "To List" of this email can you pass the info on to them? For more info on the meeting and location please go to www.Ring55.org. Thanks for all the kind words you've sent about Eddie. -------------------------------------------- 8. Franz Harary - Tropicana In Atlantic City -------------------------------------------- Message from Kelly Peron (US) I thought I would share this for all us east coasters... Franz Harary will be at the Tropicana in Atlantic City from June 17 thru to Sept 6th. Tickets available at the Tropicana Box Office or through Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 Show times yet to be announced. -------------------------------------------- 9. Proposed Dominik Magic Advertising On Magicauction.com -------------------------------------------- Message from Walter Blaney (US) TO: Francesco Martorana, Studio Magic Dominik, Palermo, Sicily, Italy Dear Francesco: What you want is called "sanction of the victim". It's a term used by author/philosopher Ayn Rand. She wrote The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. She is the founder of a philosophy she calls Objectivism. The term means: When you steal something of value from someone, you try hard to get them to say, "Okay, it's all right that you stole from me... no hard feelings". Well that's not the way things work. That is why all the magic societies have a code of ethics. It really isn't hard to understand what they say, and what they mean. Did you ever actually read our open letter to you several years ago when we first sent it out to everyone in magic around the world. Do you not recognize any of the 200 very top names in magic who signed the letter? Why do you think they all signed the letter? Are they all out of line, and you are the only one who is right? It just doesn't make any sense to do what you are doing.... except for the easy bucks you make off other's work. But we know by now you are going to continue ripping off all the new good illusions from those who invented them. But you are not going to get us to say its okay. You care not a whit about the inspiration, time, effort and cash they spent to develop and perfect their illusions. Once they come up with a particularly good illusion, they deserve to be compensated for their effort. If they are, they will continue to create more great illusions. But you more than anyone else has helped kill the incentive of the real thinkers and inventors in magic. The inventors are an important part of our magical arts. They deserve better respect for their work. But with you, we are not holding our breath. In your letter below you gave it your best shot in telling us what you think about ethics in magic. Since I have shared my thoughts on the subject, it's only fair that I share your thoughts with my friends in magic Side by side everyone will be able to compare our differing viewpoints... fair and balanced. Okay? I know at night I can sleep peacefully. I don't know how you can. Walter Zaney Blaney __________________________________________________________________ On May 16, 2007, at 1:43 PM, Dominik Magic wrote: Dear Walter, Thanks for posting your mail to me too. This could be the time to to both talk about this old matter. You're right, some illusions are not created by us. We respect the illusion creators and in fact we contacted several of them before and we'll continue contacting them. We respect our customers also.... And it's here that our point of view is different from you! What's our fault? Copying the illusion (if it's true your affirmation) or sell them at a lower (lower lower.....) prices! Don't forget that all the illusion we don't have directly from creator are completely modified in functionality and quality by our team. How many inventions (cars or similar) have been modified after their birth? Sometimes these changes have improved them other times they don't. But this is the law of business! And magic is business also. You speak me about ethic. What's ethically correct to you? Selling illusions with scandalous prices for having a lot of money at once and a few magicians performing them and letting the creator with almost no money and appreciation from magic community or maybe what we do selling illusion at a "right" price and letting them to all magicians that want them and paying the creator as well. This way their ideas travel through the world and maybe in a far corner of the world a magician can study about it and produce another illusion from it! This is the only way our art has ever used to grow. Another question: During your show all the tricks you do are from you or you have the permission for doing them? I'm speaking about general magic or close up where your alliance never moved a finger...... Why? Maybe money is the answer? The money you can have is the difference between a close up and an illusionist creator? Where's the ethic here? Nevertheless, it's since a long time that we didn't sell our version of the illusion you talk about, so what you think to do? Our business is growing all over the world each year better and our illusion are sold from Canada to Japan, Australia, Arabia, South Africa and you can imagine what's our work in Europe. Don't think we need something else in this field, our goal is let you know our thinking. There's no money affair in asking magic auction to let down our banner, it's our way to tell the world we're here too and we're fair as the others brothers in magic (maybe we're the only that show everybody the products we do instead of doing it secretly......) You'll never imagine what we know and what we could say..... and you never imagine how many illusion plans (and how many from America..) we have that we could get in production in a while.... lower prices better quality... what a bargain! but we never will do this (even if some plans are original......) to avoid a silly war that we consider against our art. We're disposable to talk with you as ever, hoping to join an agreement. Friendly as ever, Francesco _______________________________________________________________ In case anyone missed it, this is the open letter Francesco and 1000's of magicians around the world received several years ago, and again this week when he unsuccessfully tried to place advertising on Joe Tripi's Magic Auction.com. Do you recognize any of the names who signed it? Cheers from Texas, Walter _________________________________________________________ FROM: Walter Zaney Blaney President Emeritus World Alliance of Magicians (WAM) Dear Friends in Magic: In a way of introduction, I think what you are about to read will astound you. There is an "open letter" naming the world's largest magic builder of Rip-Off illusions. He is but one of a handful of magic builders and dealers who make their living off the creativity and hard work of others. As you will see, the letter is self explanatory. The officers of WAM have been told by some that we are just a small band of magicians always complaining about the ever growing Rip-Off trade in our world magic community. I had to consider that maybe it was true, maybe the majority of magicians just didn't care one way or the other. So I asked most of the magic inventors to join us in trying to find out if there was any real support for our cause. A letter was emailed to a few dozen well known names in magic asking if they would sign on to this "open letter". They answered with a resounding YES, and their names are listed below the letter. Soon many more heard of this letter and wrote us asking that their name be added. You will see many of the "big names" in magic known worldwide, along with scores of grass-roots, hard-working magicians who are well known and successful in their own geographic areas. If we had time to wait, there would be thousands more wanting to "sign on". Until this letter came along there just hasn't been a place where they could all voice their opinion together. Please feel free to forward this on to any friends in magic, to any internet magic group you are a part of, and to any magic magazine in your country. Now read the letter, look at the list of signers, and prepare to be astounded. AN OPEN LETTER TO FRANCESCO MARTORANA, STUDIO MAGIC DOMINIK, PALERMO, ITALY We the undersigned magicians ask that you stop building and marketing the following stage illusions. They are all proprietary illusions of the designated magic inventors.  1. #0005 Owen's Magic/Bill Taylor Temple  2. #0006 Mark Wilson's Train Sawing  3. #0014 Jim Steinmeyer's Walking Through a Mirror  4. #0023 Franz Harary's Slicer  5. #0024 Jim Steinmeyer's Interlude  6. #0025 Jim Steinmeyer's Pole Levitation  7. #0027 Jim Steinmeyer's Origami  8. #0029 David Copperfield's Death Saw  9. #0030 Doug Henning's Water Levitation (now owned by Kirby Van Burch),  with the Pendragon's 360 degree revolving feature 10. #0031 Levitation with Pendragon's 360 degree revolving feature 11. #0032 Andre Kole's Squeeze Box 12. #0034 Pendragon's Crystal Sawing 13. #0040 Daniel Summers' Compressed 14. #0041 Jim Steinmeyer's Modern Art 15. #0043 Gunter Puchinger's/Chalet Magic - Mini Cube Zag 16. #0048 Jim Steinmeyer's Acupuncture 17. #0049 Walter Zaney Blaney's Ladder Levitation 18. no # Jim Steinmeyer's Audience Dismember (Cutting a Spectator in Half) 19. no # Jim Steinmeyer's Windshear (Fan Illusion) Mr. Martorana, you have not secured the building rights from any of these magic inventors, and you have given us no answer to our previous direct requests to stop. An important segment of our magic craft is the constant invention and creation of new tricks and illusions. Magic inventors must use their considerable knowledge of the art of deception, spend a lot of time in heavy thinking and inspiration, and finally take great risk and a good deal of their own money to develop, perfect and successfully market their new ideas. All the magic societies around the world recognize the need to protect the rights of magic inventors, and they clearly state this tenet in their various Codes of Ethics. By just ignoring the rights of the inventors who did all the hard work, and who are trying to earn a living from their creations, it becomes easy for someone like you to unfairly build and market cheaper, inferior copies we have all come to know as "rip-offs". You are not alone in the rip-off business, Mr. Martorana, but you are currently the largest. We again respectfully ask you to cease and desist in copying and building these illusions, to remove them from both your catalog and website, and from those of your dealers around the world. We believe it is in the best interest of all fair and honest magicians to join us in standing up for the rights of the magic inventors in order to protect and preserve the incentive so necessary for them to continue producing the newest creations we all need and want. David Copperfield Lance Burton John Calvert & Tammy Milt Larsen, Magic Castle founder and "It's Magic" show producer The Paul Daniels, England Mark Wilson Luis de Matos, Portugal Peter Reveen Rick Thomas Joaquin Ayala Franz Harary Ali Bongo, England Andre Kole Kirby Van Burch John & Pamela Thompson Jeff McBride Marvyn Roy & Carol Gay Blackstone Marco Tempest Max Maven Michael Ammar John Carney Aldo Colombini Gene Anderson Eugene Burger Steve Dacri, Magic Web Channel Alan Watson, New Zealand Magic Ezine David Sandy, IBM Intl. President Jay Gorham, SAM Natl. President Dag Lofalk, FISM 2006 President, Sweden Dale Hindman, Academy of Magical Arts President Alan Shaxon, The Magic Circle President Joan Caesar, Canadian Assn. of Magicians President Philip R. Willmarth, The Linking Ring Executive Editor Don Wiberg, IBM Intl. Secretary Fred Casto, IBM Intl. Treasurer Tony Wilson, IBM Intl. President Elect Jerry Schnepp, IBM Past Intl. President Earle Christenberry, IBM Past Intl. President Ken Klosterman, IBM Past Intl. President Bill Pitts, IBM Past Intl. President John Apperson, SAM Natl. President Elect David Goodsell, MUM Editor Ed Thomas, SAM Past Natl. President Dick Gustafson & Joanne, SAM Past Natl. President Craig Dickson, SAM Past Natl. President Dan Garrett, SAM Past Natl. President Marc DeSouza, SAM Ethics Committee Chairman Bruce Cervon, Magic Castle Secretary Chris Pratt, The Magic Circle Secretary Michael Bailey, The Magic Circle Past President Peter McCahon, The Magic Circular Editor Scott Penrose, The Magic Circular Business Editor Richard Stupple, The Magic Circle Council Chairman Peter Scarlett, The Magic Circle Council Member Jim Steinmeyer John Gaughan Bill Smith Daniel Summers John Cornelius William J. Schmeelk Bruce Chadwick David Mendoza Gunter Puchinger, Germany George Robinson Don Wayne George Kimery Gerry & Leonora Frenette Tom Moore, Dream-Concepts, England Mark Parker, 4effect, England Chris Murphy, Oz Illusions, Australia Kevin James Jon Racherbaumer Joanie Spina Becky Blaney Rich Bloch Kevin Spencer & Cindy William V. Rauscher Larry White Bill McIlhany Phil Temple David Ginn Denny & Lee George Schindler Oscar Munoz David Seebach John Wade, England David Charvet Gary Bartlett Glenn Falkenstein Frances Willard James Cielen James Hamilton Doc Eason Peter Studebaker Bob Kohler David & Kathie Haines Lyn Dillies David Hira Chuck Leach Steve Zigmont Tim Kole Keith West Bob Fitch Garry Carson & Kelsey Tamaka Doug Anderson Danny Archer Richard Hatch Pete Petrashek Trixie Bond Paul Driscoll Dick Newton Bob Utter Tom Craven Jody Baran Bill Palmer Tim Ellis & Sue-Anne Webster Kent Cummins Arthur Emerson Chuck Lehr Wayne Rogers, New Zealand Stephan Von Koeller, Germany Gerald Edmundson Mike Super Ben Robinson Carlos A. Guzman Mendoza, Mexico Steve Farmer Tim Quinlan Devlin Steffan Soule Anthony Reed, Saipan Jason Byrne Cliff Bradley, England Mike Lawrence Steven Valenti & Michelle John Taylor, Australia Enrico Varella, Singapore Peter "The Adequate" Hinrichs Rev. Leo M. Goodman David Caserta David Goldrake Fr. Stephan A. Fernandes Tim Pendergast Stan Davis Hans Dillenberg, Germany Timothy Ricketts B A Lipp Kenton Knepper Curtis M. Kam Robert K Parmacek David Neubauer Robert Allen Brian Cook Dean Alan Carnegie John Steven Bloom Colin McLeod James Smith, England Robert R. Bob Rouland Jeff Peterson Vicki & Dakota Rose Tobias Beckwith Charlie & Sherry Frye Abb Dickson, WAM President (World Alliance of Magicians) Scott Wells, WAM Vice President Chuck Jones, WAM Treasurer Timothy Drake. WAM Webmaster Walter Zaney Blaney, WAM President Emeritus Walter Blaney walter@walterblaney.com 3603 Spring Arbor Way, Kingwood, TX 77345 Phone: 281 360 8014 Fax: 281 360 0472 Banquet Show Website: http://www.walterblaney.com Illusion Website: http://www.walterblaney.com/illusions -------------------------------------------- 10. Magicana Website (http://www.magicana.co.nz/) Been Upgraded -------------------------------------------- Message from Michael Woolf - Editor Magicana Magazine The "Magicana" website (http://www.magicana.co.nz/) has just been upgraded and now contains much information about this iconic New Zealand magic magazine. "Magicana" has been published every two months since 1953 as a 36-page journal with an international flavour and a New Zealand focus. Editor Michael Woolf is grateful to Paul Romhany for his work upgrading the website. Please check it out. You can find out about "Magicana" and now subscribe on-line using PayPal. The next issue will be published at the end of May and contains a major interview with Bev Bergeron and an interview with Docc Hilford as well as regular features by Bernard Reid, David Ginn, Ken Ring, Wayne Rogers, Terry Seabrooke and Richard Webster. -------------------------------------------- 11. Happy birthday Society of American Magicians -------------------------------------------- Message from Andy Dallas National President Society of American Magicians Happy birthday Society of American Magicians. What an achievement! Such a wonderful past and a promising bright future. Last week I was in New York with our Dean George Schindler and others in Manhattan at Lincoln Center. The library had an exhibit of S.A.M. related documents going all the way back to our origin at Martinka's Magic Shop. There were meeting announcements and different communications that were fascinating. From our humble beginnings to our worldwide status has been an exceptional journey with dedication and committed members who believe in our cabala, Magic-Unity-Might. As National President of the S.A.M., but most of all just a dedicated member, I think I speak for our over 7,000 members in 50 countries when I say happy birthday to the oldest and most prestigious magic organization in the world, the Society of American Magicians. -------------------------------------------- 12. The Lecture Network Has An Auction With All Proceeds To F.C.M. -------------------------------------------- Message from Jeff Hobson (US) It's a one-year FRONT ROW subscription to The Lecture Network! ALL proceeds from this auction will be donated to the Fellowship of Christian Magician's Support Fund which assists magician's in crisis. The regular price of a FRONT ROW membership is $149.00 which allows the member access to over 40 LIVE magic lectures and interviews throughout the year. PLUS, members can archive these lectures and interviews online, anytime, 24/7!! There's so much more to the offer. . . . please go to www.TheLectureNetwork.com to see more details. This is the first of only a small handful of memberships that we will have up for auction on EBay. All of these will be a charitable donation to either the I.B.M. Support Fund or the F.C.M. (Fellowship of Christian Magician's) Support Fund. Remember, please bid graciously as we would like to see the donations high! HERE'S THE LINK! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200109817266 ----------------- 13. Sam Powers Returns To The Reef Casino ----------------- Message from Sam Powers (Aust) Sam Powers returns to the Reef Casino and uses magic to help sick kids OK! So, he holds the title as one of this year's CLEO Bachelors of the Year - and he's a dead-ringer for Hollywood A-lister, Jake Gyllenhaal - but Sam Powers' biggest claim to fame is his international standing one of Australia's most highly regarded magicians. Back on Australian shores, Sam Powers returns for a second season in Cairns with his show-stopping performance, 'Powers of Illusion' at The Velvet Rope, Reef Hotel Casino. Sam Powers will showcase some of his most popular illusions when he meets the 'press' at a media call, Thursday 17 May 07 at 12 Noon, The Velvet Rope, Reef Hotel Casino, Australia. This event will be the official media launch for his world-class show, 'Powers of Illusion'. He will also take this opportunity to announce details of his fundraising efforts for the local community; to start the ball rolling, he will use his magic to participate in Sea FM's 'Give me Five for Kids' campaign and help raise $45,000 - to benefit Cairns Base Hospital's Children's Ward. ----------------- 14. The 16th Annual KIDabra International Conference ----------------- Message from Mark Daniel The KIDabra Live Library/Summer Reading Session at KIDabra Conference This Summer in the United States thousands of libraries will invite children's performers in to entertain and help promote Summer Reading to their young patrons. Many of these performers will hail from our world of magic. While wonderful pro-reading routines and tricks exist from a few performers like Sammy Smith and Barry Mitchell, there is not a tremendous amount of material available for this important niche of our industry. Adding to that thought: Pro-literacy messages are vital throughout the year and around the world. Where do you turn for guidance on this topic? Glad you asked! This August at KIDabra Conference, the KIDabra Live Sessions devotes an entire evening to the tricks, routines and tips that inspire young readers. Hosted by one of the leading experts on the topic Steve Taylor and featuring Barry Mitchell, Tim Sonefelt, Trixie Bond, Bruce Amato, Jim Kleefeld, Sammy Smith, Nathan J. Roberts, Ken Scott, Mike Bent and more to come! Come experience the fun, yet important work and magical ways of promoting literacy. This is a KIDabra Conference Highlight event! The 16th Annual KIDabra International Conference: The Association of KIDshow and Family Performers meets August 15-18 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA. For more info on KIDabra Conference, the featured line-up, schedule and the Association go to kidabra.org ----------------- 15. Magic Camp Scholarships ----------------- Message from Warren J. Kaps Warren Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Tel. (201) 489-5277 Fax. (201) 489-0477 The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund is proud to announce that this year we are able to provide four full tuition plus travel expense scholarships to very special and deserving youngsters from Canada and the United States. There are two scholarships to attend Sorcerer's Summer Safari located near Toronto, Canada, and two scholarships to attend Tannen's Magic Camp located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The competition was extremely keen this year with many deserving and highly qualified applicants. It was a difficult decision to decide on the deserving youngsters. Jennifer Antonio receives an award for a camp scholarship to Sorcerer's Safari in Toronto, Canada. Jennifer is 12 years old, and attends Ecole Marie Anne Gabourg, in Winnipeg, Canada. Jennifer often performs magic with her brother Zachary and has been performing since she was 7 years old. Jennifer has excelled in her presentations and received several awards, such as The Young Humanitarian Award for outstanding contribution to her community by the Manitoba Teachers Society and The Philip Hornan Scholarship of Magic which is a scholarship awarded to young magicians in Canada between the ages of 7 and 18. She also won first place at the Manitoba's 11th annual SYM Close-up competition, She performs magic at parties, malls, festivals and school, and has been invited to talk about magic and teach some simple magic tricks at the local Children's Museum. She also is active in her church, plays the piano and trumpet, and loves to make people smile. Luke David Murray, age 13, is awarded a scholarship to Sorcerer's Safari Magic Camp. He is in grade 8 at Our Lady of Sorrows School, in Toronto. Luke hopes to be a professional working magician one day and works hard to improve his magical skills. He performs at conferences and parties, and although he has only been performing magic for two years, Luke has impressed other magicians in his area. Reece Ristau, age 14, is awarded a scholarship to attend Tannen's Magic Camp in Philadelphia. Reece is in the 8th grade and attends Millard North Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska. He performs at birthday parties and talent shows, and has been totally consumed with magic. He is dedicated in his desire to have a good presentation and practices each new trick again and again, sometimes even for weeks, until he feels he has it mastered. Vincent Lester is awarded a scholarship to attend Tannen's Magic Camp in Philadelphia. Vincent is 14 years old and attends BayPoint Middle School in Saint Petersburg, Florida. He has been a member of the SYM Assembly 4 for about five years. One seasoned magician has been so impressed with Vincent's talents that he was reminded of a young David Copperfield. High praise, indeed. Vincent is also an accomplished juggler and ventriloquist. We are happy to be able to present these four talented young people with scholarships to magic camp where they can expand and grow their talents. ----------------- 16. Magic Updates From San Diego, California ----------------- Message from Michael Johnson If you ever visit Southern California, don't limit your vacation to just the Magic Castle in Hollywood or Disneyland in Anaheim. Drive a little further South and experience the magic of San Diego! Magician Michael E. Johnson reports the growing magic scene on his web site called www.SanDiegoMagicNews.com, with a complete calendar of magical events in the San Diego area. This includes club meetings, restaurants, lectures, classes, fundraisers and special events. Highlights include the monthly meetings of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 76, which meets on the second Monday of the month at Jack White's Magic Place in San Diego, and the monthly meetings of the Magic Guild of Southern California, which meets on the first Thursday of the month at Baker's Square restaurant in San Marcos. New York sensation Bob Elliott often attends, freely sharing his magic and advice. There are also restaurants that feature magic, like The Gathering restaurant in the Mission Hills area with Dan Thomas and Tom McCarthy, Uno's Pizzeria in Mission Valley and Chula Vista with Craig Stone, and the Corvette Diner in the Hillcrest area with Diane Lane. Perhaps the best known magic treasure is J.C. Wagner who performs at the bar every Saturday afternoon at The Little Club in Coronado for those age 21 and up. This summer there are also numerous Magic Camps, including those taught by Magician Michael E. Johnson at Palomar College in San Marcos and the La Jolla Family YMCA in La Jolla; and Magic Mike Stilwell at the La Mesa Family YMCA. "San Diego is a magic town" Johnson explained. "Magicians from around the world are surprised to see such a happening scene." For more information, contact Johnson at mjohns341@cox.net. ----------------- 17. Bristol Day Of Magic ----------------- Message from Mandy Davis Diva of Deception Chairman YMC/Editor - Secrets Magazine Once again the Bristol Society of Magic are to be congratulated on hosting this well-attended and professional event at Weston Super Mare with top performers and lecturers. The day started with a brief welcome from the organising committee of Paul Preager, President Lewis Taylor, Barry Savage and Mandy Farrell; then it was swiftly on with the first lecture of the day. Trixie Bond from Texas, dressed as Mary Poppins, had earlier been sitting on the floor in the foyer with a group of small children enjoying her brand of close up magic. Now she lead them into the large hall and seated them on the floor at the foot of the platform. They ranged from a toddler to a girl of nine. We saw forty-five minutes of show and fifteen of lecture on marketing. There were many tricks from the appearance of doves at off-beat moments to that of a large rabbit from under a Happy Birthday silk. A favourite effect utilised a battered old teapot which poured three different coloured liquids into three tiered tumbers, with a silk of each of the colours being taken from the pot to be combined with a blow tube and ending with a multi-coloured silk. There was a mis-made flag routine, probably more rousing in the US, which ended with an enormous Union Flag on the end of a long pole and a very shmaltzy family moment using linking multi-coloured ropes. I particularly loved the clutch-bag style of change bag used for a Mutilated Parasol which fitted nicely into the Mary Poppins motif. Every child went home with a business card - a marketing moment indeed! The close up show was held twice in three rooms. There were three international award-winning performers. David Stone is known as a specialist in coin magic but is a very commercial performer too. Under a giant sheet he comically struggled to produce one coin which was used to demonstrate his immense skill. There was a bottle production and a great gag with a mobile phone. A retractable tape measure changed to a deck of cards and then the deck vanished in a fast and furious manner. David's character was supremely funny throughout and the audience was loud in its enthusiasm. Coins to glass was neatly done and a card with an appearing and colour changing sticker was baffling. David ended with a couple of productions that even surprised him! Manuel Muerte had a manic personality, keeping the audience laughing and amazed in turns. He opened with several productions and vanishes of a cigar and lighter before changing his tie to one he preferred. His fun with a stuffed mouse was hilarious and every time there was an apparent ending to any trick it was emphasised with a shower of confetti. A bottle of champagne production was enhanced by some great gags as was a borrowed and burnt bank note routine and more appearances of the mouse. The note was finally found inside the champagne bottle plastic cork! Marc Oberon had added to his award-winning act since I'd last seen it. To magical background music he talked poetically through multiplying golden spheres and an appearing statuette. The theme was Midas and suddenly there was an apple which turned into gold. Some origami followed with a paper swan which also turned to gold, along with a solid egg. The music stopped for an entertaining card location sequence which included one from flames and Marc's marketed effect Bang On. Then it was back to the music and poetry as the deck itself turned to gold and coins appeared and vanished whilst keys increased in size to end this faultlessly dramatic act. The afternoon was ended with a one-man show featuring John Lenahan. He only performed his opening trick, Six Card Repeat, for one new gag which he wanted to share - or so he told us. Bruce Kalver's Growing Head Illusion proved popular and John got some wonderful mileage from a book test and a spectator who didn't understand his American accent. But throughout the show it wasn't just the tricks which made the entertainment; the lines and gags were very well-honed and funny. His laid back style of delivery is something you can't just buy from a dealer. There was one problem - John's unique Cards Across routine failed on this occasion but didn't detract from the enjoyment, the audience feeling uplifted that anyone could have a problem on stage at any time. John recovered with a paper hat tear and Mulitplying Bananas which turned the show into a semi-lecture as he explained that the banana routine had evolved during a Cannon and Ball tour. He had used it to bring his act in at exactly twelve minutes nightly to stop him accruing a fine! His next trick, a card one, had started as Lewis Ganson's newspaper cutting one but one night he'd made a mistake cutting the shapes and ended up with the sixteen of Hearts - this got a bigger reaction than the original and now he always does this trick as a gag instead. Linking Human Beings was next and John ended the show with a nice back reference to the earlier unfound card selection as it was now displayed hanging on a rope. This show was a delight and a real highlight of the day for many. The junior workshop featured John as well as Fay Presto and Marc Oberon with fifteen youngsters turning up full of enthusiasm for this special event. Marc taught them some coin moves, all of them learning at their own pace, Then the group was split into beginners and non-beginners. Fay took the former group and held an 'everything you want to know about magic but were afraid to ask' session which was greatly welcomed and enjoyed whilst John Lenahan taught several interesting and very usable card tricks along with the top change, the Hindu and slop shuffles and a couple of forces. The group thoroughly enjoyed the hour and were also thrilled with a free tombola which meant that they each went home with a trick donated by either Trixie Bond or Fantasma Magic. The evening show, at the Playhouse Theatre, proved a well balanced and entertaining one. The Boulevard Swing Band delighted the audience before the curtain rose on the Richard Cadell dancers. Mel Harvey, in a bright yellow suit and armed with a series of gags, was the evening's MC and introduced Alex Lodge who produced various silks and mini umbrellas, a pink Dancing Hankerchief, a silk fountain to umbrella and an illuminated Dancing Cane. There was UV lighting for multi-coloured Linking Rings and a slow sequence with a Mulilated Parasol. A mishap or two along the way didn't stop Alex's enthusiasm and the act ended with a giant umbrella. Keith Field had instant rapport with the audience as he swiftly parried and dealt with a twelve year old heckler. He performed his usual comedy act from balloon sniffing to Professor's Nightmare, adding a bowl of water production from a zipped purse-style shopping bag! There was a great knots from silk gag and loads of laughs along the way, leading to his finale of a straight-jacket escape neatly done to a Philip Marlow-style voice-over. Scott Penrose treated the audience to his act as known but ended with Kevin James's snow storm. In between he produced doves, filled a brandy glass with smoke, used silks to great effect as well as card manipulations and a finely choreographed card stab. The vanish of a cage of doves, to leave a large rabbit in its place, once again brought gasps from the audience. Mel Harvey was back after the interval, this time in bright blue. Romany, Diva of Magic, burst onto the stage in a flurry of pink sashes and feathered fans. Bird cages appeared from nowhere, seemingly as much of a surprise to her as they were to us! A long sash, tied between two pedestals, was cut and restored and a bottle production followed, as well as blank notes to bank notes and Gypsy Thread. The audience loved Romany's signature Coins Across involving two male spectators and the act ended with Linking Rings. Norbert Ferre portrays two characters during his super act - one is giggly and quirky whilst the other is a perfect magical manipulator. A voice, distorted by a swazzle, proved very effective for getting the laughs. In between balls and then cards were beautifully worked in time to the poignant music which was enhanced by the empty setting of a single stand on the stage. Short tap dances emphasised the quirky character's movements and led, at the end, to the revelation of the contents of a box marked 'Surprise'. This act is a lesson in everything from character, comedy, skill, poise, use of music and limit of props - Norbert is always evolving what he does and the best just gets better! Guy Barrett closed the show with a plethora of illusions. Some jigsaw shapes on the side of a box were rearranged to form a picture of a girl who was then revealed inside. The picture was given a costume change - and so was the girl. A Dancing Hanky followed and then a wooden sword box. Another box was brought on and a girl placed inside; this was later shown to be completely hollowed out but the girl was gone, only to reappear as the box was reassembled. There was an assistant's revenge with Guy forced into a box to have his middle removed and reversed whilst his head stayed in place. Effects with silks were followed by a newspaper tear and then a girl was placed between the metal sides of a giant press. After being squeezed together the girl was found unharmed. And thus ended another excellent magical day. ----------------- 18. Broken Wand - Charles Pemberton ----------------- Message from Mandy Davis Diva of Deception Chairman YMC/Editor - Secrets Magazine Charles Pemberton, well-known as an actor and a member of The Magic Circle, passed away on Sunday after a battle with cancer. Charles was particularly known for his portrayal of Gilbert (Gilbert and Sullivan). There may be a memorial service at a later date but this is uncertain at the moment. ----------------- 19. US Magician Robbed, Hijacked In Khayelitsha ----------------- Message from Dave Upfold Dave spotted this on the IOL website and thought you'd find it interesting. A visiting American magician and staff from the College of Magic in Claremont were hijacked and robbed at gunpoint outside a student's Khayelitsha home at the weekend - leaving the community, the student's family and their guests shocked and in tears. Steve Cuiffo, a New York magician and associate of celebrity magician David Blaine, and college director David Gore and teachers Marian Williamson and Craig Mitchell, spent Mother's Day at the family home of a 15-year-old college student. The student's tuition is sponsored by a New York banker, who sent Cuiffo to visit the college. On Sunday the student told Cuiffo about his dream of becoming a magician. ----------------- 20. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) The Amazing 'ORCHANTÉ' Saga - Page 157 - PROLOGUE - Fiji A Brief History and Government Those of you who have been following my chronicle from the beginning, will be aware that I spent some considerable time in Fiji during the early Sixties, initially with my late friend Alan Horobin and later, with my own promotions, touring every bit of Fiji; picture theatres, tin sheds in tiny villages, etc. anywhere I could work my show, together with my then, Eurasian/Fijian girlfriend. (See page 29, now pages 44/45; an early error in the saga meant the pages had to be renumbered). Veronica and I last visited Fiji's shores on the 15th July 1976, when Eric Petford had asked us to join him at the 'Paradise Point Resort', Korolevu (situated on the Coral Coast, about an hour and a half drive from Nadi, and twenty minutes from Sigatoka) where he had recently been transferred from a hotel/resort in the South Island of New Zealand, as manager of this fabulous, idyllic retreat; it was to have been our permanent base (See page 150). Eric was going to pool together all the other hotels on Fiji, and those that were on the different smaller islands and atolls of the Fijian group, many of which were/are privately owned - catering for the very, very rich! The plan was that we would have regular, non stop employment for years to come. Unfortunately, 'A Bloody Officious Group' had other ideas! I will give you the full story, regarding 'That Line' later, but first, here is a little? 'History of Fiji and Government - as it has some bearing on 'That Line', and will give you a better understanding as to why I used it. Fiji's discovery is usually credited to Abel Jansen Tasman, a Dutch navigator who visited the island group in 1643. Captain James Cook of England sailed through the islands in 1774, but major credit for the discovery and charting of the island's goes to another Englishman, William Bligh, who navigated the islands after being set adrift in a small boat by the mutinous crew of his ship, the ill-fated 'Bounty'. The first inhabitants of Fiji came from Melanesia some 3500 years ago, and established a hierarchical society based on clans. Little is known of the island's history before the arrival of Europeans - an assortment of roving traders, missionaries and shipwrecked sailors - in the mid 17th century. Relations between the indigenous community and the new arrivals were reasonably good, founded on mutually beneficial commercial activity, until the establishment of plantations in the 1860s, which destabilised the economy. Serious friction between the Fijian chiefs and the Europeans ensued - the main cause centring on land ownership. On a broader front, imperial rivalry between the major European powers was reaching a climax in the Pacific. Thus, in 1874, Fiji became a British colony. Large numbers of workers from India were imported to develop a plantation economy, accounting for the islands present ethnic mix and consequently the tension between the two main communities, which has blighted Fijian politics since the country's independence in 1970. For the next 17 years after independence, the moderate conservative Alliance Party governed without interruption. Foreign policy was (and it still is) broadly pro-Western and geared towards the development of regional alliances, such as the South Pacific Forum. As a member of the forum, Fiji, along with its smaller neighbours, vigorously campaigned against French nuclear testing. It is also a member of the Commonwealth, from which it was suspended temporarily in 1987 and again in 2000. The 1987 suspension followed the general election that same year, which removed the Alliance Party from office. The poll brought to power a coalition between the main ethnic Indian party, the National Federation Party, led by Marendra Chaudhry (see next page), and the newly-formed Labour Party, which drew support from the growing multi-racial trade union movement. The new government had a majority of Indian ministers, which proved too much for the many nationalist native Fijians (referred to as Taukei). This was the trigger for an army coup d' etat, headed by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, with the declared intention of ensuing the preservation of Taukei rights! -------------------------------------------- 21. 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) -------------------------------------------- 22. 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. 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