Magic New Zealand® E-zine

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* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
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Issue Number: #1474
Date: Sunday 14th October 2018
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editor's Message
2. Penn & Teller: Fool Us - The CW Announced Ordered New Season
3. Conjuring Arts University
4. Freakatorium! - Catalog Now Online
5. The Magic Word Podcast - Paul Voodini
6. Lies Damn Lies! - John Carey #20
7. MagiCuba - Havana, Cuba - November 7-11, 2018
8. "Reading" A Child - #504 - Kyle Peron
9. The Assembly Convention - Brisbane, Qld Australia
10. New Zealand IBM Ring 160 Celebrating Their 60th Jubilee
11. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
12. E-zine Archives

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1. Editor's Message
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If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in a HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2018-Jan-to-Dec-2018/1474-Oct14-2018.html

If you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand or
have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

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2. Penn & Teller: Fool Us - The CW Announced Ordered New Season
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Article forwarded on by Peter Phillips (US)

CW Renews 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?,' 'Masters of Illusion,' 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us'

Variety

Ahead of the rollout of their new fall shows, The CW announced that it has ordered new seasons of its summer slate.
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?," "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," and "Masters of Illusion" have all been picked up for new seasons.

For more information go to:
https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/cw-renews-whose-line-is-it-anyway-masters-of-illusion-penn-teller-fool-us-1202974044/

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3. Conjuring Arts University
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Brand New Courses, Available Now!

Live Magic Classes with the Masters via Webcam.

Online - Participate from anywhere with a webcam and an internet connection.

Live - Interact and receive personal instruction and feedback from the world's greatest masters, in real time.

Variety - Courses cover a variety of topics and times, pick the ones that work for you!
If you have ever wanted to learn from a great master magician, now is your chance!

Space is Extremely Limited.

Enroll now by going to:

https://store.conjuringarts.org/category/conjuring-arts-university/?mc_cid=95327c6560&mc_eid=eff0171ccd

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4. Freakatorium! - Catalog Now Online
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Message by Potter & Potter Auctions (US)

Alive! On the Inside! Potter & Potter is pleased to present the over-the-top, one-of-a-kind Barnumesque collection of renowned sword swallower, comedian, magician, and curiosity seeker Johnny Fox. Expect a sale like no other, populated with sideshow banners, tribal art and artifacts, furry mink fish (very rare), magic tricks, swords for swallowing, and oh, so much more!

New For 2018

Now you can bid live, online (with a 20% buyer's premium), at potterauctions.com

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5. The Magic Word Podcast - Paul Voodini
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

This week we begin our celebration of the Halloween season during the month of October. We travel "across the pond" to visit with Paul Voodini, a paranormalist who conducts seances in and around London, England. What is interesting about this conversation is that Paul admittedly is not a magician. Moreover, the seances he conducts do not employ mechanical, electronic or gimmickry but instead he creates an environment conductive to "things" happening.

In this week's podcast, Paul talks about the recent "discovery" of celebrating Halloween in the U.K. to replace the bonfires and fireworks of Guy Fawkes Day, the belief systems that people bring to seances, how Paul presents his seances as an interested party rather than as a psychic, Jack the Ripper, plus some mysterious occurrences he has had happen in his life.

You can watch a video of one of his seances, see some photos, read the blog, listen to the podcast online and download the MP3 file at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/453-paul-voodini

And be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to keep up with who is on the podcast each week plus the next week's guest. Sign up at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/subscribe-to-the-magic-word/

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6. Lies Damn Lies! - John Carey #19
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Message by John Carey (UK)
https://carey-scene.com/jc-main

The lie detector plot is deservedly considered a classic of close up card magic, and there are some truly superb versions in print. What makes the effect so strong are the choices the spectator gets to make and the ensuing entertainment value the effect can generate.

What I offer here makes an ideal opener. It makes wonderful use of what's become known as the Matsuyama Petal force, which with playing cards is a way of forcing one of two words. My friend John Bannon uses it in an effect called Petal to the Metal in his book Destination Zero. The actual force was published with applications by Steve Beam in Semi-Automatic card tricks, volume 4.

Set the Jack of Clubs, Hearts and Spades at positions 1,6 and 11 from the top of the deck. Place the Jack of Diamonds on the face of the deck and you are good to go.

"I'm sure most of you here have heard all about the polygraph machine or lie detector. It's used by law enforcement agencies around the world to determine whether a suspect is lying or telling the truth. It's a highly sophisticated, very expensive piece of equipment. But: did you know that a deck of cards can be used as a lie detector? Much less expensive, can be carried in your pocket and usually gives remarkably good results. Let's put it to the test with you today Raj!"

Remove the deck and false shuffle retaining your set up. Push off a packet of five cards from the top and table them. Then push off five more and table them to the right of the first packet.
Finally push off another five cards and table them furthest to the right of the row, forming three packets, each with a Jack on top. This is done as you make your opening commentary.

Swing cut a few small packets into your left hand, leaving about a dozen cards in your right hand. Place this packet (with the Jack of Diamonds on the bottom) on top of the packet in your left hand, securing a little-finger break beneath it. Execute a dribble force to your break as you say you want Raj to put the thought of a card in his mind. Raise the upper packet and show him the force card.

Assemble the deck, keeping a little-finger break beneath the selection. Pause a beat as you ask him to lock the image of that card in his mind, then casually double undercut the forced selection to the bottom and execute a slip shuffle retaining it there.

Table the deck and ask your helper to cut off a fair-sized packet. You then pick up the remainder and place them on top, but offset at an angle, setting up Max Holden's classic cross-cut card force.

"So, Raj, you are thinking of a card. These three small packets of cards on the table are our lie detector. I will simply ask you three questions and you may lie or tell the truth."

Ask the spectator if his card is red or black? Whatever his answer, pick up the packet on the left in readiness for the Matsuyama Petal force: Deal the top card to the table as you say "black" (opposite colour of force card) and then place the next card underneath the packet as you call out "red". Repeat this deal and duck procedure with the remaining cards of the packet as you call out black, red, black, red and drop the final card on top. The last colour you call will, by nature of the maths of the deal, be the colour of their card (in this case red). Explain that this technique shows the true colour and, depending on his answer, comment on how the lie detector tells us he is either lying or telling the truth.

Pick up the next packet of the row and repeat exactly the above process after asking him whether he is thinking of a Heart or a Diamond? Be sure to call out the opposite suit to the Diamond as you deal the first card and continue the duck and Deal. Have some fun with the results here.

Pick up the remaining packet and ask your helper whether he is thinking of a number card or a picture card? He can again be truthful or Lie. Carry out the petal force as before, dealing the top card to the table as you call out number, then ducking the next card underneath as you call out picture. Continue and drop the last card on top, successfully forcing the word picture.

"Well we've had some fun there with your answers, Raj! You were truthful only once but the lie detector found you out. For the first time, tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! What card are you thinking of?"

After he says Jack of Diamonds, slowly reach over to the remainder of the deck and slowly lift off the upper offset packet from above with the right hand. Slide out the bottom card and place it on his hand. A moment later have him turn it over to reveal his 'thought of card'.

To finish the piece, slowly turn over the three 'lie detector' packets to disclose the other Jacks and bring the trick home.

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7. MagiCuba - Havana, Cuba - November 7-11, 2018
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Message by John Rose

In case you haven't heard, MagiCuba is a five-day, city-wide magic festival - including six shows at the National Theater, eight nightclub shows, a special performance at the Cuban Circus, five full days of magic at our headquarters venue in Old Havana, Palacio de las Artisenia,
and numerous other performances - as well as a conference for magicians at the famed Hotel Nacional that adds several days of exceptional MagiCuba Sessions (lectures, talks, interviews, etc.), a Magic & Mojitos close-up session each afternoon and a unique culture and magic walking tour.

Approximately 40 Cuban and international magicians have confirmed appearances, including: John Archer, Jorge Blass, Mike Caveney, Mac King, Eric Mead, Michael Weber and Asi Wind. (See magicuba.org for full details and follow us at https://www.facebook.com/MagiCuba/). This is a unique one-time magic happening and the most fun way to visit Cuba.

MagiCuba is being run in partnership with the Cuban Ministry of Culture, with the endorsement of its newly elected president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. Both the Magic Castle and Magic Circle have offered endorsement. Executive producers include Bill Herz, Jon Stetson and myself.

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8. "Reading" A Child - #504 - Kyle Peron
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Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
KyleKellyMagic@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/perondesign
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com

As much as we would like to believe, we do not always pick the most perfect child helper. Maybe your track record is pretty good, but as good as you are at reading a child, you can never be sure how that child will react once on stage with you. That once polite and cute kid can
instantly turn into "cujo" or the "devil's spawn." once they arrive on stage to assist you.

We all have experienced this and I hope each time you learn to deal with it in the best and most proper way. As a professional, I must learn to handle situation like this and I must learn to be bigger than the problem at hand. Simply enough that means if I am a professional, then I
should have the ability to handle situations and problems in such a way that I remain in character and still continue to do my job .... entertain the audience.

In many cases a child's attitude and personality can change so drastic enough that it is quite obvious to you. You know instantly that you had made a bad choice and it is obvious to you that you may need to switch gears a little in order to get through the routine you have planned.

However, too often performers do not see the warning signs that kids can and do give to you. Not always does a child change so drastic that you easily see it. In many cases a child's attitude and emotions can change gradually in the process of a routine. You may not always see it if you are not accustomed to learning to "read the child."

Because I am a deaf entertainer, I read lips all the time. I must do so if I am able to hear people and communicate with them. Because of this, I am constantly looking at and scanning my helpers. Learning to read a child is an important skill but it requires first the ability to see and to notice small things before they become bigger problems.

Make sure to pay attention to a child and pay attention to what they do, say and how they act. Sometimes little signs show up that you can easily start to notice.

For example, a bad situation is when you have a helper on stage and the helper becomes shy or, worse yet, starts to cry on stage. There are warnings signs you can easily start to pick up the minute you select a child. The first thing you must realize is that a child in their seat
can be vastly different than the child on stage with you. In their seat they are comfortable, relaxed and among friends.

When a child in on stage with you, they are in the spotlight, standing next to a big adult with all of their friends staring at them. They may not have any idea what you are going to do and they may fear being embarrassed. This can easily change a child's personality or mood and you must be tuned to seeing the change if it happens.

So what are some of the signs that a child may be shy, nervous or heading down the road to shutting off on you?

- The head starts to come down towards the chin instead of being held up high
- The shoulders come in and they hunch over
- They usually will try and avoid eye contact with you
- The voice becomes softer and the responses are shorter
- The hands may go into the pockets or they may hold their hands together close to their waist
- They may also back up close to your table or a prop as a way of "hiding" or "protecting" themselves"
- If you approach them, they may back away slowly or avoid approaching you

Now these may seem obvious. However, many times these signs are subtle. In many ways you may be so focused on your routine that you simply fail to see any of these happening before it is too late. Learn to study these signs and others. Pay attention to your helper and start to read them the minute they are selected.

The key is to notice these signs before it becomes a bigger issue. In the above instance, the signs tell me the child may be scared, nervous or unsure of the situation. If I let it go, the child could shut off and not interact or could start to cry on stage. It does happen.

If I see a warning sign, I can immediately change my routine or how I go about it. A professional should be one who knows how to adapt to any situation. If I see one of the signs above, I might do one of the following:

- Empower the child by allowing the audience to applaud just for him or her. I build their confidence up and the clapping makes them the star of the moment and the applause shows that the audience is on their side.

- Instead of doing a patter line (or part of the routine that gets me a laugh from something the child does) I may change it around so the laugh is totally on me. For example, a breakaway wand would not be given to this child but instead he gets it right every time while I am the one that it breaks on.

- Get the child to laugh. Laughter is indeed the best medicine and it is a great way to get a child to open up.

- Allow them to do the magic. Instead of you being the magician, allow the child to be the one that makes the magic work. You act amazed at their magical ability and all the credit goes to them.

Now there are more warning signs and certainly more ways you can handle it. However, I hope that these few listed here get you thinking more. We need to learn to read a helper and to see signs early on. We must be willing to adapt our routine if we see a helper headed down the wrong path and apply some of these methods to make that child feel special.

If I am a professional, then I must treat every helper as a guest in my own home. I never want a guest to feel uncomfortable and I always want them leaving knowing they had a great time.

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.

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9. The Assembly Convention - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Message by Sean Piper (Australia)

The Assembly 2019 extends their international roster:

It is with great pleasure that we announce our third international guest for The Assembly Convention 2019 is none other than Jason Ladanye.

In 2013, Jason released his first book, Confident Deceptions and in 2018, he releases his second book Game Changer. He is known for creating high-impact card tricks that play like miracles for lay audiences. His peers consider Jason one of the best card magicians in the world.

He joins our previously announced guests Dan Harlan from the USA & John Carey from the UK. It's going to be a great weekend of magic!

The Assembly Convention will be held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from June 21st to 23rd.

Early Bird registration is available now.

Full details can be found at www.theassemblycon.com.au

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10. New Zealand IBM Ring 160 Celebrating Their 60th Jubilee
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Message from Paula Wray, IBM Ring 160 President

All magicians are welcome to attend….

For more information please contact Paula Wray: Paula_wray@hotmail.com

Sunday 28th October 2018

$60/Person Non-Members
$40/Person Ring 160 Members
Registrations Open to All Members & Non-Members

Limited Seating
Registrations Essential

~ 6.30pm ~
Meet & Greet
Drinks
Live Piano Accompaniment

~ 7.10pm ~
President's Welcome

~ 7.15pm ~
Historian Bernard Reid
Local historian Bernard Reid will give a brief history of IBM Ring 160

~ 7.30pm ~
Dinner Banquet
Live Piano Accompaniment

~ 8.15pm ~
Entertainment
3 Mystery Guest Entertainers
Dessert

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11. E-zine Archives
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Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e- zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com click on the red button centre right "Archives"

When you enter the archive the e- zines are in issue order in folders for each year and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)

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12. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice
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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.magicnewzealand.com

Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday.

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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.