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: #1538
Date: Sunday 20th October 2019
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. FISM North American Championship
3. Post FISM Tour Of Quebec And S. Ontario
4. The Magic Word Podcast - Paul Prater On Ghost Tours
5. Annoying Thought - John Carey #57
6. Learn The Art Of Magic - Magicfix
7. Daytona Festival Of Magic 2019
8. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
9. E-zine Archives
10. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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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 HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2019-Jan-to-Dec-2019/1538-Oct20-2019.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. FISM North American Championship
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Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

FISM North American Championship of Magic 2020 and FISM WCM 2021

Many people are still confused by the difference between FISM North American Championship of Magic and FISM World Championship of Magic.

In the past, FISM NACM was called FISM North America and was a joint IBM-SAM convention. During that convention contestants were also chosen to compete at FISM World Championship of Magic (FISM) held in either Europe or Asia.

In 2020 FISM North American Championship of Magic will be held in Quebec City, Canada. A first in Canada. During this convention competitors from Canada and USA will be chosen to compete at the FISM World Championship of Magic in 2021. It will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Magicians convention.

This convention takes the place of the past SAM/IBM joint conventions held in previous years but has the same importance of choosing the North Americans who will compete at FISM the following year.

The 2021 FISM World Championship of Magic will also be held in Quebec City rather than overseas. A first in FISM's history to be held in America.

At this convention contestants from all continents will compete for prizes in various categories as well as for the Grand Prix.

If you have any questions please contact: Renée-Claude Auclair, President and co-organizer for both events at: rca@fismquebec2021.com

You can also visit both web sites:
FISM NACMm 2020: www.fismna2020.com
FISM WCM 2021: www. fismquebec2021.com

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3. Post FISM Tour Of Quebec And S. Ontario
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Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

Post FISM Tour of Quebec and S. Ontario August 1-7, 2021

Register for FISM World Championship of Magic: www.FISMQuebec2021.com

For more information contact Joan Caesar: JCaesar@sentex.ca

Sunday, August 1 2021 Quebec City to Montreal (L, D)
Depart from 1-2 main convention hotels at 9:00 AM
Bus tour of Quebec City including Plains of Abraham and Parliament Buildings, old city including wall.

Travel to Montreal via the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, visiting Chute Montmorency
Continue west, stopping for lunch at Le Bisonierre (Bison) farm where you will learn about this magnificent North American animal that once roamed Canada by the millions. http://www.bisonniere.com/
Lunch on site at the farm after wagon tour amongst the Bison Continue to Montreal, travelling through Trois Rivière and across the St. Lawrence River to the south shore and continue to Montreal.

Check into hotel before taking a city tour, ending in Old Port of Montreal for dinner
Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Monday, August 2: Montreal to Ottawa (B, D)
Breakfast at the hotel
Travel to Ottawa where you will stop at the Byward Market, home to over 600 curious businesses, for free time and time for lunch on you own. http://byward-market.com/en/home/
Afternoon city tour before check in to our downtown hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Ottawa. Hotel is in walking distance of the Canadian Parliament Buildings.

Tuesday, August 3: Ottawa, Gananoque, Kingston (B, D)
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit to the Canadian Museum of History located across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec https://www.historymuseum.ca/
Travel to Kingston following part of the St. Lawrence Parkway via Gananoque to Kingston where you will have admission to the historic Fort Henry. http://www.kingstonmuseums.ca/fort-henry-national-historic-site-of-canada
Lunch on your own in the Fort cafeteria
Continue to downtown Kinston. Tour Kingston maximum security Penitentiary, until it was closed. https://www.kingstonpentour.com/
Check into your downtown hotel
Evening thousand Islands dinner cruise to some of the famous Thousand Islands located near and in the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.
https://www.1000islandscruises.ca/island-star-dinner-menu/
Overnight in Kingston.

More about the tour events on days 4 and 5 next week.

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4. The Magic Word Podcast - Paul Prater On Ghost Tours
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

As we continue our five weeks of the "Month of Boo", this week we welcome Paul Prater who is a Bizarre Magician who conducts seances, spooky shows and ghost tours in and around his home in Arkansas. On the podcast, Paul talks about how he found the location and developed the tour around some ghost stories generally known by the populace. He suggests some marketing schemes should you be interested in replicating something like this in your home town.

You can watch some videos of Paul and his Ghost Tours, read the blog, see some candid photos, listen to the podcast online, and download the MP3 file at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/526-paul-prater
This week we also announce the 12 winners of the contest for the PDF files of Ian Kendall's workshop lecture notes from the Genii convention. If you were not aware of the contest, then don't miss out on future contests by subscribing to the pod-letter.

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5. Annoying Thought - John Carey #57
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Message by John Carey (UK)
https://carey-scene.com/jc-main

Pablo Amira

Audience and participant's perception

A participant is invited to an imaginary game of poker, in which only one card is the relevant one. A deck of cards is used for letting him thinking in the needed one.

During the mindreading process, the mindreader says that he has an "annoying thought", removing one card from the deck while the mysterious person asks the participant to name one card. After a strange moment, the mindreading process continues.

After that the thought-of-card is revealed, the card from the pocket is removed, showing it as a correct precognition, showing at the end that the "Annoying Thought" came from the participant subconscious, playing some strange games with the psychic abilities from the mindreader.

Effect

Mindreading and Precognition. A card is revealed via telepathy and other one thru precognition.

How?

This effect is an expansion of a classic concept to ask someone to think in a playing card using a deck of cards and then reveal it thru a magical process of mindreading. Obviously, the process of getting the thought is dependent of your own character as performer; personally, I play the psychic mindreader. I have played with the simple idea to add a prediction effect on this so it has 2 different climaxes and I think that this method is my best solution to date.

The deck can be shuffled before doing the proper procedure, it doesn't matter. For letting your participant think in a card you will use the Marlo/Vernon Spectator´s Peek. I have used also my own technique called "Amira´s Dribble Peek" for this. In this performance, because you are creating and experience that must take the attention off the prop itself and direct the importance to the human connection and creation of mystery, use a technique to know the thought of card that doesn't communicate the possibility of any sleight of hand. Be casual and don't make that
process relevant. The important process comes next when you are connecting with your participant.

You can explain thru your script and narrative that the cards are used because they are universal symbols, they are easy to remember, or (as I propose on the description of the effect) as part of the visualization that your participant is doing of a card game. This isn't necessary, but in my opinion adds a lot of more artistry to your performance. There is nothing wrong with "expositive performances" in which you are just verbally just explaining and repeating what you are doing at a visual level, as:

"I have a deck of cards…look a card…focus on your card…is the 5 of Hearts" but I prefer most of the time to add some narratives that makes the experience much more than just a potential puzzle to solve. At the end, do what suits you the best. Don't copy anyone´s performance. Make it your own.

So now, using the method that you prefer, you will know the card that your participant saw (from now you will label this cards as "the thought of card"… words creates reality). Let's assume that your participant is thinking of the 5 of Hearts. NOW starts the process that it will be memorable. Place all your attention on that and you will have an entertaining and remarkable performance. Reveal first the colour and then when you are going to reveal the suit, say that you are having an "annoying thought". This line sounds ambiguous and almost funny at the same time. You can pause a little bit while you say it and use the reactions that you get to help in the dramatic building of the routine.

Take the deck of cards and remove one card of the opposite colour from the "thought of card" (In this case you will remove a black card). Place it in your pocket and ask the participant to name a black card. Lets say that your participant names de 8 of Clubs. Now, if you place that precise card, you have a clean revelation at the end, but if not, just ACT and BELIEVE that you did that, smile, and continue with your mindreading. This will be implicit, and it has to be in my opinion.

Go back to your revelation, naming the suit and at the moment in which you apparently are getting the precise number, just take the deck of cards (communicating that you are searching for the thought of card) and whenever you found the named card (in this case the 8 of Clubs say):
"Ah… it was not the 3… for a moment I thought that it was but I am close…" In doing this you will place the 8 Clubs on top of the deck. Now find the 5 of Hearts, leaving the card on your participant´s palm.

Ask the participant to name the card out loud and when his attention is on seeing the card and during the applause from the audience, you have the perfect moment to palm the card from the deck, place it on your pocket and leave a corner protruding (in that manner you can delay for a bit the revelation). Now add: "Is amazing how your minds and thoughts were connected, but you remember that you named one card in the middle, a black card. What was it?

8 of Clubs?...Well. So apparently that annoying thought had a purpose (reveal the card)"

As you can see, a simple and direct routine that allows you to reveal a thought of card and as a bonus, a prediction to impact the mind and Heart of your participant.

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6. Learn The Art Of Magic - Magicfix
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Message by Jeff McBride (US)

Centuries of magic secrets revealed by the masters of their art form. Videos from legends made decades ago to the latest up and coming magicians. Tutorials for the beginner through to the expert covering a broad array of magic topics. Never before has there been such a rich collection of magic tutorials and performances available in one place.

An incredible collection of the very best magic videos. Now, like never before, beginner through expert magicians and enthusiasts have the tools in one place to become better than ever.

"Never before has so much magic content been available in one place for people to learn and enjoy magic."

Jeff McBride

https://www.magicflix.com/

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7. Daytona Festival Of Magic 2019
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Message by Harry Allen (US)

November 1-2-3
https://daytonamagic.com/convention/

Lectures-Stage Shows- Close-Up Shows- Contests- Dealers Room- Auction

Lance Burton and friends show
See first time at a magic convention.....performed on a full stage (like Broadway) look who else you will see:

Fielding West
Rocco
Mondre
Stuart Macdonald
Kyle And Mistie
John Ferrentino
Chad Long
Giovanni Livera
Harry Allen
Erick Olson
Scott Humston
Keith West

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8. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
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Written by the late Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)

Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante) (UK ex-pat Kiwi)

The Orchante Saga Page 19

THE BED(S) OF NAILS - ' Aw - Come on honey - I've got this brilliant pad, sea views, great etchings, and, this fantastic bed - instead of springs it's got ... ' 'BUGGER OFF!!!'

I started practising for the nails feat while still in College, using self-hypnosis to control the pain, making the girls sick by pushing needles into my arms, etc. Fakirs are able to control body functions - pulse rate - heart beat - blood flow - feeling, and involuntary muscles, with mind control, coupled with Yoga exercises.

Those who have my seen my performances have realised that some form of mind control/self-hypnosis, and Yoga techniques were being employed. Let's take a closer look at the bed of nails. The majority of those who perform this feat, 'fake' it, by the simple expediency of having the
nails so close together, anybody could lay on them, easily - it's just the thought of it which prevents most from 'having a go'. In fact, you would get a better night's sleep on their nails than some hotels beds I've been unfortunate enough to encounter on my travels.

Talking of 'fake Fakirs', here's one of my pet hates! How many T.V. programmes have you seen where the 'Great Gizmo' or some martial arts expert lays on a nail bed, (with nails so close together they might just as well lay on the floor), then has a huge lump of concrete placed on
their chest, or, supposedly even more difficult and dramatic, several blocks of concrete - which are then smashed up by some 'clown' swinging a sledge hammer.

THE BIGGER - THE MORE BLOCKS - THE EASIER IT IS! Why? Because the block(s) absorb all the shock of the pounding sledge hammer! By the time the shock waves reach the person underneath, it has been totally dissipated within the block - YOU FEEL NOTHING!! Now - place one single brick on their chest, and hit that with a sledge hammer! Want to
test it? Simple - place your hand flat on a solid surface - the floor will do, place a heavy weight on top, and tap/hit with an ordinary hammer - nothing - the bigger, more dense the weight, the harder you can hit it - very impressive to those who don't know about kinetic energy. I hate these 'great pretenders' who con the public - and gullible T.V. producers, into believing that they are the genuine article.

My bed of nails is made from Marine ply - won't bend or buckle - the nails are 3" apart, 5" in length, chrome plated, and quite sharp, and a hell of a lot have gone missing over the past 35 and more years. I'll describe the presentation. Veronica and I take a bed each (it's in two halves) 'race' quickly around the audience, to let them feel the nails, ensuring for themselves that the nails are real, and not rubber, and that they are sharp. I then pick out two of the biggest men I can find from the audience - typically, 15 - 20 stones each), and Veronica escorts them to one side of the stage in readiness.

The 'beds' are placed on the floor, end to end, and I then stand astride them. Using self-hypnosis, I convince the sub-conscious that my back and legs have lost all feeling - I pinch my skin hard in various spots, to confirm this mental block has been attained. My technique is an ancient Yoga principle. Pressing a finger quite hard on a spot between my eyes concentrates all thought into one point. A modern example is 'scattered light' (your thoughts) focussed by a laser into one powerful beam. In practice all this takes only a few seconds, but when performing I do stretch it out for a minute or two - after all, I am a Showman and entertainer. The aforesaid may sound like rubbish to some people, but it works, and has done for centuries.

Anaesthetising myself mentally allows me to fall backwards from a standing position, heavily onto the nails. That's when the screaming starts. Veronica then stands on top of me, poses for a few moments, gets off, immediately sits and then stretches out full length, side on, along my body, gracefully holds the position again for a few moments, then stands up. I slowly rise, and bring myself 'around'. Incidentally, just because I'm in a self-imposed trance does not mean I'm unconscious - I'm aware of what's going on - I just filter out the extraneous noises, etc. All this - in fact the entire Fakir act - (20 minutes in length) is split second timed and choreographed to special exotic orchestrations which are designed to 'sway the senses' and stir up the primeval instincts which are in us all!

Now Veronica holds one half of the nails - (each half is 3 feet long by 1 foot in width) while I once again go through 'the procedure' and fall onto the other half. Veronica then, from a standing position, drops her half straight down, so that it lands with a sickening thud on my bare chest, and lower parts of my body. I can promise you - every male in the audience winces, and makes an involuntary gesture towards their 'you know whats'. Now the excruciating 'torture' factor rises to new levels. I. pick the nails up by one end, swing them up and over my head, and SLAM them back down, FULL FORCE onto my body. The screaming rises in volume by several decibels - men writhe in sympathetic agony as they 'see' a man's most sensitive parts apparently being pulverised to a pulp.

I do this 3 - 4 times, then settle down - Veronica assists the two men picked out earlier, to stand on top of what has now become a human filling in a nail sandwich, with 30 - 40 stones of solid manhood wobbling/balancing on top. After what seems like an eternity (actually about 30 seconds or so) the two 'assistants', their legs shaking, step down. Veronica lifts up the top bed of nails - I don't move - the audience begins to think I never will, then slowly, I sit up, then stand, turn slowly around, take my bows, and then shake the hands of two, much relieved gentlemen. Then, before the audience has a chance to catch its breath, I'm straight into the sword swallowing routine.

Apart from a few slight indentations, there is not a mark on my body, front or back. So, how come the nails don't penetrate the skin? Well, sometimes they do, if they press down against a rib, or if you slide, they will leave deep scratch marks, but it's rare! Must say, although I'm okay, it does play havoc with the underpants - I don't have a pair that aren't full of holes. I was often asked, discreetly by most ladies (who showed some concern) about the family jewels - they were kept safe by some careful 'tucking away' - (difficult if you're Johnny Holmes).

By eliminating feeling, you are able to relax totally, on the nails. This means your skin will 'give', which it can't do if you're tensed and tightened up with pain. Liken it to a flat balloon.- it takes some pushing before a needle will penetrate it, but blow it up, then push in a needle and 'Bang'. Obviously, there has to be a breaking point. Twice I've had ribs broken, but I've withstood 81 stone 6lb - just over half a ton - in Napier, New Zealand., a world record at the time. A huge bock of concrete was lowered down onto me, by an enormous crane, whilst I was on the nails.

Apart from Veronica, the most worried person was the crane operator - he knew that if the gearing allowed the chain to slip just a 1/4" even when that 1/2 ton plus weight was almost touching my body, I would've been crushed to death! I didn't see him immediately after, but was told later that he was shaking like a leaf when he clambered out of the cab. Anyhow, the World record at the time stood at 77 stone, so I had broken it by 'miles'. It was recorded officially, with Police in attendance and photographers, signatures, details, etc. sent to the Guinness Book of
Records. By the time it reached England, they had received another set of records, from some chap who had broken my record by just 2 pounds. If I had only known, just an additional 3lb of good old kiwi butter and the record would've been mine. Two lousy pounds! Oh, well!

To illustrate the mental control needed for feats of this kind - at a Beach Resort in Gisborne, New Zealand, many, many years ago, I got very badly sunburned - front and back. You would have been forgiven if you had mistaken me for a freshly cooked lobster - I was in sheer agony.
Still, later that evening, I was able to do my show, including the nails, as normal - but after the show - Bloody Hell!

In the past, some very notable people, including some Political 'Heavyweights' have availed their weighty forms, to my 'Nails' act. They include the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the late Robert Muldoon who in his autobiography 'The Life and Times of a Young Turk' included a photograph of himself standing on top of me whilst I was laying on my nails, with the caption 'gathering Tax', (He was then Minister of Finance).- former Prime Minister of Australia, Gough
Whitlam, - the former Mayor of Wellington, Sir Francis Kitts - former Mayor of Auckland, Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson, and the former Minister of Defence of England, Mr Tom King.. Phew - heavyweights, all right!

During my early years, I was constantly bombarded about how Fire-eaters, etc., were just scruffy 'rogues and layabouts' swindling the public with cheap side-show stunts! THAT WAS IT - THE FINAL INSULT!! I transformed those 'CHEAP STUNTS' into an unrivalled artistic spectacular - a Theatrical experience of which excerpts have been performed on Television shows around the globe. It has entertained and fascinated not only natives, (in tin sheds) on remote Pacific Islands - but also, the most sophisticated and discerning of audiences in the finest of venues and world stages, and in the presence of Royalty.

I am rather proud that I achieved my dream!

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9. 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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10. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
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