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: #1562
Date: Sunday 8th March 2020
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. Latest Edition Of Vanish Magic Magazine Is Out
3. The Magic Word Podcast
4. Magic Poster Exhibition - Toronto's Art Gallery Of Ontario
5. Monday Night Magic Schedule (March) - New York
6. Gambling Memorabilia & Rare Playing Cards
7. Mind over Money - John Carey #74
8. Young Magicians 2020
9. MAGIC Live 2020!
10. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
11. E-zine Archives
12. 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/2020-Jan-to-Dec-2020/1562-Mar08-2020.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. Latest Edition Of Vanish Magic Magazine Is Out
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Message by Paul Romhany - Editor Vanish Magazine

The March edition features New York magician Belinda Sinclair who shares her amazing journey through the creative process that flows through her mind. Find out about New York's most intimate and popular magic show.
Jason Ladanye looks at the importance of having a mentor and gives his own examples of people who helped him.

Felicity Fields looks at the inclusion in the world of magic.

Jeff Christensen interviews Avner The Eccentric and gets a look in to this legendary performers mind.

Street magic - this month Eric Evans looks at using tables and sound on the street.

Illusions: The Art of Magic - Julie Eng takes us through a new exhibition of magic running from Feb. 22nd until May 18th at the AGO in Toronto.

Sound Advice - looking for the sound equipment and wondering what is the best available today - check out Peter Mennie's article.

Magic Tricks - lots of great magic trick using iPhone, production and vanish of a coke bottle, card magic and more.

Latest Reviews - the latest in magic products, downloads and more including Product Highlights.

www.vanishmagazine.com

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3. The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells (USA)

Hannibal, Jamie Allan and Mercer Helms on The Magic Word Podcast

Well, in case you have missed a few episodes of The Magic Word Podcast over the past few weeks, let's get caught up.

When I was at the Genii convention in Florida last winter, I spoke separately with both Gaetan Bloom and Hannibal. I already posted the episode with Gaetan, but in late February I posted the chat I had with Hannibal. This was a very insightful conversation with a very creative magician who got started in this profession late in life. During our chat, we talked about developing an act and even did a little workshop on one of my pet routines. Hannibal taught me (and will teach you) not to stop thinking too soon but to always continue to work on your act and question why you do what you do. This was a very educational episode that ends with an emotional topic of love and forgiveness. This episode has it all. You can visit this website at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/547-hannibal

Last week I posted a chat I had with Jamie Allan, the iMagician, from the U.K. I was unable to attend the Blackpool convention, but England came to Houston, Texas where I got to see his show and sit down in the dressing room for a delightful chat with the "High Tech Houdini." I don't often talk with stage illusionists perhaps because they are in the minority of our community where "cards are king" and most magicians are close-up people. Anyway, Jamie talked about the challenges associated with trying to stay ahead of the digital curve, so to speak, with his high-tech illusions. He wants to make sure that the audiences appreciate the magic and not think that it is the tech doing all the work. Very interesting conversation. You can visit the website for this podcast at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/548-jamie-allan

And this week we go back in time as we talk with a magician who toured across the country and aboard cruise ships as the opening act for the famous U.S. comedienne, Phyllis Diller. Mercer Helms had a fast paced dove routine that he performed throughout his 45 year association with the late humorist. In our conversation, Mercer tells us how he got involved with Ms. Diller and some funny stories from the road. Come take a trip down memory lane this week with my guest, Mercer Helms. You can visit the website at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/549-mercer-helms

Of course you can listen to these episodes wherever you get your podcasts. And be sure to subscribe to our weekly pod-letter for updates and exclusives.

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4. Magic Poster Exhibition - Toronto's Art Gallery Of Ontario
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Message by Magicana | magicana.com (Canada)

Magic Poster Exhibition on now at Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Canada officially opened the art exhibition Illusions: The Art of Magic on February 22, which celebrates the Golden Age of Magic.

The art exhibition features fifty-five spectacular posters from the 1880s to the 1930s including images of Alexander and Adelaide Herrmann, Harry Kellar, Howard Thurston and, of course, Harry Houdini. The posters were drawn from the Allan Slaight Collection, which is now housed at the McCord Museum in Montreal.

The exhibit considers many social issues, including the liberties taken with the appropriation of culture and the noticeably few number of women in magic - then and now.

In addition to the chromolithographic prints, there are also several pieces of ephemera on display, ranging from Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser's trick card from about 1850, to Dai Vernon's cups and balls from the 1920s, to historical memorabilia tied to Toronto's own magic history. There's also a Houdini straightjacket on display, alongside a pair of handcuffs; and vintage video clips of Harry Blackstone Sr. and Houdini performing. There's even an interactive area where visitors can make one's own magic poster! Add the daily magic performances by the Toronto Magic Company and it becomes one magical experience.

The exhibition is on now at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto until May 18, 2020. For tickets and more information, visit the gallery's website: www.ago.ca.

Magicana | magicana.com

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5. Monday Night Magic Schedule (March) - New York
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Message by Peter Samelson (US)

March 9th: Lina Liu, David Corsaro, Michael Chaut; MC Todd Robbins
Close-up: Alexander Boyce, Rachel Wax

March 16th: Mike Patrick, Jeff Moche, Jason Suran; MC Todd Robbins
Close-up: Peter Samelson, Harrison Kramer

March 23rd: Torkova, Carl Mercurio, Eric Dittelman; MC Peter Samelson
Close-up: Richard Cohn, Patrick Davis

March 30th: Taylor Mason, Devlin, Harrison Greenbaum; MC David Corsaro
Close-up: Peter Samelson, Kevin Kapinos

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6. Gambling Memorabilia & Rare Playing Cards
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Message by Potter & Potter Auctions (US)

Gambling Memorabilia & Playing Cards

Our annual gambling and playing card auction will include items in many categories poker chips, cheating devices, artwork and ephemera themed around cards and gambling, and uncommon and beautifully bound books on cards, crime, cons, and poker, as well as books on cheating and crooked gambling, chief among them the works of Jonathan H. Green and S.W. Erdnase.

Bid At Potter & Potter
Bid live, online (with a 20% buyer's premium), at potterauctions.com

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7. Mind over Money - John Carey #74
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

In recent years I've gradually assembled a few items that I carry in my everyday wallet ready to perform. It's handy to know I can perform 5-10 mins material on the fly. Mind over money is a recent addition. It's self-working and resets quickly.

Take 8 business cards and on the blank sides write down the eight British denomination coins, one value on each: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Set the cards up in that order from the top down with the printed/ logo sides upwards. You will also need to carry one of each coin upon your person. I like to carry my coins in a small pouch, but in social situations you can easily acquire these coins. Take out the coins and display them. Lay them out in a left to right row in the following order: 10p, £2, 5p, £1, 2p, 50p, 1p and 20p rightmost. I use the following silly sort of mnemonic to remember this:

Ten twonks found potatoes twop fifty one twenty.

When you lay out the coins, move them around a bit, but keep them in order, and pause here and there to create a bit of intrigue. Take out your business cards and take the top four cards into your right hand. "Let's mix these up a little." Suiting actions to words simply execute a casual left/right mix of the cards, dealing off the top card of the left hand packet first and then the top card of the right hand packet. Repeat this deal and mix until the packet is exhausted. "Actually, there's an even better way of mixing cards. It's called the randomizer." Pick up the tabled packet and hold it in left hand dealing grip. We will now execute Paul Curry's beautiful mixing idea called A Swindle of Sorts. Deal the top card to the table and then swap the positions of the next two cards and drop that pair on top of the tabled card. Repeat this, mixing a pair and dropping single cards until all the cards have been dealt. It appears the cards have been mixed, when in fact they have just had their order reversed.

"Why don't you use the randomizer too?" Hand the packet to your helper and then walk and talk them through the Curry swindle, giving them the choices to deal or mix. We are now ready to bring the effect home. Take the cards and deal the cards from the top, left to right on the table, each card placed on top of each coin. Build up the conditions and how well the cards were mixed by both you and your helper. Then start turning over the business cards one at a time from left to right, showing that inexplicably each cards writing matches each coin!

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8. Young Magicians 2020
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Message by Tom Stone - Sweden

If you know any young magician, girl or boy, please let them know about this.
Feel free to spread it to magicians and magic clubs, both within and outside your own country.

This is a 5 day hands-on workshop in conjuring for young magicians, boys and girls, between 14-17 years of age.

The main instructor is Leif Olberius, who handled the junior program for Swedish Magic Circle for many years.

With additional lessons by Tom Stone (misdirection), Carisa Hendrix (character development) and Tim Star (propmaking).

There will be loads of exercises in misdirection, dramatic and deceptive structure, as well as in prop making.

In small groups our participants will examine magic theories, apply them and discuss them in the context of performances.

We will work from early morning to late in the evening and it will be fun, challenging and rewarding.

The venue is Sigtuna Folkhögskola - a "folk highschool" about 15 minutes from Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden.

The school have small apartments for the students, and the kitchen serves good and healthy food, 5 meals/day.

The workshop itself is free of charge.
The price for room and meals is 3375 SEK (about 315 Euro)

To sign up:
https://magic-workshops.com/event/young-magicians-2020/

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9. MAGIC Live 2020!
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Message by Stan Allen (US)

Registration is now open for MAGIC Live, August 2-5, 2020, The Orleans
Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Our new online registration system allows you to sign up for just yourself, or you can create a group of up to 8 people. Your entire group will have the same show schedule, yet each member can make their own payment arrangements.

Registration is $455, with a convenient payment plan available. We've also arranged the amazing room rate of just $50 per night (plus resort fee and room tax). When you combine the cost of registration and hotel, MAGIC Live is one of the best deals of the year.

Each registration includes tickets to all performances, plus access to sessions, workshops, special events, parties, and our dealer room, as well as giveaway items and complimentary notes. And there are no extra-charge events!

To find out more about why MAGIC Live is like no other convention in the world, please visit our website. Or better yet, just ask a friend.

Look forward to seeing you in August. Surprises await!

Stan
MagicConvention.com

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

Hungry sharks - 'No Speaky the English'

Tahiti 1967 - I was performing close-up magic one night in one of the outside Bars of the Maeva Beach Hotel - you would be hard-pushed to find a more idyllic place in which to entertain with close-up - palm trees swaying in a gentle, balmy, ocean borne breeze, just yards away the sea,
glowing a glorious luminescent blue-green - shimmering silver sands that, beneath a beautiful Tahitian moon, sparkled like billions of tiny diamonds. It was pure magic. Sometime during the evening I met up with two young blokes who were around my age, more or less (26 years).

They were doing the 'tourist bit' and were staying at the Maeva 'for a few nights - obviously not short of a quid, (plenty of money - quid, slang for the old English pound) unlike your usual back packer. One came from Norway, the other from Sweden, and like most Scandinavian men I've
since met, while touring throughout Scandinavia with my show, they liked to have a drink - and how!

They had hired a launch, complete with pilot, from a small firm, one of many who specialize in that business, and were going fishing the following day. I was welcome to join them if I could drag myself out of bed in time - 11 o'clock in the morning I was delighted - although I've fished for trout in lakes and rivers all over New Zealand, I had never fished at sea before. I explained that I had to be back by late afternoon, if that was OK, as I had a show to perform that night - no problem, they were only going out for around four or five hours, so we would be back by 4pm.

Next morning, not quite bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I met the boys on the beach, just down from the bar where we had met the previous night. Sure enough, right on 11am, the motor launch roared around the point,minto the cove, and with a mighty 180 degree turn, sea spray flying,
powers down, and heaves to just off the beach, and I'm thinking Jesus Christ the bastard thinks he's sterling Moss - on water! Can't blame him, really this craft is built for speed, as well as comfort - around 20 - 25ft long, with powerful twin outboard motors - down a short
stairway to a lockable door which led into the cabin bunks, little galley, fridge, toilet, radio, etc. very nice! REMEMBER, this is a pleasure craft used for fishing, NOT a commercial fishing boat, nor was it anywhere near the size of the one shown in the film The Perfect Storm.

The Captain/Pilot was Tahitian, and didn't speak English that was a worry and most surprising considering the large number of English speaking tourists, including the mega-rich, who visit Tahiti. Never mind, he seemed to know what he was doing. We waded out and piled aboard. We headed straight out from the beach towards the west, over the reef which surrounds Tahiti, then cruised out to deep water it was, as usual, a beautiful day, the sea calm and smooth as ice.

We stopped and fished in various spots had lunch, which was provided, plus booze, more booze, and even more booze, which was also supplied. Fantastic and with not a hint of the terrifying ordeal that was heading.

Someone pointed out, that way off in the distance, a flock of seagulls were circling and diving. Our pilot who no speaky English said SHARK. That, we understood. He gunned the throttles and the outboards roared. The launch stood on its hind legs, and we took off I no speaky English was doing his Sterling Moss (or should that be Malcolm Campbell?) act again. Arriving on the spot directly below the screeching seagulls, we looked down into the water, and there they were a dozen or so sharks, circling around. The water was so clear and still, it was difficult to judge the depth that the sharks were swimming at I am not sure what type of shark they were, we were in very deep water and could just see the mountain tops of Tahiti on the horizon, so we must have been at least 3 miles out, so certainly they were not Reef sharks, nor were they Great Whites (as in Jaws). I think they may have been Mako sharks, and they definitely think humans are worth sinking their teeth into jaw-licking good!

One of the boys decided to bait up, and hook one for some reason our Tahitian Captain made it plain hat he wasn't too happy about that God knows why not, we were out there to fish. Perhaps this wasn't the size of fish he had in mind for tourists Snapper, or such like, yes, Shark, No, TOUGH! He hooked one the reel screamed as the shark took off, stripping line from the reel at a phenomenal rate, then whoever had the rod started hauling the shark in; Jaws was having none of it. He took the strain, and towed the launch all over the place none of us had a clue which way was what. Eventually, we won, and Jaws was alongside.

I can't remember how we managed it, but somehow we got the shark on board it stretched the width of the stern (around 10 foot) and it was SNAPPING! Mr I speaky no English was going crazy gabbling away in French, and I guess, Tahitian pointing up towards the sky, then down at
the shark, and then at the water. We guessed he wanted us to throw the shark back no way, we all wanted some teeth, but why he was pointing up towards the sky was a total mystery I, being a New Zealander, and part Maori, SHOULD have known I'll explain later!

Continues next episode.

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

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