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: #1610
Date: Sunday 14th March 2021
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. 4Fs Postponed
3. I.B.M. Online Convention - July 8-10, 2021
4. FISM NACM Quebec 2021
5. FISM Quebec 2022
6. Jeff McBride's Magic & Mystery School Events
7. Scott Robinson On The Magic Word Podcast
8. Texas Association of Magicians, (TAOM) "Early Bird" Registrations
9. Gambler v Magician v Clairvoyant - John Carey #112
10. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone
11. Magicians' Tactics Found In Politics And Marketing
12. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
13. E-zine Archives
14. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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Michele and I welcome a new contributor to our weekly Newsletter Paul Stone.

If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1610-Mar14-2021.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. 4Fs Postponed
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Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

We are planning the biggest and best 50th 4Fs to take place April 27-30, 2022. Yes, it is being postponed again because we want to keep everyone safe.

We are all saddened that it's necessary to cancel the event again but know it's important to ensure everyone's safety during this troubling time. All paid registrants will be honored in 2022.

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3. I.B.M. Online Convention - July 8-10, 2021
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Message by Ken Scott and Oscar Munoz (US)

Online - Interactive - Magic

July 8th - 10th

www.ibmcomvention.com

The International Brotherhood of Magicians is excited to offer a premium online convention on July 8-10, 2021 on the Zoom platform. With innovative broadcasting technology, and international talent, we look forward to providing an experience for our Members unlike any other.

We know that times have been hard for so many, so we want to give our Members something special at a ridiculously low price. We are going to give you the entire convention for just $99 per screen/device, and that will include a one-year I.B.M. Membership, with digital access to our premiere magazine, The Linking Ring. If your membership is already paid up - no worries…we will extend your membership by one year with registration.

Additionally, we want to reward our Life Members, as well as our Youth Members under the age of 18 with free registration to this event.

Our event will include lectures, shows, and a contest with prizes for Close-up, Stage, and Youth. If you wish to be considered as a contestant, please email Contest Chair Melody Munoz at ibmcontestmunoz@gmail.com for more information.

Registration is now open. Sign up quickly, as we expect to sell out.

I.B.M. Current Members including Life Members and Youth Members under 18 - https://www.magician.org/convention/online-2021-member
to register (includes one year extension to your membership with digital Linking Ring. Note that Youth registration does not include membership extension. Please contact the office if you wish to upgrade to the paper copy.)

Non-Members
https://www.magician.org/convention/online-2021-non-member
to register (includes one year membership with digital Linking Ring. Please contact the office if you wish to upgrade to the paper copy.)

We look forward to seeing you online in July!

Ken Scott and Oscar Munoz

I.B.M. Convention Committee Chair and Co-Chair

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4. FISM NACM Quebec 2021
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Quebec City, Canada

North American Championship of Magic 2021

Qualification to represent North America at FISM World Championship in 2022.

September 29 to October 3, 2021

www.fismna2021.com

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5. FISM Quebec 2022
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28th FISM World Championship of Magic 2022

Quebec City, Canada

The most important magic contest in the world for the first time in North America

July 25 to 30, 2022

wwwfismquebec2022.com

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6. Jeff McBride's Magic & Mystery School Events
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Message by Jeff McBride (US)

March, 2021 - Magic & Mystery School Events:

9 - Focus on Comedy Magic - with Paul Draper - Live Online

10, 17, 24 & 31 - Career Builders Workshop - with Tobias Beckwith - Live Online

11 - Introduction to the Business of Show Business - with Tobias Beckwith - Live Online

17, 24 & 31 - Theater Games for Magicians - with Tobias Beckwith - Live Online

April, 2021 - Magic & Mystery School Events:

7, 14, 21 - Theater Games for Magicians - with Tobias Beckwith - Live Online

7, 14, 21 & 28 - Career Builders Workshop - with Tobias Beckwith - Live Online

11, 18 & 25 - Variety Skills & Allied Arts - with Jeff McBride & Guests - Live Online

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7. Scott Robinson On The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

This week we go to North Carolina to visit with an "underground" magician whom many of you don't know. But those who do, certainly respect him highly for his creativity and close-up skills. Scott Robinson is the organizer of the annual Carolina Close-Up Convention (TRICS) as well as author of "Pure Imagination" with dozens of original tricks and routines.

But Scott is also the heart and soul of their local "Sleight Club" which fosters great magicians by having a "safe space" for magicians to gather and exchange ideas, tricks, routines, presentations and moves. In this week's episode, Scott talks about how you can start a similar program in your area and develop an even better group of magicians.

You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts. But for more information, videos, and photos, please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/602-scott-robinson

And if you want to watch this week's podcast on YouTube, then please subscribe and view it at https://youtube.com/texasmagician and look for this week's episode #602. And be sure to join us each Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (GMT-6) on Facebook and YouTube for our weekly Magic and Martinis Thursday Virtual Happy Hour.

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8. Texas Association of Magicians, (TAOM) "Early Bird" Registrations
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Message by Bertil Fredstrom (US)

The annual Texas Association of Magicians, (TAOM), just opened up for "Early Bird" registrations for our 2021 Magic Convention in Austin Texas.

Our web site is: taom.org/2021

...and a short teaser video can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/TFuPKKP9VE8

Hope to see you - and all your readers, there next year!

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9. Gambler v Magician v Clairvoyant - John Carey #112
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

It's always nice to actively involve multiple people in a close up setting. GMC gets three people on board in a piece that theatrically speaking has a nice build and progression. My inspiration was a Paul Harris effect called Gambler v Mentalist v Magician, originally published in his book Las Vegas Close Up.

Hand out the deck for shuffling as you set the scene and talk about how you not only a magician, but also have an interest in gambling and the occult. Take back the deck and remove the Jokers, using this age old gambit to secretly glimpse the top card of the deck. Let's say it's the Jack
of Spades. Execute a casual false cut and table the face down deck. Address a spectator and ask them to cut off a small packet. Ask them how many cards they think they cut? Then have them deal and count the cards to the table into a packet.

If they are right congratulate them. The Jack of Spades is nicely set for the closing phase, using this old count-back force. Cut the deck into two halves and table them. Ask a second spectator to help you as you pick up one of the halves. Hand to hand spread for a free selection and have them take a card. Once remembered have them return it, secretly culling their selection to the bottom Hofzinser style. Table this packet in front of them.

Pick up the remaining section of cards and riffle down the outer corner for them to say stop. Have them remove a card and remember it. Have it returned and controlled to the top with a double undercut, shuffle control or any favorite method. Table that packet in front of them and pause. "Allow me to demonstrate the difference between a gambler, a magician and a clairvoyant, or a person who has the ability to see what can't be seen."

Pick up the third spectators cards as you state that a gambler would bet 50 Pounds that he could cut to their card. Execute any deceptive false cut and ask them to name their card? A moment later turn the top card face up revealing their selection. Table this packet and pick up the cards in
front of spectator two. Ask them to extend a palm up hand and then place the packet onto it. Tell them that a magician would make a mysterious incantation and snap his fingers to cause their card to appear.

Act this out and ask them to call out their card. A beat later turn the packet they are holding face up, revealing their selection. Finally, engage with your first spectator as you say that you will now delve into the dark world of clairvoyance. Extend your right hand palm down over the packet they freely cut to at the start. Have them hold your wrist. Inhale deeply and close your eyes for three seconds and say nothing. Open your eyes, look at them and then slowly call out Jack of Spades. Have them turn over their packet to reveal that you well and truly saw what couldn't possibly be seen!

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10. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

Following on from last week, I mentioned that when we arrived for the 'get-in' for the Gala Sunday Variety Show at the London Palladium Theatre in 1990 we were confronted with both wings full of sheep. I should add at this point that there were also a few full-sized camels too! They weren't real of course but nonetheless they looked very lifelike and imposing and they took up most of the available wing space.

At that time the Palladium used to stage huge musical productions as their 'house shows'. These shows ran six nights a week with an additional matinee performance on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

So why sheep and camels? The house show was 'Joseph & the Technicolour Dreamcoat' starring Australian superstar Jason Donovan.

When you produce a variety show with a cast of over 100 performers, wing space is important but on this occasion there was barely room to swing a cat, let alone a camel!

Normally on a one-day show we have between 8-10 hours in total from 'get-in' to curtain up, during which time we have to rehearse all the acts and do a full sound check, but I had made the decision that we would also perform a matinee show for charity with all the tickets being donated to various good causes and charities in the London area.

It was great idea in principle, I thought that we could achieve two objectives, firstly to perform a full dress rehearsal before presenting the show to a sold out audience the same evening, and secondly to give 2,500 people from numerous charities the chance to experience a top class variety show at the world famous London Palladium Theatre.

In fact, as it turned out, it gave us just five hours to pull the whole show together which, in reality, was an almost impossible task. But somehow we did it, although even now I'm not entirely sure how!

I suspect it was largely because of the extraordinary talent of well-known British Director and Choreographer, Brian Rogers, who was a veteran choreographer with hundreds of TV specials to his credit. He did an amazing job.

In a stellar cast of International speciality acts, singers and dancers, Paul Daniels topped the bill. He performed his legendary Chop Cup, electric chairs, and linking ring routine in his own inimitable way, and also played the role of ringmaster in a fast-moving Circus routine involving several dancers featuring Debbie McGee. Paul even sang the theme song 'Join the Circus', and did it impressively too. It was something of a collector's item!

That routine received a fantastic response from the packed audience

But after that, I learned my lesson, I would never again attempt to put on a matinee performance on a one day show at the London Palladium, however well-intentioned it was!

Continues next week ….
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11. Magicians' Tactics Found In Politics And Marketing
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Article forward by Phillip Peterson (UK)

BBC News

Understanding how magic tricks work could help to protect people from manipulation by politicians and marketing, say researchers.

A study from Goldsmiths, University of London, says the psychology used by magicians to deceive audiences can also be used to influence consumer choices.

Magic tricks use "powerful tools" to control behaviour, say the researchers.

The psychologists looked at how tricks create an "illusion of choice", when the audience has no real control.

The research - Mind control trick: magicians' forcing and free will, by psychologists Alice Pailhes and Gustav Kuhn - examines how magicians control their audiences' decisions - and how this can be applied to other areas.

'Full control'
"A lot of these magic principles show that you can very easily manipulate and influence decisions that people make - and even though they feel free to have made that decision, the magician has pretty much full control," says Dr Kuhn.

For the full article go to:
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-56352500

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

For the benefit of the thousands of New Readers to Alan Watson's Magic New Zealand E - Zine, and my saga, who are perhaps wondering and asking themselves: 'Just Who The Hell Is This 'Orchanté' Character', I have decided that for this, and next week's, episode,
I shall bore you all to tears, with the:

Biography of Frank Thomas Henry Orchard Professionally known by the stage name of: The Amazing 'Orchanté' (pronounced: 'Or - Shone -Tay'), Tommy was born in Auckland, New Zealand on September 13th 1943. (Although his first name is Frank, his family and friends have always called him 'Tommy' - shortened later to Tom). The first school he attended was the Bayfield Primary School, in Herne Bay. In 1954 (at 10 years of age), Tommy's family moved from Auckland, when his policeman father, Jack Orchard, was transferred as: the 'Sole Officer In Charge', to a tiny Maori village called Raupunga - a mere 'speck of dust' on a map, approximately 26 miles from Wairoa and 53 miles from Napier, on the East coast of the North Island, Hawke's Bay.

It was at the local school, after watching a travelling magician/juggler/entertainer - known throughout New Zealand as the 'Fun-Doctor', his real name was Norman Tate (Tom's parents remembered him from when they went to school), that Tommy became fascinated with the art of magic and his course was set when his father bought him a book called, 'Magic Made Easy', at the exorbitant price of two shillings and sixpence (25c) from 'Woolworths'.

Sometime during the years of 1956/57 Tom - at only 12/13 years of age, and using his schoolmates as 'guinea-pigs' to practice on, mastered the art of 'Hypnotism', self-taught from a book written by the famous New Zealand hypnotist, 'Franquin'! After an impromptu
performance on the footpath outside the gates of the Wairoa College, which stopped the traffic, he was nearly expelled!

It was at carnival in Wairoa, that he first saw a Fire Eater/Sword Swallower and Fakir, who also lay on Beds of Nails. Tommy decided that this was for him! His next target was to learn self-hypnosis, which would help him to perform these feats.

It wasn't until 1958, when his father was transferred back to Auckland, as the officer in charge of the Manurewa police station (Tommy finished his education at the Papatoetoe High School, leaving to pursue his theatrical career), that he began to teach himself the art of 'Fire -Eating' - 'stealing' the two-stroke petrol from his father's lawn mower! As Tommy had no one to advise him, he developed his own techniques - defying the 'unwritten laws' about Fire-eating, 'Don't Breathe In'! Tom did, consequently the spectacular results he obtained - although extremely dangerous, were unique and purely his own! It also took Tom 2 years, off and on, to master the art of - 'Sword Swallowing', sliding 22 inches of cold, solid steel, down into the pit of his stomach!

In July/August of 1960 Tommy entered Joe Brown's 'Nationwide Search For Stars' talent quest - he didn't win but Joe Brown asked him to join the finalists, touring New Zealand from Whangarei to Invercargill! At 16 years of age, Tommy began travelling in earnest, constantly touring the length and breadth of New Zealand, as well as the islands of the Pacific - Fiji, Tahiti, etc, gaining experience - developing a show which was to astound audiences and critics alike the world over, for 35 Years!

From Fire-eating, Tom went on to 'lying on 'Beds of Nails', again using his own techniques, which involved self-hypnosis to control pain. This enabled him to regularly support the weight of two 20 stone men, whilst sandwiched between two beds of nails. Some very notable people, including political 'heavyweights' have availed their weighty forms to his bed of nails performance, which include, among many others, the late Sir Robert Muldoon (former Prime
Minister of New Zealand), Gough Whitlam (the former Prime Minister of Australia), Sir Francis Kitts (the former Mayor of Wellington City), Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson (the former Mayor of Auckland City), and Mr Tom King (the former Minister of Defence, United Kingdom.)!
Incidentally, Tom is also a Royal Command Performer, of which he is justifiably proud.

Continues next week …

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13. 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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14. 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.

The opinions and statements expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson QSM vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine.

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Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted.

Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e- zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted.

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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.