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: #1649
Date: Sunday 12th December 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. Penn & Teller Fool Us Are Casting For Season 9
3. Melbourne Magic Festival 2022 - Applications Now Open
4. The Magic Word - Murray Sawchuck
5. S.Y.M. Academy Live!
6. This Week's Wizard Magic Review
7. Around The Lounge By Jeff Bibik #10
8. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
9. News From The Academy Of Illusions
10. Pin Thing - John Carey #145
11. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #41
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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If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format
go to: https://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1649-Dec12-2021.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. Penn & Teller Fool Us Are Casting For Season 9
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Penn & Teller Fool Us are casting for Season 9, submit your magic to fooluscasting@gmail.com

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3. Melbourne Magic Festival 2022 - Applications Now Open
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Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)

The Melbourne Magic Festival is back in 2022 for its 15th year!

Running from June 27 to July 9 we will have hundreds of performances in our Festival Hub at Arrow on Swanston in the heart of the city, as well as shows in satellite venues all over Melbourne.

If you'd like to produce a show, go direct to https://melbournemagicfestival.com/producers-pages/ to check out the brand new PRODUCERS GUIDE then fill out your application online.

Applications close January 20.

If you'd like to see our incredible new poster - go here https://melbournemagicfestival.com/

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4. The Magic Word - Murray Sawchuck
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

The Magic Word Podcast - Another "Murray" Christmas

Merry Christmas, to all the readers of the New Zealand e-zine. Or should I say "Murray" Christmas because this week we take our annual virtual visit to Las Vegas to chat with Celebrity Magician, Murray Sawchuck. This is our eighth year of checking in on Murray to see what has been happening on the magic scene in Las Vegas during this past year and also see what's going on with Murray's life. He always has interesting stories and updates us on social media that he has been using and what's new in magic that's commercial and he has put in his shows.

You can listen to or watch us on YouTube on our channel at https://youtube.com/texasmagician or listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts. But for more content, be sure to visit the website at https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/653-murray-sawchuck We also feature a few shout-outs from listeners from all over the world who submitted their audio files. If you would like to hear your voice on an upcoming episode, then please record a short holiday greeting on your phone and send it to me at scott@themagicwordpodcast.com

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5. S.Y.M. Academy Live!
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Message by Arlen Solomon (US)

S.Y.M. Academy Live! is coming to Las Vegas in January of 2022

Looking to meet other magicians your own age? Want to learn from the Las Vegas pros and even share your magic with them too?

Join us on January 15 and 16 2022 for some exciting lectures and visits at The Society of American Magicians Las Vegas Convention. The speakers will share their best secrets on magic, scripting, and even the business side of magic. The best part is it is FREE for S.Y.M. members with a paid adult convention registration! Also if you want to stay another day on Monday Penn and Teller are presenting a show at the Rio just for the SAM.

For complete details as well as to register visit samconvention.com

Saturday January 16

S.Y.M.
9:00 am "Kerwin and Company: Welcome!"
9:30 am "Brad Kerwin: Parenting Magic & Security (for parents)"
"Nadina Montes: Ice Breaker Session & Security (for students)"
10:00 am "Kristi Toguchi: Performance Basics"
10:30 am "George Saterial: Talking to Yourself"
"Mycah Muranaka: Impromptu Magic"
11:00 am "Robert Moreland: Theme Park Performing"
11:30 am "Kainoa Harbottle: Coins for Beginners"
"Curtis Kam: Self-Working Card Miracles"
12:00 pm ? Celebrity Drive By ?
12:30 pm
1:00 pm "Lunch Break: Pizza with the President
(or at least at his Suite)"
2:00 pm "Stuart MacDonald: Get Your Act Together"
Kainoa Harbottle: Close-Up Fun"
2:30 pm "Marc DeSouza: Showing You the Business"
3:00 pm "Avi Yap: Practicing Perfection"
3:30 pm "Shawn Farquhar: Live from Canada"
4:00 pm "Share the Magic! You Teach a Trick"
4:30 pm "Curtis Kam: Dealing with the Dealer Room"
5:00 pm ? Dealer Room Adventure ?
5:30 pm
6:00 pm Dinner Break

Sunday Jan. 17

S.Y.M.
9:00 pm "Kerwin and Company: Welcome Back!"
9:30 pm "Share the Magic! Student Performances"
10:00 pm "Alan Rorrison: Creativity Deconstructed"
10:30 pm "I'm Batman: Magic for Kids"
11:00 pm "Max Maven: Why Magic?"
11:30 pm "Cody Clark: Dis-impos-ability"
12:00 pm "Tom Gentile The S.A.M. and You"
12:30 pm Lunch Break!
1:30 pm Stars of Tomorrow
2:30 pm Break?
3:00 pm "Steve Daly: War Stories"
3:30 pm "Ice McDonald: Show No Nos"
4:00 pm "Farrell Dillon: Manipulation"
4:30 pm "Connie Boyd: Women in Magic"
5:00 pm "Headshots and Sessioning"
6 :00 pm "Kerwin and Company: See You Next Year!"

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6. This Week's Wizard Magic Review
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Message by David Penn (UK)

David Penn & Wayne Fox take a look at some magic releases on this week's Wizard Magic Review.

Discussed on this week's Wizard Magic Review: Easy Money By Spencer

Kennard Travel Around the World by Tony D'Amico Eclipse by Dee Christopher and The 1914

All from You Favourite Murphy's Magic Dealer

The Wayne Fox Special Deal Available from www.magicfoxproducts.com

Support the show by checking out all World Magic Shop's & David Penn's products right here: https://www.worldmagicshop.com/

Thanks for watching and please share in to magic groups worldwide.

https://www.facebook.com/worldmagicshop/videos/932300474329508

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7. Around The Lounge By Jeff Bibik #10
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Message by Jeff Bibik (USA)
Chicago Magic Lounge
ChicagoMagicLounge.com

Around the Lounge

STOLEN!!

The Chicago Magic Lounge is an age 21 and above venue, except for our Sunday family matinee (which is currently on hold). At the bar I often joke that we don't let kids in for 2 reasons. 1, we hate kids, and 2, they break stuff and steal things! As it turns out, kids are not the only people who steal.

If you're a working magician, chances are that somewhere along the way you have left a prop behind somewhere at a gig. Some magicians seem to leave a trail of lost props! It happens. When people steal your props however, that can be out of your control.

Several years ago I bought a small oriental style rug to use as a close up mat. I didn't use it frequently, but once I started working at the lounge I had it out on the bar all of the time. One weekend I didn't have it in my close up case and thought I must have left it at home as I was resetting my props for the weekend. I don't really need it, but it looks nice on the bar.

The next day I looked at home and it wasn't there. It wasn't in my car; it wasn't in my locker at the lounge. It was nowhere to be found, so I called the owner of the lounge, Joey Cranford.
As I've written before, we have a large collection of valuable items at the lounge, so there is an extensive video security system. In the world today we are videotaped far more than we ever know, and this is true at the lounge too! These systems are not only for security but for liability claims as well.

Upon reviewing the video, we discovered that one of our guests had brazenly taken the carpet off the bar and slipped it in their bag. I was on a short break away from the bar and the bartender didn't notice so they didn't think anyone would see, but the camera sees all!

That's when the Cranford detective agency swung into action. Cynthia Cranford is our marketing director as well as being married to Joey. She pieced together the time of the event and the credit card info from the night, and we had our culprit! Now to try and find her.

I remembered the person and the friend they were with. They came in later on a Sunday night and it was obvious that our bar was not their first stop of the evening. They were in town from Pittsburg, where they told me they worked at a major hotel. In fact, the culprit was the sales director and the co-conspirator also worked in marketing.

Cindy found the person on Facebook and sent a private message. No reply, so she called the hotel and was put through. When confronted with possible public humiliation they confessed, and claimed they had too much to drink. I was sure it was gone forever. I could imagine they woke up the next day embarrassed and either threw it away or left it behind in the hotel in Chicago. Believe it or not a week or so later the rug was returned and I have a story with a happy ending.

This week, the story has another chapter. On Friday night someone snagged my magic wand off of the bar! In a similar scenario I had stepped away from the bar and when I returned I started my set. Half way through I reached for my wand and it was not there. The Cranford detective agency is now back in business! So today's pro tip is to always be aware of your props, and keep them out of reach of those grabby hands and sticky fingers.

Next week, meet Joey Cranford
Jeff@Bibik.com

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8. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
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Message by Connie Boyd (USA)

Get the inside scoop for @Penn And Teller Fool Us HD with Executive Producers, Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt as they speak openly with @Magical Women with Connie Boyd about the shows successes for eight seasons, casting and their responsibilities on the show. Watch this exclusive talk and learn insider secrets about the show and what they are looking for with talent and performance.

Penn & Teller Fool Us are casting for Season 9, submit your magic to fooluscasting@gmail.com

Emmy Award-winning Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt are the executive producers of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," a series that began on ITV UK before its successful multi-season run on The CW television network. Season 8 is currently being broadcast every Friday on the CW Network.

Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a magic competition television program in which magicians perform tricks in front of American magician-comedian duo Penn & Teller. Its first two seasons were hosted by Jonathan Ross, and the third season onwards by Alyson Hannigan.

Fool Us Season One was filmed at Fountain Studios in London, England. Subsequent seasons were filmed at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. After each performance, if Penn & Teller cannot figure out how a trick was done, the magician(s) who performed it win a Fool Us trophy and a trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn & Teller's show, also at the Rio Hotel & Casino.

https://youtu.be/8siftE5U1K8

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9. News From The Academy Of Illusions
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Message by Jay Scott Berry (Australia)

Charles Dickens famously wrote, "It was the best of times and the worst of times''. It seems an appropriate sentiment as we wind up 2021. At the Academy, we've chosen to focus on the former, turning crisis into opportunity by actively working to push the Art forward, with Online Lectures, Workshops, Mentoring and Downloads. All of these are available to Individuals, Clubs, Groups and Conventions.

This week's Top story is GenoMania! In Episode 11, Geno opened the Academy Library, where you can download over 100 pdf magic books, including classic titles by Bobo, Marlo and Anneman, at no charge! These are all in the public domain and well worth checking out at www.DeVilleMagic.net. He also gave updates on the Original Magic Competition, which closes in 10 days, with the winner to be announced on January 1st. He launched two new segments to the show, one where he and I discussed ongoing thievery in magic, and the other which focuses on classic effects that everyone should learn.

We are proud to be associated with the S.A.M. International Assembly. I'll be starring in this Saturday's Gala and Awards Ceremony, "It's in the Stars", which features an international cast of masters and grandmasters. As always, there is no charge for this Zoom Show, produced by Professor Emeritus, Anthony Darkstone. Details are on the FB Page.

Another new project that we are affiliated with is The Magic Inn Convention, to be webcast on February 26/27, 2022. I will join Shawn Farquhar, Suzanne, Håkan Berg and Simon Fisher-Becker for this one day Online Event. A half price early bird special is now available, along with all details, at www.themagicinn.com.au

Finally, if you haven't gotten your copy of "Wonder Workshop" then you're missing out on some of the hottest new ideas in magic promotional giveaways. In a genre that, heretofore, has been dominated by balloon animals, this download presents a treasure trove of practical, colourful alternatives. These magical designs are perfect for beginners or experts and applicable under all situations. Available now from DeVille Magic.

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10. Pin Thing - John Carey #145
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

Pin Thing is my take on the modern classic Mentalism PIN divination. There are some wonderful versions out there by some very talented creators, including propless versions which are pretty cool. I wanted a version that didn't go on forever, was easy to do, and strong. Below are the fruits of my labor.

You will require eight business cards. On the blank surfaces you will write a different number with a sharpie. These are:

13
18
23
28
33
38
43
48

You will notice that these numbers are a stack where there's an increment of five. Stack your business cards in the above order and you are ready to rock n roll! In addition you will require two business cards without writing on the blank surfaces.

"Michael, numbers play an important role in all of our lives. There's door numbers, phone numbers, membership numbers, lottery numbers, and of course PIN numbers just to name a few. In fact, let's try a little experiment with PIN numbers right here, right now. Now I wouldn't dream of asking or working with your PIN. Instead, let's get you to combine a physical action with a mental one to create your very own fantasy PIN number!

I've got some cards here with random two digit numbers on. Let's mix them up with a few cuts from me but also you. Now please take one out and I will look away and I want you to turn over your card and lock the thought of the number you see into your mind. Got it? Good."

So the above is my opening script. It sets the scene and the mood. I display the numbers, turn the packet over and give it a complete cut and then ask my participant to do the same a couple of times to mix them. Of course as we are working with a cyclical stack, everything remains
the way it needs to be for us to get secret information from them.

Spread the packet of business cards for a free selection and look away as they remember the number written on their card. As you do this casually cut at the point the card was selected from and complete the cut. Now by simply peeking the bottom card you will know what their number is. Let's say you peek 18. That means they are thinking of 23. Turn back around and hand them your cards and ask them to pop those and their card away in a pocket. Take out two blank business cards and a marker.

Ask your helper to write their two digit number onto the blank surface of their card. "So you've completed a physical task, now you will combine that with a mental one and create two more digits to form a PIN number." We will now utilize my dear and brilliantly talented friend Michael Murray's beautiful Springboard concept from his classic book A Piece Of My
Mind. Say to your participant that they will create two further random digits by playing a little game called higher and lower. In our example we know they are thinking of 23.

Get them to focus on their first digit they wrote down and ask them do they want to make that digit one, two or three higher? Let's say that they say two higher. Ask them to write that
new digit next to the two on the business card. You will know that it is four because of Springboard. Next ask them to look at the second digit and ask them if they want to make that one or two lower? We shall say that they say one lower. Get them to write that new digit next to the other three digits, thus forming a PIN number. Because of Springboard you will know that this is two and that their PIN is 2342.

You now secretly have all the information you need to bring this piece home. Take the other business card and the marker and ask your helper to try and transmit their pin one digit at a time. I act this out quite seriously and start writing their pin down in stages, hesitating a couple of times as if I'm uncertain. Finally I ask them to show the group and I their pin and a moment later successfully reveal that their thoughts are mine!

So there you have it. A practical solution you will love using. Just practice it for a couple of days and work on the script. Change it to suit your personality and make the effect you!

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11. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #41
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Message by Paul Stone (US)

We live in an ever changing world and, for a variety of reasons, probably expedited by the Covid virus, more and more people are shopping online.

High street stores have suffered hugely, and the smaller independent retailers have been hit particularly hard.

Magic shops have also felt the pinch. There was already a steady decline in the number of brick and mortar magic shops and the pandemic has only exacerbated this situation.

I'm sure that like many magicians around the world, my first introduction to magic was at one such store. It was called the 'Wizards Den' and it was located in the down town area of my home city Liverpool, in England.

For me, as a 13 year old boy, it was an Aladdin's Cave, with shelves filled with unusual looking props, the like of which I'd never seen before.

It was in this shop that I was first shown a copy of Goodliffe's 'Abra' magazine, which at the time was the world's only weekly magazine packed with news items, adverts, lecture and convention listings.

It was this magazine that informed me about several magic shops in London, and that was my entrée to Gamages, with its impressive 'Gamagic' range, Harry Stanley's Unique Magic Studio, Davenports, Ron McMillan's International Magic, and Ken Brooke's Magic Place.

Davenports especially, located as it was directly across the road from the British Museum in Great Russell Street, in as prime a position as you could hope to find, was everything you could hope for in a magic shop. It was large, oldy wordly, with packed showcases around the walls, and of course with the inimitable Pat Page 'demming' behind the counter.

In the USA, Hollywood Magic on Hollywood Boulevard, Al Cohen's Magic Shop in Washington, Tannen's iconic store in New York were all magic shops that sadly are no more, (Tannen's are still in business but in a much smaller studio on the 5th floor of an office building!).

These brick and mortar shops were much more than just retail outlets. They were places where you could meet other magicians, discuss the latest tricks and often learn a great deal. And if you were lucky, you might even get to meet a magic 'star' or two!

There are still a few magic shops left, and if there is one in your town, try to support them with your business. We don't want them to die out completely. And there's still a very unique and special feeling when you walk inside.

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

Parrots and Cockatoos
And a detour back to New Zealand

I've always had a strong empathy with birds. Yeah okay, go on, have a good laugh; I'm talking about the feathered kind, with wings. We have always wanted a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo but could never afford one in New Zealand - they cost a bloody fortune. So a few months after we had arrived in Australia, we bought one, they are quite cheap there - but let me start from the beginning, a very good place to kick off; the middle is too muddling and the end is going backwards (Dementia)?

Back in New Zealand, my first pet bird was a magpie that I named 'Jacky'. It must have been in 1964 because I do recall that he was with me in the upstairs flat of a large house in Auckland
that I was sharing with my old mate Murray Hobson, and a bunch of other guys, also with rooms in the house.

For the life of me I can't remember how I acquired Jacky, but he sure was a character. He had a thing about shoelaces - woe-betide all those who came to visit wearing shoes with laces. Jacky would sneak around and very carefully peck and pull the laces undone - take them right off your shoes and, you wouldn't feel a thing! He would have made one hell of a pickpocket. It wasn't that he was small or insignificant - he was a full size, 'In Your Face' bird! Nothing stopped him, not even if there was a party happening with several people present - he was a right bugger!

His wings weren't clipped so he had full flying capabilities. Every morning I would open the large window that faced out from the back of the house; he would take-off whenever he felt like
it, usually heading for a large tree way off in the distance. He had total freedom and would come and go as he wished. Then came the day when he just didn't return. I guess he found himself another mate, one with feathers - of the female variety, who was far more attractive to him than I was. I can't really blame him.

The next bird (feathered) that entered my life was sometime after I had met Veronica (un-feathered), a female cockatiel that we named 'Brigitte'. Birds, like most family pets, seem to pick a 'favourite' from the family, even if that family is comprised of two only and, as far as Brigitte was concerned, I was IT! Veronica summed it up thus; "That bird thinks the sun shines out
of your fundamental orifice, even on a filthy day"! She was right. I couldn't move without Brigitte flying over and perching herself on my shoulder or on top of my head. We used to take her with us when going to gigs - she just loved going out in the car and she certainly knew the sound of the car and, she could recognize it.

Veronica was amazed when, late one afternoon, Brigitte started making a hell of a racket. We were living in Wanganui at the time, and had a flat upstairs on the main road, right in the centre of town, opposite the radio station. At that time in the afternoon the traffic was very busy and noisy, horns tooting etc. and I was way down the road heading home, yet somehow Brigitte
heard the car above all the clamour and, according to Veronica, as my car hove into sight, Brigitte, who by now was sitting on the windowsill, went totally mental as she recognized the car
among all the traffic. She spotted me before Veronica did. Amazing!

There are two other incidents that I will always remember her by. September 9th, we are on our way from Rotorua, where we had done a show the night before (and had attended a party that hadn't finished until the wee small hours) for Napier where I was to attempt to break the world record for the amount of weight you could hold whilst lying on a bed of nails. Not surprisingly, I was feeling a little shattered. Brigitte is sitting on the steering wheel, her favourite position - as I'm driving along, fluttering her wings to stay right on top as I turn the wheel. Then she decides to get affectionate and leaps onto my shirtfront, which was half unbuttoned, to snuggle up inside. DEAR GOD! I'm yelling my head off in agony as her sharp little claws dig into my skin. Veronica thought it was a hell of a joke - there I was screaming over Brigitte's little needle-like claws, and I'm on my way to break a world record on a bed of very sharp nails that afternoon. It was a little incongruous I guess. Then there was the episode when Brigitte threw a wobbly in Queenstown. By the way, I BROKE THE RECORD!

Continues Next Week

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E-zine Archives
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Click on the red button centre right "Archives"

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Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice
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