* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * New Zealand's MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #107 Date: Sunday 3rd February 2002 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz www.alan-watson.com e-mail AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. S.A.M. Convention - New York Update 3. In reply To George Re Oscar Munoz From Texas 4. Over 400 Items And Growing 5. Slush Paper 6. 2002 South African Magic Championships 7. The Las Vegas Magic Invitational 8. "Secrecy Contract" 9. Address of Jan Leenders 10. John Calvert 2002 Show & Lecture World Tour 11. Illusions For Sale 12. World Magic Seminar 2002 13. The Orchante Saga #61 14. MagicNZ e-zine archives 15. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One In the last Japan Close-Up Magicians Association newsletter yours truly appeared in an article with colour photo - but message is all in Japanese! ----------------------------------------------------- Tashiro Shigeru has sent information regarding the Japan Close-Up Magicians Association party named Japan Cup International in Ginza (Tokyo) on 21 March 2002. Part of Tashiro Shigeru message: "I'm the President of the party. In the party we are going to give awards to some of the great magicians, or people, or companies which relate to magic. The prize money is up 1 million yen (=$8,000)! We welcome entries from foreign countries." For more information contact Tashiro Shigeru at magic@kk.iij4u.or.jp ----------------------------------------------------- Phil Warren, entrepreneur extraordinaire, radio personality, entertainment promoter, Chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority, and many other interests died at the age of 64. A service was held at the Cathedral of The Holy Trinity, Parnell, at 12 noon on Tuesday January 29. It was virtually a who's who of the entertainment industry there to pass on their condolences. Magicians in attendance at the funeral were Michael Woolf (Editor Magicana magazine), Jon Zealando and myself. ----------------------------------------------------- Richard Webster (NZ) returns to North America at the end of April for book signing tour. His itinerary is: Ottawa April 30th to May 1st New York May 2nd to 5th St. Louis May 6th to 8th Seattle May 9th to 12th Phoenix May 13th to 16th Los Angeles May 17th to 19th After that he comes back to New Zealand for almost four weeks before returning to the States again. His schedule for this second trip is not finalized yet, but will include Denver and Washington, D.C. ----------------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. S.A.M. Convention - New York Reminder ---------------------------------- Message from George Schindler- Public Relations- S.A.M. Additional Performers Announced For S.A.M.. Centennial The Society of American Magicians announced new additions to the line-up of magic stars to appear at the New York Hilton July 3-4-5-6. Close-up and lecturers plus Special Event performers now include: Jeorg Alexander - Marshall Brodien- Eric DeCamps - Devlin - Imam - Mark Mitton - Hank Moorehouse - Marc Salem - George Schindler - Bob Sheets - Boris Wild and Paul Wilson with more to follow. Gala Shows will be at the 2000 seat City Center Theater - All other Special Events " Stars of Tomorrow" Show, Young Member Autograph Party, Contests, Close up Shows, Awards, Historical Exhibits, International Dealer Show, Dealer Exhibits, Reception & Banquet, Saturday Late Night Birthday Party, and Special Events will be the Hilton. Dealer Exhibits will open for the night before "Early Birds" (July 2) Convention details - www.magicsam.com ---------------------------------- 3. In reply To George Re Oscar Munoz From Texas ---------------------------------- Message from Rob Gale - robgale99@hotmail.com Although being a beginner magician it didn't take long for me to understand what a truly talented man Oscar is, his personality, humour and natural warmth show through his performances this combined with his excellent abilities in magic make for an exciting and unforgettable performance. Oscar's lecture was truly enlighting and one of my highlights from the recent convention in New Zealand. This also provides me with the opportunity to thank Oscar for the time and patience he showed to me after the lecture in teaching me personally one of his tricks. I hope I get the opportunity to meet Oscar once again in the future so that I may show him the little twist I have attached to what he was so kind to teach. ---------------------------------- 4. Over 400 Items And Growing ---------------------------------- http://MagicUSAAuctions.com Best prices in the world for books, videos, props, etc. Features categorized magic for quick searches. Features not even found on ebay. FREE to list for sellers. Sellers only pay if they sell, unlike ebay and others. We expect to have over 1,000 items by February. More than in many magic shops. Ever changing. Over 5,000 items ready to be put up in the near future by various sellers. 10,000 by the end of the year! Sniper protection. Go to the site and find out how. Others on ebay can track what you are bidding on, and many do. Not here. Your bids can only be seen by you. We can even give you your own page. Give the URL to others to learn about you, and see all the items you have on sale listed automatically by our computer. Ever had trouble finding your way from place to place on auction sites. On our site you can get to everywhere on the site from every page. Makes this the fastest auction site anywhere, built for magicians. Everyone in magic has things to sell, but it can be time consuming listing and relisting auction items. Not here. Automatic relisting for items that do not sell, if you wish 100 times a year!!! Not a fixed price auction for sellers like other magic auction sites. You get all everything it sells for less our commission of 10% only charged after item sells. DEALER, WHOLESALER, MANUFACTURER? Open a FREE on-line store at our site with either auction or fixed price items. Once you list items, relisting is simple or even automatic. Go to special secret Dealers Only area for more information. http://MagicUSAAuctions.com/dealers.shtml HAVE A WEB SITE? FREE listings, FREE web wide Banner Exchange, FREE web wide WebRing, FREE web wide BoxAd Exchange, etc. Some of these categories will be limited in size so get in while you can. Contact us to trade banners as well. You will see us promoted on Robinson's All Magic and All Magic Guide, Meyer Yedid's Magic Times as well as other sites and magic publications. This will insure new items being listed on a regular basis. Something NEW all the time. Revisit regularly. Over hundreds of items added each week Put together by magicians for magicians. http://MagicUSAAuctions.com ---------------------------------- 5. Slush Paper ---------------------------------- Message from Graham Etherington (Aust) Your readers may be interested in a new product not available, I understand, anywhere else in the world. (I could stand to be corrected.) It is SLUSH PAPER . It can be cut into circles and be completely undetectable when placed in the bottom of a Styrofoam Cup. Best of all it can be finger clipped and dropped into a cup or glass in the action of moving the glass from one place to another on a table. Makes Slush Powder out of date don't you think? Comes with enough to soak up a gallon of water. It can be seen at: www.mrtricks.com.au/new.html www.mrtricks.com.au/new.html its the fifth item down. ------------------------------------------------------- 6. 2002 South African Magic Championships ------------------------------------------------------- Message from Craig Mitchell (South Africa) The countdown to the 2002 South African Magic Championships has officially begun! Hosted by the College of Magic, the event will be housed at the GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World from 21 to 24 March 2002. According to convention director, Craig Mitchell, over 100 magical performers from across the country are expected to take the trip down to the coast in what is undoubtedly the most important week on any magician's calendar. "Coupled with the Convention, we are also fortunate to host the South African Magic Championships, which takes place every three years," says Mitchell. Magical performers are invited to enter a maximum of three categories - including manipulation, comedy, card magic and grand illusion - and the winners will be endorsed by the South African Magic Council to participate in the 2003 Olympics of Magic in The Hague, Holland. PUBLIC TO GET A GLIMPSE IN "INTERNATIONAL STARS OF MAGIC" SPECTACULAR While the Convention is only open to registered delegates, the rest of Cape Town will be treated to public performances by famed entertainers Tommy Wonder from Holland, and the dynamic Australian duo, Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster. "These internationally acclaimed performers have wowed audiences around the world, and we are thrilled to have secured them for public performances during the Convention," says Mitchell. Tommy Wonder and Ellis & Webster will perform alongside a host of top entertainers at the intimate Roxy Revue Bar at GrandWest as part of the "International Stars of Magic" theatre spectacular. Tickets will be on sale at Computicket from February 2002 with a limited number of discounted seats available to MVG Members. For more information, please contact Craig Mitchell on 083 324 9653 or alternatively visit www.magic.org.za/2002 ---------------------------------- 7. The Las Vegas Magic Invitational ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Danny Archer and Robert Allen are proud to present 3 days of close-up magic and fun in exciting Las Vegas. The San Remo Hotel and Casino, September 15-17. For more information go to http://www.LVMI.net. Hope to see you there. Also let's not forget SAM the 100 year anniversary convention in New York City July 3-7. Hurry or it will be sold out. For details go to the SAM website. I'll be there. Break a leg, ---------------------------------- 8. "Secrecy Contract" ---------------------------------- Message from Maria - Merlina17@aol.com Hello everyone, I have a friend and former member of all the local clubs who is looking for a "secrecy contract" to be entered into by both the performer and the assistant as a means of insuring the secrecy of the effects. Never heard of one other than those drawn up by individual attorneys for specific performers. Can anyone offer any ideas? ---------------------------------- 9. Address of Jan Leenders ---------------------------------- Message from Rids Van Der Zee (Aust) Someone asked for address of Jan Leenders. Creator of the Ultimate electronic paddle Veldstraat 31 B-2275 LILLE BELGIUM Tel. +32 14 88 35 32 +32 14 88 35 33 ---------------------------------- 10. John Calvert 2002 Show & Lecture World Tour ---------------------------------- Message from Petrick & Mia (US) PM MAGIC proudly present the legendary JOHN CALVERT 2002 SHOW & LECTURE WORLD TOUR Once more members of the magic fraternity world wide will have an opportunity to gain knowledge attending the incredible shows and lectures of one of the world's most famous magicians. John Calvert's 2002 lecture features SHOW of his favorite routines: The Dancing Handkerchief ** Torn & Restored Magazine ** **John's famous cigarette production **Super Coin Vanish and MUCH MORE ! And How to become a Magician, To build an Act or a Big Magic Show, The finesse of presentation, Creating and choosing illusions, Selection of assistants, Financing and operating a World Touring Production, How to obtain a sponsor, Create publicity and advertising campaigns also publicity stunts that make headlines, Television and Radio News, With a long list of Motion Picture to his credit, John Calvert started his world tours that have never been equaled, performing to packed houses and breaking box-office records from Broadway to Tokyo. His was the first big Magic Show to play Broadway, also the first to play Las Vegas. His stage production "Magicarama" holds the distinction of being the longest running world touring Magic Extravanganza in Theatrical History. During his tour of l960, in Singapore he met Tammy, who is now his wife and will be with him on this tour. AN EVENING WITH JOHN CALVERT includes a Show followed by meticulous instructions, teaching the viewers how to present and perform many of his most amazing miracles. The whole evening is topped off with a question and answer session including true stories of John Calvert's fantastic adventures around the world that spawned a book by William V. Rauscher and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. John Calvert's Theatrical Company was the first to tour in its own Douglas airliners, the first to cruise the high seas in Luxury Yachts, the first through the Berlin Wall and now this great Show & Lecture comes to you in a Magnificent Monstrous Private Coach. You'll marvel at this master showman and his beautiful wife, Tammy, LIVE in your club Please, let us know if your club is interested to have John Calvert's show and lecture - in April or May, 2002 For a trip around the world with John Calvert in one evening contact PM Magic 8701 Castle Hill Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89129 Ph: (702)341-5843 Fax:(702)254-8026: e-mail: pmmagic@pmmagic.com visit our webpage: www.pmmagic.com ---------------------------------- 11. Illusions For Sale ---------------------------------- Message from Steve Zigmont (US) zigmont@zigmont.com Hello All from warm and sunny Florida USA I am having a private sale of two illusion, I thought all would like to know about it, if your interested in new illusions for your show. Interlude, Built by John Gaughan - Was made for Sherry Lukas and seen on WGM and has an art Nuevo designed, by Jack Hart. The unit has a electronic turn table that turns the unit 360% that is a $3500.00 add on to the unit. The gimmick will work with a male or female. This was the best and most expensive unit that John made costing $15,000.00+ with cases when new. In very good condition in ata cases. This unit was made a bit different to allow the 360 turning, more deceptive in the rear. It has a crawl thru target in the back and well as the front with spandex and paper. There is only one model of Interlude so it's not build- to-suit type of illusion. If you ever want to do this type of effect here it is ready to travel world-wide. Unit Selling For (Used); (its what I paid for it this past summer) $7500.00 Also I have an Owen Redwine Elevator The Elevator illusion on stage looks like a brick shaft with girder and big bolts support Frame. The front door opens to show the interior brick walls and center cable inside the shaft. The elevator starts to come alive and is seen traveling down from the floor above. The shadow of is seen traveling inside the elevator car as it descends. The unit can fit two possibly 3 ,lot of stand up room. Its a V mirror load space. When the front door opens; seen inside the Black and white elevator car. The illusion is geared for pyro when the floor panel lights come on a small pyro charge can go off. The push button box as well. The unit looks as if it was ripped out of the building. The unit was recent refurbished and is in great condition at a great price of $6500. In 3 new wood cases. Unit is huge Copperfield type illusion and is heavy as it should be for a grand illsuion to appear a few people. I really don't have a good photo but I can set it up and take one, but I do have video. Let me know if there is any interest. Steve Zigmont www.zigmont.com zigmont@zigmont.com 813 689 6269 ---------------------------------- 12. World Magic Seminar 2002 ---------------------------------- Message from Dan Garrett (US) The 25th edition of the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas is now history. It was a fun experience for me and my wife Carol. I happened to be the kickoff lecture for the WMS (formerly known as the Las Vegas Desert Magic Seminar). It was a first for me in that I was charged with lecturing exclusively on performing magic for children. This is a subject I know quite well, but I have never given a lecture on this material exclusively for magicians before. (My lectures are generally known because they contain commercial close-up and cabaret magic, with a few kidshow items thrown in for good measure.) With a little trepidation, I prepared special lecture notes and chose material from my working repertoire that I thought would be of interest. (That's what producer Rich Bloch wanted, so that was the lecture he was going to get!) The lecture went very well! I was pleased with the reaction of the audience to the material, and overwhelmed with the positive comments I got afterwards. My feeling before giving this lecture was stated in the introduction to my lecture notes: It is generally quite difficult, I find, to convey ideas on performing magic for children to other magicians, particularly in a lecture setting. Magicians generally want a lecturer to fool them, then show them the latest moves and techniques. With magic for children, it is generally impossible to fool an audience of knowledgable magicians. And while it is quite easy for a seasoned children's performer to entertain children, it is quite another thing to convey the same energy and interplay, reactions of the kids, etc., to an audience of magicians. Such an audience is required to draw considerably on its imagination and visualize the reactions of an audience of children. Well, the audience did its job that day, and I was pleased with the response. I knew the material like the back of my hand, and I decided to give the lecture in my full wizard costume and make-up, just as I perform for children. I think that was the right choice. Most of the comments included a "thanks" to me for giving the children's performer a quality lecture. Some felt that the children's performer has been excluded from many of the larger conventions for the high-tech, modern moves type lectures. I have to add that my thanks go to Rich Bloch and the planning committee for having the foresight to give such a type of lecture the go-ahead at a convention known for world-class stage magic and close-up. There are so many highlights of the convention, I shouldn't even mention my meager participation. Being able to hobnob with the who's who of magic that come to Las Vegas, a true magic Mecca, or who work there in the super showrooms, is a lot of fun. I got to see and greet briefly the likes of Siegfried & Roy, Channing Pollock, Jay Marshall, Lee Grabel, Lance Burton and many others. I was able to have some personal chats with the likes of Lance Burton, Fielding West, Gay Blackstone, Ali Bongo, Billy McComb, Michael Close, Dean Dill (I bought his Dill Box and paid a lot of dill dough, but it was worth every penny), Stan Allen, John Moering, Joe Stevens, Flip, Looy Simonoff, Paul Harris and Max Maven... performers who are always giving back to magic, and are generous with sharing their time and their experience with others. I had dinner one evening with Bob Fitch, one of my personal magical heroes. I discussed my lecture performance with him, and talked a bit about my new 2002 lecture for magicians soon to go to press. Bob filled me in on his current projects. Trust me, if you ever have a chance to attend one of the Bob Fitch workshops, don't miss it! Your performances and your life will be transformed. Back to the convention. Special lectures or events included: Dan Garrett, Gary Darwin, Don Drake, Boris Wild, Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, Vanni Bossi, Steve Beam, Lior Manor, Chef Anton, Gazzo, Whit Haydn, Martin Lewis and the Pendragons. The shows and contests were first rate (they alway are due to the availability of magical talent in Las Vegas and the large purse of prize money and the prestige of being presented an award by Siegfried & Roy, etc.) There is also a special Creativity Award of $1000 presented by Magic Masters. I was asked to sit on the panel of judges for this special award this year, along with Johnny Thompson, Abb Dickson, Billy McComb and Ali Bongo. The Dennis Sowers Creativity Award went to an illusion act this year (that in itself is a bit out of the ordinary for this particular award), the Hamners. While in Vegas, you should get out and see a few shows, and eat some good food in the fine restaurants of the city... and we did! We saw Joseph Gabriel and Alain Nu at Caesar's Magic Empire (I went to see John Shyrock, but missed his act as he was on the early shift.) We saw Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, and Lance was kind enough to speak with us after the show (thanks, Lance!). We saw the very visual and unusual Blue Man Group. My wife loved it, and I liked it, it was very innovative (but I prefer the magic shows personally). If you want a capsule review, I felt that if one were to put Santana on the CD player, take some hallucinogenic drugs and get into a food fight, one could pretty much recreate the same effect as this show. (:}D) It did have some of the most unusual strobe light special effects I've seen. Well, get the point of view from any other attendee, and you will get a completely different set of stories about this fun convention! Thanks for reading, I'm sorry I was a bit long-winded here. ---------------------------------- 13. The Orchante Saga #61 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) David McKee, 'Noazark' - unexpected visitors At the end of the last chapter I spoke of heading (from Wellington), back North to Auckland City for local record producer/promoter David McKee, who wanted to us to perform on a hotel circuit he had arranged, together with his band 'NOAZARK' - featuring, by way of variety, my MIME act. On each Rock Show, he would also have a guest - recording artist, various singers who were on his record label ('KonTact' records). Along with my rather extensive 'vinyl' long-playing record album collection, I also have around 200 original 45s, from the Sixties era, most of which are in mint condition - untouched by human hands and, according to some, when I've finished playing them - there're still untouched, by human hands! Amongst them I found several complimentary records, courtesy of David McKee, of some of the artists on his label, most of whom we worked with. Now I do understand that NONE of these 'names' will mean a thing to anybody, other than New Zealanders and possibly Australians, who were still swingin' - n - boppin' (with not a grey hair in sight), in the early Seventies. They include, among others - MARIA DALLAS, TOM SHARPLIN, BRENT BRODIE, HOT ASH, PRINCESS PUTI AND THE GEORGIA SHOWBAND AND ANGELA AYERS. Oh, and not FORGETTING- 'NOAZARK'! Veronica and I became great friends with the band members of NOAZARK, in particular the drummer, John Drinkwater - who was nicknamed 'Beryl' , because he liked to dress and 'make - up' like a woman - not that he was a - 'Queer' or a 'Poof' (yes, I know, it's politically correct to say 'Gay' these days however, being from the old school, and a red blooded man - THE REAL THING, I do tend to call a spade, a spade!), nothing like that, it was just for fun, adding a touch of 'glam' to the group. We had let it be known that we were looking for a flat/House to live in while we were in Auckland and John said -"hey, I've got a bungalow out at Papakura (a town south of Auckland City, which was where the band came from), it was passed on to me by my dad when he died. You could have that if you like". "Thanks John" we said, "that would suit us fine". According to John, his father had gone slightly 'CUCKOO' in his latter years; John delighted in telling us some amusing stories about his father. For instance, his dad insisted on leaving the front gate open, to - 'LET THE FRESH AIR IN' onto his section or, he would often be seen - OILING THE GRASS, 'BECAUSE 'IT SQUEAKS', whenever he walked on it! One morning he walked up the road to the local Dairy (Milk Bar/corner shop), to buy a bottle of milk, arriving back home a few hours later, with a brand-new car instead! ' How delightful.' If I was to go ' CUCKOO' like that in my latter years (oops, I am), I'd be very happy; totally harmless, unintentionally amusing everyone at the same time. Quite often John, the band and other friends would turn up at the bungalow with a crate or two or. of booze for a ' Sunday session'. One weekend, we were in full swing, great music, guitars and plenty of beer. The air was heavy with the familiar - VERY FAMILIAR if you were a youth in the Swinging Sixties - the days of - 'Make Love, Not War', 'Flower Power' and 'Woodstock'; also if you frequented jazz clubs - of the HERBAL SMELL of - 'grass/dope'- for the uneducated, CANNABIS, you know, MARIJUANA! I had forgotten to get some ice so I'd dumped a heap of beer bottles into the washhouse tub and turned on the cold tap, or so I thought. 20 minutes later the washhouse floor was flooded, with steaming hot water. I'd turned on the wrong tap by mistake! Kiwis and Aussies like their booze cold, very cold. I got some 'stick'! Some body says -" Another car has turned up"! Looking out of the front window I said -" Bloody hell, it's my mother and father"! Now everybody knew that my father was policeman - it was - 'PANIC STATIONS'! Spliffs vanished like magic and everybody frantically fanned the air while lighting up 'normal' cigarettes (WHICH ARE THE REAL KILLERS). As my parents walked in, Dad hesitated for a moment then said -"Sherry smells nice"! John Drinkwater, in a mild state of hysterics and confusion, stood up to offer his seat and said -" GOODBYE" instead of, HELLO! My father said, "G'day everyone, how about a drink son? " As he sat down, there was a whooshing sound, as everybody, red faced from holding their breath, relaxed, expelling pent-up up air from their lungs. They stayed far half an hour or so then took off to visit my sister and her family who lived only few miles away. It was a most interesting afternoon, that left us all feeling rather - 'DOPEY'! ------------------------------------- 14. MagicNZ e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: ezine Password: newzealand When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001nov0699.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (nov06) and the last next two numbers the year (99) If you want to print copies of MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive ------------------------------------- 15. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors. Neither MagicNZ or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit. >> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY << © Copyright 2002 Alan Watson