* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #153 Date: 4th January 2003 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. Magic Residency Available 3. Hong Kong 2003 International Magic Convention 4. Bev Bergeron Magic Medicine Show At South Florida Fair 5. Dai Vernon Close-Up Parlour 6. "Amazing Christo" - Latest McDonalds Advertisement 7. Snippy New Year - By Peter Marucci 8. "Englishman In New York" 9. Rocco To Perform At New York City's IBM-Ring 26 10. An Update On The Cresey Lecture 11. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 141 12. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 13. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One ************** * NEWS FLASH ************** Michael Woolf passed on the sad news that fellow magician, Don and Donna MacQuoid have been in a head on car accident on New Years Eve. I rang them in Vanuatu today and Donna told me that they are now out of hospital Don has 3 broken ribs and she has extensive facial bruising. For those who don’t know Don and Donna are the owners of the Waterfront Bar & Grill in Port Vila, Vanuatu and regularly employ close up magicians from all over the world.  It is regarded as the Magic Castle of the South Pacific. If you would like to drop them a line as I’m sure they’d love to hear from their magical friends at this time - their e-mail address is: waterfnt@vanuatu.com.vu --------------------------- Magic Circle Centenary Celebrations - England Michele and I are planning to attend the 100 year celebrations 20th – 23rd July 2005 at the University of London, Bedford Way London.  Regular updates will be posted as they come to hand. ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Magic Residency Available ---------------------------------- Message from Neil Martin Productions Limited (UK) Dear Entertainer Neil Martin Productions is, this year, taking on a number of restaurant chains (large and small) to provide regular weekly entertainment in and around North, Central and South London. Later we will also be expanding this to Surrey, The Home Counties and The West Midlands. We therefore could have lots of regular and consistent work to offer you. As standard with most restaurant residencies the pay isn't great but it is regular, a good place to work in new material, obtain spin-off professional engagements and hopefully the residencies won't interfere with you taking on 'proper' gigs in the evenings. (They may not be suitable for children's entertainers as the fees can't compete with Sunday kids shows). The restaurants we are taking on will primarily want entertainment from either 1-4pm or 1-5pm mainly on Sundays with a few restaurants requiring Saturdays also. If you would like to join our 'team' of entertainers or know someone else that would please call Neil Martin or Chris Banks on 020 8669 3128 during office hours, or email acts@nmp.co.uk and/or send us your publicity if we don't already have it on file. Work is available NOW for professional, reliable and proficient entertainers - don't delay contact us ASAP!!!!!! Neil Martin Productions Limited PO Box 981, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8JU T: 020 8669 3128 F: 020 8404 2621 W: www.nmp.co.uk ------------------------------------ 3. Hong Kong 2003 International Magic Convention ------------------------------------- Message from Albert Tam (Hong Kong) The coming Hong Kong Magic Convention 2003. It is the 2nd magic convention in Hong Kong hosts by Magicians' Association of Hong Kong (I.B.M. Ring 277 and S.A.M Assembly 264), there are also a big moment of Asian Magic Association establishment ceremony. Asian Magic Association will be the organization which united the major magic clubs, organizations in Asia zone. The Association will be started by 7 society included Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Korea. Traditional Chinese Magic New Wave Western Illusions Masters’ Lectures Registration Now: Magicians – US$160, Spouse – US$135, Youth under 18 – US$96 Registration after January 25th 2003: Magicians – US$180, Spouse – US$154, Youth under 18 – US$115 Headquarters Hotel: Hotel Miramar special rate standard room HK$600, Parkview room HK$800, Miramar Club Executive room HK$1,000 (all excluded 13% tax & svc charge) Phone: +(852) 2315 5638 Fax: +(852) 2369 0972 Email: wywoo@miramar–group.com Identify as a registrant of Hong Kong International Magic 2003 Convention. Full Details contact: Magicians’ Association of Hong Kong G.P.O. Box 6154 Hong Kong Phone / Fax HotLine: + (852) 8108 2277 Email: mail@magic.org.hk Japan representative: Magic Fukai Tel: + 81(726) 88 0618 Fax: + 81(726) 88 8280 MagicLand Tel: +81(3) 3666 4749 Fax: + 81(3) 3666 7306 ------------------------------------ 4. Bev Bergeron Magic Medicine Show At South Florida Fair ------------------------------------- Message from Maria Ibanez (US) Bev Bergeron will be appearing with his Magic Medicine Show at the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach, Florida from January 17 to February 2. He will be appearing on his own Medicine Show Stage wagon twice a day and four times a day on weekends. Magicians and friends are welcome to see the show and visit. Bev will also be performing in Limerick, Ireland at the Munster Society of Magicians convention May 3rd and 4th. After a few days of visiting several pubs in Southern Ireland, he will visit London and lecture for several magic clubs. --------------------------------- 5. Dai Vernon Close-Up Parlour ---------------------------------- Message from Steve Dacri (US) If you find yourself in Hollywood, California this month, join us at the world famous Magic Castle from Jan 27th until Feb 2nd. I will be appearing in the all new (not yet finished, but promises to be by then) Dai Vernon Close-Up Parlour. I will be doing the late shows as usual, so call us for your free reservations at 310-702-4455. Also, our lecture tour will, by popular request, continue in March (see you at the Winter Carnival in Gatlinburg on the 6-9th), April and June, so if your club is interested, give us a holler, we would love to try and add you to our schedule. ---------------------------------- 6. "Amazing Christo" - Latest McDonalds Advertisement ---------------------------------- Message from Fast Jimmy (Aust) Sydney based Magician and Actor "Amazing Christo" was featured in the latest McDonalds advertisement on TV Australia wide performing several card manipulation moves. It is great to see magic being featured in advertisements on television here in Australia and we look forward to seeing many more in the future. ---------------------------------- 7. Snippy New Year - By Peter Marucci ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) Effect: The magus pulls strip of paper on which some thoughts to get you through the New Year are written. He reads each item and cuts if off, but the paper is restored each time. Finally, he comes to the punch line and the paper is restored in a different shape. Working: This is just that old chestnut Clippo in a new dress. To make up the strips, take a newspaper and cut out strips one column wide and the full length of the page. Lay them flat and cover one side of them with a thin coating of rubber cement. Wait for the cement to get tacky and them dust the strips with talcum powder. Leave them for at least 24 hours to dry. When they are fully dry, you will have a number of strips that will last for weeks, if the cemented sides are not allowed to touch. (I have used them up to two months after I prepared them and they still worked -- but about two to three weeks is the longest they should be left for optimum use.) If you take one of the strip and fold it in half, with the rubber-cement side on the inside, you can cut across the double thickness of paper at that middle, let the cut-off piece fall to the floor and the strip can be opened and -- apparently -- restored. In fact, the coating of rubber cement holds the two pieces together. Repeat this -- folding the paper in the middle (where it was cut before) and cutting off another piece about an inch down from the join of the first cut. Let the piece fall to the floor and again open the paper, showing it to be restored. You can continue clipping bits off the paper until you have run out of the cemented area. For the last cut, snip the paper at a 45-degree angle and unfold it; it will now be V-shaped. Presentation: "As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I have here some thoughts that may help you to muddle through the next 12 months -- things they never taught you in school." Pick up the paper and pretend to read the first item, as if it were printed about the middle of the column. "Don't worry about the future -- it's already tomorrow in Australia." Fold the paper in half and snip off about an inch from the middle; re-open the paper and show it restored. "Hmm, that's not much help. What else do we have here." Read another item from the strip: "A good scare is worth more than good advice." Again fold the paper, snip off an inch and show it restored. "I don't like that one either," you say, as you read the next thought: "We are all born ignorant -- but some stay that way." Again fold and snip, saying something like: "Well that's more like it." Continue reading, folding, snipping and showing the paper restored until you have about 8 to 10 inches left. "And, finally, a word from that great philosopher Yogi Berra: "When you come to the fork in the road, take it'." At this point you cut the paper on a 45-degree angle so that, when you show it restored, it is a V -- the fork in the road -- and you wish your audience a Happy New Year, take your bow, and leave. Second thoughts: Depending on the length of paper you are using, you may want more thoughts for the year: "Nothing is inevitable until it happens." "It's easier to stay out than to get out." "Better to live rich than to die rich." "Success if not forever -- and failure is not fatal." "If you can't be happy, then at least be cheerful." "A poor original is better than a good copy." If you want to take a load off your memory -- and if you have the time -- you can use blank newsprint strips and write the comments on the strip so that you can actually read them as you are snipping them off. With this patter line, the old Clippo makes a great New Year's presentation. But the other advantage to doing it at this time of year is that, unlike the hot and muggy days of summer, there is far less chance of the rubber cement sticking to itself accidentally -- and leaving you with a big wad of thoughts for the New Year! ---------------------- Peter Marucci's lecture notes and original effects are now available online. You can check them out at: www.bizarremagick.com/pmarucciproducts.html Or just go to Bizarre Magick.com (www.bizarremagick.com) and click on "Little Shops of Horrors". ---------------------------------- 8. "Englishman In New York" ---------------------------------- Message from Wolfram & Gernot (Germany) 7.02.03 - 02.03 .03 GOP Essen, Junge, Junge! + Andreas Römer performing and MCing the Show "Hut ab!" : "Englishman in New York", and the new act "HuthochDrei", the fun-tastic Comedy-Chapeaugraphy as seen at the S.A.M Centennial Convention New York. Genii wrote: "If you think that making hats out of a little piece of felt is passé, than you must have missed the three guys from Germany at the S.A.M: convention who stole the first nights show doing a hip-chapeaugraphy act. 20. + 21 02. 03 Magic Comedy Festival St. Moritz, Junge, Junge! + Andreas Römer: "Englishman in New York", HuthochDrei 23.02.02 Blackpool Magicians Convention, Blackpool (GB), Junge, Junge! "An Englishman in New York" ---------------------------------- 9. Rocco To Perform At New York City's IBM-Ring 26 ---------------------------------- Message from Jerry Wiesenberg (US) President, Ring 26 The well-known and inventive magician, ROCCO, will perform for IBM-Ring 26 on Friday, January 31, 2003. A second professional magician will also perform in this show. The after-meeting show will be held at the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Club in New York City, on Lexington Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets. Guests are invited for the nominal cost of $5 per person. The show begins at 8:30PM. A "D-liteful" evening of magic is promised!! Commemorative Ring 26 anniversary t-shirts will be available for purchase that evening. For additional information about this and other Ring programs, t-shirts, etc, visit the Ring's website at IBM Ring26.com ---------------------------------- 10. An Update On The Cresey Lecture ---------------------------------- Message from Dave Cresey (US) I will be performing my lecture, not only in Miami, Florida but two days before in BocaRaton, Fl.Jan.6, followed by Miami on the 8th. Then I drive to Tampa for a Lecture on the 9th Jan. I have 3 days off and then back to work. Jan 13th Ft.Meyers. 14th Winter Haven and 16th. Melbourn. No not Ausi, but Florida,USA.and then home to Everett Ma. I am driving the whole trip aprox.3000 or more miles. Thanks. Looking forward to having a great trip, see you when I get there. --------------------------------- 11. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 141 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) - RICHARD WEBSTER - N. Z.’s Best–selling Author - The Story Concludes Over the years Richard has ghost written 19 books for other people. When one of these books sold more than 80,000 copies, Richard realised it was time to start writing more books under his own name. The first of these was a book on ghost writing (Secrets Of Ghost Writing) which was published by Breese Books Ltd, London, 1987. It is still in print. Richard wrote two more books for this publisher, and then found a new home with ‘Llewellyn Books’ in the United States. Since 1994 they have published twenty four of his books. Being a full-time entertainer gave him the necessary time and freedom to do this, but his income from performing slowly declined because he no longer had the time to promote himself. Although most of Richard's books are for the general public, I did mention earlier on that Richard has worked as a magician, mentalist/palm reader, stage hypnotist and hypnotherapist (among other talents) and has written books on all of these subjects. ‘Brookfield Press’ published twenty five of his books on magic, as well as a book for hypnotherapists on how to conduct past life regressions. ‘Flora and company’ in the United States published his video course, ‘The Richard Webster Hypnotism Show’, the first instructional video in the world on how to become a stage Hypnotist. Here is the complete list of those twenty five, for magicians and psychic entertainers only – books. Quick And Effective Cold Reading How To Build Up A Psychic Practice With A Full Length Cold Readings Quick Readings With Numerology Psychometry From A To Z Aura Reading For Fun And Profit Cashing In On Past Lives The Mail Order Psychic Pendulum Power For The Psychic Entertainer Good Luck From Beijing Home Psychic Parties For Fun And Profit Cold Reading For The Magician You Are A Rainbow Pitch Books Money Making Psychic Development Classes Plan For Success How To Make Money Giving Free Talks Astrology For The Psychic Entertainer Ladies' Nights Entertaining Mentalism Using Your Intuitive Edge For Fun And Profit Cold Reading The Future With Numerology Cold Reading Variations The Astral Travel Workshop The Psychic Business Playing Card Divination For Beginners Richard Also Wrote: ‘Riccardo On Children’s Magic’ INCLUDING THE NINETEEN GHOST WRITTEN BOOKS, RICHARD HAS PUBLISHED 80 BOOKS SINCE 1972, OF WHICH FORTY SIX OF THESE ARE CURRENTLY IN PRINT. BY THE END OF 2003, THE TOTAL WILL PROBABLY BE AT LEAST 83. HIS BOOKS HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO TWENTY LANGUAGES AND HAVE SOLD MORE THAN TWO MILLION COPIES AROUND THE WORLD! Unlike most magic authors, Richard has done absolutely everything that is covered in these books. Richard says, “I guess you become versatile when you live in a small market, so what I used to consider a handicap ultimately became a blessing. I have also, always offered a money-back guarantee throughout have my performing career”. Page 142 “In more than a quarter century of performing, only one person refused to pay me, and that was many years ago. On a couple of occasions I declined payment when I felt I had not done a good enough job. Most magicians I have spoken to about offering a guarantee are scared that people will take advantage of it but, that has not been my experience”. 1990, Richard was named ‘MENTALIST OF THE YEAR’ by the Psychic Entertainers Association (U S A) and in 1997, the Variety Artists Club Of New Zealand presented him with the prestigious - ‘BENNY AWARD’ for the Top Speciality Act! In the same year, La Sociétié Robert-Houdin awarded him – ‘Le Grant Prix Robert-Houdin’, for his contributions to magic. Another achievement for Richard, in 1998, was appearing on ‘HARD COPY’, an American television programme that is similar to ‘60 minutes’. He says, “I had the dream job on that show - I had to ‘Feng Shui’ the apartment of a ‘Playboy Playmate Of The Month’! It was hard to pay attention to the job with several other playmates watching. At least twenty million people around the world saw the show, by far my biggest audience ever”. In October 2000, he was named – ‘Small Business Of The Year’, by New Zealand ‘Sales People With a Purpose’ (SWAP). Richard is a charter member of the National Speakers Association of New Zealand, and was one of their featured speakers at their annual convention in November 2000. He is listed in ‘Who's Who in the World’ and ‘Who's Who in Magic’! Richard used to conduct seminars on rapport and a body language for business people, but nowadays, speaks mainly to promote his books. In the last 12 months he has spoken in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Germany, England and the United States. He is also dedicated to helping people progress in they’re writing careers, and has written two books for writers: ‘Writing As A Business’ and ‘Secrets Of Ghost Writing’. For several years he has conducted ‘WAKE UP AND WRITE’! Seminars for would -be authors. ‘How To Write For The New Age Market’, will be published in the in U S A in 2003. The achievement that Richard is most proud of is his: ‘Richard Webster Popular Fiction Award’ which was established two years ago (2000). He provides a NZ $5,000 Annual Prize to the winner of a competition for the best unpublished work of popular fiction by a New Zealand writer. Richard says, “Three of the entries in the first year's competition have since been published, which is enormously satisfying to me. To finish on a high note. Some great names have come out of New Zealand, in all fields of endeavour, including – MAGIC! The late, Great, Edgar Benyon, Alan and Michele Watson, and Richard Webster to name a few, are testimony to that fact. It has given me enormous pleasure to write Richard’s story, most of which, I hasten to add, was provided to me by Richard himself; I have simply added my own ‘twist’ to things, as it were. I have to admit that I was more than a little nervous in this endeavour, after all, I am not a writer, I just scribble my thoughts and memories as they come to mind, but Richard has been very encouraging to me, as is his nature. I am also ashamed to admit that until I started on his story, I had no real idea of his amazing, personal achievements. Veronica and I are privileged and proud to be able to say that Richard Webster is a very close friend, now and forever. Thank-you Richard, for your wonderful friendship! ------------------------------------- 12. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand 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: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. ------------------------------------- 13. 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 Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand e-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold Magic New Zealand and/or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. Those submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the individual author without the written permission of Magic New Zealand. >>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.<< © Copyright 2003 Alan Watson