* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #166 Date: Sunday 30th March 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. Paul Daniels Is Making A Recovery 3. Lance Burton Cuts Shows From 10 To 7 4. Martinka Magic Auction Ends Sunday March 30th 5. Correction For Magic In The Rockies 2003 6. Japan Cup 2003 7. You Have To See It To Believe It 8. Melbourne International Comedy Festival 9. Magic Auction - www.lotseek.com 10. The Wand With Three Ends 11. "Daryl And Alison Easton" 12. How To Get More Exposure And Money Doing Magic!! 13. Who Is Bob Sheets? 14. Russell Barnhart Health Slowly Deteriorating 15. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 154 16. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 17. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Congratulations to Bill and Mandy Reid in their new addition to their family a 7½ lb boy, Liam. Messages etc. can be sent to: bmreid@magicians.co.nz -------------------------- Paul Romhany and his fiancée, Natalie dropped into see us while holidaying in New Zealand and they have decided to settle in Vancouver.  Paul has asked me to deliver on his behalf boxes of magic which he has generously donated to the Hawkes Bay junior club. ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. Paul Daniels Is Making A Recovery ---------------------------------- Message from Andrew Lock (UK) It looks like Paul is making a recovery now. He seems to have been struck down with a virus of some sort that left him very weak. His schedule has been full, but that is normal. At this point, he is still planning to go to the USA for the Masterclass in April. ------------------------------------ 3. Lance Burton Cuts Shows From 10 To 7 ------------------------------------- Message from Wayne Bernath, Director of Publicity for Lance Burton "Lance Burton: Master Magician's" show times will change to 7 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and 10 p.m. Tues. & Sat. Dark Sun. & Mon. This schedule will go into effect beginning Tuesday, May 6. On Sunday, May 25 the show times will be 4 & 7 p.m. before the hiatus May 26-June 9. "Lance Burton's Magic & Comedy All-Stars" will be May 30-June 1 at 8 p.m. The price for the special shows is $49.45 including tax. For reservations call 730-7160. ----------------------------- 4. Martinka Magic Auction Ends Sunday March 30th ---------------------------------- Message from Ted Bogusta (US) Please update your readers with the following: Martinka Magic Auction Ends Sunday March 30th Martinka & Co is hosting their 8th online auction this week. There are over 200 lots. Some of the highlights include: * Dai Vernon Silhouettes * Chung Ling Soo Autographs and Souvenir * Houdini Signed Photo * Tokens from Herrmann and Mulholland * P&L Apparatus * Spirit Clock and Spirit Bell * Books, Videos and More... Many items are started at $10 and sold without a reserve. All items can be viewed by visiting: www.martinka.com/auction Please email magic@martinka.com with any questions. ---------------------------------- 5. Correction For Magic In The Rockies 2003 ---------------------------------- Message from Tim Pendergast Magic in the Rockies 2003-The Tenth Anniversary Edition September 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2003 Fort Collins Marriott, 350 East Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 For information, contact: Tim Pendergast, Penderwiz@aol.com, 970 225 0708 IBM Ring 250 presents their tenth annual Magic in the Rockies featuring (confirmed so far): David Williamson, Bob Fitch, David Ben, Banachek, Silly Billy, Shoot Ogawa, Apollo Robbins, Dick Barry, Barrie Richardson, Bob Sheets, Jon Stetson, David Oliver, Eric Mead, and Doc Eason. The $119 registration ($139 after 5/31/03, $149 after 8/15/03) includes: Junior Showcase Show, Cabaret Show, Public Show, 9 lectures, 19 dealers, Saturday Night Soiree, Close-up Show, and a dinner and two lunches. For complete information, visit Ring 250's website: www.prestodigitators.com. ---------------------------------- 6. Japan Cup 2003 ---------------------------------- Message from Ron Ishimaru (Japan) Japan Cup 2003, jointly organized by the Magic Circle Japan and Japan Close-up Magicians Association, was held on March 23, 2003 at the Tokyo FM Hall. The Japan Cup award is to recognize any magician on this planet who has made outstanding contributions to the magical art. Also it provided a great venue for a close up gala while accommodating a stage gala. The 200 plus magicians, and guests were treated to outstanding international close up and stage shows. Award Winners: Magician of the Year - Cyril and Jane Best Close up Magician - Tadao Koga Magic Circle Japan - Yosuke Tatsuno & Yasuo Kisa (for greatest contribution to Japan Magic Circle) Meritorious Service Award -Haruo Shimada & Albert Tam Media Award - Taro Furuya 2003 Japan Cup - Haruo Shimada Close up gala started with Hyun-Woo Choi, ROK, who used a comedy cups and ball routine with the Delite as the ball. One of his funniest segments was when he threw the desk of card in the air and plucked the guests selected card with his toes. Of course, he was bare footed. Not a problem for the Hawaiians. Japan's Hidekazu Kimoto followed with his version of the chop cup routine and London's coin routine. Chris Korn dazzled the crowd with his coins across and matrix. His "assistant" from the audience was totally baffled when the coin moved from one column to the other with her arm in between the columns of coins and resting on the closeup mat. The inaugural 2002 Japan Cup winner, Tomohiro Maeda, opened with a H indu rope effect that ended up as a coat hanger for his coat. The patter was in Japanese so I missed the punch line. Something about Pink rope and a pink jacket. His invisible deck routine was unique especially after locating the card that was the only one reversed and revealed that was the one the audience member thought of. He fanned the deck with the selected card extended and casually showing one side with all face and the other with all the bicycle backs. His card handling was superb. Some how the three signed cards that were buried in the deck of cards ended up in the closed card case one at a time. The finale was the rest of the deck ended in the same case. The stage gala was "sugoi", awesome. Eun-Gyel Lee of Korea was a dynamic performer with his flashes, pyro and dove steals set to high tempo music. If the names sounds familiar, Eun-Gyel was the first place stage winner at the World Magic seminar in Las Vegas. You'll see him at the upcoming FISM and SAM. P.J of Taiwan slowed the pace down to quiet the heart beat to a romantic setting of candle and silk appearances & vanishes, flower color changes and manipulations. Jeremy Pei of Singapore raised the tempo with his card flourishes and dancing rose routine. Jeremy back in 1999 won first place in an Australian magic stage competition. Tonight's awards winners followed. Cyril and Jane showed why he deserved his Japan cup award. His cigarette routine was outstanding. His manipulations using $100 bills instead of cards just uniquely blended to his flowing theme and well choreographed routine. Double award winner, Shimada performed his famous parasol routine, nothing more needs to be said. It was outstanding to see in person. For me, this was great event and a great opportunity to meet Japanese magicians. It was small enough yet had the support of the Japan Professional Magicians Association, the magic clubs, and, and amateurs. During the intermissions, I had a chance to chat with Fukai, Yaeko, Birdie Kodama, Albert Tam, and Chris Korn. Fukai reminded me of his convention this summer. There wasn't enough time to say hello to Shigeo Futagawa, Ton Onasaka, Masaki, Shintaro and Maka Tendo and many others. As you can see it was well supported. Dr. Shigeru Tashiro, one of the prime organizers of this JCMA Japan Cup was a gracious host. He also asked about Gerald Rojo performing at the Japan SAM Convention. Gerald was one of the outstanding Jr. Magicians from Hawaii who was invited to perform at the past SAM convention. The magical afternoon ended too early. I had to make the long 2-hour train commute out of Tokyo. But it was enough time to enjoy the gift, "Floppy Camera" and routine, which every attendee received. ---------------------------------- 7. You Have To See It To Believe It ---------------------------------- Message from Don Drake (US) Hi everyone, I just thought I'd write and tell you that there's a new trick in my lecture. It is so good that I just had to write and tell you about it. The idea came from Scott Hitchcock of Las Vegas, NV who teaches at Jeff McBrides Master Classes (which I highly recommend). Here is the effect: A card is selected (no moans or groans please, just wait until you hear this) and placed face up on your close-up mat. A small silk is placed over the card. The performer takes a dinner or steak knife, or razor, or hatchet, or whatever sharp instrument is at hand and proceeds to hack away at the silk-covered card! When the silk is removed the card is shown cut into several pieces! Once again the silk is placed back over the hacked-up card. Our magician uses his fingers to push the pieces together, under the silk! When the silk is once more removed, the card is shown whole, and may be passed for examination! The beauty of this effect is: There's no sleight of hand involved, no gimmicked silk, and silk and card may be examined at the beginning and end of the effect! The card may be signed. You have to see it to believe it. I don't mean this to be an ad, but I was so impressed with Scott's idea, that I just had to make one. It's cool, easy to do, and requires little or no practice! I've decided to use it to close my lecture, and it's NOT in the new notes, although I will explain it. I've even made up a story to go along with the trick. I call it the Fractured King. I'm not going to sell it in any ads, just use it in the lecture. See if you can figure it out and e-mail me privately. If you get it exactly right, I may give you one! -:) Yours in Black Art Magic, The Magic of DONDRAKE 1412-A Santa Margarita St., Las Vegas, NV 89146-9306 Ph. 702-880-5370 dondrake@blackartsecrets.com See us at http://blackartsecrets.com --------------------------------- 8. Melbourne International Comedy Festival ---------------------------------- Message from Melissa & Pat (Aust) Melbourne International Comedy Festival Patrick McCullagh Comedy Knockout Limo Laugh Tours Mar 28, 29 Apr 4,5,11,12 7pm 8pm 9pm all tix $25 Group booking buy 10 get 1 free (Mar 28,29 sold out) Don't Miss!!!! The Most Exclusive show in Town a brilliant night of entertainment with Patrick McCullagh Comp glass of Bubbly Performed in Australia's Longest Stretch Limo 8 inches does make a difference Stand-Up Comedy Sitting Down with mind blowing Sleight of Hand Stylish City Sexy Comedy Tours Go On Flaunt It!!!!! The Irish accent is just Magic ...Herald Sun Patrick knows a thing or two about the hand being quicker than the eye.....The Age Bookings essential and selling fast....0419 571 704 or Ticketmaster 7 1300 660 013 www.comedyknockout.com/comedy-festival.html Pick up by arrangement at any Inner city venue or Out side Melbourne Town Hall Swanston Street at The comedy Knockout Limo stop ---------------------------------- 9. Magic Auction - www.lotseek.com ---------------------------------- Message from Steve Hunt Just a quick note to say we haven't decided the date for our next Magic Auction yet, but in the meantime you might want to keep an eye on the new auction search service at www.lotseek.com (we put our catalogues on there too) ---------------------------------- 10. The Wand With Three Ends ---------------------------------- Message from Peter Marucci (Canada) How do you finish your show? Does it just slowly peter out -- or is there a definite closing that signals the audience that the performance has ended? For years now, I have been closing my children's shows with the magical production of an old Tannen "The End" silk, showing the tail-end of a rabbit with the words "The End" in huge letters. Some time back, I recall reading an article in a magic magazine where the writer derided the used of The End banners, silks and the like, arguing that the act should finish in such a way that the audience knew it was over, without the magician's telling them. An apparently valid point -- but I doubt that the author had done many kids' shows. Youngsters need everything clearly spelled out, especially in a venue where they are wound up and working at a high energy level -- like a Christmas or birthday party. Thus the use of a The End sign, to let them know the show is over and the next stage of the party is going to begin. But, for repeat performances, I wanted something that they hadn't seen the year before (i.e. the silk). And so I came up with: THE WAND WITH THREE ENDS By Peter Marucci Effect: To close the show, the magic shows a long black wand, which he describes as being "a wand with three ends." He points to one end: "This is the end;" he points to the other end: "This is the end;" and, he says, "This is the end," as the wand unfurls into a banner that says "The End," leaving the magi with arms extended, holding the banner, in the applause stance. Working: You'll need an automobile sun shade, sold at most auto-accessory stores. It's a black rod about a foot and a half long and an inch or so around. It works just like a roller blind; you grab the tab in the middle of the rod and pull out a shade -- black on one side, white on the other and perforated with holes. (The theory is that you can see through it while it blocks the sun from the inside of your car. Well, that's the theory.) There are two suction cups on the rod, to attach it to the side window of your car, and a Velcro tab to pull out the blind and hook it to another Velcro tab attached to your car door. That sounds complicated but it doesn't matter -- because you get rid of all that extra hardware, keeping just the rod with the roller blind inside. Pull the blind out and lay it on a flat surface, white side up. Pin it down, or use weights, to keep it from rolling up, while you letter the design on the white side.Using Sharpie markers, outline the words The End in black and then fill the letters in with red or orange. When you let the blind roll up, paint the ends of the rod white and you have a passable looking wand. Proceed as above in Effect. Second Thoughts: Okay, you don't have a whole lot of magic here, but it's not a bad gag -- especially for kids. The whole point of the thing is that it brings your show to a logical end in a funny manner. And, as I said above, if you do kids' shows, you need something that clearly tells your audience that the show is over. If you leave then unsure of whether there's more coming -- and there isn't -- they feel cheated. (Believe me, I have seen enough magicians do that at kids' shows to know it is the absolute truth -- and the last thing you want is a bunch of unhappy children, since that makes for unhappy parents -- who are paying you.) The finger-flingers may "pooh-pooh" this; the dilettantes won't understand it; but the working magician who does children's shows will know what I'm talking about and realize the importance of it. So, if you're in the latter category, make this up and have fun with it. I did. Peter Marucci 270 St. Andrew St. East Fergus, Ontario, Canada N1M 1R1 ---------------------------------- 11. "Daryl And Alison Easton" ---------------------------------- Message from Daryl and Alison Easton Several months before our daughter Laura was born (Laura's now six months old), Alison and I had our last names legally changed to "Easton". We still use only our first names for performing, lecturing and marketing, etc., but for all activities that require first and last names, it's now, legally, "Daryl and Alison Easton". More recently, Alison and I moved out of Las Vegas and into a small mountain town in Northern California. Please update your records to show our new names and mailing address. Thank you. Daryl Daryl & Alison (Easton) P.O. Box 6415 Auburn CA 95604-6415 USA Fax: (530) 823-1357 Email (Daryl): Daryl@FoolerDoolers.com Email (Alison): Alison@FoolerDoolers.com Web Site: www.FoolerDoolers.com Feedback@FoolerDoolers.com www.FoolerDoolers.com ---------------------------------- 12. How To Get More Exposure And Money Doing Magic!! ---------------------------------- Message from Jeff Ezell (US) This is a great opportunity to learn what you need to get on TV, Radio or just more money for each show. A definite must for pros and beginners as well. I will refresh this link once a week to keep it as a reminder. Also, you can check out his website @ http://www.pdmasterclass.com I do receive a small commission for helping to advertise this, so please tell them you heard it from Jeff Ezell when you book your seats. ;-) Also, as you will see below, you can buy one ticket and get one FREE for a short period of time. British Magician Paul Daniels is coming to the USA, and this one is a really special lecture tour. Paul advises many of the top names in magic, and his business and performing skills are highly rated amongst professional magicians. He has performed more unique magic on TV than anyone else in history, and is a household name in the UK and in much of Europe. He has performed just about every type of magic in every type of situation and Paul has scheduled five Masterclass events for your benefit throughout the USA as follows: Saturday April 12th - Chicago Sunday April 13th - New York Wed eve April 15th - Orlando Saturday April 19th - Las Vegas Sunday April 20th - Los Angeles In between the Masterclasses, Paul will also be performing public shows in various cities. The day runs from 10am till 5pm, and costs $150, however if you book online, for a limited time you can get two tickets for the price of one. For more information about the event, contact myself, Jeff Ezell (QKRNEI@aol.com), send an email to: info@pdmasterclass.com or visit the website: http://www.pdmasterclass.com ---------------------------------- 13. Who Is Bob Sheets? ---------------------------------- Message from Mark Byrne Bob Sheets from Washington D.C. via San Diego, Chicago, & Aspen. Behind Bob's humorous presentation style is experience gained from one of the most diverse work histories in Magic. Serious credentials in a variety of venues include Circus and Side Show performer, Shopping Center Magic promotions, Magic Bartender, Street Magician, Bar/Restaurant Owner, Renaissance Festival performer , Magic Dinner Theater entrepreneur, Trade Show crowd stopper, and Sales Meeting wake up artist,. Bob lectures and performs for magicians all over the world including England, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Australia and India. In 1996 Bob won first place in London at the prestigious "Ron Mac Millan World Close-up Magic Contest". Together these make Bob an interesting character and a "Good magician and funny guy". http://www.bobsheets.com "Bob Sheets is the Original Maverick of Magic" MLB, Florida "He gave me his Job" DE, Colorado Bob Sheets will be lecturing at the Tampa Bay Magic Club in Largo Florida on April 8th 2003. Location and times here: http://www.tampabaymagicclub.com/location.html Lecture is FREE to TBMC Members, $10 guest fee to magicians of any affiliation. ---------------------------------- 14. Russell Barnhart Health Slowly Deteriorating ---------------------------------- Message from Wesley James I'm sad to report that Russell Barnhart, creator, author and long time friend to the late Ed Marlo, who was a long-term resident of New York City for many years, has been admitted to: St Albans Extended Care Center 179 St & Linden Boulevard Saint Albans, NY 11412 (718) 526-1000 His condition has been slowly deteriorating over the past few years and he has now been diagnosed as suffering under second stage dementia. Those of us who have known Russ over the years wish him well and hope that his condition will not cause him undue suffering. It is highly unlikely his condition will improve but, hopefully, he can be made comfortable for the remainder of his days. I'd much rather be reporting pleasant news but I'm sure Russ would be happy to hear from his friends and this is the easiest way to get the word out. --------------------------------- 15. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 154 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Tuesday morning 8.30am. We go to Don Laine’s office, where he verified this, and accused Eric of causing embarrassment to the company by contravening immigration laws. So we trotted down to immigration headquarters which looked like an old tumbledown shack. There we saw a Mr Kaleil, who, although not exactly welcoming, was never the less grudgingly pleasant. He told Tom to buy an application form for a work permit, fill it in, get two photos taken, and come back with $10. We went back to the hotel, filled in a six-page form, with Steve's help, got the photos taken, and took the form back to Kalil, who was slightly less unbending. He said it took about three weeks to process, with a 50-50 chance, but when Tom, laying it on rather thick, told him that it was costing us a small fortune in accommodation etc he said he would rush it through in two weeks. With this we had to be content. We then headed off to the Fiji visitors' Bureau to see Paddy Doyle, whose name had been given by Eric. Paddy was wrapt, and assured Tom he could get him all the work he needed if the permit was granted. He called in his second in charge Steve Yagona, who phoned Kaleil, talk away in Fijian, then told Tom that we should know next week one way or the other, and that he thought our chances were very good. By this time and it was 4:30pm so we had a cold, solid steak at a snack bar, which was at least cheaper than at the Southern Cross, then went back to the hotel. This morning (Wednesday 21st) and we paid our $50 bill at the southern Cross Hotel and caught the coach back to Paradise Point. This trip, although not so dusty, and with a better driver (the Monday driver scraped the side of an oncoming car) took longer, as an hour from Paradise Point, the road was blocked by a truck which had slipped off the road, while transporting a 16 ton bulldozer on the back. There were cars, trucks, buses, people watching, people photographing, people advising, and even a man up a telephone pole phoning Suva. After an hour’s wait, our busload came back, quite shaken. An Indian had got up onto the tractor to try and get it off the truck, but as he was driving it backwards, it had rolled over down the bank, with him still on it. Luckily, he managed to jump clear and run around it as it was still rolling down the hillside. The roads in Fiji are atrocious! There are no speed restrictions, except those imposed by the road conditions, and these are severe. They are unsealed, dusty as hell, and wickedly slippery and muddy when wet! The 65-mile trip from Suva to the Paradise Point Resort takes about 3 - 3½ hours in the bus. We arrived back at the Paradise Point Resort at 2 p m. to find that Eric had written a letter resignation to the company, and had threatened Don Laine with it. Eric showed us the letter he received this morning from Laine - again blasting him re the show, and ordering him to charge us for our accommodation etc, less 50 per cent at the most, but on being confronted by Eric’s resignation he said to disregard his letter. So for the moment, we’re in shit street without a paddle, or whatever else you might need in the aforementioned street. Bad news, Eric’s mother, who has been ill for a few weeks, died last night, so Tom is out helping Eric to get boozed. Two days later, more bad news! I can’t believe it - the bloody permit has been refused! The reason given was that, although nobody in Fiji actually ate fire, or swallowed swords, performed magic etc., there might be someone wanting to do it in the future, and Tom might be putting him out of a job. Not even the Company’s Head Office or various Hotel Managers, etc., could influence the decision! So now you have the full and complete story regarding that line ‘Bloody Officious Indians’! As you may well understand, I was not a very happy laddie, and why I cheered loudly when years later, Fijians finally rebelled, and took over their own country! It’s a bit like Australia deciding to govern New Zealand. HA! We now had to make a decision. We could return to New Zealand, or try our luck in Australia. I remembered that my father had a friend, Bill Godfrey, who worked as a Security Guard at the Sydney Airport. I got hold of his phone number, and gave him a call, explained our dilemma, and asked what did he think of us coming to Australia. Bill said, “when can you get here - and don’t worry about a bed – we’ve got one waiting for you”! Well, what do you know - the Orchanté luck strikes again! It always does! We cashed in our return tickets, and bought tickets to Sydney. LOOK OUT AUSTRALIA, HERE WE COME! ------------------------------------- 16. 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. ------------------------------------- 17. 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