* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand® * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #316 Date: Sunday 13th February 2005 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.Alan-Watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================   1. Editor’s Message   2. In Association With The Big Laugh Comedy Festival   3. Three Generations On Stage At Rainbows End   4. Magic On TV In Australia   5. Ken Scott Lecture In Miami   6. "Magic Circular" Issue November 2004   7. Orlando, Florida, Ring 170 Annual Flea Market And Auction   8. 2nd Society Of American Magicians European Magic Convention   9. South Tyneside International Magic Week   10. Magic / Illusion & Hypnosis Shows   11. The Lighter Side Of Magic - Jamie-G   12. The Amazing Orchante Saga   13. e-zine Archives   14. Subscription Management ------------------ 1. Editors Message ------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Alfred Hayes of Sydney, Australia will be celebrating his 70th birthday on 14 February - HAPPY BIRTHDAY Alfred. -------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ----------------- 2. In Association With The Big Laugh Comedy Festival ----------------- Message from Sean Taylor (Aust) Taylor’s magic is pleased to announce the arrival in Sydney of the sell out comedy show The Swindler. Learn why the casinos always win, learn to spot poker cheats (or even become one!) Laugh yourself silly as Conmen, Scammers and gambling cheats are exposed. This highly successful one man show has been a roaring success with audiences and critics at both the Melbourne and Adelaide comedy festivals and features Patrick McCullagh better known to Taylor's customers as comedy magician Pat-Trick. The show is packed with magic (although much of it is cleverly disguised as a swindle!) and features that wonderful Irish humour that only Patrick could get away with! The show will be seen at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre from 15th-19th March at 9.30 PM. DISCOUNT Tickets available exclusively from TAYLOR'S now at $22.90 (or $19.90 concession) This represents a considerable saving on the normal ticket price. Tel. (02) 9411 6233 or taylorsmagic@aol7.com.au DON'T Delay, this show will sell out. More show info at www.comedyknockout.com ----------------- 3. Three Generations On Stage At Rainbows End ----------------- Message from Guy Cater (NZ) Each Northern summer my wife and I perform our Hypnotism Shows and my Comedy Magic Show through many States in America. We are always delighted when local magicians find out we are from New Zealand and their first question is... “Do you know Alan Watson?” “Yes we do” I’m proud to say. Most will talk about the e-zine that you are reading now and most know of Alan’s remarkable Close Up Skills (the act he has taken to the Magic Castle and other great places overseas). But few seem to realize that there is another side to this man and that he is New Zealand’s top family magician. Alan does such a top job with this e-zine that thousands of us read each week all over the world and I think it is about time some of you knew more about the man and his work in magic. Last week my wife Cynthia and I took a trip to Rainbows End, New Zealand’s largest theme park and watched the Alan Watson Family Magic and Illusion Show. Let me tell you about it... It was a cloudy and damp day so the park did not seem that busy but as the announcements of the show called from the speaker system, folk seemed to come from everywhere and before we knew it there were several hundred ready to watch the show. Alan was performing as the Milky Way Wizard dressed in his spectacular royal blue costume. He began by encouraging all the kids to come up the front and as wonderful as he is in manipulating cards and coins… it was a great to see how he manipulated the youngsters in the audience. He opened by showing his skill at balloon modelling and had hundreds of young voices screaming in delight. He introduced his first assistant by way of a flash appearance and it turned out to be his five-year-old granddaughter Aleshia. Dressed as a fairy, this young lady is a true performer already. A bit of by-play with Aleshia and the Dolls house illusion and they bought forth Aleshia’s mother, Alan’s daughter Melanie. To see three generations of the Watson Family onstage together brings a warm glow and the audience responds so well to them. The three Watson’s work as a team and there is not only magic but some nice comedy too. for example... Alan ‘hypnotizes' young Aleshia and tells the audience that she is sound asleep as she lies on the Chair Suspension illusion and behind his back she props herself up and smiles and waves at the audience while Alan is seemingly unaware… creates a lot of laughter. Melanie is then introduced into the Zig Zag and for those magi that think this illusion is old hat, think again. Alan’s is painted magnificently and the audience response was one of shocked and loud gasps and then tremendous applause. The final illusion involves the three Watsons and briefly is changing little  Aleshia into tall Melanie and levitating Melanie way above Alan’s head only to have her disappear from the shroud and immediately run onto the stage from the back through the audience. Sterling stuff and real Magic. Throughout the show Alan invites kids onstage to help with tricks such as The Professors Nightmare etc and the fun never stops. A nice touch at the end of the show happens when Alan comes out the front with a white rabbit and allows the children to come up and each have a pet of this magical icon. I hate to sound like an agent selling a show but The Alan Watson Family Magic and Illusion show is quite wonderful... it has all that you need for a GREAT show… the family working together is lovely, they are all talented, the props are in excellent order and painted and clean and bright, there is real magic and so much for the audience to wonder about and music and lighting is used to make this a very professional show but with a personal touch that shows when you look at the faces of the audience… nothing but smiles. Perhaps the greatest accolade regarding the Alan Watson Family Magic and illusion show is that it has been booked at this venue for over twenty years... A most remarkable feat in a small country like ours and says lots about Alan’s skills. Well done Magic One. ----------------- 4. Magic On TV In Australia ----------------- Message from Tim Ellis (Aust) Just a 'heads up' for those fans of 'Magic on TV'. Sue-Anne Webster will be appearing as 'Jeannie' in the 'Vegas Lounge' on Star Struck (Channel Nine, Tuesday February 15 at 7.30pm). She'll try to sneak in as much magic as possible! Tune in, it should be fun! ----------------- 5. Ken Scott Lecture In Miami ----------------- Message from Maria Ibanez Society of American Magicians - National Second Vice President Ken Scott will be in Miami for a joint lecture by S.A.M. Assembly 280 and I.B.M. Ring 45, this coming Wednesday, February 16, 2005. Attendance is free to members in good standing of either IBM Ring 45 or The Magic City Conjurers -- all others will pay $15.00 at the door. The lecture details are as follows: Wednesday, July 16, 2005 7:30 P.M. -- Lecture starts The Polish American Club 1250 N.W. 22 Avenue Miami Take 836 to N.W. 27th Avenue. Go North on 27th Avenue to N.W. 14 Street. Go right (east) on 14th to N.W. 22nd Avenue. Make a right (heading south) on N.W. 22nd Avenue, approximately 1/4 mile to the Polish American Club which will be on your right hand side. PLEASE NOTE: If your club dues are not current, you must pay your dues at the door. For further details call Maria at 305-258-3414 at home or 786-258-8762 on the cell OR Oliver at 305-322-5566. ----------------- 6. "Magic Circular" Issue November 2004 ----------------- Message from Solyl Kundu (India) I’m desperately looking for a copy of ‘Magic Circular’ issue November 2004 – house journal of London Magic Circle. I’m told that this issue adorns an excellent picture of Sorcar Sr on the fourth cover. If anyone of you please helps me to find a copy I will remain thankful and send a little gift as a token of gratitude. Thanking you in advance. Best regards. MAGICordially, Solyl (Solyl Kundu, Kolkata, India) solylkundu@vsnl.com ----------------- 7. Orlando, Florida, Ring 170 Annual Flea Market And Auction ----------------- Message from Art Thomas (US) Orlando, Florida, Ring 170 Annual Flea Market and Auction will be held Saturday, February 26th at the Christ the King Lutheran Church, 4962 Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, Florida. Activities begin at 9:00 am and last until about 4:30 pm. This is a recurring annual event that includes nearly 25 flea market tables of magic, a featured lecture by Linking Ring columnist Peter Marucci, a Magic Auction of over 100 items, a Dealer Show, a private workshop, raffles, prizes, and fun! Over 100 magicians from through-out the Southeast U.S.A. attend. For information about reserving and renting Flea Market table space contact Art Thomas at art.thomas@Disney.com. The spaces sell out, so advanced registration is recommended. No advanced registration is required for general admission. Just show up. Art Thomas Event Chairman IBM Ring 170 Orlando, FL USA ----------------- 8. 2nd Society Of American Magicians European Magic Convention ----------------- Message from Andreas Date: 26 - 29 May 2005 From the USA: Jim Pace, David Goodsell, Duane Laflin UK: Loki, Kevin Gallagher Spain: Karim, Antonio Romero Belgium: Aaron Crow, Tom BiBo Hungary: Galambos Ferenc, Jupiter India: Shanto Switzerland: Freddie Rutz, The Tramp Germany: Florian Zimmer, Boretti, Gaston, Peter Bold, Oliver Erens, Marc & Alex Austria: Wunderbaldinger, Lucky Lutz, Michael Schuller, Gerárd, Heinz Thiel .. and many others!!! Convention information: www.zaubertheater.at Travel information: http://www.conceptio.cc/SAM/ ----------------- 9. South Tyneside International Magic Week ----------------- Message from Martin Duffy Just a reminder that spaces for the South Tyneside International Magic Week are filling up! Most of last years registrants have confirmed they will be attending and spaces are limited (150) The dates are Friday 18th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th March 2005. Same deal..fantastic acts, low registration numbers and two Gala Shows in the Customs House theatre - much better than last years venue! We have confirmed Richard Osterlind Falkenstein & Willard Michael Finney Jamy Ian Swiss and Paul Daniels (performing his Malini show) also Loki, Quentin Reynolds, Pat & Tanya Fallon, Jon Allen and Martyn James & Co. Dealers are Magic Box, Dream Concepts (who are performing a light-house vanish on the Thurs night pre-registration), Practical Magic, Albion Magic and Jon Allen. You get to see all the above whatever they are performing - stage, close-up or lecture plus a workshop by a voice coach and two buffet lunches all for £40! The convention finishes on the Sunday lunchtime and then you have the option of private sessions with Jamy Ian Swiss or Richard Osterlind - these are limited to 25 people. You will get 3 hours of instruction and teaching. I can send you details of exactly what you are getting but despite to say most of it will not be available to anybody else in books or DVD's! Richard and Jamy have promised stuff they will not be including in their lectures that all registrants see! These "exclusive" workshops are extra to the £40..but don't forget all registrants see Richard and Jamy lecture, perform close-up and stage too. If you want a registration form and email me or go to www.southtyneside.info and follow the link for International Magic Week 2005 ----------------- 10. Wanting To Share Room At IBM Convention Reno ----------------- Message from Graham Dockril (NZ) Over the weekend I booked my convention and accommodation in Reno, I'm in the Hilton from the 27/06/05 for 6 nights at the IBM rate of $99.00US/Night + Tax. Can you please put the word out on the street and see if anybody wants to share a room. They can contact me via email. graham@hairylemon.co.nz ----------------- 11. Magic / Illusion & Hypnosis Shows ----------------- Message from Brent McLeod (NZ) Dave Upfold & Brent McLeod from Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians NZ are right back into their 2 hr Full Evening shows of Magic / Illusion & Hypnosis for 2005. Dave has just last week returned from a successful 4 days of Shows in Invercargill NZ at the Ascot Hotel & has just confirmed being rebooked for shows there shortly. Also finishing a successful engagement on Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland. Dave & Brent have their first shows in the Pukekohe Town Hall Friday Feb 18th at 7.30 pm & the following Night - Saturday Feb 19th at 7.30pm. We are also performing a Magic only Family show on Saturday Feb 19th Between 4-5 pm. Dave & Brent have had good local coverage in newspapers & radio leading up to the shows with Local Mayor Mark Ball being levitated in the Council Chambers by Brent in front of 80 council members & staff, also supporting the shows. Any Magicians are most welcome to come to the shows contact Dave on 09 527 7374 or Brent 09 410-4517 or well see you on the night. Magician/ Mentalist/ Pickpocket- Greg Chapman will also be performing items during the intervals to ensure a full evenings entertainment for the public. Following this we have 2 big shows also booked & selling well under way in the Stanmore Bay Auditorium Hibiscus Coast on Thurs March 3rd at 7pm & Friday March 4th at 7.30 mewed are supporting a Fundraising trip to Korea for many Youngsters from the area -Support has been huge for these shows to date! Details will follow in the next few weeks. Over 10,000 Flyers have been distributed in the area alone. Dave & Brent appreciate the many Magicians / Entertainers who have been supporting our shows so we look forward to seeing you again at Pukekohe next Friday & Saturday. ----------------- 11. The Lighter Side Of Magic - Jamie-G ----------------- Message from Jamie-G (Canada) Effect: The magician takes a Bic lighter and does many magic effects with the Bic lighter. The first effect is the magician shows the spectator that on one side of the lighter there is a sticker on one side of the lighter that says "BIC" on it. The magician blows on the lighter and now the "BIC" lighter sticker is now on both sides of the lighter. The magician blows on the lighter again and the "BIC" sticker disappears from one side. At this point the magician changes the magic a little here by wavering his hand over the lighter this time and the "BIC" sticker disappears from both sides of the lighter. At this point the magician now asks the spectator to hold out his hand so he can do some real awesome magic. The magician starts to rub the top of the lighter where the metal is with his finger over top of the spectators hand and in a moment later the metal on top of the lighter starts to get hot and start melting off the lighter and into the spectators hand. (At this point the spectator is blown away.) Next the magician puts the Bic lighter on top of a table. The magician then put each one of his hands on the side on the lighter and on the magician command the lighter starts to move by its self. To end this wonderful magic routine the magician then lights the lighter and sparks and a very big flame come from the lighter as a very big finish then hands the lighter out and is given to a adult as a giveaway. Props: A normal BIC lighter (with the Bic logo sticker on one side of it)-most Bic lighters have this sticker on them. Some silver magic foil, sparkle powder, flash cotton or flash paper and some invisible loops sold from a magic shop. Set-Up: First step is getting a loop on your wrist before your routine this is what is going to make the lighter move on the table. On top of the lighter where the metal is on the top of it where the flame comes out you put a little flash powder in the hole and then you need to put some flash paper or flash cotton over top of that in the hole of the lighter. This does a few things one is the cotton or flash paper keeps the sparkle powder from coming out of the lighter and also causes the big flame and the very large sparkle at the big finish of the routine. The top of the lighter where it is metal now has to be covered with the silver foil from my foil system put about 6-10 layers of foil on the top of the lighter then put a layer of nail polish across the silver foil. By doing this and putting the silver foil on the top of the lighter so you can later melt the metal right of the lighter and into the spectator’s hand. Note: If you want to float the lighter going up into one hand to the other (up and down) in my past posts you can use a thumb tip with a magnet in it and as long as you watch your angles it will look like you have floated the lighter from your bottom hand up to the top of your hand. Hope everyone likes this effect with the lighter. ----------------- 12. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 39 Memories Sometimes, when writing my Saga, I get stuck - I believe it’s called ‘writer’s block’. I have found that a great source of inspiration is looking through old Diaries at past bookings - 1964 was a very good year, which included my first overseas engagement. From the dozens, hundreds, thousands, of various shows, a few trigger a flood of memories - December 31st - New Year’s Eve, 64/65, was one. A booking came in from ‘Fuller’s Entertainment Bureau’, at the Thames Memorial Hall. A Mr Peter Taylor, a juggler from Auckland City would pick me up 3.30pm, from my hometown, Manurewa, which was on the way to Thames (on the Coromandel Peninsula, south of Auckland). Makes sense, use one car, and share the petrol. I knew all the Auckland acts who were around at the time, but didn’t know Peter (stage name ‘Delmere’), as he was then just starting out in Show ‘biz’. We ‘hit it off’, straight away. Peter was an Englishman, making his living as a Painter/Decorator, and working as a Performer on a semi-pro basis. He later turned full time professional, but would still do the odd painting job when ‘things’ got a bit tight. Anyhow, the job in Thames was done and dusted by 11pm and we had a choice of hanging round for New Year’s Eve celebrations, or heading back to Auckland, which was a good four-hour trip in those days. We decided to head back. Ten minutes to midnight, in the middle of nowhere, and I’m saying “Christ, Peter, you’d think there’d be a pub around here somewhere. We’ve got to have a drink to bring ’65 in”. NOTHING! Then I spot some lights way off the road, it was a farmhouse. “C’mon, Peter”, I’m yelling, “It’s bloody near ‘WHOOPEE’ time. Let’s get up there”. “We can’t just bowl up there like that”, says Peter, being your typical reserved Englishman. “Bullshit – this is Kiwi country. It’s bloody New Year’s Eve,” I said. Five minutes later, I’m hammering on the door. ***** I N T E R L U D E ***** Yesterday morning, Monday April 9th 2001, around 9:30am or so, we, Veronica and I, lost a member of our family. SHAZAAM was my beautiful Seal-Point Siamese cat; she was my surprise birthday present from Veronica, 13 years ago. Unfortunately, she became ill with a liver/kidney infection and treatment did not help. I spent the entire ‘last night’ nursing and comforting her, finally coming to terms in the morning that the only ‘cure’ for her suffering was, Euthanasia! IT WAS A MOST DIFFICULT AND HEARTBREAKING DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE - AND WHAT MADE IT WORSE, I KNEW THAT SHE KNEW! If, as you read this, are thinking ‘What in the HELL is he going on about, it was only a ‘bloody cat’, well you had better go and get a heart - Tin Man! Those of you, who are like us, animal lovers, ‘know’, don’t you, what we are going through. For 13 years she brought us love, joy, and affection. She was ‘MAGIC’. - Hence her name. I hope that all of you will understand that I’m in mourning. I’ll finish this episode of my saga, later. REST IN PEACE, SHAZAAM How the memories come flooding back! I can’t believe that four years have flown by since I first wrote this. Here it is, February 10th 2005. My God.! CONTINUES NEXT WEEK ------------------ 13. 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) ------------------- 14. 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® nor 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 2005 Alan Watson