* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #469 Date: Sunday 24th December 2006 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. Scholarship Applications Are Now Being Accepted For 2007 3. Re: Steve Johnson Copyright Issue 4. IllusionTrader.com...Try It FREE! 5. FAB Magic Opening New Shop In Indianapolis, Indiana 6. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 40 - Nick Lewin 7. When The Magic Becomes Real! - Kyle Peron 8. Las Vegas Magic - January, 2007 9. Wanting Photograph Of David Devant, Chan Canasta... 10. UK Magician To Make Hot Air Balloon Vanish 11. 20th Annual Magic Jamboree 12. Terry Seabrooke's Magical Adventures 13. Otago Magic Circle 50th Anniversary 14. The Amazing Orchante Saga 15. e-zine Archives 16. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Joint IBM / SAM 2008 - Louisville, Kentucky July 21-26, 2008 Early Bird registration rate of $295 US which closes off on December 31st 2006 **7 days time**. As from January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007 - $395 BOOK NOW if you want the special rate of $295 ------------------------- To all of those readers who celebrate Christmas have a great one and Michele and I also wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year 2007. ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Scholarship Applications Are Now Being Accepted For 2007 -------------------------------------------- Message from Warren J. Kaps Tel. (201) 489-5277 Fax. (201) 489-0477 Email: kapsmagic@earthlink.net Applications are now being accepted for the 2007 summer season for full tuition scholarships plus travel expense to attend magic camp at either Tannen's Magic Camp at their new location in the Philadelphia area for the week of July 14 to 21, 2007, or the Sorcerer's Summer Safari located near Toronto in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada, for the week of August 24 to 31, 2007. The scholarships are made possible by a grant from the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund, which has provided scholarships to youngsters between the ages of 10 to 18 years for the past 18 years. The Magic Endowment Fund realizes that involvement in the magical arts can make a crucial difference in the lives of youngsters in their formative years. They develop magical skills that can help provide a positive mental attitude and a sense of accomplishment and achievement that can last their entire life. Magic camp is a wonderful place for youngsters to learn new skills and improve their performance in a convivial setting. Many magic campers have gone on to become full-time performers and all have been a credit to the magical arts. Candidates must be able to demonstrate talent and dedication to a magical performing arts discipline. Applications may be obtained by either writing to the S.A.M. Magic Endowment Fund, 15 Warren Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, or by email, stating your mailing address, to Warren@kapsbarto.com. A copy of the application may be downloaded from the SAM website, www.magicsam.com. Deadline For Receipt Of Application Is May 1, 2007. -------------------------------------------- 3. Re: Steve Johnson Copyright Issue -------------------------------------------- Message from James George Steve Johnson was paid $300.00 by me James George to write the book on the ITR. He does not hold the exclusive copyright. The ITR that Steve Johnson offers on his web-site is not an Authorized Sorcery Manufacturing product, he calls this a Lighter than Air Device and claims it was invented by a group effort and not by myself. We have allowed several of our dealers to sell the ITR Book on their web-site, and we have offered it for FREE at MyITR.com for many years now. We have added several new routines since we hired Steve to write this book; Steve has removed our information off of the Cover of the original publication and release in 1992. I have a scan of the original cover that says Sorcery Shop on it for anyone who would like proof of my Claim. This book was a collaborative effort between Steve and me. The lesson I have learned here is that you can't trust your own family, and you also need a work for hire form if you hire anyone to write a book for you, hopefully this info can save you some of the grief I have had to endure. Another lesson I have recently learned is that if you use someone in a Magic Video, you must have them sign a model release form otherwise they can later deny you the ability to sell your own product. The Ultimate Thread Reel DVD had this issue we have removed the offensive material. Kind Regards, James George -------------------------------------------- 4. IllusionTrader.com...Try It FREE! -------------------------------------------- Everybody wants something FREE! Post your unwanted illusion items on IllusionTrader.com FREE! Buy others unwanted illusion items on IllusionTrader.com FREE! www.IllusionTrader.com -------------------------------------------- 5. FAB Magic Opening New Shop In Indianapolis, Indiana -------------------------------------------- Message from Rick Fisher FAB Magic in Colon, Michigan is announcing the opening of their first branch magic shop in Indianapolis, Indiana. Opening is slated for May 2007. We are very excited about our opportunities especially since magic shops are closing in record numbers. We strongly feel that magicians still like a place to "hang out" and mingle with other magicians. We plan on having lectures there as well. Stay tuned! www.fabmagic.com Also for any magician in the area who would like to come to our monthly meetings here in Colon - of the Magic City conjurers - third Thursday of the month - please contact us.....we kick off the 2007 season in January...FREE to anyone interested in the art of magic...Rick Fisher, pres, FAB Magic -------------------------------------------- 6. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 40 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) Way Beyond the ABCs with Mr. Dee. Close up magic is a very specialized taste and skill like beauty lies firmly in the eye of the beholder. Some sleight of hand performers can present tricks that cause viewing magicians to fall into rapture while putting non-magicians into a near coma of boredom. I always like to base my opinions on a two-way test: what I think and how a lay audience reacts. Speaking for myself, which I am eminently suited to do, the single most dynamic close up performer I have ever observed is Bob Dee. I can already imagine the chorus of "Who is that?" that this statement will arouse in 98% of magicians. If you want to check out the validity of my statement then just ask the other 2%. Bob Dee is a resident of Reno, Nevada and is probably the highest paid close up magician in the world. He has a small and elite client list that keep him supplied with more work than he can handle. To say he performs strolling magic is a valid statement but about as accurate as saying Dai Vernon could handle a deck of cards: it just doesn't paint the full picture. Bob has spent a lifetime in the entertainment industry and brings a variety of experiences to bear in his performing. When Bob walks into a venue the room ceases to function in any capacity other than as a backdrop for his non-stop and wildly individual style of performing. The entire room watches as he makes his way across it performing his magic as he goes. This isn't wandering magic as it is generally performed but instead a true event in which his performance creates waves of excitement that follows his pathway amongst the crowd. What kind of magic does Bob perform? Not an easy question to answer because he takes several principles of magic and blends them into a package that is not only unique from trick to trick but from person to person. I have never seen a more brilliant psychology brought to the art of card magic: he achieves some effects that defy description. In his first book Daryl wrote a truly brilliant treatise comparing the art of performing close-up magic with that of playing jazz music. If you have an interest in close up magic and haven't read this piece then you must. If you have an interest in redefining what can be achieved with close up magic read Daryl's words and then beat the odds by watching Bob Dee perform. If it doesn't rock your world then maybe you should be a ventriloquist! Please send any 'Bricks or Bouquets' to nicklewin@earthlink.net -------------------------------------------- 7. When The Magic Becomes Real! - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from By Kyle Peron E-Mail: Magic4u02@aol.com Have you ever had anyone ask you if magic was real? Was it a child. and adult? What was your reply and how do you answer that question that comes up from time to time? Interesting thought if you really think about it and one I would like to talk about here in this article. Certainly what we do as magicians is to fool the senses if you will. We are there to make the impossible seem possible. We stretch the imagination of what can't be real and make is plausible to the audiences who are watching. In that regards then magic is not real at all but something we are trying to do as entertainment to the folks who are watching our show. We create an illusion of reality. However I can also say that when anyone asks me if magic can be real, I always respond with a YES and a big smile on my face. For those who want more information, I always like to share with them why I feel this way and for me, the exact moment when the magic became real to me. Let me try and explain through a situation that actually happened to me last year. I hope it may inspire your own family and kid show magic as it has me. I have to share this story with all of you because it was something that was so touching and so moving that happened to me this past year when performing my family style show at a county fair. It touched me so much that I hope it might to you as well and show you that magic can be so real to people and touch them in ways you may never have realized before. Let me give you some background a bit here. My wife and I got called back and were booked for 3 days at a county fair performing 2 shows daily and some strolling magic as well. We always enjoy performing there but this year they had only one main stage and had everyone performing on it. We certainly had our share of problems that weekend to a point where I was really starting to doubt myself, my abilities and why I was having so much bad luck. To begin with it rained almost the entire 3 days of the event. Even though the stage was covered and there was a tent for the audience, it just meant packing in the rain, loading in the rain and walking around in mud. It made for people who were cold and miserable and who really couldn't care less about interacting with some magic guy on stage. Even though my wife and I tried so hard to get the shows going, I just felt lost as I felt the shows went over OK but I just did not touch the crowd, the kids or connect with them as I usually do. Normally this would not bother me, but I really strive at doing the best shows possible and connecting with my audiences, the kids and making the show as much fun as I can. Well here is what happened on the last day that absolutely just changed my whole outlook on magic and it happened at a time when I really needed it to. I was feeling so bad the prior night and miserable on the drive home. I felt my performance was a waste the other day and that I just did not have any answers. Why could I not connect with the audience? Why could I not get the reactions I am used to? Is it me? Am I losing my touch? Do I have to give up performing what I love to do? All of these thoughts raced through my head as I struggled that night to make sense of it all. Well the one stage guy who was running the stage and MCing noticed I wear hearing aids and asked me about them. I always am up to talking to anyone about my disability and how I have learned to overcome it. He suggested as an idea to include my disability and talking about it as a part of my show. He was surprised to realize that I already do that in some shows. However, I stopped doing the routine about my disability because I guess I felt that I wasn't sure folks were ready to hear it or if it was appropriate or not. I wasn't sure how it would play or go over. He suggested I try it and I am so glad I took his advice and did it in both shows on the last day of the fair. It felt amazing to be up there telling the story and doing the magic that goes along with it. Well it gets to that spot in the show where I am going to tell this heart-felt story about a young 8 year old kid who realized at an early age that he could not hear like other kids. How this kid was tormented and picked on and how he felt sorry for himself. I tell a true story how a magician at an event much like at the fair changed that kid's life forever and the reason why I share the story with them is that that young 8 yr old boy was ME. I tell them that I still wear hearing aids to this day and I stand before then as proof that it is not always easy to do things they find hard. I remind them that I am witness to the fact that anything can be done if you are willing to give it your best shot and work hard. I then go into showing them the first real routine I ever learned taught to me by that magician. My version of the linking rings. Well I can never tell the story without choking up and I did choke up that day with tears in my eyes as I began my ring routine not knowing how in the world this would ever play or go over. I thought I needed to tell it. Well the show was over and I felt wonderful. I went down to greet the audience and a couple waited until I was done with the kids and other folks. The man came up to me and said that he could not thank me enough for what I said up there on that stage that day. He said that his son also was born with a hearing loss and they as parents knew what I went through because their son did as well. I told them that I was once told that I would never be able to perform magic for audiences because of my hearing loss or that it would be so hard for me to do so why even bother. I told them that I am here today on this stage as living proof that I will never ever let any disability stop me from doing what I love to do. When the father heard this from me, he could not keep it in any more and standing right there in that tent he broke down crying as he shook my hand. This was soon followed by the wife as they both said thank you so much for caring and for sharing my magic with them. They thanked me for making their day and for bringing magic into their lives in a way no one else has ever done. Man I can not begin to tell you how wonderful that made me feel. The ability to touch someone and some family in the way I did that day was a magic far greater then anything I have ever experienced before in my life. What that man said to me and what he expressed was true and real magic that I can not even begin to explain. It simply was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had as a family entertainer and I am very blessed I was able to make such a difference. Is magic real? Can it be real? Can it affect someone so much in a way you never thought possible? Well I do not know about you, but my experience that day told me that the answer is a big and HUGE YES YOU CAN! Each one of us has a gift of performing magic. We have the ability to make a person smile, to laugh or to forget about their troubles for a little while. Whenever you put a smile on a person's face.. well to me that is as real as it gets. As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. Kyle Peron Magician and Illusionist Graphic Designer and Illustrator (Specializing in Logo creation) www.kyleandkellymagic.com -------------------------------------------- 8. Las Vegas Magic - January, 2007 -------------------------------------------- Compiled by David Neubauer (www.dnmagic.com) Production Shows: Amazing Johnathan 10 pm, (Dark Thurs.), Sahara. http://www.saharavegas.com/shows/amazingjohnathon.html Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) Antonio Restivo 10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere www.bitelasvegas.com David Copperfield 7:30 & 10 pm, 4:30 Sat. & some Sun. MGM Grand. Dec 21-Jan 3, Feb 5-18, March 22- April 19, http://mgm.admission.com/cgi/guide.cgi?l=EN Haunted Vegas Tour & Show Robert Allen, Jac Hayden & Zamora - Greek Isle. 9:00 pm tour and show (Dark Fri.) $10 off coupon: http://www.vegas4locals.com/couponhauntedvegas.html Jason Bird The Shops in Desert Passage - Aladdin. Main stage, near the "V" Theater, Thursday - Monday Various times from 1:15 pm. - 8:15 pm. - Free. La Femme Stephan Vanel 8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand. http://www.mgmgrand.com/pages_html/entertainment_lafemme_lafemme.asp Lance Burton, Master Magician 7 pm Tues-Sat & 10 pm Tues. & Sat. Monte Carlo. http://www.montecarlo.com/entertainment/lance.aspx Mac King Comedy Magic Show 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) Harrah's Clint Holmes Theater. www.mackingshow.com Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show 2 pm, (Dark Fri. & Sun.) V Theater in the Desert Passage - Aladdin. Penn & Teller 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio. http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_00.html Steve Wyrick - Real Magic Apparently open for previews in early January. 7 & 9 pm, (Dark Fri.) Aladdin. The Magic of Rick Thomas 2 & 4 pm, (Dark various days), Orleans. http://www.orleanscasino.com/entertainment/index.html The Ultimate Variety Showcase 8 pm - Midnight every Tuesday. Free. A different live show every week. Check the website for performance details. http://www.samstownlv.com/entertainment/event.cfm?EventID=332 Roxy's Live - Sam's Town V, The Ultimate Variety Show Jeff Hobson, Nathan & Sarah - www.vtheshow.com 7 & 9 pm, Aladdin. 2 for 1 coupon: http://www.vegas4locals.com/couponvshow.html World's Greatest Magic Show Kevin James, Kozak and guest stars. Billy Fergueson (pre-show). 6 pm Sat. - Thurs., 8:15 Fri., Greek Isle. www.greatestmagicshow.com Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana 2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.) $10 off coupon: http://www.vegas4locals.com/Coupontropicana_dirk.html Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. Restaurants: Eric Allan Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley), Fri. & Sat. Jayden LaCross TGI Fridays, Wed. & Sun. Las Vegas Magic Organizations I.B.M. #257: 7 pm 1st Monday of each month. www.ring257.com Darwin's Magic Club meets every Wednesday. Both meet at: Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave. December 12-25: Holiday show added (7 pm). Xtreme Magic, Tropicana. December 18-31: Shows each day at 6 pm and 8:15 pm. World's Greatest Magic Show, Greek Isle. December 18-31: Mike Micheals, Roy Shank, Shimshi, Losander. World's Greatest Magic Show, Greek Isle. December 19-23: Nick Lewin subs at the Mac King Comedy Magic Show - Harrah's. January, 2007 January 26-28: Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com February, 2007 February 15-17: The Ultimate Performers Workshop, Mac King, Jeff Hobson, Charlie Frye, Peter Reveen, Joanie Spina, Shep Hyken, Paul Stone. www.ultimateperformersopportunity.com February 18-21: The World Magic Seminar - 30th Anniversary Blowout. Orleans Hotel. www.worldmagicseminar.com February 23-25: Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com March, 2007 March 20-22: Worker's Mid-Week Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com April, 2007 April 23-29: Extended Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com June, 2007 June 10-12: The Las Vegas Magic Invitational - Palace Station www.LVMI.net July, 2007 July 16-22: Extended Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com August, 2007 August 16-22: Extended Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com August 19-22: MAGIC Live! - The Orleans. www.magicmagazine.com September, 2007 September 14-16: Master Class. McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger. www.magicalwisdom.com October, 2007 October 23-26: Magic & Meaning Conference; MAGIC AND THE ART OF STORYTELLING, McBride's Magic & Mystery School with Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, George Parker, Special Guest: Robert Neale. www.magicalwisdom.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Wanting Photograph Of David Devant, Chan Canasta & The Piddingtons -------------------------------------------- Message from Tony Griffith (UK) I have been trying, (without much luck) to obtain a good photograph of David Devant, Chan Canasta and The Piddingtons. I have done a lot of web searching but cannot find a good enough photograph! If any readers have such photos and can e mail me a copy, I will be most grateful. Tony Griffith Bristol, England tony@tonygriffith.co.uk www.tonygriffith.co.uk -------------------------------------------- 10. UK Magician To Make Hot Air Balloon Vanish - Whilst It Is Flying!! -------------------------------------------- Message from Ed Stivala I have recently announced that next year I will be making a hot air balloon vanish in flight. As far as I can tell nobody has ever made an aircraft vanish in-flight so this should be a real landmark stunt. Your readers might like to know about this and also follow progress over the next few months via the stunts own blog. At present we are seeking a member of the public to be in the balloon basket with myself and the pilot. The stunt will take place in the UK but I hope that this will be of interest to magicians worldwide. Full details of the plan are available at www.MakeMeVanish.com -------------------------------------------- 11. 20th Annual Magic Jamboree -------------------------------------------- Message from Stan Kramien I can't believe that we have had 19 Magic Jamborees. Performers from all over the world have attended, our 20th annual will take place on April 27 and 28, here in Newberg, Oregon at our big top magic ranch. For a complete run down, and all details please go to www.magicjamboree.com Hope to see you there. -------------------------------------------- 12. Terry Seabrooke's Magical Adventures -------------------------------------------- Message from Terry Seabrooke What a crazy week just before Christmas. Monday got telephone call from agent to fly to Barbados on Wednesday. Three days on Celebrity cruises and then back to London. Couldn't do it as was already booked for Manchester in UK. Then call from Japanese TV for a taping in London at 7.00am on the Friday which I couldn't do so passed to one of our top Close up guys, Tim Shoesmith from Watford. Everything seems to happen at the last minute this time of the year! Hope you all have great festive season, and next years bookings all fall into place!!!!!!!!!!! see you around. -------------------------------------------- 13. Otago Magic Circle 50th Anniversary -------------------------------------------- Message from David Woodrow President Otago Magic Circle The Otago Magic Circle is holding its 50th Anniversary over Labour Weekend 2007 in Dunedin. An invertation is extended to all interested magicians to attend. The celebrations will involve competitions, two public performances, dinner with haggis ceremony, dealers tables and more. Further information will follow shortly. An indication of interest at this stage would be appreciated. Contact the secretary Dave Harris, 312 Hillingdon Street, Mt Mere, North East Valley, Dunedin 9010 or email Dave@korporateklowns.co.nz ----------------- 14. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 132 As I stepped around and over bodies to reach Robert, who was 'flat out' on the ground! NOBODY moved a muscle, not a word was spoken as I helped Robert to his feet. You could have heard a pin drop! I got him over to his car and pushed him into the passenger seat - leaped around into the driver's seat and started the car. Then, and only then, the 'SPELL' - that is the only word I can call it, WAS BROKEN! All hell broke loose! They began to surround the car, kicking it and the doors - strangely, nobody tried to open them - as I drove off. Somehow, during that distraction, the police had managed to handcuff the lads, finally getting them into their police car, and off, ahead of us! I have no real explanation for what happened that night. In those days, I was doing an awful lot of hypnotism shows, and I'm quite convinced that that is what was involved. As many Stage Hypnotists will confirm, you do develop, after a period of time, what can only be described as a 'hypnotic voice'. You KNOW you can influence - that you CAN hypnotize, and that calm certainty reaches out to those you are seeking to influence, even subconsciously, and has the desired effect. It's all to do with a positive state of mind. Well that is what Franquin taught me, via his wonderful book: 'Open Your Mind' - my 'bible'! While I'm on the subject of hypnotism, I have just recalled an amusing episode (Although it wasn't as far as Robert was concerned - in fact he became quite upset, I'm not surprised really), involving Robert and his mother - my mother in law, Vera. She was Scottish through and through, and the most delightful woman you could ever hope to meet. All those old 'Mother In law Jokes' just did not apply where she was concerned. Not only that, she just 'loved' my magic, in fact she loved anything to do with 'Show-Biz'. At the drop of a hat she would pull out her mandolin and start up a 'sing song' with Veronica, or anybody else who was present, joining in. I kept my mouth shut - I can't even whistle in tune, let alone sing! Having gotten herself into the mood, she would grab the telephone and, before you knew it, an impromptu party was in progress. Oh happy days! She would always 'egg me on' to do something and on this particular occasion she said: "Lets see you hypnotize somebody - Robert, lets see if Tom can put YOU under"! Now Robert hates being 'put on the spot' at any time, and apart from that, he thought, then - that hypnotism was all a big fake anyway. Here WAS a challenge - an out and out sceptic, who was also, utterly 'pissed off' for being singled out as 'THE VICTIM'! Robert's idea of 'hypnotism' to put somebody to sleep - was to 'whack' them with one, pile driving 'haymaker'! He glared at me; his eyes said it all - 'I DARE YOU, YOU -- xxx**! 'Death', was staring me in the face! "Don't be silly Mum" Robert said, "I'm not doing that"! "Aw go on," she said, "Give it a go - you're not scared are you"? Now that WAS calculating, she knew that Robert was not 'scared' of anything. Robert 'knew' that nothing would happen and he would get his 'revenge' at seeing me fail, dismally and, make an utter fool of myself. He sat down. "Do your worst", he said. In my Stage Show, I used to delight in getting very 'stroppy' sceptics in the audience. Once I've gotten them on stage - they have entered my 'playground' as it were. I had several psychological techniques on hand, and more often than not, within a minute or two, they would finish up on the floor, slumbering at my feet - but this was in the kitchen/dining room - no atmospherics here! I was already drafting out excuses in my head - It was rather 'off putting', with Robert glaring at me! Sometimes, you really do have to believe that 'Something', is looking out for you! Robert reluctantly followed my requests to 'put his feet flat on the floor, hands on his knees, relax and take in two or three slow, deep breaths' then - I started the hypnotic induction. Within seconds, HE WAS OUT! I couldn't believe it. He was a 'DREAM' subject. I was, to say the least, elated! After various tests, I asked 'Mum' if there was anything she would like him 'to do'. She said, "Tell him that I'm going to challenge him to an arm wrestle, can you fix it so he loses"? "No problem" I replied. Page 133 After giving Robert the appropriate suggestions, and telling him that he would have no memory of ever having been hypnotized, I woke him up. "See", he said, "I told you it wouldn't work, its all a big fake", he gleefully announced to everyone. "How about an arm wrestle", says his Mother? "Aw Mum, don't be silly", said Robert, obviously embarrassed by the ridiculous suggestion, but finally, at her insistence, Robert gave in. Proud of his strength and prowess, he gently took his mothers hand and, equally as gentle, applied a little pressure. Shock and disbelief chased each other across his face, as his mother pushed his arm and hand down onto the table. "Let's do it again" Mum says, and again, the back of Robert's hand hit the table. He became very upset - and it wasn't funny any more, so I told him that I had actually hypnotized him. He refused to believe it, so I said, "Look Robert, I'll prove it. Go and fill a glass of cold water from the tap and bring it back here". He did so, whereupon I said, " Now take a sip to make sure it really is water", which he did, then I said to him, " The next sip that you drink, you will find that it has become - 'Straight Whiskey", touching him on the forehead as I did so. "Bullshit" he said, unceremoniously, as he took a Big Drink, to 'prove' me wrong. Instantly, he was 'DRUNK', and feeling very sick - I didn't know it then, but Robert and Whiskey don't mix! Robert believes in hypnotism these days; woe betide anyone foolish enough to say to him, "it's all a load of bull.t"! -------------------------------------------- 15. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.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) -------------------------------------------- 16. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html. Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson 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 they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 2006 Alan Watson