* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #641 Date: Sunday 22nd February 2009 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Muhammad Ali? A Magician? 3. Manipulix (Wolfgang Messelken) Magic Shop Closes 4. Honoring Norm Nielsen At S A M Buffalo 5. Remarkable Magic #83 - Nick Lewin 6. The Calvin Klein Syndrome #107 - Kyle Peron 7. Cruising With Paul Romhany #57 8. China Close Up Tour 9. David & Dania Workshop - IBM Nashville 10. Bob Little To Be Honored At 'Nemcon' March 14 11. Broken Wand - Millie Seaton 12. The 100th Annual Salute To Magic! 13. Best Of Canada Show Set For Buffalo Convention 14. Wonderground@ The Orleans March 1,2,3,4 15. Large Amount Of Inaccurate Information Being Written 16. Magic Cruise 2009 - Special Pricing Extended Two More Weeks! 17. 2009 MAGI-FEST 18. e-zine Archives 19. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Happy birthday wishes and congratulations goes to Norm Neilson who celebrated his 75th birthday this week. Message of congratulations to Norm on this major mile stone can be sent to: mail@nnmagic.com Also check out The Magic Circle new website: www.themagiccircle.co.uk Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Muhammad Ali? A Magician? -------------------------------------------- Message by Lee Asher (US) That's Right -- The Champ Is A Prestidigitator. Check This Out: http://Www.Leeasher.Com/Media/Index.Html (Cut And Paste If Not Clickable) -------------------------------------------- 3. Manipulix (Wolfgang Messelken) Magic Shop Closes -------------------------------------------- Message by Manipulix (Wolfgang Messelken) (Germany) I would like to let you know that we will be closing our shop after 16 years. After the end of April we will be only present on the net and at conventions. Please have a look at the following page: http://manipulix.com/events.php?SESSIONID=423a0cb28b7da45ed4d0a53dee51e221#event76 -------------------------------------------- 4. Honoring Norm Nielsen At S.A.M Buffalo -------------------------------------------- Message by John Apperson (US) 1. Honoring Norm Nielsen at the 2009 S.A.M Buffalo Convention 2. Honoring outgoing and/or incoming S.A.M. National Presidents As you probably know, our S.A.M. National Convention in Buffalo, NY, will be dedicated to Norm Nielsen, truly a living legend in magic. As editor of the convention program, I am responsible for gathering advertising for the program. I suspect that many of you will want to let Norm know how much you appreciate his commitment to magic as an art. I can think of no more artistic performance than his lovely violin routine, and his work with posters and quality props is legendary. Beyond that, there are no nicer people on earth than Norm and Lupe Nielsen. We have tapped into several sources to put together a contact list for this email. We are aware that not everyone can or will choose to place such an ad. However, in working on past convention programs we have had people tell us after the fact that they wished they had known about it and how to place an ad. At least you know! You may wish to place a personal ad, or perhaps get a few friends together to place an ad. You may encourage your assembly to place an ad. You may decide to combine a tribute to Norm with congratulations to outgoing and/or incoming national officers. Perhaps you would like to place a congratulatory ad to outgoing National President Bruce Kalver and/or incoming president Mike Miller. Or you may want to place an ad unrelated to any of this, simply as a promotion or as a greeting or note of friendship to those who read it. Whatever you decide to do, please email me so that I can plan. We are offering three sizes of ads: full page ($175); half page ($90); quarter page ($50). If you will email me I will send you a pdf with ad information.  If this is something you would like to do, please let me know so I can plan. And - pay attention to the deadlines. I need everything, including payment, by April 10, 2009. If you have received this message in another email, we apologize. We are also sending information to all assemblies and some magic dealers, etc. So it is quite possible that you will be contacted more than once. Cheers, Dave Goodsell email: superg13@comcast.net Telephone: 801 724 9758 -------------------------------------------- 5. Remarkable Magic #83 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin Marvelous meeting of Remarkable Magicians. For someone who has written an entire series of columns about meeting Remarkable Magicians I really have to share with you the wonderful evening I enjoyed yesterday. It was a very special occasion to celebrating Norm Nielsen's 75th birthday. It is almost impossible to believe Norm has reached that landmark birthday. His charm, energy and youthful appearance knock decades of any realistic estimation. I had just completed two afternoon shows at Harrah's and am sure I was feeling older than the birthday boy. I have described Norm and Lupe's delightful home/office/art gallery in a previous column and yesterday it was complimented by a hugely enjoyable contingent from the Las Vegas magic world. We drank wine and enjoyed delicious Italian food; good wine and good company! On a personal note, Susan and I left the party with a plate of Lasagna, which made a perfect breakfast this morning. Needless to say there was much socializing and gossiping among the magicians, friends and companions. I am not even going to attempt to give a complete list of guests present. At the best of times I am fairly rotten at that kind of detail and after a few glasses of red wine I don't even attempt it. I'm not a real detail writer but go for the vibes! Old friends like Fielding West, Peter & Coral Reveen, Bill Smith, James Dimmare, and Johnny & Pam Thompson were a delight to talk with. Michael & Lisa Close were their charming selves and their young daughter was a huge social success and seems destined to be a party-stealer for years to come! I did take the opportunity to congratulate Michael on his recent e-book 'Closely Guarded Secrets.' I had no idea until I saw his book exactly what the state of art was in digital publishing. Text, photographs and video combined into single format take the learning experience to a whole new level. Bravo, Michael. I also took this chance to ask Johnny Thompson about one of the great show biz stories that is shared by pros around the world. I have always enjoyed this story so much that I've never been able to bring myself to ask John if he really did once forget to load his doves prior to a show on a cruise ship. I didn't ask because I would have been devastated if it hadn't been true. Johnny confirmed that it really did happen and what actually went down. I brought him up to speed on how the story currently was being told in the never-ending game of 'Telephone' that occurs when performers meet, drink coffee and chat. One of the highlights of the evening was getting to view a vintage clip of Norm performing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1969. His tuxedo looked like it might have come from Austin Powers' wardrobe but Norm was as smooth, polished and elegant as ever. We then watched clips of Norm and the 'Tomsoni & Co' performing at the Siegfried & Roy tribute show, staged at the world's greatest variety theater the 'London Palladium.' It was a joy to behold. Somewhere along the line Susan managed to visit the Nielsen workshop where Norm & Lupe construct all their various props and items. She even managed to wangle an invitation to watch when they make their next batch of Rubber Doves. Given the fact that my constant companion on the road is one of these particular critters I was just a little jealous of her luck! Like all good things the evening came to an end and gradually all of us guests left, leaving behind our gracious hosts. I have said it before, and have no hesitation in saying it again; if there is a nicer couple in magic than Norm & Lupe they must be hidden away inside crates in David Copperfield's warehouse/museum. Happy Birthday Norm, you are a truly classy act. Check out the new stuff on my website http://www.nicklewin.com If you like my writing become my friend on Facebook, use my email address to find me nicklewin1@me.com I have also started a Facebook group for 'magicians & comedians who have silly little dogs they adore.' Check out the great pictures. -------------------------------------------- 6. The Calvin Klein Syndrome #107 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com I know many of you are reading this title and scratching your heads wondering just what in the world am I talking about. Some of you may be wondering what I have been sniffing or if I should put the markers away. Trust me there is a reason and purpose behind my crazy article title this week. It is something that happened to me not too long ago and I had always been meaning to get it in writing in the hopes that others can learn through my own pathetic mistake. So as you read this story and laugh like crazy, be reminded that I do have a point and there is a lesson to be learned in all of this. With that in mind venture forth but do not spit out your coffee laughing too hard. It all started when I was scheduled to do two stage shows and strolling magic at a large fall festival. We were both excited to be performing for the festival and also on a nice large stage as well. It certainly beats performing in a tent right next to the petting zoo. The show is going great and we get to the moment in the show where I present our modern sword basket illusion. You know, the illusion you buy and force your wife into because at $1,700 she is going to fit no matter what. The music is pumping and I am feeling energized. I pick up the sword and decide at that moment that for whatever reason I suddenly gained this amazing ability to do dance and kungfu at the same time. I blame it on the heat for my sudden lapse of insanity. I leap in the air and swing the sword around with a big smile on my face. That is when I noticed something. Somehow I did not recall a huge "RIPPING" noise being a part of the sound track. Not thinking much of it I continue to dance and prance on stage with the swords while the audience starts to chuckle and then laugh hysterically. Hmm that is odd, I do not recall this ever being a comedy act. I look over to the wing of the stage to see three stage hands and a sound guy all waving their hands and flailing in the wind like crazed lunatic toddlers in line to see Barney. Now I am a deaf performer, but even I knew that that was nowhere close to being any form of American Sign Language. It was at that very moment when things started making sense. For some reason I felt as if my pants suddenly got central air-conditioning placed in. The slight breeze through my back side I do not recall ever experiencing before. Then it dawned on me. The performer's worst nightmare happened to me on stage in front of 500 people who knew exactly what had happened. There was no hiding it and certainly no denying it. I had torn my pants so bad that they ripped right down the seam from the front all the way to the back. It was at that very moment when I recalled 2 very important things...1) the show must go on and 2) I really should never have worn tightie-whities (White Hanes Underwear) underneath my black tux pants. So there I stood with a cold back end and pants that basically was a beacon telling everyone to come see this strange guy on stage. Thanks goodness the show was over and I was able to side-step off the stage as best as I could while the stage and sound crew continued to help and support me by laughing their heads off. It was at that very moment when I realized something. I had 1 hour of strolling magic and another 30 min stage show I still had to do that day. Considering home was a good 3 hours away, the realization that I was going to have a cold backside became a reality. But I always feel that you become your most creative in times of an emergency and this was no different. Between my wife laughing herself hysterical, I went for the magician's most powerful weapon. You guessed it...... DUCT TAPE. Not just any duct tape... black duct tape. At least I had thought that far ahead. Now began the process of trying to tape up my split pants and do so in some sort of fashion that did not make me look too much like I was wearing a duct tape diaper. Trying to have my wife, and a few stage hands, duct tape up my pants was an experience I soon would rather not have had to go through. In the end, I felt like I was some really weird and lame super hero with a really bad outfit. With it being hot outside, my pants started sticking together and making weird noises that made the kids laugh even more. At least I was succeeding in entertaining them. I finally escaped home with my pride in my lap and forgot about the whole ordeal. That was until Christmas came around and I open a lovely present from my charming wife. What should I find inside this great box? Would it be an iPod....Wii system.....GPS? NOPE!! It was even better.... My own few pairs of Black Calvin Klein Underwear!! A smile came on my face, I started laughing hysterically and gave my wife a huge hug. The more I thought about it the more I understood something from all of this. That gets me to the lesson and moral of this entire story. Moral and Lesson: Always wear the same color underwear as the pants you are wearing for your performances. If not, then be prepared to at least bring a roll of duct tape. =) 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. - "Encore! Creativity in the Art of Magic" Ebook. Order online now at: http://www.magicenhancer.com/Encore.html - "Tips and Techniques on the Chair Suspension" Ebook. Order online now at: http://www.magicenhancer.com/ChairSuspension.html -------------------------------------------- 7. Cruising With Paul Romhany #57 -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul Romhany Well I am finally home after a very long haul. I sat at Argentina airport for eleven hours, then caught the flight to New York, which was another eleven hours, then waited a few extra hours before catching a flight to Halifax in Canada. I was supposed to have an hour wait in Halifax, however six hours later I was still waiting for my 25 minute flight!! If I'd known the plane was going to be delayed for so long I would have jumped on a bus and taken a two hour drive home. Finally, after sitting at another airport for over six hours the flight finally left. We went through a snow storm on an eighteen seater with only eight passengers. I think I left my stomach in Halifax. I'm pleased to be home now, and getting very busy as I make my way to South Shields Magic Convention in the UK. I will be doing my new world tour lecture which is currently at the printers. I am also doing a more personal workshop which is open to a small number of magicians and will be featuring some of my private and unreleased work. The workshop is a great way to really get a hands on type of approach, and I feel I can give more away at a workshop. The lecture is a good mixture of material for the working magician. I have a great close-up routine which I used all the time using business cards, my newspaper umbrella routine from my Chaplin act, a solo version of my marketed effect Bearly Impossible plus a number of other routines for parlour and stage. I have been going through my lecture notes that are in my library and realised that most are just photocopied pieces of paper bound together with paper clips or staples. The ones that look good and professionally produced have a much higher place on my bookshelves. With this in mind I contact my publisher and they will be producing a nice booklet of my notes. My plan is to finally release these worldwide along with a DVD of performances so that one day I can offer the lecture as a DVD and it comes with a booklet. In the meantime, those attending my lectures across the world will be able to see the effects live and also have the chance to purchase the notes. I am currently negotiating a tour across Australia as well in April, so if you live in Australia check with your local clubs. I am looking at Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. I have something else planned for Sydney at a later stage so I will not be presenting the lecture there this year. Here is what is in the lecture:- Duck Call Gag Clean Sweep Business Card Switcharoo Poor Magician's Confabulation Dove/Plane Gag Chaplin's Newspaper Umbrella Routine Pin Number Bearly Impossible Solo Fortune Cookie CSI: The Case of the Half Died Hanky I am SO excited about this release, and really have to thank so many people for finally getting this on the market. This has been kept quiet for almost a year now as I've been developing this with several people including Hal Spear, Wayne Rogers and the great folks at Hocus-Pocus. This project, and another, started many years ago when I met Hal Spear. Hal is a very well known comedian and a craftsman when it comes to writing scripts for comedians and TV sitcoms and shows. He is also really loves magic. Having seen so many magicians himself, over the years, he wondered why so many use the same script for the same effects. We got talking and I asked him if he would be interested in writing original comedy material for some magic effects. He agreed, and has written some amazing routines for standard magic effects that we all perform. Out of this project came a fantastic routine for McComb's half dyed hanky routine. Hal changed the color of the hankies to black and red and came up with three really hilarious routines that would turn a standard magician in to a clever comedy performer. To have somebody like Hal write you a script for a routine would normally cost you several hundred dollars. What you get here are three great routines at a fraction of the normal cost for having original material. My good friend, and magic inventor from New Zealand, Wayne Rogers gave me permission to use his version and handling of this classic routine. For those who are familiar with Billy's original method will know there is a switch and you need two tubes etc. Wayne has been performing his version for at least twenty five years, and only shared it with a select few magicians. This is the FIRST time Wayne has let another performer release his method and I am very pleased to be able to include the handling in this DVD, as it really makes the effect very easy to perform. I know Wayne showed his version to Billy and he absolutely thought it was genius. Of course, Billy had been performing his for so long he stuck with his own method, but he always admired Wayne's handling and take on this effect. I told Paul Gross at Hocus-Pocus about this routine, and he wanted to be involved in this product. We are releasing this through Hocus-Pocus exclusively. This is an entire package and comes complete with the special silks, gimmick, instruction DVD where I'll teach you Wayne's handling, plus the booklet containing the three original scripts. If you've ever wanted to perform a color changing hanky routine then this is the way to go, or if you already do perform one, you will certainly want to check this out - you'll be glad you did. I would also like to thank Matthew Johnson who runs Abracadabra Magic Media Design Company. I told them about the project and sent them the scripts and they LOVED it!! Within a matter of hours Matthew designed the entire DVD cover and ad copy for me - I'm sure you'll all agree he did an incredible job. If you have ANY projects including web design, graphic design, promotional covers etc. then give Matthew an email. His prices are the most reasonable I've come across from any design company and he is very quick and does a brilliant job. Contact Matthew at: info@thecorporatemagician.com Tell him I sent you. -------------------------------------------- 8. China Close Up Tour -------------------------------------------- Message by Hank Moorehouse (US) What do these five world class close up magicians have in common? Miguel Puga (Spain), Rocco (USA), Henry Evans (Argentina), Shoot Ogawa (Japan) And Lennart Green (Sweden). They are the performers in a theater production covering 6 cities presenting 15 shows throughout china during the period of April 1st through 19th, 2009. We believe this video enhanced production in theaters seating more than 1,000 is the first time anything like this has taken place anywhere in the world. Mr. Lin Jian, Executive President of FISM 2009, thought what better time with FISM coming to China to present to the Chinese population magic close up. These performers will also be back in July as part of the Close Up Gala. This production is being coordinated by Hank Moorehouse, international consultant for FISM 2009. -------------------------------------------- 9. David & Dania Workshop - IBM Nashville -------------------------------------------- Message by Dale Salwak, IBM talent coordinator Dale Salwak, IBM talent coordinator, announced last month that the award-winning quick costume change act of David & Dania has been added to the roster of international headline performers at this year's exciting convention in Nashville, Tennessee June 30-July 4. But there's more! If you are one of those who have silently asked, "How do they do that so quickly and smoothly?" then your question will be answered at this summer's convention when David & Dania present a special 2 to 3 hour workshop for those interested in developing a quick-change commercial act. This will be a real hands-on workshop experience (not a lecture) that will take place on Friday, July 3rd at 11:00 pm and will require a special fee that the IBM will collect for David & Dania. (Please note: None of the collected fees go to the IBM. All fees go directly to David & Dania.) If you register prior to the convention, the fee is $150 per person. At the convention it will be increased to $200. This very special workshop, taught by the best Quick Change Artists in the field, will be limited to 75 reservations. Save $50 and reserve a spot now. Build An Act, Build A Future! Full information on the convention including a registration form and line-up of talent may be found at www.magician.org. -------------------------------------------- 10. Bob Little To Be Honored At 'Nemcon' March 14 -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) Honorary S.A.M member Bob Little will be the honoree at the 28th annual New England Magic Conference - "NEMCON" March 14 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Cromwell Ct. The one day event will feature lectures, magic dealers and an evening showing. Performers will include Eugene Burger, Levent, Eric De Camps, David Boyd and Shawn Farquhar. For details see www.ctnemcon.com. -------------------------------------------- 11. Broken Wand - Millie Seaton -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) Millie Seaton died peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. For more information go to: http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/archivesearch/local_story_044121201.html Our sympathies to Doc Seaton and his family. Millie will be a great loss to us all. -------------------------------------------- 12. The 100th Annual Salute To Magic! -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) New York, NY Feb 17, 2009 The Society of American Magicians Parent Assembly #1 is proud to announce that we will be hosting "The 100th Annual Salute To Magic!" This historic event is a show that is not to be missed! What: The Salute To Magic is the longest running annual show in U.S. history! This historic magic show has had every master magician perform at least once in the past 99 years! For the 100th Annual Salute, we have put together an extraordinary magic theatrical presentation that focuses on some of the highlights of that amazing history. Several special re-created performances and tributes to past important Salute performers will be featured. The show will also include the world premiere of several new magical effects and illusions created just for this event! The Salute show will also include giant video screens on either side of the stage to enlarge the live performers, as well as, show film clips of some classic performers! Who: The performers (subject to change) will include Carl Ballantine, David Ben, Mike Caveney, Scott Interrante, The Pendragons, The Amazing Randi, Margaret Steele, Johnny and Pam Thompson and many surprise guests! Where: The Salute will be held at The Manhattan Center in midtown, New York City. The Theater is located at 311 West 34th Street, across from Penn Station where there is easy access by train and subway. There is a parking garage directly attached to the theater. This majestic theater has an illustrious history which includes at least three shows by Harry Houdini at the height of his career! When: The Salute will be one night only on May 16th, 2009 at 8PM. Tickets: $75 each, groups of ten or more $65. Tickets can be purchased using a credit card thru PayPal by going to our website: http://www.sampa1.com/salute.htm . For questions about tickets or to purchase tickets by check, please call Tom Klem at 212-725-5258. -------------------------------------------- 13. Best Of Canada Show Set For Buffalo Convention -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US) Adams Mark Hotel - July 15-16-17-18 The "Best of Canada" theme show at the Society of American Magicians, Buffalo Convention will star the following Canadian acts: Alain Choquette, Shawn Farquhar, Richard Forget, Darcy Oake, Derek Selinger and Tesseract. Register before March 1 - for special convention rates. http://www.magicsam.com/SAM2009/index.asp -------------------------------------------- 14. Wonderground@ The Orleans March 1,2,3,4 -------------------------------------------- Message by Jeff McBride (US) We are having a Wonderground/Mystery School booth and magic party-room at the World Magic Seminar at the Orleans hotel and casino March 1,2,3,4. All the cool kids will be there with us, and the streetofcards.tv crew! We hope you can join us for an informal reunion over at March 1,2,3,4 I am on tour in England until Feb 26th and home a few days before the events , so we can catch up then. Abbi will be answering calls and emails. 702-450-0021 Lots of good news about reopening on the strip soon...good things take time my friends. Thank you all for supporting our vision of enlightened nightlife in Vegas. -------------------------------------------- 15. Large Amount Of Inaccurate Information Being Written -------------------------------------------- Message by Carl Williams President, Custom Magic It has come to my attention that, from time to time, some of my magic apparatus is being sold on EBay and also through Martinka and Marrio Carrandi to name just a few. I have been watching these sales to see the kinds of prices the collector's are paying for magic apparatus these days and also what particular pieces seem to be most in demand. As I have watched these sales, and the advertising accompanying them I have noticed that a rather large amount of inaccurate information is being written to make the offers attractive. I don't think that this is being done maliciously. It is probably more just a case of poor communication between the antique magic apparatus dealers and those whom they solicit to provide assistance in disposing of their unneeded collectable apparatus. Regardless of the circumstances I don't think it is a healthy trend to be selling apparatus without purporting it with absolute accuracy. When it comes to the accuracy and historic facts surrounding collectable magic being offered to collectors I think we all have a basic responsibility. I fully realize the scope of the task of making sure that all of the pieces that are sold are accurately represented, and I have no intention of even suggesting that this is my desire, is totally out of the question. I do think however I have a responsibility to offer to a given customer, for any pieces I have made and sold, an accurate opinion of the advertising accompanying the sale pitch for the piece in question. It is to this end that I would like all of the collectors out there to know that I welcome any inquiry that they care to make regarding the accuracy of the custom magic sales material they are reading before they spend their money. All they need do is drop me an email letter at okito1@earthlink.net, or call me on the telephone at 1-323-256-0358 and I will be happy to confirm the accuracy or inaccuracies of all statements made by the seller for the pieces I have made. This might include the number made, their colors, and even if they were actually made by my hand at all. I think it is extremely important that we keep the history of magic accurate at all costs. Should you care to pass this constructive information along to those concerned I would be most grateful. In conclusion I wish to assure the aforementioned companies that there is no intention on my part to impugn their honesty. In fact, I would like to commend them for a job well done. After all without our dealers we would all be struggling to enhance our collections a task they now make so very easy and pleasurable for us all. -------------------------------------------- 16. Magic Cruise 2009 - Special Pricing Extended Two More Weeks! -------------------------------------------- Message by David Sandy, President David Sandy Productions, Inc. We had so many people who didn't realize the deadline for the Magic Cruise 2009 package special pricing was yesterday (February 13), Joanne Weeks, our official Magic Cruise 2009 travel agent, and I went to Carnival Cruise Lines and pleaded with them to give our folks a little more time. So, the good news is this... we got a two-week extension on our special complete package pricing! You have until March 2, 2009 to join us and still save up to a couple hundred dollars with our group package rates. After that, you can still join us, based on space availability, but only at the prevailing rates... which at this time are between $100 and $200 per person HIGHER than our group package rates. So, don't delay... sign up for this magical trip of a lifetime today! For more information, visit the website at http://www.davidsandyproductions.com/magiccruise.htm Also... Here's More Great News! Jeff McBride will be offering a Special 4-Hour Master Class Secret Sessions opportunity onboard the ship for Magic Cruise 2009 participants only!!! Now you won't have to fly to Las Vegas to experience one of Jeff's world-renown Master Class sessions! For more information and cost, visit the website above! This Master Class Secret Session will have limited availability... first come, first served! If you haven't signed up for Magic Cruise 2009, I promise you that this will be one of the most memorable magical experiences of your lifetime! Join John Carney, Jeff McBride, Kerry Pollock, Tina Lenert, Dave Kaplan, Mike Caveney, John Shryock & MariLynn, Les Arnold & Dazzle, Jon Armstrong and some special surprises on the high seas for a week (cruise is May 3-10, with night-before party on May 2 in Miami). It features the best of an exotic luxury Caribbean vacation coupled with the best of a world-class magic convention... and it's more affordable than you might think!!! You get the entire package... So Much More than just a cruise... there's more magic and fun that you could ever imagine! If you have any questions, email me at david@davidsandyproductions.com or call (816) 233-4177. If you'd like to book, contact Joanne Weeks at joannew@cruiseholidayskc.com or call (816) 741-7417 or toll-free (800) 869-6806. -------------------------------------------- 17. 2009 MAGI-FEST -------------------------------------------- Message by Jep Hostetler Does anyone really know what makes a magic convention magical? When it happens, we know, understand and love it. When it doesn't, we are equally underwhelmed. "On Sunday morning following the 2009 MAGI-FEST, our team shared stories of people we met during the weekend. We know of a couple of our older registrants who lost their wives this past year. We talked to people who lost their jobs recently, or who face the fear of economic hardship. I spoke to a man who is miserable with his job; MAGI-FEST gave him an escape, and a book he picked up at a lecture gave him hope to reflect on his life. Another long-time registrant has spent every day of the last several months feeding his wife in a nursing home, three times a day. We met a single mother who lost a child last year; she brought her two young sons to the show Friday night and to the convention on Saturday. She was in tears because of the joy that the "FEST" brought to her sons and hopeful that magic could provide an outlet or therapeutic hobby for them". (Ron Spangler) The chemistry of this particular MAGI-FEST simply came together in a delightful blend of highest quality magical entertainment, great fun, delicious humor, and understandable and practical lectures. Nearly 800 registrants enjoyed not only the shows, but the terrific selection of dealers. (We give a hardy thank you to magic dealers, who are an essential part of any quality magic convention). The Friday evening Headliner Show, attended by nearly 2,000 people, was one of the best in recent memory. Led by the wonderful antics of comedy juggler David Kaplan as MC, "Ice" McDonald was in top form, Stoil and Ekaterina beautifully surprised and delighted the audience.  Peter Pitchford demonstrated beautiful, flawless manipulation and transformation to Cardini, Shawn Farquhar, with a tender touch, guided a young lad through a magical transformation and with the skilled camera work of wife Lori, projected his wizardry of card beauty onto the big screen. Murray Hatfield and Teresa, along with skilled assistants Magdelaina Tamasik and Kurtis Preston closed the spectacular show with some of the most imaginative and beautiful illusions we have seen at the MAGI-FEST. It was a magical night! Close-up performers Shawn Farquhar, Aaron Fisher, Andrew Goldenhersh, Mark Mason, Thom Peterson, and Tyler Wilson, each with his own brand of delicious comedy, wowed the audiences with their uncanny skill. Rarely does one get to see six close-up workers of this top caliber at one convention. The early show, with MC Scott Francis, included the lovely work of up-and-coming Andost, as well as stand up work by the Shawn Farquhar and Peter Pitchford. The closing show, with a few hitches getting started, was adeptly MC-d by Samuel Patrick Smith and featured funny man Tom Burgoon, colorful Hermann and Marcia Carr, and the antics of Scott Francis, Andrew Goldenhersh and Thom Peterson. It was a solid closing for a very strong convention. Contest winners: Junior C-U -3rd, Josh Farley - Bronson, MO; 2nd, Bill Boaz - Hudson, OH; 1st, Richard Lowenburg - Cincinnati, OH; Senior C-U: 3rd, Jason Greenameyer - Salem, OH; 2nd, Ryan Siebert - Indianapolis, IN; 1st, Michael Mirth - Akron, OH; Junior Stage: 3rd, Kelly Spangler - Columbus, OH; 2nd,Jeremy and Elizabeth Krech - Frankfort, OH; 1st, David Mlakar  - Valleyview, OH; Senior Stage: 3rd, Zach Roybal; 2nd, Patrick Smith; 1st, Peter Boie. The Dr. Jeffrey Jay Award (Given by Sorcerers Safari by Michael Segal) went to David Mlakar. Spirit of Magi-Fest Award - 2009 recipient, David Williamson. -------------------------------------------- 18. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.Alan-Watson.com 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) -------------------------------------------- 19. 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.Alan-Watson.com Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. 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