`* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #736 Date: Sunday 7th March 2010 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Blackpool Magicians' Club Awards And Competition Results 3. John Calvert Documentary: St. Patrick's Day Special 4. S.A.M. Early Bird Date Extended 5. Magic Dealers Always A Draw At S.A.M. Conventions 6. Remarkable Magic #28 McBride in Wonderground 7. Be Yourself - #157 - Kyle Peron 8. Tony Brook In Conversation With Chuck Lehr - Part 1 9. Attention Australian Magicians! 10. Branson Magic Bonanza 11. KIDabra International Updates 12. Diamond Jim Tyler Lecture Tour 13. Abbott's 31st Annual Close Up Convention 14. Blackpool Magicians' Convention 2011 15. South Tyneside International Magic Convention 2010 16. Sid Lorraine's Magical ChatterBox 17. e-zine Archives 18. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- The Incredible 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention June 5th, 6th, 7th 2010 is nearly sold out! There are only 35 places left. If you are planning to attend I suggest if you don't want to end up on a waiting list hoping for a cancelation register NOW. For more information go to item 9. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Blackpool Magicians' Club Awards And Competition Results -------------------------------------------- Message by Ari Phillips (Kiwi living in the UK) Blackpool Magicians' Club 58th Annual Convention, awards and competition results. Junior British Magical Close-Up Championships 1st place: Alex Hansford, 2nd place: Joe Harper, 3rd place: Billy Debu from France The Lifetime Achievement Award Wayne Dobson British Magical Close-Up Championships 1st place: Min Hyung Kim from Korea 2nd place: Johan Stahi from Sweden 3rd place: John van der Put The Children's Entertainer International Championships 1st place: Oscar Munoz from the USA 2nd place: David Tomkins 3rd place: Jimmy Carlo International Stage Magic Championships 1st place: Hyung Joom Kim from Korea 2nd place: Jung Min Lee from Korea 3rd Place: Sandro Rivoli from Austria The Murray Award John Pye and Jack Delvin The Ken Dodd Comedy Trophy Clive Webb and Company Special Presentation Tom Owen -------------------------------------------- 3. John Calvert Documentary: St. Patrick's Day Special -------------------------------------------- Message by John Calvert (US) Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all Friends of Magic! Why be green with envy that you don't have the John Calvert documentary? To help you save your green for Saint Patrick's Day, we're dropping the price. Own the DVD of the feature documentary about legendary magician and adventurer John Calvert now for only $19.95! Plus: free shipping within the U.S. discounted international shipping rates any additional copies for only $12.45 every order is automatically entered to win a rare autographed biography of John Calvert Order now at www.johncalvertmagic.com Offer valid now through March 21st. -------------------------------------------- 4. S.A.M. Early Bird Date Extended -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (SAM PR) S.A.M. Convention news - from Mark and Anne Weidhaas We had heard some people were caught unaware that the deadline for early registration savings was here, so we've extended it a few days to March 8. Since many of the acts and programs have not yet been announced, you who do register as "early-birds" know this is an S.A.M. Convention and therefore, it is going to be great. As more announcements and publicity is released, the rest will see that this is a convention not to be missed. But at that time, they will be paying the regular price and their seating will be further back. Register now while you are thinking about it. www.magicsam.com -------------------------------------------- 5. Magic Dealers Always A Draw At S.A.M. Conventions -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (SAM PR) Dealers at the S A M Convention will be coming from China, France, Hungary (2) , Germany and Japan and Italy if you count Colombini (The Californian) - PLUS your favorites (and a few new additions) from around the country. There will be more, (our limit is 22). A good deal of the fun and camaraderie takes place in the "dealer room" at every convention. We hope you'll be there - PS- If you forget your thumb tip see "Jackie" June 30 - July 3 - Atlanta GA. http://www.magicsam.com/SAM2010/dealers.asp -------------------------------------------- 6. Remarkable Magic #28 McBride in Wonderground -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) Remarkable Magic #28 McBride in Wonderground Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of Jeff McBride, not just McBride the magician and teacher, but Jeff the person. Jeff manages to be a traditionalist and a visionary at the same time. That is quite a feat! McBride's latest venture is a revamped version of the 'Wonderground' project that he first launched at the Palace Station Casino last year. It isn't an easy concept to define, it is much more of an environmental experience than a traditional magic show. However don't think that doesn't mean you won't see some magic that will blow your mind. The new home for 'Wonderground' is at 'Olive,' a modest Mediterranean restaurant and Hookah bar. The location isn't on the strip but in the heart of the 'real' Vegas in which actual people live. This adds considerably to the impact and fun that the evening offers. Let's be honest most of the Casinos in Las Vegas are about as loose and hip as a Thanksgiving Dinner with relatives who become boring before the turkey even arrives. The atmosphere the last 'Wonderground' was more like a party, with the capacity crowd all having a blast, while enjoying some World Class magic. The venue was divided into two basic performing areas; a parlor style room that was designed for close-up magic and its slightly bigger brother, which has always been rather quaintly referred to as platform magic. The main stage is in the larger heart of the venue and I was impressed at the lengths that Jeff had gone to in order to create a really effective performing area. At the rear of the stage was a DJ who kept the mood jumping throughout the evening. The music was loud enough to keep your heart and body jumping, without being loud enough to inhibit the numerous conversations that were a huge part of the enjoyment of the event. The main stage was the focal point in a very noisy room, but there was a real appreciation of the acts performing there. Once again I saw Jason Andrews perform and again he impressed me greatly as a future performer who will be a major force to reckon with in the very near future. I performed a short set on the main stage and had a blast. It was a much easier location for a silent act and I was very happy to have had those 11 years headlining in comedy clubs to give me the skills, not only to focus the audience but have them listening and paying full attention. All that, and I didn't distract from the party spirit. I had a great deal of fun working to such an eclectic and vital audience. 'Wonderground' is scheduled to take place on the third Thursday of each month, and it will take heaven and hell to keep me away from the next one! Finally, a word or two about McBride himself, the master ringmaster who understood exactly what was happening. Amidst the apparent chaos Jeff was everywhere, making acute decisions that kept the party moving and grooving. It wasn't just the magic he used as a subtle glue to create a cohesive evening, it was his genuine warmth and charm that made total strangers into a genuine group of kindred spirits. I think I paid a $10 entrance fee that included two drinks; I don't remember having that much fun for that little money since I arrived in Las Vegas. Check out details on Jeff's website www.mcbridemagic.com and join in the fun at the next 'Wonderground' gathering. Drop me a note at http://nicklewin@me.com -------------------------------------------- 7. An Uphill Battle - #157 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com As a magical entertainer, I like to consider myself pretty well-rounded when it comes to the markets I perform for and the people that become my audiences. I never claim to be a jack of all trades and make sure to only perform those shows that I feel I am most qualified for. However, there is a problem that I see that has existed in magic for years. It is a problem I am sure we have all seen or been a part of, yet maybe we do not fully understand why or maybe we just simply have come to accept it. When performing for an adult audience (whether it be a stage show or strolling magic), why is it that you tend to get the feeling that the person would much rather gouge their eyes out then have to watch a magic trick? Why is it that this attitude is obviously conveyed to you through body language and what they say to you? Why is it that these people seem to think that what you are about to do is going to deprive them of minutes of their lives they will not get back? It is really quite sad, but it happens all the time. You end up feeling you have to fight an uphill battle before your show or strolling performance even gets started. It is this feeling like you have to "prove" yourself to them. It is a feeling that you must absolutely work hard at "winning them over." So why is it that adults tend to have this attitude towards magicians? Well, for starters, it must lie in the perception that the adults have as to what a magician is and what we do. This perception may be a wrong one, but many adults simply feel that every magician is exactly the same. This is a problem for sure, but it is reality. In their own minds, they often can sum up a magician as some geeky guy wearing strange clothes that embarrasses people and performs at their kid's birthday party. It is really quite sad, but if you asked a lay person to be honest, I can assure you this is how they see us. It is also the perception of how they see ANY magician. So why do they see us this way? Well let's have a reality check here folks. They are right in many ways. Simple reality is that there are so many bad magicians out there performing magic in such a manner that it is embarrassing to themselves and the audiences they perform for. There are many that simply take on gigs that they are totally not ready for, but do it because "I need the money." There are so many magicians who simply do not understand the concept of being a professional and yet others who insist that magic is about jamming it down someone's throat and making them look foolish in the process. If this is true, then no wonder they fear us when we approach them. So what do we do about this? What can we do to change the perception adults have of us? What can we change in ourselves so that we can fight this uphill battle and create a new perception? For starters, we need to always remember to not accept every single show that comes our way. Understand who you are and who you ARE NOT. If you hate performing for adults but love kids, then stick with kid shows. Do not force yourself to doing an adult show simply because they money is good. It is not fair to you, to your client and to every other magician. You then can start to realize that magic is not about fooling people or embarrassing them to inflate your own ego. It is about entertaining and making people have a good time through the usage of magic. You do not have to jam magic down their throats every time and we certainly do not have to embarrass people in our performances. Create magic that entertains and show respect. Respect is a key here. Respect your audience. Treat them as a guest in your own home and they will love you for it. Make them feel good and make them feel appreciated. A magician is a lonely person without an audience. Make sure the magic is for them and not yourself. We can also change perceptions simply by learning to be a creative thinker of magic. STOP trying to be someone you are not. STOP trying to perform a trick the same way everyone else does because it is "the easy way out." Work on creating magic that fits YOU! You can then make sure that you understand a key word here. That key word is "professional". Be a professional at all times. That does not mean be one only when the show starts and stops when the show ends. Being a professional is a state of mind that needs to happen all the time. It is how you talk to the client and how you approach adults at a strolling gig. It is how you dress for the event and how you handle situations that come your way. It is how you thank the folks for watching your magic and sincerely appreciate them for doing so. When an adult audience sees a professional, they start to realize that their perceptions of magicians may not have been correct. It is up to us to work hard to change this bad perception but it can be done. Learn the tips and techniques and suggestions I mentioned above. If we do, maybe this uphill climb will not be so hard in the years to come. 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. -------------------------------------------- 8. Tony Brook In Conversation With Chuck Lehr - Part 1 ------------------------------------------ Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA I am honored to call Chuck Lehr my friend. We've known each other a goodly while. Every time, I am in Texas, we get together and have ice-cream. What can I say? Chuck loves ice-cream. Thanks to him, he has been instrumental in two major Magical highlights in my life. He is a warm and generous man with a smile that makes you feel you've been hugged. He has a glorious sense of mischief and is lots of fun to be with. Someone once aptly remarked, "Dying is easy but comedy is hard ". Chuck's sense of humor is unique and his timing is impeccable. He makes his comedy look easy. Apart from being highly skilled in various aspects of Magic, he has that rare talent to be able to expertly "hide" that skill within his special brand of comedy. This combination of magical and comedic talent has provided him with a lucrative career as a Professional Entertainer. He also possesses the rare skill of making everyone he meets feel special. ---------- TB: Welcome Chuck. Thanks for conversing. You have lots of very funny lines but my personal favorite is the one about your age. How does that go? CL: Howdy Tony. Great to chat with you. Ah! Ha! ... the line about my age!!! I'm 37 years old but I've been in Magic for 38 years. Ok, the first part is fiction. I'm really 73 but the second part is right, I've been doing Magic since I was 35. TB: You are now in Mesquite , near Dallas, Texas and have been there for many years. But, it's not your home town..... CL: Well, it sure feels like it ..but I moved there in 1976, but let me begin at the beginning. I always like doing that. It confuses people if you begin at the ending !!! I was born in Rutland, Vermont, October 14, 1936 - but I don't remember that. What is vivid in my mind is - near 4 years old - hiding behind a chair in the living room playing with matches with my brother Pete. Mom and Dad were baking in the kitchen. POOF. My first magic act. - the curtains went up in flame. Fortunately, Mom and Dad were there immediately to extinguish the fire. On to Johnstown, New York near the age of five, where my six brothers and sisters guaranteed that I would have an exciting childhood, including smoking cigarettes, crying when the police wouldn't take me with them when they escorted my brothers to the city jail (out too late at the playground), and things like that. Most of my young life was spent in Johnstown, where I attended Knox Jr. High School and graduated from Johnstown High School in 1954. I AM proud that I was successful in school and even shared the "Physics" prize at graduation with the smartest kid in school. Throughout high school, I was lucky to spend my early mornings slicing and wrapping bread at the Fonda Bakery (I studied between loaves) .and so, I'm not overtly fond of making sandwiches !!!! ...and I spent my evenings, and Saturdays proudly employed in the Johnstown office of our local newspaper, the "Leader Herald". TB: In 1955, you went to work for Uncle Sam and that became a major career move ... CL: Yes Tony, in October of 1955, I was fortunate to spend three months basking on the shores of Seneca Lake - in frigid upstate New York; it was in a barracks, and I was miserable in basic training. But, those were the only days I ever was miserable in the Air Force. Following basic training, I experienced the very best military career anyone could ever hope for. WOW - MacDill AFB at Tampa, Florida - then Goose Bay, Laborador - then Pease AFB, New Hampshire. TB: Whilst on leave, in 1959, you experienced a life -changing event , I mean quite literally .you even remarked that you found Heaven .!!!! CL: Yes Tony, it literally did change my life completely. The very very best thing that ever happened in my entire life! While on leave in Johnstown, I met the most beautiful young lady in the world. Almost immediately, I asked her to marry me - She said YES!. We got married in June of 1959. (If you count without running out of fingers, you can see we just recently celebrated our 50th anniversary.) Between the bumps and potholes of young married life, I had found HEAVEN! TB: New Hampshire also provided you with a novel experience . fatherhood . CL: Yes that was very scary but it also made me feel very proud. We lived in Maine, on the border of New Hampshire. There, we were joined by a tiny "Maine-iac" named Michael Jeffrey. Together, we all continued a military life - on to Washington, D.C. There, we were joined by Mitchell Alan (not so scary this time). Mitch was very cooperative. We were now a complete family. I step out of the chronology here to share that both Mike and Mitch are incredible young men. Both brought excitement and pleasure to our lives. Mere words cannot show how proud I am (and was) to be the father of such genuine sons - sons who honored Joannie and I with a wonderful (and cosmopolitan) family. TB: Tell us a bit more about your Military career. I believe at one time you were part of a very hush-hush group... CL: Almost the entire remainder of my military career was spend in that one outfit - Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), also known as the 1035th USAF Field Activities Group. We spend several years in Washington - then several years in Honolulu - next back to Washington - and finally back to Honolulu again - all while assigned to AFTAC. This was a classified organization at the time, which prohibited us from ANY travel anywhere near a war zone. Short staff visits to Japan, and Korea were as close as I ever got to Southeast Asia. I left AFTAC as a SMSgt (E8) in 1975 and spent my final AF tour at Minot, N.Dakota, as Director of Administrative Services of the 5th Bomb Wing. TB: After that, is when you truly began to devote yourself to beginning a professional career as a Performer. But Magic didn't begin then did it ? CL: No, Tony, it began in the Military and I am proud to say I had a nice jump-start with the help of two great magicians - Jimmy Kane and Jimmy Yoshida. I was blessed with a unique and interesting Air Force career, which landed me in Hawaii for the better part of ten years. Well, to back-track a bit and fast -forward a bit too..... After I retired from the Military , Joannie and I aimed for Texas and ended up living in Mesquite. I spent the next 20 years as the Administrative Assistant in the Safety Engineering Department at Employers Insurance of Texas. I retired from there - only after they were forced out of business by the State (something about - not enough money in reserves). A-HA! Despite some rants from Joannie, I was able to finally be a full-time professional magician. But - I digress. Let's now go back to the start of all of this magic stuff. My magic life began in Paradise, (Hawaii) and for the next many years, I spent a large part of it doing everything from trade shows for Rolls Royce to birthday parties for soooo many kids - and everything in between. Under the watchful eyes of Hawaiian magicians Jimmy Kane and Jimmy Yoshida, Joannie and I (POSEY and FLOWER KLOWNS) got the break of a lifetime with a two-year stint at the Holiday Inns at Waikiki Beach and Honolulu International Airport. Jimmy Kane provided the technical advice. We spent many an evening in the back booth of various coffee shops learning the basics from Fu-Ling-Yu. Jimmy Yoshida provided the venue. We worked with him at both Holiday Inns entertaining table-to-table. We spent our last military year at Minot, North Dakota where we continued entertaining weekly at the Holiday Inn there. Since settling in Dallas in 1975, I continued to provide family-rated entertainment to audiences across the USA; including Boston, Tampa, Atlanta, Kentucky, Orlando, Las Vegas, and across Texas and its neighboring states. Of course, our magic income was supplemented by a grateful government and with another career as an administrator in the insurance field. My employer made good use of my magic, using me at various tradeshows in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas; and teaching in seminars for the company. TB: During the years that followed, you tried pretty much everything magically and did it all. However, slowly, but surely, a defining character emerged and that is the one you still use today. Share some of those times with us please ... End of Part 1- Check in next week) (Hidden in this article are deliberate grammatical & spelling mistakes. After much hard work, my proofreader & I have included these to please those who enjoy finding them.) Send comments & corrections to:- tbrook47@gmail.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Attention Australian Magicians! -------------------------------------------- Message by - Mick Peck President Shore City Magicians Club Inc Email: mick@mickpeckmagic.com The Incredible 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention June 5th, 6th, 7th 2010 The Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland Featuring the stars of magic: Whit Haydn, John Carney and Paul Daniels. Plus special guests TC Tahoe, Darren Carr, Paul Romhany and the lovely Debbie McGee. Attention Australian Magicians! This year's New Zealand Magicians Convention has received the most number of overseas registrations ever for a New Zealand magic event. Interest from Australia has been phenomenal and it's great to see how many people are taking advantage of the super-cheap flights across the Tasman. If you're planning on joining us in June for the biggest and best magic event ever held in this country then we recommend that you BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW to get the best deals! There are some really great prices on flights to New Zealand if you book well in advance. Convention Venue: Our venue is only fifteen minutes away from Auckland International Airport. Special discount rates apply to magicians attending the convention, visit our website for full details. If you're outside New Zealand and wish to learn more about payment options for international registrants send me an email and I'll forward the information to you. The All-New Paul Daniels Masterclass, Friday 4th of June: There are still a handful of spaces left for Paul's all-new, all-day Masterclass "Inside the Mind of Paul Daniels". Don't miss your chance to spend a full day with legendary entertainer and master showman Paul Daniels as he reveals the REAL SECRETS of magic and presentation, and teaches you routines from his own repertoire! The information Paul is sharing is priceless. For full convention and Paul Daniels Masterclass information visit: www.scmc.co.nz/convention.html Thanks, Mick Peck, President Shore City Magicians Club Inc www.scmc.co.nz 09 238 5167 027 404 8981 International Calls +64 9 2385167 Email mick@mickpeckmagic.com PS: Tickets for our two "International Stars of Magic" gala shows are on sale NOW through iTicket.co.nz http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2010/jun/international-stars-of-magic/ --------------------- **Register NOW** For The Incredible 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention June 5th, 6th, 7th June 2010 ONLY 35 places left This convention will be a **SELL OUT SOON** Need a registration form? Download it directly from: http://www.scmc.co.nz/registration.pdf If you need one to be physically posted to you contact SCMC Secretary Bruce Allan on 027 289 0596 or 09 232 1334. For full details visit the convention website at: www.scmc.co.nz/convention.html Thanks for reading, and we're looking forward to seeing you in June. If you have any further questions or comments or we can help in any way just get in contact with us. Need a registration form? Download it directly from: http://www.scmc.co.nz/registration.pdf For full details visit the convention website at: www.scmc.co.nz/convention.html -------------------------------------------- 10. Branson Magic Bonanza -------------------------------------------- Message by Marty Hahne (US) Show Lineup Announced for the Branson Magic Bonanza. The Branson Magic Bonanza will be held April 29 - May 1, 2010 in the entertainment capital of Branson Missouri. Along with 5 magic lectures, 2 optional gospel lectures, dealers and ice cream party, there will be six shows packed into the convention. The all star show features Bill and Ruth Pitts, David Ginn, ventriloquist Patty Davidson, Michael Finney and Goldfinger and Dove. Plus, David Ginn will, for the first time at a magic convention, present his school show, Michael Finney will have Friday evening for his great one man presentation, there will be a magic fashion show, and we will all enjoy attending the Kirby VanBurch Illusion show and the Jim Stafford show. It takes place in Branson at the Cobblestone Inn, with a great room rate of just $49.95 per night. For more information, go to www.bransonmagicbonanza.com. -------------------------------------------- 11. KIDabra International Updates -------------------------------------------- Message by Mark Daniel KIDabra International Updates KIDabra Conference August 11-14, 2010 In the resort town of Pigeon Forge, TN During the Year of Incredible! Please join us for an amazing visit with the best of the KIDshow world! Just added the wildly creative Steve Axtell stops by for a lecture, ideas guru Jim Kleefeld shares and vent extraordinaire Mark Wade wows! Plus the continuing British Invasion of Jimmy Carlo, Dave Andrews and Kimmo. Add in Simo Alto, Doug Scheer, Shabum, Duane Laflin. And a new late Night event The Magic Detective with Dean Allen Carnegie. Then witness, The Max Howard Project unfold with Ken Scott, Tim Sonefelt and Glenn Strange. Don't Miss The Second Annual Family Performers Pro/Am Invitational and The 16th Annual KIDshow Magic Auction hosted by Gary Shelton, The KIDabra Journal Extreme Close-Up Live and much more! All happening in the resort town of Pigeon Forge, TN tucked in the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Travel Channel calls Pigeon Forge "one of the top Family Fun destinations in the US." Catch the great shows (especially our friend Terry Evanswood), excellent shopping, wonderful restaurants and yes loads of family attractions with Dollywood being a standout and you've got quite an adventure! Make it a week of education, inspiration and fun. KIDabra Journal Feature The next issue of the KIDabra Journal (for members) features Terry Evanswood in an exclusive interview with our features editor Skip Way as Terry talks frankly about his career in transition. Arguably one of the top family performers working in the world today. KIDabra folks have grown fond of him, often visiting his show during conference week. Terry talks about the his 3 year, 1500 performance run at the Magic Beyond Belief Theater and his new venture with Wonderworks. Don't miss your copy of The KIDabra Journal: The Voice of The KIDshow World (A major benefit of the KIDabra International Association.) Discover full info about all things KIDabra (the association, conference and the Journal) at the newly redesigned kidabra.org Even better still, join us, we can't wait to have you as a part of the family! -------------------------------------------- 12. Diamond Jim Tyler Lecture Tour Australia and New Zealand -------------------------------------------- Message by Sean Taylor (Aust) Australia: Monday 8th Mar - Perth lecture Contact Ray Haddad - ray@perthmagic.com Tue 9th Mar - Adelaide - The bomb shelter, cnr Ashley St and sth road Torrensville. 7.30pm $30 or $25 with the flyer. Barry Seeley 0416 222569 Wed 10th Mar - Melbourne Start time is 8.00pm Address is 2/75 River St., Richmond. Contact person; Graham Etherington (03) 9786 5481 Admission is; Magician $25, Wife or partner $5 Thur 11th Mar - Sydney Taylor's Magic Shop - Chatswood 7.30pm - $25 - All welcome - pay on the door. 02 9411 6233 Monday 15th Mar - Brisbane Red Brick Hotel, Cnr Stephens and Annerley Roads, WOOLOONGABBA 7 pm for a 7.30 start. Cost of admission - $25. dave@davelord.com.au New Zealand: Tue 16th Mar - Auckland 7.30pm sharp Senior Citizens Hall, back of the Takapuna Library The Stand, Takapuna, Auckland. Adult $25 Juniors (School age) and financial IBM 160 members: $10 Wives or Partners: $5 Email: Ross Harlick - areandare@xtra.co.nz Phone: (09)521 3327 Wed 17th March - Palmerston North - 7.30pm Awapuni Community Centre, Newbury St Peter Thomson telephone (06) 3572861 or (06) 3565212 $25 adult - Juniors $15 Thursday 18th March - Christchurch 7pm arrive 7.30 start. Greg Britts, 23 Halswell Junction Road Text 027 2213800 or email elgregoe@snap.net.nz Adults $25 Juniors $15 Partners or Parents $5 -------------------------------------------- 13. Abbott's 31st Annual Close Up Convention -------------------------------------------- Message by Hank Moorehouse (US) Abbott's 31st Annual Close Up Convention will be held Friday evening, March 19 and all day Saturday, March 20. Seating is limited to 75 and it always sells out. Friday begins with a people's choice one trick contest with $300 in Merchandise certificates. Next a surprise lecture then a late night session at Dr. Gerry Costello's Cottage. Saturday starts off with coffee and donuts and a morning lecture by Steve Beam. following lunch is a mini auction then John Bannon follows with his lecture. A banquet is followed by the Saturday night gala show. Registration is $75. to the day of the event. contact at www.abbottmagic.com or 269 432 3235. -------------------------------------------- 14. Blackpool Magicians' Convention 2011 -------------------------------------------- Message by Derek Lever (UK) Even before the end of the Blackpool Magicians' Convention in February people were booking for the 2011 Convention. The Convention begins at 10.00am on Friday 18th February 2011 and runs until late on Sunday 20th February. The full cost of registration is just £85.00 and every member of a FISM associated magical society will automatically qualify for a free book "The World's Most Ingenious Magical Apparatus" worth £25.00. There will be no Day Tickets or VIP Tickets available and no After Gala Party. The Blackpool Magicians' Club have also announced that, after extensive meetings with the FISM European Board, they will host the first ever FISM European Championships of Magic in 2011 as a part of the Convention. Early registration is recommended for this greatest of all magic conventions and a registration form can be downloaded from blackpoolmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 15. South Tyneside International Magic Convention 2010 -------------------------------------------- Message by Martin Duffy (UK) Friday 12th to Sunday 14th March 2010 For this year we have UK first-timers Brad Manuel, Joshua Quinn and Tim Sonefelt. As usual you will see these performers at future UK conventions...but you saw them here first! Another first is Simon Drake's interview - Simon has turned down invitations to perform at magic conventions (including 2 FISMs) but has agreed to answering questions from me and you. Another TV household name is Wayne Dobson and Michael J Fitch's interview and presentation with him. Add to this FISM World Champion Close-Up Magician - Sweden's Lennart Green. Also lectures by Israel's Roni Shachnaey and UK's Richard McDougall and a Voice Coaching Workshop. Many of the above are appearing on the two Gala Shows along with Gentleman Juggler - Jeton from France and Shahid Malik The price of £65 includes all 8 lectures, close-up sessions, 2 Gala Shows. You can also gain free access to the exclusive "Midnight Show" on Friday night at the convention HQ You can register online at http://www.southtyneside.info/visitingus/magic-festival Thanks go to Magicbox for their kind sponsorship http://www.magicbox.uk.com Details of lecturers below - and Masterclass info at end. Even if you aren't able to join us for the full weekend you are welcome to join a Master Class on the Sunday afternoon. Lennart Green - Sweden The 1991 FISM World Champion Close-Up Magician. There is no one else in the world quite like Sweden's Lennart Green. He is a true original, both in life and in magic, and this originality really shines through in this incredible and hilarious performances. He is in constant demand all over the world, including his tour de force appearance on NBC's World's Greatest Magic. Lennart Green does things with a deck of cards that no one else has ever done before. Witness the most incredibly original display of card magic ever seen! Joshua Quinn - USA You will know Joshua from his marketed effects - Conjunction, Paralies and Ascension. We will see his lecture before he takes it on the road in the US this spring. Rather than being simply a series of disjointed effects and explanations, it provides an overview of his unusual approach to performing and creating mentalism. Of course there are effects taught as part of that, including items from his book ParaLies in their most current form; additional work on his "chunneling" technique; his character reading and zodiac sign revelation effect, "Ascension"; and some new, currently unpublished material. Brad Manuel - Australia Brad Manuel has been a full-time professional magician & comedian since 1993. He is internationally renowned as being the original creator & inventor of best selling effects such as: Buckethead, Bowling Ball Blitz, Credit Card Fraud, The Heat Is On, Schnapps Shot and more, not to mention his record breaking dice stacking. Brad brings his unique "Aussie" humour to everything he does and always has a great time doing it! Wayne Dobson - UK Wayne is an icon in magic. Michael J Fitch will present an Audience with Wayne Dobson. This will include a lot of footage of Wayne throughout the years, most of which has never been seen. Wayne will talk about starting as an opening act on tours with top UK performers such as Freddie Starr, Shirley Bassey and the Shadows as well as his guest slots on television shows and as a support act for Engelbert Humperdinck on a tour of America. Highlights of his career so far include the 1989 Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium, regular guest appearances on the Joe Longthorne television show and three series of his own TV series. Wayne Dobson - A Kind of Magic. Simon Drake - UK Simon's TV series - The Secret Cabaret - broke new ground because it was the first to present dark entertainment, a forerunner to the offbeat TV magic of Criss Angel and David Blaine. It has earned him an international cult following and was praised by TV critics and nominated for a Royal Television Society award, unusual for a magic production. Simon has agreed to a first; a live video interview in which he will not only talk about the TV series that launched his career but also what he is doing now and take questions from the audience. Tim Sonefelt - USA Tim's specialties include kid and family shows and his focus is on the school/library and church markets. Tim currently writes for the KIDabra Journal, the official publication of KIDabra International as well as his Kidshows Matter column for MUM Magazine. Tim has lectured all over the United States and performed across the country for corporate and family audiences. With dozens of original effects to his credit, he launched Wonder Imagery in 2004. Wonder Imagery produces the finest printed silks in the world with the exclusive black hem. This venture also brings to life the possibility for custom silks from your digital artwork. Tim's performances and lectures will tickle your funny bone, inspire your creativity and encourage you to perform at your very best. Richard McDougall - UK He will give the lecture he gave at Magic Live called What Is Magic? There are no tricks in it, and in places it is fairly hard hitting on the general state of magic at present, and the key elements that he feels are missing. He shows an eclectic range of clips in it, from athletics to Buster Keaton, to show how effective they are because these elements are present. Roni Shachneay - Israel A name unknown to many but Roni's influence as a mentor and guide have brought into the world a names of note such as Guy Bavli and Lior Manor. This lecture is unique. It was a HIT in the USA and the Magic Circle. The material is very different and very strong. What makes it so unique is that it takes you from being a Mentalist and transforms you into a "Psychic" and Story Teller. The effects are easily achievable but employ Theatrics that completely cover the plots. You will learn how to deliver Séance and how to create Ghostly, Spooky and thought provoking mind mysteries, how to tap into the psychology of your audience, and, create very strong atmosphere. Master Classes Master Classes are ideal because sometimes the lecturers would like to spend more time on a particular effect. They are also a way of getting to see and learn from a performer in an intimate setting, and perhaps getting one-on-one instruction on a routine that has been developed and perfected over years, saving you months of trial and experimentation. We have been running Master Classes for the last five years and would like to invite you to attend one in 2010. Each Master Class is limited to 20 people Lennart Green Date & time: Sunday 14th March 2010 Venue: Customs House Cost: £60.00 From Chaos to Order & Impossible Locations Lennart will lead you through the skills involved in card control, how to secretly arrange cards and will show you a variety of self-working effects. Tim Sonefelt Date & time: Sunday 14th March 2010 Venue: Customs House Cost: £60.00 To Sell or Not to Sell Insider Secrets to Back of Room Sales YOU will learn the Secrets to Substantially Increasing YOUR Income Through Back of the Room Sales! Bands do it, Speakers do it, Touring theatre shows do it and so should YOU! Back of room sales can double the income you receive for a show, that's a fact. In this insider workshop you'll learn what to sell, how to sell it, how much to sell it for, when and where to sell and more. You'll see samples from Tim's BOR (Back of Room) products as well as learn what makes them sell. Also in this master class, Tim will share for the first time how he sells in schools. This alone is worth 10 times the cost of the entire class and it's easy - just show up with the product and pick up your extra money! This is the one class that you can make your money back tenfold in just one show. If you really want to learn the secrets of back of room sales, you don't want to miss this master class! Joshua Quinn Date & time: Sunday 14th March 2010 Venue: Customs House Cost: £60.00 Joshua will present a workshop on his acclaimed gimmickless, examinable, self-linking business card effect, Conjunction. Attendees will receive personalized, hands-on instruction in folding and tearing a card into a topologically impossible object, as well as a copy of the manuscript, and a supply (100 cards' worth) of the ideal card stock to use for their own cards. As an added bonus, you'll also receive a new product being offered for the first time at the Festival: a professionally printed set of the often-requested True/False game cards (which can force a True or False outcome at any time) described in the book ParaLies. -------------------------------------------- 16. Sid Lorraine's Magical ChatterBox -------------------------------------------- Message by James Alan (Canada) Sid is making friends in Blackpool and is honoured by special performances from Owen Clark. Also featured is the cover story on Owen Clark from the June, 1904 issue of Staynon's Magic. Read the article here: http://bit.ly/dixQ9Z Follow Sid on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sidlorraine -------------------------------------------- 17. 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) -------------------------------------------- 18. 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. 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. 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