`* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #752 Date: Sunday 2nd May 2010 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Chris Cox - Mind Over Patter 3. Australia's Got Talent 4. World Magic Awards 2009 5. More Remarkable Magic - Nick Lewin #34 6. Wake Up! - #164 - Kyle Peron 7. Tony Brook In Conversation With Jason Andrews (Part3) 8. Jay Scott Berry - On Tour 2010 & 2011 9. KIDabra Conference News 10. "Kick The Trick" - Lecture By Loren Christopher Michaels 11. 1st Annual Fantasma Magic Auction 12. Trixy Magazine Now On CD-ROM 13. Sydney's New Parlour Magic Supper Club 14. Wild-Colombini Magic 15. e-zine Archives 16. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Highlight for the week would have to be watching UK comedy mentalist Chris Cox performing at the Auckland Comedy Festival which I really enjoyed - Refer item 2 - review of his show. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Chris Cox - Mind Over Patter -------------------------------------------- Message by Richard Webster (NZ) One entertainer enjoying a sell-out season at the Auckland Comedy Festival is Chris Cox (UK) who calls himself "the mind reader who can't read minds." Chris has an excellent stage presence, and is disarming, charming, zany and extremely funny. Many of the jokes were self-deprecating, involving his physique and surname. His presentations were well constructed, fast moving, and convincing. The highlight for me was a hilarious routine in which a volunteer from the audience put on different items of clothing, while Chris Cox, on the other side of a screen, simultaneously put on the same items. For a while it looked as if Chris had got it wrong, but he triumphed at the last moment. The UK "Guardian" said Chris was "one of the most exciting entertainers in Britain." Ricky Gervais said, "He's brilliant. He'll blow your mind." I agree. Chris' show has been so popular that he's returning to Auckland for two extra shows on May 14th and 15th. -------------------------------------------- 3. Australia's Got Talent -------------------------------------------- Message by Ray Haddad (Aust) Perth magician Adam Murby and his sister Selina have wowed the judges on Australia's Got Talent last Tuesday. All three judges gave a resounding Yes vote to the couple who performed two of Adam's own illusions. You can watch their next round on Tuesday, 4 May, 2010 on Channel 7. You can also sign up for up-to-the-minute news on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Adam-and-Selina-Australias-Got-Talent-2010/110815618955691?v=wall This is one of the most exciting magic related things to happen in Perth and, indeed, Australia! Adam and Selina are the first illusionists to ever make it into the finals of Australia's Got Talent! Support them by watching the show! Want more information on Adam and Selina? Go to http://www.murbz.com.au You can see why for yourself. As Danni Minogue says, "Yes, I would love to see you again!" So will you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpQPuPyDTl8 -------------------------------------------- 4. World Magic Awards 2009 -------------------------------------------- Executive Producer, Gay Blackstone would like to announce the Network Television re-airing of World Magic Awards 2009 Thursday, April 29th on My Network Channel 13 in Los Angeles (Check Local Listings in your area) This exciting 2-Hour event is a "revamped" version of the special that aired previously this year, with several new elements that have been added including new sound! We invite you and your family to watch this exciting Magical Event hosted by Robert Wagner and Jill St. John featuring some of the World's Greatest Magicians! -------------------------------------------- 5. More Remarkable Magic - Nick Lewin #32 -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) Time to move on. Well, I have spent a thrilling few weeks traveling around in Europe dodging volcanic ash. I am sorry to have missed a week (did anyone notice?) but things were really chaotic. When I return to Las Vegas I am putting into effect the next stage of my career. I have traveled enough and done enough shows for this lifetime! I've been very lucky to enjoy the blessing of two of the greatest mentors in comedy magic: Ken Brooke and Billy McComb. I have also worked full time in magic for 40 years and it is becoming time to think about retiring somewhat from performing and expand upon my writing, teaching and videos. It is time to upload my knowledge, however, I plan to do so in a rather unusual and unique manner. During my 40 years I have performed for Presidents and Royalty, opened for major stars, made over 60 television appearances, had my own on-man show in Las Vegas for five years (the very first) had a TV and radio series, won awards, headlined in the VERY best comedy clubs for 16 years, worked the classiest cruise ships afloat, made a ton of money in corporate work and made a wonderful living while still finding time to raise a great family. I have been very lucky, however, if you think it is all luck then you are asleep and dreaming! Billy McComb referred to me as "Nick Lewin my mate, who makes the big bucks!" I am now going to be releasing the information that has made this a reality. I am going to be selective though and I do not want to dilute this information by tossing it out too freely. I am beginning with a series of seminars on the 'Multiplying Martinis,' The 'Himber Linking Finger Rings' and the 'Elmsley Newspaper Tear.' These three tricks are at the heart of the act that has kept me working and making money for many years. All of them can be found somewhere in some form, but what I am offering is a hands on A-Z personal coaching. I will cover details that people who have written books on these tricks know nothing about. I can cut the learning curve off anyone wanting to make money and work as a comedy magician by a decade! We are talking more than tricks here. This Spring I am giving a seminar in Las Vegas on the 'Multiplying Martinis' that will assure those attending an effect they can close shows with for the rest of their lives. Please contact me if you are really interested in what I am offering. As my favorite philosopher once said, "I have really good leather, if you want to make shoes." Some of my routines will only include TV performing rights for my early students. Other routines will be offered more freely to a larger market. I am going to accept a handful of students who want to learn from my experience and use it to make a fine living. I am going to help them with act development and introducing them into work that I have been performing. I have always kept a low profile in the magic world because performing for magicians doesn't pay the bills. Now I am ready to tip the real work. I have been very impressed with Jeff McBride's Mystery School. He has it right. I plan to work with smaller groups and customize their curriculum. Please do not be offended if I chose not to work with you, I am much more interested in getting it right than in big numbers. It is not within everyone's ability to be a professional comedy magician. Comedy is not easy, but believe me "Funny is Money!" Please contact me if you are interested in knowing more. My email is Nicklewin1@mac.com or nicklewin@aol.com And I will look forward to hearing from serious candidates for what I have to offer. It will be Work, but it will also be fun and you will have the ability to end up with a real act, not just a series of tricks. You will also learn how to market it and make it profitable. If this is not something that is of interest to you personally please forward this column to someone who will benefit from it. Very best wishes, Nick Lewin. http://web.mac.com/nicklewin1/NickLewin.com/Making_Money.html -------------------------------------------- 6. Wake Up! - #164 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com poofersgrl@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com Many times you will experience an audience that seems or appears to be asleep. These are the shows where you get no reactions, no clapping, not much laughter and no interaction. They appear to be just watching you and nothing more. In many cases it may not always be your show or routines. Sometimes it is and you must be willing to evaluate that. But if your material plays well and you have this experience happen, then it is safe to say that the audience is "asleep". This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes audiences are tired. Sometimes they have no idea who you are and so are waiting to learn more about you. If they are children, they may have been told to be polite and keep quiet. Even more, some audiences simply have no idea how to react to you. These reasons (and more) do happen and when we notice them it is up to us as performers to really strive to wake the audience up. We can do this in several ways but the first starts with YOU. YOU must be expressing that you are there to have a good time and you must be awake yourself. Audiences can and do read performers the moment they step on stage. If you are not having fun, they can tell and will notice. You have to be awake and being alive and show enthusiasm first before you can expect your audiences to give it back to you. They want to see a smiling face and the energy you possess. I believe that energy can be passed onto an audience if you first display it yourself. If you can get to know the audience a bit before the show starts, that is always one way to wake them up. This may even be a simple "hi how are you" or a wave to someone who walks by. It may be answering a person's question with interest. Having the chance to get them to know you a bit more ahead of time, can help the audience to become alive when the show starts. They have a sense for who you are before you step out to perform and already feel a connection with you. Sometimes audiences may simply be tired. They can be tired from walking around a festival or maybe it is a show that is late at night. That is fine and you need to realize this does happen from time to time. However, as a performer, you can liven things up a bit and wake them up to get them connecting and involved in the show on a more personal level. They want to have fun, but you need to let them know they can and put that spark in them to liven up and engage with you. How do you do this? You can often do this through a comical warm up of sorts at the beginning of the show. Really engage them by getting them to interact with you. It could be a series of questions they are to raise their hands if they agree. But you make it funny so that the audience has fun with it. There are so many ways to make this interesting so that it suits your character and style for the show. The idea is interaction with them all at an early stage in the show and engaging them immediately. If they are children, often times adults will tell their kids to sit quietly and be polite. When this happens, the kids will not react the way you want them to simply for fear that it is not allowed. This is where you need to break down that notion by letting them know it is OK to react, how to react and that it is OK to have fun with you. You show them what is expected and get them to realize interaction is a positive thing that you encourage. The biggest problem is many audiences simply have no idea how to react properly to you. Many times an audience does not even know how to applaud you properly. They also may not know how to applaud an audience helper on stage. These are areas where you need to teach and show them how to do it. One thing I like to do is bring a helper on stage. If the applause is weak I can say something like, "Wait a second here. Hold on. We just brought Jan up on stage and I do not think she got proper audience applause. I mean in a minute she is going to be the STAR of the show and you are going to love her. BUT not sure if she will be able to deliver her caliber talent without a deserving round of applause. Tell you what, we will pretend I did not pick her yet. Jan will stand over there, I will select her again and when I do, you guys go nuts. Go crazy. Totally freak out as if you were at a concert. OK let's try this and see what happens." Now this works for me and my character and you have to develop what works for you. However, in a very comical manner I am 1) getting the audience to really applaud the person 2) I am teaching them that I want them to react strongly throughout the show and 3) I am bringing praise to the helper and making them feel great before we begin the routine. By doing so the audience is more connected with me as is the helper. The audience starts to wake up of sorts. I hope these tips and techniques help you to develop your own ways to wake an audience up from the very start of your show and keep them alert throughout and applauding you at the end for a show they very much enjoyed. 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. I would like to let everyone know that I just released a NEW book and E-Book to the magic Community. "Blue and Gold! The Complete Guide to Working The Scout Market!" is now available as a soft cover printed book as well as an ebook download. http://www.magicenhancer.com/Blue/Gold.html - "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. Tony Brook in Conversation with Jason Andrews (Part3) ------------------------------------------ Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA TB: Thanks for including me in your list. Truly appreciated. I also have to tell you that you are bringing back some great memories for me. I vividly recall being taken to see 'Showgirls of Magic' in the same year you met Steve. Ariann and Frank took us. After the show they introduced my family and I to Steve, Antonio Hoyos and the rest of the cast. We had fun hanging out and over the next few days Steve entertained us Royally and even took us to meet great Vegas illusion builders. And of course, we got to eat too! Those who know Steve will know he likes his dining!!!! I've been on the bill at The SAM and TAOM with him over the last few years and more recently hung out with him in Vegas. I'm not going to chat more on this because ...it's a secret .but several of the above mentioned names are also part of this In Conversation Series ... Anyway, changing the subject , when we were in Vegas last , you kindly picked me & EJ up at the airport and indeed drove us around to a few places; I want to talk about your License Plate: ON IN 5. Cool PR. Share the story .... JA: Ha! Ha! Ha! I love this subject Tony. The ON IN 5 license plates are what we call, in the U.S., vanity plates. When a vehicle is registered you can pay extra to have your plates say something specific. They are EXTREMELY common in Las Vegas but rarely seen in the rest of the country. I think people in Las Vegas like the attention they attract, I know I do! ON IN 5, I also recently discovered, is a golfing term as well! I got the saying from my days at LVA. Backstage, as you know, whether on a movie set or production show, the Stage Manager always gives "time calls" to let the cast know how much time is left before the curtain goes up. You know, the half hour call, 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 and 5 minutes. ON IN 5 - The 5 minute call is truly when everyone, including myself, leaps into action setting props last minute, touching up make-up, making sure your fly is zipped up, and making sure all of your loads are secure in their clips! On In 5, for me is truly what SHOW BUSINESS is, "the hurry up and wait", the panic, the buzz, the high, the rush, just before the gratification. So every time I look at my license plates or receive a compliment on them, it reminds me of one of the million things I LOVE about show business. TB: I know exactly what you mean. That last call is truly a buzz. Really cool that you have those plates. Subtle, but everyone still knows it's your car! Let's chat about your forthcoming Magic Castle gig. As you know, Christian Doleshall, EJ and I took a quick trip to The Castle to have dinner with Gay Blackstone. Wonderful place. I must also sing the praises of The Castle Hotel. As most of us know, Jack Goldfinger has taken over from Max Maven and you told us earlier that he invited you to perform there later this year. Without revealing too much, can you share with us in very general terms what you are likely to be performing? And by the way ! also when ? love to come over and catch your show. JA: It would be great to see you again Tony, and make some more magical memories! I will be doing about 15 minutes in The Palace of Mystery. I'm extending my "Classic Act" a few more minutes, adding in some more classics of magic that are rarely seen today and adding in some more critters. I can't say when I will be appearing there only because I haven't been given an exact date but the Gods are saying in spring time. TB: Cool! Keep us posted on that. Give us a heads-up nearer the time. I know you are a very quiet and modest person but it needs saying that you have quite deservedly been presented with several awards attesting to your skill as a Magical Entertainer. You won another in November. Share the story on that.... JA: Well Tony, as you referred to in your lecture there is the Show and there is the business and so I am constantly seeking for ways to promote myself as an Entertainer. I recently took part in Boyd Gaming's National Talent Competition and in November, I was presented my latest award. The 2009 Entertainer of the Year from the Boyd Gaming Corporation. My 20th award in total. I performed my new 70's Act. All my previous awards were for my Classic Act. TB: Congratulations. That is truly quite an accolade. I have to state that you are a prime example for Performers. The key to success is hard work and persistence. Not only do you hone your Magical skills and study our Art, you also work hard to promote yourself in making the business work for you. You have done so much already, what are your plans for the next few years? JA: Thank you, Tony. Next few years.well, I'm currently working on traveling, that is really the heart of all of my goals, traveling. After touring in 2007 and 2008, I realized that is what I want to do. I want to travel as often as possible. Touring or aboard ships. Another of my goals is to perform in Europe and Asia. I am constantly working on new material/illusions. My motto is "Being lucky is being ready when the opportunity presents itself". TB: I totally agree with that. There is much wisdom in your philosophy. Thank you Jason. Great having you as guest. It is good to know that the future of Magic is assured and safe in the hands of Performers such as yourself. My sincere good wishes for a dazzling career. (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 -------------------------------------------- 8. Jay Scott Berry - On Tour 2010 & 2011 -------------------------------------------- Message by Well howdy ya'll, Greetings from the beautiful Aussie bush, land of Kangaroos, Kookaburras and Koalas. Just enjoying the beautiful autumn weather and getting the wood chopped up for winter. Lots of news. First is that we're expecting a wee laddie to make his appearance any day now. We'll keep you posted as to his imminent arrival. Next, I'm (finally) releasing new DVDs this month - The Cloaking Device: Reloaded ;-) and Topits, Pockets & More. Both of these pick up where the current titles leave off with many new principles, effects and techniques. The new Topit DVD explains, for the first time ever, the inner workings of the side pocket slit, with Lisa's step-by-step instructions to sew these into your jacket. I also include the "Foiled Again", coin routine which has been such a hit with magicians and laypersons alike as well as many new Topit and sleeve loading techniques. Finally, after many requests, I'm re-releasing Candelyte, my classic floating flame on bill gimmick. I'm packaging it with a DVD which explains the entire floating flame routine, floating bill and more. For more info on these items, please see my website or email me at jsb@jayscottberry.com On the performing front, I'm planning 3 major world tours over the next year and a half, presenting Magic shows, Music Concerts and my new lecture, "The Delicate Sound of Wonder". Here's the basic schedule: In early June, I'll be flying off to Las Vegas, Louisville, Orlando and Ft Lauderdale. Continuing around the globe, I'll be in Kuala Lampur, Macau, Hong Kong and Manila, ending up in Taiwan before coming back home in early July. In September, I'm off again for the US where I'll be headlining the Houdini Convention in Wisconsin on Labor Day Weekend. From there, I'll be heading to Branson for a few concerts on the way to the Independent Country Stampede in Bandera TX. From there, it's back to Las Vegas, then on to Long Beach for a lecture and workshop. Next on the schedule is a weekend in Lake Tahoe before heading off to Irvine, Tucson, Phoenix, Little Rock and San Antonio, ending up at H&R Books in Humble, TX on October 9th. From there, I'll be going south of the border for the Mexico City Magic Simposio, hosted by my good friend Chen Kai on October 15 - 17th. Continuing on, I'll be flying off for magic and music in Singapore and then heading on to Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali. Back in Oz, I'm booked in as a feature act on the Canberra Country Music Festival, November 12-14th. In January, for the 2nd year in a row, I'm producing the show on one of the central stages at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. I'll also be performing 2 shows daily, with a lively mix of music and magic. After a month or so to catch my breath, it's on the road again for an extensive European and UK tour. To kick it off, I'll be headlining the San Marino Magic Festival, March 11-13th. From there I'll head up through Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland on my way to England. On April 3rd, I'll be headlining the Wessex Magic Association Convention. Two weeks later, I'm scheduled to headline the Northern Magic Circle Convention. I'll be staying in the UK and Ireland for 2 months, lecturing and performing. Already booked are 20 or so lectures as well as numerous shows, concerts and workshops. So, all that said, If you'd like more info on any of these presentations, feel free to contact me or visit my websites. If you would like me to visit your club or event along the way, please let me know asap as this is all booking up quickly. I hope to see you...somewhere down the trail. Cheers, Jay www.jayscottberry.com www.JSBmusic.com -------------------------------------------- 9. KIDabra Conference News ------------------------------------------- Message by Mark Daniel One of the most highly anticipated events each year at KIDabra Conference is the Optional Biz Builders Seminar. Throughout the years at KIDabra, an amazing thing has happened: person after person has left with the knowledge, actually on fire, to go rev up their entertainment business. We are privy to an astounding number of success stories. This is an incredible testament to the fact that get rich quick is not preached here. Instead you get solid business techniques with cutting edge approaches from the real pros there to share. Optional Pre-Conference Biz Builder Classes August 10th & 11th Tuesday Evening August 10, 7:00 PM: The Biz Builder's Kickoff - Internet Success Tools for Today's Entertainer with Brad Ross and David Farr - So you have a website Great! By the way, the rules for your website have all just changed! There are powerful new marketing and promotional outlets at your disposal! Join Internet gurus Brad Ross, and making his first appearance at KIDabra Conference: David Farr, teaching you to easily implement tools like Youtube video, Facebook social networking and more. David Farr well known for his Amazing System and Brad Ross who has truly harnessed the power of this technology will be at your side with important info in a meaty 3 hour seminar. Brad and David will be straight out teaching, sharing and preparing you to compete in today's necessary Internet environment. Real world examples, easy to understand approach and their ability to help you "get it", combine to make this one of the most valuable evenings you'll spend this year! If you're serious about growing your performing business this is a vital Biz Building Seminar for you! Biz Builders kicks off with a seminar worth many times the cost and this is just for starters! Wednesday, August 11 The Impact of TV for KIDshow performers: Emanuel Shabum - Emanuel is a star to kids all over Puerto Rico who know him from his Shabum show. With him discover the secrets of TV magic and learn about the impact of TV on children. Shabum will talk about his more than 12 years of experience producing and performing on children television shows and also share secrets of how to be successful performing magic on TV. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, and be prepared for when your chance to appear on TV comes along. Some of the participants will have the opportunity to perform live on camera and get feedback from Shabum. So what are you waiting for, get your acts ready.......lights, camera SHABUM!!!!! Come spend quality time with a likable performer and entrepreneur actually living the dream! New Sound Developments: Joe Lefler - Good sound is critical to what we do as performers. This year our resident sound guru Joe Lefler brings us the latest up to the minute developments on New Technology In Sound Equipment. With tech changing as fast as it is, a working performer needs to stay abreast of the changes. Learn about the new laws affecting wireless frequency (of which there is much confusion), the new more powerful and less expensive types of sound equipment, and all the other things you need to know to make your show sound the best it can possibly be. Plus BJ Hickman with 50 ideas in 50 Minutes and more to come!!!!! Optional Biz Builders starts Tuesday Evening Aug 10th & All Day Wednesday the 11th, 2010, Find registration info and full details at kidabra.org. Your Business will love you for it!!!!! Plus, see all the "Incredible" happenings throughout the KIDabra KIDshow world at kidabra.org -------------------------------------------- 10. "Kick The Trick" - Lecture By Loren Christopher Michaels -------------------------------------------- Message by Enrico de la Vega (US) **All of the proceeds from this DVD are going towards the medical bills of our good friend and Loren's former manager, Kelly Thomas, who is in the hospital after recently suffering from complete kidney failure. Our thoughts go out to her and your support is greatly appreciated. http://lcmichaelsmagic.webs.com/ "Kick the Trick" Lecture DVD - by Loren Christopher Michaels Loren Christopher Michaels has been a mainstay in the world of magic for over 35 years. His unique method of teaching magic has produced some greats in the world of magic. He has taught and consulted with such notable performers as: Cyril Takayama, Julianna Chen, Danny Cole, Nicholas Night, Joel Ward, Ava Do, Enrico de la Vega, Thomas Meier, Lisa de la Vega, Jason Byrne, Apollo, Billy McComb, and many.many.more! He has appeared on Masters of Illusions, The Great Magic of Las Vegas, Scare Tactics, Stargate Atlantis, Quantum Leap, CNN Entertainment, and in such films as: If Looks Could Kill, Pyrates, Mom and Dad Save the World, Bamboozled, and The Howling. He was the magic consultant and created illusions for the NBC show T.H.E.M. - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic, and co-created Ring in Ice Cube for Thomas Meier (F.I.S.M. Winner) and David Copperfield. Effects: Band-It Flash Cigarette Production Brain Seltzer Ring-String-Capital Gain Bizarre Monte Enquiring Minds Contact: LCMichaels@aol.com Website: http://lcmichaelsmagic.webs.com/ -------------------------------------------- 11. 1st Annual Fantasma Magic Auction -------------------------------------------- Message by Roger Dreyer CEO Fantasma The Latest. The Greatest. The Oldest. The Rarest. All for sale to the highest bidder! Whether you're looking to buy that elusive illusion. or looking to sell you're one-of-a-kind card trick. Fantasma has you covered! Do some Spring cleaning. Clear out your closets. Unload some magic to make room for more! This is not fundraiser. This is not for a charity. This is for the magic community to spend some time together, collect great magic, make some money and have some fun! Admission is FREE, all are welcome to attend, seating is on a first come-first serve basis - however, this is a PRIVATE event - only members of the magic community will be allowed to bid. or have items up for sale. Phone Bids will NOT be allowed, but bidding by proxy is acceptable. Buyers: a partial catalog of items on the block will be made available one week before the auction. The catalog will include a complete description and a photo. Sellers: We don't care if your items are new or old as long as it is of interest to other magicians. Auction Fees are 20% of price realized or 10% for items over a thousand dollars. To have your item be considered for the auction you must contact Nelson Lugo at 212.244.3633 or nelson@fantasmamagic.com with the Your Name, the Item, Item Name, Your Minimum, Current Value and Condition. Items brought after May 1st and up to the day of the auction will be placed in the second half of the event. Have A Fun Time At Fantasma! FAQ How are you determining who can attend? The event is open to everyone and there is no admission fee - however, only members of the magic community will allowed to bid... or have items up for auction Will the auction be online as well? No, this particular event is an in-shop only auction. However, Fantasma does occasionally offer various items up for bid on EBay. Also, phone bids will NOT be allowed, but bidding by proxy is acceptable Will there be an online catalog? There are no plans for an online catalog - a partial catalog will be printed and made available one week before the auction. The catalog can emailed if you are unable to get to the shop prior to May 2nd. Is there a minimum value for an Item to be entered into the auction? There is no minimum value for inclusion in the auction - however, please note that auction fees are 20% of price realized (or 10% for items over a thousand dollars) Just curious, how to you vet bidders? Well, between all of us here at the shop, we know all of the NYC magician's and the magic notables from around the country. I suppose if you're coming in from out-of-state and no one here knows you... someone could vouch for you, or you could shows us a club member ID, business card or even perform a classic pass ;) Given this era of EBay, why charge a 20% fee? Is there something I am missing? Well, EBay can afford lower fees because of the shear volume of items being sold every day, there are thousands of transactions happening ever hour. From what I can tell 20% is the standard fee for live-in-person auctions. Do you provide advice about suggested reserves and estimate final values? This event is a pretty causal affair and no one here is an expert (except for the shop owner Roger). A simple Google search could help in most situations. Also, please bear in mind that the condition of your item will affect the price. Fantasma Magic 421 7th Avenue - 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001 212 244-3633 Please visit our website to see the latest magic items. www.Fantasmamagic.com Thank you for your support! -------------------------------------------- 12. Trixy Magazine Now On CD-ROM -------------------------------------------- Message by Martin Breese (UK) Martin Breese Introduces The Trixy Magazine Now On CD-Rom Back in the 1940s a lot of young magical enthusiasts like me joined the Boy Magicians' Club in Prestatyn, North Wales. The club was run by a Mr Rees who I believe was not only a magician but also performed a marionette show. Mr Rees produced the Trixy - a wonderful little magic magazine - and from this magazine many of us young enthusiasts learnt the basics of magic. Eddie Burke was a member and a lot of us older magicians were subscribers. Perhaps Terry Herbert as well. I must ask him. Once we started to subscribe to the magazine and had joined the Boy Magicians' Club we were entitled to wear a little button badge portraying a rabbit coming out of a hat. It was printed in black on a white background, I think. The Trixy was a little unusual in that it consisted of 24 monthly issues but none of the issues were dated. As soon as you joined the club you would receive issue number one and a month later issue number two and so on until you had received a total of 24 monthly issues. I believe that at times you were allowed to buy two or three issues in one go. A few years ago I was able to purchase a small collection of Trixy magazines (at a very high price indeed and now lost by my scanning people in India) and I noticed that there were, in some instances, slightly different duplicate copies of the magazines in the set of 24 which meant that over the years Mr Rees changed and modified the magazines as they were published. I don't seem to remember that the changes were substantial but they were there. Mr Rees also issued a wonderful catalogue of magic and I worked my way through it over several years and bought my very first tricks in this way. The set of 24 issues of the Trixy and the catalogue of magic are reproduced here on this CD-Rom and I have a very strong suspicion that the release of this CD-Rom is going to take a lot of magicians - who like me were young lads in the 1940s - on a long and happy trip down memory lane. I learnt so many tricks from the Trixy; the Cut and Restored Rope routine that I learnt so many years ago came from the Trixy. Some of my purchases from the Boys Magic Service included an Evaporated Milk Jug, a Finger Chopper, the plans for making a Tip-Over Box, the Multiplying Billiard Balls, Wine & Water, a Ghost Tube for 8/6d and most lavish of all Finding the Lady at 10/6d. It had three houlette with holes cut though from front to back and the three houlettes had a common stand as well. How many cards were there in each houlette ..one or two? Oh that would be telling. Did one card in each of the houlettes have a big hole through its centre? Could be but I am not saying!! I have to thank two very good friends for helping me to make this project a reality. The first is Neville Wiltshire who was the first to release copies of the Trixy on a CD some years ago and who has been wonderful with his help and support and the second is Dr Michael Colley who has painstakingly worked his way through every word in the magazines to produce an amazing and highly detailed Index. Thank you both so much for helping when help was certainly needed. The world of magic is a very special world. Some of us are rivals attempting to outdo each other with our travels into the world of illusion and fantasy but then again many of us are willing to help each other without thought of gain or recognition. I have met so many incredible people in magic and it is truly a fraternity or brotherhood of those with similar ideas and pursuing a similar aim. Some of the people I have known in magic were also Trixy enthusiasts and I am sure that most of them awaited the arrival of their monthly copy of the Trixy as if it was the most important thing in the world and to us it was really the most important thing in the world. The war had not been long over and we young men in most instances had been deprived of some of the joys of good living as the bombs fell near our homes and most nights when the sirens sounded we all had to march down to the nearest shelter. For us the Trixy was our world of escape and a real kind of magic for us. We were Boy Magicians and we wore out little black and white badges saying just that with great pride. We all had something that so many other people of our age did not have and that was Magic! I learnt so much from the Trixy and if I could have ever traced Mr Rees the owner of the Boys' Magic Service I would have thanked him so warmly for doing what he did for me and so many other young lads. I tried very hard to find him starting about 20 years ago and my first port of call was Donald Bevan the editor of Abracadabra. He knew very little about Mr Rees but felt that he had gone to Australia with his family and it was Donald who also mentioned that Mr Rees was also a puppeteer. I believe I also read somewhere - perhaps in Abracadabra - that one of the Boy Magicians had made a trip to the headquarters of the Boys Magic Service but I cannot remember anything more than that. Eddie Burke the mentalist and top magic dealer was certainly a member and I think Terry Herbert was as well. Perhaps when the Trixy comes out with this slight introduction from me it will spark off some memories and I will be able to add more thoughts and facts to this as they information comes in. That is one of the joys of CD-Roms and the eBooks that are fast replacing conventional books. They can be upgraded and changed so easily. Two names stand out from the pages of the Trixy for me and they are Kenneth Calder and David Williams. When I set out for South Africa with my parents - who had decided to seek a new life in South Africa - I was able to become friends with both of these South African boy magicians. That was all because the three of us were subscribers. I think that Ken Calder has passed on but I wonder what has happened to David. I used to visit his home at Sea Point one of the suburbs of Cape Town. He was older than me so I hope that he is still with us. I don't think that there has ever been anything as good for young magicians as the Trixy. It was well produced and had some very good ideas to convey to young magicians. Here is just one example from its pages: TAKE OUR ADVICE. And avoid using the words "ordinary" and "unprepared." It is a bad habit with a lot of conjurors to pick up a glass or a box, and say, "With this ordinary box . . . ." Quite a few also show a pack of cards, saying, "I shall now use this unprepared pack of cards." Both these phrases are poor and should be avoided. If you tell an audience a pack of cards (or any other item) is unprepared, it immediately tells them that you do use some things that are prepared, and it makes them suspicious of other items you may be using. So try at all times to avoid the words "ordinary" and " unprepared." The readers of the TRIXY today...... ......are the GOOD magicians of tomorrow. Here is the basic description of the Boy Magicians' Club: The Boy Magicians' Club, Prestatyn (Wales, UK) With the largest Membership in the British Isles, our Boy Magicians Club is acknowledged to be the finest Club for young conjurors. Upon being enrolled, you receive a Rabbit-in-hat Badge, a Magic Wand, an attractive Members Certificate, and a membership card. Every month you can also obtain your copy of the Club Magazine called the TRIXY, which teaches you stage tricks, and gives you advice on arranging your programme, etc., etc. The Magazine also prints photographs of all the famous stage Magicians, photographs of Members, runs Magical competitions, gives cash awards to young inventors, rewards Members who receive newspaper reports of their concerts, and in many other ways helps you to become a really popular magician. Well Mr Rees of Prestatyn Wales . thank you so much for guiding me and helping me to become a kind of magician. Well ... a magic dealer really and thank you for inspiring so many young lads. Those of us who are still alive will surely be eternally grateful to you and your wonderful Trixy magazine. Note: I have registered the domain names Theboymagiciansclub.com and theboymagiciansclub.co.uk and this website will devoted to helping young kids. As kids seem not to read comics but handle computers better than their dads there will be cheap downloads of the issues of this magazine for them to have and at the end of the course of 24 magazines they will receive the Digital Trixy free of charge as well. Anyone want to help? Please email Martin Breese on mbreese999@aol.com but won't be able to reply immediately to any responses until I get back from Thailand on June 1st. My website address is www.abracadabra.co.uk -------------------------------------------- 13. Sydney's New Parlour Magic Supper Club -------------------------------------------- Message by Bruce Glen (Aust) The format for my magic performances at The Hughenden has changed (for the better, we think!) The show - on the last Thursday of every month - now starts at 9:00pm (previously 8:00pm). Cost is now $30.00pp and includes The Hughenden Sweet Treats Plate plus coffee/tea. Of course, you can still come along earlier for dinner before the show at the excellent Quaife's Restaurant .. and stay behind for a drink in the parlour afterwards. Next Show: Thursday 29 April Bookings can now also be made online at: functions@thehughenden.com.au Or by phone: 9363 4863 (Further details below) Cheers, Bruce Glen M.M.C. -------------------------------------------- 14. Wild-Colombini Magic -------------------------------------------- Message by Message by Derek Lever (UK) Wild-Colombini Magic Aldo and Rachel Colombini will be lecturing at Blackpool Magicians' Club on Friday, 7th May. Aldo and Rachel are popular lecturers at magic conventions around the world for their routines cover a wide variety of topics presented with humour and anecdotes. It promises to be an evening of fun and entertainment liberally spiced with a wide variety of tricks you will want to add to your repertoire. The lecture starts at 8pm (doors open 7pm) and entry is free to all members and associates of the Blackpool Magicians' Club. Log on to Blackpoolmagic.com for details of membership and associate membership. -------------------------------------------- 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. 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