* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #767 Date: Sunday 27th June 2010 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Magic Newswire Podcasts 3. How Did He Get $54 Million In Debt? 4. "Make Believe" - The Documentary Film 5. Mindmapping For Magicians 6. More Remarkable Magic - Nick Lewin #42 7. Smile! You're Supposed To Be Having Fun #171 - Kyle Peron 8. Tony Brook in Conversation with Harry Maurer (Part 3) 9. Kind Comments Regarding My In Conversation Series 10. Las Vegas Magic - July, 2010 11. British Ring Convention News 12. New Museum Exhibit Gives Chicago's Magical Legacy 13. Innovention 2010 14. The Blackpool Magic Convention 2011 15. Houdini Flying In Australia 16. Online Show Called The 'Wizard Product Review' 17. 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 18. e-zine Archives 19. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- This week I started listening to the Dodd Vickers Magic Newswire Podcasts which I found to be very interesting and informative. Congratulations! Dodd you have done a great job and for more information view item 2. Have really enjoyed the great company of TC & Lesley Tahoe while they have been in New Zealand over the last three months. They are planning a return visit and hopefully a long term stay from December this year. ----------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Magic Newswire Podcasts -------------------------------------------- Message from Dodd Vickers I started the LinkingPage.com website in 1994 while working for a local internet service provider. At the time it was simply a database of links to other magic related websites, which as you can imagine were few and far between at the time. As various news services came online, I started a section of the site for magic related news stories which I called the Magic Newswire. In 2005, I started playing with the idea of a magic podcast. This has now evolved into two primary shows that we produce in the same feed. There is also a "Magic Newscast" which is only delivered when we have someone doing live interviews from a convention or other magic related event. The first and original format is "The Spirit of Magic" which is a one on one interview with some of magic's top performers and creators. The other is a more casual, round table style discussion which I describe as a group of magicians hanging out in the bar after a magic convention talking to friends and sharing war stories. "This Week in Magic" is a much more casual and loose conversation which is co-hosted by myself, David Kaye, Scott Wells, Chase Goforth and Cameron Ramsay. Most recently, we've been joined by Rudy Coby who will be an occasional guest co-host on the show. As of today, when I posted the 195th "Spirit of Magic" podcast which was an interview with Dick Cavett, I have produced a total of 264 shows for a total of more than 400 hours of content. A few of the names that have been featured on the show are Jim Steinmeyer, David Berglas, Tony Curtis, Neil Patrick Harris, David Williamson, David Blaine, Lance Burton, Harry Anderson, Max Maven, John Calvert, Jon Racherbaumer, Mark Wilson, Mac King, Harry Lorayne and the list goes on. All my best and keep listening! - cheers - ============================ Dodd Vickers Editor: http://www.MagicNewswire.com Podcast : http://bit.ly/magicnews -------------------------------------------- 3. How Did He Get $54 Million In Debt? -------------------------------------------- Message by Mick Peck (NZ) Las Vegas Weekly Magician Steve Wyrick built a career on a so-so act. How did he get $54 million in debt? Balance of the story go to: http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/jun/17/strange-magic/ -------------------------------------------- 4. "Make Believe" - The Documentary Film -------------------------------------------- Message by Bill Wells Here is the link for the trailer for "Make Believe" - the documentary film that Firefly Productions has been filming during the teen program at the World Magic Seminar the last two years. I thought you might like to see it. The film is premiering in Los Angeles at the LA Film Festival next week. It is the story of six different teen magicians as they prepare for and compete in the WMS Contest in Las Vegas and Firefly has done a superb job. This film may well be an award winner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXbHVZngatw -------------------------------------------- 5. Mindmapping For Magicians ------------------------------------------- Message by Barry Khoo (Malaysia) A Magic Lecture by Alan Wong Created by Tony Buzan, Mindmapping has been learned by millions of people around the world for over 30 years to enhance mental literacy - learn how to use the full potentials of our brains in more effective ways. As an active magician and a Buzan licensed Mindmapping instructor, Alan Wong will teach you the basic techniques to Mindmapping and how you can apply this knowledge to enhance your creativity through radial thinking and right brain exercises. He will also share some of his new magic effects developed as a result of applying Mindmapping process. At the end of this lecture, you will be able to draw your own original Mindmaps, apply Mindmapping principles to enhance your creativity, develop your own routines and work out new magical ideas. The session will contain interactive exercises that allow each participant to have hands on learning through experience and participation. Alan strongly believes Mindmapping can help you to reach higher potentials and that creativity can be developed in everyone. Don't miss this great opportunity to join million others who have learned this fantastic tool and first time lecture by a certified Mindmapping instructor and Magic Inventor! Dealer Room After the lecture, the lecture hall will turn into an International Dealer's Room showcasing selected magic products from around the world for sale at a discount. Date: 17th July, 2010, Saturday Time: 2pm to 6pm Tickets: RM70/= RM90/= (after 5th May, 2010 or at the door) Venue: Nutmeg Room 1, Level 2, Berjaya Georgetown Hotel 1-Stop Midlands Park, Burma Road 10350 Penang, Malaysia For more details and tickets, kindly contact: Barry Khoo Barrini Magical Productions TEL: 012-4833-420 Email: barrini.magic@gmail.com -------------------------------------------- 6. More Remarkable Magic - Nick Lewin #42 -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) Back in the early eighties I was busy crossing the country and headlining in comedy clubs in nearly every state. It was a busy and enjoyable period of my life and resulted in many memorable highlights. This is one of them. I often seemed to end up in New Jersey and played nearly every club in the state. The most prosperous and prestigious club was in the city of Orange and it was quite a feather in the cap for a magician to headline there. This is where my story begins. This particular club boasted a menu that included gourmet Italian entrees that cost upwards of forty dollars: quite a change from the nachos and chicken wings that usually predominated in comedy clubs from coast to coast. There was a general feeling among performers that this particular club was a little different from most of the others we played. There were a great many 'Goodfella's' and mob jokes that disappeared like magic from comedian's acts when they performed in the club. It wasn't anything you knew for certain but it certainly was a widely held view that this was a smart step for performers to follow. Nobody spoke about it, it just happened. I'm sure you catch my drift. In the middle of one of my engagements the owner of the club approached me after the show and asked me if I performed a kid's birthday party show. I said that I hadn't done so for years; he replied that I was doing one on Saturday afternoon. I tried to look happy as I said "OK." The next day I made a fast visit to Tannen's and picked up modeling balloons, mouth coils and a set of 'Hippity Hop Bunnies.' I now felt somewhat prepared for my first kid's show in many years. I wasn't looking forward to it but I did feel prepared. Now if I could just remember how to twist a darn poodle! Saturday afternoon arrived and at the appointed time so did a long black limousine. I jumped in the back and we drove several miles to the party location. As soon as we pulled up at our destination I gulped and felt slightly sick. We were parked in front of a large empty space with a small Italian restaurant situated in the very center of the lot. At each of the four corners of the lot was a large black sedan. Standing next to each vehicle was a brace of burly men wearing dark glasses and dark suits. Even a casual glance at them was intimidating. As we pulled into the lot two of the burly men came over to the limo and looked inside. I was motioned to get out of the car and then escorted to the door of the restaurant. Inside the entrance were two more burly men dressed in the same uniform. One of these men escorted me to a small room next to the kitchen and said; "I'll get you when we're ready." I peeped out into the dark restaurant and it was filled with expensively dressed men and women. There was a head table that ran crosswise at one edge of the room. It looked a little like the last supper recreated by Martin Scorsese. At the centre of the table was a powerful looking elderly gentleman who looked just like all the other men in the room but more so. When the man who had escorted me to the room returned to tell me it was showtime I took the opportunity to ask him where the birthday girl was. "Sitting right there," and he indicated with a jerk of his thumb, a lady on the head table. She looked like she was in her early to mid-forties but the way she was sitting next to that focal figure of power at the center of the table spoke volumes. On the table In front of her was an elaborate birthday cake complete with candles. It was apparent that his was very much Daddy's little girl! I performed my show, minus the 'Hippity Hop Bunnies,' but I did make my very best fancy poodle and presented it to the birthday girl. She seemed very happy to receive it and even more importantly her dad grunted in approval as I handed it over. Minutes after my performance had ended to polite applause I was escorted out of the restaurant. As I left I noticed a nervous looking juggler, complete with clubs in hand, peering out of the small room next to the kitchen that I had recently vacated. "Good luck" I thought as I made my exit from the scene. The man who escorted me out of the restaurant to the waiting limo spoke only four words; "You done good kid." and he slipped a hundred dollar bill into my hand. I got into the limo and we sped away into the hot New Jersey night like something from a Bruce Springsteen song. I breathed a sigh of relief. I still have slight shudders anytime I see a set of 'Hippity Hop Bunnies.' -------------------------------------------- 7. Smile! You're Supposed To Be Having Fun #171 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com poofersgrl@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com As a family entertainer, it is safe to say that you probably know more about presenting a party or event than the person actually hiring you. If you have performed enough, you simply cannot ignore the amount of information you absorb and the understanding you achieve of what works and what does not. However, why not utilize this information to give the client a solution that exceeds their expectations? Every single client books you because they have a need or problem they are seeking a solution for. The more of those problems you can solve, the better your perception and value becomes. Over the years I have developed a "survival guide" of sorts that I send out to family clients before the gig. It really is geared at showing them 1) that I am a professional, 2) that I care about them and the experience and 3) I am there to help them in any way I can to have a successful event. Here are just some of the many points I try and bring up: The Venue: Choose your venue carefully if it is not at your own home. You don't want one that's far too big, has no parking, has too much of an echo, or a large slippery floor. You also want to make sure the location inside the building is easy to get to for your guests. It is also a good rule of thumb to find out what services the place will provide to you and get that in writing from them. Kyle and Kelly have a lot of different venues and can recommend one for you in your area. The Guests: A great idea is to post a sign or tie balloons outside of the location of your party. This will help your guests, and Kyle and Kelly, to easily find the party location. Do not invite any more children than you or the facility can handle. Be prepared to send out invites and request RSVPs. Make sure to do a follow up a week prior to the event to get last minute totals. The Presents: It is a good rule of thumb to have the presents taken and placed in a location that is separate from the magic show. Presents can cause a distraction for the children and prevent them from enjoying the show that Kyle and Kelly put on. It is also a good rule of thumb to have the gifts opened at the end of the party. If the child sees something he or she really likes, it is often hard for them to leave that toy in order to do the other birthday party activities. Who's Who: It is a great idea to get some "Hello My Name Is" stickers and use them as the children and adults come to the party. This way all the children and parents will know who each other is. It also makes it easier for Kyle and Kelly to address folks by their proper names. Food and Drink: It is not preferred for the children to have access to food and drink during the duration of the magic show as it can cause a big distraction. It also runs the risk of a child spilling something or kids getting up and down to get more food during the show experience. Food and snacks should be saved for before or after the show itself. Photography and Video: Kyle and Kelly welcome you to take as many photos and video as you would like during the show itself. However, please try to be courteous of the performers and the helpers so as to not block views during the show. Kyle and Kelly's show is filled with wonderful photo opportunities, including a big one at the end of the show. Make sure your camera is ready and your batteries are charged. Fun and Games: As children show up at your event, it is a great idea to keep them entertained by doing some games with them. This gives the kids a chance to let out their energy and also gives them a chance to know each other better. It also helps you to better control the environment and gives Kyle and Kelly a chance to set up while the game/s are played in another room or outside. A fun game to play is to get kids teamed up and do a simple scavenger hunt. You can keep it simple and as fun as you would like and give the kids a time limit and present prizes at the end of the party for everyone. Order of The Party: We have found that having an order for the party makes it easier for you to have a successful event and helps keep things running smoothly. A good order for an event might be like this: everyone gets a name badge, warm up games as magician sets up, magic show, opening of presents, cake and ice cream or food and end with party favors and prizes for the guests. This works out quite well as a simple schedule that keeps things running smoothly. I hope that you will find these tips of help to you. Please keep in mind that this is what works for us based on our show and how we like to work. You may have to adapt your own survival tips to best meet your needs and the needs of your client. 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 -------------------------------------------- 8. Tony Brook in Conversation with Harry Maurer (Part 3) ------------------------------------------ Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA TB: You have continually received rave Press reviews and excellent Testimonials describing your shows as flexible, visual and memorable; obviously, these type of shows don't just happen overnight. They require meticulous planning and creativity. How do you go about that process? HM: I'll be the first to tell you that although I have some original routines in my shows, I am not an innovator. I consider myself a developer of material and I search for routines that not only appeal to me magically, but routines that allow me to present them either with a funny twist or in a way that that particular routine has never been presented before. For some reason, I am also not as prolific as I would like to be - probably because I am on the road constantly. It might surprise you to know that some of my newest and strongest routines have taken me up to two years to develop before I was able to put them onstage! But still, I manage to get about 10-15 minutes of good material into the show each year. I have one routine that I started working on nearly 20 years ago, but I couldn't finish it - it was missing something and I couldn't figure out what. I've learned that sometimes a routine needs a "gestation" period to develop, so I put it aside and years later, suddenly -- out of nowhere -- the solution came to me. and it made me laugh! That's how I know I have a funny routine or concept - it makes me laugh, and if it makes me laugh, 99.9% of the time it will make the audience laugh too! TB: That's a good yardstick to be guided by ..A well-known showbiz remark is, "Dying is easy; comedy is hard". I've known you for a while and we have often socialized together. Always impeccably dressed, you have an elegant, sartorial image and yet you manage to incorporate what has been described as "side-splitting hysterical" comedy. How do you blend the two facets? HM: "Hysterically Classy" - that's how I look at it! I've always had a funny streak to me and although I don't think I could do standup comedy without using magic, comedy is surprisingly easy for me - partly because of my distinctive voice and because of a quick wit that was developed when, as a kid working in nightclubs, patrons would try to heckle me and I would top them with a zinger! I think that's what I like most about live entertainment - working with an audience and taking whatever they are giving me and "playing" with it. Heck, I've even learned to get laughs when an audience member does nothing! Tony, you will recall, when you and I first met, I immediately noticed your stage clothes and I complimented you on it - it looked great, well-tailored, fitted you well and fitted your character perfectly! I bring that up because, how a Magical performer dresses on-stage, is important. It must fit the character. I worked with a comedian once - a real pro who had an impeccable tuxedo. It was not flashy in any way, but you couldn't help noticing it because it was made so well and fitted him so perfectly. I asked him about it and he sent me to his tailor who made a tuxedo for me -- mohair with a satin collar. It took 4 fittings and cost me over $1,500 - and that was in the mid 1980's when I think you could buy a house at that time for about $40,000. It was a lot of money for a tux! End of Part 3- (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. Kind Comments Regarding My In Conversation Series ------------------------------------------ Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA Many thanks to all for your kind comments regarding my In Conversation series. Last year we mentioned that after a few had run we would place them in full onto a special section of a major site. By kind permission of Steve Dacri Here's the link for that :- http://www.vegasinsidetips.com/TONYBROOK.html Future World Class Guests on the series will include:- Lupe Nielsen, Ariann Black, Tom Waldrop, Jay Scott Berry, Steve Dacri, Jeff McBride, Roy Zaltsman, Alan Watson, Nick Lewin, Ozlen Tuncer to name but a few. -------------------------------------------- 10. Las Vegas Magic - July, 2010 ------------------------------------------ Message by David Neubauer - www.dnmagic.com Magic Production Shows: Afternoon Magic Show starring Spike & Hammer 4 pm (Dark Mon. & Tue.) - Four Queens. www.spikeandhammer.com/afternoon.html Amazing Johnathan 9 pm (Dark Sun. & Mon.) - Planet Hollywood. Criss Angel - Believe 7 & 10:00 pm (Dark Sun. - Mon.) - Luxor. www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel David Copperfield - An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion Through Sept. 15 7:30 & 10 pm (also 4:30 Sat.) MGM Grand. www.mgm.admission.com/cgi/guide.cgi?l=EN Dixie Dooley - Master Mystifier 7:00 pm (Dark Sun. - Tue.) - Dixie Dooley's Theater of Magic, Royal Resort. www.houdiniexperience.com 2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/coupon_dixie_dooley.html Gerry McCambridge - The Mentalist 7:30 pm (Dark Wed.) - Planet Hollywood. www.mentalist.com Comp. Tickets: www.mentalist.com/_images/Ticket.pdf Jeff McBride's Wonderground 3rd Thurs. each month - The Olive Mediterranean (3850 E Sunset Rd). Hosted by Jeff McBride and featuring Guest Stars from around the World. www.vegaswonderground.com Streaming LIVE: www.streetofcards.tv Lance Burton, Master Magician 7 pm (Dark Sun. - Mon.) - Monte Carlo. CLOSING SEPTEMBER 4 2010 www.montecarlo.com/entertainment/lance.aspx Special Discount: Mention you want "The Special" at the box office to receive a 25% Discount. Mac King Comedy Magic Show 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) - Harrah's. www.mackingshow.com Free tickets (buy 1 drink) are usually available at the concierge desk or handed out occasionally by showgirls. Magical Mix Christopher Karpiak 7-10 pm (Dark Tues. - Sat.) - Mix Lounge at Mandalay Bay. www.mandalaybay.com/dining/mixlounge.aspx Free to locals until 9 pm. Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show 4 pm - Flamingo. www.nathanburton.com Special: Purchase show ticket and a Flamingo Paradise Garden Buffet meal for $29.95? from the Box Office. www.vegas4locals.com/couponnathanburtoncomedymagic.html Open Sesame Losander, Luna Shimada & Christian Diamond. 6:30 pm (Dark Wed. - Sat.) - Dixie Dooley's Theater of Magic, Royal Resort. www.OpenSesameTheShow.com 2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponopensesame.html Penn & Teller 9 pm, (Dark Thurs. - Fri.) - Rio. www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_00.html Steve Dacri - In Your Face "The Up Close Magic Experience" 7:00 pm (Dark Tues. - Sat.) - Shimmer Showroom, Hilton. www.lvhilton.com/Play/Calendar/Ongoing-Entertainment/Steve-Dacri Super Duper Show B-Rad & Bill Robinson. 4:00 pm., Sat. & Sun. - Dixie Dooley's Theater of Magic, Royal Resort. www.superdupershowlv.com Kids attend free: www.vegas4locals.com/couponsuperduperkidsshow.html Superstars of Magic 8:30 (Dark Tues.) Steven Best and Cassandra, Vegas Club. www.vegasclubcasino.net/entertainment/superstars_of_magic.php 2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponsuperstarsofmagic.html The Magic and Tigers of Rick Thomas 7 pm. - Sahara. www.saharavegas.com/shows/magic-of-rick-thomas The Todd Paul Show 7 pm. (Dark Fri.) - Hooters. www.hooterscasinohotel.com/entertainment/the-todd-paul-show/ Zen Magic - Ai & YuKi vs. TENGU Opens June 30 4 pm - Saxe Theater, Planet Hollywood. www.saxetheater.com/saxe-thaeter-zen-magic.htm Kids free with paid adult. Magic In Production Shows: Crazy Girls Tony Douglas - 9:30 pm (Dark Tues.) - Riviera. www.rivierahotel.com/entertainment_crazygirls.asp 2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponcrazygirls.html Haunted Vegas Show and Tour Jac Hayden, Robert Allen. 9:30 pm, picks up at the Royal Resort. www.hauntedvegastours.com $10 off Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponhauntedvegas.html Matsuri TamBa provides magic between acts. 4:00 pm (Dark Tues.) & 8:00 pm Fri. - Imperial Palace. The Las Vegas Seance Robert Allen, Jac Hayden, Arian Black, Samina, Victora Wayne. 10:00 pm, picks up at the Royal Resort. www.LasVegasSeance.com V, The Ultimate Variety Show Jason Byrne (most Tues. - Sat.) & various others. 7 & 8:30, Planet Hollywood - www.vtheshow.com Variety Showcase Christopher Karpiak & S. Frank Stringham. Tuesdays, 9 pm - FREE - Sam's Town. Other Vegas Magic: Craig Keith performs bar magic at various times - Dick's Last Resort, Excalibur. Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230. Las Vegas Magic Organizations Fantasma I.B.M. Ring 257, 7 pm 1st Monday each month. Clark County Library, 1401 E Flamingo Rd (1 block E of Maryland Parkway). Children's Classes at 5:45 www.ibm257.com. Darwin's Magic Club, meets 10 pm Wednesdays. Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave. KIDabra Las Vegas, 7 pm every 3rd Monday. Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo. www.kidabralasvegas.com June, 2010 Jun. 28-Jul 4: Magic & Mystery School - Extended Master Class Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Tobias Beckwith. www.magicalwisdom.com August, 2010 Aug. 23-29: Magic & Mystery School - Extended Master Class Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Tobias Beckwith. www.magicalwisdom.com September, 2010 Sept. 14-15: Magic & Mystery School - Focus on Stage Magic & Manipulation Jeff McBride. www.magicalwisdom.com Sept. 18-19: Magic & Mystery School - Focus on Magic and the Martial Arts Jeff McBride, Bryce Kuhlman. www.magicalwisdom.com Sept. 24-26: Magic & Mystery School - Sisters of Magic & Mystery - Abigail Aft McBride, Jeff McBride. www.magicalwisdom.com October, 2010 Oct. 4-7: The Innovention promises to offer a high quality event presented at a superb and intimate venue with world class performers, shows and workshops, and unrivalled access to all the performers and presenters. Johnny Thompson/The Great Tomsoni & Company, Kevin James, Joseph Gabriel, Gaetan Bloom, Lennart Green, Andy Nyman, Paul Stone, Jeff Hobson, Richard McDougall, Kris Kremo, Graham P. Jolley, Shep Hyken, Seth Kramer, Michael Close, Bob Kohler, Al Garber (Magic Al), Mel Mellors, a special 'Red Ball' lecture by Teller and a "Special Session" with Criss Angel. Limited to 375 attendees and a special introductory discount and bonus for bookings made by January 31st. - Suncoast Hotel & Casino. www.innovention2010.com Oct. 9-10: Magic & Mystery School - Focus on Street Magic - Jeff McBride. www.magicalwisdom.com Oct. 12-14: Magic & Mystery School - Master Class for Mentalists - Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger and Ross Johnson. www.magicalwisdom.com Oct. 17-19: Danny Archer and Robert Allen present: Mindvention 2010. www.Mindvention.net Oct. 20-23: Magic & Mystery School - The Magic and Meaning Conference - A distinctive small-group conference that focuses on creating meaningful magic routines, effective scripts, and new venues for performance. Featuring keynote addresses by Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Robert E. Neale, Lawrence Hass, and a number of short talks by experts on subjects relating to the themes of the conference. www.magicalwisdom.com May, 2011 May 23-25: IMX 2011 - 3 days of non-stop magic - Orleans Headliners include: Wayne Houchin - USA, Banachek - USA, Ellis & Webster - Australia, Boris Wild - France, Morgan Strebler - USA, Luke Jermay - England, Richard Sanders - Canada, Pit Hartling - Germany, Oz Pearlman - USA, Shoot Ogawa - Japan, Michael Ammar - USA, Juliana Chen - China, Ponta the Smith - Japan (making his US debut) plus more... www.imx2011.com -------------------------------------------- 11. British Ring Convention News -------------------------------------------- Message by Bob Hayden PRO to the British Ring Appearing in the International Magic Show is someone who for the past six decades has been the country's best and most loved hand puppet, Sooty. His first appearance at a British Ring Convention was in 1955 when he was on the hand of Harry Corbett. Sadly Harry is no longer with us but Sooty now lives on as popular as ever. These days he is on the right hand of Richard Cadell who took over the role when Harry's son Matthew retired in 1998. Between 1998 and 2004 Richard toured the country with six stage shows. He acquired the performing rights to Sooty in 2008 when they were put up for sale by HIT Entertainments. Richard acknowledges that watching Sooty as a child was the first time he had seen a magic wand and it was Sooty who had inspired him to do magic himself. Richard was determined to make Sooty soar again and 2009 saw him touring the country once again with Sooty and of course Sweep and Soo in a show 'Sooty in Space', a show full of traditional values. The show was a reworking of one of the scripts written by Matthew Corbett who remains in close contact with Richard. A brand new TV series is now in development where the emphasis is to go back to the early inspirations of Harry and Matthew. Richard Cadell is best remembered by British ring Conventioneers as a top rate illusionist especially for his presentation of the Dizzy Limit when he and a motor bike vanished in mid air to reappear from the back of the theatre and ride down the aisle to the stage. Since becoming the presenter of Sooty has Richard noticed any differences in his life style? There is one most definitely, one which he gives with a broad mischievous grin on his still boyish face. 'At the end of the show with Sooty & Co it is a case of putting them into a carrier bag, accomplished in a few minutes. With illusions it took hours to dismantle them and carefully pack them. That's quite a difference!' In Eastbourne Richard will be meeting up with the person who sold Sooty to Harry Corbett back in 1948. Bill Lamb a respected member of the British Ring for many years when he was aged 16 would help out in Paul Clive's Magic Shop on Blackpool Pier. One afternoon he was demonstrating little magic tricks with a bear puppet on one hand and a magic wand in the other hand when the demonstration was seen by Harry Corbett which so impressed him that he said 'I can use that' and there and then bought two bears. When Bill saw Harry and Sooty performing a couple or so years later he thought 'Hang on that's what I use to do. If I had persevered I could have done that and made some money'. Maybe it was a missed opportunity Bill but you enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, being a magician as a sideline and being for many years an organiser of the Blackpool Convention. A workshop on Escapology is a first for a British Ring Convention. It is to be conducted by Danny Hunt of Amethyst. The inclusion of this workshop in the programme is aimed at magicians who might be looking to add variety to their act by including a simple escape; it is not intended to make anyone a specialist escapologist. Danny with Annette Claire have made extensive tours both here and overseas with their spectacular and breath taking show 'The Art of Escapology' establishing themselves as one of the country's most exciting and innovative escapologists of the 21st century. They perform some of the most spectacular and dangerous escapes ever created with a contemporary and modern presentation. A name synonymous with escapology must be Houdini, a man who has had as much written about him after his death in 1926 as in his extraordinary lifetime. Danny and Annette have replicated most of the Houdini escapes their greatest challenge coming when they recreated his cell escapes. Danny undertakes a complete medical examination before being locked inside some of the most secure prison cells in existence. He then makes his escape in record time. One cell Houdini declined to escape from was the condemned cell of the debtors Prison at the Castle museum in York. Perhaps the thought of the ghost of Britain's most notorious highwayman Dick Turpin incarcerated in the cell for the last four months of his life would obstruct him. The thought of any ghost obstructing Danny did not deter him from attempting the feat. He was restrained by local police officers using six pairs of handcuffs and a pair of leg irons. He was then placed into a small aluminum box before the solid oak door was slammed shut and then locked and bolted from the outside. It took Danny just 12 minutes to escape from the cell. How it is that Danny has been able to replicate and develop some of Houdini's most impossible and challenging escapes? It comes from being a fully trained locksmith and using the extensive knowledge he learnt plus relentless research into his craft. In the workshop Danny will be showing how to pick locks and then inviting you to try and do likewise using the picks. Warning! If you are caught illegally using these skills a mitigating plea that you were only practicing what you had been shown at the British Ring Convention will not be accepted by the Constabulary! In recent years when Danny and Annette have appeared on our Convention stage either performing their fantastic escapes or wowing us with unbelievable illusions they have never failed to impress us. This young couple are shining examples of the great magical talent that exists in this country. -------------------------------------------- 12. New Museum Exhibit Gives Chicago's Magical Legacy ------------------------------------------- Message by Neil Tobin New museum exhibit gives Chicago's magical legacy its due In the town that was home to Harlan Tarbell, the Elmhurst Historical Museum just unveiled its new summer exhibit: Magical History Tour. Proclaims its poster, "Discover the storied history of Magic and the importance of Chicago's legacy." Curated by Lance Tawzer and written by Neil Tobin, the exhibit finally introduces the public to the many colorful Chicago-area personalities who have influenced the magical landscape from the turn of the last century to the present, including: . Matt Schulien . Harlan Tarbell . Bert Allerton . Joseffy . Harry Blackstone . Frances Ireland Marshall . Ed Marlo . Don Alan . Jim Steinmeyer . And many, many more! A big open house celebrating the exhibit's launch is slated for Sunday, June 27th from 1pm-4pm. On an outdoor stage at the museum, illusionists Tim and Robin Balster will be cutting the Mayor of Elmhurst in half! Bozo Circus' Wizzo the Wizard, Marshall Brodien, will be on hand to sign autographs. Guests will also enjoy free ice cream, along with appearances by performers from the long-running shows, Magic Chicago and Supernatural Chicago. Admission is free. The exhibit runs three months through September 12, and contains a wealth of little-seen artifacts donated by Tim Felix, Marshall Brodien, Sandy Marshall, Frank Glab, the American Museum of Magic, David Goodsell, Robert Schulien, Chris Carter, Gabe Fajuri, and others, including: . Original Tarbell showcards, Tarbell System materials and apparatus . Jay Marshall's famous plaid sportcoat, linking rings, and Lefty . Production box handmade by Okito . Marshall Brodien's original Wizzo the Wizard costume . Okito, Blackstone, and Kellar lithos . Head Chopper illusion built by Ed Miller . S.A.M. 3 charter signed by Houdini . One-of-a-kind memorabilia from Schulien's . Jack Gwynne's Temple of An-Gee illusion If you're in the Chicago area, be sure to visit this long-overdue exhibit honoring Chicago's sizable contribution to the world of magic. http://www.elmhurst.org/index.aspx?nid=620 -------------------------------------------- 13. Innovention 2010 -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul Stone The Innovention taking place at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas from October 4-7 this year will be unlike any other Magic Convention! Why is this? There are now so many similar Conventions all around the world, with an increasing number springing up in Las Vegas, but The Innovention has a few key elements that make it stand out from all the others. The Innovention boasts probably the finest line-up of talent of any Magic Convention with genuine world class Stage, Close-up performers and outstanding Lecturers from all around the globe. These include a number of performers who have never before been seen at an American Convention, including Two Superstars of Magic, Teller and Criss Angel. No other Magic Convention can offer Headliners of this calibre! Teller will present his rarely seen, and brilliant, 'Magic Ball' Lecture, which is a huge coup for The Innovention, and alone worth the price of admission! And Criss Angel, fresh from recording his latest Series of 'MINDFREAK' which is now transmitted in over 90 countries worldwide, and from starring in 'BELIEVE' twice nightly at the Luxor Hotel & Casino, will present a special session hosted by Diana Zimmerman & Paul Stone which will provide a fascinating insight into the dedication, sheer hard work and amazing talent that it takes to become a TV Star and Las Vegas Headliner. The Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Summerlin, just a 15 minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip, is a fantastic venue and offers a superb Showroom and excellent Close-up and Lecture / Workshop facilities. So, if you prefer not to have to continually fight for a good seat, and instead be treated like a VIP, then The Innovention is for you! We are deliberately limiting the number of attendees to just 375 and so, as you would expect with the awesome line-up that we are offering, spaces are filling up fast but, if you move quickly, you might still be able to take advantage of the 'Special $50 Discount Offer' .... Plus you might even get your last night's accommodation taken care of for you by us for Free! *Please Note* - For full details of the performers appearing at The Innovention and about the venue, go to www.innovention2010.com To Register, and to get the 'Special $50 Discount Offer, go to www.innovention2010.com/specialoffer The Innovention will be professionally produced. We have been producing major Corporate Events and Stage Shows for over 30 years, so you can be confident that it will be done right! Our main goal is for our attendees to be made especially welcome, and be well looked after. We want them all to have a memorable time and that is why the whole schedule will be packed with top quality and, above all, entertaining shows, and innovative lectures and workshops. And one additional promise we make is that everyone will have unrivalled access to the performers and presenters, with dedicated time built in to the program to enable you to meet and spend time with them. The incredible line-up of talent includes ... Teller, Criss Angel, Kevin James, The Great Tomsoni & Co, Joseph Gabriel, Jeff Hobson, Gaetan Bloom, Lennart Green, Bob Kohler, Michael Close, Joanie Spina, Shep Hyken, Seth Kramer, Richard McDougall, Mel Mellers, Graham P. Jolley, Magic Al, .... and a few more surprises still to be announced. Plus ... you are very likely to see a few more of Magic's Las Vegas Superstars during the Convention! The Innovention will be unlike any other Magic Convention! -------------------------------------------- 14. The Blackpool Magic Convention 2011 -------------------------------------------- Message by Derek Lever (UK) Blackpool Magicians' Club Only Eight Months To Go There are only eight months to go to the greatest magic convention in the world - The Blackpool Magic Convention 2011. Every year since its foundation the Blackpool Convention has got bigger and better than ever and next February's event promises to be even more successful than its predecessors. If you go to only one convention a year it has got to be Blackpool. Bookings are already at a record level so you must act quickly if you want to be a part of this unique event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 18th, 19th & 20th February 2011. To register contact Arthur Casson, 44 Bryan Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, England FY3 9BE or telephone him on 44 (0) 1253 393688. A registration form is also available on the Blackpool Magicians' Club website www. blackpoolmagic.com. It's the biggest, it's the best, it's Blackpool. -------------------------------------------- 15. Houdini Flying In Australia -------------------------------------------- Message by Richard Petrashek Looking thru some old Genii magazines, I found one from October, l948, with 8 pages of stories and photos of Houdini, when he flew his bi-plane in Australia. Those "down-under" magicians should be real proud of the notoriety of the world's most publicized magician. -------------------------------------------- 16. Online Show Called The 'Wizard Product Review -------------------------------------------- Message by David Penn David Penn and Craig Petty are now producing an online show called the 'Wizard Product Review'. The guys sit down for ten minutes every week and review the latest items from the world of magic. The weekly show has been running for four weeks now and you can view and subscribe to the episodes at: http://www.youtube.com/worldmagicshop You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes. Just search for 'Wizard Product Review'. There will also be an exclusive 'First Look' at a hot new magic product on next week's show which is normally uploaded on a Wednesday every week at 12pm (GMT). These are the links to past episodes: 16th June Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwmHwvHKZk4 9th June Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQUNsn9lqRU&feature=related 2nd June Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lcIW3GmS44&feature=related -------------------------------------------- 17. 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention -------------------------------------------- Message by Mick Peck SCMC President 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention - Thank you! Our sincere thanks to everyone who attended the recent 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention and to everyone who has called or emailed with kind words and positive comments. Souvenir Photographs Now Available! During the "My Way" montage at the convention wrap-up we gave you a sneak peek of the photographs taken during the four days. Our photographer has now delivered us the complete collection - there are some fantastic shots and it's a must-have souvenir of the convention! There are approx 200 professionally shot, high-resolution photographs that journal the entire event : the lectures and workshops, the gala performances, each of the entrants in all of the competitions, candid shots of registrants interacting with our international stars, the banquet and prize giving, the breath-taking Chinese acrobats that people are still talking about ... it's all there. Plus a few surprises. You can purchase the complete photographic collection on CD-ROM for only NZ$19.95 post-paid, anywhere in New Zealand. Why so reasonable? Firstly, it's our way of thanking everyone who attended the convention and helped to make it the biggest magic event ever held in this country. Secondly, the photos are so great we really do want everyone to be able to re-live all of the fantastic events and happy memories shared at the convention. The photos come direct to you on a CD (in a case) and will display straight from the CD in any computer. If you want to get hard-copies printed all you have to do is take your CD to your local photo developer who will be able to supply you with all or any of the photographs as you wish. For sample shots and full ordering information visit our website: www.scmc.co.nz Questions or comments? Get in contact with us directly: Mick Peck SCMC President (09) 238 5167 or 027 404 8981 Email mick@mickpeckmagic.com Bruce Allan (BJ) SCMC Secretary (09) 232 1334 or 027 289 0596 -------------------------------------------- 18. 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) -------------------------------------------- 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. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely redistributed, but not sold, to other magicians if copied in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer. © Copyright 2010 Alan Watson