* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * www.watson.co.nz * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #843 Date: Sunday 3rd July 2011 Editor: Alan Watson www.watson.co.nz E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. The Essential Magic Conference Starts In 5 Days 3. Raymond Crowe Has Been Ripped Off 4. Magicseen #39 Is Now Out 5. July MAGIC Magazine 6. More Remarkable Magic # 41 - Nick Lewin 7. The Faceless Act - #216 - Kyle Peron 8. Tony Brook In Conversation With John Teo - Part 3 9. 2011 Summer Magic Camp Scholarship Winners 10. Viewed On Netflix A Movie Called "Shade" 11. Broken Wand - Cliff Thomas 12. 18th Annual Magic In The Rockies Convention 13. Soma Added To Gala Show In Pittsburgh 14. Review For Ali Cardabras "The Count" 15. Stage Show At Lakewood Campground 16. e-zine Archives 17. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Only five days to go before EMC starts. Have hard wired my computer onto our flat screen up to TV upstairs so I can sit in my lazyboy chair and view The Essential Magic Conference in total comfort. If you have not registered yet I would suggest you do it NOW. For more information refer item 2. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: Editor@MagicNewZealand.com -------------------------------------------- 2. The Essential Magic Conference Starts In 5 Days -------------------------------------------- Message by Luis de Matos (UK) David Britland at EMC2011 (7-8-9 July) 5 Days to go to the Essential Magic Conference starts - BOOK NOW Go to: http://www.essentialmagicconference.com/users/new Along with Luis de Matos and Marco Tempest, David Britland is one of the organisers of the Essential Magic Conference. He is the author of many books on magic including The Mind & Magic of David Berglas and Phantoms of the Card Table. When not writing he is developing and consulting on television shows related to magic, deception, scams and psychology. Among them are The Real Hustle and the series and specials of Derren Brown. This year David will be talking at EMC about the remarkable Chan Canasta. If you don't know who Chan Canasta is, check out these videos. A message from David Britland Hello and thank you. Thank you for joining us at EMC. When Luis de Matos first proposed the idea of an online conference I knew it was crazy. But I also knew that if it worked it would be something very special. It worked. And it was special as anyone who joined us in the live broadcast will tell you. Frankly I hadn't anticipated the enthusiastic buzz that would accompany the live chat during the conference. Suddenly, we 33 Speakers, in a studio in Portugal, felt connected with the world. People watching the conference live commented and chattered. They gave instant feedback. They talked to each other. They talked with the Speakers. They joked, they laughed and they even applauded. I kid you not. Members found unique ways to show their appreciation, sending the chat room spinning with their typed applause. It was one of the most wonderful community atmospheres I have ever experienced. It was magic at its very best. And no one came away from that conference without feeling better about themselves and their favourite topic. As we say in the promotional video, at EMC we have provided everything we possibly can. We have 33 amazing Speakers. We have built the studio. We have the technology. Now all we need is you. Because it is you, every single member who takes part, that makes the conference the joy that it is. I look forward to seeing you there. David Britlad -------------------------------------------- 3. Raymond Crowe Has Been Ripped Off -------------------------------------------- Message by Kristina (Aust) Hello Everyone, Just thought I would forward this on to you so you can see what a thief looks like. Raymond Crowe has had his work stolen by a guy in Thailand. What makes it worse, is that it's done badly. Please watch this clip and put yourself in Ray's position. How would you like to have had your hard work, ideas, livelihood stolen and someone else getting the credit for it? Regards, Kristina. Bernard's Magic Shop Australia's Oldest Magic Shop www.bernardsmagic.com.au ------------------------------- Message by Raymond Crowe This story just went to air in Adelaide South Australia tonight - a story of a guy from "Thailand's got Talent" doing my hand shadow routine. We held onto the story to coincide with an act on "Australia's got Talent" who was caught out doing other comedians material. Hopefully the other States will pick up the story to help as a publicity push as my stage show goes out next month for 6 dates. Take a negative and turn it to your advantage ... hopefully that is what we have done. http://raymondcrowe.com/rip_off.html Regards, Raymond -------------------------------------------- 4. Magicseen #39 Is Now Out -------------------------------------------- Message by Chris Wasshuber Magicseen #39 $5 PDF or $22 digital sub or $29.90 print sub to subscribe: http://www.lybrary.com/magicseen/ Cover: Yann Frisch With features on Eric Jones and Chris Cross - Welcome - Letters - Celebrity Corner - News - Chris Cross - EMC 2011 - Comedy Cavern - CUMCIS - It Ain't All Magic - Palladium Magic - Yann Frisch - So You Want To Be A... - Magic Convention Organiser - Eric Jones - Midlands Magic Day - Club Land - Reviews - Masterclass - Northern Magic Circle Session - Review - Morecambe - Next Issue $5 PDF or $22 digital sub or $29.90 print sub http://www.lybrary.com/magicseen-no-39-p-107622.html to subscribe: http://www.lybrary.com/magicseen/ -------------------------------------------- 5. July MAGIC Magazine -------------------------------------------- Message by Stan Allen - Editor Stories in MAGIC this month: Cover: They're Going Out of Business, So Why are They Smiling? By David Goodsell I pull my car up to an address in Payson, Utah, a small town about sixty miles south of Salt Lake City. This residence is the unlikely headquarters of one of magic's most dynamic manufacturers. I have arrived at the home of Brian Daniel South and his wife, Rebekah, the founders and proprietors of Creative Magic. Everywhere I look, there are mailing boxes and long, sausage-shaped Styrofoam tubes, wooden dowels, black-and-white cloth sleeves, instruction pamphlets, and embroidered cloth bags. The garage and basement are packed with merchandise, and I'm told that even more product is stored offsite. "It looks like you two are doing great!" "We are," says Brian. "We were confident that Creative Magic would be successful, but we have exceeded our wildest expectations." "I guess you need a bigger house." Brian laughs. Then he stuns me with his reply: "No, we're getting this one back. We're going out of business!" For a moment, I'm not sure I've heard him correctly. "I know people will think we're crazy," Brian says, "but on June 24, 2011, Creative Magic will cease manufacturing and begin to liquidate its inventory." My response: "You've got to be nuts!" 1001 Wonders - Firsthand By Adele Friel Rhindress By 1947, after over four decades entertaining the public, Harry Blackstone was unquestionably one of America's greatest and best-known magicians. It was in that year that seventeen-year-old Adele Friel was swept into Blackstone's world of magic, making the transition from solo song-and-dance act to one of "Mr. B's gorgeous girls" in the blink of an eye. For the next three seasons, she trouped with Blackstone, playing an integral role in his show, both onstage and backstage. What follows are excerpts from Adele's forthcoming book, Memoirs of an Elusive Moth. In it, she offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Blackstone's company, what is was like to work and perform in his illusion show, and tells her tales in a way no one else can: from a first person, "I lived it" perspective. Fearless Farrell Dillon: Manic Manip By Mark Nelson Principally self-taught, Farrell Dillon first began learning to make playing cards obey his every command at the age of twelve. Most magicians perform their manipulation segments to music, impressing audiences with knuckle-busting moves that take years to master and earning well-deserved applause. But when Farrell appears before an audience, in addition to timely ovations, you hear a sound not usually heard during such magical exhibitions of skill: the sound of riotous laughter - not to mention Farrell's own running commentary. Grand Magic in North Korea By Dale Salwak It was a show created to both entertain and unite the people of North Korea. The monumental Grand Magic production was mounted in a 150,000-seat stadium earlier this year, with massive illusions playing out before - and above - the crowds. Claude Rix: More than Pearls and Tomatoes By Richard Hatch When his name comes up in conversation, it is most often in reference to his complete mastery of two classics of magic. These are by no means the only effects he does, but for more than fifty years Claude Rix of France has been known in international magic circles as "that fellow with the pearls" or "the man with the tomatoes." Though his reputation for definitive performances of both those effects is justified, he is - as we shall see - a man of many parts. Claude still performs and lectures, and in this issue provides two routines from his close-up repertoire, excerpted from the forthcoming Conjuring and Correspondence by Claude Rix and Hervé Pigny. IMX The International Magic Experience (IMX) took place at The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, May 23-25. This was the premiere convention for South African producer Craig Mitchell, and the reported attendance was over 400 for this lecture-driven event. Collectors Collect in Chicago The Magic Collectors Weekend, under the auspices David Ben's Magicana for the second year in a row, transpired at the Westin Hotel in Chicago, May 19--1. It was the 42nd such convening of scholarly talks and learned fellowship. Copperfield in Paris An exhibition focusing on the career of David Copperfield is currently on display at the Musée de la Magie in Paris, France. French writer Benoit Grenier, who previously authored a biography of Copperfield and worked on the museum project, says "The exhibition shows various aspects of David's life and career; it features programs, posters, memorabilia, previously unseen photos, and original costumes and props." Plus... Guy Hollingworth brings his one-man show, The Expert at the Card Table, to Southern California for a month-long run; and a trio of singing magicians - Desimo, Helge Thun, and Topas - perform Sing Sala Bim. Tricks and advice in MAGIC this month: Talk About Tricks By Joshua Jay John Lovick delivers a complex but powerful card routine suitable for large audiences. Curtis Kam offers a fruit production that could be the opener to your next close-up engagement. "Talk About Tricks" newcomers Ollie Meaning and Jonathan Davidson bring us some card ideas, and Jeff Prace returns with an Expertalk on Tilt. For What It's Worth: Oh, My Wild-Eyed Pie in the Sky By Mark Kornhauser People tell me their wild-eyed, pie-in-the-sky ideas all the time. "I'm thinking of having a horn surgically implanted in my forehead." "Hmmm, kind of a unicorn routine?" "Yeah. Maybe a Card Stab or something." "Interesting." "People would remember me." "Yeah. Maybe." Everyone thinks their wild-eyed, pie-in-the-sky idea is great - if only they had the money and the resources. But there have been lots of shows with wild-eyed, pie-in-the-sky promises that spent plenty of money to get nowhere. Coffeehouse Conjuring: Stain Alive By Gregory Wilson & David Gripenwaldt After making a prediction on a napkin, you spill a few drops of coffee on the table and soak it up with a napkin. An irregular-shaped stain emerges through the napkin, which looks like Rorschach inkblot. Someone describes what the coffee stain looks like -- a bat or a butterfly or a break-dancing amoeba, maybe. You turn over the prediction-napkin to show the inked outline of a shape that accurately matches the randomly formed coffee stain. Classic Correspondence: J.B. Hargett to Adelaide Herrmann By Mike Caveney The letter that is the focal point of this article is a bit of a departure from items featured here previously, in as much as the writer, J.B. Hargett, was not a magician. He was an expert at chirognomy - the art of character reading based on the shape and features of the hand. Upon hearing the news of Alexander Herrmann's death, Hargett immediately contacted Adelaide and requested permission to make an inked impression of her husband's hand. Perhaps sensing that this slightly creepy procedure would ensure her husband's place among the most famous names of the time, she acquiesced. Directions: It Takes A Team In March 2011, Stephane Vanel had an opportunity to showcase at the Paris Hotel. They decided to give him a chance, and the show was set to open June 1. Stephane had two months to put together an hour-long show. That sounds like a lot of time, but it was a real challenge. In the Marketplace this month: Fifteen products are reviewed this month by Peter Duffie, Jason England, Gabe Fajuri, Brad Henderson, John Lovick, Francis Menotti, and Will Houstoun: The Berglas Effects by Richard Kaufman The Lost Symbol by Max Gordon Shoe Business by Scott Alexander & Puck Love Cards with Craig Petty and Russell Leeds Deception Vol.1 by Dave Forrest Newsflash 2.0 Universal by Axel Heckau The Complete Jarrett by Jim Steinmeyer Handcrafted Card Magic Vol. 2 by Denis Behr Cagliostro's Wand by Allen Zingg & Blaine Harris The Open Prediction Project by Tom Baxter Kings Crossing by Nicolas Gignac Psi-Poker by Ben Harris Crafty Power by Kreis & I-Magic TeleThought Wallet II by Chris Kenworthy & Tony Curtis Sandwiches by Tony Chang Subscribe! You can now choose to receive MAGIC risk-free with our new "Monthly Subscription" for only $5 each month. Of course, you can still subscribe for the entire year, as well. For complete subscription details go to: http://www.magicmagazine.com/subscribe/ To purchase this issue go to: http://www.magicmagazine.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=2&sort=1a&action=buy_now&products_id=296 -------------------------------------------- 6. More Remarkable Magic # 41 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) The art and science of doing nothing. During the last 20 years I have had a goal in my performance of magic, that goal is to make it look as though I am doing nothing at all. This leaves me free to look as though all I am doing is reacting to what is going on. This is a much tougher goal than one thinks at first sight but well worth exploring. If you are performing magic the first thing to eliminate is any appearance of doing moves or magician type things. I have vigorously commenced in this direction by discarding the desire to conceal anything. When I want to steal a prop to assist in my work, for instance 'stealing' a folding half dollar to stick in the neck of a bottle, I make it a point to find the correct psychological moment to put my hand into my pocket in a natural manner and simply remove the coin. There was a time when I used to load the half dollar into the top of my jacket sleeve and then, at the correct time, after showing my hands empty I would allow the coin to drop from my sleeve into my hand. A neat maneuver but totally unnecessary, and while marginally cleaner in some ways, it adds three things to the performing mix that I am now delighted to avoid; 1 A potential disaster like the coin hitting my shirtsleeve in the wrong manner and dropping to the ground. 2 Showing my hands empty when nobody thinks there is anything in them to begin with. 3 Making two moves when all you really need to do is no move. There was quite a debate amongst close-up magicians at the 'Magic Castle' back in the seventies as to whether a card worker should appear to 'show-offy' with his handling of a deck of cards or should handle the deck rather clumsily as though he was incapable of doing any 'wiz-bang' moves. It was always clear to me that the answer lay in between the two extremes and was totally individual to each particular performer's personality. This is an extension of that thinking. The more carefully you study your movements the more naturally you can eliminate the unnecessary ones. Why 'show' a hand empty when you can 'gesture' with it and prove it empty without making a big deal about it. If you work too hard at making sure the audience knows that your hand is empty they start to wonder if you have something palmed there. If you have something in palmed in your hand and just hold the hand naturally, then you haven't aroused any suspicion. Don't hide if they aren't looking. This is just one tiny example that I have explored in some detail but the same principle can be utilized in many situations. Doing things in this way does also causes the performer to look at his act in an overview rather than a trick-by-trick manner. To do this you are going to need to be comfortable having your hands in your pockets during your performance and if this seems strange, then you are going to have to sequence your actions so that you secretly remove the coin from your pocket while placing something else into it. The only time I ever make any 'magician type moves' is when I am doing nothing at all----and then I am almost always doing it to make fun of the kind of gestures that some magicians make during their show. The best kind of magic just appears to happen. Don't try to make it look tougher, harder or cleverer than it need be, just let the magic speak for itself. If you think for a moment that any audience (other than kids) are not aware of the accumulative effect of what you are doing then you are probably underestimating them. By concentrating your efforts into an integrated style of presentation you are achieving a much more sophisticated performance than by letting the trick (or move) dictate the manner in which you perform that particular effect. Is most of this subliminal, YES and all the more powerful because of it. This approach to eliminating the unnecessary so you can simplify the necessary is to me the equivalent to the way a good comedian ruthlessly cuts every word in a joke that is not absolutely necessary to making it funny. Oh, that leads me directly to eliminating every statement in your show that doesn't get a laugh or add to the effect----but that's another column though. Drop me an email with any comments at nicklewin1@me.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Establishing Your Fee - #216 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com Establishing a price for any new market is always a challenge for sure. You do not want to undersell yourself but at the same time you do not want to set a price so high that work does not come in. Word travels fast in any area you live in. If there are other entertainers in your area, you also need to be mindful of them as well so that everyone benefits but not by undercutting others. Before you even begin on figuring out a price for your show, you must make sure that your show is tested and that it is worthy of you accepting a fee. I always tell folks to get out there and do some benefit shows and just really start to get a feel for your show and make sure it is up to par. Then you also want to be sure that your fee can cover your cost for the show. This simply means you need to determine what your overhead is to do the show. Do you have certain supplies you need to replenish often? Have you accounted for gas and your travel time? Figure out how much you need to cover your cost so that your fee also allows you to make a good profit as well. One of the first things I always do is to reach out to other magicians in the area by talking to them, calling them or visiting any local clubs. I always say being open and honest is your best road to travel. I never liked anyone telling someone else to call another magician and pretend to be a client. It just seems wrong to me and unethical in nature. I think there is power in simply being open and honest. If you are honest with fellow magicians, then I think most will appreciate it and respect you for your honesty. Simply spell it out for them that you are starting up in the area and wanted to ask a price range so that you are not undercutting anyone in the area but are also within a reasonable price range. Now I state it as "price range" so that you are not asking the person what do they charge. Many magicians will be able to give you a price range and assist you in that way. However, they may be a bit more guarded to tell you their personal fees. If you are the only magician in your area, or simply do not have connections to magic clubs, then you have to go about finding prices in a different fashion. First you need to define the market or markets in which you want to perform in. Then what I tell folks to do is to find similar entertainers that work those markets. They do not have to be magicians. They can be jugglers, musicians etc. The idea is that you want an entertainer you feel does the same type of market you want to pursue. Then you can go about calling them or touching base with them. In this fashion, many are open to talk with you because you are not so much of a threat to them. Many will appreciate your honesty and also there is the possibility of networking with these folks. You can both agree to help each other out and refer shows in different directions. So by asking folks that are already in the markets, you can at least establish a price range for certain areas. I usually try and get as much data from folks as I can. The more I have, the more I can really get a good idea of the low and highs of the price range market. You will notice that as you aks people, the ranges in prices will be pretty drastic at times. Just write down all the information and make sure to thank everyone who helps you. Then it usually is a good rule of thumb to stay more towards the middle range of the prices that you hear as averages. You do not want to be too low, but you are also new enough that the higher price range may not be ideal for you yet. Another idea that works well for finding prices, is to check out party stores as well as party places in your area. Party Stores are good because they are so used to hearing customers talk about shows and finding talent. They may not only be able to help with going rates, but they may be more than happy to carry your cards or materials in exchange for you telling folks about their party store. It becomes a win-win situation. As for party places, this information you can easily find a lot online. These places are the kind that host parties at their locations. They usually offer food, games and rides perhaps. Now usually these places tend to be priced a bit high. But this can give you an idea of a price that some folks are paying in the area and you can base your fee off of this by lowering it slightly. This way you become more competitive. With all of this in mind, I also like to always work in several package options whenever I start in a new market. This simply means I am not selling them on one show package at one price. I create several show packages that cover a lower, middle and a higher price. Obviously as the price on the package goes up, I provide more stuff for the party and more add ons that come with it. Now the reason this is smart thinking is that it allows you to test the waters in a more safe setting. You are giving the prospect more changes of saying YES to you. One single package at one price becomes a yes or no game for folks. Either they buy it or they do not. However, you do not end up gaining shows this way and you may not have any clue why folks are not booking. With several packages, you can really start to see any trends that come in. You can see which package most folks are tending to go with and over the months you can then take this information and adjust accordingly down the road. If you see a lot of people going for your high end package, then you know you can raise your prices over time as you have not yet hit the happy medium range. If people are all going for the lower priced package, then perhaps your prices may be too high for that area and you may want to test it again at different price ranges. But the best advice I can give to anyone is to get out there, use this information and test the waters. But it is important as you test the waters you evaluate as you go along. The data will start to come in overtime and you can start to utilize this data to see where the market price really is for you and the types of shows you do. 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 John Teo - Part 3 -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA TB: You also subscribed to other periodicals as well . JT: Yes I did. I already had "The Linking Ring" magazines coming monthly from IBM. I subscribed to "Abracadabra", a weekly periodical, Supreme Magic's monthly "Magigram", Peter Warlock's "The New Pentagram", Sam Dalal's "Mantra", and Stephen Tucker's "The Spell Binder" and "Chicanery". Every month, I would have a lot of magic to read and digest. Often, when I read about a particular magical method or presentation, I began to think of different applications and variations in presentation. I wondered if the originator would be interested in my thinking. I wrote back to Stephen Tucker and was surprised that he published it in his next issue of his periodical. This encouraged me so much that I began to contribute articles on magic as well as tricks and they were accepted for publication in "Abracadabra", "Magigram", "The Linking Ring' and "Chicanery". TB: Sadly, many of those excellent publications are no longer with us . but I know that a lot of them are now becoming "Collector' Pieces'. There was a lot of good material in those excellent publications and reading those helped us, to be more creative in our Magic . Share some of your thinking on that please . JT: What I find most intriguing about magic is its association with creativity. It takes creativity to make something that is not possible, possible - and that is what magic is all about. I find that if I apply a magical principle differently, I can get a brand new trick. Or, if I vary the presentation of a trick, I can get a new effect. Magic is all about the "ends" rather than the "means". Here is what I do with magic and I find that it has benefited my life: When people come to know that you are a magician, you become the life of a party - magic is an attention grabber. I use magic in my job to give me the USP (unique selling point). As I am a free-lance trainer and I train corporations in management, leadership, creativity, problem solving, etc. I use magic not just as an energizer to enliven the class, but I apply magic in a creative way to bring out some important learning principles of the subjects that I am teaching the class. When the class enjoys and remembers my trick, they remember the learning points as well! This has made me a one-of-a-kind trainer and I have got good feedback from my clients. Learning magic has made me realize that I can be creative. Performing magic made me realize that I can apply creativity and become successful. TB: Can you elaborate a bit on that John.. JT: Sure Tony. Here are 2 examples of how magic has enabled me to use creativity to become successful: In addition to my successful contributions to international magical periodicals, I always challenge myself to take up competitions thrown in by magic dealers. My first encounter was in 1979 when Sterling Magic Creations of USA (now defunct) manufactured the Card Coin. They had found a way to cut the identity of a playing card onto a coin. For example a 50-cent coin can have a neat cut-out of "K" and "S" to signify the King of Spades. However, they did not know how to use such a coin in magic and they opened up a competition in some of the international magic periodicals. The prizes were gift vouchers to purchase coin products from them - no big deal. It was more a challenge to me to come up with some applications than the lure of the prizes. I submitted 2 ideas. I was pleasantly surprised that both of them won 4th Prize (Consolation Prize). When I looked at the winners, they were all from USA while I was the only person outside of USA and in Asia. Our winning entries were subsequently published in a book entitled Card Coin Wizardry. In 2007, I was attracted to a call for magicians to come out with a message using magic props by Magic Broadcast of USA. This was right up my alley because I used magic in my training to bring out important learning principles. I submitted 3 entries. Once again, to my pleasant surprise, all my 3 entries won the top 10 prizes! I was the Grand Prize winner, the Third Place winner as well as one of the seven Runners-Up winners - I only lost to the Second Place winner! Again, all the winning entries were published in "Message Magic" Volume 1. End of Part 3 -------------------------------------------- 9. 2011 Summer Magic Camp Scholarship Winners -------------------------------------------- Message by Warren J. Kaps (US) For further information contact: Warren J. Kaps 15 Warren Street, Suite 39 Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Tel.: 201-489-5277 Fax: 201-489-0477 E-Mail: kapsmagic@optimum.net Four Young Magicians Win Camp Scholarships The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund Scholarship Chairman, Warren J. Kaps, announced that four young magicians have been awarded scholarships to two magic camps this summer. As part of the Endowment Fund program, one will attend the Sorcerer's Safari Camp in Toronto, Canada, and three will go to Tannen's Magic Camp in suburban Pennsylvania. Here are their names: Sorcerer's Safari Winner: Mario Seki (age 13) Tannnen's Magic Camp Winners: Sean Burke (age 14) David Laid (age 13) Yathundandh R.R. (age 13) Mario Seki is awarded a full tuition scholarship to Sorcerer's Safari Magic Summer Camp. Mario is 13 years old and has been hooked on magic ever since he attended a live performance of Robert Baxt. He has received magic lessons from Dean Dill Magic for about two years and he practices for hours when he does not have school. Mario is constantly adding new and innovative magic to his routine. He now tries to do as many free shows he can, including performances at convalescent homes and church carnivals. He also volunteers at the Humane Society. Mario auditioned to become a Junior Member of the Magic Castle, and was successful on his first attempt. He has been nominated to receive the "Member of the Year" award for the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 21. Mario is motivated, enthusiastic, disciplined in his course work and has good peer relations and problem solving skills. He was elected Vice President of the student body and is always walking around campus performing tricks for his classmates. He has a passion for his magic, is polished, talented and has a unique gift as a performer. He has an eagerness to learn all facets of magic and is proving himself to be a very accomplished magician. He hopes to travel and perform magic in different states and countries. The winners of the three full tuition scholarships to Tannen's Magic Camp at Bryn Mawr College are as follows: Sean Burke is 14 years old and performed his first stage magic show at the age of 5. His interest for magic started when he saw his first magic show called "Magic By the Sea" when he was two years old. Sean has performed for numerous community events, schools, churches and talent shows over the years, including Highland School Talent Show, Superdome Sports and The Valley Hospital. Sean has been working with his magic mentor, Jimmy Challes, for the past few years. Magician Paul Marcus Earle has said that he never met a young man with such a passion for the magic art as Sean. Sean is a member of S.A.M. 25 in Elmwood Park. He is professional in his delivery and does a great job interacting with his audience. He is enthusiastic and hardworking; he practices his magic whenever he has free time. David Laid is 13 years old and has been practicing magic for two years now. He is really into flourishes and is highly developed in the field of sleight of hand. David is becoming an excellent performer and has performed magic at public places, such as cafés and parties. He has also created a series of You Tube videos demonstrating his original handlings for card effects. He is an important contribution to the Creative Arts and Healing Program. He also volunteers at the local hospital as an entertainer for the sick. As a student, David is hard working and very intelligent. He displays characteristics of a budding engineer and entrepreneur. His enthusiasm for magic is remarkable and his quest for knowledge is never ending. Yathundandh is 13 years old and from India. He has been learning magic from Mr. Vadivel at Madras Magic Centre. The Centre considers him to be a very talented and confident performer. Yathundandh is a budding performer of magic and has shown his talents as a regular performer in school functions. He recently won the second prize at the Inter School Sanskrti Drama Competition. Soon, Yathundandh will be being performing at a four-star hotel restaurant regularly on weekends. He has performed at the Centre for Humane Services, where his performance was filled with fun and every act was accomplished with agility and competency. Yathundandh is passionate about the art of magic and has an inborn talent. His sleight of hand skills point to his becoming an excellent patter magician on stage. The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund is proud of our achievement and growth, as well as the expansion of our scholarship program that enables deserving youngsters from all over the world to attend magic camps and increase the interest of magic. Contributions to the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund are appreciated and allow us to further expand our programs, which not only provide scholarships to magic camps, but also provides: a. help to any magician affected by natural disasters; b. help to any magician who is ill through the Houdini Hospital Fund; c. magic lectures provide free to local magic groups; d. support for the publication of magic books. Contributions should be sent to: Bradley Jacobs, Board of Trustees Society of American Magicians - Magic Endowment Fund 234 Towyn Court Ambler, PA 19002 All contributions are tax deductible pursuant to I.R.S. 3501(c)(3) -------------------------------------------- 10. Viewed On Netflix A Movie Called "Shade" -------------------------------------------- Message by Joel Moskowitz (US) This might not be news but I wanted to share a real 'find'. We just viewed on Netflix a movie called "Shade" starring Sylvester Stallone and Melanie Griffith but that is not the appealing aspect. It is about a card sharp gambling scam but that too is not the enjoyable aspect. There are dexterous card manipulations but that, as well, is not the gem. The pearl is that whoever wrote this was familiar with the great names of magic i.e. Vernon, Jennings, Charlie Miller, Max Malini, Leipzig etc etc. And part of the movie takes place in the Magic Castle. It was amusing to see this especially where an actor playing The Professor, counsels a gambler, Vernon Holden (the store you know) in front of a picture of Dai Vernon. The movie is called "Shade". -------------------------------------------- 11. Broken Wand - Cliff Thomas -------------------------------------------- Message by Michael Woolf Managing Editor, Magicana Magazine Sorry to tell you that Cliff died this afternoon. I have just arrived home from an evening function and was told that Cliff's daughter had rung with the sad news. I visited Cliff yesterday morning after his wife Myna rang to tell me that he was at home under palliative care. I was able to spend a few minutes talking with Cliff who was lucid, alert and witty although tired. He was glad when I gave him an advance copy of the next "Magicana." I leave New Zealand early tomorrow (Saturday July 2nd) for five weeks in the U.S.A. so will be unable to attend the funeral. Perhaps members of the Hutt Valley Magicians Association can look towards a suitable Memorial Service when I return. My due date is August 9th. (Roderick - I am going to give your contact details to Peter Kitchin, a friend of mine who compiles the obituaries for the Dominion Post.) I have known Cliff since the mid-1950s. He was a talented magician with a quick wit and a pleasantly off-centre view of life. His artistic talents are also well-known and his skills have graced the pages of "Magicana" on many occasions. In fact a piece by Cliff is included in the new issue to be published at the end of July. He also provided graphic design for the International Magicians' Convention hosted by the Society in 1999. Cliff was a good friend of mine and I will miss him greatly. He will also be missed by the Magic and Masonic communities. Jill and I extend our sincere condolences to Myna and their family. -------------------------------------------- 12. 18th Annual Magic In The Rockies Convention -------------------------------------------- Message by Tim Pendergast IBM Ring 250, the Presto-Digitators present the 18th annual Magic in the Rockies Convention, to be held September 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2011 in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the Marriott Hotel. We have one of the best lineups that we've ever had, with some returning favorites as well. How does John Archer, David Regal, Eric Jones, Keith Fields, Mark Mason, Max Krause, Paul Draper, Wayne Dobson, Rick Maue, Barrie Richardson, Bob Sheets, Eric Mead and Doc Eason sound for beginners? We're also still working on a few surprise guests! Also, registration is online and ready for you to sign up now! Our secure, direct registration page address is: https://id209.chi.us.securedata.net/ibmring250.com/merchantmanager/index.php Also, we have a new website that has both information and great content, including instructional videos submitted by some of our past headliners. Go to magicintherockies.org for more info. Also a lower room rate at the Marriott of $94.00 plus tax and lodging fee per night. That's $10 off last year's room price! To register for a room at the Marriott copy and paste this link to your browser: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ftcco?groupCode=mikmika&app=resvlink&fromDate=9/7/11&toDate=9/11/11 Also, you have an additional opportunity! On Sunday, September 11, we are presenting "The Insider Sessions" with Rick Maue, Barrie Richardson, Eric Mead and Bob Sheets. For only $75, you can spend 4 hours with some of the best minds in mentalism and magic! Size is limited, so don't delay signing up for this fantastic offering. Any questions? Contact: Tim Pendergast 1032 Boltz Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 225-0708 Email: mitrcon@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you in September, -------------------------------------------- 13. Soma Added To Gala Show In Pittsburgh -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler The Society of American Magicians announced the addition of Soma to the fabulous "Champions of Magic" show at their upcoming convention July 13-16 in Pittsburgh. Throughout the past decade Soma has developed a unique, phone-act which took him all around the world. This original act, acclaimed by his peers as "magic as unique, and as original as it gets", appeared in gala-shows and magic conventions all around Europe, the United States and Asia. He has won many prizes in many countries. The main objective of Soma's magic is to deliver an experience never seen before. All seven of the magic stars appearing at the Byham Theater on July 16 have won major awards. See the entire schedule at www.magicsam.com. -------------------------------------------- 14. Reveiw For Ali Cardabras "The Count" -------------------------------------------- Message by Michael Chandler Atmospheric music, a Goth backdrop and a lit candle welcomed the audience when they attended Ali Cardabras "An Audience With The Count" on Thursday 9th June at the Merlin Magical Society. Anticipation for the show was high as previous performances by Ali Cardabra (Paul Buonocore) have always exceeded expectations. The audience were not to be disappointed. The Count, an immaculately dressed Bela Lugosi figure, performed a slick show in which one effect seamlessly merged into the next. All effects had the stamp of originating from a truly creative mind and yet, as we learnt from the lecture that followed, were relatively straight forward to make up and perform. The hour long show, in which all volunteers were treated with the courtesy and manners that you would expect from an aristocrat, had something for everyone. I find it difficult to highlight any of the effects because they were all of such a superb standard. However, my favourite one was "Voodoo" and this is the effect that Paul used recently to win the prestigious Clifford Morrow Cup. A figure was delicately cut out of paper which was given, with the scissors, to an audience member. After a plain white handkerchief was displayed the volunteer was asked to cut the head or any of the limbs off. This was a truly free choice. Imagine the surprise when the handkerchief was seen to now have a matching figure with the chosen human part removed. This was truly a show, followed by a highly informative lecture, that had something for everyone. If your club is looking to fill your programme with something exceptional I would highly recommend Ali Cardabras "The Count". Michael Chandler 2011 -------------------------------------------- 15. Stage Show At Lakewood Campground -------------------------------------------- Message by Michael Bairefoot Here is my performance schedule: Monday Stage Show at Lakewood Campground voted USA number one campground 7 and 8:30 shows averaging 400 per show. Tuesday thru Sunday Angelo's Steak and Pasta 6 to 8 pm 12 years doing shows here. Just email me when you are coming to Myrtle Beach SC, USA I will get you some discounts or even a free show. Thanks Michael Bairefoot www.magicidol.com -------------------------------------------- 16. e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.magicnewzealand.com click on the red button center right "Archives" When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) -------------------------------------------- 17. 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.magicnewzealand.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 2011 Alan Watson www.magicnewzealand.com www.watson.co.nz www.corporatemagic.co.nz www.magician.co.nz