* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #877 Date: Sunday 06 November 2011 Editor: Alan Watson www.watson.co.nz E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Rumors are flying. "Fire at the Castle!" --- Don't panic 3. Los Angeles Fire Departments Public Information Officer 4. Magi Festival In Shanghai 5. Magic New Zealand's Incredible World Wide Coverage 6. Remarkable Magic. #08 - Nick Lewin 7. Working Local Festivals - #232 - Kyle Peron 8. Tony Brook In Conversation With Jon Racherbaumer - Part 8 9. Broken Wand - Richard Walls 10. Shock At Death Of Richard Walls 11. Scott & Muriel Are Performing In The Big Apple Circus 12. David Ginn's Clearance Sale 13. Lots Of Videos To Watch 14. Hollywood Magic Bar 15. The Vegas Magic Theatre 16. Steve Faulkner Lecturer At Blackpool Magicians' Club 17. The World Premiere Of The Illusionists 18. 31st New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2012 19. e-zine Archives 20. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Very pleasing to see that a large number of Australians are planning to attend the New Zealand convention next year. Very important to reserve your room NOW! Christchurch Free phone: 0800 808 999 (within New Zealand) Overseas: +64 3 348 8999 Toll. Make sure that you tell them that it is for the "Magicians Convention" and then you will pay the special convention rate of $115NZ for a double room. No deposit is required but they need a credit card number, valid at date of stay, i.e. October 2012. If you try and book online on their website you will end up paying their full room rate. For more details on the 31st New Zealand International Convention go to item18. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: Editor@MagicNewZealand.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Rumors are flying. "Fire at the Castle!" --- Don't panic --------------------------------------------- Message by Milt Larsen forwarded on by Dale Hindman Here's the story: Arlene and I elected to celebrate Halloween at the Castle Friday and Saturday nights and fun nights they were. The Castle was bathed in red spotlights, the late Joe Hoffman's decor was everywhere and the theme was "Inferno at the Castle" and all week was an amazing weeklong party at the club. The big culmination of the week was anticipated for Monday night --- the "real Halloween." As you know, yesterday around 12.30 pm there was a fire in the attic of the Magic Castle. (Spooky Halloween thought: That was just about the same time Harry Houdini passed away on October 31, 1926.) Although Dale Hindman kept me up on the minute-to-minute events it was difficult to imagine that extent of the damage. (I knew there was a fire and the fire was out.) Phones at the Castle were out and we were in Santa Barbara as the news was hitting the media. Members, guests, the community and the magical world were all concerned. Thanks to the efforts of our staff and especially the LAFD, there were no injuries and minimal damage considering the type and breadth of the fire. The major damage was done to the 3rd Floor Executive Offices and the Dante Room of our dining area that is on the floor below. Miraculously, or magically, the Houdini Room, the Cherub Room, Owl Bar and the rest of the Castle was untouched by actual flames; water damage, however, is another story. Restoration crews have been working around the clock and the water damage is quite extensive. We are now currently assessing the damage and working to restore the Castle to operating condition as soon as possible. There are many inspections, fire, health, building and safety etc., which must be approved before we open our doors. We have been assured there will be no unnecessary delays. We cannot give you any estimate of our reopening until reports are analyzed. We should have information tomorrow. The primary fire was in the section of the attic housing the telephone system so our telephones have not been working. Service is promised for tonight. (Tuesday) As you know, almost 49 years ago we opened the Magic Castle; which means it was just over fifty years ago that I, my brother Bill, and his wife Irene, worked throughout the nights to create the Magic Castle. We will apply the same ethic to restoring the Magic Castle to operations as soon as possible for all of the members and for the generations to come. My personal thanks to Erika Larsen, Vice President, for being the first to arrive on the scene, being there all day and coordinating efforts with volunteers, the landlords (thanks West and Darrin), and staff and representing our family. She has spent countless hours talking with the staff, the fire department, health department, fellow board members, and others. Also thanks to Richard Ault was there all day to assist, and Jim Bentley, who coordinated security for what could have been a scary Halloween night. The AMA office staff also went well beyond what anyone could expect, assisting in any way they could. It is a testament to the members of our art that we have received enumerable phone calls, emails and messages asking what can be done by members. I can't tell you how humbled I am by your response. Between the insurance company and our incomparable maintenance staff we seem to have the most aspects of restoration covered. On a financial level, I would ask that you first and foremost renew your dues to the Academy of Magical Arts. It is the club my father envisioned and my brother and I established. Our current directors are doing a great job of restoring that vision. We have marvelous plans for the future and need funds to allow the Board to plan and budget for the numerous exciting projects to come. If you have the means, and you desire to contribute further, the other place you could contribute, should you desire to assist in a financially tangible way, would be to the LAFD Foundation, which supports our fire fighters in the city. The reason the damage was so minimal is exclusively due to the efforts of our local LAFD. We had over 120 firefighters who responded to the Castle. Upon speaking to the Battalion Chief, Erika learned it was because he knew there were so many priceless artifacts contained in our walls that he asked so many units to respond. When she walked in, she discovered that most of our photos, paintings and antiques had been covered with water and fire resistant tarps, keeping them not only safe from the flames, but from the water as well. Sadly, in the past months we have lost great friends and some giants in magic, it will take more than a fire to stop the growth of the most unique, and sometimes, impossible, magic fraternity on the world. I look forward to our doors opening once more and sharing a drink with you at the bar. Not just in a few days but for the next 100 years. P.S. Next time we won't call our Halloween party "Inferno at the Castle." ------------------------------------------- 3. Los Angeles Fire Departments Public Information Officer -------------------------------------------- Message by Larry Wright (US) Here is a link to an interview done at the fire scene by the Los Angeles Fire Departments Public Information Officer. He describes what some of the damage was from the fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m94Mc8Zps0 ------------------------------------------- 4. Magi Festival In Shanghai -------------------------------------------- Message by Juliana Chen A Brief Introduction to Shanghai International Magic Festival Message by Shanghai International Magic Festival Organization Shanghai International Magic Festival and Competition is an international event of cultural exchange, and also a routine program of the "Festival in the Festival" of Shanghai Arts Festival, whose missions are to present the spectacular magic of all countries, to prosper Chinese magic, to prop up and incubate new magic talents and to promote the exchange in magic between China and other countries. The Festival is held once every two years and in each odd year. Jointly organized and sponsored by Department of Art, Ministry of Culture, the People's Republic of China, China Acrobats Association, Shanghai Culture, Radio, Film and Television Group, Radio and Television Shanghai and Shanghai Circus World, Shanghai International Magic Festival 2011 is to be held from 3 to 6 of November. Juliana Chen is again the Art Director (since 1999) and the guarantor for an amazing and thrilling show in the also amazing theater in Shanghai (5000 seats). It is an event, largest in scale, most influential and mostly concerned by the magic amateurs and also professionals in China up to now. As before, we have invited the following guest well-known magicians to give their most attractive performances: Connie Boyd, Gaetano Triggiano, Ed Alonzo, Aaron Crow, Jean Garin, Alberto Giorgi, Parenthese Cubique, Xavier Tapias, Nester Hato and Liao Xiaorun. The Festival has been highlighted by the performances given by the guest magic masters from all over the world. In the past festivals the following magic masters have been invited to present their amazing tricks: Carlos Barragan, Juliana Chen, Alain Mask, Marc Antoine, Junge Junge, Jorgos, Yumi, Kenji Minemura, Ivan Netcheporenko, Victor Voitko, Shimada, Nicholas Night, Kevin James, Mike Michaels, Garin Bader, Peter Marvey, Napoleons, Jonathan David Bass, Juan Mayoral, Lee Eun Gyeol, Kalin & Jinger, Antonio Versin, Boris Wild, Lennart Green, Jon Armstrong, Patrick Martin, Valeri, Omar Pasha, Ayala &Tanya, Hiro Sakai, Inaki Zabaletta, Markus Stocker, Alan, Tony Chapek, Jerome Murat, Brett Daniels and Hugues Prota. Another influential event of the Festival is the competition of the magic masters, with its main aim to gather those young and promising magicians and to provide the Chinese magicians with a better chance to know the potential magic development of the next generation. Magic masters and troupes for example such as Danny Cole, Magic Wave, David Sousa, Timo Marc, Roxanne, Bastrakov, Jorgos Katsaros, Solveil and Simon Pierro have taken part in the competitions in the previous magic festivals. We have also invited Daryl, Shoot Ogawa, Miguel Angel Gea and Zhang Guozhou to give their close-up performances. One more keystone of the Festival this year is the Seminar for the National Professional Magicians, jointly organized by Department of Art, Ministry of Culture, China and the organizing committee of Shanghai International Magic Festival, with the purpose to promote the Chinese magic to be in steps with the advanced world magic, to deepen the research of magic art and to improve the overall capabilities of Chinese magicians in the areas of creation, designing and performance. Attendants of the Seminar are all from the professional performing teams, or are themselves experienced professional magicians. It is the first time in the history of Chinese magic. The honored guests invited for the Seminar are all world-known magic masters such as Max Maven, Gaetan Bloom, Andrew Mayne, Rory Johnston, Juliana Chen, Domenico Dante, Daryl, Miguel Angel Gea, Shoot Ogawa, Fu Tenglong and Zhou Liangtie. Some of the guest magic masters are also the jury members for the competition of the Festival. -------------------------------------------- 5. Magic New Zealand's Incredible World Wide Coverage -------------------------------------------- Message by Charles Gauci (Aust) Alan Watson's Magic New Zealand has enormous coverage all over the world. As a result of listing my European Lecture Tour on this site, I booked four additional lectures including Zurich, Vienna and Italy. I was amazed at the immediate response and thanks to Alan, I sold out completely halfway through the tour. You can imagine how I felt when I lectured at the Congresso Internationale Convention in Italy and had nothing to sell. The gala shows at this convention featured some of the best magic I have ever seen for years. I believe that five of the stars are competing at FISM in Blackpool. All I can say is that I would hate to be a judge. FISM Blackpool 2012 will be one of the best FISMs ever. That's my prediction judging by the talent that I have seen so far. Derek Lever, who runs the world's biggest convention in Blackpool every year is in charge, so, it will be a professionally well run convention. -------------------------------------------- 6. Remarkable Magic. #08 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US) A little history on a great old bit of business. I am typing this column somewhere between the Caribbean and Tenerife and hope it gets out of this Internet Black Hole and onto your computers! I am in the middle of a very extensive tour designed to give me lots of sea days to finish work on the book detailing my Linking Finger Ring book. Thank you to the surprising amount of you who expressed interest and wanted to pre-purchase this very limited and dear to my heart routine. I am delighted at how many of those people really liked my ideas about how to keep this routine exclusive and not flood any one market. You will NEVER see this book at your local magic shop. I love writing this column and really do try to impart some knowledge in it. You can't please everyone though (thank God) and I recently wrote a column with some excellent advice about how to raise both your personal and magic's standing in the outside entertainment world. It included a strong recommendation that some ideas have served their purpose and need to be replaced. I made a special mention of cheap shot methods of getting standing ovations for your show. First of all, yes, I KNOW THEY WORK. I have probably done them all at one point in my career! That wasn't what I was saying, it is just that some of them have worked for too long and incite serious lack of respect for magicians in general. I happened to have the opportunity to learn the true origin of the greatest of these bits today. The piece I am talking about is the recitation that ends up with the request for a standing ovation: not for me but for ------my child, my mother, my grandfather etc. etc. The person varies but never the punch line. It always goes, "it's not for me, it's for little XXXXXXXXX!" Followed by a standing O regardless of what the act was like! This piece has been credited to many people but I heard the definitive truth of its origin from Ian (pronounced Ion) Finkel the World's greatest Xylophone player and superb academic student of comedy and showbiz history. Ian and his brother Elliot are the two seriously talented sons of the legendary Jewish comedian and character actor Fyvush Finkel who was one of the kingpin performers in the Catskill resorts in New York during their heyday. This particular 'bit' began in the 40's in the Catskill resorts and like so many other unique pieces was rather more collaborative than anyone claiming its creation would like to remember. That never happens in magic does it! However for your entertainment and education here is the piece as it was first performed. At the end of his act the performer tells his audience that just prior to coming down to his show he was talking with the hotel chambermaid who was cleaning his room. She was telling him how much she enjoyed his show. As they were talking the hotel manager walked by and began to berate the performer telling him that if his show didn't get a better reception that night then he will be fired. Rosalina (the maid) tells the manager that she is so sure that he will get a great reaction that she is willing to make a bet with him. She has managed to save up 25 dollars to her name and will risk it all on a wager with the hotel manager that the performer will get a standing ovation that night! He accepted the bet immediately. The performer then tells the audience " It's not for me, it's for Rosalina!" This was of course always followed by a standing ovation. This version answers a lot of little questions that had previously lingered in my mind. It is absent of the inclusion of a family member in the storyline, which would have been a little emotionally tacky for the comedians of that time in those venues. It is certainly easy to see how it crept in later though. Winning a bet for a financially challenged chambermaid would have appealed a lot more to a comedian and more to the point the Catskills Resort audiences he was playing to. I know this may be a rather specialized story for a worldwide publication like Magic New Zealand but I just had to share it! Let me furthermore add that the world divides into two groups, those that know Ian Finkel and those that don't. If you fall into the second group, I can only say that you are missing out on one of the greatest characters ever to be a part of an industry famous for great characters. A world-class musician, director and cigar smoker, If you want a little taste of Ian and his great stories I would highly recommend his book 'You're not supposed to be here!' which is available on Kindle or through Amazon. It is the Philosopher's Stone of great stories about some of his experiences working on cruise ships. If you are interested in joining the small group able to purchase my Linking Finger Ring Routine, drop me a note at nicklewin1@mac.com -------------------------------------------- 7. Working Local Festivals - #232 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com The local festivals I have found are often committee based and run by locals who live or are involved in the town that is hosting it. Most of them are so more than willing to not only want your information but any solutions you can provide to them to make their jobs even easier. This is a great way to build a relationship with these folks early on. Train yourself to listen to their needs. I find starting a conversation with them is easier if you use something like this: "I know how tough it is putting together entertainment for your festival each year and I would love to help make it easier for you if I can. I have performed at numerous festivals just like yours over the years and perhaps my knowledge might be of help to you in solving some of your issues or problems. PLEASE feel free to let me help you if I can be of service." This usually always gets them talking. Most of the time they want to talk to someone all about everything they have to do. LET THIS HAPPEN! This is a gold mine for you if they start talking about other things. It allows you to listen in and to solve the problems that they mention. Through this process you not only get in for the entertainment but you can often times help them through other services you can directly provide. Too many entertainers hit the festival people with how great they are, and how much they are stars. This is fine to be proud of yourself and your show, but if I am a festival person, I want and need more than that. I want someone who understands that my festival committee is doing the jobs of 15 people but often times only has 3 people to do it. I want someone who can understand that on any given festival day, my committee and helpers are pulled in 15 different directions. Remember that the art of success in festivals is to always listen to the prospect. In listening, you can really find out what their needs are and change a negative into a positive by being a total solutions provider. Being a solutions provider also does not mean that you have to give in completely without getting anything in return for it. It simply means to listen to what they say, find out their needs and offer a mutual solution. I have found that there are lots of various degrees of entertainment at the festivals I work. These range from wonderful and fantastic performers to those you wonder how they even tied their shoes in the morning let alone got into the festival in the first place. I have found that it really does vary but it seems like it is the smaller festivals that are more likely to have the entertainment that is questionable. The reason for this is that the local festivals are usually put together by a volunteer group that changes from year to year. These people are not sure of what entertainment is out there or how to go about finding it. They often will use references from friends or relatives and this does not always lead to quality. However, this is a great thing for us festival magicians. By this, I mean that we can be a solutions provider for them easily. They are often very happy and eager to get my information and I can provide solutions they are wanting and craving. If you are a professional, they will easily see it through what you say and how you conduct yourself. 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 Jon Racherbaumer - Part 8 -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA Part 8/End ADB: I am so glad you brought that up . lay people as a rule don't really like Magic . most seasoned Professionals know this only too well and therefore strive for the key element which is to Entertain .. JR: "entertain" is a useful word, but it does not fully entail what we think it does. Dictionaries tell us that it means "to agreeably hold an audience's attention." yes, as performers we must do that; it's a given. I like what the trickster (in myth and literature) does: he enters your personal domain (unbidden). He then discombobulates your mind and touches your heart. Then he leaves (disappears?) With the hope that the experience he has given you is transformative! ADB: Absolutely, indeed I am rather fond of the coyote myself . thank you a gazillion times for that enlightening definition Jon , you understand the part that continual progress plays in our lives . relate that to performing Magic .. Your suggestions? JR. Tony, all of us are part of a continuum until we let out our final breaths. I continually revise as a writer and person, and I hope to entertain and express many more thoughts and suggestions in the future. I hope to write a few more books. But if you press me to make a few suggestions, they would be these: dive in and get whole-heartedly into the fray. Study, practice, and participate at the highest level possible. Be yourself. In the process, please appreciate your teachers, mentors, and precursors. Respect them. Pay homage by being the best magician you can. ADB: If you could hang out for a couple of days with some people (either living or dead ) and not be interrupted by phone calls or secular demands, with whom would you like to hang out? JR: Vladimir Nabokov, Ludwig Wittgenstein, J.N. Hofzinser, and James Dean. ADB: Jon , as always , it has been a very great pleasure spending time with you. Thank you . JR: You are most welcome Tony. Been a real pleasure for me too. -------------------------------------------- 9. Broken Wand - Richard Walls -------------------------------------------- Message by Bernard Reid (NZ) Richard Walls (Ricarlyn) (9 October 1937 - 31 October 2011) Richard became interested in magic in the early 1950s when he witnessed the stage show of The Great Benyon. Intrigued by the smashing of his watch which later reappeared safe via a nest of boxes, he wrote to a Novelty company for some tricks. The magic bug then found its way into his system and he has been going "hammer and tongs ' ever since. Returning to his home city, Dunedin, in 1955, he found the pre-war Otago Magical Society disbanded and soon set about finding out if other magicians were in Dunedin and interested in forming a new club. The result of his work came early in 1957 when Otago Magic Circle was formed. The southernmost society in the world, the Circle today is a strong club. With a group of enthusiastic members, several of whom are also IBM members. Richard became first Secretary of the Circle a position he still holds, and in 1958 in, recognition of his services was elected first Honorary Life Member of the Society-a rather unique honor for a 21-year-old. He played a prominent part in staging of the Circle's two major productions (1958 and 1959) which have been successfully presented on revue lines in the same theatres professional companies (e.g., Sorcar) play and directed the 1961 show "Magic Mardi-Gras". He helped establish The International Brotherhood of Magicians in New Zealand and is a founder member of Ring 160. He also served on the Ring Executive Board and held the Vice Presidency. In 1958 at the age of 21, he was elected joint IBM Territorial Vice President (then the highest IBM office in New Zealand) and his work that year did much to promote IBM throughout New Zealand among magicians and public. Re-elected to this office in 1959 he relinquished the post later due to private commitments, preferring to let someone who had the time to attend to the necessary duties take over as TVP. A very versatile magician with a pleasant, natural manner, Richard appears under the name of RICARLYN and prefers cabaret and stage presentations. He is not particularly concerned with clever magic, preferring to devote most of his time to the entertainment side, and in this he is helped by an unusual aptitude, namely, that he can picture magic as a layman sees it. He was fortunate, too, in being able to do some dramatic work in his early teens that has been of assistance to him. Richard became a member of the Magic Circle (U.K.) in 1962 at which time he was one of only two members in New Zealand. He resigned from the Magic Circle in 1992 after 30 years of membership. He was the organizer of the Otago Magicians Convention which took place in Dunedin in 1962. Richard assembled for the Linking Ring a New Zealand Parade in the 1960s and also published the ten effects in that parade later as a book. He also started a small magic company that was mainly mail order called NZEDDA MAGIC. -------------------------------------------- 10. Shock At Death Of Richard Walls -------------------------------------------- Message by Tony Wilson (NZ) Home » News » Dunedin By Rebecca Fox on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 News: Dunedin Richard Walls Dunedin politicians and community figures were in shock last night after hearing former Dunedin mayor Richard Walls (74) had died suddenly at his home yesterday. Friends and colleagues said he was the man who knew more about Dunedin politics and the city's history than any other. Mr Walls had been a feature of Dunedin's political life since being elected to the St Kilda borough council in 1962 and only retired in 2010 when he lost his seat in the local body elections. He was mayor from 1989 until 1995 and was a National Party member of Parliament for Dunedin North from 1975 to 1978. Mr Walls was chairman of directors at Dunedin International Airport Limited and a justice of the peace. He was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for public service in 1996. He was a member of many community, sports and arts organisations over the years including the Otago Magic Circle, which he helped initiate. Dunedin International Airport chief executive John McCall last night said from Wellington he had last seen Mr Walls at a board meeting on Thursday so the news came as a shock. "It is extremely sad; something quite difficult for us to come to terms with." Mr McCall said Mr Walls had been a part of his working life for 23 years and he had been absolutely committed to the airport as he had been to the city. Former mayor Peter Chin said during his 12 years on the council no-one had a greater knowledge than Mr Walls of the history of the city, in particular its political history. "He served the city tremendously well, not only on council but as chairman of Dunedin International Airport." With Mr Walls' death, Dunedin had lost a "very important citizen" who had served the city in many ways including leading the charge to buy the Regent Theatre, he said. "He was passionate about the city he knew about the city, knew everyone and everyone knew him, it seemed." Cr Neil Collins said Mr Walls' death had come as a "great shock" and his colleagues on the council and in broadcasting would "miss him terribly". Mr Walls is survived by his wife June and three children. An obituary will follow. ------------------------------------------- 11. Scott & Muriel Are Performing In The Big Apple Circus -------------------------------------------- Message by Scott Nelson Just a note to let you and your readers know that we are currently performing in the 34th production of the Big Apple Circus in New York. We do all the illusions from our FISM act - along with a couple new ones - right in the ring. The fact that the audience sits almost 360° around us makes them even more amazing. We are currently at Lincoln Center in New York City for 3 months and will then go to New Jersey, Boston, Queens, and various other cities in New England. More information can be found on the Big Apple Circus website: www.BigAppleCircus.org Scott Nelson Scott & Muriel Productions www.ScottandMuriel.com Mob. USA: +1 (559) 730 - 6086 (New!) Mob. Europe: +31 - 6 - 2120 4637 Our latest reviews: www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2011/10/25/2011-10-25_big_apple_circus_dream_big_review_lincoln_center_circus_special_brings_unique_lo.html http://newyorkpost.com/p/entertainment/theater/tent_up_creativity_jest_right_for_quxegyt5NOYKwxMN3cqQaL http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/reviews/10-2011/dream-big_43260.html -------------------------------------------- 12. David Ginn's Clearance Sale -------------------------------------------- Message by David Ginn (US) David Ginn (Atlanta Georgia USA) is offering a 13-day November Clearance Sale at the following link starting Nov. 1st: http://molliejohanson.com/13DaySale.pdf Help David clean out the Ginn basement and send happy magic, books & DVDs to new homes like yours! And by magic, David will also present his final lecture of 2011 for the London Society of Magicians at Davenports on Friday night, November 11th. For details, see "Appearances" on www.GinnMagic.com ------------------------------------------- 13. Lots Of Videos To Watch -------------------------------------------- Message by Kelly Forkner I just found out about a new website for magicians. It is great, and it's free. Lots of videos to watch, and a great place to meet other magicians around the world. Please post it for everyone to join. www.magicclassroom.com -------------------------------------------- 14. Hollywood Magic Bar -------------------------------------------- Article forwarded by Mel Kientz (US) Daily Trojan University of Southern California New Hollywood bar embraces magic By Sophia Lee . Daily Trojan Remember the hired magicians who once delighted you with their card tricks at birthday parties? You might think you're too old for magic tricks, but Hollywood Magic Bar, the newest party in Hollywood, is determined to enthrall you with magic again - with a grown-up twist. If there's ever a way to make magic tricks cool again, it's to stage them in a happening Hollywood nightclub. Popping up at Level 3 nightclub in the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood Magic Bar made its grand opening Sunday with plenty of pizzazz. Hollywood Magic Bar has all the basic elements of a posh nightclub: tons of room-shaking music courtesy of DJ Prophet, a decent dance floor, a sensuous light system and a full bar. The main attraction is the magic, which dazzles you the moment you walk in. At Hollywood Magic Bar, the entire nightclub is a stage. The mixology team is from Magixology, a bona fide group of bartenders who happens to have a few tricks up their sleeves. They won't poof cocktails out of nowhere, but they will pour your drink with a bit more grace than ordinary bartenders. You can stick to your favorite drink, but expect them to somehow convince you to try their special potion of the night. On the debut night, it was a purplish-auburn concoction of vodka, black-cherry liqueur and pineapple juice on the rocks - sparkly-sweet and intoxicatingly exotic. A shimmering lounge decked with white couches and ivory satin cushions doubles as paranormal stomping grounds for fortune-teller Shannon Leischner, who, for a tip, will read your mind and your fortune. Mirrors, mystically reflecting the violet-peach glow emanating from above, surround the room. Even if you don't go for the psychic, there will be no room for you to hide from the theatrics. While you lounge around and sip your cocktail, several magicians prowl, chatting you up while showing off signature skills up-close. These performers are relentless and confident; they will charm you with their jokes and lure your interest with their mystery. No two performances are the same, but all are spectacular. Introducing himself as a mentalist, Robert E.C. Valdemar, for example, weaves psychology and magic. He reads thoughts and explains your thought process as he guesses the card or picture you have in your mind. Phil Van Tee, on the other hand, is as gregarious as Valdemar - soft-spoken and intense. Trained by the Ringling Brothers Circus, Phil is a stand-up comedian whose magic is creative and witty. These magicians aren't your 8-year-old's birthday party entertainers who pull quarters out of your ear and flap out a few card tricks. Most of the performers on the main stage Sunday night were world-class, award-winning magicians whose phantasmagoric acts left the audience whooping and rubbing their eyes in wonder. You can also watch Sisuephan Philia, the host and lead magician, levitate objects (and even herself) and strut out one slinky outfit after another with a zap and a poof. Spectators will laugh out loud at Tony Clark's raunchy, sarcastic jokes just before he pulls out storms of illusions using ropes, wands and cards. Andrew Goldenhersh is another comedic magician, in this case one with hilarious Jewish-themed punch lines. His magic, though, is serious and elegant: A butterfly tattoo on his forearm unfolds into a real butterfly, and a Tai-chi dance-escape out of a straitjacket finishes with two giant, fluttering birds. World-traveling magician Steve Owens, meanwhile, prefers to let his graceful, sinewy hands tell the tale as they trick a wand to twirl around the air, shimmy out a parade of cards and glitter or snap forth spontaneous, flickering flames. Though the atmosphere is fun and wondrous, Hollywood Magic Bar lacks the most important magic of all: the "it" factor. Perhaps because it was the opening event and a Sunday night, the trickles of attendees were small and lethargic. The nightclub was entertaining and relaxing - not crazy and merry. It's not a place to crash, get inebriated and dance away to techno music; it's more like a wonderland into which you ride mesmerized, although instead of a mad tea party, you get razzle-dazzle performers and hard liquor. It's an entirely different world at Hollywood Magic Bar. The hosts claim no responsibilities for missing body parts or death by a magical tiger. They will, however, take charge of making sure you have the most magical time of your life. -------------------------------------------- 15. The Vegas Magic Theatre -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul Stone (US) The Vegas Magic Theatre opened on 3rd November at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas located just off the Las Vegas Strip next to the Rio and across from the Palms. Shows are on Thursday at 7pm, Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 5pm & 7.30pm and Sunday at 7pm. Part of the Vegas Magic Theatre experience is the Magic Lounge which is open an hour before Show time offering freee pre-show entertainment, including Close-up Magic and Tarot Readings. The Shows in November feature Fielding West, Dimmare, Scott Land, Andrew Goldenhersh, Adam Flowers, Mike Douglas, Jon Armstrong with Ben Stone hosting. December's performers include Farrell Dillon, Jay Alexander, Losander. Ticket prices are the best in town at just $14.95. Visiting magicians are always welcome. Performers interested in appearing should contact producer@vegasmagictheatre.com -------------------------------------------- 16. Steve Faulkner Lecturer At Blackpool Magicians' Club -------------------------------------------- Message by Peter Eldin (UK) Steve Faulkner will be the star lecturer at Blackpool Magicians' Club on Tuesday, 8th November. Steve has been a full-time professional magician for the last ten years, and has worked as a street performer since 1996. Specialising in both close-up and stage magic, Steve is one of the few who manage to blend humour and entertainment with a high level of skill and dexterity. With strict criteria (that every routine he performs has to be entertaining for the lay person) all of Steve's material is memorable, easy to follow and rewarding to learn. He truly believes that we can all learn anything if we approach it in the right way and is proof that someone who is naturally cack-handed can learn the most difficult sleights, and become an accomplished performer with the right attitude. Steve's recent book, Go Do, explores his thoughts on keeping motivated whilst achieving your full potential and he will be sharing his methods on this in the lecture. The lecture will appeal to all levels, from beginners to move-monkeys and, because of Steve's disappointment with many lectures he has attended it promises to be a truly entertaining event. -------------------------------------------- 17. The World Premiere Of The Illusionists -------------------------------------------- Message by Dave Lord forwarded on by Greg Britt Sydney Opera House Presents The World Premiere Of The Illusionists Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House 12 - 18 January 2012 Headlining this year's sizzling 'Summer at the House' season, will be the world premiere of The Illusionists - a grand and spectacular celebration of the art of magic by the most innovative illusionists working today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yaj1cmkt_o See the video here: Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall will be transformed into a magician's playground for a family-friendly show which will see seven of the world's most-respected performers in the field enact large scale, mind-bending acts of optical illusion, many of which have never been seen before. The hand-picked cast of international illusionists - Dan Sperry, Kevin James, Brett Daniels, James Dimmare and Jeff Hobson (with more acts to be announced) - will transform any outdated notion of what a magic show is. Shrugging off the idea of magic as a solo pursuit these artists will come together for the first time, with their assembled cast of 20 sidekicks, to perform a powerful and heady mix of their most outrageous and unbelievable acts. This group of world-class performers take their cue from the showmanship of the great illusionists of the past - such as Harry Houdini - and pair it with a new and updated contemporary aesthetic, whose set and costume design will lend the genre a theatricality and artistry that has rarely been seen before. Illusion Director Brett Daniels said, 'It is a privilege to be involved in The Illusionists - a show that will unite these performers from around the world for the first time. They are at the very top of their game and the audience are going to be left speechless when they see some of the things these artists are able to achieve.' Audiences will witness a nail-biting Russian roulette, jaw droppings acts of levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and escapes for Sydney Opera House's first comprehensive exploration of the genre of magic. From The Magic Circle and Hollywood's Magic Castle to Harry Potter and the rising inclusion of magicians on prime time TV such as Australia's Got Talent, the world of illusion and intrigue has long captured the public imagination. This production will present a rare opportunity for audiences of all ages to see the grand masters of illusion at work in one spell-binding production. More world class acts will be announced in November. The Illusionists is produced by Sydney Opera House with Simon Painter and Tim Lawson. Tickets go on sale from 28 October 2011. Season Information: Dates: 12 - 18 January 2012 Venue: Concert Hall Prices: Children's tickets from $47.25 (under 18); adults from $75; group discounts and family tickets available Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com or (02) 9250 7777 Age guideline: 5+ -------------------------------------------- 18. 31st New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2012 -------------------------------------------- Labour Weekend 2012 (19 October to 22 October 2012) We have three headliners confirmed Nick Lewin, Mark Mason and Ken Scott. Convention registration is now open and you can download it from http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7578/registration%20form.pdf Competition forms can be downloaded from http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7515/competitions%20.pdf For full information go to: http://www.ibmring160.com/media/7626/christchurch%20nz%20labour%20weekend.pdf -------------------------------------------- 19. 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 in folders for each year 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) -------------------------------------------- 20. 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 www.magicianz.com www.balloon-twister.co.nz