* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd NZ
* www.magicnewzealand.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1126
Date: Sunday 7th September 2014
Editor: Alan Watson
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1.
Editor's Message
2. MAGIC Live, August 9-12, 2015
3. David Blaine In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia!
4. Texas Association of Magicians & Kevin James
5. Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee Show Tour
6. Remarkable Magic #360 - Nick Lewin
7. Building Opportunities - #351 - By Kyle Peron
8. Broken Wand - Lubor Fiedler
9. Houdini-Industrial Complex
10. Updates So Far This Week on VanishLive.com
11. Jeff McBride's Virtual Magic & Mystery School
12. The Innovention and The Liverpool Festival of Magic
13. The Illusionists 2.0 - Auckland New Zealand
14. e-zine Archives
15. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
Highlight
for Michele and I this week is seeing The Illusionists 2.0
twice! Perfect for all ages, the show had a great balance
of comedy, illusion, drama, suspense, technology and pure
artistry. Live 3D projection of close-up magic and specially
recorded music gave it another exciting dimension. A show
of this standard has a truly major impact on the local scene
in many ways
our young up and coming magicians are
inspired, and professionals like myself reap the benefits
from the interest that's generated in The Illusionists 2.0.
Performers
are:
Raymond Crowe (Australia) The Unusualist
James More (UK) The Deceptionist
Luis de Matos (Portugal) The Master Magician
Aaron Crowe (Belgium) The Warrior
Adam Trent (USA) The Futurist
Yu Ho-Jin (South Korea) The Manipulator
Jeff Hobson (USA) The Trickster
Also
a huge thanks to Luis and his amazingly talented team from
Portugal who have been central in helping create this show
and work tirelessly behind the scenes.
A
perfect balance of international performers to present an
awesome show. The show closes here in Auckland, New Zealand
on 13th September and next stop Dubai.
----------------
For all those who would like to read the Magic New Zealand
e-zine in a HTML format go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2014-Jan-to-Dec-2014/1126-Sep07-2014.html
Remember
if you have any magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com
--------------------------------------------
2. MAGIC Live, August 9-12, 2015
--------------------------------------------
Message by Stan Allen, Editor of MAGIC Magazine
The next MAGIC Live, August 9-12, 2015 in Las Vegas, is already
70% sold out. That translates to over 1,000 of our 1,500 spots
are already reserved.
Registration is $385, with the amazing hotel rate of just
$39 per night. An $85 deposit reserves your place.
This is the convention that everyone agrees is "like
no other convention in the world."
Visit www.MAGICmagazine.com/Live and join the party!
--------------------------------------------
3. David Blaine In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia!
--------------------------------------------
Article forwarded by Barry Khoo
Magic
man Blaine to hit KL streets...
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/04/Magic-man-Blaine-to-hit-KL-streets/
--------------------------------------------
4. Texas Association Of Magicians & Kevin James
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
This
week you get a lot for your money. Well, since it costs you
nothing in terms of monetary value, you still get a lot for
nothing. I attended the Texas Association of Magicians (T.A.O.M.)
convention this past weekend and uploaded my usual daily updates
from the convention. This was an outstanding convention with
some really good talent, great lectures and wonderful friends.
On
these podcasts you will hear the Guest of Honor, Arthur Emerson
(on the history of Emerson and West) as well as Master Payne
(on PowerPiont presentations), Dana Daniels (on "finding
the Funny"), Trixie Bond (on next year's T.A.O.M.), Scott
Hollingsworth (on the Magic Island), Steve Bedwell (on the
national speaking circuit) , Max Howard (on character development),
Arthur Moses (on the recent Houdini auction) and many, many
more.
Although
some of the conversations are about the convention, I know
you will find their perspectives on magic-related topics most
fascinating and refreshing as you learn a little more about
each person.
Here
are the links to each day's podcasts:
Day One: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/day-one-taom-2014
Day Two: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/day-2-taom-2014
Day Three: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/2014/8/28/185-day-3-taom-2014-ft-worth-texas
Day Four: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/day-4-taom-2014
And
while I was at the T.A.O.M. convention, I sat down for an
extended chat with Kevin James who talked about creativity,
Gaeton Bloom, the Crazy Horse in Paris, "America's Got
Talent" TV show, The Illusionists world tour and so much
more.
All
these subjects were brought up during Kevin's lecture at the
convention, but since he was there to show and explain tricks
and due to the restriction of time, he was unable to go into
much detail
until he sat down with me for this podcast.
You
can hear this fascinating chat on The Magic Word at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/kevin-james-the-inventor
Of course all these are available on iTunes as well as hearing
them online or downloading the MP3 files through the website.
--------------------------------------------
5. Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee Show Tour
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Daniels, UK
Sept
18th - The Forum, Billingham
Sept 19th - The Town Hall, Kidderminster
Sept 21st - The Harlington Centre, Fleet
Sept 24th- The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
Sept 25th - King George's Hall, Windsor Suite Blackburn
Sept 26th - Howden Park Centre, Livingston
Oct
2nd - The Civic Theatre, Rotherham
Oct 3rd - The Broadway Theatre, Barking
Oct 4th - Chipping Norton Theatre
Oct 5th - The Playhouse, Weston-Super-Mare
Oct 8th- The Savoy Theatre, Monmouth
Oct 9th - The Playhouse, Epsom
Oct 10th - Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston
Oct 15th - Millfield Arts Centre, Edmonton
Oct 16th - Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
Oct 17th - The West Cliff Theatre, Clacton
Oct 18th - Chequer Mead Arts Centre, East Grinstead
Oct 24th - The Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
Oct 25th - The Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford
Oct 26th - Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering
Oct 29th - The Playhouse Theatre, Whitley Bay
Oct 31st - The Regal Theatre, Tenbury Wells
Nov
2nd - Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
Nov 6th - Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl
Nov 7th - Palace Theatre, Newark
Nov 8th - Camberley Theatre
Nov 9th - The Regal Cinema/Theatre Redruth
Nov 12th - The Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
Nov 13th - The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe
Nov 14th - St George's Theatre, Gt Yarmouth
Nov 15th - The Mill, Banbury
Nov 21st - The Princess Theatre, Hunstanton
--------------------------------------------
6. Remarkable Magic #360 - Nick Lewin
--------------------------------------------
Message by Nick Lewin (US)
Linking
those finger rings!
I
am very excited by something that happened last week. I have
been a long-term fan of the classic '80s TV series "The
Equalizer" which starred the great British actor Edward
Woodward. I have been looking forward to catching the new
cinematic re-boot of the iconic action hero as played by Denzel
Washington, which hits movie theatres later this month.
"The
Equalizer" series was created by Michael Sloan, who happens
to be an old friend of mine, who just wrote a novel about
his iconic action hero to tie in with the release of the movie.
I downloaded the newly published book from iTunes and received
a very pleasant surprise when I discovered that I was name
checked in the novel. An equally exciting shock was that Michael
even took the time to highlight one of my signature tricks
in the pages of his book. Here is the specific quote.
"She
looked at the Washington Square Arch, silhouetted against
the night sky. Somehow she always found it comforting. Her
gateway to a new life. There were two statues of George Washington
in alcoves, one as a soldier, and the other as America's first
president. She thought of a British comedy magician she'd
once seen with her mother in a nightclub in Moscow. She remembered
his name was Nick Lewin and he'd been very funny. He'd said
of George Washington: "A British soldier, went AWOL,
did very well for himself." Her mother had had to explain
to her that AWOL meant "Absent Without Leave," and
then had patiently explained what "Absent Without Leave"
meant, as if she was still a child of eight. But that was
all right. It was her mother's gentle way. Natalya remembered
the magician had taken a ring of hers, the one her mother
had given her with the crest of a dragon on it, and he had
linked her ring with one of his own. Amazing!"
Excerpt
From: Sloan, Michael. "The Equalizer." Thomas Dunne
Books.
I
have had the chance to be featured in two episodes that Mr.
Sloan wrote based on my real life persona. I got to star in
episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Kung
Fu: The Legend Continues" and each one was a special
highlight in my career. I have much to thank Michael for over
the years and was incredibly thrilled to turn up in the pages
of his novel. In many ways it actually seemed more of a thrill
being featured in the book than any of my flesh and blood
appearances.
In
contemplating my fleeting appearance in the Equalizer story
I also realized how fortunate I have been in having a signature
trick that has brought me the attention and good fortune that
Mr. Himber's Linking Finger Rings have done over the years.
There is something quite amazing about the impact of this
particular trick on lay audiences and they seem to relate
to the effect on a very profound level.
This
particular routine was also entirely responsible for my being
featured in the star studded Hollywood Foreign Press Association
tribute to Orson Welles in 1981. The Linking Finger Rings
were also the core of my first major television appearance
in America on the "Merv Griffin Show," from Caesars
Palace in Las Vegas. I must have performed the effect thousands
of times over the years and it has been the "secret weapon"
in my act since the great Marvyn Roy convinced me to master
it about 36 years ago. Thank you Marvyn!
It
is a wonderful thing to discover an effect that can truly
be made one's own. If a performer can master one or two effects
that are this powerful in his lifetime then he is a very lucky
man. I can think of maybe three items in my repertoire that
are key to my commercial success over the years, however the
Linking Finger Rings seems to be the one that has caught the
attention of audiences the most. It is one of those tricks
that you almost believe you are performing a miracle when
you do it right. There are not enough tricks that can give
you that kind of thrill when you present them.
As
I slow down my performing career and begin to step up my life
as a writer and lecturer, it is very exciting to be able to
pass on my routine to younger performers and help them catch
the excitement of this very special effect. You gain a whole
new perspective on a routine when you get to teach it to others.
You are forced to think about and verbalize many things that
were previously unconscious just drifting around in the back
of your mind.
It
was a blast to realize that someone wanted to share my routine
as part of a totally unconnected artistic endeavor. It made
me proud and grateful all at the same time and I wish everyone
that very warm and meaningful moment in his or her magical
journey. Start searching for that special piece of magic and
don't stop working on it till you master it.
You
can check out my online store at www.lewinenterprises.net
You can reach me personally at nicklewin1@mac.com
--------------------------------------------
7. Building Opportunities - #351 - By Kyle Peron
--------------------------------------------
Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.facebook.com/perondesign
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com
The saying goes. "It's called show business for a reason."
You have to have and know both to be a success. This is very
true and you have to be able to balance it well. It is also
about building relationships and seeking opportunities when
they present themselves. It is also about taking and making
opportunities.
Many
folks do not realize just how much they can personally benefit
their business by being aware of opportunities they often
will overlook.
Too
many, what they do is a job of sorts. I get hired by the client,
I show up and do a great show, I get paid and I leave. To
me, it is much more than this and you are missing out on HUGE
opportunities.
Being
a success in this field is also about relationship building
and networking. Getting the chance to know people, friend
people and have them get to know you more than just the magic
they see on stage.
When
a person gets to know you more, you start to change the perception
they have. This increases your value to them. The greatest
asset you can have is your client and your audience. They
are essentially walking billboards. They can and should be
able to advertise you and what you do. They will if you give
them a reason to.
With
this in mind, I always make it a policy to do several things
while at every gig I do. This may sound like common sense,
but you would be shocked at how many do not do this or not
enough.
When
I get to the event, the first thing I will always do is seek
out the client. I shake their hand and greet with a big smile.
I will always complement them in some way. If they have a
child that is celebrating a birthday etc. I will ask to meet
them and I will introduce myself to them with their parent.
I will ask the child if they are ready to have fun and make
small talk to get them empowered and excited.
The
idea behind this is to break down that concept that you are
just a hired hand. That you are just another magician. I want
them to know immediately who I am and that I am very different
than the rest. I want them to start to build a connection
with me and me with them.
If
I am setting up or if I am done and they are present, I will
always make small talk with them. Just listening and tuning
in to what they are saying and going along with that. Many
times I will always find a common ground. The ability to talk
about something other than the event or the magic. Just 2
people talking about life. This gets them to see your human
side and they appreciate it. To smile or laugh with another
adult of influence goes a long way.
When
at an event I never talk down to anyone about anything. My
reasoning is that you never know who knows who. It is always
best to be a professional by acting like a professional. Smile
always, be kind and show respect to everyone. Get to know
folks and show a genuine interest in them.
Before
my shows I do a ballyhoo (larger shows) or a warm up (smaller
shows). This is aimed at having fun but really getting to
know my audiences in a fun way. Many times magic does not
happen during this at all. I am having fun with them. I am
talking to them, asking questions, joking around and warming
them up.
When
I do this it breaks down the wall instantly. I get them warmed
up to me before the show even starts. This way when the show
does start, they 1) want to help and 2) they want to react.
These 2 things I do not have to wait for because they are
already generating it for me.
Always
leave time after your show to meet your audience and share
with them a part of you. These folks just saw what you can
do and they can and will be walking advertisers for you if
you give a bit of your time. Show appreciation. Thank them
for watching. Make small talk and be genuine.
When
you show appreciation to people throughout your gig, you will
be amazed at just how much a positive difference it will make.
I am happy to announce that my newest book, "FESTIVAL
MAGIC", is finished and is NOW available at http://www.kpmagicproducts.com
; This 112pg book is filled with the most up to date information
on how anyone can work and succeed in the festival and fair
markets.
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. Broken Wand - Lubor Fiedler
--------------------------------------------
Message by Chris Wasshuber and forwarded on by Michael Woolf
Very
sad news that Lubor Fiedler has died. I am quite shocked because
the last time I spoke with him on Skype there was no indication
that anything was wrong. Last year I visited him in Brno and
he was both mentally and physically better than most 20 years
younger. I wrote an article about that visit for this newsletter.
I am repeating it here:
A
Day With Lubor Fiedler
Lubor
Fiedler lives in Brno, Czech Republic, which is less than
2 hours by car from Vienna. This summer during our vacation
in Vienna I planned to visit Lubor Fiedler. Lubor was very
kind to accept my self-invitation. I was excited. I briefly
met Lubor Fiedler once in 1993, just before leaving on my
Japan adventure. This time I had a full day with him. I was
excited.
I
rented a car, left around 8am to be at Lubor's place at 10am.
The
drive from Vienna starts out on a highway, but soon ends in
a smaller one lane country road with lots of traffic. The
street winds and turns through smaller towns until we come
to the former border city of Drasenhofen. The installations
of the iron curtain are still there, but nobody was there
with an AK-47 to scream 'stoy' into my face as once happened
trying to cross border by bicycle. Those memories came back
when I crossed the border with my rental car. But thoughts
quickly turned back to Lubor. After some more driving I came
closer to Brno.
I
opened my iPad to use Google maps to see where I am, and where
I should be going. My iPad is my GPS for such situations.
However, to my dismay Google maps did not work even though
I paid for an international data plan. I guess the fine print
says somewhere 'doesn't work in Czech Republic'. Anyway, I
knew roughly how to get there and had a sheet printed out
from Google that gave me enough information to at least get
close to where Lubor lived. I was determined. A little technical
glitch won't stop me. Luckily I was alone. Nobody was breathing
down my neck with "Are we there yet?" "What's
taking so long?"
Once
I felt I was close enough I looked for a parking spot, took
my bags, and started walking. Lubor had the foresight to send
me a picture of the apartment complex he was living in. So
I had an address and a visual to find his place. I asked one
bored person on a park bench and then with a Zig Zag search
path I located Lubor's apartment complex. I rang. Lubor answered
and buzzed me in. I dashed up four floors in the dark and
there was Lubor waiting at the door. He gave me a bear hug
like I was his long lost son and then he let me into his apartment.
For
me Lubor Fiedler is the greatest magic creator/inventor of
all time. He is the one person that has brought more new methods
into magic than any other person I can think of - dead or
alive. My personal favorite are the Gozinta boxes, but also
his Lubor lens is incredible, or think about his dental dam
effect, flying color cards, various tricked dice, illusion
principles, ... and those only scratch the surface. Very simply
put he is a genius in the truest sense of the word. He is
also an amazing person.
80
years old he needs no glasses to read, navigates a computer
better than people half his age, is organized, remembers everything
and has a great sense of humor. The first effect he did for
me was his self-combusting card. I freely picked a card from
his deck, tore it in half and suddenly the card goes up in
flames. A chemical trick. The edges of the card are prepared
with Lubor's Combusto, a liquid that has set entire theaters
on fire. You can do wonderful fire effects with it, but handle
it the wrong way and you will start burning at places you
never thought possible.
Lubor did another fire effect for me. Actually he let me try
it out myself. I took two of his specially prepared matches
and lightly rubbed both heads together. Wooosh a bright flash
and a smoke cloud filled the room. Lubor smiles sheepishly.
You can't do these effects in a typical US home, because your
smoke detectors will trigger. This was fun that I did not
have since my chemistry lab times where I mixed things that
went boom!
None
of these chemical tricks can be turned into marketed effects
these days, because they can't be mailed, are dangerous to
produce, ingredients are difficult to get, and have their
risks in performance, too. But they are so much fun. As an
old chemist I wanted to see more. Lubor showed me more. Thinking
of it, these tricks would make great experiments for a
Chemistry teacher who wants to show cool stuff in school.
If
I would be a teacher I would do them. Most science teachers
do lame experiments like watching how ice melts. No kidding!
That is not how you get kids interested in science. But when
it goes kaboom, fire, smoke and mayhem then the kids want
to know more. Lubor would make a great science teacher.
Lubor
showed me many other effects, things he is working on, optical
illusions, his next Tenyo effects, etc. Too many to list them
all, and I shouldn't be talking about them anyway, because
these are Lubor's inventions. Some will make their way into
a marketed magic trick.
I have no idea how he did them. With some he told me I am
close. We started to brainstorm, which was really cool. Here
you have Lubor, the greatest genius of magic invention asking
for my opinion, my advice. I also realized that Lubor is not
just technically skilled, but he has always the entire performance
and appearance of a magic effect in mind. For example, for
all the videos he showed me, he very carefully chose the right
music and music transitions, camera angles, lighting, etc.
This was a completely new side of Lubor I was not aware of.
He even thought about what music to play during my visit.
Think about this. He actually thought about what musical taste
I might have.
As
you can imagine time flew by terribly fast. He took me out
to a nearby restaurant where we continued to talk about
magic. We even briefly skyped with Mark Setteducati. Lubor
showed me photos from his recent appearance at Magic Live
and some of the projects he is working on. Back at his apartment
he demonstrated his X-flyer for me, a toy that he and Mark
Setteducati developed together. We spoke about the problems
the internet poses for magic, theft of intellectual property,
crediting, ownership of tricks and inventions ... all things
Lubor is thinking about.
As
the sun started to set I had to bid my goodbye. Since I did
not exactly know how to exit Brno and drive back to Vienna,
nor was I sure if I would find my car a few blocks away, or
if perhaps it was towed due to me parking somewhere inappropriate,
I wanted to leave while it was still light enough.
I
was very happy that my car was not towed. I also found my
way out of Brno and back on the road to Vienna. I was later
than I told my wife who was already trying to reach me. Once
I was close enough to the Austrian border my phone started
to work again. With my wife informed I could reflect on the
wonderful day with Lubor while driving home.
Overall
it was perhaps the most interesting magic day in my live.
I am very happy that I could spend a full day with a magic
legend. I am honored that Lubor demonstrated so many effects
for me. My biggest wish is that Lubor is blessed with a long
and productive life, so that he can invent many more of his
miracles.
The
obvious question many will ask is: "Will there be Lubor
Fiedler releases beyond Tenyo products, perhaps DVDS, or a
book, or more lectures?" Yes, there will be some of that.
But I can't tell you when or what right now. All I can say
is that good things will come ...
--------------------------------------------
9. Houdini-Industrial Complex
--------------------------------------------
Article forwarded on by Mel Kientz
Inside
the Houdini-Industrial Complex:
The surprising, secret influence of the great escape artist
With a new miniseries starring Adrian Brody and a huge memorabilia
auction, why are we
still so fixated on Houdini?
By
Rachel Shteir
Harry
Houdini, circa 1899. (Credit: AP)
There are two take-aways from the largest auction of Harry
Houdini memorabilia in a decade-it netted over $500,000- that
happened recently at Potter and Potter auction house in Chicago.
The first is that in our decidedly unmagical age, Americans
are more fascinated than ever by the great twentieth-century
escape artist. There is plenty of evidence for my theory besides
the auction, including, beginning this past Monday, the History
Channel miniseries starring Adrien Brody as Houdini. (Other
high-profile projects near launch date include a Broadway
musical supposedly starring Hugh Jackman as Houdini and a
book about the escape artist's relationship with the psychic
Margery by the screenwriter David Jaher.)
The allure of Houdini should not be surprising. Since his
death in 1926, the escape artist has never been out of fashion.
As Adrien Brody put it in a TV interview, Houdini resonated
with immigrants trying to achieve the American Dream. His
achievements touch nearly every important domain of the twentieth
century, including aviation and cinema.
But there is one irritating thing about Houdiniana today that
also dates back to his life: the code of secrecy mystifying
his tricks. Today this code is alive and well, as was proven
by Brody, who apologized last week for the History Channel's
decision to reveal a few how-he-did-it type things on their
series.
Which brings me to my second Houdini take-away: it's time
to end the reflex of keeping these tricks secret-perpetrated
most forcefully among the small group of magicians and magic
collectors that in my darker moments I call the Houdini Industrial
Complex.
"There's probably about 1,000 people who collect Houdini
world-wide," said Jim Matthews, who sold Houdini's rare
67 page manuscript on witchcraft for $15,000, told me. Those
1,000 have, you could say, magical influence.
Part of me admires the HIC's commitment to keeping magic's
secrets in an era better known for sock puppets, catfishing,
and trolling. But part of me believes that it misses the point
entirely. In the twenty-first century, it's not how Houdini
did it that matters. It's who he was.
In the most recent clashes over spilled secrets, the magicians
come off as more shrill than sensible. I'm thinking of the
angry reviews of Alex Stone's sloppy 2011 tell-all magic memoir,
"Fooling Houdini," or Ricky Jay's occasional surliness
when my friend Allen Edelstein's compelling 2013 biopic gets
closer than he would like.
The day after the auction, as I paged through the lavish color
catalog given to me by Gabe Fajuri, the knowledgeable president
of Potter and Potter, I marveled that nearly ninety years
after Houdini's death, 286 lots including rare scrapbooks,
unseen manuscripts, a transcript of the 1902 German trial,
the coat worn by Houdini's wife, Bess, crumpled, yellowing
papers, garish show biz posters, explanations of tricks (with
diagrams) and a sweat-stained "punishment suit"-
a knee-length long straitjacket- sold, often for thousands
of dollars.
Super-collector Arthur Moses, who owns over 5,000 Houdini
items, flew in from Fort Worth, Texas, to bid. He was forthcoming
about his get, which included a rare candid photo of the Houdinis
in Monte Carlo. "[Houdini] was a complicated man with
an intense drive," he explained via email.
Another Texan to make the trip to Chicago was Jim Baldauf,
who was selling a coat worn by Houdini's wife, Bess, in 1905.
He had received it at age ten from an octogenarian magician
and acrobat. "I do not believe it should be in a private
collection," he said, although that is likely where it
ended up.
Fajuri told me that many bids were placed via Internet, which
only a few years ago, I imagined would break the magicians'
code of silence. That has not happened.
Although the Internet has created a new generation of amateur
Houdini buffs, like John Cox, who runs the well-informed blog,
Wild About Harry, it has not made transparency the norm. Cox
disapproves of revealing the secrets of Houdini tricks, or
any tricks really. "I don't think it should be done,"
he said.
Neither did Potter and Potter's Gabe Fajuri. But Fajuri also
quoted the magic writer Jim Steinmeyer, "Magicians guard
an empty safe."
Fajuri means that keeping secrets isn't what magic is about.
And he's right.
Besides outliers like David Blaine, magicians are no longer
part of the mainstream cultural conversation. And unlike burlesque,
a twentieth century pop culture fad that has reinvented itself
by using the language of gender studies, magic, with its largely
male population, doesn't really appeal to women.
Before last Saturday's auction, the items creating the most
buzz seemed to have appeared out of thin air. One was a scrapbook
from 1925 with Houdini's handwritten notes on the pages. Another
was the so-called double fold death defying box, a wooden
crate housing the milk can into which Houdini climbed and
then somehow leapt out of.
What unites these items is their far-flung backstories. They
were never in super-collections, or sold on Ebay stores or
in other auctions.
The scrapbook was discovered at a swap-meet in California
by Michael Bricker, a property manager and antique dealer
who declined to say where he found it or the name of his eBay
store. The double fold death defying box was owned by Gary
Collins, outside of the inner circle because as a so-called
gospel magician, he interpolated Bible stories into his shows.
Collins bought the box in the 1970s from a magic dealer and
used it until he retired in 2000. "I was going through
my Houdini phase," he said.
The scrapbook sold for $36,000. The box sold for $55,000,
before the auction house premium
Collins and Bricker agreed to talk about their items. Others
declined to do so. But one or two people talked about the
magic community's accessibility overall.
Still, any gesture towards access quickly runs into its opposite.
The library at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, archivist
Lisa Cousins explains, uses its own "eccentric cataloging
system-not Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress"-and
is closed to non-magicians. (She rushed to say that it allowed
researchers.)
David Copperfield's Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts,
located somewhere in Las Vegas, claims to be open to researchers
as well. But the website makes sending an inquiry difficult.
As difficult, in my experience, as finding Copperfield himself.
(He did not respond to a query about the Houdini auction.)
The day after the auction, I wandered around Potter and Potter
office looking at the Houdini artifacts waiting to be packed
up and sent to the people who had paid thousands of dollars
for them. The punishment suit hung on the wall, armpit sweat
stains darkened the canvas. The coat that Houdini's wife Bess
wore, as tiny as that of a child, hung on a mannequin. It
reminded me of Jim Baldauf saying, "She looked like a
little girl."
The death defying double fold box stood in the middle of the
room. It looked like a packing crate.
"That's the point," Gabe Fajuri said as he heaved
off the top so I could gaze inside.
I put my head in and squinted. There was a ring where the
milk can stood. The room blurred. That was magic.
I hope other people get to see it.
--------------------------------------------
10. Updates So Far This Week on VanishLive.com
--------------------------------------------
Message by - Mick Peck
Online Content Editor
www.VanishLive.com
Latest
updates on VanishLive.com include:
-
Transgender magician stars in 1,000 Londoners film
- Think Big - Play Big - Win Big! : Lee Alex
- Lubor's Gift by Lubor Fiedler
- Infamous Deluxe Set by Daniel Meadows & James Anthony
- Defiance by Mariano Goni
- Dynamo Levitates 1016 Feet Up
- Blaine Performs For Dangerous Inmates
DAILY
magic news, articles from around the world and reviews from
working professional magicians.
Video
of the Week: Christian Cagigal live at The Magic Castle March
2014.
Visit
us today at:
http://www.VanishLive.com
-
Mick Peck
Online Content Editor
www.VanishLive.com
--------------------------------------------
11. Jeff McBride's Virtual Magic & Mystery School
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jeff McBride (US)
New
things are happening with our online Magic School. I really,
sincerely, do hope you will consider becoming a member of
our All-New online. Please look at the video at our "Virtual
Magic & Mystery School.
Not
only will you receive special benefits at each level of membership,
but you are also helping the School fulfill its mission of
improving the art of magic one magician at a time! Learn more
right here: http://www.magicalwisdom.com
--------------------------------------------
12. The Innovention And The Liverpool Festival Of Magic
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Stone
14th
- 18th July 2015
The
Innovention and Liverpool Festival of Magic will be the magic
event of 2015. There are a several big magic conventions taking
place in 2015 with thousands of magicians attending, dozens
of competitors and lectures galore, but none of them will
be like the Innovention. The
Innovention is different from any other magic convention.
We deliberately limit the number of attendees so that everyone
is treated like a VIP, and everyone has a great seat for every
show, lecture and workshop.
The
Innovention is an intimate event where you will see the best
shows, the best performers, the best lecturers and the most
innovative sessions. There are a variety of excellent hotels
all within a 5 minute walk of the superb Playhouse Theatre,
where all the events take place.
Next week we will be announcing the first few performers names,
so watch this space. Liverpool is a fantastic city to visit
with its own special magic, and we are planning some exciting
surprises!
So
don't wait, register now and take advantage of our very special
early bird offer. For full details and to register go to info@innoventionliverpool.com
--------------------------------------------
13. The Illusionists 2.0 - Auckland New Zealand
--------------------------------------------
The future of magic IS HERE!
2 to 13 September
Live at The Civic, Auckland
The
next generation of magic is in town! The Illusionists 2.0
-- a stunning sequel to the box-office smashing 2013 season
of The Illusionists - is announced for Auckland's The Civic
theatre this month.
Featuring
seven masters of mental and optical illusion, The Illusionists
2.0 is a brand new production that will propel New Zealand
audiences into the future of magic and illusion, using cutting-edge
visual effects.
A
fast-paced, high-energy powerhouse performance, The Illusionists
2.0 gives audiences the chance to witness the magical genius
of the world's greatest stars and their genre, each with a
unique skill that has won them countless fans globally.
Whether
it's the deadly arts of The Warrior, or the high-risk tricks
and stunts of The Deceptionist, The Illusionists 2.0 will
leave audiences rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Edgy, exciting
and most of all fun, it's the perfect live entertainment show.
'Forget
abracadabra and rabbits jumping out of hats because The Illusionists
2.0 will make you question whether Harry Potter really is
the chosen one.'
Adelaide Advertiser
Venue
- The Civic
Season - From Tuesday 2 September to Saturday 13 September
Times: - Tues & Sun, 6.30pm, Wed to Sat 7.30pm,
Matinees - Sat, 2.30pm, Sun, 1pm
Bookings - 0800 111 999 or ticketmaster.co.nz
Tickets: - From $69.90*
Family and Under 16 ticket prices available
--------------------------------------------
14. 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)
---------------------------------------------
15. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
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or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your
privacy.
You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand®
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Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday.
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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®
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Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct
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Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items
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All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected
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authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely
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in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and
the above disclaimer.
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