* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
* www.magicnewzealand.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1209
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editor's Message
2. Vanish - International Magic Magazine Special Edition
3. Name Vs Face
4. FISM Registrations Are Still Open
5. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle - #5
6. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle - #6
7. Remarkable Magic #392 - Nick Lewin
8. Festival Survival Kit - #363 - Kyle Peron
9. Lance Burton - Where is He Now?
10. Innovention Convention And 'World Stars Of Magic' Shows
11. Attention All I.B.M. Jacksonville Convention Attendees !!
12. Updates So Far This Week On VanishLive.com
13. Genii: The Conjuror's Convention
14. The Melbourne Magic Festival
15. Entertaining Severely Disabled And Terminally Ill Children
16. Looking For Wooden Chinese Sticks
17. 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2015
18. FCM Convention Set For June 22-26 In Nashville
19. e-zine Archives
20. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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Delighted to hear that there has been a large number registering for the 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention in October 2015 which is going to be held in Wellington. To save disappointment if you are planning to attend best to register NOW as this is going to be a SELL OUT event very soon.

To register go to: http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/register/ to register online. It takes less than 2 minutes!

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/2015-Jan-to-Dec-2015/1209-Jun07-2015.html

Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

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2. Vanish - International Magic Magazine Special Edition

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Message from Paul Romhany Editor - Vanish - International Magic Magazine

This story was so big in the world of magic that we felt it needed its own Special Edition.

The Franz Harary House Of Magic is part of a 2.4 Billion dollar venue with a show that will cost over $40 million-dollars and will open its doors September 2015 in Macau. As we all know Asia is becoming the mecca for the world of magic and the Harary House Of Magic is just another example of a venue that magicians from around the globe can call home.

Paul Romhany was able to sit down and get an in-depth story in to the world of Franz Harary as well as have access to never before seen photos and video links. In this story Franz not only talks about the upcoming project but also shares stories about his incredible career, performing with some of the biggest stars in the world of entertainment including his friendship with Michael Jackson as well as his thoughts on the future of magic.
Download your free copy of Vanish now at www.vanishmagazine.com

A new format - introducing yet another format you can enjoy reading Vanish in. This is through Magzter.com and now gives Vanish a potential readership of 1.4 million people. We have worked very closely with Magzter to get Vanish up and running on their digital format and pleased to announce most editions are now up. It has been a long process but we are now ready to let you enjoy. Simply visit www.magzter.com and search for Vanish then download the APP on your iPhone, iPad, Tablet, Android, etc. and enjoy all the things this amazing format has to offer.

Our next edition is coming out soon and we will be offering a free 2 hour video exclusive for Vanish readers so stay tuned ….

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3. Name Vs Face
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Message by Dan Stapleton (US)

I was to begin this message by stating, a "trend" is appearing (in advertising) but I'm not so sure just how long this "annoyance" has been occurring. After you read this, you too will understand what I'm writing about.

Magic history is important to our art especially to those who do research for books and articles. And I thank those websites and magazines, such as Ask Alexander, Phil Schwartz's Thayer history site, and Genii magazine, for bringing to us so much history that otherwise might not be rediscovered.

Increasingly, the advertising for magic conventions doesn't place magicians names along with their photos in the ads. This is unfortunate because the performers' aren't fully promoted and, for future historians, omitted names mean the performers are "lost to history." Producers of these conventions should not assume "everyone knows" their names.

A recent national convention gave away commemorative posters to all attendees. The poster included an image of each convention performer without captioning their names. And many of the performers were from other countries. I'll bet there are very few magicians, attending that convention can identify the magi on that poster.

Sometimes there will be a group of photos in an ad and, separately, a list of names one has to literally match names and faces.

It's a disservice to those who might want to attend the convention, and the performer himself. Their advertising money is not being spent wisely.

In addition, many convention reports and reviews include photos without captioning or crediting the performers' names. In essence, this makes those reviews incomplete.

So here is my request to magic advertisers, promoters, producers and reviewers: please include a name with the photo. It helps us all and is important in maintaining our magic heritage.

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4. FISM Registrations Are Still Open
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Message by Cecilia

Only dealers and VIP registrations are sold out, regular registration are still open.

To register online go to: http://www.fismitaly2015.com/booking

For more information on FISMITALY2015 go to: http://www.fismitaly2015.com/

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Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

Italy in Miniature

Italy in Miniature is much more than the name suggests. At first glance, I thought it was something I could easily miss, but after reading about it I want to see it. I just don't know where I'll fit it in! Italy in Miniature is a theme park with sections that include not only Italy but also 13 other European countries. It's also an interesting venture if you love birds. It has restaurants, snack bars and picnic areas, some spectacular rides, a science fair and souvenir shops. It is easily accessible on bus No 8 from the Rimini central station.

An entrance ticket is 22€ but I've read the park is worth the money - everything is beautiful, clean, lots of attractions, and lots of place to eat. It would be easy to spend a full day here. It's easy to get there. Just take bus No 8 from the main central station. Bus tickets are 1.5€
The park displays 273 miniatures of famous Italian and European buildings in scale 1:25 and 1:50. The area is surrounded by a monorail that makes the attractions easily accessible. 10,000 plants and 5,000 miniature trees are integrated in the landscape. As well, 17 miniature trains are running in the system.

On an area of 12,000 square meters there is a replica of the Grand Canal in Venice with reproductions of 119 buildings in scale of 1:5. 2,500 m3 of water fill the water basins. The bell tower in St. Mark's Square rises to a height of 20 meters.

What I'm looking forward to the most within Italy in Miniature is a parrot research center specializing in the growth of the small parrots, from egg incubation to their weaning, and where you can watch their growth and progress, witness the appearance of their first feathers and their first trials at feeding themselves, under the attentive eye of experts.

Through this research, Italia in Miniature promotes and supports the conservation project of the rarest existing parrot: the Spix's Macaw an animal extinct in the wild, of which only 80 specimens exist, all held in captivity. The project aims at encouraging reproduction in captivity and at reintroducing the specimens into their original habitat, which is more and more endangered by an implacable deforestation process.

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5. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle - #5
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

Before I post a summary of this week's podcast, I want to express my heartiest congratulations to Alan Watson who was presented with one of the "Awards of Merit" at the annual Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) Awards banquet. Well done and well deserved, Alan. Congratulations!

As we near the end of this six part series, we enjoy some most delightful, educational and hilarious conversations with some of the "Knights of the Castle". First up is a chat with one of the servers who has worked at the Castle for nearly two years. What's interesting is his story of being an actor during the day and auditioning for parts while working a night job to make ends meet until he "makes it" in Hollywood. Rob Zabrecky is up next who talks about the inspiration for his bizarre humor and on-stage persona. BTW, since this podcast was recorded, Rob was just presented with the "Parlour Magician of the Year" award at the AMA Awards banquet. Congratulations, Rob.

Next we attend the Friday "Members' Lunch" where I had a quick chat with Andrew Mayne who talked about his latest projects plus his new mystery novel, "Name of the Devil". From there we visit the "cool table" with Chris Philpott, Paul Vigil, Alan Bursky and Steve Valentine. This was an absolute riot and I know you will listen to this part of the podcast over and over. On a related note, after this was recorded, Steve Valentine was the emcee for the AMA awards and was even presented with the "Lecturer of the Year" award. Congratulations, Steve.

We finally retire to the Magic Castle Library where we talk with Michal Perovich, the author of "The Dai Vernon Companion" that contains dozens of stories about and told by The Professor.

You can read the blog, watch a video, view some photos, listen online and download the MP3 file at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/magic-castle-2015-part-five You can also download the podcast from iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein and Feedpress.

And if you want to support The Magic Word and you have any discretionary funds to donate to a good cause, then please consider joining your friends by pledging to the podcast. For more information, please visit: http://Patreon.com/themagicword And thanks for listening.

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6. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle - #6
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

Well, this is it. This podcast is the last in the six part series from the Magic Castle 2015. For those of you who are getting tired of listening to this series, then we will return to our regular chats next week with a really special guest. For those of you who really enjoyed listening to this series, thank you and I hope to do it again next year with a whole new group of magicians. My analytics indicate that there has been a steady decline in listenership since this series began. I'm not sure why since every podcast in the series was totally different, but I do thank everyone for listening and I hope that for those who have tuned out for a while will tune back in again soon.

Now, as to this week's podcast, we sit in the Close-Up Gallery to chat with Jack Goldfinger, Entertainment Director for the Academy of Magical Arts. Next we go down to the Parlour of Prestidigitation and sit down before the show to talk with this week's featured "early show" entertainer, Tony Clark. I doubt that many of you know how busy this talented magician is with performing, producing, lecturing, creating and more. Next we go back stage with J. Neal (aka Jonathan Neal or Jonathan Neal Brown) and talk about his long and illustrious career in Las Vegas and aboard cruise ships.

Before I presented my lecture on Sunday afternoon, I spoke with the long time coordinator of Castle lectures, Lee Delano. Lee has had a long and successful career as an actor in film and television. Even those not familiar with American TV will no doubt know him from his work in the iconic film, "Planet of the Apes". He has a lot of really interesting stories. Finally, we come full circle by talking with Christopher Hart and Ray Pierce, former demonstrators at Hollywood Magic. In the first podcast of this series, Newell Unfried talked about Ray and the Hollywood Magic shop. Now you can hear the stories "from the horse's mouth", so to speak.

You can read the blog, view some photos, listen online or download the MP3 file at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/magic-castle-2015-part-six You can also download the podcasts from iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein, and FeedPress.

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7. Remarkable Magic #392 - Nick Lewin
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Message by Nick Lewin (US)

Packing small and playing big.

I remember when I was a young magician spending hours and hours poring over magic. There was a certain secret code involved in reading those catalogues and you learned the various phrases that they loved to apply to "reel you in!" First there were the ones that seemed to make the effect as written even more impossible than the written description of the effect implied, some of my favorites were,

1 No Magnets!
2 Can Be Fully Examined!
3 No Threads!
4 No forcing!
5 No Mirrors!
6 No Palming
7 No practice required!
8 Can be performed surrounded!
9 Perfect for any ages!
And to round out my top ten list, the ever popular
10 Packs Flat and Plays Big!

In my younger days number 10 on the list wasn't nearly as exciting as it seems today! When I was a beginner in the magic game I wanted to get as much prop for my money as I could. Bigger was definitely better for me in those days. I liked props and wanted nice shiny ones, or brightly painted boxes in red and gold.

In fact when I was between the ages of 12 and 13 I put every single prop I owned on my precariously balanced tripod table in the hope of impressing the audience with my vast repertoire of tricks. Looking back it is just one of the dumb things I did that now make me blush at the memory. It really isn't a very sophisticated approach, although I sometimes wonder if it isn't a little part of the mentality that goes into some of the illusion acts I see performed today at conventions.

Let's take a closer look at that concept of packing flat and playing big, when I was a youngster it normally meant a flat, brightly colored, cardboard effect that could be posted to you very easily. I remember being disappointed frequently by the fact that the phrase was often code for "…and isn't very convincing!" This wasn't always the case but I do remember being less than thrilled with many of these items.

For the last 30 years I have been very actively travelling to perform my shows, nowadays my schedule usually involves corporate shows in different cities both nationally and internationally, cruise ship bookings and performing arts centers/theatres scattered across the United States. Packing flat and playing big is a much more appealing feature to me.

Actually, let me amend that statement, so that it reads, "Packing small and playing big". There are an amazing number of very fine effects that can be achieved without a trunk full of props. When I am travelling I carry a catalogue case, which accompanies me on stage replacing a table, that when fully packed contains two fifty-minute shows and one thirty-minute show. All these effects are suitable for cabaret or stage performance The nice part about travelling like this is that if I am wearing a nice suit to travel in, I can perform a couple of full length shows even if the airline loses the rest of my baggage.

I recently posted a picture on Facebook that received a lot of interest; it was the items that fitted in my suit with which I was able to perform a full sized 50-minute theatre show. They all fit into one of the larger sized purple Crown Royal bags. It is mighty powerful feeling to know you can do this. I remember back in my illusion performing days when a three-minute hunk of material could weigh 100 pounds and require two travel cases.

You may wonder about how I have managed to make this minimum prop show really work for me, and work it does. I usually earn the same or higher fees than an illusion show. I am going to share with you one of the greatest pieces of advice I ever received from a performer, while it sounds simple DO NOT be fooled by how important it is; I was given this piece of advice by the great Maurice Fogel over 35 years ago. It changed my entire way of thinking about and performing magic.

"It isn't about the props themselves, it is about the energy that you can transfer to the props and then transmit to the audience." There you are, a single paragraph to think about but if you actually put it into application it can change your entire way of interacting with your show and your audience. I am delighted to share it with you fully aware that most readers will pass it by. However those of you who take the time to really reflect upon it, and apply it, will be able to use it to make your life easier, cut down your chiropractor bills and more importantly take your work to another level.

Look out for my new Ultimate Gypsy Yarn Routine, which is about to go on pre-sale. This handling teaches you how to turn a small piece of magic into a feature trick that fits flat in your top pocket! This is the trick that made me want to become a magician. You can check out my online magic store at www.lewinenterprises.com To get on the Gypsy Yarn pre-sale list contact us at lewinenterprises@gmail.com

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8. Festival Survival Kit - #363 - Kyle Peron
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Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.facebook.com/perondesign
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com

Whenever you perform at a festival, you will need to bring items or supplies with you that you may not use with other markets. It is the nature of the market that makes this a necessity for most festival entertainers.

It is my intention to go over some tips and suggestions of supplies and items you may want to bring with you as a part of your overall festival toolkit. These are items that may not be an essential part of your show performance, but will save you countless headaches along the way. Let me try and go over some of them for you and describe a bit of the reasoning behind each.

- Duct Tape: This simply has to be the number one tool of any performing entertainer. It has saved me in more ways than you can imagine and I make sure I bring a roll of the standard grey as well as black duct tape. Black can come in handy as it can be used to patch up torn black cloths or backdrops of even be used if your tux pants split on you. Gorilla Duct Tape also works really well in the dusty conditions.

I use it for taping down my sound system wires if I am setting up one. It is just too dangerous to have your wires laying around with the busy traffic that festivals generate. Not only can it be a hazard, but one trip can unplug your entire system and you lose everything right in the middle of a performance. It is best to duct tape them down securely before any performance. Duct tape is also used to pre-mark my stage area. In most cases, festivals will not mind if you ask them if it would be OK to pre-mark your stage with a few pieces of duct tape. As long as you remove them after the show, they will not have a problem with this.

By marking the stage, I know exactly where my tables need to go and where any illusions need to be placed. In the hectic pace of the show, it is critical to not waste time trying to find the exact spot a prop needs to go. If you also have people helping you set the stage, this makes it easier for them. This is what is often referred to as "spiking" the stage.

- Bottled Water: I cannot stress enough how important it is to bring bottled water or a sports drink with you in a cooler. Because festivals are done outdoors mainly in the hot spring and summer months, your adrenalin and the heat mix to form a very dangerous situation for you if you do not stay hydrated throughout the day. I take bottled water with me everywhere I go and keep bottles behind my table during a performance. Any performer will know how easily it is to get dry mouth during a performance and this water or sports drink can help prevent this and keep you cool in the process. A small cooler usually does the trick. It also helps because you do not waste time or money waiting in long festival lines to get the same drink you can provide to yourself for free.

- Plastic Covers/Tarps: I always carry several tarps or plastic covers that pack flat but are right near my stage area before and after a show. These are essential to me in the event that bad weather comes around and it rains. These covers are the first thing I dive for to cover my show items, tables, illusions and props. It simply is a must for doing and working outdoor festivals and will help protect you in the event of bad weather.

- Clips or Bungie Cords: These come in handy to wrap around your items and the plastic to keep everything covered in the event of bad weather. I use table clips and cover any tables they give me for my BOR sales items. These clips help hold down anything and keeps the table tarp from blowing around.

- Double Stick Tape: I always carry this with me as wind is one of the bigger problems at any outdoor event. I always have an information table that has a lot of my marketing materials available to people before and after the shows. Double stick tape used on the underside of some of my plastic holders, will keep them fastened to the table and prevent the wind from knocking them over. You can also use a clip at the top keep the flyers in the holders from falling out. It makes it easy for people to get a flyer or promo packet without fighting the wind all the time.

- Scissors or a Knife: You will want to take these as often times you may need to cut items for your show. I also have had times when the festival will supply me with caution tape so I can rope off an area to store my props between performances. Scissors come in handy for this to be able to cut it and secure it the way I need it.

- Packs Flat Carry Bags: Not sure what else to call them, but these are bags that I get from such places as Target etc. When empty, they fold up and pack away flat. But they can be opened and expanded to form a big bag with a lot of room and pockets. These may be called Duffle or Ditty Bags, also called draw string bags. This has worked great for me for carrying my props in and other items needed for the festival. When I get to the festival, I can pack and fold these bags up and place them out of the way so they take up less space.

- Plastic Table Cloths: They can be obtain at any party or dollar store in any color that might match your color scheme. Because they are inexpensive, you can use them and throw them away after the event is over and one less thing to pack back up. I use these for my BOR table as well as covering any other tables I may need for my show.

- Luggage Carts or Dollies: These are great for being able to load in boxes and bags and props from your vehicle to the entertainment stage area. It saves on trips and saves your back in the process. You can get these most anywhere and they also can pack down flat so they do not take up so much room during transit. Spend the extra money and get the better carts/dollys with larger wheels so you don't struggle trying to roll a cheap cart across the ground.

- Sharpies: I bring them in various colors and use them for signing autographs to writing signs and for putting prices on my sales items. They are also often used in the show itself. Having plenty on hand is always a must for me. With all the various colors I have used them to "repaint" dings and scratches in some of my props and illusions making them look fresh. Nobody notices from a distance.

- Round Price Stickers: I use these for making pricing of my BOR items easier for me. Don't forget your inventory price sheet so you know how much you've sold!

- Money Box with a Lock: This is essential if you are doing any sales of items at the festival. This is the place to store your cash and to lock it up and take with you during your performances.

- Wire Cutters: I bring these with me in my tool kit so that I can use them in the event that I need them. Because I am never quite sure of what exactly will be provided for me when I get there, I try to cover all bases to just be prepared for any emergency situation.

- Towels: I always bring a few towels. This allows me to keep sweat off of me and to dry out between performances and to stay fresh and clean during the day. The new Dry Absorb Towels from Lowes and Home Depot work really well too!

I hope some of these general ideas are of help to you.

***

I have a new book out I would like you to know about all about working the Festival market. If you would like additional and detailed information on this topic, please see my book/ebook at: http://www.kpmagicproducts.com/Festival_Magic.html

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.

Kyle Peron
Magician and Illusionist
http://www.kylekellymagic.com

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9. Lance Burton - Where is He Now?
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Message by Jeff McBride (US)

From the desk of Bryce Kuhlman:

Some of you may know that I've been Lance Burton's webmaster for the past decade or so. While I don't spend that much time around magicians, whenever I do show up at a convention people always ask me what he's been up to.

My answer is always the same: Lance is retired.

While that's technically true, he hasn't been resting on his laurels. In case you haven't heard, he's been working on a movie. With an official release planned for later this year, Lance and I recently reconnected to start working on a new website for the movie.

So instead of me spouting more of my own philosophies, as I always seem to do when asked to write a Museletter, I figured it would be more interesting to let Lance take the stage and tell you what's been going on:

Lance, you spent two decades as a real life Las Vegas headliner. Is this film an autobiography?

LANCE: No, absolutely not. Billy Topit is a fictional character, as are all the characters in the movie. The one thing Billy and I share in common is this, we both love magic, and we both love Las Vegas. I guess that is two things actually.

Is this your first time as a feature film Director?

Yes.

Did you write the screenplay?

Yes, along with my writing partner Michael Goudeau. We also share Executive Producer credits, as well as both appearing on screen.

Can you tell us more about Michael Goudeau?

For 19 years Michael was the "Guest Star" in my live stage show doing a comedy juggling act. For many years he was the Head Writer and Executive Producer on Penn and Teller's Showtime series. (He won an Emmy in that job.) He is also one of my best friends.

How did this film come to be?

When I was a kid I saw Bill Bixby in a TV series called "The Magician". I loved that show. Through the years there have been many films and TV shows with magician characters, and some were quite good. I just felt that I could bring something to the table that was genuine. Something based in reality. I didn't want to do the stereotypical mysterious magician character. That's why Billy Topit is a struggling magician, even though he is very skilled.

So the character Billy Topit is not successful?

No, not as far as the world is concerned, or at least the world as defined by Las Vegas. He is stuck in that entry-level job of performing at children's birthday parties. Which by the way, is where every magician starts. I started performing at birthday parties when I was 10 years old.

How do you think other Magicians will react to this film?

I hope they will be excited about it and love it. There are some things in the film that are just for them; inside jokes. Also there are other magicians who appear in the film in cameo roles; Criss Angel, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Fielding West, they all make appearances. Johnny Thompson and Rory Johnston are both well-known magic friends of mine who have larger roles, and they are both terrific actors. I even talked my buddy Louie Anderson into making an appearance, and he is hilarious!

Who is your target audience?

In my stage show our audience was very diverse. Every night we had adults, children, grandparents, Americans, Asians, Europeans, etc. We had people from South America, Mexico, and loads of Japanese people. In the past few years I noticed lots of Chinese tourists, which we didn't have 15 years ago. So what I am saying is, I think the target audience for this film is the same. It is a 'family film' that I hope will connect with people from all parts of the world.

What is the status of your live show?

I am retired.

No more live shows in your future?

I did 15,000 shows in my career. That's enough!

We miss having you on stage for real every night!

Well, that makes one of us!

There you have it… right from the Master Magician, himself!

If you'd like to learn more about the movie, go to the website: http://www.billytopit.com
And be sure to sign up for his mailing list (at the bottom of the home page). People on the list will be among the first to know of new updates, photos, special appearances and movie trailers.

Thank you, Bryce! Lance Burton is more than one of the "good guys" of magic. I'd rate him one of the "greats" -- and not just as a performer, though he certainly qualifies in that regard. Lance has long been a great supporter of his community… both in the magic world, and in the wider world, public radio, Shriners… and more. For many years he has been generous with his time and money; busy giving back to the communities where he lives and works (well used to work). As a result, he is deeply loved and respected by those communities. If you're reading this you're probably a part of those communities. So help us help Lance by spreading the word far and wide. This is going to be a great, fun, family movie that is good for magic. Tell your friends. Send them to the site. And when the movie comes out (later this year, I think), let's all treat ourselves to tickets that first weekend!


Speaking of weekends, we have a couple of big ones coming up for Jeff and the Magic & Mystery School. Next weekend, (June 5, 6 & 7) Jeff will be hosting one of his "McBride Magic Experiences" at Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock, Colorado. The theatre is the dream-made-real of Joe Givan and Carol Massie, an accomplished magic team from Colorado. Jeff will be doing three shows, a lecture and a workshop while there. Learn more by clicking here: http://amazingshows.com/performers-magicians-corporateevents/. It promises to be an amazing weekend.

Then, from June 12-14, Jeff and Eugene Burger will host a 3-day Master Class in Las Vegas. This will be our last live class offering before the summer's big conventions, and last time I checked, we still had two slots available. If you're thinking of showing your stuff at one of those conventions, this is your chance for a tune-up with the Masters. Check it out at www.magicalwisdom.com, along with our other offerings.

That's all for now. See you again in a couple of weeks!

Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com

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10. Innovention Convention And 'World Stars Of Magic' Shows
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Message by Paul Stone

The Innovention Convention and 'World Stars of Magic' Shows are taking place in Liverpool in July. The Innovention is from 14th-16th July and the 'World Stars of Magic' Shows are on 15th & 16th July.

The Innovention is unlike any other Magic Convention in the world. There have only been two Innovention Conventions previously, in 2010 and 2012, both of which took place in Las Vegas.

The Innovention is a high quality and intimate event and we limit the number of attendees to no more than 100. This year I am producing this Convention in Liverpool, partly because it is my home city and partly because it coincides with the Centenary of the Liverpool Mahatma Magic Circle which is celebrating its Centenary.

The Convention venue is the superb Beatles themed 'Hard Day's Night Hotel' and the beautiful refurbished Epstein Theatre is where I will be producing the 'World Stars of Magic' Shows. Both are right in the heart of Liverpool's revitalised City Centre.

There are still a few spaces left for the Innovention Convention but it is filling up fast, and the line-up of talent is fantastic. The Headliner is the hilarious Jeff Hobson, and for Close-up performers we have one of world's best, Armando Lucero, both from Las Vegas. Also from Las Vegas and making his UK Convention debut is Michael Goudeau, a brilliantly funny performer and an award winning comedy writer. Michael was the featured Guest Star in the fabulous Lance Burton Show in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years.

Just a few of the other names and personalities who will be appearing also include John Fealey, the unsung star of the renowned Palazzo Shows across Europe who rarely, if ever, appears at Magic Conventions, the totally unique Graham Jolley, and the inspirational Magic Star Wayne Dobson, and the attendees include outstanding showman and Circus Impressario Gerry Cottle. Our very Special Guests are none other than the President of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Erika Larsen and her glamorous mother, the Princess herself, Irene Larsen!

The Innovention is not just about tricks, but about becoming a better performer, and the performers appearing have successfully completed literally thousands of shows between them at the highest level, and attendees will have an unrivalled opportunity to spend quality time with them all in very intimate surroundings. Everyone who registers is guaranteed a great seat for all the sessions and shows.

For more information and to register go to www.Innoventionliverpool.com

For the next two weeks, we are matching our special Pre-Registration price of 155 GB Pounds. Even though the web page states the Registration price as 175 GB Pounds, when you register you will only pay the specially discounted price of 155 GB Pounds.

If you can't make it to the Innovention Convention, try not to miss the 'World Stars of Magic' Show at the Epstein Theatre on 15th and 16th July. The cast is outstanding and includes the hilarious Jeff Hobson, the incredible quick change artists SOS & Victoria, featured Guest Star of the Lance Burton Show Michael Goudeau, four time Royal Variety Show ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, the sharp witted and amazing mindreader Graham Jolley, from Taiwan Mike Chao, and the incredible Antje Pode.

Go to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk to book tickets.

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11. Attention All I.B.M. Jacksonville Convention Attendees !!
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Message by Bill Well (US)

Be sure to book your room at the Jacksonville Riverside Hyatt now! Our room block will be released as of June 15 and the convention room rate of $99 will not be available after that date. The cheapest average daily rate for a room at the Hyatt is $189 plus taxes and fees so the convention rate is a huge savings and you don't want to miss out so book your room at the Hyatt before the rooms are released on June 15! Go to the I.B.M. website http://www.magician.org/convention/upcoming-convention and click on the Hyatt reservation link or call the Hyatt directly at 1-800-421-1442 - be sure to identify yourself as part of the "International Brotherhood of Magicians" group in order to get the convention room rate of $99 plus taxes and fees.

Special Spouse Events just announced for the Jacksonville Convention - Spouses coffee on Thursday with First Lady Lori Farquhar and special presentations by Kim Pomar from the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and Dean Saccaro presentation of "Origami with Paper Money". Plus a Friday trip to Jacksonville's Cummer Museum and Gardens for special private docent tour and Dutch Treat lunch.

Don't miss out on this historical convention honoring the great Fantasio - The I.B.M. conventions were the First and still the Best in magic ! Go to http://www.magician.org for all convention information and to register for the 2015 I.B.M. Convention in Jacksonville.

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12. Updates So Far This Week On VanishLive.com
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Message by - Mick Peck (New Zealand
Online Content Editor
www.VanishLive.com

Latest updates on VanishLive.com include:

- New Tricks Keep Davenports Alive
- Craig Cole's Own Home Magic Theatre
- Criss Angel Finds Magic In Ordinary Days
- Vanish Goes Digital With MAGZTER
- Tony Clark Headed to South Lake Tahoe
- Trailer for 'The Magicians'

Video of the week: Tommy Wonder live in 1988.

Magic news, articles from around the world and product reviews from working professional magicians.

Visit us today at:
http://www.VanishLive.com

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13. Genii: The Conjuror's Convention
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Message by Genii Convention Organizers
Richard Kaufman, Andi Gladwin, and Joshua Jay

The Genii Has Granted one more Wish!

Hello Genii Forum members,

On Sept. 30th, Genii readers and fans from around the world will gather in Orlando, Florida for an unforgettable convention experience being heralded as "The Convention of the Decade." Meet the people you've been reading about, and share magic with your fellow forum members.

Perhaps by now you've heard a little bit about our convention. Now is the time to register, and we'll give you just a few reasons why.
The talent. We have assembled more and stronger announced talent than ANY other convention this year. Michael Carbonara (recent recipient of the "Magician of the Year" from the Academy of Magical Arts) will be presenting a two-man show with Eugene Burger, 2016 Academy of Magical Arts Fellowship winners Dan and Dave Buck will present a brand new event for us, and Denis Behr, Dani Da Ortiz, and Asi Wind will make sure your brains are totally fried with card magic.

The schedule. Nearly every moment of the weekend is packed with lectures, shows, close-up experiences, and talks. You won't want to miss a thing, and you won't have to: you'll have an opportunity to see everything. We have been careful not to overlap events in a way that would force attendees to choose one event over another.

Selling out! We will sell out, so it's important to register right now. It takes just a couple minutes, right here: www.geniiconvention.com

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14. The Melbourne Magic Festival
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Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)

The Melbourne Magic Festival, together with Yarra Trams, has teamed up to create a brand new competition called 'Magic on the Move'. All you have to do is film yourself performing a magic trick on a tram. Nick Kesidis gives a sensational example here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E6tYQn02SE

You can read all about the competition on this page http://melbournemagicfestival.com/magic-on-the-move
including the prizes (total pool $5000) and how to enter.

This is quite an innovative initiative for The Melbourne Magic Festival as we have never done anything like this before and we are looking forward to some very creative entries.

The competition closes on June 21 when Cosentino will decide on the winners.

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15. Entertaining Severely Disabled And Terminally Ill Children
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Message by Adrian Harris

Last Saturday I was booked by our local radio station to entertain some severely disabled and terminally ill children who were going to be given flights in light aircraft over the North East of Scotland.

This annual event is organised by Radio Tay on behalf of the Douglas Bader Foundation which is a charity devoted to giving young people something to remember by way of a flight. This year the Foundation have 12 weekends spread over the summer months which are devoted to these unfortunate children. On this occasion, 4 pilots spent the day giving 25 nominated children the flight of their dreams.

They chose where they wanted to go, some wanted to see their house from the air, some chose their schools and one wanted to see Loch Lomond well over 100 miles from Scone airport. ALL their wishes were fulfilled, not only that, but all the carers, mothers, fathers and other siblings, not to mention Granny's and Grandads were all treated to a flight!

Three face painters and others on the administration side of the day were also treated. I was especially delighted to be given a flight in a Gyro Copter. Believe me, it is a little bit scary being 1000ft above the ground in an open sided seat with only a seat belt to keep you secure but it was great fun!

The reason I was involved was to interact with the children with some of my puppets while they were waiting patiently for their turn to go up in the air. It was a most enjoyable day, hard work at times but rewarded with lots of smiles and laughter. I do hope they invite me back next year.

Adrian Harris
"Perthshire's Mr. Magic"

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16. Looking For Wooden Chinese Sticks
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Message by Duck Cameron (Australia)

If you have an old set hidden away, and would love to think that someone is going to sand them back, give them a new coat of paint and let them take to the stage once again, please email me at duck@duckmagic.com with your financial demands (and a pic would be great).

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17. 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2015
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Competition Entry Closes in under 1 Month

You have until Tuesday 30th of June to register for competitions.

Close-up Magic Competition
- Junior acts 3-6 minutes
- Senior acts 5-8 minutes

Parlor Magic Competition
- Junior acts 3-6 minutes
- Senior acts 5-8 minutes

Full details here: www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/competitions/
Judging Criteria Released!

Find out what it takes to win the competitions, and use the criteria to build and refine your act.

To download the judging criteria go to :http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/competition-judging-criter…

Why Entering Competitions is a Good Idea

Get recognised.

Competitions are a great place to get your name out there, and to showcase your act on a national and international stage. Who knows what opportunities may arise?

Get experience.

Many great magic acts were developed initially for a competition act. It can serve as great motivation to get creative and make something amazing.

Get feedback.

We have made an effort to ensure that all competition acts will receive their breakdown of score, as well as general feedback from the judges. It's not often you get feedback from world leading magicians!

Plus, it doesn't look too shabby on a resume either.

Haven't Registered?

What are you waiting for? Go to: http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/register/ to register online. It takes less than 2 minutes!

Like Us on Facebook:

To stay up to date, make sure to like our Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/WellingtonMagicConvention2015

For more information, or to get in touch, visit us at www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz.

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18. FCM Convention Set For June 22-26 In Nashville
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Message by Dennis Schick (USA)

The Fellowship of Christian Magicians (FCM) will hold its 57th Annual International Convention June 22-26, 2015 on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The theme of this year's convention is "A Year of New Beginnings," (Isaiah 43).

The FCM began in San Francisco, California in 1953 when a group of 19 people -- mostly magicians and ministers with an interest in magic -- met to discuss and form a Christian magic organization. Over the years, the organization spread throughout the United States and Canada, and has chapters in other countries as well. In addition to the annual convention, there are mini-conferences held throughout the year. Also, the FCM produces a bi-monthly 32-page magazine, "The Voice of FCM."

While the organization's name says "Magicians," that represents the original heritage of the FCM but not the progression over the years. Since most magicians do more than just "magic," they added other performing arts: juggling, clowning, face art, balloon twisting, ventriloquism, drama, storytelling, puppets, and chalk art.

This year's convention is still coming together, but let me tell you about last year's convention to give you an idea of what to expect:

(1) Last year there were 15 workshop periods over the five days. This is the primary focus of the convention. On most days there were 7 to 11 tracks offered (magic, balloons, clowning, etc.) during each period. And often there were two sessions running within a specific track (two magic, two balloon, etc.). In all, there were 153 workshop sessions to choose from over the five days. The biggest problem is deciding which one to go to at any specific time.

(2) Each day began with a 30-minute Morning Devotion, led by the convention chaplain and focused on the convention theme. Likewise, there was a daily "Hour of Power," an inspirational talk and presentation by a different FCM member.

(3) Another daily activity was called "Ministry Opportunities." Volunteer attendees went to local hospitals, nursing homes, senior care facilities, etc. to bring joy and laughter to the residents there. I counted 12 of these over the five days.

(4) Guest musicians are included in programs throughout the week, especially during the Grand Evening Programs each evening, free and open to the public.

(5) Since the entire convention has a family flavor, there were programs for children (a WOW Kids Workshop) and teenagers (a Teen Puppet Workshop). WOW stand for Winning Our World.

(6) Finally, there is an Exhibitors Room with vendors, (7) a Flea Market in that room to sell your unwanted stuff, and (7) a big Auction on the last afternoon of the convention, where you can sell stuff, too.

For more information about the convention, and to register, go to www.fcm.org. You don't have to be a FCM member to attend, but you will want to join after you have attended.

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19. E-zine Archives
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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)

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20. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
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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 and statements expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson QSM 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 QSM, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions or statements contained 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 2015 Alan Watson
www.magicnewzealand.com
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http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand

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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 QSMvouch 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 QSM, 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 © 2015 Alan Watson QSM.


Magic New Zealand® E-zine