Magic New Zealand® E-zine

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* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
* www.magicnewzealand.com
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Issue Number: #1284
Date: Sunday 8th May 2016
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. Doyle And Houdini
3. Broken Wand Chris Parkinson
4. New David Berglas Website
5. The Magic Word Podcast: Simon Lovell
6. Magic School In Melbourne Australia
7. When Does The Show Start? - #398 - Kyle Peron
8. Magicpalooza Performers
9. Rare Magic Book For Sale
10. The Best Little Magic Convention In Texas
11. Midwest Magic Jubilee
12. Death Of Chris Kirby
13. Handling Delays: 3 Tips On How To Stay On Schedule
14. Magic Of The Masters
15. FISM 2018 Open For Registration
16. e-zine Archives
17. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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Confirming that the Trevor Duffy Auckland lecture is going to be held at the IBM Ring 160 Club rooms, Raye Freedman Library, 788 Remuera Road, Meadowbank on Thursday.

There will be NO Walk-ins.....

Contact our Secretary James Fuller to pre-register your seats NOW as seating is selling out fast for the Trevor Duffy.

Email: jimmy@themagician.co.nz
Phone: 09 950 6251

If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in a HTML format go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2016-Jan-to-Dec-2016/1284-May08-2016.html

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

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2. Doyle And Houdini
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Article forwarded on by Mel Kientz (US)

Houdini & Doyle | First Look | Fox Broadcasting
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c7GJuO9U-ZI
May 2 Houdini & Doyle premieres on FOX and Global TV at 9 PM ET/PT.

Turns out that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini really did know one another. They were sort of friends at times. And definitely enemies at other times.

That's the believable part of the new Fox series, "Houdini & Doyle." It's pretty much the only believable part.

Unless, of course, you find it plausible that the two, along with a female police detective (Rebecca Liddiard), would team up in a procedural crime drama with tinges of the supernatural - set in 1901.

That's the premise of the series, which airs the first of 10 episodes Monday at 8 p.m. on Ch. 13. Illusionist extraordinaire Houdini (Michael Weston, "House") and Doyle (Stephen Mangan, "Episodes") - the creator of Sherlock Holmes - work for Scotland Yard on cases that are too tough for the authorities. Cases that tend to involve some spooky stuff.

The two are a mismatched pair, although not in the way you might think. True to life, Houdini is a towering skeptic who is out to prove that everything has a logical explanation and anyone claiming paranormal abilities is a fraud.

Doyle, on the other hand, is a true believer in the mystical.

"What struck me originally … was the irony of it," said co-creator/executive producer David Titcher. "You had Doyle, who created the most skeptical character ever, who is a believer in everything paranormal. And Houdini, who is the most skeptical person alive. And they were friends."

Well, sort of friendly rivals working together.

Yes, it's kind of a crazy idea for a TV show. But that alone doesn't much matter - there have been plenty of seemingly stupid ideas that turned into great series.

A show about a girl who kills vampires? A high-school teacher-turned-druglord? A successful lawyer who chases her former beau across the country and sings about it? Dumb-sounding ideas that turned into "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Breaking Bad" and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

But for a show featuring Houdini as a lead character, there's surprisingly little magic in "Houdini & Doyle." It plays out like just another procedural crime show of the type we've seen umpteen times before.

Which, oddly enough, seems to have been the intention. Sort of.

"Any good sci-fi, it's either in the future or past or in an alternate universe," said executive producer David Shore. "But it's always dealing with issues that are current. And we stress the fact that the stories we're telling are going to be very relevant today."

In other words - it's just a modern crime drama in which the characters wear Victorian clothes
The period trappings are cool. The show looks great.

But it feels false. And for science fiction to work - for drama to work - you have to be able to buy into the premise.

That's pretty much impossible with "Houdini & Doyle" - a crazy idea that just doesn't work.

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3. Broken Wand Chris Parkinson
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Message by Alan Watson (NZ)

Chris Parkinson fondly known by us all as Parky, passed away 27th April at 74 years old two days from his 75th birthday. His funeral was held on Tuesday 3 May at Mantells in Westhaven, Auckland.

I first met Chris when performing close up magic at Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in Auckland in the 80's as he was a regular customer.

Parky had a fascination for magic, especially my chop-cup routine, as he could never figure out where the large balls came from. Michele and I had our wedding reception at Fisherman's Wharf and low behold who should gatecrash our wedding but Parky. From that point on we became firm friends.

Parky had a lot of special interests and was well known as being one of the four original pirates for Radio Hauraki on the vessel 'Tiri'. In a David and Goliath struggle the under-financed young people of Radio Hauraki defeated not just intense official opposition but also storms and shipwrecks. Ultimately they became the first and only radio pirates in the world to win the right to broadcast legitimately from land.

He was also a small aircraft pilot and had his own plane he would take us on trips down to Raglan and one story that springs to mind was he took Petrick Krejcik an international magician who was originally from Czechoslovakia, on a flight and I remember Petrick asking Parky if he'd ever seen someone levitated. Parky immediately put the plane in a dive position and the cigarette packet floated, in front of us all. Petrick went white and wanted to get out of the plane there and then!

Parky had a major input in helping promote New Zealand through the Internet. When I performed in the States at the Magic Castle in the early 80's not many magicians knew of New Zealand. So in the early 90's Parky and I started the Magic New Zealand Bulletin Board we called it MagicNZ! In the early 90's we were using Macintosh First Class software which was fully graphical interface which Parky connected to the Internet. We were the first fully graphical magic bulletin board in the world to be connected to the Internet. USA magicians Peter Samelson and Dan Garrett were the first internationals to log onto MagicNZ! through the Internet.

MagicNZ! became a major international player in keeping magicians all over the world connected and up to date. As technology progressed we shut down the bulletin board in the mid 90's. I have since started up the Magic New Zealand e-zine which goes out every week even today proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand).

Parky was always helping New Zealand magicians with their computers and showing them how to get the best potential out of them. He played a major part in my family's magic shows as he was always cutting new music tracks and adding voice overs at the end of each magic routine. He was my mentor when it came to computers and we spent many an evening programing....

Rest in peace Parky from the Watson family.

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4. New David Berglas Website
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Message by David Britland

It's been made possible by Richard Wiseman and University of Hertfordshire

https://davidberglas.wordpress.com/

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5. The Magic Word Podcast: Simon Lovell
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

Putting The Pieces Back Together

This week on The Magic Word Podcast, we hear the strong voice of our old friend, Simon Lovell. Many listeners have asked about how he is doing. So, with the help of several people to make this happen, we were able to record a Skype call with Simon during the weekly meeting of the Mid Essex Magic Society.

Simon talks about how his therapy is doing, the circumstances around his return to the U.S., his current state of health, and his hopes to return to performing at magic conventions both here and abroad plus many more topics.

You can see a current photo of Simon, read the blog, enter the contest, listen to the podcast online, and download the MP3 file at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/291-simon-lovell-uk-update

This week's podcast also includes trick reviews for "6 Minutes of Killer Comedy and Eye-Popping Magic" by Matt Fore, "Fisher's Dream" and "Fishing", plus "Free Wallet". You can also enter to win a free copy of "Framework" by Tom Frame, compliments of H&R Magic Books.

We also hope you enjoyed the daily updates last week from the F.F.F.F. convention in Batavia, New York. It was an outstanding convention.

To continue to keep the podcast on the air and the internet, please help support us. For more information, visit: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/fotmw/
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6. Magic School In Melbourne Australia
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Message by Anthony De Masi (Australia)

The Magic School of Confidence welcomes all magicians and anyone interested in the development of the magical arts.

Magic School Of Confidence - The Future of Australian Magic.

Please drop in and visit.

The Magic School of Confidence is a Magic School with a difference. We offer mentoring, training, advice and consulting for all levels of magic.

Not only do we train and inspire a new generation of magicians, we also help build essential life skills and self-confidence that can be used every day.

Apart from gaining self-confidence, there are plenty of other ways you can benefit from learning Magic from the MSC.

Based in Melbourne, Victoria.

161 Waverley Rd, East Malvern Vic 3145.

www.magicschoolofconfidence.com.au

Facebook: Magic school of Confidence.

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7. When Does The Show Start? - #398 - Kyle Peron
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Message by Kyle Peron
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com

I was talking to a friend recently about the concept of having a great show but simply feeling awkward on how to start. Now the main issue was this strange feeling of what to do when the kids start coming into the room for the show and what you should or should not do.

There is a fear that the kids are in control from the start and how do I gain that control back before the show starts. Many even say the client or adult should be handling getting the kids in and sitting down and acting appropriate.

This is a huge issue for folks so if you have issues with it, you are not alone. My feeling is that since it is MY show, I am in control of my show at all times. That means I should be responsible for where the kids sit, how close they sit and everything from the moment they come in to the start of the show and beyond.

What I often will do is stand in front of my table area at the exact spot where I want the first row to begin. As kids come in I welcome them and smile and tell them the first row starts right where I am. I state that we need the b-day child to be front and center to get a great seat and I ask them to find a seat and sit criss cross applesauce. They all know what that means as it is a common term heard today in schools.

I continue to stand there until all kids are in and all seated. I have much better control that way and I am seen as a professional by the client because I am controlling the situation right from the start. This makes it not only easier for me during the show but my value goes up in the mind of the client.

Only when all children are seated and looking up at me, do I begin with the warm up. This is perfect because I am already out front with them and in a perfect situation to get the audience warmed up, liking me and feeling more at ease prior to the actual intro routine starting.

Establishing a character or who you are is very important. However, I do this through the course of my warm up, opener, verbal intro and then my first routine. By then I have well established who I am to the children.

I find that if I just open cold by going RIGHT into the musical intro, then it makes the children a bit taken off guard. This is more true for the younger groups then the older ones.

So make it a policy to always be in charge even if the client is doing a good job. They can always assist you. However, it is your show and you need to be the professional who takes control as opposed to the children being in this free-for-all state. You are setting ground rules and expectations right from the start.

The kids should NEVER rule. They may think so, but it is YOU that needs to make sure that you show them that you are in charge and you are going to have a great and fun time with them. This does not mean you disrespect. It simply means being a professional and taking control. Never wait for them to give you control. You will be waiting a long time. Kids to not give control over to you. They expect the adult figure to tell them what they need to do next and how to act.

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.

Magicians please visit:
www.kpmagicproducts.com

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8. Magicpalooza Performers
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Message by Dan Stapleton - USA

Following is a list of performers for the upcoming Magicpalooza Magic Convention, Orlando, Fl (USA)...May 27-30.

To register and see all the information visit www.floridamagiciansassociation.com. Only $159, spouse-$99, youth-$99, kids under age 10-Free!

The Legendary...
Shimada

From Las Vegas...
Ariann Black

The Shakespeare of Magic...
John Tudor

Celeste Evans-Tribute

Dan Stapleton
and his (original) Human Deck of Cards
Danny Orleans & Jan Rose

Dan Garrett

FISM & Gold Cups winner...
Michael Ammar

Ventriloquist...
Mark Merchant

From Japan...
Asami

Club Magico Miami
In their own stage show!

Dennis Phillips

Steven Marcus
Classic stage manipulations

Mark Byrne
"Balloonatic"

From Russia...
Quick Change

Mark Horowitz

Adler & Changefield
In..."Sideshow"

Ventriloquist...
Jacki Manna

Remy Connor
In..."Sideshow"

Robert Moreland
Sleight of hand artist

Gustavo Raley
From Argentina

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9. Rare Magic Book For Sale
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Message by Eric Eswin
Honorary President of FISM

The book in question is "The secret inventions of Doctor Erving" by Dariel Fitzkee.

I am the owner of this book, with a value of approximately US$ 1500, ??? since 1969 and I want to sell it now to a magician-collector.

For those interested please contact Eric Eswin <ericeswin@gmail.com>

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10. The Best Little Magic Convention In Texas
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Message by Judy Hollingsworth

"The Best Little Magic Convention in Texas" -- that's the 2016 Texas Association of Magicians convention over Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, 2016, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The four-day magic extravaganza by the sea has something for everyone.

Non-stop magic shows, demonstrations, lectures, sales, and fun along with sand, sun, surf, and sails right outside the hotel door.

The website, www.taom.org/2016, has details about the venue, the shows, the stars, and more.

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11. Midwest Magic Jubilee
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Message by Dan Stapleton (USA)

Now we have Oscar Munoz, to add to our ever growing A-List of performers at the 2016 Midwest Magic Jubilee. As you know we already have Barry Mitchell, Daryl, Garrett Thomas, and Kozmo! Who's next?

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12. Death Of Chris Kirby
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Message by Peter Wood (Australia)

An Adelaide born ventriloquist and actor.

Chris Kirby, Actor, Comedian and internationally renowned Ventriloquist and his doll, Terry, were two of Australia's most enduring performers.

Chris Covington gave himself the stage name 'Chris Kirby' when he left school in Adelaide, South Australia. His comedic skills had made him a popular teenage host on a daily TV kid's show in Adelaide.

He later moved to Sydney from where he built a solid reputation on stage and television all around the country.

In the late Sixties he was asked to perform on the famed Ed Sullivan Show in New York. Then on to England where he appeared on Sunday Night At The London Palladium, A Blackpool Summer Season with Tommy Cooper and touring with Ken Dodd.

In the early Seventies he continued his success in Australia touring as opening act for big names such as Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Johnny Mathis, Charles Aznavour etc.
He also hosted his own television Tonight Show along with his wooden partner Terry.

Chris lived in America for the next twelve years where he developed his acting and writing skills.

Came the Eighties and Chris was invited back to Australia to appear on a Royal Variety Concert at the Opera House.

In the late 80's he decided to return to Australia permanently where he pursued his writing and acting career.

Chris Kirby (Covington) passed away late March. He has spent his last few years at the Anglican retirement village and was suffering from dementia.

He was one of Australia's entertainment icons.

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13. Handling Delays: 3 Tips On How To Stay On Schedule
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Message by Laurice Chavez

http://kidsentertainerhub.com/handling-delays-3-tips-on-how-to-stay-on-schedule/

Ever had a client delay your show so you had to triple-time to make it to your other engagements? Don't be in the same pickle again. Learn how to prevent time-compromising situations and still be in good terms with your clients right here: http://kidsentertainerhub.com/handling-delays-3-tips-on-how-to-stay-on-schedule/

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14. Magic Of The Masters
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Message by Wayne Alan

Magic of the Masters-The World's Most Famous Illusions starring World Champion Illusionist Wayne Alan-May 14 at 2:00 PM.

Tickets $20.00 & 15.00. Children half price.

This special matinee performance of Magic of the Masters is a modern look at Magic's Golden Oldies. Classics such as Sawing a Lady in Half, Houdini's Escape Trunk and The Floating Lady are all featured. It is a family friendly show with a touch of Broadway, Las Vegas and Branson combined. This big stage magic show is a fun and enjoyable show for the whole family.

Reservations for all shows please call 434-793-SHOW (7469) or online at: www.TheNorthTheatre.com

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15. FISM 2018 Open For Registration
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Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

FISM in South Korea

The 2018 FISM website is now open to take reservations. It will be continually updated with information about the convention. Now is the time to book your reservation in order to take advantage of the lowest fee and to be given the best seat possible for the Gala Shows:
www.2018fismbusan.com

I look forward to seeing you there.

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16. 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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17. 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.