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* Magic New Zealand®
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Issue Number: #1382
Date: Sunday 4th June 2017
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1.
Editor's Message
2. Vanish Magic Magazine Edition 35
3. The Magic Word Podcast With Mat Franco And Andrew Goldenhersh
4. Creativity: A Brain Storming Technique - #449 - Kyle
Peron
5. Re-coding Perception Through Magic Convention Cambridge
UK
6. End of an Era
7. Davenport's Magic Kingdom Closes
8. Calling All Australian Magicians
9. Trix In The Stix Review
10. Broken Wand - James Hamilton
11. e-zine Archives
12. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
If
you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in a
HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2017-Jan-to-Dec-2017/1382-Jun04-2017.html
If
you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand
or
have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com
--------------------------------------------
2. Vanish Magic Magazine Edition 35
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Romhany Editor Vanish Magazine
World
exclusive interview with Willie Tsai - who now has over
30 million views on his America's Got Talent performance.
Willie
has literally changed the face of magic overnight. His LIVE
performance has left magicians around the world in utter
amazement. He is a visualist - which means he combines magic,
illusion and other methods to create incredible 'magical'
stories. We get the SCOOP on Willie and a little behind
the scene look at his performance.
Magic
Tricks - tricks you can read and watch online - from David
Penn, Wayne Fox, Louie Foxx, Jonathan Friedman, and Diamond
Jim Tyler.
Articles
- by Nick Lewin, FFFF convention, Anna Shim on Korean magic,
Ventriloquist Art Getler on comedy, Colin Underwood, Harrison
Carroll, Danny Arhcer and Nicola Previti.
Performers
- get to know Titou - a French magician living in Las Vegas,
Charles Bach interviews Tony Middleton on his London shows.
Reviews
and product highlights on the latest and greatest in magic,
DVDs, and downloads.
Free
to download as a PDF or read online from www.vanishmagazine.com
also available as a printed magazine.
--------------------------------------------
3. The Magic Word Podcast With Mat Franco And Andrew Goldenhersh
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
What
a way to wrap up the final episode of the Las Vegas Chronicles
on The Magic Word Podcast. Winner of Season Nine of "America's
Got Talent [sic]" (AGT) and star of his own Las Vegas
show, Mat Franco joined us last week to talk about his experience
on AGT. As you can imagine, his experience was quite different
from any of the other magicians I have chatted with who
have appeared on the show. After all Mat won the one million
dollar prize and got the dream job on the Las Vegas Strip!
In
this podcast, Mat talks about why he auditioned for AGT
and what he hoped and expected. He also talks about developing
his show, his effects and his career. Mat's show is more
"personality driven" rather than focusing on big
box illusions, dancing girls, lights, smoke and mirrors.
He is genuinely engaging on stage and his show is near perfection.
After performing on the Strip for over 18 months, his sold-out
audiences must agree with me.
You
can watch a compilation video of his appearances on AGT,
see some candid photos I took back stage in the dressing
room, read the blog, listen to the podcast online and download
the MP3 at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/mat-franco
This
week on The Magic Word, we start to catch up with some of
the podcasts that have been "resting" while we
brought you the Las Vegas Chronicles. We kick off with a
chat with Andrew Goldenhersh, two time winner of the Academy
of Magical Arts "Parlour Magician of the Year".
When this was recorded in mid-February, Andrew had just
been notified that he was again nominated to be the "Close-Up
Magician of the Year". Well, the awards banquet has
come and gone, so
spoiler alert: Richard Turner won.
But
this podcast is not about that nomination nor his awards.
During our discussion, Andrew talked about his consulting
work with other magicians including Jason Alexander ("George
Castanza" on the hit TV show, "Seinfeld").
But then we get down to it and focus on how to structure
an act, how he learned to improve his performance when he
lived in Japan and learned an act in a new language, the
importance of silence and pauses. This is a fantastic podcast
full of ideas and advice from a real working professional.
The direct link to this podcast is at: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/andrew-goldenhersh
Be
sure to Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/themagicwordpodcast)
and follow us on Twitter #MagicWordPod
--------------------------------------------
4. Creativity: A Brain Storming Technique - #449 - Kyle
Peron
--------------------------------------------
Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.facebook.com/perondesign
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com
Since I have been talking a lot recently about creativity
in magic and how you can open yourself up to being more
creative with your magic, I have gotten a lot of requests
from folks wondering if there are any brain storming techniques
that can be used to help in the creative process. I would
like to share with you one of the techniques I use most
often and that has really helped me out over the years.
I hope it might do the same for you.
Being
an artist and graphic designer, I have always used different
creative and brain storming techniques to generate art ideas
for my fine art as well as my logo designs. I just had never
thought about the fact that some of these techniques that
I had always used, could not only carry over to magic, but
could really work well.
The
problem with creativity and brain storming is that we cannot
always focus as much as we want to be able to. There are
so many outside influences and distractions that prevents
our mind from staying on topic. We tend to drift around
too much and never get a chance to lock in on some great
ideas and to really explore them in detail.
The
other problem is that we over think things too much. We
often get hung up on trying to be creative and trying hard
to figure out a particular idea, that we allow other great
ideas to just roll on by our mind. All this frustration
often leads to lack of creativity and so we shy away from
trying it again out of fear.
So
how can you brain storm effectively to really generate results
while avoiding some of these more common pitfalls? Well,
one suggestion is to occupy your mind and teach your mind
to think a certain way by simply fooling it. The mind is
great at doing tasks and accomplishing them. When your mind
is actively involved in a step by step process, there is
no time for it to wander like it often does in most creative
processes that we have used in the past.
One
way to do this is a form of brain storming that was taught
to me years ago and that I have modified since then over
time. It is a process that focuses the mind to being creative
even if it does not realize it is doing so.
It
works something like this: Start off with an idea that you
have for an act, routine or even a show. Figure out to yourself
what are the main words or ideas that you want to generate
ideas for in this new act or routine. Try and come up with
the single words that best reflect this act.
For
example, let's use the idea of coming up with a magical
routine that is themed around the idea of art. When we look
at it we get two main words that are the focus for this
act. Those words are "art" and "magic".
Next, take out a sheet of paper and on the left side of
the page, write the word art on the top. Now go over to
the right side of the page and write the word Magic. Start
with the word art. Start to think of any word that you can
think of that has to do with the word art. The idea here
is a free-flowing generation of words.
You
are not trying to develop ideas or thoughts. Just simply
write down words that you associate to the word art. Some
of these words might be; paper, color, paint, paintbrush,
easel etc. I think you get the idea. Now you do the same
thing for the word magic. Just generating words and not
stopping to dwell on any of them.
Once
you have compiled your lists, the fun and creativity really
starts to happen. The idea is to start to cross reference
words from both lists to generate new words and new creative
ideas. For example you may take the word paintbrush from
one list and the word "vanish" from the other
list. All of a sudden you generate the idea of a vanishing
paintbrush. You keep doing this by cross-referencing other
words together.
By
doing this, your teaching your brain to stay focused by
occupying it with a select group of steps it must do. But
in the end your generating ideas and creative thoughts that
you may not have come up with on your own or in other means.
It really does work and is quite amazing what can be generated
just from this simple process.
I
hope you may give this a try. If you do, please let me know
how it works out for you. I am sure it will work. I can
almost guarantee you will create better ideas and at a faster
rate than ever before.
If
anyone would like other thoughts on this, or a better explanation
of the process, please just e-mail me at magic4u02@aol.com.
I would be happy to discuss it more with you. What other
brain storming techniques have worked for you?
--------------------------------------------
5. Re-coding Perception Through Magic Convention Cambridge
UK
--------------------------------------------
Message by Dr Antonia Symeonidou
Director
Academy of Magic and Science
Tel: +44 (0)7531587194
We
are very excited to invite you to attend a unique convention
to "Re-Code Your Perception Through Magic", looking
at how we communicate, how we perceive the world around
us, how we process knowledge and how these mechanisms impact
the way we behave and live.
The
Academy of Magic and Science, our educational partner, is
organising in Cambridge, UK, a fascinating two-day event
of lectures, shows and workshops. The convention will cover
topics from science, communication and social media campaigns
with a magic twist, to deceive and re-educate our perception.
The ultimate goal and benefit for the participants will
be to build knowledge and skills across key scientific disciplines,
concepts of illusion. The Academy of Magic and Science has
been supported by the Cambridge University Accelerator of
the Judge Business School and is an official partner of
FISM.
When:
8-9th of July 2017
Where:
Cambridge University, UK
Register
now at:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/re-coding-perception-through-magic-tickets-34649625964
Enjoy
an exclusive 10% discount using the code: MagicNewZealand
While
various registration options are available, we encourage
you to register early as the number of participants is limited.
Looking forward to sharing this special weekend with you!
--------------------------------------------
6. End of an Era
--------------------------------------------
Message by Michael Lyons
Davenport's
Magic Kingdom has been placed into administration. A large
site with a reasonable admission charge that contained many
items owned by the legendary Davenport family has been forced
to close as well as seeing the many exhibits and watching
excellent close up magic there was also a big stage show.
Many
have commented on the "...value for money..."
the enterprise was known for. It is very sad that such a
wholesome activity has had to end so suddenly.
--------------------------------------------
7. Davenport's Magic Kingdom closes
Davenport's Magic Kingdom closes
Davenport's Magic Kingdom closes
7. Davenport's Magic Kingdom Closes
--------------------------------------------
Article forward by Peter Phillips (UK)
Just
Regional
The
magic-themed family attraction, Davenport's Magic Kingdom,
in North Walsham, has been closed and placed into voluntary
liquidation following a legal dispute.
An
ongoing dispute with a former consultant to the business
resulted in a legal bill of almost £60,000 and as
a result, the business was unable to continue trading and
the directors took steps to appoint Jamie Playford of Leading
Corporate Recovery as liquidator of the company on 23 February
2017.
The
attraction housed the Davenport family's extensive magic
collection of artefacts and memorabilia spanning almost
500 years, as well as providing a fun and interactive space
for museum displays, a magic theatre, gift shop and café.
Prior
to opening in May 2013, the Davenport family committed over
£1m to building the attraction.
In
2015, visitor numbers decreased and operational costs had
increased, causing some cash flow difficulties. The business
sought a financial rescue package from the director and
his family and friends in order to fund ongoing trading.
The
business had accumulated creditors of £1.7 million,
of which £1.4m was owed to the Davenport family. The
closure resulted in two immediate redundancies although
other staff had been laid off over recent months.
Fourth-generation
magician and current managing director, Roy Davenport, is
currently in talks with Mr Playford to produce a rescue
package.
Mr
Playford said of the closure: "It is always sad to
see a local attraction such as this forced into liquidation,
however the local community have expressed their support
for the Davenport family and so we are hopeful that a rescue
package can be formulated over the coming weeks. We are
looking at the detail of the proposals and hope to make
a decision in the next week or so."
Mr
Davenport added: "Of course it is very unfortunate
to have to go through this process. I am grateful to everyone
who has supported us in so many ways over the last years.
We are putting all our efforts into a possible rescue package
and are hopeful that we can save our unique British magic
collection and continue to make it accessible to all."
For
the balance of the article go to: http://www.justregional.co.uk/magic/
--------------------------------------------
8. Calling All Australian Magicians
--------------------------------------------
Message by Nopera Whitley (New Zealand)
New
Zealand Magic Convention - Wellington, 20-23 Oct 2017
If
you've always wanted to visit 'Middle Earth' now is your
chance!
Taking
place in Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand, join Shin
Lim, Rob Zabrecky, Hector Mancha, Colin Cloud and Charlie
Frye for the 33rd New Zealand International Magic Convention.
The
beauty of the New Zealand conventions is that they are small
and intimate and there are plenty of opportunities to interact
with the headliners one-on-one. Not to mention, you will
be in one of the most beautiful locations this planet has
to offer.
Registrations
are limited and there are less than 60 places left. Act
quick so you don't miss out!
Register
online at www.magicconvention.co.nz - it only takes a couple
minutes!
--------------------------------------------
9. Trix In The Stix Review
--------------------------------------------
Message by Quentin Reynolds (UK)
The
fifth TRIX annual convention for children's entertainers
took place on Monday and Tuesday 22nd and 23rd May in Shropshire,
England. And what a fun couple of days it was.
The
Monday night cabaret, regarded as the best yet featured
Quentin Reynolds, Max Fulham, Ken Scott from the US, and
Rafael from Belgium. Followed by the Breakaway Wand Show
- an irreverent topical look at magic today - featuring
John Kimmons, Gary Dunn, Max Fulham and George Quinn, Tamar
Louise Kimmons, and Wyn Merlin Jones.
Tuesday
morning started with Power Presentations from Master Payne
(via long range telepathy) and Max Fulham. Max is 17 and
already displaying star quality. His presentation and his
cabaret spot showcased his originality, comedic, and presentational
skills.
Quentin
Reynolds lectured featuring five routines, most requiring
minimal props yet generating maximum laughter. Ken Scott,
the most 'normal' American we've had at TRIX impressed everyone
with his humour, personality and his magic. The queue after
his lecture was evidence enough to show the impression he
made.
Two
more Power Presentations from Julie Carpenter, on how to
remember names, and `Martin Duffy on educational shows and
how to develop them.
Rafael's
lecture was like watching a mix of Ali Bongo and Gaeton
Bloom. Strong, direct effects using simple methods.. He
surprised everyone who had only ever seen his Vampire illusion
act. Ken Scott finished the evening covering magic theory,
presentational ideas, and getting bookings.
Ireland's
Pat Fallon hosted the convention, introduced everyone and
made sure everything ran smoothly and on time.
Featured
throughout were many short video clips put together by John
Kimmons, all expertly edited. If John wasn't a magician,
I think he would be a movie or TV producer/director/editor/scriptwriter/actor.
TRIX
was dedicated to the late Jeremy Le Poidevin and many tributes
were paid to him, with a very special one put together by
John Kimmons.
Cheryl
Le Poidevin, who along with Jeremy ran Practical Magic and
the TRIX convention, paid her own tribute and announced
that the business will now be carried forward by Gary Dunn,
himself a professional children's entertainer of vast experience.
Next
year's TRIX will be on 21st and 22nd May and already booked
are Thom Peterson, Christopher T. Magician, and Alberto
Nava. It will be run by the team of John Kimmons and Gary
Dunn. Details at TRIX IN THE STIX - The World's biggest
and best convention for children's entertainers | Home of
the elitist clique...
--------------------------------------------
10. Broken Wand - James Hamilton
--------------------------------------------
Message by James Hamilton
Our
Good Friend and Mentor, James Hamilton
On Sunday, May 21 I happened upon a posting on Facebook
asking if anyone could confirm a rumor that James Hamilton
has passed away. I took a deep breath of disbelief. That
couldn't be possible. But soon it was confirmed by his long-time
close friend, Margaret Steele. It seems that he was diagnosed
with liver cancer six weeks before but did not want the
news to be known. Margaret reported that he did not suffer
and passed away peacefully at the California Pacific Medical
Center in San Francisco on May 20, 2017.
I
am still in disbelief that this grand wizard will no longer
show us how a classic prestidigitator makes audience believe
in the impossible.
Long-time
San Francisco professional magician and magic historian
James Hamilton (born James Hamilton. Muszalski) was 74.
He performed around the globe and was especially in demand
in the San Francisco area and Hollywood where he impressed
celebrities at private parties. His intimate shows are not
as well-known as his stage presentations but he was able
to adapt to any setting. James appeared on television and
movies, was a member of the Magic Castle and the Magic Circle
of London, both having hosted his performances and lectures
on magic history, and well he was the Magic Consultant for
the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum.
But I think his most lasting contribution to the art will
be his exhaustive research on magic history with a focus
on Alexander and Adelaide Herrmann. James was serious about
his portrayal of Alexander Herrmann---he even looked like
him. Though his planned book-length biography of the Great
Herrmanns is not completed, James wrote seven fascinating
monographs including A Short Biography of Alexander Herrmann
and Adelaide Herrmann (1994) and a Genii cover story on
Adelaide (2000).
Margaret
Steele was his partner in research and played Adelaide when
they recreated the Herrmann act.
Margaret
had recently posted on the Thayer Magic forum:
"James
has been researching the Herrmanns for decades, and he did
it in the old-fashioned, pre-Internet way, physically traveling
to libraries, universities and other sources all over the
U.S. and Europe. I'm the spoiled Internet researcher, obsessively
mining hundreds of digitized newspaper and genealogical
records without having to walk out my door.
I'm
ever mindful that I stand on James' shoulders and owe an
enormous debt to his years as the Herrmanns' gumshoe detective.
There's still plenty of Herrmann information, undigtized
and undiscovered, waiting in libraries across the U.S. May
James inspire us to find - and share - it."
**********************
In 1955 James co-founded The Long Beach Mystics with a group
of other teenagers. He wrote, "I still vividly recall
the last Saturday of May 1955 when an excited group of us
budding magicians gathered in the back room of Brownie's
Hobby and Magic Shop. The atmosphere was electric, we had
all signed up for a magic club. That night we voted and
selected the name 'Long Beach Mystics." It is a name
that commands respect and awe among magicians. It was a
unique club, one that probably had few equals. Brownie and
others not only guided us in learning magic
.but MOST
importantly HOW to perform magic.
I
had the privilege of being part of a hard-core group of
us that met on Saturday mornings to learn how to speak,
handle props, walk, take a bow, dress, hygiene, grooming,
thinking on your feet and all the myriad of things a magician
needs to know... but which many dismiss as trivial.
I think all of the members feel honored and lucky to have
been a part of the Long Beach Mystics. I say that in the
past tense, however, it is a continuing fellowship that
will last for eternity."
Many
members of the club went on to become some of the country's
top magicians. In 2003 the Magic Castle hosted a Long Beach
Mystics Week.
*****************
I had been a teen member of the Oakland Magic Circle in
the early and mid-1960s. We had a "junior" division
where established magicians helped us with our presentation
and many of the concerns James mentions.
In
1983, I rejoined the Oakland Magic Circle. One of the first
people I met was James Hamilton, looking every bit the classic
professional that he was with that goatee and always in
appropriate attire when he performed.
After
meetings, a bunch of us would go to Dave's Coffee Shop (open
24/7) to share ideas and effects late into the night. James
was always generous with ideas to improve one's craft and
lead us in new directions - sometimes that might be time-tested
ideas from the past but new to us.
James
traveled from his home in San Francisco to the Oakland Magic
Circle. If a performer was willing to hear serious constructive
thoughts about their act, James was willing to work with
them. He was President of OMC in 1985, 2000, and 2006.
I
loved watching him perform and though I did not think I
ever wanted to see another Linking Rings routine, James
did the classic one with such style and grace that I could
watch it over and over.
In
2001, I saved the Balboa Theatre in San Francisco and decided
to celebrate its birthday by recreating a night at the movies
in 1926, the year it opened. That meant a silent feature,
trailers, shorts and newsreel on the big screen accompanied
by live music and a vaudeville show. Who more perfect than
James to be the grand finale? He dressed perfectly and brought
magic that would have been performed in the jazz era, keeping
in character with comments on current events (1926) and
plenty of corny humor mixed with appropriate drama.
That
first year I had found some newspapers for the day the theater
opened. We were showing Rudolph Valentino's The Eagle and
the headline read that the actor had been hurt in a car
accident driving from SF to LA. We claimed a phone call
had been made to his manager and he was doing OK. On the
same front page was an article about Houdini testifying
to Congress and when James came on he continued our fun
by telling the audience, "Harry Houdini very much wanted
to be here tonight for the opening of the Balboa but as
you may have read in this morning's Call-Bulletin (holding
up the front page) he is in Washington D.C. speaking to
the Congress. But Harry asked me to send his best wishes
for a great opening and asked me to perform some magic for
you."
Over
the next twelve years we tried to find ways to make his
part of the show truly unique, as he would be doing miracles
from long ago, often using vintage props. When we showed
The Black Pirate and seven years later Peter Pan, he appropriately
did "Card in Sword." For L Etty Of The Moran,
a drama set at sea, he did the "Monkey Bar" with
three fish at the end of the ropes and also caught fish
in the air with his magical net.
James
may have met more great magicians than anyone else I know.
We could not get enough of his stories. Sometimes I was
lucky enough to have met these performers and when the book
by Milo & Roger, "A Magical Life" was published
we both enthused about having known them and loving one
of the funniest acts we had ever seen. Their live duck routine
was fantastic (starts at 3:30 in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4J5a4rrm28.)
Planning
the next Balboa Birthday Bash I said that in tribute to
Milo & Roger it would be a fun inside joke for Jim to
perform his wonderful "Educated Duck" routine.
I had not told him that I would be showing Gus Vissar And
His Talking Duck which he had never seen. Those who knew
James have enjoyed his wonderful laugh but I never heard
him howl so much with pleasure as when he saw this very
short film and it made his performance extra fun for everyone.
A
few weeks later I came across a very lifelike, large duck
puppet that had a similar quack and brought it to his apartment
with a DVD of the film. More laughter. I wish I had a recording
of it.
The
same year that the movie Hugo was released, Serge Bromberg
also finished his restoration of the great A Trip To The
Moon. I asked James if he would perform as George Méliès
- he looked a lot like the magician/filmmaker - and he relished
the idea. We first showed a couple of Méliès
magic shorts and then announced that we found him at a tiny
toy and candy shop in a Paris train station and convinced
him to return one more time the stage, especially for our
audience. James became Georges! It was truly magical.
For
our first run engagements of The Illusionist and The Prestige
James delighted audiences who had no idea they would get
a live show too.
For
pictures and the balance of the message go to:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ixgBIqUW_0YlZkb1p0bkxZaEU/view
---------------------------------------------
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first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the
date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)
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