* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MagicNZ e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #17 Date: Sunday 16th April 2000 Editor: Alan Watson www.alan-watson.com ============================ Contents ============================ 1. Editors Message 2. We did 93 shows in 29 cities 3. Richard Webster - books for sale 4. Magic on TV this coming week - by Ed Hall 5. Australia's e-zine ---- MOZZIE 6. Twice daily at the Auckland Easter Show 7. Performing in Fiji from May to end of September 8. Colleagues here in South Africa are enjoying the content 9. Meadowbank Shopping Mall 2 shows daily 10. Performing at Easter Show 15th to 25th April 11. Meter magic wins magicians praise 12. Performing shows in North Shore Libraries 13. I'm off to Europe in June via Japan 14. Tiffany's birthday 15. We are having a huge change of direction 16. Times for Jon Zealando at the Auckland Easter Show 17. Great support for the new "Magicana" 18. Eleventh year at Cobb and Co 19. Fifth year - Wellington for Easter Magic 20. 50 new converts to the magical arts these holidays 21. Bronco's Steak House in the Milford Shopping Mall 22. Six more overseas trip booked this year 23. Diarise these events 24. News Items 25. MagicNZ e-zine archives 26. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine 27. Subscription Management 28. Contact Information ------------------------------------- 1. Editors Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One The MagicNZ archives It has been well worth setting up the MagicNZ archives as many of our members have accessed the back issues over the last week. It was mentioned to me by two of our members who are historians that it is important that hard copies are retained for research in the future. Diarise these events I'll have set up this section that will act as a weekly reminder for NZers of up and coming events. If you have a confirmed event, let me know so that it can be included in this weekly reminder schedule. Richard Webster donating the annual prize of $5,000 Two years of preparation is finally ending for Richard Webster. At the NZ Booksellers Convention in July Richard will be announcing the Richard Webster Popular Fiction Award. This award, which will be presented annually, is for the best unpublished novel of popular appeal. Richard is donating the annual prize of $5,000. A few days ago, Richard came to an agreement with a major NZ publisher to publish the winning entry each year. Richard thinks that publication of the winner's book will be more important to the author than the prize, as he knows exactly how difficult it is to get published these days. Two of the judges have been appointed, and another two are still to be confirmed. They all have many years of experience in the NZ book industry. Richard considers this award to be a way for him to pay back the many people who helped him over the years, and to encourage new talent. Richard's initial concept was to send a New Zealand magician to the Magic Marketing Convention in Albuquerque each year but that is a whole different story! Ronald McDonald is now a member of MagicNZ e-zine and he will be posting a regular schedule from next week onwards listing his magical NZ performances. ------------------------------------- 2. We did 93 shows in 29 cities ------------------------------------- Message from Murray Hatfield Thanks so much for sending me the MagicNZ e-zine. It's hard to believe it is already three years since we toured through New Zealand and met so many Kiwi magicians. It great to be able to read the e-zine and see so many names I recognize. It brings back a lot of very happy memories. Teresa and I continue to work and tour. We've just returned from 4 months on the road with our annual tour across Canada. This year we had comedy-magician Eric Buss, The Gamesters and a balancing act called Tesseract as my guests on the show along with 5 dancers, 4-tech crew, a truck and a bus. We did 93 shows in 29 cities and had a great time. Now we're at home resting up before we head to L.A. in May to do the Magic Castle and Wizardz. I hope all is well with you and your family and I look forward to the next time our paths cross. ------------------------------------- 3. Richard Webster - books for sale - esp@psychic.co.nz ------------------------------------- Thanks again for the great response to my previous offerings. This week I have some of the finest magic books ever published: The Experience of Magic by Eugene Burger (excellent condition) $40.00 The Performance of Close-Up Magic by Eugene Burger (slight tear on dustjacket) $40.00 The Five Points in Magic by Juan Tamariz $20.00 The Magic Way by Juan Tamariz $20.00 Slow Motion Magic by Juan Tamariz $20.00 ------------------------------------- 4. Magic on TV this coming week - by Ed Hall ------------------------------------- While not magic, a documentary on possibly related topics (presumably a repeat of the program of the same title run a few weeks back) Tuesday 18 April, 9am, Discovery Channel Discover Magazine: Deception. Sunday 23 April, 3.25pm, TV4. TV Guide lists the weekly series 'Masters of Illusion' - note slightly different time from previous weeks. Ed Hall email: edhall@ihug.co.nz http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~edhall/magic/ ------------------------------------- 5. Australia's e-zine ---- MOZZIE ------------------------------------- Message from Timothy Hyde Travelling to Australia in 2000 for the big Melbourne Convention or the Sydney Olympic Games? Or would like to stay in touch with what's happening in the land of OZ? Then you should also subscribe to the "Magicians of Australia Information E-mail" ---- MOZZIE. A weekly dose of Down-Under News & Events. Lectures, Shows, Shops, Events. Get the Buzz - Avoid the Sting. To subscribe ... just send a blank Email to this address Mailto:MozzieMail-subscribe@listbot.com ------------------------------------- 6. Twice daily at the Auckland Easter Show ------------------------------------- Message from Nick Nickolas ........I'm doing my cups and balls show twice daily at the Auckland Easter Show ...if any one wants to check it out.......see you there. ------------------------------------- 7. Performing in Fiji from May to end of September ------------------------------------- Message from Glen McIvor I will be on tour with Whirling Brothers Circus in Fiji from the end of May till the end of September. Really looking forward to it, as it will be a paid holiday. I will be performing juggling, magic and unicycling. Be back in time for the Christmas season after which I plan on moving to New Plymouth so I can have more contact with my kids. PS If you know anyone who wants to rent a house in Henderson Auckland please phone 837 0801 ------------------------------------- 8. Colleagues here in South Africa are enjoying the content ------------------------------------- Message from David O'Connor Just a brief note to how much I enjoy the NZ magic E-zine. Regular as clockwork there it is on my computer every Monday morning with so much interesting material, with that International flavour. It really is great what you are doing for the art of magic, and is very much appreciated. Positive feedback from Kiwi conjurors and my magical colleagues here in South Africa are enjoying the content. Even a magician friend in Holland with limited English is delighted with the information. I personally don't know how you do it with your busy schedule, but keep up the good work. I'm thrilled that Michael Woolf is taking over editorship of Magicana and sure he will carry on the great tradition very well. Best wishes to Michele and the girls and keep the wand-waving lad. C U in 2001 in Christchurch. Cheers. ------------------------------------- 9. Meadowbank Shopping Mall 2 shows daily ------------------------------------- Message from Nicole Watson I'm busy performing magic at Meadowbank Shopping Mall 2 shows daily 11.00am and 1.30pm with Dad for the first week school holidays and next week we're at Royal Oak shopping mall same times. Melanie and Larissa have been there to assist with music and stage management, my almost one year old nieces who I'm sure will be fourth generation magicians have been watching every show. ------------------------------------- 10. Performing at Easter Show 15th to 25th April ------------------------------------- Message from Nigel Kennedy I am Performing at this years Easter Show 15th to 25th April at the Expo Centre Auckland. I will be performing two shows daily at various times in the afternoon. The show venue is upstairs on the mezzanine floor of the Logan Campbell Centre. This is a dedicated children's entertainment area. John Zealando will also be performing in this area as well. When I am not performing I will be vending Balloons in the exhibition hall, so if you are passing by say hi........ ------------------------------------- 11. Meter magic wins magicians praise ------------------------------------- Message from Wayne Rogers North Shore Times Friday April 14 carries a story on Wayne Rogers titled METER MAGIC WINS MAGICIAN PRAISE. The reporter Nicole Jellard wanted to take a different approach and avoid a story that was a blatant commercial plug. Jellard features Wayne's marketed prop the Parking Meter Production and how he brings it out of a briefcase "to solve the problem of how to feed the meter by taking it into the show!" She goes on to describe Wayne's prizewinning Appearing Ladder routine that shows what professional fire fighters carry in their briefcases since the recent cutbacks. A fun piece but no photos. ------------------------------------- 12. Performing shows in North Shore Libraries ------------------------------------- Message from Wayne Rogers Wayne Rogers (The Amazing Chicane) has been performing shows in North Shore Libraries, for the first week of the holidays. Last show is at Northcote Library, 10am on Tuesday. Wayne Has also began work on the magic props that will be part of the new Ronald McDonald Road Show. Wayne built most of the existing show, but the new stage setting will be built by designer John Parker. To help meet the close deadline for the new show rehearsals, Wayne has enlisted the help of Puppeteer Johnathon Acorn, and magician/electronics expert Malcolm Silverman. ------------------------------------- 13. I'm off to Europe in June via Japan ------------------------------------- Message from Jonathon Acorn Dear e-ziners, this is a message from the a-zone!!!! Greetings and what a wonderful thing this e-zine is. I have been reading with much interest over the last few months and I just want to say well done Alan! And well done everyone who has contributed towards it. So what's been happening in my neck of the woods? I'm glad you asked. 2000 has been somewhat of a strange year for me right from go i.e. The Dawn Celebration where I was booked to perform a 7-minute Puppet piece to camera at 8-30am. Well to cut a very long night and very brief morning short. The event went an hour over time (not due to the organisers fault!) and I got cancelled 5 minutes to on air time due to the TV guys couldn't stay any longer!!!!!! Not to worry ...I got paid. But this is day one!!!!!!! Next Americas Cup Arrrrrrrrrghhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Yes we all know about The Americas Cup! I mean who would think that on Jan 17 we would all be sacked!!!!!!!!! 80 performers!!!!!! Lesson no.1 don't put all your eggs in one boat!!!!!! Things sort themselves out eventually and sure enough work came along for most of us (I hope!). The up side of the Cup was that I was able to try out some new magic on my new table I have been working on an Ammar tin can routine plus a $5-$100 dollar change, the main thing is I am having to develop it with no dialogue only music for Japan. So the moves have to be even more precise it seems!!!!! I use music in Europe also but there I can use English too, which is easier for me and my mouth!!!! I'm off to Europe in June via Japan and will be working the festival Circuits in Holland, Austria, UK, and Switzerland. This sounds fine I know but quite a few of these festivals are International Busking Festivals, which are hard work really. However I love the challenge....I put it down to masochism. The other Festivals vary from Clown Festivals to Puppet Festivals to Theatre Festivals. Anyway I like to think that I'm an ambassador for New Zealand and every year I plug away at getting known a little more...persistency I call it.... Stubbornness my Mother called it!!!! Well folks I just wanted to say hi and all the very best for 2000! If you don't happen to know much about me I do have a web page www.acorn.magic.gen.nz feel free to visit...I'm working on the Complimentary cups of tea!!!!! ------------------------------------- 14. Tiffany's birthday ------------------------------------- Message from Larissa Watson It's hard to believe that we celebrated Tiffany's first birthday yesterday both her and Aleshia are now walking and I know Dad can't wait for a future generation of wand wavers. ------------------------------------- 15. We are having a huge change of direction ------------------------------------- Message from the Aunties Arif has now stopped touring schools and is concentrating on writing, recording and special projects. Over the last few weeks we have: 1. Produced a huge concert with 500 children and an opera singer at Waitangi as part of the Bay of Islands Festival. 2. Produced a water safety video which all schools will receive, 3. Recorded songs for a teddy bear with a walkman in it for cancer children. ------------------------------------- 16. Times for Jon Zealando at the Auckland Easter Show ------------------------------------- Message from Jon Zealando Times for Jon Zealando at the Auckland Easter Show from Monday the 17th of April are 1.30pm & 5.30 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday............11.30am & 1.30.pm Good Friday 21st ..Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, (Anzac day)..... The children's Theatrett. Top of the stairs off the Foyer to Logan Camble Centre. Nigel Kennedy and BeeJay bear sponsored by Cadburys are also on in the same area and are well worth catching if you're a kids entertainer. ------------------------------------- 17. Great support for the new "Magicana" ------------------------------------- Message from Michael Woolf - michaelw@ihug.co.nz I'm very happy to report great support for the new "Magicana" structure from all over the world. In just the last week I've had subscription renewals and letters of encouragement from George Schindler in the U.S.A, Alan "Henrique" Goodall in the U.K., Clive Court in Canada, Arun Bonnerjee and Soumya Deb in India, Bernard Reid -(everywhere!) and many New Zealand magicians including (to mention just a few) Paul Rohmany, Alan Watson, Danny Phillips, Ron Ellyett, Ross Hill, the Southland Magic Circle, Ian Fielding, Tony Wilson, Stan Goudge, Ivan Hannah, the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians, Theo de Leeuw, Ron Mogridge, the Hutt Valley Magicians' Society, Don Garlick and David Taylor. It's very encouraging to get this kind of enthusiasm. I'm so busy setting up all of the necessary systems (mailing and subscription lists, advertising, printing arrangements etc.) that I have hardly had time to think about the magazine itself! I have booked for the Melbourne Convention so as to be able to spread the word about "Magicana." Finally I can report that Chris Parkinson has kindly volunteered to put the "Magicana" website in place. I have registered www.magicana.co.nz as a domain name and in the near future this will be a great site. ------------------------------------- 18. Eleventh year at Cobb and Co ------------------------------------- Message from Tony Wilson This will be my eleventh year at Cobb and Co in Pakuranga performing close-up magic at the tables from 6pm to 7.30pm every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Visiting magicians welcome. These holidays I will not be working on Thursday 20th April or Sunday 23rd April, as I will be out of Auckland over Easter. ------------------------------------- 19. Fifth year - Wellington for Easter Magic ------------------------------------- Message from Mike Easterbrook I'm off to the Cobb & Co on the Esplanade again for Easter. This will be the fifth year in a row since I've been to Wellington for "Easter Magic with Easterbrook"! Recently done a wedding in Mangamuka Bridge where instead of saying, "High how are you?" they Sauy "How! High are you?" Also did an interesting conference in Waitangi at the Copthorne recently for the Education Administration Society... .I seem to cover quite a big area! It is good to change the audiences...easier than trying new material or is it in view of the mileage? ------------------------------------- 20. 50 new converts to the magical arts these holidays ------------------------------------- Message from Ken Ring I have been tutoring children again these holidays. My magic courses for juniors are always well attended. There have been 50 new converts to the magical arts these holidays. The trouble is nowhere for them to go afterwards. As a former president of the NZSM it's disappointing that there is no entry club for budding new performers in Auckland. Sadly, the NZSM club is now non-functional. I've just started a weatherprediction course for schoolchildren. Is it magic? Sure! There's a lot of mentalism involved, cold reading, juggling and conjuring. Rather than sleight of hand, it uses sleight of nature. Confused? Look up my new website: www.predictweather.com My weather books will be released onto NZ shelves in July. --------------------- Editor: It has been mooted that Tara Okan will be taking a very active role in getting the NZSM up and running again. Will keep you posted. ------------------------------------- 21. Bronco's Steak House in the Milford Shopping Mall ------------------------------------- Message from Michele Watson: Every Sunday night Alan and myself are performing at Bronco's Steak House in the Milford Shopping Mall (since December) from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm Alan does his special brand of close up magic and I follow up with sculptured balloons so for all those fun family occasions see you there! ------------------------------------- 22. Six more overseas trip booked this year ------------------------------------- Message from Stu Robertson Following is a list of where I have performed corporate shows so far in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. As usual I'm performing throughout New Zealand and I also have at least six more overseas trips booked this year (not all to Australia). ------------------------------------- 23. Diarise these events ------------------------------------- Sunday 25th June Auckland - Harvey Berg (USA) - lecture Tuesday 27th June Wellington - Harvey Berg (USA) - lecture Thursday 29th June Christchurch - Harvey Berg (USA) - lecture Sunday 22nd October- IBM Ring 160 Day of magic Thursday 12th - 16th April (Easter) 2001 New Zealand Magicians' Convention If you require more information about the above event go to www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive to research for more information. ------------------------------------- 24. News Items ------------------------------------- If you have any news items that you feel the majority of our subscribers would be interested in please e-mail me so I can include them in the next e-zine. The magician who e-mails me a particular news item FIRST will receive full credit at the top of that item. If the news is of major importance I will send them out immediately as a Newsflash. ------------------------------------- 25. MagicNZ e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the MagicNZ e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine-archive Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: ezine Password: magicnz When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001nov6.txt first three numbers denote issue number then the date. ------------------------------------- 26. Benefit of subscribing to the MagicNZ e-zine ------------------------------------- You will now be informed well in advance of coming events and kept right up to date with the latest news. MagicNZ e-zine is published weekly, late on Sunday night. ------------------------------------- 27. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the MagicNZ e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors. Neither MagicNZ nor Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via MagicNZ e-zine. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions as we see fit. >> This publication may be freely redistributed to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY << (c) Copyright 2000 Alan Watson ------------------------------------- 28. Contact Information ------------------------------------- Alan Watson Ph. (9) 483-9274 Fax. (09) 483-9274 Mobile 025 95-7070 e-mail alan@watson.co.nz www.magician.co.nz www.magicianz.com