* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #437 Date: Sunday 13th August 2006 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.Alan-Watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Further Information About The FISM Contest - Magic Christian 3. FISM Award Update - Kevin James 4. Sue-Anne Webster's FISM2006 Competition Report #1 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 22 - Nick Lewin 6. The Grey Elephant From Denmark 7. Creative Magic Lecture/Teach-In Day 8. S.A.M. 2007 Convention Dallas Texas 9. How To Put Creativity Back Into Your Act!! 10. Magic At The Red Sea 2006 Seminar 11. Broken Wand - Bill West 12. Special Screening Of "The Illusionist" In St Louis 13. Looking For Magical Contacts In Athens And Greece 14. MAGIC-FETE 2007 15. Lost All My Contact Information - Paul Green 16. The Amazing Orchante Saga 17. e-zine Archives 18. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- A BIG thank you for Sue-Anne Webster (Australia) for the excellent detailed report that she has written on all the competitors at this years FISM. This is the third time that Sue-Anne has acted as our official reporter at FISM. The report is well documented and we have decided to break it into three parts. The Bernard Reid lecture on Houdini and his close-up routine that he performs on the cruise ships was a huge success. Michele and I thought that we were well read on Houdini but we came away from his Auckland lecture having a greater understanding  of the real Houdini and his life. ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Further Information About The FISM Contest - Magic Christian -------------------------------------------- Message from Magic Christian Hi Alan, as I was in the jury I would like to inform you that some additional prizes were given in Mental Magic as 2nd and 3rd place were a draw. There were as well prizes for Originality, Inventions and Comedy. Maybe you can add this information to fulfil the award sheet. I judged 101 stage acts and saw about 30 Close Up acts. So I am full of magic impressions. . Best regards Christian Mental Magic 1st Price: No first price 2nd Prize: Timothy Trust & Julie (Germany) Juan Orteix (Argentina) 3rd Prize: Robert & Emiel (Netherlands) Jean Thomas Loewe (Germany) No Category but Awards: Comedy Prizes for Stage: Die Zauderer, (Germany) and Michael Szanyiel (France) Close Up: Rick Merill (USA) and Stonkel (Germany) Invention: Mathieu Bich (France) Pierric (Switzerland) Ross Mikael et Bethy (France) Cesaral Magic (Spain) Special Awards by agencies and the Swedish Circle: Las Vegas Contract: Eun Gyeol Lee (Korea) Monaco Contract: Sittah (Netherlands) London Palladium: Mikael Szanyiel (France) Swedish Magic Circle: Pilou (France) Rick Merill (USA) Awards per Country: Germany: 1st Prize Card Magic:                         Martin Eisele 1st Prize Parlour Magic:          Gaston 2nd Prize Mental Magic:         Timothy Trust & Julie 2nd Prize General Magic:       Die Zauderer - Germany 3rd Prize Stage Illusions:        Marc & Alex 3rd Prize Mental Magic:         Jean Thomas Loewe Comedy Stage:                       Die Zauberer Comedy Close Up:                 Stonkel France: Grand Prix Stage:                   Pilou 3rd Prize Micro Magic:           David Stone 3rd Prize Parlour Magic:         Julia Guilhem Comedy Award:                     Mikael Szanyiel Invention:                                Mathieu Bich and                                        Ross Michael et Bethy USA Grand Prix Close Up Magic: Rick Merrill 3rd Prize Manipulation:          Arthur Trace Originality:                            Rocco Comedy Close Up:                 Rick Merrill Netherlands: 1st Prize Stage Illusions:        Sittah 3rd Prize General Magic:        Dion 3rd Prize Mental Magic:         Robert & Emiel Argentina: 2nd Prize Stage Illusion:         Hugo Valenzuela 3rd Prize Mental Magic:         Juan Orteix Originality Stage:                    Hugo Valenzuela Portugal: 1st Prize Micro Magic:           Helder Guimaraes 2nd Prize Manipulation:          David Soysa Canada: 2nd Prize Micro Magic:          Shawn Farquhar 2nd Prize Card Magic:            Shawn Farquhar Spain: 3rd Prize Micro Magic:           Kiko Invention:                                Cesaral Magic China: 1st Prize Manipulation:           Dai Binchun Korea: 1st Prize General Magic:         Eun Gyeol Lee Switzerland: Inventions:                              Pierric (Switzerland) -------------------------------------------- 3. FISM Award Update - Kevin James -------------------------------------------- Message from Kevin James (US) There were 2 other special awards that were given out that were not mentioned in last weeks issues of Magic New Zealand A TV contract for an appearance on a French TV show awarded by Monique Nakatian from Travel International Agency. This prize went to Sitta. The second special award was a 2 week contract in the World's Greatest Magic Show in Las Vegas. This was presented by Kevin James to Eun-Kyul Lee from Korea. -------------------------------------------- 4. Sue-Anne Webster's FISM2006 Competition Report #1 -------------------------------------------- Message from Sue-Anne Webster (Aust) Stage Competition 1 Mr Jacoby General Magic Sweden Sponsor - Dag Lofalk (Svensk Magisk Cirkel) Mr Jacoby performed a 1970's style parody pantomime complete with light up pants and platform boots. The act began with a D'Lite routine and juggling with red light-up balls to funky 70's music, followed by just about every variation of the Dancing Hanky routine. Although his character work could have been stronger, the act was loud and brash which suited the style. The character vanished towards the end of the act, (unfortunately the black art method was inadvertently exposed), and reappeared still dancing energetically to 70's music in a picture frame (an interesting use of an LCD screen), then finally re-entered the stage on a motorbike for the finale. Recovering well from a little fall off the stage in all the excitement, Mr Jacoby succeeded in warming up the audience. 2 Eduardo Kozuch Invention Argentina Sponsor - Rudyard Magaldi (Circolo Magico Argentino) Disqualified The first invention is simply a modified Sanada Gimmick rather than a new invention. It was shown adding live fish to a bowl of water and then used for an orange juice production. The second invention was an 'any card at any number' effect with jumbo cards. Eduardo was explaining the workings of this effect when he was disqualified for running over time. It looked as though his table was blocking his view of the warning light. 3 Janis Parlour Magic Germany Sponsor - Wolgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Janis acted as a narrator and used magic to tell a tale about a mysterious dream. The audience played the citizens of Marakesh. He produced a lantern from a large silk, then produced a candle from the silk. A thread (flash string) was lit to produce a spool of string, then he did a Gypsy Thread routine. He put the silk into an empty box and produced 1 die, then 6 dice, then 12 dice and proceeded to play a game of chance with the dice (Cubalibra effect). A silk was produced from a tray, all dice stacks vanished. Standard tricks with a few nice twists. 4 Monsieur Brezelberger Parlour Magic Germany Sponsor - Wolgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Disqualified This was a speaking comedy act using a volunteer. It looked like a parody of MagicSports where the volunteer chooses the set up for the trick. The trick involved having to use a number of elements to create an effect. As an example, the cards the volunteer first chose from his change bag meant that the performer had to do a trick like a dead fish tap dancing in the science fiction genre with a handicap of fake breasts. Instead, he ended up doing a trick where he had to gold plate a watch. A rat in a trap was used for a rope tie escape. If it sounds confusing, it was.and we never saw the conclusion to the act because he was disqualified for going overtime. 5 Shawn Farquhar Parlour Magic Canada Sponsor - Joan Caesar (Association Canadienne De Magiciens) An extremely well rehearsed card trick using a heart shaped projection screen to allow the audience to see the clever card manipulation filmed live on camera. A sealed regular deck of cards was used, unwrapped for a spectator to select a card. Before selecting a card, one Joker and two advertising cards were thrown away. 53 cards remained. A card was selected and signed by the volunteer and returned to the deck. The card manipulation was performed like ballet in the hands to the music 'Shape Of My Heart' by Sting. A story was told in the song and echoed in the card moves. The spectator's card was featured throughout the routine as was a King which became half-faded. After the song had finished, Shawn threw the Joker away and the spectator's card was instantly back in the sealed deck which was then opened in front of the spectator. There were 52 cards in order including the faded King and the spectator's signed card, all of which were given to the spectator as a souvenir. A fabulous act. (Shawn received equal second place with this act in Parlour Magic FISM 2003). 6 Toritto General Magic Japan Sponsor - Maki Kitami (Japanese Professional Magicians Association) Toritto drank from a wine glass. Two glasses were then produced, then three. Silks were produced. From a silk, a bottle of wine was produced, then a colour changing liquid routine followed. Toritto poured yellow liquid into his fists and changed it into a yellow silk. He poured more liquid into his fist and produced a yellow ball, followed by ball manipulation and a multiplying ball routine where the balls changed colours. Some nice moves. A ball was placed in a glass with a wine to confetti production. Then more and more glasses were produced to conclude the act. 7 Wooki (Replacing Peter York who was listed in the programme) General Magic Republic of Korea Sponsor - Eun-Sung Chung (Korean Magic Society) Wooki began her act with a hat stand and a table adorned with feminine props. She showed a magazine with a large photo of a pearl necklace and plucked one of the pearls from the picture for a ball manipulation routine. The ball turned into a silk, then instantly there were four balls and then eight in her hands. She took a ball and shrunk it until it was small, she split it into two balls that became her pearl earrings. Flash string to pearl necklace. She ponders herself in a mirror, the mirror turned to fire producing flowers. Her makeup turned to streamers which turned to more flowers. She made a silk transform into more flowers and took a hat from her hat stand. From the hat, she produces two more bunches of flowers. Wooki took a skirt that was hanging up and turned it into a carpet for a bride to walk on. She did an instant change into a bride's dress and walked down the aisle with another bunch of flowers, then threw her bouquet out to the audience. 8 Cengiz General Magic Turkey Sponsor - Roger Miller (International Brotherhood of Magicians) An act suitable for very young children rather than FISM which featured Axtel's "Vern the Bird" puppet playing the mischief making half of the act. Unfortunately, only a few very simple tricks were performed like the Double Colour Changing Silks, a rope that goes stiff, a rose trick and a short egg bag routine. The bird ate an egg and produced it from where a bird produces eggs and flash string was used to produce a pop of confetti to conclude the act. 9 Rey Ben Parlour Magic Argentina Sponsor - Rudyard Magaldi (Circolo Magico Argentino) This was essentially the same act Rey performed in close-up act at FISM 1994 in Yokohama. Rey entered carrying a baby doll he said was his son and he had to look after him. The doll cried, Rey quietened it by balancing it on two small chairs that he took away from underneath it, finally levitating the doll from side to side. The baby doll cried again and Rey consoled it this time with a bottle of milk that changed to a beer bottle, which was in turn crushed like rubbish in a paper bag. A newspaper trick followed. Baby doll cried again, this time Rey used a pacifier that ended up in his mouth instead of the doll's mouth. A ring on rope routine was used to amuse the baby doll. The baby pooed in it's nappy, Rey panicked and covered it with a black cloth. The baby disappeared and the table transformed into a cot with the baby inside it. A newspaper to baby blanket trick became a 'zombie baby'routine and Rey ran off stage behind the floating baby doll. This was a very energetic act. 10 Radini Manipulation Norway Sponsor - Rudyard Magaldi (Magiske Cirkel Norge) A standard card manipulation act performed to jazz piano bar music. Clean moves, little exposure. The act included a small card fan turning into a normal size card fan. Card productions were one handed and neat. A large silk was wound up and cut in two, thrown in the air and restored. Radini then performed a cigarette production and manipulation routine which included one being sniffed up his nose, returned and put in mouth, then vanished. A cigarette to cigar move concluded the act. 11 I.Ma.Gi.A Stage Illusions Italy Sponsor - Domenico Dante (Club Magico Italiano) Comedy. Removal boxes were labeled in different ways 'Light', 'Heavy', 'Do Not Touch', 'Keep', 'Together'. As the two removalists started moving the boxes various actions take place like fire in one box, the flames being doused with a production of a fish bowl full of water. The 'Light' box was heavy while the 'Heavy' box was covered with an 'Air Mail' cloth and 'zombied'. They separated the 'Keep' and 'Together' boxes, one vanished and reappeared. One removalist smoked a cigarette over the 'Danger' and 'Explosives' boxes. The 'Danger' box rattled ominously and exploded into cubes that couldn't have all fit in the box. The best and most deceptive part of the act was the finale when a large box over a crate sitting on brick stands was levitated. Whilst levitating, the box was opened at the top and a girl was shown inside. The box was closed and levitated upside down and hands appeared out of the box at the bottom. The box was levitated the right way up again and the girl was shown in the box again, looking as light as a feather. Then, the girl got out of the box that was still floating! The box was placed back down on the crate when a lion's roar was heard. The young lady's Italian mama climbed out of the box also, grabbed the girl by the arm and, waving her rolling pin in the air, chased the two removalists off stage. 12 Sebastian Nicolas Manipulation Germany Sponsor - Wolgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Sebastian produced a clock that changed to confetti. He performed ball manipulation, then threw the ball into the air and it turned into a clock as it landed in his hand. A red ball turned into a silk, another clock was produced, vanished, reappeared then he did a manipulation routine with it. A clock turned into a silk and in turn Sebastian produced a clock with it. A clock turned into a playing card and he produced cards that were held in his hand like a 'flower' basket. Card manipulation followed and the cards were flicked from his fingers and vanished into confetti. Neat, clean productions. A flash, then a clock appeared and continued into a clock production. Clocks were featured on Sebastian's display stand which was then turned into a large 'egg timer' (a clock with falling sand). 13 Eduardo Kozuch Mental Magic Argentina Sponsor - Rudyard Magaldi (Circolo Magico Argentino) Disqualified Eduardo was a psychic policeman and three young people were the volunteers. One volunteer was roped into being a security guard. The other two were shoplifters. Two identical sets of cards with supermarket products were shuffled and the security guard volunteer selected three cards as did Eduardo who 'divined' what the volunteer was going to choose. Two out of three pairs were identical, the last pair was (deliberately) wrong. A box full of supermarket items was shown and the last card put into it along with the volunteers FISM I.D. card. The two 'shoplifters' had to each steal a product from the box.and Eduardo psychically told them what they stole. We never found out the ending to the act since Eduardo ran overtime and was disqualified. He could definitely see the yellow warning light letting him know he needed to bring his act to an end, but he continued regardless and was disqualified as he was earlier in the day. The volunteers were given the whole box of supermarket products to keep because they 'did so well'. 14 Ted Louis General Magic Germany Sponsor - Wolgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Ted started out looking like a wind-up mannequin then did an instant costume change to become a modern person in street clothes. There was CD automation (a CD machine that worked by itself to play modern music. Sunglasses were produced, another quick costume change (to red vest, white shirt, striped pants and boater hat) to become a dancing man who produced lots of sand from his hands. Ted did another instant costume change to top hat and tails. He produced a pink girl's outfit and placed it on a hat stand which then resembled a lady. The music changed to a classical number and Ted proceeded to dance with the 'lady' by levitating the stand with the costume 'zombie' style. Again, another instant costume change to a fluorescent yellow tight lycra outfit, then he produced a real lady and danced with her. She did an instant costume change into a matching yellow outfit by having only a hoop with short streamers attached to it moved up her body. There was very little coverage for the costume change and unfortunately it was exposed. 15 Karch Mental Magic U.S.A. Sponsor - Dale Hindman (Academy of Magical Arts) Comedy parapsychology. Karch threw eight balls with ESP symbols all over them into the audience. The volunteers had to choose an ESP symbol and burn a good mental image of it into their minds. They were given bells to hold for later. More volunteers on stage had cards to shuffle with ESP symbols on them. As the ESP symbols on the bottom of each pile of shuffled cards were shown, the volunteers in the audience had to ring their bell when their ESP symbol was shown and Karch had to divine which ESP symbol belonged to which volunteer in the audience. Karch got 7 out of 8 correct. 16 Julien Stage Illusion/Invention Sweden Sponsor - Dag Lofalk (Svensk Magisk Cirkel) An illusion built to resemble a large ice cube sat in the middle of the stage. Fire broke out inside it, smoke filled up the interior, the sides of the 'ice cube' chamber cracked and broke open to reveal the magician. He produced a dove and the dove was placed inside a large bird cage. Another dove appeared in the cage, and another. Three doves were in the cage and a cloth was placed over the cage briefly to reveal a girl inside the cage wearing an outfit reminiscent of a dove (white and shiny with large capes attached to her arms). Julien did an instant costume change into a white outfit to match the girl. The girl left the stage, but she returned to the stage covered by her capes. Julien whipped the cape away to reveal not the girl but a 'grim reaper' character who chained Julien up and put him under the table which was the base of the bird cage illusion. The table was set on fire (reminiscent of a burning altar). The fire exploded, the 'reaper' covered the fire and took away the sides of the illusion to reveal not Julien, but a dove. The 'reaper' turned out to be Julien and the girl appeared in the audience. The ice cube illusion was quite effective. 17 Gaston Parlour Magic Germany Sponsor - Wolgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) A chair was lit by a single spot light. Gaston slowly walked over to it and took off his coat, placed it over the chair and introduced himself as 'Gunter" as he fumbled for his cigarettes, announcing that he attends "Magician's Anonymous" and admitted to everyone how things just 'happen' after he was exposed to his first trick and how his subsequent addiction lead to his life-ruining downfall. This was an absolutely fabulous piece of clever theatre with magic 'accidentally' happening throughout his monologue, such as sniffing a cigarette up his nose and vanishing, thimble to wine bottle and back to thimbles appearing and disappearing, changing colour, all thimbles ending up on every finger. He spoke about his 'magic related crimes' such as birthday parties to corporate shows because he needs the money to buy more magic tricks or topits (spoken as he vanished another object). He said he joined a therapy group called the Flicking Fingers. He said his wife left him after he gave his six year old son a magic set for Christmas. Then he went into the gutter when he became a restaurant magician. He asked the audience if they wanted to see him demonstrate an invisible pass with his deck of cards, vanishing the deck he says 'it's impossible, because they're invisible'. Gunter ended up a total anxious wreck by the end of his 'confession' as chaos reigned, props popping out of his jacket and ended in a snowstorm and confetti explosion. Very clever and very funny! He received a standing ovation. (Gaston also competed at FISM 1997 and again in 2000 with Thomas Fraps and Mr Punch where they received equal third place). 18 Gennady Palchevsky General Magic Latvia Sponsor - Jerry Stanek (Krajowy Klub Illuzjonistow) Three picture frames (for oil paintings) on stage and classical music playing. The picture frames were LCD screens. Gennady lit a candle but was interrupted by a bottle rolling onto the stage. Gennady did an instant costume change into modern clothes and a change of music he juggled the bottle, produced a glass and a shaker that turned into a ball. The ball turned to confetti then he produced and juggled lemons. All the while the magician performed, the three LCD picture frames echoed what Gennady was doing with incredible moving graphics. For example: when the magician played with lemons, then lemons would be featured in the screens like a funky video clip, bouncing all over the screens). The whole scene was very interesting to watch but as a result, the technology detracted from the magic because the screens were a tremendous distraction and the magic was lost. The rest of the act included card manipulation, more juggling with a Galliano bottle produced from a silk and ended in two silver shower pyros (which were also echoed in the LCD screens). 19 Andrely Manipulation Portugal Sponsor - Paschoal Ammirati (Associaciao Portugesa De Illusionismo) This act included producing a bird from fire, a red silk and cane to produce a small cage and a dove. A cane turned into a multi-coloured silk streamer, the production of another coloured silk, another bird and two eggs. Egg manipulation followed, then a blue silk was produced which was used to vanish a ball and bring it back, flaming sticks, another dove production with one dove becoming two, flash string to candle to light a cigarette. He then did a card fan production, plucked individual cards from the air, another card fan and more cards from air. A black cloth turned into an umbrella, a white silk produced multiplying cards that ended in a dove appearance. The dove was thrown into air and turned into confetti. Clean moves. 20 Xavier Tapias General Magic Spain Sponsor - Josef Roma I & Sainz La Maza (Sociedad Espanola de Illusionismo) The scene opened on a park bench and a garbage bin beside it with rubbish strewn everywhere. A passerby walked towards the garbage on the floor, picked up some trash and in a flash of fire turned it into a newspaper and put it in the bin. He resurrectd a plastic Sprite bottle and screwed the end of it into the bottom of a brown paper bag. He screwed a Coke bottle into the bottom of the bag too, and sat it on the park bench. He magically picked up more rubbish, making things move at his command. Eventually he made a 'person' (robot like) out of rubbish that began to move on it's own accord. It stood up on it's feet as Xavier taught it to walk. He then magically made some rubbish come out of the bin to make a head and the bin fell to it's side and began to move. It had become a dog. 21 Hugo Valenzuela Stage Illusions Argentina Sponsor - Ray Francas (Entidad Magica Argentina) This act was a dream sequence that became real. The set was painted to resemble a lounge room complete with a fireplace. The scene began with Hugo reading a newspaper with headlines of UFO sightings. The performer fell asleep and we were aware of time passing through a lighting sequence. The performer 'woke up' and saw a red laser beaming though his window. Strange things started to happen when Hugo went to investigate. His newspaper floated, objects in his room were destroyed, his head came off and then reattached itself, so did his leg and he even floated in the air. He tried to deflect the UFO intruder's laser with a mirror. It seemed to work, the red laser turned white. A round pop-out black blind appeared and the performer experimented with it, making Saturn disappear from a picture on his wall. Hugo brought the white light inside with his new black blind and the performer seemed to attain supernatural powers for himself. He restored the damaged objects in his room, then he floated again and made his head and hand vanish and reappear. Then he took the round black blind and pulled it over himself making his whole body slowly disappear as though he was vanishing into a black hole. There was a lighting change and the performer woke up and took his bows, but the red laser pierced through his window for real. The concept of the act was original, although the performer looked a little uncomfortable and awkward having to act and perform magic simultaneously, this act has great potential. 22 Arthur Trace Manipulation U.S.A. Sponsor - Dale Hindman (Academy of Magical Arts) 'Post Modern Art'. An original and very creative routine. A cloth covered a framed piece of artwork on an easel. Arthur entered, pulled off the cloth revealing a piece of modern art in white, black and grey tones. His movements were seamlessly choreographed with his cool jazz music. Arthur plucked a circle from the painting to do ball manipulation with amazing speed and dexterity. The white balls changed to green and he picked another ball from the painting that became orange. Another white ball was added to the mix, all the while manipulating the balls with great speed. A blue silk appeared and turned the white ball blue. Another white ball to red and he put all of the balls back into the painting to colour it up. He wiped the green ball with his hand and smeared green paint on the picture. Arthur dipped a brush into a paint tin and painted a short white line on his black suit which he peeled off. It became a card for manipulation with pure white cards, which then turned to red and blue. He painted a long white line on his jacket, peeled it off and made cards out of the strip for a card fan that turned into a coloured fan of cards. Arthur looked confident and smooth and his moves were clean. A card fountain appeared in front of the painting, and as the cards flew into the air a few of them became a part of the painting. He moved a couple of lines on the painting, took off his 'prescription' glasses and threw them on to the painting turning it into a self-portrait. An excellent routine, very engaging. One of my favourites. 23 Mikael Szanyiel General Magic France Sponsor - Guy Lamelot (Federation Francaise Des Artistes Prestidigitateurs) Mikael received a well deserved standing ovation! I can't get this act out of my head! The act was performed in a cartoon style very much like Disney's 'Bugs Bunny conducting an orchestra' piece. The stage was set with a music stand with sheet music. Mikael entered in a tuxedo as "the world's greatest singer" (mainly opera, but mixing it up for comedy value). We heard an orchestra playing, but the music did not behave the way it should have and so begins the comic battle between the music and Mikael. The music wouldn't play when it should, the microphone on a stand wouldn't point in his direction until he freshened his breath with a spray, then he opened his mouth and a female voice came out. He transformed the microphone stand into a machine gun complete with a target piece and opened fire on the misbehaving 'music'. The microphone cover caused him to sing in a different voice, he changed it and sang differently again, and again. The silk hanky in his pocket was pulled out, but was attached to a string of coloured silks ending with his spotty red and white underpants being pulled off. The microphone became a brush, then a duster, then the microphone took on a life of it's own and headed off stage with Mikael frantically trying to pull it back (great mime work). The act became more and more frenetic. He let the microphone go and it disappeared into the wings. Throughout the act Mikael's red bow tie kept vanishing and reappearing. It kept appearing at odd moments without the audience knowing it had vanished from his collar. Once, his bow tie became a buzzing fly, landed on his stomach and crawled up his chest to sit neatly back where it should. His new microphone acted like a flower on his jacket and he could hear his own heartbeat, and panicked when it skipped a few beats. He turned the pages of his music, each time causing him to sing in different styles. Then, his shoe vanished and when he put it back on he danced like Michael Jackson with sparks flying off his feet as he moon-walked across the stage. He tore up the sheet music changing it into a paper aeroplane, tore another page in two when a woman's voice was singing causing her voice to warp and stop. The music continued with the appropriate male voice and Mikael followed along with a bowtie manipulation routine (similar to card manipulation), ripped off his white shirt under his jacket to reveal a Superman costume (very appropriate at this stage of the act since he was performing the impossible as a 'singer'). He took the rest of the sheet music, tore it in half and from both hands did a large sheet music 'fountain' as a big finish. Excellent work! 24 Juan Ordeix Mental Magic Argentina Sponsor - Ray Francas (Entidad Magica Argentina) Juan randomly chose a volunteer by throwing a stuffed toy out into the audience and then gave it to one of the jury members to keep. He asked for a three digit number, an animal and a country. He asked the jury members to name a value of money ($65 was chosen, then it was agreed it would be in the form of a $50, $10 and $5 bill). The last three digits of the serial number of the $50 bill were chosen by the jury, a card (7 of spades) was named, as was a date. An envelope on a stand in full view of the audience was opened by the volunteer. Inside that was another envelope, inside again were yellow envelopes. Inside the first envelope was the date, the second contained the named card, and the third contained the three bills and the $50 had the correct serial number. Juan gave away all of his props, but kept the money as a present to himself. An incredible feat. (The only way to improve the ending would be a newspaper page with the predicted date on it instead of just a sheet with the date written on it). 25 Retonio & Co. General Magic Switzerland Sponsor - Ralph Kundig (Magischer Ring Der Schweiz) A big set on stage represented a 'sleazy joint' and featured a pimp-like bartender who spent almost the entire act behind the bar talking to puppets. The bartender conversed with an Axtel Lip puppet when 'Marilyn Monroe' appeared from a blank picture frame surrounded by red curtains. She danced about the stage and went back into the frame for a quick change into a playboy bunny outfit under the cover of two silver shower pyros from the tops of the frame. She did a dancing cane routine and asked for a drink from the bartender. He poured her a drink, levitating the glass and the drink turned to a red silk. A rose and a bracelet appeared. The lady left at some stage in the act while the bartender pulled a puppet rabbit in a suit out of a hat. The rabbit said he hated magicians and hated the jury! After the 'berate the jury session', a lot more hard to understand ventriloquism and no action followed. The part that had most of the audience wondering why the act wasn't disqualified was when an animated talking skeleton walked on stage pushing a trolley full of drinks and stood there listening as the bartender tried to convince it to have sex with the randy rabbit. The audience suffered watching the bartender come out from behind the bar to a finale that transformed the little puppet bunny into an enormous white rabbit you'd only see in your nightmares, holding the bartender in what was described as 'the rabbit's revenge!' 26 Senko General Magic France Sponsor - Ray Francas (Entidad Magica Argentina) Senko began the act dressed in a cloak and produced a white silk scarf, then a white cane and a dove. The cane turned red and turned into a red light bulb. He pulled a scarf through his neck and produced two doves. From a red silk he produced a red candle, lit it, then it turned into a lit light bulb. He pulled out the light and caused it to float then shoot back to the bulb again. The red silk split to become two red silks. Then two blue silks produced two blue light bulbs (one of them alight). Senko produced a lamp for his lamp post and two more doves appeared. The doves were all placed on an elaborate Greek style column framed table. He produced another four white light bulbs, then another which turned into a dove. One dove turned into a lit light bulb, then all the doves turned into glowing light bulbs. A nice act. 27 Tatu Manipulation Finland Sponsor - Robert Jagerhorn (Finnish Magic Circle) There was only one kind of manipulation in this act. But, I'll describe it for you anyway. There was a blue and white spot light on a darkened stage with a ringing sound throughout the whole act that almost left me with tinnitus. The performer stood still and blank faced in the spotlight for most of the act. and naked, except for a white pair of tight underpants and white body paint. He slowly manipulated one ball for a very long time. It might have been considered magic if the moves were at all deceptive. Finally he started to multiply the ball, but this had the audience looking everywhere but where he wanted the audience to look. There are only so many places to hide a ball when you're naked and it was painfully obvious where his balls were throughout the entire act. Tatu finally twisted slowly to the floor, rolled on to his belly, onto his back and up to standing position again to display five balls in a final pose. 28 Rocco Parlour Magic U.S.A. Sponsor - Dale Hindman (Academy of Magical Arts) Rocco, in his unique style, did a version of his food production act and feasted on the results. He produced and munched on bread sticks, crumbling them in his hands and letting it all fall to the floor, He produced salt and salted the food for flavour, he transformed the bread sticks into pretzels, and bigger pretzels, and a bigger one still. He changed tack and took a silk tie to produce a rose from which he took the bud and put it on his jacket. He produced a white ball and turned it into a cane. Streamers were torn and rolled up into a ball that turned into a candle. He lit the candle and squashed it into a cigarette. Now he approached the microphone and spoke, but wandered away from it still talking as he explained how he can control water. He took a vase of water and poured the water into a bowl and drank from it while still chewing on something. He drank again, christened himself and then blessed the audience. A flower drooped and he placed the vase on his table, but missed at it dropped to the floor. (A trusty crew member rushed on stage to put it back on the table). Now he had two bowls of water and continued to drink from them. The bowls kept filling and he drank and drank and drank and drank. There was a fire in the bowl which turned to red and white confetti. He finished by transforming the bowl into confetti and streamers. (This was the first time Rocco has competed at FISM since winning 3rd Place in Micro Magic in 1994). 29 Reggie Simon Manipulation Sweden Sponsor - Dag Lofalk (Svesk Magisk Cirkel) Reggie was dressed in a red and white pin striped suit and cane. He played a cool character, the music was modern and his moves were smooth. He performed an excellent dancing cane routine having the cane dance around his body as he tipped his hat in a 'Mr.Cool' sort of way. He took his white silk and turned it into a cigarette. His cigarette box turned into a newspaper he used to hold up to cover his face when the sound of a police siren screamed by. He produced a fan of dollar bills from a small box on a stand next to him and performed a bill manipulation routine (and he still hadn't removed his black gloves!) He produced another newspaper as he hid from the police siren again. He then produced coins for a manipulation routine, picking up a dropped coin with his shoe. He ended the act by running off stage as the police seemed to have caught up with him. 30 Brinum-X General Magic Latvia Sponsor - Giovanni Pasqua (Circolo Amici Della Magia Di Torino) Two performers, a lady and a man, did a bubble act in elaborate costumes. The man began smoking a pipe, blowing smoke into bubbles that kept popping. The lady moved about the stage obscuring the man's actions, maybe they were preparing for something. or panicking. The man put on a glove and produced a smoke filled bubble which the lady caught and transformed into a white flower she put in her hair. Two acrylic balls were produced and turned into something silver. The lady sprayed the air all over the stage with a solution of some sort (it may have been used to keep the bubbles from bursting). Lots of spraying before the lady stood on a special area for making a bubble curtain around her, which broke. Again, the man tried for a bubble curtain and in a puff of smoke, the lady instantly changed her costume (but it wasn't as instant as they had hoped and exposed the change). They both began to produce really large bubble ribbons across the stage. Some confetti concluded the act. There was hardly any magic in this act.and hardly any bubbles. 31 Yamagami Brothers Stage Illusions Japan Sponsor - Junichiro Sejima (Society of Japanese Magicians) These two young ten year old brothers graced the FISM stage again with their ever so cute smiles and dynamism. (We saw them in 2003 aged seven and they absolutely stole the show with their illusions). One dressed in a blue costume, the other in red and together they performed a levitation over a stylized chair on a small podium which they seemed to have some difficulty with. The 'red' brother uneasily floated to the ground from the podium then both performed an upbeat, synchronised dance sequence with cartwheels. Finally, they performed a sword box/sub trunk illusion in the shape of a small pyramid. The 'blue' brother locked the 'red' brother inside the pyramid, pushed five swords through the box, pulled them out, stood on the pyramid, held up a silver cloth and did an exchange with his brother. Unfortunately, the secret was exposed and the brothers did their best to cover it, then they marched off the stage together. The Yamagami Brothers have fabulous presentational skills. 32 Vidar Strat Manipulation Norway Sponsor - Jarle Leirpoll (Magisk Cirkel Norge) Vidar wore a black top hat and suit, produced a white cane and a red silk. He changed the cane to a white ball for a ball manipulation routine. He then performed a linking rings routine which was fairly fast paced, making many different patterns with the rings before making another three rings appear. He produced a card fan and performed a card routine, manipulating the deck and plucking cards out of the air. His moves were clean. Finally he produced a red silk and white cane and posed as he did when he began the act. Vidar held the pose nicely as the curtains slowly closed. 33 Fernando Arribas Mental Magic Spain Sponsor - Vincente Rafaeles (As. Catalana De Mags Ill. Prof. Y Empr.) Fernando performed his act in the style of visiting an old cinema. He handed out ten tickets to audience members and those with tickets joined him up on stage. The audience members were to randomly choose how the film would be played out and Fernando would then play his film prediction. The options were: 1. Place (I couldn't understand where) 2. Travel options (train) 3. Wine (Prostos) 4. Menu number (No.13 Mixed turkey bagel) 5. Price (500 pesos) 6. Main course (Pepper rump steak) 7. (I missed it) 8. Dessert (No. 73 Chocolate Mousse) 9. Amount (3392) 10. Time (8:20). Fernando played his film and his predictions were indeed all played out on the film. 34 Alexandre General Magic France Sponsor - Guy Lamelot (Federation Francaise Des Artistes Prestidigitateurs) Alexandre skated on to the stage on a skate board to rap music. Dressed in street clothes he did an instant hat change, then another hat change before he produced a can of spray paint. He was about to paint on some transport boxes, but the spray can turned to a bottle of Coke. He took a towel out of a box on stage and produced a large Coke bottle and used his cap to change it into a can of Coke before pouring the contents into a glass. He performed the floating glass, did an instant costume change to a red and black striped shirt and produced a huge Coke bottle. Picking up a large striped cloth, Alexandre stood behind it and 'stretched' himself, moving his head from top to bottom of the cloth while his hands held the cloth at the top. He flicked up the cloth to show no-one was there, then produced another young man. The second youth got into an oversized fabric 'back pack' style bag and with a cloth, they did an instant change, subtrunk style but with the performer on the floor next to the bag instead of on top of it. Alexandre took his skate board and split it into two boards. 35 Brando Y Silvana General Magic Argentina Sponsor - Franco Napoli (Entidad Magica Argentina) Brando and Silvana began this act in period costume, with the lady dressed as a flower seller complete with a basket and man dressed as a street hustler, all costumes and props were in shades of grey. Brando performs a 'street' version on the cups and balls on his stand betting Silvana to find the ball. The balls were white (good contrast to the set). The lady kept losing the bets, so she stole a ball and several personal items from the man. He got it all back without her knowing at first, and also took her umbrella. She performed a floating rose effect and he decided to give her money for the flower, as well as giving back her umbrella he stole. She mimed being pulled by the wind with her umbrella, performing a self levitation. She had some trouble standing back upright before Brando threw some colorful confetti over her to do an instant costume change into a beautiful period style purple satin dress and colorful umbrella. He instantly changed into rich colorful clothing also, very bright well-to-do attire. Brando changed the cups and balls stand into a nice park bench before both sat and enjoyed their new wealthy life. A happy story. (We saw them first at FISM 2000 where they were booed for doing an act that appeared to be a copy of Junge Junge. They competed again at FISM 2003 with this act). 36 Erix Manipulation Germany Sponsor - Wolfgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) A jukebox onstage played 1950's music. Erix danced around the stage, threw confetti to produce a milk shake. He produced a few coins and then a white ball for juggling, then did a ball manipulation routine. Clean moves. He finished with a 'spider' (soda and ice-cream). The jukebox played up, he changed music, took a black record and changed it to blue, then red. The red colour came off the record to become a red silk from which he produced three small records which all changed to a bigger record, which changed into a mirror. He took off his jacket, produced a card fan and did some card manipulation routine ending in confetti. He produced more cards and changed then into a milkshake. Erix took a cloth from behind the jukebox, held it up to instantly change back into his jacket. 37 Dream Makers General Magic Spain Sponsor - Guillermo Alcalde Gomez (Club De Illusionistas Des Professionales) This story of a man trying to woo a lady began with the music "This Business of Love" by Domino. The man was dressed in a pin-striped suit, the lady was dressed in a 1930's style outfit, sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette held in a long black holder. The man produced a fire to light the cigarette but burned his hand. The fire turned into a glass. He produced a wine bottle and floated the glass as he poured the wine. He poured the drink into a newspaper, vanished the liquid, brought it back and poured it into the lady's glass. His face was pushed into her breasts, he did a 'long tongue' gag, she pulled his tongue out but he retrieved and restored it. He performed the 20th Century Bra trick because he wanted to see her naked. He tried to woo her by dressing up a little, turned a red rose on his jacket to a pink silk he placed in his pocket, he produced a bunch of roses to give to her and took the petals from the roses and put them into a black scarf to produce more buds to put back on the stems. He produced a diamond ring, threw it in the air which ended up on her gloved finger. She took off her gloves and demanded money but he didn't have any. He pulled his out his pockets to show them empty, but they turned to confetti and some money. A small snow storm from the ceiling of confetti and money fell to the floor as he self levitated (Superman style with one arm out in front). She fawned over him and stole the money as they walked off together. 38 David Sousa Manipulation Portugal Sponsor - Fernando Marques Vidal (Associacao Portugesa De Illusionismo) David wore a black suit, red tie and white gloves that turned into a white ball as he took them off, which in turn changed into a white scarf. He produced a cane, put a knot in his scarf that was flicked off into a ball, then attached the ball to the end of the cane as a ferrule. David's moves are very clean and elegant. He produced a red envelope with the Ace of Hearts inside. He took out the card, vanished it and it ended up back inside the envelope. He took it out and went on to card manipulation ending as the cards turned into confetti. He produced more cards and the card ended up back inside the envelope, more card fans appeared from which he reproduced the envelope. He removed two heart cards from inside the envelope which he changed to a red scarf and back to the envelope again. David produced a large card fan that shrank and vanished to confetti. He showed his hat with nothing in it, but confetti floated out. A very clean, elegant act. 39 Dion Manipulation Netherlands Sponsor - Ronald Moray (Nederlands Magische Unie) The music seemed to have been written for this act as Dion performed a neat and polished act. He took a white scarf and produced a ball, which changed into a dove. A piece of string was lit to produce a white scarf which was split in two and tied together. The knot popped off to become a bird. Very nice moves. The dove flew away and returned to Dion who made three birds. He produced fans of cards and manipulated them. He showed his hands empty then produced a green ball that turned into a green scarf, and from it he produced a green fan (not a card fan) which was used to produce a dove. Dion lifted a blue cloth from a stand to reveal a large white ball with which he performed a nice zombie routine. He turned the ball into a dove beautifully, took a shiny cloth, covered the whole stand and made all the doves vanish. 40 Latko General Magic Argentina Sponsor - Ray Francas (Entidad Magica Argentina) The act opened on a darkened stage. The sound of a motorbike racing, screeching and crashing was heard. Lights came up and we saw a biker stagger up with his motorbike exhaust in his hand angry at another driver (who we didn't see) for causing him to crash. Latko's bike was broken and his act was all about him magically repairing it. He produced fire in his hand, burned up a large ring and turned it into a can. Fire sticks turned to canes that acted as handle bars on his bike. He produced more fire that turned into mirrors. More fire sticks turned into the spokes of his wheel. He produced goggles and lights for his headlights. He threw a black cloth over a piece of machinery I'm not familiar with and did a zombie routine. From a Harley Davison cloth Latko produced a shield for the bike, pyros were set off to produce a helmet on his head, he got on his bike, started it up and went to blackout as it looked like the bike began to move. Very original thinking. 41 Sittah Stage Illusions Netherlands Sponsor - Ronald Moray (Nederlands Magische Unie) This act was introduced as a story of good and evil, where the action taking place was a battle to capture a magical glittering silver amulet, the source of power. Male dancers made an energetic entrance, performing acrobatics. The 'evil' man entered the scene to try and steal the amulet hanging in a large 'pyramid' frame on a stand. When he came too close, sirens sounded and the amulet rose to the top of the pyramid, a large cloth was draped over the illusion and whipped away to reveal Sittah in a tight silver costume inside the pyramid. A fight scene ensued where Sittah fought off the four males with combat moves. Sittah made two ladies appear from a fire cage and did a sexy dance with them until two young men came onto the scene and started fighting with her. She hypnotized one of them and had him placed in a small pyramid box (like a sword basket) and four fire sticks were inserted into the illusion which was then shown empty. A red flag was waved and he got back out of it. Some smoke filled the same illusion and the 'evil' man came out of it, too. He seduced her, but put her into a round frame that resembled a globe of the world with an arrow through it. It was covered and she vanished and reappeared across the stage in a tall triangular illusion. She got out and was persuaded to lie down on a spiker illusion. After being tied up and struggling fruitlessly to escape, blinds were pulled up and the fiery spikes were released. She had vanished and reappeared in the audience. She got her silver amulet back in the end. Very strong, energetic performance. (We last saw her compete at FISM in 1997 with Hans Klok when they received 2nd place in Illusions). 42 Nikolai Friedrich Mental Magic Germany Sponsor - Wolfgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Nikolai, with music playing softly in the background and in a relaxed manner began his act by plucking rose petals from a rose in his hand saying "She loves me, she loves me not." The judges preselected a volunteer and he asked her to write down the place of a rendevous in a city anywhere in the world, a place she has always wanted to visit, a place that everyone would know. She was asked to hand her written answer to someone next to her. She was then asked to imagine the colour of the dress she would wear and give her written answer to another person. She was asked for a two digit number. He did this by describing it to her with beautiful visuals, of rose petals falling into a pond and forming the numbers. The he read her mind asking her for confirmation. The dress was emerald in colour, the city was Casablanca and her hotel room key was 36. He asked for a photo of someone close to her and put it into an envelope, mixed it with other envelopes, then he found it. The act was rushed at the end because he ran out of time. He thought he was disqualified because the red light stopped blinking, the judges also thought he was disqualified, but apparently he was not. (Nikolai ranked 3rd Place in Mental Magic at FISM 2000 for his very original Mona Lisa puzzle act). 43 Bastrakov's Magic General Magic Russian Federation Sponsor - Vladamir Rudnev (Moskovskiy Klub Fukosnikov) The performers (a man and a lady) wore traditional Russian costumes and performed this colourful act to Russian music. They produced lots of bagels and six guitars. Holding up a large silk, they both changed costumes not so instantly, produced two huge fabric Russian dolls and a huge guitar from the same cloth. They performed a very similar act in FISM 2003. 44 Sergei Bua General Magic Spain Sponsor - Vincente Rafaeles (As. Catalana De Mags Ill. Prof. Y Empr.) The act used projection on a large screen. There was a countdown on the screen, a flash and Sergi walks throught the screen. Sergi interacted with the screen using magic. For example, he saw a glass on screen and reached into the screen to pull it out. He makes a dove appear, a cage is drawn on the screen, so he reaches in and puts the dove inside it. He pulled a yellow silk out of the screen, made two silks and produced two doves that he puts on the screen. He produces another silk, puts it on the screen. The dove 'thinks' (shown by a think bubble), a yellow feather is plucked from the dove's thoughts, it's changed to a silk and then to another bird. He produces a snowstorm. It became hard to see Sergi because he didn't stand in the spotlight. Sergi produced a balloon, lit the string attached, it burns up and bursts the balloon and a dove appeared.. Sergi walks onto the screen, shrinks the screen (visual only) and shatters it. The act suffered as the workings of the screen was exposed at the start of the act. Sergi did the same act at FISM 2003 but his timing was a lot better this FISM, and so was his dove handling. 45 Kristine General Magic Norway Sponsor - Jarle Leirpoll (Magisk Cirkel Norge) A Zorro style act. Kristine was dressed in a nice black and red costume with a red mask that turned into red roses, which in turned turned to confetti of petals from which she produced a potted flower plant. She performed a floating butterfly effect above a red fan, produced silks in red, yellow and black, making linking rings and flowers appear. She spun one ring on top of another and spun a ring on her finger. She put on a cape and mask and did a card stab with a sword. She took her cape and mask off and used her cape to produce a large bunch of red flowers and large bunch of yellow flowers, then stylishly exited the stage. Kristine performed this act at FISM 2003, but has improved her moves. 46 Matthew Gore General Magic South Africa Sponsor - Christine Tait (South African Magic Council) The set was a hat shop. Matthew entered the stage with a white face in the style of a mime artist, waving a small flag. He tried on a hat and went into a silk production, starting with the red silk around his neck. He picked up the silks and produced a glass of orange juice. When he took off his hat the music stopped. When he tried on another hat, the music began again, but in a different style. He wore a bowler hat and produced a newspaper and a cane. He folded the newspaper and poured orange juice into it and it vanished. He performed the torn and restored newspaper, folded it up again and poured out the orange juice. With a new hat (a top hat) he had a problem with a fly, he caught it, produced a yellow ball for a ball manipulation routine, then juggled the balls which lit up. With another hat he showed empty, then from it a card fountain appears. He put on a sleeping cap, picked up a blanket and levitated as he snoozed. Finally, some silks became the South African flag. Very good miming techniques, the tricks were all executed cleanly and the act was polished. 47 Kyoko General Magic Japan Sponsor - Maki Kitami (Japanese Professional Magicians Association) Kyoko was back again (she competed at FISM 2003) but with an entirely different act. This time, her energy was maintained throughout the whole act with strong characterisation as she stylishly executed the magic with ease. She was a hair dresser in a dark uniform. From a hair magazine she produced a large clock, took a red clock hand and changed it into a mirror, then a silk, and from it another mirror. She produces a comb which ended up in her hair. She does a thimble routine with hair clips and produces a large red and a yellow comb. From a comb came a hairdryer. She began to mime as an 'invisible' person entered the salon and sat in a chair for a hair cut. Kyoko wrapped a salon cape around the invisible person and their hands appear. After showing the client the hair magazine, she cut their hair (real hair appeared for a little while). To conclude the act, Kyoko morphed into the client, all dressed up (a costume change) and hair done ready to go out for the evening as the hairdresser became invisible. Kyoko's moves were very slick and strong. She also had fabulous dance moves. (At the last FISM she performed in black leather and a cowboy hat as she did magic with guns, bullets and handcuffs). 48 Andreas Axmann Manipulation Germany Sponsor - Wolfgang Sommer (Magischer Zirkel Von Deutschland) Andreas' white hat and white silks seemed to make the magic happen in this act. He moved a tie behind a cloth which attached itself to Andreas' shirt. He sat on a chair and produced a coin for coin manipulation. He took off his hat and tie, moving the hat down the front of his body instantly changed his dark shirt to a white shirt with a red tie. He made a painting of a cocktail and ingredients appear. From the painting he pulled off the tomato, produced fruit (orange, banana, apple and pineapple) and put them all in a champagne bucket. He made the glass in the painting fill with blue liquid, put a Kiwi fruit slice on the glass for decoration and made the slice spin of its' own accord. Then he ran his hat up his body and changed the colour of his tie again. The full glass in the picture was magically emptied and refilled again. Andreas manipulated a large straw, changed its' colour to yellow and pulled the cocktail drink off the painting for the finale. 49 Richard Forget General Magic Canada Sponsor - Joan Caesar (Association Canadienne De Magiciens) Richard showed a newspaper and produced a white ball which changed into a white wand, then vanished it. He reproduced them and went into a ball manipulation routine. He turned one ball into a silk and confetti and another into a silk, then reproduced the balls again and back into a silk. He lit a fire in his hands which produced eight balls in a display. He opened the newspaper with the headline of 'War'. Lighting effects and smoke come from behind it, but he showed nothing was there. He made a paper bird of peace with flapping wings and levitated it with a blue silk, 'zombie' style. It flew under the silk, he took away the silk and it still flew in front of him. Richard turned it into a mini snowstorm showing two birds flying carrying the peace symbol. Richard performed at FISM 2003 with an entirely different act, 50 Anton & Landru General Magic/Invention Argentina Sponsor - Rene Oscar Hernando (Centro Magico Platense) A comedy act featuring an old lady at home watching TV. She changed channels and danced to the music coming from it, her hanky danced with her. The TV set broke down so she called for the repairman, but the phone line was cut. She donned a witches hat and gazed into her crystal ball to conjure him up. The repairman turned up and tried to fix the TV. The old lady was cheeky with the repairman but left him to work. The repairman had difficulties repairing her TV set, he went about trying to find the problem, but accidently broke the old lady's crystal ball. There was a bit of slapstick humour as the remote vanished and reappeared, the TV vanished and ended up in his bag, he tried to plug in the TV, but the line ended up being the old lady's washing line. He put on the witches hat and put the old lady in a trance when she entered the room, the crystal ball reappeared intact, the TV ended up back on the table, he pushed the old lady over and she convincingly levitated, he pulled up her skirts from the ground to show nothing was there. She got back up and everything was back to normal, she paid him and he went to leave, but she put on her witches hat, brought him back inside, took his money and took him into another room (off stage) patting his bottom. Uhumm. Part 2 to follow in next weeks issues. -------------------------------------------- 5. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 22 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) In which Albert Goshman re-invents the dinner show. In a community crowded with 'one of a kind' individuals nobody has ever come close to replacing Albert Goshman. I first met Goshman at the Magic Castle outside the Close-up Gallery. It was Friday lunchtime and I had just finished performing my show. Proudly featured in my performance was Ken Brooke's sponge ball routine. I was using the set of 'Goshman Sponges' that I had purchased a few years before in London. After the show Albert stopped me as I passed by and said, "Those sponge balls aren't clean enough to make someone hold. Buy some new ones!" In England genuine Goshman sponge balls were not only expensive but also hard to find. The tendency was to use them as long as possible. The moment I thought about it I knew Goshman was right. I mention this story because it might just make me the only magician ever to be chided by Albert on the topic of personal appearance! The most amazing thing about Goshman was the difference in how his magic looked and how he looked. The magic was neat, smart, organized and a joy to behold. Albert on the other hand consistently looked a mess! He always looked as rumpled as an unmade bed dressed in clothes that needed dry cleaning a week ago! Albert really liked his food and he was a messy eater, it was easy to track his meals for the day by the trail of the stains on his clothing! When at the Castle performing in the dining room Albert was a frequent visitor back in the kitchen area where he ate a 'progressive' supper. One evening Albert was hired to entertain a group of VIP's in the Houdini room. The event planner wanted to impress her guests and let it be known that she wanted Goshman to look his very best for the group. In fact she paid a premium to ensure that this would be the case. Albert's wife packaged him of the Castle in a spotless tuxedo and even a pair of gloves to keep his hands clean. He looked as elegant and sophisticated as anyone could remember seeing him. The event planner, aware of Albert's natural tendencies, even came up with a plan to keep him looking that good. The Maitre 'D and kitchen staff had all been visited and cash had changed hands to ensure that no food would be given to Albert prior to showtime. Albert was not happy about this. When it came time for his show, an immaculate and stain-free Albert Goshman, sat down in the Houdini room behind a freshly polished saltshaker and as always wowed the crowd with his brilliant close-up show. The event planner sat in the back of the room delighted that her plan had worked so well. However, just prior to Albert's rising cards routine, he made direct eye contact with the party planner and proceeded to pull a large beef rib from his inside jacket pocket! Never breaking eye contact with the astounded party planner he ate a few bites of the rib and then casually replaced it in his pocket before proceeding to finish his show. Game, Set and Match to Goshman! Please send bricks and bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net -------------------------------------------- 6. The Grey Elephant From Denmark -------------------------------------------- Message from Tony Griffith (UK) I wonder if anyone can help me? I am interested in finding out about the origins of the mathematic trick "The Grey Elephant From Denmark". I know Max Maven has had an input, and that Harry Lorayne mentions it in his new book Mathematical Wizardry. Also a dealer put out a plastic credit card item of the effect some while ago. I would like to find out where it originated and by whom. Also are there any other variations on the same theme. Tony Griffith Bristol U.K. tony@tonygriffith.co.uk -------------------------------------------- 7. Creative Magic Lecture/Teach-In Day -------------------------------------------- Message from Tony Griffith (UK) I only have a couple of spaces left for my Creative Magic Lecture/Teach-In day at my home in Bristol U.K. on Sunday 15th October. The day long event lasts from 10.30 a.m. until about 5 p.m. The areas covered will include Close Up Magic, After Dinner Speaking/Entertainment, Trade Shows as well as other aspects of corporate magic. Cost for the Day is £45 (£40 if booked before the 1st September) and includes morning coffee, buffet lunch and a light tea. Also delegates receive a special aide memoir of the day's events. Seating is limited. Contact Tony on +44 (0) 1275 837017 tony@tonygriffith.co.uk -------------------------------------------- 8. S.A.M. 2007 Convention Dallas Texas -------------------------------------------- Message from Maria Ibáñez Society of American Magicians National President Elect More than just wide-open spaces, cattle and cowboy boots, ropes and spurs, even a yellow rose, Dallas is "deep in the heart of Texas" and is the place to be next Fourth of July! The S.A.M. 2007 Convention is not the only reason to visit Dallas in July. Dallas has much to offer visitors and now is the time for you to make your plans to take advantage of all it has to offer. Contact John and Virginia Apperson at sam@appsmagic.com or visit the website at www.magicsam.com and register today. Come join us and visit the sites, only 10 of many listed below Dallas World Aquarium, A 22,000-gallon tunnel with a panoramic view of underwater reef life is the center piece of this popular aquarium that also runs a preservation program involving young green sea turtles; The Sixth Floor Museum, Located on the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building (formerly the Texas School Book Depository) from which Oswald fired those infamous shots, this historic exhibition chronicles the life, times, assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy Dallas Museum Of Art, Established in 1903, this prestigious art venue features a wide selection of art exhibits, from Ancient Mediterranean to Contemporary Art and Design. Fair Park, Large urban park with museums, flea markets and events. Covers over 227 acres. Dallas Zoo, Come nose to nose with a chimpanzee and watch tigers swim at this new and improved zoo that features three major attractions: Wilds of Africa, Zoo North and Children's Zoo. Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Gardens, Sixty-six acres of peaceful woods and beautifully manicured lawns and flowers: a great place to spend an afternoon. Old City Park containing over 37 historic buildings. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center - Symphony center in Dallas. Conspiracy Museum, A museum that reflects many of the conspiracy theories relevant to JFK's assassination. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Dallas and celebrating the Fourth of July in truly Magical Style. -------------------------------------------- 9. How To Put Creativity Back Into Your Act!! -------------------------------------------- Message from Kyle Peron (US) I decided to write this article out of numerous requests I have received from many magicians and manipulators on the subject of putting an act together. How do you keep it creative and different and why is it not always the best to just do an act of pure skill alone. Below is my answer to these questions along with some tips on what has worked for me in regards to ways anyone can make their own acts more creative and therefore connect better with the audience and gather more response and applause along with it. My first question to anyone putting an act together may seem a bit strange or sound like I am being too harsh, but read on and I think you will see what I am referring to. Some of these tips relate to manipulative magic, but the tips can be used for any type of an act. My big question to you is: WHY!!!!! I told you that it may seem a bit strange, but let me go on now to tell you about what I am referring to. To a magician, we are fascinated with cards and flourishes and vanishes and anything related to manipulation. It amazes us by the technique and the method and skill involved in doing the executions of the routines. This alone keeps us striving to learn more and peaks our interest and curiosity. However, this is often NOT the case with a lay audience. A lay audience does not see manipulative magic in the same way we do. They do not understand the techniques and skills involved and nor should they if what we are doing is supposed to be magical. With this in mind, the audience often will say to themselves... "WHY". Why is this magician doing the same thing over and over again. Why? Because the magician knows he is doing different vanishes and each one is slightly unique. However the audience only knows that the card vanishes, the card returned and now your doing it again. This is why an act of manipulation is very hard to do well if your doing it for 7-8 mins in a normal act time. You do not want your audience ever going "Why" at any time in the routine. So how do you work around this problem of boring your audience to tears? Well that is where research and creativity comes into the picture. It gets back to the point that in a manipulative act you must give the audience "more". It is not good enough to simply show an 8 minute act of pure skill alone doing moves that appear the same to any audience. So how do you give your audience more? Well you can give them more through the use of themes, character, style, pacing, transition effects and emotional response to just name a few. Let me go on to talk very briefly about each of these I just mentioned. Each could be an article all in itself but I will just give you my tips on each one for now in hopes you can grasp what I am referring to. - Themes: You can give more to your audience in any manipulative act if you simply add in a theme to the act you are doing. This can be a generalized theme in regards to the objects all relating that you are manipulating, or the act itself can be themed around a storyline. In this way you are performing a small 8 min play that just so happens to have magic in it. The audience can relate to the themed objects or the story and get more involved with your act and with you. - Character: Every act you do should have a strong character present on stage. The audience needs to be able to connect with this character. If you can connect the audience with you, then they become more attached to you and can relate to what you are doing on stage. Ask yourself if your character is suave, comical, athletic, hip, sad, down on his luck. Each of these can become a strong character that can be conveyed in your stage movement and even your music. - Style: With style, I mean the way you move on stage and the way you conduct and hold yourself throughout the act. It is something that must be learned over time. It is those little things that make a huge difference to an audience liking you or not. It can be the way you pause at the right moment and look at the audience and wink right before a big production. It could be the way you move and look and smile at the audience as if saying thank you without moving your mouth at all. - Pacing: The way you pace and time your act can make a world of difference to an audience. In many manipulative acts, the audience is being barraged with too much visual input. They cannot follow it all the time and so start shutting themselves down from even watching what it is you are doing. You must pace your act and place in it pauses that give the audience a chance to catch up, breathe a bit and give them a chance to applaude you before going into the next sequence. - Transition effects: These are the simple things you can place into your act that changes it up a bit and ads so called "spice" to the act. It gives your audience something more to watch and breaks up the act from being too repetitive. For example: You could be doing a billiard ball act. You do a few vanishes and produce the ball. The ball gets tossed up and as you catch it turns into a white silk. You do a knots of silk effect and the knot becomes the ball again. In this way the ball to silk becomes a transition effect that gives your audience something more to be interested in. - Emotional Response: This is a HUGE one and can work so wonderful if done well. If done right it can make your audience connect with you long after you have left the stage. It is causing an emotional response in your audiences by allowing them to connect and relate to your character and the predicament presented on the stage. It can also work closely in with the theme you are presenting. Every person in your audience has experienced something in common. What is common to us all is emotions. We have all felt fear, love, confusion and happiness. These are common to every person know matter who you are performing for. So if you can connect with them on one or more of these emotions, you can get that audience member to really relate to you because they are remembering a similar situation when they too had that exact same emotion or situation happen to them. For example, your manipulative act could be all about this guy at night who is just trying to reach a bus to get home. It is late and he misses his bus and the entire world seems to be passing him buy. He sits on a bench to wait for the next bus and turns on his radio. He drifts off to sleep only to awake moments later. He realizes that magic starts happening to him even though he does not know exactly why it is. Throughout the act the magic that happens to him causes him to smile and to realize that life is full of wonder even if we may not always see it. Now this is just a very vague example but you can see how the entire act could be a manipulative routine but now you are relating to them a story of a very well defined character with a well defined theme. You give them an emotional response to the act because most can relate to being in a similar situation in their own life. In this way they relate better to what you are doing on stage. Now these ideas are not meant to be the bible for a great act by any means. They are simply some of my own understandings on what I have experienced that has really worked not only for myself but to other acts that have really "made it." They are meant only to be reviewed and given some thought to. Take even one thing from them and I think you will see your act reaching your audiences in a whole different light. So I simply ask you to ask yourself. WHY? Kyle Peron E-mail comments suggestions and ideas to magic4u02@aol.com -------------------------------------------- 10. Magic At The Red Sea 2006 Seminar -------------------------------------------- Message from Roei Zaltsman MARS 2006 - November 22nd - 24th What do you get when you mix a magic seminar with an unforgettable vacation? You get to be a part of magic history at a beautiful resort on the shores of the Red Sea. Roei Zaltsman, in conjunction with Isrotel, is proud to offer hospitality to the fraternity of leading magicians from Israel and the world over attending the international magicians' seminar. There will be three days of lectures, workshops, performances and various attractions. Participants will be accommodated at their choice of one of the hotels of the Isrotel chain. This seminar will enable the professional magicians to familiarize themselves with the latest updates as well as serving as a stepping stone for the amateur magician. For more information go to: http://www.mars.org.il/contact.htm -------------------------------------------- 11. Broken Wand - Bill West -------------------------------------------- Message from Aubrey Sinden (UK) Yesterday I went to the funeral of Bill West, aged 93, who was for years the British Ring's Librarian and wrote rhyming routines. -------------------------------------------- 12. Special Screening Of "The Illusionist" In St Louis -------------------------------------------- Message from Terry Richison ***Please note that THE ILLUSIONIST is now opening in St. Louis theatres on Friday, September 1st to the general public. Please RSVP by replying to this email with the subject line intact. Screenings: Thursday, August 17th AMC Chesterfield 14 7:30PM Starring: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell Directed By: Neil Burger Synopsis: A supernatural mystery that combines romance, politics and magic, the Illusionist is the latest film from the producers of the Oscar© winners Crash and Sideways. The film stars Academy Award© nominees Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti as two men pitted against each other in a battle of wits: Norton as mysterious stage magician Eisenheim, and Giamatti as Vienna's shrewd Chief Inspector Uhl, with Jessica Biel sharing the screen as the beautiful Sophie von Teschen. When word of Eisenheim's astounding illusions reaches the powerful and pragmatic Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), the ruler attends one of the magician's shows in order to debunk Eisenheim during the performance. But when the Prince's intended, Sophie von Teschen, assists the magician onstage, Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other from their childhoods-and a dormant love affair is rekindled. As the clandestine romance continues, Uhl is charged by Leopold to intensify his efforts to expose Eisenheim, even while the magician gains a devoted and vocal public following. With Uhl doggedly searching for the reasons and the man behind the trickery, Eisenheim prepares to execute his greatest illusion yet. Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence. Running Time: 110 min -------------------------------------------- 13. Looking For Magical Contacts In Athens And Greece -------------------------------------------- Message from Larry "ZEEZO" Campbell I'm trying to contact some of our Magical Brothers in Athens, Greece. And you might want to ask if there are any members in Crete? Larry "ZEEZO" Campbell 16150 Mariner Drive Huntington Beach, Ca 92649 Email:czeezo@hotmail.com Phone or FAX #: 562-592-4127 -------------------------------------------- 14. MAGIC-FETE 2007 -------------------------------------------- Message from Salil Kumar Kundu (India) PC Sorcar Ring # 83 - Kolkata, India will organize a 2 days Magic Convention on 10th and 11th of February 2007. There will be Lecture/'demo', Stage Magic Competitions for seniors and juniors, Dealers' demo, Gala Magic Shows and more. We invite all Magicians and Magic-lunatics around the world to attend this convention and participate actively. For further info on Magic-Fete 2007 kindly contact Salil Kumar Kundu, TVP - India (N) at ibmring83@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------- 15. Lost All My Contact Information - Paul Green -------------------------------------------- Message from Paul Green (US) My computer crashed and I have lost all my contact information! Mailing address Phone number Folks can contact me at paulgreen@earthlink.net. ----------------- 16. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Hi everyone, the telling of the 'Trevor King Story', took around 10, yes, you read it right, TEN A4 pages; that's ten weeks worth for Alan's 'Magic N.Z. E-zine', and even then its not the complete story of the man, but I've given it a -  'Fair crack of the whip'! Cheers, Tommy (The Amazing Orchanté - retired) ------------------------ Page 113 Trevor King - QSM, the story continues. Way back in 1925, in the city of Christchurch, which is, more or less, halfway down the East coast of the South Island of New Zealand; a certain Mrs King gave birth to her son, whom they (his mother and father), endowed with the name of Trevor! He probably made more noise at the moment of birth - yelling and screaming in righteous indignation when he had his backside slapped, that he has done for the rest to his life - he is the most quiet and unassuming man you could ever meet, which certainly belies his 'Power with the Press' (newspapers) and his astonishing ability to get things done - FAST! Trevor retired some years ago, and although he turned 77 this year (2002), he is still doing 'stuff'. He sends me a constant stream of information about various show folk from all facets of 'SHOWBIZ' (including the 'inside bits' that doesn't appear in print), leaflets, posters etc and various newspaper write - ups; keeping me right up to date with Who's Who and, what's happening on New Zealand's entertainment scene. One of Trevor's best mates is Burns Scandrett - better known as 'DeLARNO' - Christchurch's foremost magician - now HE has a life story worth telling some time, but I can tell you that Burns is one of the few Australasian magicians to appear in the prestigious 'WHO'S WHO IN MAGIC' - a U.S.A. publication of -'The Worldwide Biographical Guide Of Magicians From Past To Present!' Over the years Burns has bought out or absorbed, NINE Magic Shops, as well as running his own shop 'DELARNOS' in Christchurch for 40 years, which he closed just over five years ago in order to retire but - HE STILL WORKS LIKE A DEMON! Every week Burns picks Trevor up from his home and they meet up with John Sullivan (also retired), for a drinking session and have, I understand, great discussions about entertainers and SHOWBIZ in general. Wouldn't I just love that! John was also a Kerridge - Odeon cinema theatre manager in Christchurch, at the Tivoli and Embassy theatres when Trevor was at the Regent and Avon theatres; also worked stage shows with Trevor. Both John and Burns have known and been associated with Trevor, one way or another, for over - 45 YEARS! You get less than that for - MURDER! Just kidding fella's! (Information kindly supplied by Burns ['De Larno'] Scandrett) Burns graciously prints off a copy of my 'Saga' from his computer each week for Trevor - which reminds me: "Hey 'Uncle' Trev, how about asking 'HARRY FAGIN' to brush the cobwebs off - shake the moths out his wallet and, spend some of his 'millions Ha, Ha - C'mon old friend, put your amazing talents to use, pull some strings and, get my Saga published!" I'm just kidding! 'No he's not'! SHUDDUP!  'And just WHO IS this Harry Fagin', do I hear you ask? Why, it was Trevor's 'Nom De Plume' - 'HARRY FAGIN PRESENTS..' ("Not a lot of people know that!" Thanks, Michael Caine), which he used in his very early days when he was working fulltime for the Kerridge - Odeon organisation and, wanted to run various promotions for himself. His extracurricular 'activities' would have been very seriously frowned upon by the 'BIG GUNS' at K.O. - in fact it would have had drastic implications in regard to his continued employment if they'd known about his 'extramural actions' at that time! By the way, everything I write about Trevor, including this 'juicy bit of 'Ancient' information, HAS been OK'd by the 'Great' Man himself! On page 107, first paragraph, I said that - "I may have bitten off a lot more than I can chew!" Although I do have quite a bit of information about Trevor (most of which he supplied himself in various letters over the years), I have asked Burns if he could also help in chronicling Trevor's life history; the stories and anecdotes that will be 'LOST FOREVER', if they're not recorded! I'm pleased to announce that Burns, and John, who is a big bonus, have both consented to help in this endeavour, which is beginning to show all the signs of becoming a monumental task! Burns said to me, "Between John and I, we can provide you with enough material to fill 'dozens' of books!" Dear God, I wonder if computer keyboards can get writers cramp! This I CAN promise you, it will be most informative and, knowing Burns and Trevor as I do - 'HILARIOUSLY ENTERTAINING'! I 'luv' you guys - THANKYOU! Addendum Since this was written, my dear friend Burns (Delarno), past away - 9th April 2006 -------------------------------------------- 17. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) -------------------------------------------- 18. 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.watson.co.nz/fezine.html. 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 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, 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 2006 Alan Watson