* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #508 Date: Sunday 17th June 2007 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. Harry Houdini Was Not The First President Of The S.A.M 3. 'Remarkable Magic' #11 - Nick Lewin 4. Kent Cummins No Longer Owns The Kent Cummins Magic Camp! 5. Broken Wand - Tom Prete 6. Broken Wand - Gordon Rogers 7. The Inside Information On Performing Magic - Jason Andrews 8. 51st Anniversary of the Midwest Magic Jubilee 9. T.A.O.M. 2007 Update For Corpus Christi, Texas 10. Estate Sale 11. The Amazing Orchante Saga 12. e-zine Archives 13. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- My e-mail mail box became corrupted and I lost a number of messages that were to be published in Magic New Zealand this week. If your message was not published in this weeks e-zine and is still current please resend it. Kyle Peron will be taking a four week break from writing his very popular weekly column as he is moving into his first home and also preparing for being part of the Curtain Call panel at the S.A.M Convention in Dallas. In talking to Peter Reveen in Ls Vegas, tells me Coral is now on the mend after experiencing a very bad fall 10 weeks ago. ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Harry Houdini Was Not The First President Of The S.A.M -------------------------------------------- Message from James Hamilton << Article published in Canadian Newspaper>> <> Harry Houdini was not the First President of the S.A.M. The S.A.M. was co-founded in New York City by Dr. W. Mortimer Golden, Dr. Saram B. Ellison and  Francis J. Martinka in 1902. Houdini did not become President until 1917, he was the 10th President and served until his death in 1926, his was the longest term. -------------------------------------------- 3. 'Remarkable Magic' #11 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from - Nick Lewin (US) Remarkable Magic: packs flat and plays big! Over the years I have bought enough magic to fill a garage. I don't mean that figuratively I mean it absolutely literally. As a matter of fact there are a couple of rooms in my house that are packed with magic props too. That is a lot of props for someone who doesn't use many props! A few years ago I discarded my illusion show which gave me a little more room to see what was left. It kind of surprised me because most of it was items that were guaranteed to pack flat and play big. If they really do pack flat they must be pretty darn thick! I suppose to the traveling magician there is no greater hook than to think you have just bought an item that will fit in your pocket and yet entertain the back row of a theater. The trouble is that they also have to play strong. That is what requires a little work. I travel the world on a pretty regular basis and I am always aware of the need to keep my show with me at all times. The way airline travel has developed recently the only case I am confident will arrive is the small case that travels in the baggage rack above me in the plane. I travel a small black 'catalogue bag' with wheels, that is almost permanently attached to my right hand. It is a good thing that it has wheels because it weighs a tremendous amount. Inside that case are forty-six tricks or to put it another way: two fifty minute shows and a twenty-minute show. Oh, and I usually manage to squeeze in my iPod and a couple of small hard drives too. It is a wonderful lesson in magic to have to think small. It causes you to look at the heart and soul of an effect and forget the extras and trimmings. Big is not always better in magic it sometimes just says something about the person performing it. I used to tease my friend and colleague Piet Paulo by telling him that you either have talent or you have props. He hated that joke. I also used to tell him that you could cut down a hundred pounds of props for every five minutes of strong stand-up you could perform. Illusionists have a tendency to take the smaller tricks and throw them away while the props are being set and the costumes changed for the next illusion. I have made my living getting the very most out of carefully chosen smaller effects. It is much easier on the back and cuts down on the need for the chiropractors services. Amongst the very best bits of advice Billy McComb ever gave me was after he taught me his version of the Six Card Repeat. He said, "I always carry this with me onstage, just in case." I put Billy's words into application and they have served me well. I can open or close any show with this trick not to mention use it anywhere in between. Need a little extra time in the show or something goes wrong? Hey, there is the 6 Card Repeat. This and Zoloft will give you peace of mind. My very favorite pack flat and play big tricks in my case include: The Spot Card, Color Change Silks, The Card Stab (Roy Johnson's brilliant handling), The Nemo Rope Routine, the Tossed Deck and the trick I have made my living with over the years The Himber Linking Rings. In fact if you mix these items up with some blocks of comedy you end of with a pretty cool show. I know I've done it. Do any of you out there have any favorite routines that are always lying in wait at the bottom of your case? As always send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net and check out my website at http://www.NickLewin.com -------------------------------------------- 4. Kent Cummins No Longer Owns The Kent Cummins Magic Camp! -------------------------------------------- Message from Kent Cummins (US) After 14 successful years as one of Kent's private business ventures, The Kent Cummins Magic Camp in Austin, Texas, has become a Texas nonprofit corporation, with 501(c) (3) status pending from the IRS. The Board of Directors consists of Kent, Gus Davis, and Dr Stan Seaton. Kent has been hired as the Executive Director during the transition. The purpose of the change is to provide a platform for dramatic growth, as well as expanded funding opportunities. In particular, the board hopes to expand the camp programs into underserved markets. Kent, who was Program Director of Dave Goodsell's West Coast Wizards Magic Camp for ten years, actually started his camp in Austin in 1993, about the time that Dave started his in Idyllwild, California. But whereas West Coast Wizards was a traditional sleepover camp, Kent's camp is a day camp for elementary-aged children (generally 6 to 12). Campers build self-esteem by learning special skills, but it is not about becoming a magician. The camp is much more about becoming a productive, happy member of society. Respect for the art of magic is one of the first teaching principles, and all campers learn simple beginning magic tricks as well as puppetry and how to juggle. Guest performers and teachers have included Michael Ammar, Ray Anderson, CJ Johnson, Brian Brushwood, Bobby Cordell, John Maverick, Bertil Fredstrom, Red Ryder, and many more...including "Peter the Adequate," now in Branson, who was Kent's partner in developing the camp. Counselors are young teens who have all been campers at Kent's camp, and complete the Youth leader Training Academy each year. The Kent Cummins Magic Camp is a mainstream camp that believes in inclusion. Successful campers include those with the following labels: ADD, ADHD, OCD, Down Syndrome, Turette's Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism, juvenile diabetes, bi-polar disorder, dyslexia, dysgraphia, vision and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, severe emotional disturbance, and more. Campers with many of these labels go on to become successful counselors at the camp. The 2007 season includes five 2-week sessions at Concordia University and Ridgetop Elementary School, plus one week at the Jewish Community Center, plus a handful of outreach mini-camps. More than 500 children will enjoy the MAGIC this summer! Information is at www.MagicCamp.com. Kent can be contacted at kent@MagicCamp.com. ----------------- 5. Broken Wand - Tom Prete ----------------- Message from Marlene Clark New England R.V.P. It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of Tom Prete, founder and namesake of Tom Prete Assembly #127 in Wallingford CT, on Saturday, June 9, at home. A retired art teacher, Tom devoted nearly four decades to the magic arts. At the 2006 National S.A.M. convention in Louisville, the S.A.M. acknowledged Tom's commitment to magic and the S.A.M. by bestowing him with honorary membership. It was a well deserved honor. Tom ran a magic shop from his home in Wallingford for many years and mentored many magicians. He performed at area nursing homes and hospitals and was a driving force in the success of Assembly 127 and its annual NEMCON convention. NEMCON celebrated its 26th anniversary in 2007 with Tom as co-chairman. At a meeting or convention, Tom was never far from his sketch pad, drawing caricatures of the famous, the not so famous, the almost famous and the used-to-be famous. He also was king of the one-liner, which accompanied his performances at meetings. They were almost as famous as his Six-Card-Repeat - which also drew groans from the audience. I met Tom in 1981 when I bought my first magic trick and got to know him when I joined Assembly 127. To say that he will be missed is an understatement - he was the linchpin of Assembly #127. There are no calling hours. Services for Tom will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 16 at: Our Lady of Victory Church 600 Jones Hill Road West Haven, CT 06516 S.A.M. Chaplain Fr. Cyprian Murray will officiate. Marlene Clark New England R.V.P. -------------------------------------------- 6. Broken Wand - Gordon Rogers -------------------------------------------- Message from Geoff Diggs (NZ) It is with sadness that we were notified of the passing of Gordon Rogers, aged 96, on May 28th. Gordon was the last surviving founder member of the Canterbury Society of Magicians and, although retired from magic, had been a Life Member of the society for many years. Over the past few years Gordon had been kept notified of the clubs' activities but only attended functions such as anniversary celebrations. A service to celebrate Gordon's life was held on Friday June 1st. -------------------------------------------- 7. The Inside Information On Performing Magic - Jason Andrews -------------------------------------------- Message from Barron Stringfellow Lecture!!! Lecture!!! Limited Seats!!! Lecture!!! Lecture!!! The One & Only Steve Daly!! With Special Guest Jason Andrews!!! 7:00 PM Saturday July 14th...Direct From Las Vegas (Currently Live & On Tour!!)...A lecture you can Bank On!  "The Inside Information On Performing Magic" Whether you work Birthday Parties, Clown Around or are just a Novice who wants to Make Magic Pay...The title says it all.Steve Daly has seen (and personally met) Hundreds of Magicians who come to "The Neon Strip" to find their Fame and Fortunes and go home because they were not prepared! Steve's personal stories of 15 years on the Strip with some of Magic's Biggest Stars, add to this Fun Lecture! Jason Andrews (Special Guest Artist) joins Steve! Jason's classic Manipulation Act (which is reminiscent of the Late, Great Channing Pollock) has the Las Vegas Magic Community turning their heads. Jason Byrnes, Joanie Spina, & Lance Burton are just a few of the "names" to take notice of this up and coming star of Magic. Jason performs his Award Winning Act, tipping some of the "stealing secrets" that make his act so smooth. Steve & Jason will also have some amazing, Never Seen Before Magic for sale! Everything offered is $20 or less! "The Pen" Is a Must Own! This lecture will include: "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas (Or Wherever You Are).Now go  home!" It's not what you do. Four Walling, Two Walling, Ticket Sales Advertising (Cabs, Billboards, Hotel Books, etc.) $100 Million Dollar Contract$ Learn from the guy who did it. Lance Burton! An Act, Time limits, Clean or Blue A Manager or An Agent? Contact info to Entertainment Agencies And So Much More! Applicable to Working in Any Location, In Any State, Any Where!!! Fairmount Community Center 7-9 pm Admission Only $15.00 General Cover 608 Ash, Independence, Mo.  (24 hwy & Ash, just west off Sterling) Contact Athena Stringfellow @ Flaming Hat Productions for Info: (785) 486-9508 -------------------------------------------- 8. 51st Anniversary of the Midwest Magic Jubilee -------------------------------------------- Message from Terry Richison The Convention Where The Stars Meet! August 17-19, 2006 St. Louis, MO The 2007 Midwest Magic Jubilee is closing in soon and we want to make it extra special! For a limited time, we have extended our registration special offer. For a limited time, when you register, you will receive a FREE registration for your spouse. Register before the registration fee increases. This Jubilee is shaping up to be one of the biggest conventions in the nation! Besides all the people listen, there is no telling who you might run into or possibly sitting next to in the shows! If you haven't experienced the Midwest Magic Jubilee, this is one year you definitely don't want to miss! See all the details at www.mmjubilee.com. Register online! Stay tune for more important announcements. Hope to see you there. Terry Richison Midwest Magic Jubilee Michael Finney John Born Dave Solomon Dan Sperry Joe Young Mark Mason Danny O'Day Jason Dean Julie Sobanski Steve Bender Les Arnold and Dazzle, Jimmy "Cards" Molinari David Evangelista Tony Noice Graham Rogers Dan Fleshman Tony Miller 11 Great Lectures 3 Grand Evening Shows Stage and Close-up Contests Cash Prizes And More! -------------------------------------------- 9. T.A.O.M. 2007 Update For Corpus Christi, Texas -------------------------------------------- Message from Joe Douglas M.M.C. TAOM 2007 Entertainment Chairman Hello everyone, Our ad appeared in "The Linking Ring" and "Genii" current issue. Since ads are submitted months in advance, here is the latest news. Be sure to check our website at www.taom2007.org for the latest information on our convention from August 31 to September 3, 2007. Lou Leventhal from Canada has been booked to replace Vince Carmen who will not be able to attend. Robert Baxt from California has just been booked. He will be performing on stage, close-up, and lecturing. Corpus Christi T.A.O.M. 2007 will be the place to see, learn, and fine tune your magic skills. Here is the scoop not only on who our lecturers will be, but what their lecture will be on: S. Brent Morris - "Everything you always wanted to know about the faro shuffle*" "*But were afraid to ask" Robert Baxt - "Laughter is the Best Misdirection" How to be funny doing the stuff that you do! Routines with borrowed money, rings, and watches. Plus lots of other comedy stuff like mind-reading jokes, bits with balloons, cameras, and the chopstick gag. Dave Mitchell - "Kid's Shows: Raising the Bar" In this combined Performance/Lecture Dave will have an audience of Kids so you can see the response to the tricks, verbal and sight comedy, bits of business, and how he handles the volunteers and entire audience. After the performance, Dave will dissect each trick and routine explaining their specific handling and presentation. Watch this professional of over 30 years and learn how you can "raise the bar" with your Kid shows as well! Paul Osborne - "From Shop to Stage - Creating, building and finishing magical stage props and illusions." (During Paul's lecture, he will be using videos.) Aldo Colombini - "Colombini Goes Wild!" Features Rachel and Aldo Colombini with a brand new lecture. Parlor and stage magic, simple but effective card miracles and a lot of comedy! J. C. Wagner - "Close-up Magic" This is a must see lecture from the one and only J.C. Wagner. The real stuff! Dale Salwak - "How to Get the Most Out of Your Performance" This lecture is for magicians of all ages from one of the best instructors in the art of prestidigitation and manual dexterity. It would be worth coming to T.A.O.M. 2007 to learn from any one of these outstanding lectures. Don't forget that there will be stage and close-up contests for magicians to compete for a T.A.O.M. trophy. The rules for the contest are on our website at www.taom2007.org. Come to Texas and compete against the best. The Contest Chairperson is Marilyn Douglas. She can be reached by e-mail at douglasmarilyn@grandecom.net or 361-991-7949. Be sure to enter the contests before the August 1, 2007, deadline. Downloadable contest forms are available at www.taom2007.org. Summer is here. Save money and register for an exciting T.A.O.M. convention in Corpus Christi, Texas, before the rates go up. Bring your family as there is lots to do on the Gulf Coast. Check out www.cctexas.com for information on Corpus Christi. Download your T.A.O.M. 2007 convention registration form from www.taom2007.org before you forget and mail it in to get the discounted rate. Then, come on down to the Sparkling City by the Sea and enjoy a magical time from August 31 to September 3, 2007. Have a safe trip. ----------------- 10. Estate Sale ----------------- Message from Wayne McEwan (NZ) Items from the late Ivan Hannah and Ray Souness I will be compiling a list over the next few days. Some of the items are brand new and some are still in their sealed condition. There are some real gems in this collection. Email: Wayne McEwan magicguy@xtra.co.nz ----------------- 11. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page - 161 Tuesday morning 8.30am. We go to Don Laine's office, where he verified this, and accused Eric of causing embarrassment to the company by contravening immigration laws. So we trotted down to immigration headquarters which looked like an old tumbledown shack. There we saw a Mr Kaleil, who, although not exactly welcoming, was never the less grudgingly pleasant. He told Tom to buy an application form for a work permit, fill it in, get two photos taken, and come back with $10. We went back to the hotel, filled in a six-page form, with Steve's help, got the photos taken, and took the form back to Kalil, who was slightly less unbending. He said it took about three weeks to process, with a 50-50 chance, but when Tom, laying it on rather thick, told him that it was costing us a small fortune in accommodation etc he said he would rush it through in two weeks. With this we had to be content. We then headed off to the Fiji visitors' Bureau to see Paddy Doyle, whose name had been given by Eric. Paddy was wrapt, and assured Tom he could get him all the work he needed if the permit was granted. He called in his second in charge Steve Yagona, who phoned Kaleil, talk away in Fijian, then told Tom that we should know next week one way or the other, and that he thought our chances were very good. By this time and it was 4:30pm so we had a cold, solid steak at a snack bar, which was at least cheaper than at the Southern Cross, then went back to the hotel. This morning (Wednesday 21st) and we paid our $50 bill at the southern Cross Hotel and caught the coach back to Paradise Point. This trip, although not so dusty, and with a better driver (the Monday driver scraped the side of an oncoming car) took longer, as an hour from Paradise Point, the road was blocked by a truck which had slipped off the road, while transporting a 16 ton bulldozer on the back. There were cars, trucks, buses, people watching, people photographing, people advising, and even a man up a telephone pole phoning Suva. After an hour's wait, our busload came back, quite shaken. An Indian had got up onto the tractor to try and get it off the truck, but as he was driving it backwards, it had rolled over down the bank, with him still on it. Luckily, he managed to jump clear and run around it as it was still rolling down the hillside. The roads in Fiji are atrocious! There are no speed restrictions, except those imposed by the road conditions, and these are severe. They are unsealed, dusty as hell, and wickedly slippery and muddy when wet! The 65-mile trip from Suva to the Paradise Point Resort takes about 3 - 3˝ hours in the bus. We arrived back at the Paradise Point Resort at 2 p m. to find that Eric had written a letter resignation to the company, and had threatened Don Laine with it. Eric showed us the letter he received this morning from Laine - again blasting him re the show, and ordering him to charge us for our accommodation etc, less 50 per cent at the most, but on being confronted by Eric's resignation he said to disregard his letter. So for the moment, we're in 'Shit Street' without a paddle, or whatever else you might need in the aforementioned street. Bad news, Eric's mother, who has been ill for a few weeks, died last night, so Tom is out helping Eric to get boozed. Two days later; more bad news! I can't believe it - the bloody permit has been refused! The reason given was that, although nobody in Fiji actually ate fire, or swallowed swords, performed magic etc., there might be someone wanting to do it in the future, and Tom might be putting him out of a job. Not even the Company's Head Office or various Hotel Managers, etc., could influence the decision! So now you have the full and complete story regarding that line 'Bloody Officious Indians'! As you may well understand, I was not a very happy laddie, and why I cheered loudly when years later, Fijians finally rebelled, and took over their own country! It's a bit like Australia deciding to govern New Zealand. HA! We now had to make a decision. We could return to New Zealand, or try our luck in Australia. I remembered that my father had a friend, Bill Godfrey, who worked as a Security Guard at the Sydney Airport. I got hold of his phone number, and gave him a call, explained our dilemma, and asked what he thought of us coming to Australia. Bill said, "When can you get here - and don't worry about a bed - we've got one waiting for you"! Well, what do you know - the Orchanté luck strikes again! It always does! We cashed in our return tickets, and bought tickets to Sydney. Look Out Australia, Here We Come! Important Notice All works published by 'THE AMAZING ORCHANTÉ' are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit, or any other reason, by anyone other than the individual author, without the written permission of said author. -------------------------------------------- 12. 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) -------------------------------------------- 13. 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 2007 Alan Watson