* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment
* www.Alan-Watson.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #612
Date: Sunday 12th October 2008
Editor: Alan Watson
www.magicianz.com
e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================

1. Editor's Message
2. 2009 S.A.M. National Convention On July 15, 16, 17 & 18
3. Enjoy The Magic Of Richiardi Jr And Frank Garcia
4. Presto The Magician
5. Items Belonging To The Late Konni Rooklyn
6. Remarkable Magic #68 - Nick Lewin
7. For The Love Of The Art - #90 - Kyle Peron
8. Entertaining On The Ocean #41 - Paul Romhany
9. Bill Weldon - Broken Wand
10. Fantasma Magic Happenings - Save The Dates
11. The Life Of The Late British Comedian Tony Hancock
12. David Ginn's UK Tour Schedule
13. Duck Cameron On You-Tube!
14. A Magic "Flash Of Genius"
15. Alfred Hayes Pays Tribute To Ross Skiffington
16. 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2008
17. e-zine Archives
18. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
If you require more information about FISM 2009 Beijing, China.
Go to: http://www.fism2009.org/

There you will find how to register and the schedule of events 
and much more.

Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
AW@Alan-Watson.com

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2. 2009 S.A.M. National Convention On July 15, 16, 17 & 18
--------------------------------------------
Message from George Schindler - Dean S.A.M.

Insider Information On S.A.M. Convention - All About Buffalo, NY

The hosting city of the 2009 S.A.M. National Convention on July 
15, 16, 17 and 18 is Buffalo, New York. The convention, taking 
place at the beautiful Adam's Mark Hotel at the Waterfront in the 
heart of the Buffalo downtown business district, will also be 
taking advantage of the attractions of nearby Niagara Falls. 
Buffalo boasts of a great many things to see including many art 
galleries, museums and the Buffalo Zoo, which features an open 
concept where you are allowed to freely roam on the walkways so 
you are able to get closer to nature and truly experience this 
zoo.

While visiting Buffalo, make sure you visit the historic 
Allentown District which is located right downtown. You will find 
a great deal of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Buffalo as 
well as great deal of history. For those interested in other 
types of theatre, The Shakespeare in Delaware Park outdoor 
festival is held every summer.

Buffalo is accessible by car, rail and air via the 
Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Within the city and 
outlying areas, there is also transportation in the form of 
subway, bus and taxi. The subway is free in the theatre district 
but there is a nominal fee on some of the route. There are also 
shuttles from the airport to the hotel and the staff at the Adam's 
Mark will be happy to assist you in making your arrangements. Don't 
miss a great convention in an interesting and welcoming city.

For more information about the convention and to register early 
for the best seats, visit www.magicsam.com and click on "Buffalo 
Convention."

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3. Enjoy The Magic Of Richiardi Jr And Frank Garcia
--------------------------------------------
Message from Lee Asher (USA)

The WATCH MAGIC section of LeeAsher.com has been updated with 
October's featured performers. Click the link directly below to 
see the powerful stage presence of Richiardi Jr. as well as the 
ever-so-smooth moves of Frank Garcia. Both of these men are 
legendary and deserve recognition.

Click this link to watch the videos now:
http://www.leeasher.com/cgi-bin/arp3/arp3-t.pl?l=22&c=2401
(cut and paste if not clickable)

The main reason behind sharing these old videos with you is to 
instill my passion for magic and its rich history, plus be a 
guiding light for those curious enough to look.

Enjoy the magic of Richiardi Jr and Frank Garcia.
--------------------------------------------
4. Presto The Magician
--------------------------------------------
Message from Tony Wilson (NZ)

Subscribers may be interested to know that there is a five minute 
animated cartoon called "Presto the Magician" screening with the 
latest Pixar main feature "W.A.L.L- E".

Well worth seeing.

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5. Items Belonging To The Late Konni Rooklyn
 --------------------------------------------
Message from Joel Howlett

I have some assorted items belonging to the late Konni Rooklyn 
that her family has asked me to sell on their behalf.

They are all in good condition and have been well looked after. 
If you would like to view the list please send me an email and I 
will get this to you.

Cheers,
Joel Howlett
jdandfriends@dodo.com.au

--------------------------------------------
6. Remarkable Magic #68 - Nick Lewin
--------------------------------------------
Message from Nick Lewin (US)

Judy Carter the Great.

OK, I suspect there will never be as brisk or lucrative trade in 
Judy Carter posters as there is in that other Carter character. 
In fact I bet there will be more than a few people who read this 
column and say; "Judy who?" There might even be a segment of 
people who won't be happy to hear her name mentioned!

Judy was a one of a kind comedy magician who flew in the face of 
everything that boring magicians hated most. She was bold, gutsy 
way over the edge. She also certainly verged on bad taste; I 
thought she was hysterical; although I did have to gently 
redirect her from performing her 'card in tampon' during a party 
in our little apartment in Sherman Oaks.

Carter appeared on many of those early era daytime talk shows 
that were also my video stomping ground. While she must have 
performed other routines I always think of her performing the 
Black & Decker saw thru illusion: the one with the frame fitted 
around the assistant's waist.

Judy often made her 'volunteer' lie on top of a piano for the 
sawing. She always used a man as her victim and I never once saw 
one who didn't look totally alarmed by the entire business. It 
could have been the saw but in all honesty I think it was the 
unholy gleam in her eye.

America is now a slightly more acclimatized to what used to be 
quaintly referred to as 'Women's Lib.' We might even be about to 
elect a female vice president: one who doesn't support equal pay 
for men and women, which is a statement all its own. In the late 
seventies however Judy lit a flame in the magic world that left 
her male victim worrying that he might lose a little more than 
his dignity when Judy straddled him holding her buzzing Black & 
Decker!

I only remember seeing Judy perform once at the Magic Castle and 
it was a polarizing experience. As far as I can remember only the 
great Tony Giorgio and I were ecstatic and enthusiastic about her 
new routine. We watched it several times roaring with laughter 
not just over the routine but the puzzled faces of other 
magicians in the audience. The extent to which they failed to get 
it was sublimely funny to us both.

The basis of the routine was an escape from a regulation metal 
garbage can. Before being secured in the can Judy was placed in a 
Hefty trash bag, which she assured us could withstand over 800lbs 
of pressure. After the Trash bag was secured she ripped a hole 
through the side of the bag with her hand to get the microphone. 
It was a great piece of comedy magic theater. Tony and I just 
roared and roared.

Judy went on to write the classic handbook on performing comedy 
that illuminated the way for many of today's top comedians on 
their way to fame. She also created a very successful live course 
to teach the basics of comedy to fledgling performers. I wish she 
was still performing though as she was a glorious breath of fresh 
air in the sexist world of magic.

Maybe there are some You Tube clips out there of Judy Carter and 
if there are check them out to see a true visionary (albeit hit 
and miss) comedy performer. She was the wildest thing in magic 
until Amazing Jonathan hit the scene and when she was waving that 
electric saw at waist level the most alarming not only to her 
assistant but also to the status quo in general.

Anyone who really believes that Criss Angel or Penn & Teller are 
really the first bad boys of magic (a term first coined by Steve 
Spill incidentally!) should have seen Judy in her heyday. My only 
regret is stopping her doing that card trick at my party!

I have had some wonderful reactions to the free download of my 
interview with mind reader Marc Paul but I am amazed how few 
people actually took the time to download it. Check it out at
www.marcpaul.com/audiointerview.htm

As always send any bricks or bouquets to nicklewin@earthlink.net 
and check out my website at http://www.NickLewin.com

--------------------------------------------
7. For The Love Of The Art - #90 - Kyle Peron
--------------------------------------------
Message from Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com

Why do you do magic? Why do you personally perform, practice and 
do the things you do? Certainly there are many answers out there 
and all of us have our own. But have you ever gotten to a time 
when you have forgotten what the real reason is that you got into 
magic in the first place? I think we all have been there from 
time to time. The problem is getting yourself out of it and 
preventing yourself from giving up, giving in or not giving your 
best.

I have seen so many magicians over the years give up because they 
just think it may be too hard. I have seen many others give in to 
bad habits just because they were too lazy to work a little bit 
harder. I have seen even more not give their best because they 
are simply tired, bored or have other things on their minds.

I am not saying we are all perfect, because we are not. But we 
often must force ourselves to recall why we are doing magic and 
why we got into it in the first place. I started thinking about 
this the other day and I wanted to know my own answer for why I 
do magic. The more I thought the more this one clear idea came to 
my mind. It was actually quite simple. I do magic "for the love 
of the art".

Magic has simply given to me so much that I have often taken for 
granted. Some of you may know that I am a deaf magician and am 
about 65% deaf in both ears. There were and have been countless 
times when I asked myself why do I continue doing what I do? 
There are things I must do at every performance that other 
performers do not have to even think about. I do them because not 
being able to hear causes me to learn to adapt to be able to 
perform to music, hear my assistants on stage or even the 
applause from the crowd. Why do I do all of this? For the love of 
the art.

The other day I had the privilege to correspond with Bob Klamm 
and to also watch his linking ring video. Many of you know Bob 
from his books and his Klamm Magic business he and his wife have 
run for years. Some may also know that Bob is a blind magician. 
When I saw his ring routine, it was simply amazing. It was 
beautiful and done so well. It made me smile, laugh, giggle and 
thoroughly entertained me.

As I watched this blind magician perform on my computer screen, 
this topic for this article came screaming to my head. Bob 
entertained me. He allowed me for those few moments to go back to 
a time when I first started into magic. He made me realize the 
joy of watching a good performance and how I felt just being 
entertained.

If a magician who cannot see can perform like this and not give 
up and not give in, then what is your excuse? When you think 
about it, there is none. People like Bob Klamm and others like 
Dr. Simon Carmel (deaf magician) make me realize that I may be 
deaf but I am also a magician. I am an entertainer.

The next t time you start feeling sorry for yourself or start to 
want to give up or not give your best at a performance, I want 
you to remember people like Bob Klamm. Remember that deep down 
inside we should be doing our magic for the love of the art.

As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your 
thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or 
suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly 
at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you.

- "Encore! Creativity in the Art of Magic" Ebook. Order online 
now at:
http://www.magicenhancer.com/Encore.html
- "Tips and Techniques on the Chair Suspension" Ebook. Order 
online now at:
http://www.magicenhancer.com/ChairSuspension.html

--------------------------------------------
8. Entertaining On The Ocean #41 - Paul Romhany
--------------------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany (NZ)

This week I'd like to introduce you to a professional magician 
from South Africa. He has shared some really wonderful articles 
with me in the past and I asked if it would be possible to allow 
members of the ezine to read them.

Over the next few issues I will be handing it all over to Colin 
Underwood.

Show Management
Prop Management Part five
.
Stage Problems

Small stages, site line problems, too high a stage for the venue, 
no steps to climb onto, flimsy or dangerous structures, low 
ceilings, no backstage, no access to backstage except through 
audience lounge, no lighting backstage, narrow passages that don't 
allow your illusions through, keys for stage access not 
available, no dressing rooms, dressing rooms that are used as 
storage rooms, air conditioning broken while performing in 
midsummer in middle East, dirty stages, vast outdoor stages 
without roof covers, the stage is too big for your show. Broken 
curtains, no backdrops, broken backdrops, sharing the stage with 
a band, the stage is in an incorrect position relative to 
audience seating, slippery stage, stage covered with flammable 
chiffon cloth and you are booked to juggle fire and lastly large 
mirrors behind you or above you on stage.

If you have worked a circus season in South Africa or in the UK, 
it can be a nightmare. Sloping grounds, wet muddy grounds, large 
potholes in the performing area are a few things to think about. 
I was performing in UK with my illusion act and the coffin 
cremation that was being pushed in to the ring with me in it at 
the time ground to a halt! I jumped out to find the prop was up 
to two feet in mud. On another occasion I once saw a fellow 
entertainer jump while on the stage and disappeared through it!

Cruise ships have similar problems as above but there is also the 
weather condition factor with a ship and the result is a listing 
ship while you are juggling is not great!! I have seen the 
dancers come onto the stage and carry on going out the other door 
as the ship listed badly in a storm. Props without locking 
castors all have a life of their own. Generally the cruise 
director will cancel a show if really bad conditions prevail but 
sometimes a show like mine is ideal for such an occasion as it is 
pack small play big which means being thrown in the deep end!! 
(Excuse the pun)

Lighting problems

No lights in performance area, broken lights, lights aren't set 
in correct positions, there are no dimmer facilities or the light 
switches that are behind the bar in the front of the stage, the 
lights are either too big for the stage and block site lines or 
in incorrect position for the performance, no qualified or under 
qualified technical staff, other ambient lighting that distracts 
from the stage. The animation cannot see your show from where the 
lighting booth and music system is situated, yes read that again; 
they actually build a sound booth which is not linked to the 
stage.

Many Corporate functions where I have had to perform close up 
magic have been in dim lighting. The lighting has been so dark I 
had to change from using a black silk to bright fluorescent one 
just to be able to perform my glass of juice production. Red 
sponge balls were also not seen and had to be left out. At most 
of these functions there was also a monstrous flower arrangement 
in the middle of the table to further add to the problems.
My most interesting lighting problem was while on the Angolan 
border entertaining South African troops during the apartheid 
days. The stage was made up of wooden pallets and two small light 
bulbs strung between two trees and run off a generator. The 
lighting made strange strobe effects with the juggling clubs as 
the generator wasn't producing full power. At the same function a 
month or two before there was a terrorist attack while the show 
was on. Talk about your audience not liking your show!!

We had a false attack on that same tour at another venue which 
turned out to be a cow that stumbled into the perimeter fencing 
triggering off warning alarms. I have very funny memories of 
yours truly, wearing nothing but underpants diving into a trench 
and trying to cock my rifle while air raid sirens were blaring, 
flares being shot in the air and a battalion of battle hardened 
and highly strung young soldiers cocking their rifles and 
shooting everywhere with shouts and screams! The policy there was 
to shoot first and then ask questions later. There wasn't much 
left of the cow and the civilian song and dance act that where 
touring with us were found hiding under mattresses in their tent.

I also remember my partner and I blowing fire and making the 
first four rows of Bushmen trackers literally disappear. They had 
never seen a man blow fire before! Just by the way the thousand 
or so Bushmen sat on their haunches and clicked their fingers 
instead of clapping if they enjoyed the show; it sounded like 
thousands of Christmas beetles and is the most awesome sound that 
I have ever experienced as a performer.
The most difficult lighting for my juggling was in a disco in 
Durban where the lights flashed from the floor panels as well as 
performing in a studio for a TV appearance and the lighting there 
accentuated the roof structure which was made of grid squares and 
made my juggling rings disappear every time I threw them up.

The lighting will affect the type of show you do. I have had a 
lot of lighting problems with my juggling rather than my magic 
acts. My very first paid cabaret show with my partner resulted in 
my juggling ring hitting me smack in the face as I couldn't see 
it; the next ring went into the patron's soup. Recently I was 
using yellow sponge balls for a stage routine with the main 
lighting being yellow thus making the balls literally disappear.

Also watch out for UV lighting as it does weird things to thumb 
tips, it shows up hidden articles especially white paper and 
certain make up crèmes make you look very sick. Back lighting can 
give away the secret such as the extra pocket in the torn and 
restored newspaper. And obviously incorrect lighting will expose 
the best magic flying effect no matter who you are.

There is a Mexican Illusion act that has worked many years on 
this island. He brings his own lights and sound system and smoke 
machine plus screens for his illusions so he can access them in 
front of the audience. A lot of extra work for him every night 
but worth the effort and actually essential for an illusion act 
where lighting can ruin an effect. He uses an iPod with remote 
for his sound and a foot pedal switch to change the lights.

Music problems

Levels are restricted with a limiter, amp breaks down, bad mikes 
, bad sound systems, untrained staff , stupid staff, noisy shows 
next to you competing for the attention of the audience, 
animation staff deliberately messing with your music in the show, 
feed back after checking sound system as you step onto the stage, 
you don't have the correct plug to use in the hotels sound 
system, there is nobody to operate your music for you in the 
show, untrained staff operating equipment, the animation staff 
face painting children while doing your music cues, bad 
introductions by the compere or MD.

People Problems

Noisy revelers walk into your show, drunk hecklers, drunk people 
jump onto your stage while you are performing, the drunk wannabe 
comedian on stage with you, waiters that get in the way or try 
upstage you, the previous act or presentation was not good, using 
two people from the same table to help in a comedy routine and 
they try outdo each other with your props, the unhelpful 
assistant, the public does stupid things( tears up your chosen 
card or pours beer into your juggling hat, hides the locks you 
need for the escape act), not enough people to help in show, 
language problems, you ask the lady to read out the prediction 
but she needs glasses to read it, the child gets scared and 
leaves the stage suddenly, the animation staff don't announce you 
properly, your show is scheduled when everybody is off the ship 
on a overland excursion and the remaining passengers are all 
retired people with a few falling asleep during your show, 
nightmare shows where everything goes wrong around the organizing 
and promises are made and not kept.

A rather unusual one was the compere needing a table so he simply 
picked up the four corners of my table cloth I was using and 
dumped my props in a pile on the floor, afterward he casually 
returns the table now full of water to me. I was very 
inexperienced and said nothing but bit my lip!!

I have performed close up magic in a strip joint once and it was 
very distracting, for me not the audience! And a real classic was 
a close up magic function at a rave party for Lucky Strike 
Cigarettes out in Hartebeespoort dam. All the people there were 
tripping off their heads and I think in their minds I did real 
magic. I will never forget the reaction I received when the bloke 
opened his hand to find two sponge balls; he literally jumped a 
foot up in the air. Who knows what he saw!! Performing there was 
very difficult as the concentration span was about three seconds; 
also my booker at the end of the function was pretty wasted as 
well.

Another time I was booked as a character act at a Edward Scissor 
Hands theme function and arrived in my mime face and glitzy 
costume only to find it was a hair dressing function and 
everybody being very creative were dressed up better than me. 
They were all asking me which salon I worked at!

That brings me to the over sexual advances that have been made to 
me during my performances by both men and women. From 
propositions, groping, numbers on cards slipped to me by the 
waiter or a women telling me very explicitly that I was just the 
right height while walking on stilts and another occasion the 
General Managers wife forcing me to slow dance with her at a New 
Year's event and my wife at the time walks in on the occasion ,I 
had to fast talk my way out of that one or another one asking, in 
front of her husband if I wanted to see the rooms of the hotel, 
what that had to do with the cocktail function I was booked for 
at the hotel I have no idea. Most times I have played dumb and on 
the other occasions I laughed it off and made a quick exit.

Payment problems can make up a whole chapter. The best bet is 
getting the money up front with new clients and insisting on 
payment on the day preferable before the function. Asking fellow 
performers about a certain client will also help and then ones 
gut feel also does come into play. Early this year was the first 
time I have actually cancelled a booking after agreeing to 
perform. The client had not paid my deposit and did not reply to 
my persistent phone calls and emails.

I heard later from a fellow performer that went to the function 
that he never received payment and had to get lawyers onto it. I 
find that the more information you have about the function will 
give you a good indication about the type of function and will 
alleviate the problem of nonpayment as well as giving you an 
indication of what price to charge and what to expect. I have 
arrived at many functions to find out it was a very top end black 
tie affair but charged a small show fee. Sometimes booking agents 
and charity organizers deliberately down play a function to keep 
the extra commission they charge on your show.

I love the booker that tries to convince me that the exposure 
will be good for me and come and do it for nothing. Never perform 
free shows for charity functions where they have an event 
organizer. You will find it is the organizer that is trying to 
save on his budget. Always try barter something as a trade off. 
Sometimes bartering is a better form of fee. I have performed for 
Lufthansa Airlines for five consecutive years at a school fete in 
exchange for air tickets overseas. The last year I managed to 
receive four airline tickets and flew my family overseas. The 
value of the ticket was nearly five times the fee I would have 
charged and it didn't cost the school or airline anything.

Technical problems

I have learnt that over many repeated shows you can expect 
something to go wrong. I generally find that if you can conceive 
a problem then it is very likely it will happen. Being overly 
cautious will pay off. A simple hint: if using a lighter in your 
show, have a spare! Recently the lighter in my pants pocket got 
covered in sweat and stopped working. I had to borrow a lighter 
form the audience member which made me cross as I had known this 
would happen from previous show experiences. Also it is possible 
that a lighter when thrown on the ground can explode. It looks 
great but not when you doing some dramatic effect with fire.

Fire problems are common amongst inexperienced performers and 
many a horror story can be told of burnt conference rooms and 
stages almost going up in smoke.
Most technical problems are accidents and aren't expected but 
others are because there was lack of adequate rehearsing.

At a Toyota Camry car launch where I was booked both as compere 
and cabaret artist there was no rehearsal and the whole launch 
ended a mess. I complained about the clip on mike saying I was 
not happy with it. The hotel manager promised it would work (I 
hate clip on mikes and they are totally inadequate except in very 
special shows where the technical staff are highly trained and 
the equipment is tops.) The car was meant to enter through a 
large doorway which was covered with a polystyrene sheet which 
was stuck against the wall with press stick and masking tape.

On the appropriate moment the clip on mike failed so I had to 
shout over the music as the car crashed into the polystyrene 
sheet but didn't break the sheet, instead the car dislodged the 
sheet and it landed perfectly on the window of the new car. The 
surprise appearance of a white sheet of polystyrene floating at 
waist high for a few meters before sliding off to reveal the car 
was not what the client wanted! A rehearsal would have alleviated 
this problem. I do however have a very nice set of engraved wine 
glasses as a memento of the occasion!

The same client booked me at a two day function for an opening of 
a shopping centre in Natal. The first day went great. I received 
a call early the next morning saying the show was cancelled. The 
centre had burnt down but luckily the area where we kept our 
props was uncompleted section so it did not burn. We did however 
have very serious smoke damage to the chrome on the unicycles, 
stilts and juggling props as well as the costumes which was 
eventually paid out by the insurance company. The acrid smoke 
seeped into everything. The client kindly helped us salvage as 
much of what we could and spent the day washing all our props on 
her lawn. Just an afterthought don't ever try washing your Rocky 
raccoon as the skin will dry rock hard rendering him rather stiff 
and a totally useless magic prop but could maybe used as a 
traditional weapon! I don't work with that client anymore!!

My first contract on Boswell Wilkie Cicus was very good 
experience in teaching me about illusion and technical problems 
in general. My partner and I performed a juggling act and a 
Dracula Illusion act. There were four of us in the magic act and 
we had one or two serious problems which could have been fatal.

I also saw a trapeze accident where the catcher was knocked 
unconscious and hung like a puppet on the catch bar, a very bad 
bar fight with artists in a disco leaving one artist head butted 
and his jaw wired up for the rest of the season, a fatal truck 
accident where the brakes failed killing the clown and the other 
artist is mentally handicapped to this day, fire accidents such 
as my gas bottle catching on fire or one caravan trailer 
completely burning down with exploding gas bottles, what made it 
worse was the fire engine runs out of water and other transport 
accidents such as wheels coming off caravans and trucks and 
bouncing down the road towards you, trailers unhitching without 
the driver noticing or the chef being deliberately run over while 
sleeping under the truck because of a fight amongst the tent 
workers to name a few.

I wrote up a whole lot of problems in a little magazine in the 
early eighties called tents n toppits. There I described some of 
the nightmares of performing illusions on a traveling show where 
you are not actually packing the props yourself and there are no 
packing crates for the illusions. All manner of breakages 
happened and some were near fatal. We had a large bed of spikes 
which gave me grey hairs every night as the girl was tied down on 
the bed. One night the winch failed to hold and luckily the 
curtain got caught in the mechanism. We also had the three sword 
suspension which was very visual. The one night also luckily 
after I had taken the two non gimmicked swords away did the 
assistant fall off the sword. He wasn't put on the sword properly 
and as he was moving his foot in place he came off. He would have 
been impaled as the other two were genuine swords.
The girl was in the cutting in half and the leg broke and another 
occasion the false legs fell down while showing the sections 
separately.

I had a personal scare when the coffin cremation caught alight 
with me in it. I came out with my wig on fire. Luckily I wasn't 
burnt. The next night wasn't a nice feeling to get back in the 
cramped sump designed to hold a normal person not a six foot 
Dracula. My partner had a very big scare when a drunken audience 
member ran up and tried to stab him and luckily at the last 
minute he tripped. I will explain, my partner was Quasi Moda in 
the Dracula act and he used to go into the audience and scare the 
kids and public. He was banned from doing that.

With every problem we made a solution but it wasn't good to have 
the problems occur during a show.

With one off shows it is very easy to forget a vital prop or 
costume and only realize this when you are at the function. 
Making a list of the props helps with this problem.

Then there are car or travel hassles which make you late for a 
show. Recently I drove an extra two hours in the Northern Cape 
trying to find my way to Upington as I didn't have a map with me. 
A three hour sand storm held me up once and a freak hail storm on 
the way to Nelspruit resulted in a multiple car pileup, 
fortunately I had pulled off the road in time because minutes 
later the next car failed to stop in time because of the ice and 
slammed in to the car that was in front of me. We did however hit 
a dog on the way back that night.

Possible my worst road trip was on the way back from Port 
Elizabeth with a fellow performer. On leaving in the morning we 
had to replace a tyre trailer as it had a strange bubble coming 
from the side of it, we broke the ignition key in the petrol lock 
and had to wait two and half hours for a locksmith, while waiting 
we order a hamburger only to find it wasn't cooked at all, raw 
meat and onions! We had a puncture on the van and found we had no 
jack and then to crown it all we hit a big bull mastiff dog at 
120 km hour resulting in the van been written off and had to call 
friends to tow us in. Oh yes and this was prior to mobile phone 
days so we waited for hours before the message was relayed back 
to our friends. The whole experience took nearly 23 hours.

And lastly there are mismanagement problems.

I have been at a function where I was asked to perform for four 
hours of close up magic, so I arrive to find there are only about 
eighty people!! I will be honest I do not have four hours worth 
of close up material but more importantly the audience certainly 
did not want to watch me for that long. This problem can occur in 
a different way when you arrive to find the seating is in a 
closed circle so all can see your show at once and you are not 
able to repeat.

I now ask how many people are in the show and subject to the 
reply I will suggest to the client how long I will perform for. 
You can determine the budget for the show from this information.

I have also arrived at a function and the client was expecting 
something completely different, I have been double booked with 
another artist, arrived to find the function is on another day, 
the show was cancelled without you knowing or the address given 
was incorrect so you arrive late. I was booked as a roving 
pickpocket at a corporate function but they advertised it so 
everybody left their valuables in the car. A nice situation 
happened there when a bloke comes to me and says his wife is so 
scared of losing her valuables she double locked the car, so I 
suggested getting some of the valuables from the car for me to 
use.

I then performed some close up magic for her and at the end 
produced her rings and mobile much to her amazement, she gave 
such a scream it ended my performance on a really high note and 
the story apparently spread throughout the company the next day. 
A follow up system should be in place with your clients.

On the topic of doing a good job and follow ups I was recently 
able to get very nice feedback from the client as she tells me 
the DVD they recorded of the function has been copied and passed 
around all the regional offices. This was months later after the 
function was over. This makes very good PR and opens up for 
future bookings.

Before the days of mobiles I was booked for a Christmas Tree 
function at the Germistion lake, I was rushing from one show to 
the next and arrived to find a lot of functions at the lake, not 
knowing this at the time I started setting up and interacting 
with the kids when a bloke comes up and asked who booked me and 
who I was etc. It turned out I was at the wrong party, mine was 
next door. I have also arrived at a birthday party without the 
address with me but I knew the street name so I see the balloons 
tied to the gate which is common practice at Johannesburg parties 
and start to set up only to find I was at the wrong party.

To make myself different and an added attraction I sometimes used 
to arrive at a kids party on stilts, it looks really great for 
the kids to see a giant clown come lumbering up the drive, two 
problems come to mind. Firstly don't do this for under five year 
olds, they take off and you end up with thirty five screaming 
kids and irate mothers and the second is the Alsatian dog that 
has just had enough of being laughed at and his ears pulled by 
the kids and you now arrive. The massive dog comes charging at me 
and takes a big bite at my leg or what he thought was my leg. The 
surprised yelp of pain from the dog and me screaming for help 
made quite an opening routine to my show.

And then there is the weather.

An outdoor show is obviously subject to weather conditions. A 
certain amount of contingency plans should be made. My juggling 
act is difficult if not impossible in a South Easterly gale on 
the back deck of a rocking cruise ship!

My contract in Chessington World of Adventures, theme park in 
London came to an abrupt halt as both large tents and all the 
seating and props where smashed by a hurricane that blew for 
about 12 hours. Complete sections of fencing disappeared in front 
of my eyes only to find them a hundred meters away the next day, 
side poles whipping up in your face, my back door on my hatchback 
car flying off its hinges, small twigs from the oak trees taking 
big gouges out of my caravan and one big pole flying through the 
clowns caravan window. My petrified wife had my three month old 
son buried under a pile of cushions.

My good friends at Boswell Wilkie Circus had a very bad freak 
accident when a tornado imploded the tent during an evening 
performance killing a little girl. I was also told of a similar 
occurrence with another touring circus in the early days of show 
business in South Africa.

I could go on and on but I think this is good time to stop and 
hopefully some of my reminiscing has made you aware that these 
things will happen to you in your performing career and it really 
depends on how prepared you are and how you deal with life's 
hiccups as to the impact the problem has on you and your show.

As They say in Star Wars, May the Force be with you.
Good Luck!!

You are welcome to email your comments to
info@colinunderwood.com

--------------------------------------------
9. Bill Weldon - Broken Wand
--------------------------------------------
Message forwarded on by Bob Durante

Heard today that Bill Weldon passed away October 7th. He had been 
ill since the summer and is finally at peace.

Bill Weldon has appeared on the cover of the Linking Ring several 
times over the years and has written several Parades in the 
magazine as well. Bill was known as one of the top MC's in the 
business and was always ready with a top notch magic show. In the 
early 90's he and I were the Oreo magicians for Northern Ohio and 
performed many many shows together.

He was considered a gentleman of the old school by all who knew 
him. A long time member of Cleveland's Ring 23 club and of the 
SAM.

Bill was a writer for the Cleveland Press for years and retired 
in the 70's dong magic and running an antique business. He will 
be missed by many and was one of the Old Timers who was always 
willing to help the new guy or girl with their magic.

--------------------------------------------
10. Fantasma Magic Happenings - Save The Dates
--------------------------------------------
Message from Roger Dreyer (USA)

Lennart Green Lecture/Performance At Fantasma Magic
Date: Friday October 17th
Time: 7.00 pm
Where: 421 7th Ave. Entrance on 33rd Street, New York City
Cost: $30 in advance $35 at the door if seats available. $50 VIP 
Front row. Fantasma Magic Is thrilled that the one and only 
Lennart Green from Sweden will be making his only North East 
appearance at Fantasma Magic. Our own David Roth says, one of the 
greatest card magicians I have ever seen. Brilliantly original!" 
This FISM award winning card magician has a style that will not 
only amaze all, but entertain as well. His lecture is more than 
just a lecture combined with his performances that will leave 
everyone wanting more.

Please visit the new Fantasma Magic that will have new multiple 
flat screens and a new stage for this and all our forthcoming 
events.

Charles And Regina Reynolds Tribute Event
Date: Monday October 27th
Time: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: Fantasma Magic
Cost: Free, but please RSVP info@fantasmamagic.com
Please join Fantasma as our guest for this free event giving 
tribute to one of magic's most creative minds. From the Doug 
Henning TV and Broadway performances to Harry Blackstone Jr.'s 
shows, Charles and Regina worked and helped the best of the best 
in magic. Their book 100 Years of Magic Posters as well as their 
other publications have made it clear what a great art form magic 
is all about. Yep, we will even have lots of wine to celebrate. 
Please RSVP Lots of surprises in store for this beautiful night. 
If you can't make it, at least send them a note to congratulate 
and thank them for what they have done for magic.

Paul Draper Lecture On Mentalism
Date: Thursday October 30th
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Fantasma Magic
COST: $20 advance $25 at the door if available.
If you live in Las Vegas you know the name. Paul is one of the 
top commercial mentalists today working on TV, making appearances 
on Mind Freak as well as his live shows performing along with 
Jeff McBride. His lecture will not only be filled with solid 
commercial mentalism, but theory and a really entertaining 
performance as well.

Save the Dates for Fantasma Fabulous Fridays:
October 31 Paul Draper begins Fantasma Fabulous Fridays. "Magic 
and More." Houdini Type Séance and Mentalism show.
November 7th Jeff Hobson show
November 14th Rich Moratta Show

Please also check our website for the latest new FDD's (Fantasma 
Digital Downloads) being posted regularly. Coming soon, Harry 
Lorayne and Lennart Green new FDD's.

Please visit us on the web www.fantasmamagic.com or in person 
when in NYC!
Magically,
Roger Dreyer
212 924-8345

--------------------------------------------
11. The Life Of The Late British Comedian Tony Hancock
--------------------------------------------
Message from Henry Lewis (UK)

John Fisher MIMC has published his latest book on the life of the 
late and loved British comedian Tony Hancock. This new book of 
John's was published on 1st October 2008.

Two other 'best seller' books were published by John this year, 
namely Cardini 'The Suave Deceiver' and Tommy Cooper 'Always 
Leave Them Laughing'. These books, as are John's previous 
publications books that once started it's very hard to put them 
down. The research that John has accomplished in writing these 
books is astonishing and painstaking and if you like good reading 
then these are a must. I am sure these books are available from 
all reputable booksellers and no doubt through the Internet from 
Amazon Books.

--------------------------------------------
12. David Ginn's UK Tour Schedule
--------------------------------------------
Message from David Ginn (US)

Dear Magic Friends in the United Kingdom:

From Oct. 13-24 I will present 12 Christmas Magic Lectures in 
England and Scotland.

See the schedule below ... And come see me!
 --- David Ginn, myself

Christmas Magic Lecture tour 2008

Oct. 13 Magic Circle, London 7:30 pm (james@magicfun.co.uk)
Oct. 14 Manchester 8:00 pm (d.lever1@sky.com)
Oct. 15 Leamington/Warwick 8:00 pm 
(bernard.visgandis@ntlworld.com)
Oct. 16 Exeter 8:00 pm (bobsmagic@unclebobby.f9.co.uk)
Oct. 17 Northhampton 8:00 pm (allsortsentertainments@hotmail.com)
Oct. 18 Blackpool 7:30 pm (d. lever2@sky.com)
Oct. 19 Glasgow 2:00 pm (moira1.fletcher@googlemail.com)
Oct. 20 South Lincolnshire 8:00 pm (magicrae70@onetel.com)
Oct. 21 Birmingham 7:30 pm (pattheclown@btinternet.com)
Oct. 22 Stoke on Trent 8:00 pm (h.carter3@ntlworld.com)
Oct. 23 Surrey 8:00 pm (colinpeters@themagiccircle.co.uk)
Oct. 24 LSM at Davenports 7:30 pm (bob.pamplin@btconnect.com)

--------------------------------------------
13. Duck Cameron On You-Tube!
--------------------------------------------
Message from Duck Cameron (Aust)

Just a quick note to let all that may be interested know I have 
just posted some
new show footage on You-Tube.

Just search for Duck Cameron.

Just returned from being based in New York for 7 months with NCL 
Cruises and currently doing a three month stint out of Hong Kong.

Anyone wanting to say hi can at duck@duckmagic.com

Magical wishes to all for this busy season.

Duck

--------------------------------------------
14. A Magic "Flash Of Genius"
--------------------------------------------
Message from Walter Blaney (USA)

Dear friends in magic,

I have just seen the new film Flash of Genius, starring actor 
Greg Kinnear. The picture is a nominee for an Oscar. It's about 
the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper that every car 
uses today. A big auto company stole his idea, despite his having 
secured patents. The film is the story of his long and arduous 
task of taking the huge auto corporations to court and seeking 
justice.

Those who know me know that as a magic inventor I have had 
several "flashes of genius" in my career, just as so many others 
have... Jim Steinmeyer, Andre Kole, Dan Summers, Bob North, Norm 
Neilsen, Johnny Gaughan, Robert Harbin, John Cornelius and so 
many, many more magic inventors. Along the way we have all 
witnessed our inventions copied by others without permission.

This film hits home to what it means and feels like to have that 
"flash of genius", then the long journey to perfect and market 
our inventions, and finally the heartbreak when we see them 
"ripped off". I wish every magician would go see this film so 
they can better understand why the major magic organizations all 
have a magic Code of Ethics that try to protect the relatively 
few inventive minds in magic that create new effects for our 
whole magic community, and to help them keep the incentive there 
for future creations. .

My best wishes, Walter

PS You can Google Flash of Genius and see the movie trailer to 
better understand the premise of the film.

--------------------------------------------
15. Alfred Hayes Pays Tribute To Ross Skiffington
--------------------------------------------
Message from Alfred Hayes (Aust)

It's sad when we so often see how "Home Grown" is thought far 
less of and about, than the lesser quality "Imports". This is 
especially true in the entertainment field. I refer to the item 
last week (Issue #611) regards the abhorent poor quality of 
magical presentation in Cirque Du Soleil "Believe".

We must, obviously, call to task the Producer/s first, then the 
Director, especially when, as we are led to believe, cost some 
$USD85 million to stage. In Australasia, we are blessed to have 
one of the finest theatre illusionists, and entertainer, home 
grown in New Zealand and now resident in Oztralia - He is an 
Actor with numerous Theatre and TV shows behind him; has, with 
his long time theatrical Company, been 'exported' overseas by the 
Australian Government to perform; as an actor/magician in a 
Shakesphere production touring the UK (both representing this 
area of the world); a Director employed overseas by 'foreign' 
Government.

The list of achievements goes on and on and continues. In 
Australia he conceived, Produced, Directed and built, together 
with his mechanist, a remarkable "Magic Circus" which was, 
without question, an outstanding success, breaking new ground in 
the entertainment field but, alas, alarmingly, to us 'locals' he 
is not appreciated or as respected as he should be.

Without question, if he had been the magician featured in 
"Believe" (rather than a so called "name" personality), with his 
vast theatrical knowledge both 'on stage' and 'off stage' 
(lighting, staging, music, etc), I'm absolutely certain that the 
show would have been not only up to the high standard Cirque Du 
Soleil usually produce, but an exceptional major success and 
theatrical achievement.

Who is this amazing personality that I personally have the 
highest regard for, both as an entertainer encompassing magic, 
mixed with high ethics ... well ... He is going to be at the New 
Zealand 29th Convention of Magicians in Auckland, 27Dec-31Dec'08 
... Ross Skiffington of The Ross Skiffington Grand Magic Company.

--------------------------------------------
16. 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2008
--------------------------------------------
The 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention will be
held in Auckland, New Zealand from the night of December 27th
2008 to January 1st 2009, 1.00am.

Eight Confirmed Headliners
John Shryock (USA), Marty and Brenda Hahne (USA), Ross
Skiffington (Aust), George Schindler (USA) Steve Walker (Aust)
Sean Taylor (Aust) and Charles Gauci (Aust)

The venue will be the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre in
Mount Wellington where we last ran a successful Convention in
2001-2002.

Bookings can be made for convention accommodation by contacting:
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road,
Mt.Wellington, PO Box 14 164, Panmure, Auckland, New Zealand.

Phone: +64 9 526 3000
Fax: +64 9 527 1937
Toll Free Reservations (NZ): 0800 924 786.
http://www.waipunahotel.co.nz/

We have been able to secure a very attractive room rate of $NZ110
per night (Incl GST) for single or double rooms with registrants
being able to book direct with the hotel.

***************************
PLEASE NOTE that 95% of the ALLOCATED rooms have already been
booked by conventioneers. If you are planning to attend best to
book NOW! This convention will be a SELL OUT!
***************************

The official registration form for the convention can be
downloaded from: http://www.ibmring160.com/

If you don't have internet web access contact Ross Harlick,
Secretary, 91 Panapa Drive, Meadowbank, Auckland 1072, New
Zealand

Or by: Phone: +64 (09) 521 3327
Fax: +64 (09) 521 3327

--------------------------------------------
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)

--------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------
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© Copyright 2008 Alan Watson