* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.Alan-Watson.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #623 Date: Sunday 30th November 2008 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. Legendary Card Magician Nick Trost Passed Away 3. The John Nevil Maskelyne Literary Prize For 2008 4. I Hardly Think That A Hero Of His Is Uri Geller 5. Remarkable Magic #73 - Nick Lewin 6. What Is The First Thing You Say? - #96 - Kyle Peron 7. Cruising With Paul Romhany #46 8. "Magicana" Magazine # 334 Is In The Mail 9. The Magic Circle Of Victoria Inc. Is Celebrating Its 70th Year 10. Buffalo SAM Convention Update 11. Lee Grabel In Oakland, Cal 12. Wanting To Purchase Loyds Multipling Candles 13. Ted Lesley`s Funeral 14. A Professional Guide To Comedy Magic 15. 29th New Zealand International Magicians Convention 2008 16. e-zine Archives 17. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Two weeks ago we published an item from John Taylor from Australia on "People wrongly advertising themselves with awards". Since then I have received large number of complaints from Australian magicians about other Australians using false promotional material on their website sites. Suggest that you lodge a complaint with your State/Territory Department of Fair Trading or the ACCC as they will prosecute offenders. Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. Legendary Card Magician Nick Trost Passed Away -------------------------------------------- Message from Gary Michaels You may not be aware of it but legendary card magician Nick Trost passed away a few weeks back. I'm not qualified to write his obituary but I'm sure you know someone who is. -------------------------------------------- 3. The John Nevil Maskelyne Literary Prize For 2008 -------------------------------------------- Henry Lewis (UK) I am pleased to inform you that at The Magic Circle Awards Banquet on Saturday 22nd November our esteemed member John Fisher MIMC was awarded The John Nevil Maskelyne Literary Prize for 2008. Apart from his most recent books on Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper I am sure many of your readers will also have read the recent book or magazine articles on the wonderfully researched and illustrated book on Cardini. John has just returned from a successful Lecture Tour in Chicago. -------------------------------------------- 4. I Hardly Think That A Hero Of His Is Uri Geller -------------------------------------------- Message from James Randi (US) I'd like to comment re Guy Bavli's upcoming lecture in Sydney. First, it's top-rated, informative, and full of surprises - even for magicians. Guy has some "twists" that blew me away, especially how he uses a thumb-tip (?) to bend a key.! However, I hardly think that a hero of his is Uri Geller. I think you should ask him about that designation! James Randi James Randi Educational Foundation 201 S.E. 12th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1815 USA phone: 1-954-467-1112 fax: 1-954-467-1660 -------------------------------------------- 5. Remarkable Magic #73 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) An incomplete but long overdue tribute to Becky Blaney! As you may have noticed I really do try and feature columns about as many female magicians as I possibly can in this series of columns. I am delighted to see the rise in numbers of women magicians. However my performing has kept me almost endlessly on the road in recent years and I feel slightly out of touch with some of the more contemporary performers due to my somewhat detached state from the magic world. I do have my own special list of performers that I want to write about in my Magic New Zealand and Linking Ring columns and in my own quirky and random way I get round to them. Sometimes someone gets away from you though. One of the performers that I have been anxious to write about is Becky Blaney. In my computer I have a file filled with questions that I want to ask her. However my crazed schedule (not to mention my bizarre reluctance to use a telephone!) have left the answers to these questions blank. This is just not good enough. That Becky is charming, beautiful and gracious I know because I have met her and enjoyed her company. I also know her act to be really strong and much admired. While I have never actually seen her perform live, in the comedy circuit I heard many testimonies to her act as being not only good magic but really funny. Funny by comedian standards not just magicians standards and that is a whole different level. Back in the heyday of the comedy club circuit it was very difficult to really be accepted if you were a magician. If you were going to work full time in this highly competitive market you really had to be both original and funny and it was never easy to be a woman on the comedy circuit as there was an enormous built in sexist bias to be overcome. Becky managed to not just overcome these difficulties but also to turn them upside down and inside out. She achieved tremendous success and an enormous amount of respect. Traveling from town to town and club to club you seldom met your magical contemporaries but you certainly heard about them. Becky achieved something rather special, she became 'one of the guys.' You had to be part of that tiny circle of specialized performers to know just how difficult it was for her to achieve that particular compliment. I have a bunch of questions I want to ask Becky about her approach to performing comedy magic. What were her biggest difficulties in this specialized market? How did she overcome them? How does it differ making people laugh when you are a lady? I suspect the answers will be a very interesting and useful. Most of my columns are personal reminisces but this one requires a little more research and writing on my part. I want to write an article for Magic New Zealand and the Linking Ring that might prove to be real help in illuminating the path for the current wave of female magicians who would like to follow in her footsteps. To be continued.... Contact me at nicklewin1@me.com -------------------------------------------- 6. What Is The First Thing You Say? - #96 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com What is the first thing you say when you come on stage? What is the first thing you do and how do you do it? I think it is critical that what you say in the beginning of your show is thought out in advance because it really establishes who you are and sets the tone for what is to follow. I think in general it is important early on in your show to break down the invisible barrier that exists between you and the audience. The sooner you can do this, the faster the audience can and will be drawn inwards towards you. It is also very helpful to be able to do this early on in the show prior to any audience assistance effects. If you can draw them towards you, it makes it much easier not only to find a willing assistant, but one you know will react well to you. I think what you say helps to do this. Also what you do and how you do it is also critical. I think the audience needs to feel a part of who you are, your personality and your style. They need to know how to react, if it is OK to react and that it is OK to have a good time. This is conveyed by you. The audience in many ways is taking cues from you in regards to how they should react. You are the director and the audience can be manipulated by you directly. It is a pretty powerful thing. Many folks come into your show not knowing anything about you or what to expect. They also are not quite sure how to react other than the obvious clapping when you stand there with the traditional applause pose. You have the ability to change this and how the audience reacts to what you do. But with any power comes this uneasy feeling whether you can do it right or not. The first 5-10 mins of any show really sets the entire tone. You want to establish the right atmosphere early on. if not, it is an uphill battle to try and turn it back around again. What you say and do first thing in your show should be an extension of who you are on stage. Simply meaning it needs to convey your character and personality and the flavor for the show. If you are a comical magician, then starting off the show with a serious manipulation act to music that has no comedy at all, may not serve you well. The audience will applaud you but may be confused once you drastically change into a different character and style. I think also that part of what you say early on should always show a caring attitude. It should convey that you are a likable person and that you treat them with respect so that they treat you with respect back. If you want them to react favorably to you, you must first get then to understand who you are and teach them that it is OK to react. Can I tell you how to do this? Can I state what to say and how to act? The answer is, "NO". The reason is quite simple really. Each and every one of us is a vastly different entertainer. We each have our own style, personality and show. YOU are the only one who can define all of this for yourself. However, I can offer you a great tip. Take time to write down in simple form who you are on stage, what your show is about and what you want your audience to feel as they watch it. Then use these answers and try and figure out ways to convey this in the first 5-10 minutes of your show. I think it is also a combination of both physical stage presence and verbal presence. Simply stated, it is what you do and what you say. You need to have a commanding stage presence that sends the right signals to the audience. However, you also need to back this up with what you say to them as well. Both of them work hand in hand. If one is strong and the other is weak, it does not work. One supports the other to get the audience to have a favorable impression of you early on. If you follow this simple tip, you can help to generate a great opener and dialogue that will really engage your audience and get them reacting the way you want them to react to the experience YOU create. 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 -------------------------------------------- 7. Cruising With Paul Romhany #46 -------------------------------------------- Message from Paul Romhany (NZ) Just arrived in New York after flying from Pisa, Italy. I will fly from New York to LA then down to New Zealand to join a ship. It's been quite the trip having crossed the Atlantic four times in two weeks. I thought I'd share some tips with those magicians who are looking at taking a cruise for a holiday. The last time I did this my email box filled up with magicians wanting more - so here it is! Article One by Paul Romhany · Small ships itinerary or destination, choosing which ship to sail on affects the type of vacation experience you can expect. There are several types of cruise ships, each offering a different type of voyage. Large ships offer that are part of mainstream lines offer familiar amenities and facilities, but may seem sparse or crowded compared to larger vessels. Small ships are perfect, however, for individuals interested in a relaxed vacation without pressure to join many activities. Activities, from multiple sporting activities to boutiques, hair salons, bars and lounges, and extensive children's facilities to accommodate Luxury ships. On the other hand, large ships may be overwhelming to novice cruisers, and even experienced travelers can start to feel lost on the dozen or more decks.  Typically feature more reserved, upscale accommodations similar to the finest land-based families Sailing ships invite guests to step back in time and experience a true cruising sensation under the powers of currents, tides, and resorts. In keeping with the sophisticated nature of these ships, the décor is generally understated, and activities may be more sedate than rambunctious. Adventure ships offer a variety of unique destinations that large vessels are unabl wind. Modern sailing ships typically rely more on engine power, however, but the romance and allure of sailing ships is undiminished. Knowing the pros and cons of different types of ships helps passengers choose which one to sail on, letting them personalize their vacation to suit their personalities and individual desires. Embarkation and Debarkation The most frustrating parts of any vacation are the beginning and ending, when luggage is potentially lost and guests are settling in to new accommodations. On a cruise ship, this can be particularly aggravating because up to 3,000 or more passengers may be embarking or debarking within just a few hours. These cruise ship tips can help make the process smoother: Fill out necessary contact and customs information prior to arriving at the port. Many cruise lines now offer online in procedures for convenience, and eliminating the paperwork will help lines flow more quickly so vacations can begin. Check attempt to carry luggage off  all bags clearly with appropriate luggage tags and cabin numbers. This helps stewards deliver and pick up luggage smoothly, making certain it is stored in the proper location for easy retrieval. Pack essential items for the first few hours in a carryon bag. This includes airline tickets, swimwear (for lounging by the pool), a camera, and essential paperwork. Some cruise lines allow passengers who can tote their own bags to debark earlier, eliminating tedious waits and hunting for bags in cavernous storage facilities. More tips next week Paul www.paulromhany.com www.chaplinmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 8. "Magicana" Magazine # 334 Is In The Mail -------------------------------------------- Message from Michael Woolf (NZ) Subscribers will read articles by Bev Bergeron, Alan Watson and an exclusive personal piece written for "Magicana" by John Calvert. Plus regular columns from Bernard Reid, David Ginn, Terry Seabrooke, Ken Ring, Wayne Rogers, Richard Webster and Roderick Mulgan. Also featured are an interview with Canadian hypnotist Paul Royter, Joel Moskowitz's review of "The Secret Life of Siegfried and Roy" and the Editor's review of the new DVD "Women in Boxes." "Magicana" is published bi-monthly by Michael Woolf. 36 big pages. Subscription details at www.magicana.co.nz -------------------------------------------- 9. The Magic Circle Of Victoria Inc. Is Celebrating Its 70th Year -------------------------------------------- Message from Don Crawford - President (Aust) I would like to invite you and your friends to come and help celebrate. (Yes, friends the invitation is to all people who love Magic...the more the merrier) I believe we have put together the Magic Event of the year! Plus someone will win a $70 voucher to use at the famous Bernard's Magic Shop. This is the running order of the night. 7.30 - 8.30 Savories, First drink on us, Live Music by Raw Sylke 8.30 - 9.45 Tricks on a Tuesday Dave Lord from Brisbane Laurie Kelly from Adelaide And local star of magic Ron Gallagher MC: Don Crawford After the show there is time for a chat and more music by Raw Sylke. Drinks at bar prices. So here are the details: When: Tuesday 2nd December 2008 Time: Arrive 7pm - 7.30 Where: The Kelvin Club, Melbourne Place, Melbourne Parking: there is usually something in the Street but here is a car park diagonally opposite. This is a great opportunity for all to see our new Club rooms. From February 2009 we will be meeting at The Kelvin Club on the first Tuesday of each month. More details and bookings please visit our web site www.MagicCircle.org.au you can Book your ticket to the night using PayPal follow the links on our site. Hope to see you there. Magically yours Don Crawford President MCV. Inc. -------------------------------------------- 10. Buffalo SAM Convention Update -------------------------------------------- Message from John Apperson (US) Collecting Pins As convention planners for the 2009 Society of American Magicians. National Convention continue to fine tune programming, it is also time for conventioneers who are going to bring trading pins to plan to order them before it gets too late. We are always amazed at the creative and handsome designs our members come up with every year since pin trading was introduced at our conventions. Both individuals and assemblies enjoy swapping their pins with others. It gives people an opportunity to meet other magicians and learn about them as they acquire magic themed memorabilia .There are a number of companies that can be found on the internet who make custom order pins. If you are looking for a place to order some, contact John Apperson who will be able to suggest a few. Show your pride in your local group.or yourself.by producing a pin to exchange with new and old friends. To learn all about the convention go to: www.magicsam.com and click on "Buffalo Convention". -------------------------------------------- 11. Lee Grabel In Oakland, Cal, USA -------------------------------------------- Message from Scott Alcalay, OMC president 2008 The Oakland Magic Circle has had many prestigious guests and lecturers throughout its lengthy history. Our December 2nd meeting will be featuring a Lecture/Presentation by the "Master Magician of the Golden Age of Magic" Lee Grabel. Lee and Helene Grable will talk about the wonderful and colorful characters from the early days of The Oakland Magic Circle plus stories from the San Francisco Bay Area to Hollywood and throughout Middle America and much more! This presentation will be accompanied by DVD showing highlights from their shows. More information can be found at http://www.Oaklandmagiccircle.com . Admission to this event is FREE. Lee and Helene will have posters, photos, DVDs, and other memorabilia available at this event. -------------------------------------------- 12. Wanting To Purchase Loyds Multipling Candles -------------------------------------------- Message from James Dimmare (US) I wanting to purchase a set of Loyds Multipling Candles. If you can help please e-mail me at: swinginmagic@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------- 13. Ted Lesley`s Funeral -------------------------------------------- Message from Wolfgang Messelken Just to keep you tuned about Ted Lesley`s funeral. The service was held on November 27th, 1 p. m. Golgatha Friedhof = cemetery, Germany, Berlin Reinickendorf, Holländerstr. 36a. All the best Manipulix -------------------------------------------- 14. A Professional Guide To Comedy Magic -------------------------------------------- Message from Ian Keable (UK) Renewed interest has been generated in Ian Keable's book Stand-Up: A Professional Guide to Comedy Magic since he has been awarded The Magic Circle 2008 Carlton Award for Comedy. Full details about the book can be found on his website: http://www.iankeable.co.uk/stand_up . It is priced at £25 plus p & p. Some extracts from published reviews: "There is a massive amount of accurate, interesting and totally relevant information in this book. Ian's writing style is easy to read, intelligent and coherent. The subject matter is covered exhaustively and humorously. If this doesn't become the standard stand-up magicians' bible, I will be very surprised." Mark Leveridge, Magicseen "Ian concentrates on the comedic magician, and the advice he gives is invaluable. I highly recommend it." Matt Field, The Magic Circular "Possibly the best book ever to be written on modern Stand-up Comedy Magic. I wish I'd had it 20 years ago." John Archer from magicweek.co.uk / reviews "Don't confuse this with those 'how to earn a million dollars a year' books. This is a practical book from a professional magician working today's market." David Britland from cardopolis blog "This book cannot be too highly recommended. If you are in earnest about using comedy whether professionally or othewise, you ought to read it!" Walt Less, Abra "A well-written book with lots of sound advice." John Lovick, MAGIC -------------------------------------------- 15. 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. Seven Confirmed Headliners John Shryock (USA), Marty and Brenda Hahne (USA), Ross Skiffington (Aust), George Schindler (USA) Steve Walker (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 -------------------------------------------- 16. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.Alan-Watson.com 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) -------------------------------------------- 17. 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.Alan-Watson.com 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 2008 Alan Watson