* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment * www.magicnewzealand.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #802 Date: Sunday 12th December 2010 Editor: Alan Watson www.watson.co.nz e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================   1. Editor's Message 2. Sid Lorraine Has Posted The Final Installment 3. S.A.M. Go For The Gold In Pittsburgh 4. December 2010 Issue Of The Linking Ring Magazine 5. Remarkable Magic #12 - Nick Lewin 6. Read You Loud And Clear - #192 - Kyle Peron 7. Tony Brook In Conversation 8. Top-Line Events To The Upcoming "Geniicon" 9. Latest Update On Terry Seabrooke 10. Tony Clark Produces His 12th Live Stage Show! 11. The Ultimate Magic Workshop Experience 12. The Magic Santa Claus! 13. Australian Issue Of Magicol 14. e-zine Archives 15. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice   -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- The highlight for me this week was to catch up with Jack Brown (Past President IBM), his lovely wife Jan, Chuck Jones and Chipper Lowell.   Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com   -------------------------------------------- 2. Sid Lorraine Has Posted The Final Installment -------------------------------------------- Message by James Alan   It's a wrap folks!   After fourteen months at his electronic typewriter, Sid Lorraine has posted the final installment of his memoirs through his blog The Magical ChatterBox. You can read his last entry about the great Joseffy and his talking skull (!) Balsamo here: http://bit.ly/eNqn5I   You can also review all forty-six installments at the archive: http://bit.ly/a5m2Hk   Sid Lorraine (1905-1989) was, among other things, a magician, artist, filmmaker, historian and humorist. He was passionate about magic and a fixture at magic conventions and magic societies. Sid was the hub of the wheel for a great deal of magic in the twentieth century. Our thanks go to the Johnson Family and the David Ben Collection for the memoirs and supplemental material featured in this exhibition.   Of course knowing Sid and his love for new technology, this is certainly not the end. His memoirs may have concluded but he has a great deal more magic to share. Check back in the new year for more news from his Magical ChatterBox.   Happy Holidays!   MAGICANA www.magicana.com/sidlorraine   -------------------------------------------- 3. S.A.M. Go For The Gold In Pittsburgh -------------------------------------------- Message by George Schindler (US)   In addition to the exciting North American Championships of Magic the Society of American Magicians, as always, will offer Gold and Silver contest awards plus the People's choice awards voted by attendees of the Friday night gala show.   The 'Gold" winner will become a life time member in addition to receiving cash prizes. All this at the newly renovated Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown (formerly the Hilton)   Register now at the special S.A.M rate of $109 single or double direct line call 1-877-999-3223 ( Mention the Society Rate) or link directly to - http://www.wyndham.com/groupevents2010/pitwg_sam/main.wnt   In case you forget, check our website at www.magicsam.com and see a preview of acts booked so far.   -------------------------------------------- 4. December 2010 Issue Of The Linking Ring Magazine -------------------------------------------- Message by Paul A. Lelekis   December 2010 issue of The Linking Ring magazine, Vol. 90, No. 12   Editor: Samuel Patrick Smith Reviewed by Paul A. Lelekis   The Linking Ring boasts the world's largest circulation of any printed magic magazine and has now launched a beautiful digital edition. I.B.M. membership is required to receive this monthly magazine. Members can access The Linking Ring at www.magician.org. This site allows one, portal entry into the world of magic!   Each month in The Linking Ring, the Ring Events provide readers with the "scoop" on what is happening in different Rings around the world.   This month's cover of The Linking Ring features a wonderful story of the great Howard Thurston and his selfless visitations to hundreds of children's hospitals and orphanages and his performing free shows for the disadvantaged.   This month's One-Man Parade features, Russell Turner - and guess what? There is not One Single card trick! Russell provides a lot of great magic for children and even Cabaret!! Great job Russell!!   If you are not a member of the I.B.M. and want to receive this edition - and every other edition - NOW is the time to join up! Read below for details on how to become a member!   Read all about the "Magic in the Rockies" at the annual I.B.M. Convention held by Ring # 250.   Read how Past I.B.M. President, David Sandy's Magic Cruise on Carnival's Splendor, turned a terrifying engine fire in a HUGE success!!   Jason Goldberg's "Gift Magic" explores the complex issue of giving out "gifts" while performing! This interest all magicians!   Also featured this month:   Bev Bergeron's Cutting Up Jackpots is a terrific nostalgic look at magic through pictures. You MUST read this section!   Learn a lot of great magic (taught only to I.B.M. members!) in the following monthly articles!   Vanni Pule's, Classics Re-Visited   Mike Power's Card Corner   Tom Craven's Havenly Close-Up   Peter Marucci's Showtime   Storytelling Magic by Ed Solomon   Guest Spot is a new column just introduced this month to teach even MORE great magic to our constituency! This month a wonderful effect is provided by assoc. editor, Jason Goldberg.   The Linking Ring has a team of experts who review many new items of magic so that the magicians of the world may purchase wisely!   There are too many articles and too much magic in this issue of The Linking Ring for me to list, but everyone is world class!   Advertisers -- your products will enjoy unsurpassed worldwide promotion in The Linking Ring through the beautiful printed magazine, the dazzling digital edition, and links from the I.B.M. Web Portal.   The Linking Ring is now available for download to your computer on the first day of each month for I.B.M. members as well as the online edition! Go to www.magician.org, the I.B.M. Portal.   For details about advertising in The Linking Ring, contact BJ Hickman at advertising@magician.org.   -------------------------------------------- 5. Remarkable Magic #12 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message by Nick Lewin (US)   Ghosts of Christmas past, and visions of Christmas future.   When I first started performing magic shows at the tender age of 14, Christmas was the golden time of years for bookings. At that time the majority of dates were Children's parties and on a good weekend I might be able to notch up 8 or 9 shows. As young as I was, even then, I realized that this kind of work in that many dates was close to a weekend in Dante's Inferno. However, you still spent the other 11 months waiting for December to roll around.   When I arrived in Los Angeles at the stately and mature age of 21, I quickly realized that kid's parties were no meal ticket; in fact they practically didn't exist as a species. So I began performing at business parties as the employees celebrated the holidays. New Year's Eve also became another golden payday. While these weren't my favorite kind of dates, they certainly paid the bills.   At that time Susan and I shared a gigantic old house in South Pasadena with two other tenants and our share of the rent was only $80 a month. Even back then that wasn't a great deal of money, and we practiced an acutely planned form of economy to keep things in the black. We knew the exact day and time of day when I favorite fresh foods hit the discount rack at our local market. As you can imagine these Christmas shows for businesses were a huge boon to the budget.   Christmas parties were usually a chaotic nightmare and working to drunken employees was not the audience that any sane minded magician craved. New Year's Eve was the same, but even more so. January was usually also a fairly fertile source of revenue, which combined with December was the source of nuts and berries for the upcoming drought that inevitable followed these two bonanza months.   As the years went by I gradually became less and less dependent on the holiday season as a potential cash cow. In fact at this current stage in my life it has become an extremely quiet spot in my datebook. I almost never spend a New Year's Eve pulling cards from lemons or linking finger rings and I really like it this way much better. It does give me a certain existential satisfaction to be far enough along in my career to be able to spot these milestones.   I can remember almost by the year the degrees of change that entered my life as a performer. I remember when I stopped doing strolling magic (never a favorite pursuit for someone as private as Me) and then I stopped performing even formal close up shows. 26 years ago I performed my last week at the Magic Castle.   By the end of the '80s I had to (rather reluctantly) say goodbye to the Comedy Club world, as they began to fade away. By the mid-nineties the golden era of corporate work had begun to seriously dry up. It is customary to say that it was 9/11 that sunk this lucrative market, but truth be known, it was fading fast even before that fateful date. Now corporate events are a much rarer and more appreciated gem in my datebook.   Next February I celebrate my 60th birthday, I don't actually turn 60, till a year later, however I think it wise to celebrate the event a year early as I may feel in a much less celebratory mood in 2012. I suspect that birthday will be day of quiet contemplation and a double dosage of Zoloft. Possibly washed down with a toast of Armagnac to this particular 'performing idiot.'   As you proceed through your performing career it becomes easier to spot patterns and trends in our rear view window. They build up a database of knowledge that remains ever valid, the same gigs are going on, and it is just the names and locations that have changed. I plan to use this accumulated knowledge in another direction.   During the 'found' year I have created between my two 60th birthdays I am making a new transition and hope to bring all my skills and talents back into focus. Susan and I are forming a small 'boutique' agency booking comedians and magicians. This will allow me to end the never-ending travel that I have thoroughly enjoyed in the last decade during which I have concentrated on the fertile cruise ship market. A year should prove just about right to set things up correctly and get them right.   I plan to focus on my writing, lecturing, developing talent, and marketing the act that has supported me so nicely throughout the years. I will never fully retire from performing because in that way lies a short cut to an early 'shuffle from this mortal coil.'   While I have dropped the occasional hint about this new direction in my various writings, I have been exceedingly coy about my exact plans. I have no desire to turn into a 'magic factory,' in spite of my deeply held respect for the visionary Andy Warhol. No, my idea is instead to keep things small and pay attention to the quality without being seduced by the quantity of my future work.   Writing this column for just shy of five years has been a wonderful help to me in defining my future goals and I plan to continue working with Alan Watson for as long as he cares to shoulder the work and responsibility of publishing 'Magic New Zealand'.  I do however take this opportunity to invite any of my readers to become a part of my future plans.   Drop me an email and let's see if we can unite in a useful way in our ongoing paths. My email address is Nicklewin1@me.com   -------------------------------------------- 6. Read You Loud And Clear - #192 - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message by Kyle Peron (US) magic4u02@aol.com http://www.kyleandkellymagic.com   People will read you as a performer the moment you step on stage. You may not even have said anything. However, the moment you step out they are already evaluating you and can determine in a VERY short period of time whether they choose to like you or not. You cannot control them doing this. This is, after all, human nature. It happens. However, you CAN influence their perceptions and change it easily. in essence you can manipulate any audience if you are aware that this happens.   You have the ability to combat this. the problem is too many entertainers do not think about this until it is too late. then they spend the good part of the show trying to bring the audience back up to where they should have been at the start.   A good rule of thumb is quite a simple one. Always be a professional at all times. Do not turn it on when the curtains open and shut it down when the curtains close. Every time you are a professional. make it a habit to be one at all times not just on the stage. it is how you act and how you talk to people.   Even when you arrive at a venue, people there are scoping you out and getting a sense of who you are. you are in the spotlight even if you are not on the stage yet. They cannot help themselves but to look at this person and try to figure out what you are all about.   With this in mind, being a professional means treat every single person with respect right from the start. the charm you have as a performer should be there even when you get out of your truck. greet people, shake hands and show respect to everyone. You never know who knows the client or who is involved in deciding if you get a tip or if you get asked back.  It is just simpler to be a pro and act a certain way 24/7 and make that who you are. If you have to turn it on, then you need to do a better job.   Why spend time trying to figure out who you need to "kiss up to" and who you do not have to. Instead why even play that game in the first place? The janitor, waiter or doorman should get the same respect as you give to the client.   The best thing for you to realize is that you are being watched and evaluated the moment you get there. In regards to the client, they are evaluating you the moment you talk with them via phone or even email. Every contact with every person is a means in which a person will try and figure you out.   Now this is not meant to spook you. It is just a fact of life and one many entertainers forget about.  Do not just show up, shrug people off and then turn it on for the show. People will have already made up their mind that they don't like you and you will have to work much harder than you should.   Ever had a show where everything just clicked and the audience absolutely LOVED you? Ever stop to think that perhaps they loved you before you ever hit the stage?  Chances are it was because of something/s you did before the show even started that got them liking who you are and feeling comfortable with you.   If you do this well enough, then the people like you before your show even starts.  People want to like you.  You have to give them a reason to.  Just as easy it is to get folks to like you, it is even easier to get them totally turned off to you.  If they 'read' you the wrong way, then you will have an uphill battle to try and win them back.  It is much easier to get folks to like who you are than to try and change a bad perception of you after that perception has already been made.   A perfect example of this is to just remember how you yourself react when you are a general consumer. Think about what you go through when you have an electrician come to your house to do business. Doesn't the perception immediately start the minute you call a company?  Don't you decide if you want to go with them based on how they treat you on the phone? And when the person gets there, are you not trying to read them to see what they are all about? You are creating perceptions on them simply by what they say and do and how they speak to you. Within moments you have made up your mind already how you think about them.   It is the exact same way when you do a performance. Do NOT allow yourself to have EGO step in the way.   Ego can be the most damaging thing you could do to yourself. There is a difference between ego and confidence.  Ego will always show through and people usually are very turned off by it.  Being confident and genuine will serve you much better.   So if you have learned anything, understand that you are in the limelight even when you are not. Understand that people will evaluate you the moment they speak to you or see you. Understand that being a professional is something you need to do 24/7. But most of all, understand that proper respect goes a long way to getting audiences to respect you back.   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.   - I would like to let everyone know that I just released a NEW book and E-Book to the magic community. "Blue and Gold! The Complete Guide to Working The Scout Market!" is now available as a soft cover printed book as well as an ebook download. http://www.magicenhancer.com/Blue/Gold.html - "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. Tony Brook In Conversation -------------------------------------------- Message by Anthony Darkstone Brook - Europe/USA   Greetings, Happy Holidays , Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza and Happy Whatever you May be Celebrating. If none of these apply, then Happy December. As December is usually quite hectic for many of us and there is isn't much time to catch upon emails etc I have decided to take a brief break this month and start up the "Tony Brook In Conversation With ." series once again in January 2011.   This year's series concluded with a very special lady. To start 2011 in grand style my guest is a dear friend of many years, a Vegas Star and a very beautiful lady. She is also a very accomplished Magician. Stay tuned and make a note to meet up with her in January.   A huge Thank You to all of you who sent me many kind words about the series. A special Thank you to my pals, MI Mark Weidhaas, Dal Sanders, Chuck Lehr, Doc Haliday, Tobias Beckwith, Norm Nielsen, Lupe Nielsen, Jason Andrews, Murray Sawchuck, Harry Maurer, Tom Waldrop & Jay Scott Berry.   Thanks to a very dear friend, the "fastest hands in Magic", you can see all of these previous articles in full on :- http://www.vegasinsidetips.com/TONYBROOK.html   PS: Regular readers please note: My proofreader is on vacation so there are no deliberate grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in this message. tbrook47@gmail.com   -------------------------------------------- 8. Top-Line Events To The Upcoming "Geniicon -------------------------------------------- Message by Kent Blackmore (Australia)   The Geniis Magical Society continues to add top-line events to the upcoming "GeniiCon", April 15-17, 2011. In addition to our special guests Rick Merrill (FISM comedy and magic champion), Stephen Bargatze (hilarious magic comedian), and Pat-Trick's one man show, "The Swindler", we are delighted to add a lecture and performance by international artists Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, and a presentation by Barry "The Bandit" Govan on "The Art of the Pitch". More to follow!   Two lunches are included with your registration (and more if we can swing it!) and if you book before December 31 there's a major saving on the entry fee (just $180 for adults).   Keep an eye on this news bulletin for more updates, or go to http://sydneymagic.net and click on the GeniiCon link for news and registration details. See you in April!   -------------------------------------------- 9. Latest Update On Terry Seabrooke -------------------------------------------- Message by Michael Woolf (New Zealand)   At last I am about to write you all after nearly 5 months in hospital, and now a care home. What an epic it has all been, but I hope to make up for lost time so you all know what is going on in the old country.   The main thing to say is a great big thank you for your help, cards, letters and telephone calls wishing me well with my illness. Thank you all so much for your kindness, sadly too many for me to reply to individually.   Looking forward to being with you all again, and hoping soon to be home!   Watch Magicana for the latest!   -------------------------------------------- 10. Tony Clark Produces His 12th Live Stage Show! -------------------------------------------- Message by Tony Clark (US)   Tony Clark has been producing magic shows for over ten years around the world. (Recently Tony and was given the Merlin Award for "Producer of the Year" by the International Magicians Society)   Now on December 25, 2010 thru January 1, 2011 Tony Clark will produce "Masters of Magic" at the Montbleu Casino Resort in Lake Tahoe.   The show will have illusionist Eli Kerr and his dancers - as seen on America's Got Talent, Mark Kornhauser - as seen on The Tonight show, also Mark's special guest Zsa Zsa the Talking dog. The show will be hosted by Tony Clark who will also perform several pieces in the show.   To buy tickets and get more information go to: www.montbleuresort.com/entertainment.php   Click on Masters of Magic.   -------------------------------------------- 11. The Ultimate Magic Workshop Experience -------------------------------------------- Message by Barry Khoo (Malaysia)   J C Sum & 'Magic Babe' Ning's - The Ultimate Magic Workshop Experience   Barrini Magical Productions proudly presents   J C Sum & 'Magic Babe' Ning The Ultimate Magic Workshop Experience   "Asia's Most Famous Illusionists" (The Straits Times) & "Singapore's Celebrity Magic Duo" (Channel News Asia), J C Sum & 'Magic Babe' Ning, will be heading up to Penang, Malaysia for a one-of-a-kind magic event!   For the first time in their careers, they will perform and share their magic, illusions and experience in a single event!   J C & Ning will cover multiple genres of magic, information and show producing tips all in one afternoon. This is not a typical magic lecture. this is.an EVENT experience not to be missed!   Not only that, they will perform part of their all-new interactive show, "Illusions of the Mind" for the first time in Malaysia!   The Ultimate Magic Workshop Experience:   The "Urban Underground" Close-up Magic Show   This is J C Sum's professional formal close-up show that is performed only for selected special events and audiences. Early in J C's career, he won multiple awards for his close-up work and original routines. This show features the best material developed over 18 years!   Silver Teleportation - An incredible direct 3 Fly routine   4 x 3 - An incredible 3-phase coin assembly that gets more impossible each time The Elusive Pea - J C's complete 6-phase "Three Shell Game" routine Inverted Aces - A triumph-style Four Ace routine with two kickers   International Passage - A coin box/ coins through table routine using four different coins   Dice Explosion - J C's award-winning show closer   "Illusions of the Mind" Show (Performance Only) Ning & J C will perform a version of their brand new "Illusions of the Mind" Interactive Illusion Show.   Q & A on Illusions 101 & Anything Magic From their landmark mega illusions, performing on TV or just choosing material for their live shows, take the opportunity to get to know Ning & J C better and ask them anything under the sun you want on magic!   Dealer Room After the lecture, the lecture hall will turn into an International Dealer's Room showcasing selected magic products for sale plus J C Sum's DVD   Date: 8th January, 2011, Saturday   Time: 2pm to 6pm   Ticket: RM80/= (DVD: RM75/=) - early bird RM120/= (DVD: RM85/=) after 27th December, 2010   Venue: Cassia Room / Level 6, Berjaya Georgetown Hotel 1-Stop Midlands Park, Burma Road 10350 Penang, MALAYSIA   For more details and tickets, kindly contact: Barry Khoo Barrini Magical Productions Penang, Malaysia Tel: 012-4833-420 Email: barrini.magic@gmail.com   -------------------------------------------- 12. The Magic Santa Claus! -------------------------------------------- Message by Loch David Crane (619) 222-2849   Merry Christmas to all. . .and to all, a Happy Holiday season!   Wow!!! This is my busiest Magic Santa Claus season yet! There are two Free Public Library Shows you may attend with your kids and friends. Many others are my donations to thank the troops for our freedoms--which you should too! So. . .Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, and Merry Christmas to you all--from The Magic Santa Claus!   7 November Appeared at the Fall Back Festival 1:20-2pm; Public Show 11 November Drove Star Trike in Veterans' Day parade 11am 25 November Performed for the USO for military families, downtown 28 November Drove Star Trike in the San Diego Toy Run 30 November Donated shows to San Diego Chargers' Blood Drive, 12-3pm   4 December Drove Star Trike in Toyland Parade, Hillcrest area 10am 4 December Drove Star Trike in the Ocean Beach Parade, 4pm 5 December Drove Star Trike in the La Jolla Parade, 2pm 11 December Drive Star Trike in the Pacific Beach Parade, 2pm 11 December Donate shows to Veterans of Foreign Wars/American Legion 5pm 12 December Donate show to VMFAT-101 Squadron Xmas Party, MCAS Miramar, 11am 12 December Donate show to Veterans Village, Pacific Highway at 2:30 pm 15 December Donate show to Americans for Safe Access, 6pm Portugalia restaurant 16 December Free Public Show At The National City Library, 6pm at 1401 National City Boulevard, National City, CA 91954 619-470-5811 17 December Perform for World of Wonders preschool, Ocean Beach at 4:30 17 December Free Public Show At The City Heights Library, 5:45pm at 3795 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego 92105 619-641-6103 18 December Donate show to Marines and families at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 1:30pm 19 December Donate show to San Diego Humanists' Festival of Light, 6pm 20 December Donate shows to families at Veterans Village on Euclid, 6pm   I now have posted over 100 videos on YouTube under my real name and my character names (Bafflin' Bill Cody, Magic Santa Claus, and Merlin-ye-Mage). Two dozen of these are videos taken aboard the Star Trike: on parade in CA, Europe, Sturgis, Branson, and many other places around the World.   -------------------------------------------- 13. Australian Issue Of Magicol -------------------------------------------- Message by Brian McCullagh (Aust)   I have been asked to contribute an "Australian Issue" for "Magicol". If anyone has anything that should be considered, let me know. If you have any special piece of apparatus, let me know. Any historical research (Australian), let me know.   I can be at first contacted at: bmc5002003@yahoo.com.au   -------------------------------------------- 14. e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html   When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)   -------------------------------------------- 15. 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 2010 Alan Watson