* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New
Zealand)
* www.magicnewzealand.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1209
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1.
Editor's Message
2. Vanish - International Magic Magazine Special Edition
3. Name Vs Face
4. FISM Registrations Are Still Open
5. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle
- #5
6. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle
- #6
7. Remarkable Magic #392 - Nick Lewin
8. Festival Survival Kit - #363 - Kyle Peron
9. Lance Burton - Where is He Now?
10. Innovention Convention And 'World Stars Of Magic' Shows
11. Attention All I.B.M. Jacksonville Convention Attendees
!!
12. Updates So Far This Week On VanishLive.com
13. Genii: The Conjuror's Convention
14. The Melbourne Magic Festival
15. Entertaining Severely Disabled And Terminally Ill Children
16. Looking For Wooden Chinese Sticks
17. 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention
2015
18. FCM Convention Set For June 22-26 In Nashville
19. e-zine Archives
20. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
Delighted to hear that there has been a large number registering
for the 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention
in October 2015 which is going to be held in Wellington.
To save disappointment if you are planning to attend best
to register NOW as this is going to be a SELL OUT event
very soon.
To
register go to: http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/register/
to register online. It takes less than 2 minutes!
For
all those who would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine
in a HTML format go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2015-Jan-to-Dec-2015/1209-Jun07-2015.html
Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com
--------------------------------------------
2. Vanish - International Magic Magazine Special Edition
--------------------------------------------
Message from Paul Romhany Editor - Vanish - International
Magic Magazine
This
story was so big in the world of magic that we felt it needed
its own Special Edition.
The
Franz Harary House Of Magic is part of a 2.4 Billion dollar
venue with a show that will cost over $40 million-dollars
and will open its doors September 2015 in Macau. As we all
know Asia is becoming the mecca for the world of magic and
the Harary House Of Magic is just another example of a venue
that magicians from around the globe can call home.
Paul
Romhany was able to sit down and get an in-depth story in
to the world of Franz Harary as well as have access to never
before seen photos and video links. In this story Franz
not only talks about the upcoming project but also shares
stories about his incredible career, performing with some
of the biggest stars in the world of entertainment including
his friendship with Michael Jackson as well as his thoughts
on the future of magic.
Download your free copy of Vanish now at www.vanishmagazine.com
A
new format - introducing yet another format you can enjoy
reading Vanish in. This is through Magzter.com and now gives
Vanish a potential readership of 1.4 million people. We
have worked very closely with Magzter to get Vanish up and
running on their digital format and pleased to announce
most editions are now up. It has been a long process but
we are now ready to let you enjoy. Simply visit www.magzter.com
and search for Vanish then download the APP on your iPhone,
iPad, Tablet, Android, etc. and enjoy all the things this
amazing format has to offer.
Our
next edition is coming out soon and we will be offering
a free 2 hour video exclusive for Vanish readers so stay
tuned
.
--------------------------------------------
3. Name Vs Face
--------------------------------------------
Message by Dan Stapleton (US)
I was to begin this message by stating, a "trend"
is appearing (in advertising) but I'm not so sure just how
long this "annoyance" has been occurring. After
you read this, you too will understand what I'm writing
about.
Magic
history is important to our art especially to those who
do research for books and articles. And I thank those websites
and magazines, such as Ask Alexander, Phil Schwartz's Thayer
history site, and Genii magazine, for bringing to us so
much history that otherwise might not be rediscovered.
Increasingly,
the advertising for magic conventions doesn't place magicians
names along with their photos in the ads. This is unfortunate
because the performers' aren't fully promoted and, for future
historians, omitted names mean the performers are "lost
to history." Producers of these conventions should
not assume "everyone knows" their names.
A
recent national convention gave away commemorative posters
to all attendees. The poster included an image of each convention
performer without captioning their names. And many of the
performers were from other countries. I'll bet there are
very few magicians, attending that convention can identify
the magi on that poster.
Sometimes
there will be a group of photos in an ad and, separately,
a list of names one has to literally match names and faces.
It's
a disservice to those who might want to attend the convention,
and the performer himself. Their advertising money is not
being spent wisely.
In
addition, many convention reports and reviews include photos
without captioning or crediting the performers' names. In
essence, this makes those reviews incomplete.
So
here is my request to magic advertisers, promoters, producers
and reviewers: please include a name with the photo. It
helps us all and is important in maintaining our magic heritage.
--------------------------------------------
4. FISM Registrations Are Still Open
--------------------------------------------
Message by Cecilia
Only
dealers and VIP registrations are sold out, regular registration
are still open.
To
register online go to: http://www.fismitaly2015.com/booking
For
more information on FISMITALY2015 go to: http://www.fismitaly2015.com/
------------------------------------
Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)
Italy
in Miniature
Italy
in Miniature is much more than the name suggests. At first
glance, I thought it was something I could easily miss,
but after reading about it I want to see it. I just don't
know where I'll fit it in! Italy in Miniature is a theme
park with sections that include not only Italy but also
13 other European countries. It's also an interesting venture
if you love birds. It has restaurants, snack bars and picnic
areas, some spectacular rides, a science fair and souvenir
shops. It is easily accessible on bus No 8 from the Rimini
central station.
An
entrance ticket is 22€ but I've read the park is worth
the money - everything is beautiful, clean, lots of attractions,
and lots of place to eat. It would be easy to spend a full
day here. It's easy to get there. Just take bus No 8 from
the main central station. Bus tickets are 1.5€
The park displays 273 miniatures of famous Italian and European
buildings in scale 1:25 and 1:50. The area is surrounded
by a monorail that makes the attractions easily accessible.
10,000 plants and 5,000 miniature trees are integrated in
the landscape. As well, 17 miniature trains are running
in the system.
On
an area of 12,000 square meters there is a replica of the
Grand Canal in Venice with reproductions of 119 buildings
in scale of 1:5. 2,500 m3 of water fill the water basins.
The bell tower in St. Mark's Square rises to a height of
20 meters.
What
I'm looking forward to the most within Italy in Miniature
is a parrot research center specializing in the growth of
the small parrots, from egg incubation to their weaning,
and where you can watch their growth and progress, witness
the appearance of their first feathers and their first trials
at feeding themselves, under the attentive eye of experts.
Through this research, Italia in Miniature promotes and
supports the conservation project of the rarest existing
parrot: the Spix's Macaw an animal extinct in the wild,
of which only 80 specimens exist, all held in captivity.
The project aims at encouraging reproduction in captivity
and at reintroducing the specimens into their original habitat,
which is more and more endangered by an implacable deforestation
process.
--------------------------------------------
5. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle
- #5
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
Before
I post a summary of this week's podcast, I want to express
my heartiest congratulations to Alan Watson who was presented
with one of the "Awards of Merit" at the annual
Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) Awards banquet. Well done
and well deserved, Alan. Congratulations!
As
we near the end of this six part series, we enjoy some most
delightful, educational and hilarious conversations with
some of the "Knights of the Castle". First up
is a chat with one of the servers who has worked at the
Castle for nearly two years. What's interesting is his story
of being an actor during the day and auditioning for parts
while working a night job to make ends meet until he "makes
it" in Hollywood. Rob Zabrecky is up next who talks
about the inspiration for his bizarre humor and on-stage
persona. BTW, since this podcast was recorded, Rob was just
presented with the "Parlour Magician of the Year"
award at the AMA Awards banquet. Congratulations, Rob.
Next
we attend the Friday "Members' Lunch" where I
had a quick chat with Andrew Mayne who talked about his
latest projects plus his new mystery novel, "Name of
the Devil". From there we visit the "cool table"
with Chris Philpott, Paul Vigil, Alan Bursky and Steve Valentine.
This was an absolute riot and I know you will listen to
this part of the podcast over and over. On a related note,
after this was recorded, Steve Valentine was the emcee for
the AMA awards and was even presented with the "Lecturer
of the Year" award. Congratulations, Steve.
We
finally retire to the Magic Castle Library where we talk
with Michal Perovich, the author of "The Dai Vernon
Companion" that contains dozens of stories about and
told by The Professor.
You
can read the blog, watch a video, view some photos, listen
online and download the MP3 file at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/magic-castle-2015-part-five
You can also download the podcast from iTunes, Stitcher,
Tunein and Feedpress.
And
if you want to support The Magic Word and you have any discretionary
funds to donate to a good cause, then please consider joining
your friends by pledging to the podcast. For more information,
please visit: http://Patreon.com/themagicword And thanks
for listening.
--------------------------------------------
6. The Magic Word Podcast - My Week at The Magic Castle
- #6
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
Well,
this is it. This podcast is the last in the six part series
from the Magic Castle 2015. For those of you who are getting
tired of listening to this series, then we will return to
our regular chats next week with a really special guest.
For those of you who really enjoyed listening to this series,
thank you and I hope to do it again next year with a whole
new group of magicians. My analytics indicate that there
has been a steady decline in listenership since this series
began. I'm not sure why since every podcast in the series
was totally different, but I do thank everyone for listening
and I hope that for those who have tuned out for a while
will tune back in again soon.
Now,
as to this week's podcast, we sit in the Close-Up Gallery
to chat with Jack Goldfinger, Entertainment Director for
the Academy of Magical Arts. Next we go down to the Parlour
of Prestidigitation and sit down before the show to talk
with this week's featured "early show" entertainer,
Tony Clark. I doubt that many of you know how busy this
talented magician is with performing, producing, lecturing,
creating and more. Next we go back stage with J. Neal (aka
Jonathan Neal or Jonathan Neal Brown) and talk about his
long and illustrious career in Las Vegas and aboard cruise
ships.
Before
I presented my lecture on Sunday afternoon, I spoke with
the long time coordinator of Castle lectures, Lee Delano.
Lee has had a long and successful career as an actor in
film and television. Even those not familiar with American
TV will no doubt know him from his work in the iconic film,
"Planet of the Apes". He has a lot of really interesting
stories. Finally, we come full circle by talking with Christopher
Hart and Ray Pierce, former demonstrators at Hollywood Magic.
In the first podcast of this series, Newell Unfried talked
about Ray and the Hollywood Magic shop. Now you can hear
the stories "from the horse's mouth", so to speak.
You
can read the blog, view some photos, listen online or download
the MP3 file at: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/magic-castle-2015-part-six
You can also download the podcasts from iTunes, Stitcher,
Tunein, and FeedPress.
--------------------------------------------
7. Remarkable Magic #392 - Nick Lewin
--------------------------------------------
Message by Nick Lewin (US)
Packing
small and playing big.
I
remember when I was a young magician spending hours and
hours poring over magic. There was a certain secret code
involved in reading those catalogues and you learned the
various phrases that they loved to apply to "reel you
in!" First there were the ones that seemed to make
the effect as written even more impossible than the written
description of the effect implied, some of my favorites
were,
1
No Magnets!
2 Can Be Fully Examined!
3 No Threads!
4 No forcing!
5 No Mirrors!
6 No Palming
7 No practice required!
8 Can be performed surrounded!
9 Perfect for any ages!
And to round out my top ten list, the ever popular
10 Packs Flat and Plays Big!
In
my younger days number 10 on the list wasn't nearly as exciting
as it seems today! When I was a beginner in the magic game
I wanted to get as much prop for my money as I could. Bigger
was definitely better for me in those days. I liked props
and wanted nice shiny ones, or brightly painted boxes in
red and gold.
In
fact when I was between the ages of 12 and 13 I put every
single prop I owned on my precariously balanced tripod table
in the hope of impressing the audience with my vast repertoire
of tricks. Looking back it is just one of the dumb things
I did that now make me blush at the memory. It really isn't
a very sophisticated approach, although I sometimes wonder
if it isn't a little part of the mentality that goes into
some of the illusion acts I see performed today at conventions.
Let's
take a closer look at that concept of packing flat and playing
big, when I was a youngster it normally meant a flat, brightly
colored, cardboard effect that could be posted to you very
easily. I remember being disappointed frequently by the
fact that the phrase was often code for "
and
isn't very convincing!" This wasn't always the case
but I do remember being less than thrilled with many of
these items.
For
the last 30 years I have been very actively travelling to
perform my shows, nowadays my schedule usually involves
corporate shows in different cities both nationally and
internationally, cruise ship bookings and performing arts
centers/theatres scattered across the United States. Packing
flat and playing big is a much more appealing feature to
me.
Actually,
let me amend that statement, so that it reads, "Packing
small and playing big". There are an amazing number
of very fine effects that can be achieved without a trunk
full of props. When I am travelling I carry a catalogue
case, which accompanies me on stage replacing a table, that
when fully packed contains two fifty-minute shows and one
thirty-minute show. All these effects are suitable for cabaret
or stage performance The nice part about travelling like
this is that if I am wearing a nice suit to travel in, I
can perform a couple of full length shows even if the airline
loses the rest of my baggage.
I
recently posted a picture on Facebook that received a lot
of interest; it was the items that fitted in my suit with
which I was able to perform a full sized 50-minute theatre
show. They all fit into one of the larger sized purple Crown
Royal bags. It is mighty powerful feeling to know you can
do this. I remember back in my illusion performing days
when a three-minute hunk of material could weigh 100 pounds
and require two travel cases.
You
may wonder about how I have managed to make this minimum
prop show really work for me, and work it does. I usually
earn the same or higher fees than an illusion show. I am
going to share with you one of the greatest pieces of advice
I ever received from a performer, while it sounds simple
DO NOT be fooled by how important it is; I was given this
piece of advice by the great Maurice Fogel over 35 years
ago. It changed my entire way of thinking about and performing
magic.
"It
isn't about the props themselves, it is about the energy
that you can transfer to the props and then transmit to
the audience." There you are, a single paragraph to
think about but if you actually put it into application
it can change your entire way of interacting with your show
and your audience. I am delighted to share it with you fully
aware that most readers will pass it by. However those of
you who take the time to really reflect upon it, and apply
it, will be able to use it to make your life easier, cut
down your chiropractor bills and more importantly take your
work to another level.
Look
out for my new Ultimate Gypsy Yarn Routine, which is about
to go on pre-sale. This handling teaches you how to turn
a small piece of magic into a feature trick that fits flat
in your top pocket! This is the trick that made me want
to become a magician. You can check out my online magic
store at www.lewinenterprises.com To get on the Gypsy Yarn
pre-sale list contact us at lewinenterprises@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------
8. Festival Survival Kit - #363 - Kyle Peron
--------------------------------------------
Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.facebook.com/perondesign
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com
Whenever you perform at a festival, you will need to bring
items or supplies with you that you may not use with other
markets. It is the nature of the market that makes this
a necessity for most festival entertainers.
It
is my intention to go over some tips and suggestions of
supplies and items you may want to bring with you as a part
of your overall festival toolkit. These are items that may
not be an essential part of your show performance, but will
save you countless headaches along the way. Let me try and
go over some of them for you and describe a bit of the reasoning
behind each.
-
Duct Tape: This simply has to be the number one tool of
any performing entertainer. It has saved me in more ways
than you can imagine and I make sure I bring a roll of the
standard grey as well as black duct tape. Black can come
in handy as it can be used to patch up torn black cloths
or backdrops of even be used if your tux pants split on
you. Gorilla Duct Tape also works really well in the dusty
conditions.
I
use it for taping down my sound system wires if I am setting
up one. It is just too dangerous to have your wires laying
around with the busy traffic that festivals generate. Not
only can it be a hazard, but one trip can unplug your entire
system and you lose everything right in the middle of a
performance. It is best to duct tape them down securely
before any performance. Duct tape is also used to pre-mark
my stage area. In most cases, festivals will not mind if
you ask them if it would be OK to pre-mark your stage with
a few pieces of duct tape. As long as you remove them after
the show, they will not have a problem with this.
By
marking the stage, I know exactly where my tables need to
go and where any illusions need to be placed. In the hectic
pace of the show, it is critical to not waste time trying
to find the exact spot a prop needs to go. If you also have
people helping you set the stage, this makes it easier for
them. This is what is often referred to as "spiking"
the stage.
-
Bottled Water: I cannot stress enough how important it is
to bring bottled water or a sports drink with you in a cooler.
Because festivals are done outdoors mainly in the hot spring
and summer months, your adrenalin and the heat mix to form
a very dangerous situation for you if you do not stay hydrated
throughout the day. I take bottled water with me everywhere
I go and keep bottles behind my table during a performance.
Any performer will know how easily it is to get dry mouth
during a performance and this water or sports drink can
help prevent this and keep you cool in the process. A small
cooler usually does the trick. It also helps because you
do not waste time or money waiting in long festival lines
to get the same drink you can provide to yourself for free.
-
Plastic Covers/Tarps: I always carry several tarps or plastic
covers that pack flat but are right near my stage area before
and after a show. These are essential to me in the event
that bad weather comes around and it rains. These covers
are the first thing I dive for to cover my show items, tables,
illusions and props. It simply is a must for doing and working
outdoor festivals and will help protect you in the event
of bad weather.
-
Clips or Bungie Cords: These come in handy to wrap around
your items and the plastic to keep everything covered in
the event of bad weather. I use table clips and cover any
tables they give me for my BOR sales items. These clips
help hold down anything and keeps the table tarp from blowing
around.
-
Double Stick Tape: I always carry this with me as wind is
one of the bigger problems at any outdoor event. I always
have an information table that has a lot of my marketing
materials available to people before and after the shows.
Double stick tape used on the underside of some of my plastic
holders, will keep them fastened to the table and prevent
the wind from knocking them over. You can also use a clip
at the top keep the flyers in the holders from falling out.
It makes it easy for people to get a flyer or promo packet
without fighting the wind all the time.
-
Scissors or a Knife: You will want to take these as often
times you may need to cut items for your show. I also have
had times when the festival will supply me with caution
tape so I can rope off an area to store my props between
performances. Scissors come in handy for this to be able
to cut it and secure it the way I need it.
-
Packs Flat Carry Bags: Not sure what else to call them,
but these are bags that I get from such places as Target
etc. When empty, they fold up and pack away flat. But they
can be opened and expanded to form a big bag with a lot
of room and pockets. These may be called Duffle or Ditty
Bags, also called draw string bags. This has worked great
for me for carrying my props in and other items needed for
the festival. When I get to the festival, I can pack and
fold these bags up and place them out of the way so they
take up less space.
-
Plastic Table Cloths: They can be obtain at any party or
dollar store in any color that might match your color scheme.
Because they are inexpensive, you can use them and throw
them away after the event is over and one less thing to
pack back up. I use these for my BOR table as well as covering
any other tables I may need for my show.
-
Luggage Carts or Dollies: These are great for being able
to load in boxes and bags and props from your vehicle to
the entertainment stage area. It saves on trips and saves
your back in the process. You can get these most anywhere
and they also can pack down flat so they do not take up
so much room during transit. Spend the extra money and get
the better carts/dollys with larger wheels so you don't
struggle trying to roll a cheap cart across the ground.
-
Sharpies: I bring them in various colors and use them for
signing autographs to writing signs and for putting prices
on my sales items. They are also often used in the show
itself. Having plenty on hand is always a must for me. With
all the various colors I have used them to "repaint"
dings and scratches in some of my props and illusions making
them look fresh. Nobody notices from a distance.
-
Round Price Stickers: I use these for making pricing of
my BOR items easier for me. Don't forget your inventory
price sheet so you know how much you've sold!
-
Money Box with a Lock: This is essential if you are doing
any sales of items at the festival. This is the place to
store your cash and to lock it up and take with you during
your performances.
-
Wire Cutters: I bring these with me in my tool kit so that
I can use them in the event that I need them. Because I
am never quite sure of what exactly will be provided for
me when I get there, I try to cover all bases to just be
prepared for any emergency situation.
-
Towels: I always bring a few towels. This allows me to keep
sweat off of me and to dry out between performances and
to stay fresh and clean during the day. The new Dry Absorb
Towels from Lowes and Home Depot work really well too!
I hope some of these general ideas are of help to you.
***
I
have a new book out I would like you to know about all about
working the Festival market. If you would like additional
and detailed information on this topic, please see my book/ebook
at: http://www.kpmagicproducts.com/Festival_Magic.html
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.
Kyle Peron
Magician and Illusionist
http://www.kylekellymagic.com
--------------------------------------------
9. Lance Burton - Where is He Now?
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jeff McBride (US)
From
the desk of Bryce Kuhlman:
Some
of you may know that I've been Lance Burton's webmaster
for the past decade or so. While I don't spend that much
time around magicians, whenever I do show up at a convention
people always ask me what he's been up to.
My
answer is always the same: Lance is retired.
While
that's technically true, he hasn't been resting on his laurels.
In case you haven't heard, he's been working on a movie.
With an official release planned for later this year, Lance
and I recently reconnected to start working on a new website
for the movie.
So
instead of me spouting more of my own philosophies, as I
always seem to do when asked to write a Museletter, I figured
it would be more interesting to let Lance take the stage
and tell you what's been going on:
Lance,
you spent two decades as a real life Las Vegas headliner.
Is this film an autobiography?
LANCE:
No, absolutely not. Billy Topit is a fictional character,
as are all the characters in the movie. The one thing Billy
and I share in common is this, we both love magic, and we
both love Las Vegas. I guess that is two things actually.
Is this your first time as a feature film Director?
Yes.
Did
you write the screenplay?
Yes,
along with my writing partner Michael Goudeau. We also share
Executive Producer credits, as well as both appearing on
screen.
Can
you tell us more about Michael Goudeau?
For
19 years Michael was the "Guest Star" in my live
stage show doing a comedy juggling act. For many years he
was the Head Writer and Executive Producer on Penn and Teller's
Showtime series. (He won an Emmy in that job.) He is also
one of my best friends.
How
did this film come to be?
When
I was a kid I saw Bill Bixby in a TV series called "The
Magician". I loved that show. Through the years there
have been many films and TV shows with magician characters,
and some were quite good. I just felt that I could bring
something to the table that was genuine. Something based
in reality. I didn't want to do the stereotypical mysterious
magician character. That's why Billy Topit is a struggling
magician, even though he is very skilled.
So
the character Billy Topit is not successful?
No,
not as far as the world is concerned, or at least the world
as defined by Las Vegas. He is stuck in that entry-level
job of performing at children's birthday parties. Which
by the way, is where every magician starts. I started performing
at birthday parties when I was 10 years old.
How
do you think other Magicians will react to this film?
I
hope they will be excited about it and love it. There are
some things in the film that are just for them; inside jokes.
Also there are other magicians who appear in the film in
cameo roles; Criss Angel, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Fielding
West, they all make appearances. Johnny Thompson and Rory
Johnston are both well-known magic friends of mine who have
larger roles, and they are both terrific actors. I even
talked my buddy Louie Anderson into making an appearance,
and he is hilarious!
Who
is your target audience?
In
my stage show our audience was very diverse. Every night
we had adults, children, grandparents, Americans, Asians,
Europeans, etc. We had people from South America, Mexico,
and loads of Japanese people. In the past few years I noticed
lots of Chinese tourists, which we didn't have 15 years
ago. So what I am saying is, I think the target audience
for this film is the same. It is a 'family film' that I
hope will connect with people from all parts of the world.
What
is the status of your live show?
I
am retired.
No
more live shows in your future?
I
did 15,000 shows in my career. That's enough!
We
miss having you on stage for real every night!
Well,
that makes one of us!
There
you have it
right from the Master Magician, himself!
If
you'd like to learn more about the movie, go to the website:
http://www.billytopit.com
And be sure to sign up for his mailing list (at the bottom
of the home page). People on the list will be among the
first to know of new updates, photos, special appearances
and movie trailers.
Thank
you, Bryce! Lance Burton is more than one of the "good
guys" of magic. I'd rate him one of the "greats"
-- and not just as a performer, though he certainly qualifies
in that regard. Lance has long been a great supporter of
his community
both in the magic world, and in the
wider world, public radio, Shriners
and more. For
many years he has been generous with his time and money;
busy giving back to the communities where he lives and works
(well used to work). As a result, he is deeply loved and
respected by those communities. If you're reading this you're
probably a part of those communities. So help us help Lance
by spreading the word far and wide. This is going to be
a great, fun, family movie that is good for magic. Tell
your friends. Send them to the site. And when the movie
comes out (later this year, I think), let's all treat ourselves
to tickets that first weekend!
Speaking of weekends, we have a couple of big ones coming
up for Jeff and the Magic & Mystery School. Next weekend,
(June 5, 6 & 7) Jeff will be hosting one of his "McBride
Magic Experiences" at Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock,
Colorado. The theatre is the dream-made-real of Joe Givan
and Carol Massie, an accomplished magic team from Colorado.
Jeff will be doing three shows, a lecture and a workshop
while there. Learn more by clicking here: http://amazingshows.com/performers-magicians-corporateevents/.
It promises to be an amazing weekend.
Then,
from June 12-14, Jeff and Eugene Burger will host a 3-day
Master Class in Las Vegas. This will be our last live class
offering before the summer's big conventions, and last time
I checked, we still had two slots available. If you're thinking
of showing your stuff at one of those conventions, this
is your chance for a tune-up with the Masters. Check it
out at www.magicalwisdom.com, along with our other offerings.
That's
all for now. See you again in a couple of weeks!
Best
wishes.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com
--------------------------------------------
10. Innovention Convention And 'World Stars Of Magic' Shows
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Stone
The Innovention Convention and 'World Stars of Magic' Shows
are taking place in Liverpool in July. The Innovention is
from 14th-16th July and the 'World Stars of Magic' Shows
are on 15th & 16th July.
The
Innovention is unlike any other Magic Convention in the
world. There have only been two Innovention Conventions
previously, in 2010 and 2012, both of which took place in
Las Vegas.
The
Innovention is a high quality and intimate event and we
limit the number of attendees to no more than 100. This
year I am producing this Convention in Liverpool, partly
because it is my home city and partly because it coincides
with the Centenary of the Liverpool Mahatma Magic Circle
which is celebrating its Centenary.
The
Convention venue is the superb Beatles themed 'Hard Day's
Night Hotel' and the beautiful refurbished Epstein Theatre
is where I will be producing the 'World Stars of Magic'
Shows. Both are right in the heart of Liverpool's revitalised
City Centre.
There
are still a few spaces left for the Innovention Convention
but it is filling up fast, and the line-up of talent is
fantastic. The Headliner is the hilarious Jeff Hobson, and
for Close-up performers we have one of world's best, Armando
Lucero, both from Las Vegas. Also from Las Vegas and making
his UK Convention debut is Michael Goudeau, a brilliantly
funny performer and an award winning comedy writer. Michael
was the featured Guest Star in the fabulous Lance Burton
Show in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years.
Just
a few of the other names and personalities who will be appearing
also include John Fealey, the unsung star of the renowned
Palazzo Shows across Europe who rarely, if ever, appears
at Magic Conventions, the totally unique Graham Jolley,
and the inspirational Magic Star Wayne Dobson, and the attendees
include outstanding showman and Circus Impressario Gerry
Cottle. Our very Special Guests are none other than the
President of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Erika Larsen
and her glamorous mother, the Princess herself, Irene Larsen!
The
Innovention is not just about tricks, but about becoming
a better performer, and the performers appearing have successfully
completed literally thousands of shows between them at the
highest level, and attendees will have an unrivalled opportunity
to spend quality time with them all in very intimate surroundings.
Everyone who registers is guaranteed a great seat for all
the sessions and shows.
For
more information and to register go to www.Innoventionliverpool.com
For the next two weeks, we are matching our special Pre-Registration
price of 155 GB Pounds. Even though the web page states
the Registration price as 175 GB Pounds, when you register
you will only pay the specially discounted price of 155
GB Pounds.
If
you can't make it to the Innovention Convention, try not
to miss the 'World Stars of Magic' Show at the Epstein Theatre
on 15th and 16th July. The cast is outstanding and includes
the hilarious Jeff Hobson, the incredible quick change artists
SOS & Victoria, featured Guest Star of the Lance Burton
Show Michael Goudeau, four time Royal Variety Show ventriloquist
Paul Zerdin, the sharp witted and amazing mindreader Graham
Jolley, from Taiwan Mike Chao, and the incredible Antje
Pode.
Go
to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk to book tickets.
--------------------------------------------
11. Attention All I.B.M. Jacksonville Convention Attendees
!!
--------------------------------------------
Message by Bill Well (US)
Be
sure to book your room at the Jacksonville Riverside Hyatt
now! Our room block will be released as of June 15 and the
convention room rate of $99 will not be available after
that date. The cheapest average daily rate for a room at
the Hyatt is $189 plus taxes and fees so the convention
rate is a huge savings and you don't want to miss out so
book your room at the Hyatt before the rooms are released
on June 15! Go to the I.B.M. website http://www.magician.org/convention/upcoming-convention
and click on the Hyatt reservation link or call the Hyatt
directly at 1-800-421-1442 - be sure to identify yourself
as part of the "International Brotherhood of Magicians"
group in order to get the convention room rate of $99 plus
taxes and fees.
Special
Spouse Events just announced for the Jacksonville Convention
- Spouses coffee on Thursday with First Lady Lori Farquhar
and special presentations by Kim Pomar from the Cummer Museum
of Art and Gardens and Dean Saccaro presentation of "Origami
with Paper Money". Plus a Friday trip to Jacksonville's
Cummer Museum and Gardens for special private docent tour
and Dutch Treat lunch.
Don't
miss out on this historical convention honoring the great
Fantasio - The I.B.M. conventions were the First and still
the Best in magic ! Go to http://www.magician.org for all
convention information and to register for the 2015 I.B.M.
Convention in Jacksonville.
--------------------------------------------
12. Updates So Far This Week On VanishLive.com
--------------------------------------------
Message by - Mick Peck (New Zealand
Online Content Editor
www.VanishLive.com
Latest
updates on VanishLive.com include:
-
New Tricks Keep Davenports Alive
- Craig Cole's Own Home Magic Theatre
- Criss Angel Finds Magic In Ordinary Days
- Vanish Goes Digital With MAGZTER
- Tony Clark Headed to South Lake Tahoe
- Trailer for 'The Magicians'
Video
of the week: Tommy Wonder live in 1988.
Magic
news, articles from around the world and product reviews
from working professional magicians.
Visit
us today at:
http://www.VanishLive.com
--------------------------------------------
13. Genii: The Conjuror's Convention
--------------------------------------------
Message by Genii Convention Organizers
Richard Kaufman, Andi Gladwin, and Joshua Jay
The
Genii Has Granted one more Wish!
Hello
Genii Forum members,
On
Sept. 30th, Genii readers and fans from around the world
will gather in Orlando, Florida for an unforgettable convention
experience being heralded as "The Convention of the
Decade." Meet the people you've been reading about,
and share magic with your fellow forum members.
Perhaps
by now you've heard a little bit about our convention. Now
is the time to register, and we'll give you just a few reasons
why.
The talent. We have assembled more and stronger announced
talent than ANY other convention this year. Michael Carbonara
(recent recipient of the "Magician of the Year"
from the Academy of Magical Arts) will be presenting a two-man
show with Eugene Burger, 2016 Academy of Magical Arts Fellowship
winners Dan and Dave Buck will present a brand new event
for us, and Denis Behr, Dani Da Ortiz, and Asi Wind will
make sure your brains are totally fried with card magic.
The
schedule. Nearly every moment of the weekend is packed with
lectures, shows, close-up experiences, and talks. You won't
want to miss a thing, and you won't have to: you'll have
an opportunity to see everything. We have been careful not
to overlap events in a way that would force attendees to
choose one event over another.
Selling
out! We will sell out, so it's important to register right
now. It takes just a couple minutes, right here: www.geniiconvention.com
--------------------------------------------
14. The Melbourne Magic Festival
--------------------------------------------
Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)
The
Melbourne Magic Festival, together with Yarra Trams, has
teamed up to create a brand new competition called 'Magic
on the Move'. All you have to do is film yourself performing
a magic trick on a tram. Nick Kesidis gives a sensational
example here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E6tYQn02SE
You
can read all about the competition on this page http://melbournemagicfestival.com/magic-on-the-move
including the prizes (total pool $5000) and how to enter.
This
is quite an innovative initiative for The Melbourne Magic
Festival as we have never done anything like this before
and we are looking forward to some very creative entries.
The
competition closes on June 21 when Cosentino will decide
on the winners.
--------------------------------------------
15. Entertaining Severely Disabled And Terminally Ill Children
--------------------------------------------
Message by Adrian Harris
Last
Saturday I was booked by our local radio station to entertain
some severely disabled and terminally ill children who were
going to be given flights in light aircraft over the North
East of Scotland.
This
annual event is organised by Radio Tay on behalf of the
Douglas Bader Foundation which is a charity devoted to giving
young people something to remember by way of a flight. This
year the Foundation have 12 weekends spread over the summer
months which are devoted to these unfortunate children.
On this occasion, 4 pilots spent the day giving 25 nominated
children the flight of their dreams.
They
chose where they wanted to go, some wanted to see their
house from the air, some chose their schools and one wanted
to see Loch Lomond well over 100 miles from Scone airport.
ALL their wishes were fulfilled, not only that, but all
the carers, mothers, fathers and other siblings, not to
mention Granny's and Grandads were all treated to a flight!
Three
face painters and others on the administration side of the
day were also treated. I was especially delighted to be
given a flight in a Gyro Copter. Believe me, it is a little
bit scary being 1000ft above the ground in an open sided
seat with only a seat belt to keep you secure but it was
great fun!
The
reason I was involved was to interact with the children
with some of my puppets while they were waiting patiently
for their turn to go up in the air. It was a most enjoyable
day, hard work at times but rewarded with lots of smiles
and laughter. I do hope they invite me back next year.
Adrian
Harris
"Perthshire's Mr. Magic"
--------------------------------------------
16. Looking For Wooden Chinese Sticks
--------------------------------------------
Message by Duck Cameron (Australia)
If
you have an old set hidden away, and would love to think
that someone is going to sand them back, give them a new
coat of paint and let them take to the stage once again,
please email me at duck@duckmagic.com with your financial
demands (and a pic would be great).
--------------------------------------------
17. 32nd New Zealand International Magicians Convention
2015
--------------------------------------------
Competition Entry Closes in under 1 Month
You
have until Tuesday 30th of June to register for competitions.
Close-up
Magic Competition
- Junior acts 3-6 minutes
- Senior acts 5-8 minutes
Parlor
Magic Competition
- Junior acts 3-6 minutes
- Senior acts 5-8 minutes
Full
details here: www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/competitions/
Judging Criteria Released!
Find
out what it takes to win the competitions, and use the criteria
to build and refine your act.
To
download the judging criteria go to :http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/competition-judging-criter
Why
Entering Competitions is a Good Idea
Get
recognised.
Competitions
are a great place to get your name out there, and to showcase
your act on a national and international stage. Who knows
what opportunities may arise?
Get
experience.
Many
great magic acts were developed initially for a competition
act. It can serve as great motivation to get creative and
make something amazing.
Get
feedback.
We
have made an effort to ensure that all competition acts
will receive their breakdown of score, as well as general
feedback from the judges. It's not often you get feedback
from world leading magicians!
Plus,
it doesn't look too shabby on a resume either.
Haven't
Registered?
What
are you waiting for? Go to: http://www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz/register/
to register online. It takes less than 2 minutes!
Like
Us on Facebook:
To
stay up to date, make sure to like our Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/WellingtonMagicConvention2015
For
more information, or to get in touch, visit us at www.wellingtonmagic.co.nz.
--------------------------------------------
18. FCM Convention Set For June 22-26 In Nashville
--------------------------------------------
Message by Dennis Schick (USA)
The
Fellowship of Christian Magicians (FCM) will hold its 57th
Annual International Convention June 22-26, 2015 on the
campus of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee,
USA. The theme of this year's convention is "A Year
of New Beginnings," (Isaiah 43).
The
FCM began in San Francisco, California in 1953 when a group
of 19 people -- mostly magicians and ministers with an interest
in magic -- met to discuss and form a Christian magic organization.
Over the years, the organization spread throughout the United
States and Canada, and has chapters in other countries as
well. In addition to the annual convention, there are mini-conferences
held throughout the year. Also, the FCM produces a bi-monthly
32-page magazine, "The Voice of FCM."
While
the organization's name says "Magicians," that
represents the original heritage of the FCM but not the
progression over the years. Since most magicians do more
than just "magic," they added other performing
arts: juggling, clowning, face art, balloon twisting, ventriloquism,
drama, storytelling, puppets, and chalk art.
This
year's convention is still coming together, but let me tell
you about last year's convention to give you an idea of
what to expect:
(1) Last year there were 15 workshop periods over the five
days. This is the primary focus of the convention. On most
days there were 7 to 11 tracks offered (magic, balloons,
clowning, etc.) during each period. And often there were
two sessions running within a specific track (two magic,
two balloon, etc.). In all, there were 153 workshop sessions
to choose from over the five days. The biggest problem is
deciding which one to go to at any specific time.
(2) Each day began with a 30-minute Morning Devotion, led
by the convention chaplain and focused on the convention
theme. Likewise, there was a daily "Hour of Power,"
an inspirational talk and presentation by a different FCM
member.
(3) Another daily activity was called "Ministry Opportunities."
Volunteer attendees went to local hospitals, nursing homes,
senior care facilities, etc. to bring joy and laughter to
the residents there. I counted 12 of these over the five
days.
(4) Guest musicians are included in programs throughout
the week, especially during the Grand Evening Programs each
evening, free and open to the public.
(5) Since the entire convention has a family flavor, there
were programs for children (a WOW Kids Workshop) and teenagers
(a Teen Puppet Workshop). WOW stand for Winning Our World.
(6) Finally, there is an Exhibitors Room with vendors, (7)
a Flea Market in that room to sell your unwanted stuff,
and (7) a big Auction on the last afternoon of the convention,
where you can sell stuff, too.
For
more information about the convention, and to register,
go to www.fcm.org. You don't have to be a FCM member to
attend, but you will want to join after you have attended.
--------------------------------------------
19. E-zine Archives
--------------------------------------------
Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com click on the red button center right
"Archives"
When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order
in folders for each year 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)
---------------------------------------------
20. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
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