* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
* www.magicnewzealand.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1257
Date: Sunday 14th February 2016
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================

1. Editor's Message
2. MAGIC Live Is Only A Heartbeat Away From Selling Out
3. 60th Anniversary Of It's Magic!
4. Milt P Larsen's Blog
5. Content From Kids Entertainer Hub
6. The Magic Word Podcast - David Deeble - An Unnatural Talent
7. Birthday Party Marketing - #390 - Kyle Peron
8. Broken Wand - Bob Brown
9. 2016 I.B.M. Convention - March 1st Price Increase
10. Paul Diamond - I Was Hacked!
11. Magician Effortlessly Control 24 Drones, Indoors
12. FISM 2018 Open For Registration
13. McBride's Magic And Mystery School
14. The Magic Compass
15. FCM Announces 2016 Convention Info
16. e-zine Archives
17. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------

If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in a HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2016-Jan-to-Dec-2016/1257-Feb14-2016.html

Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

-------------------------------------------
2. MAGIC Live Is Only A Heartbeat Away From Selling Out
--------------------------------------------
Message by Stan Allen, Editor of MAGIC Magazine

As of this morning, there are only 59 spots left!

That means MAGIC Live is only a heartbeat away from selling out. Also,
this year we will not have registrations, day-passes, or show tickets
available for sale at the event. So, if you're not already registered,
please sign up today.

We will be celebrating MAGIC Magazine's 25th Anniversary, so it's going
to be quite the party.

Hope to see you there!

MAGIC Live!
August 14-17, 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada
MAGICmagazine.com/live

--------------------------------------------
3. 60th Anniversary Of It's Magic!
--------------------------------------------
Article forwarded on by Mel Kientz (US)

60th anniversary of It's Magic! casts a spell Over the Cerritos Center
for the Performing Arts

California -The award-winning It's Magic! showcase enthralls and
entrances fans at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) on
Sunday, March 13, 3:00 p.m. Tickets, starting from $40, are available at
the CCPA Ticket Office and cerritoscenter.com or by calling 562-467-8818.

In an all-new version of the longest-running magic production in the
country, IT'S MAGIC! brings to the stage the biggest stars in magic and
variety. With a cast of award-winning performers from around the world -
including Hollywood's Magic Castle and Las Vegas - the extravaganza
leaves audiences speechless and spellbound with sleight-of-hand
illusions, stage tricks, and comedy and variety acts.

It's "the best magic show in town!" cheers the Los Angeles Times. The
CCPA lineup features magic masters Michael Grandinetti, Kyle Knight &
Mistie, Dana Daniels, Victor & Diamond, and Mickey O'Connor.

The widespread success of It's Magic!, which started as Hocus Pocus in
1956, led to the birth of Hollywood's Magic Castle, a private club for
magicians and magic enthusiasts that opened its doors in 1963. Audiences
were hypnotized by sold-out magic shows featuring legendary masters of
illusions Harry Blackstone, John Calvert, Mark Wilson, Lance Burton, and
Harry Anderson. It's Magic! has cast its spell over captivated crowds on
the West Coast and beyond, including Hawaii, Arizona, California, and
Washington.

Entertainment Weekly called Michael Grandinetti "a great magician who
can truly communicate with a TV audience." Grandinetti has performed on
The World's Most Dangerous Magic II, Masters of Illusion, and Don't Blink.

The award-winning duo Kyle Knight & Mistie is based in Las Vegas. They
are known for utilizing video screens to provide audiences with close-up
views of their sleight-of-hand tricks and mental magic.

Funnyman-magician extraordinaire, Dana Daniels is "rapid-fire, inventive
and very funny," hails the Los Angeles Times. With his partner, the
"Psychic Parriot" Luigi, "It's an infectious act from a fresh, magnetic
talent," praises the Orange County Register.

Voted the best act for television by NHK the Japanese Broadcasting
Association, the award-winning Victor & Diamond is known around the
world for its mesmerizing magic acts incorporating Jazz music to set the
mood.

Mickey O'Connor, embraced for his juggling, magic, and slapstick comedy
skills, has appeared in Comedy Central's Tosh.0, America's Got Talent
(Season 5), and the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. He studied live
performance in France and England.

For tickets or more information on the performance, call 562-467-8818 or
go to cerritoscenter.com.

This article was released by the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

--------------------------------------------
4. Milt P Larsen's Blog
--------------------------------------------
Message by Milt P Larsen (US)

February 4, 2016 and I'm dictating this on my lovely Mac computer from
our home in Santa Barbara. The reason I'm not on a train writing my blog
is because on January 4th I checked into the Cottage Hospital in Santa
Barbara to have a little plumbing job. It was heart valve replacement
that had been recommended for a long time. Many years ago I had a heart
murmur that later required a Pacemaker. It's kept on ticking and, at my
last regular check-up the technician said the battery was good for
another 12 years. Unfortunately my cardiologist said my artery got more
and more blocked as time went by. At some not too distant point my poor
little Pacemaker would have die to die ... and, by the way, so would I!
That did not seem like a great idea. I have far too many accomplishments
to enjoy before I cash in my chips.

Arlene and I agreed to have the procedures done ASAP and that was
February 4th. Due to a couple of unexpected complications it was a
little more serious than we thought it might be but thanks to Dr. Don
Thompson and a great staff at Cottage Hospital I was in expert hands.

I am now under the careful supervision of Arlene who is trying to keep
me doing myriad of exercises that come under the heading of
rehabilitations as taught by the U.S. Marine Drill Instructors. Please
feel free to pass by blog along. Just let them know I'm still tickin'
and kicken'!

By the way our mother Gerrie Larsen, the Magic Lady, had a heart attack
in the early fifties. Happiness she lived to be 91 years old!

I'll have to pass the AMA General Meeting. Good luck to all. Many thanks
to Dale Hindman and Kris Garcia for keeping our office going and to
Carol Marie for her efforts of my radio shows.

--------------------------------------------
5. Content From Kids Entertainer Hub
--------------------------------------------
Message by Laurice Chavez

History of Magic: Burling Hull
Link: http://magictricksforkids.org/burling-hull/
With tomes of books on magic and over 500 tricks to his
credit--including the Svengali deck--Burling Hull has been aptly called
the 'Edison of Magic.' Know more about this prolific magician at
http://magictricksforkids.org/burling-hull/

2. Add This to Your Magic Arsenal: The Coin Fold Magic Trick
Link: http://magictricksforkids.org/coin-fold-magic-trick/
For a fast, easy, impromptu trick that you can use to kill time or spice
up your routine, check out
http://magictricksforkids.org/coin-fold-magic-trick/

3. Performing Your Own Public Magic Show
Link: http://kidsentertainerhub.com/performing-your-own-public-kids-show
Dreaming of doing a public kids show? Get tips and inspiration from a
man who did it despite being new to magic. Check out
http://kidsentertainerhub.com/performing-your-own-public-kids-show

--------------------------------------------
6. The Magic Word Podcast - David Deeble - An Unnatural Talent
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

David Deeble cannot be defined in a simple phrase so we took the whole
podcast to "go deep" into what and who he is.

At a relatively early age he suffered a what to some would have been a
career-ending neurological injury following an indoor unicycle accident.
In this podcast, David gives an inspirational talk about how he dealt
with the injury and how it made him stronger. As a result, he had to
develop "unique" juggling skills to continue following his dream. More
than a juggler, David has added stand-up comedy to his act that makes
him stand out from the rest of the pack.

He also talks about his younger days when he was a member of the
"mythical" Long Beach Mystics. David also discusses how a juggler deals
with "problems" in the show (i.e. dropping the pins/balls), working
cruise ships, and more.

You can watch a couple videos of David, see some photos, read the blog,
listen to the podcast and download the MP3 file at:
http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/276-david-deeble

Be sure to enter the contest to win a free audio book of "The Ambitious
Card - an Eli Marks Mystery" by John Gaspard. All the details are on the
website. And if you enjoy the podcast, the please consider becoming a
Friend of The Magic Word by pledging a one-time donation or becoming an
ongoing financial donor for as little as one dollar a month. Anything
you can give will be recognized and greatly appreciated. More
information on how to join is on the website.

--------------------------------------------
7. Birthday Party Marketing - #390 - Kyle Peron
--------------------------------------------
Message by Kyle Peron (US)
magic4u02@aol.com
http://www.kylekellymagic.com
http://www.kpmagicproducts.com

I do a LOT of birthday parties but that is because I have been doing
this a long time and I work it constantly in regards to my marketing.
Let me list some things I do that might spark ideas for you or that you
may not be doing at all. I hope this helps.

You first must have a website form on your page and have every page of
your website with a link that takes them to that form page. On my site
it is called my contact page and I drive folks to it. I get inquiries a
lot simply because I make it super simple for them. If they have to pick
up a phone or write an email, I may lose their business. This allows
them to fill out a form in less than a minute and I get that info to my
email instantly. Now I can check it on my phone or anywhere that I am
at. This means I am faster at getting back to them. Ultimate customer
service made easy.

I have a full series of email templates already written up for every
situation in my birthday party booking process. By doing so, I am
sending out a branded message consistently every single time. Now this
is not just one email. I have a full series of email templates for my
birthday party booking process. This makes things so much easier and
really works. Customer service one again brought to the forefront.

My site is Search Engine Optimized. It is important for me to have my
site come up high ranked in searches. I constantly check my SEO stats
and make adjustments frequently.

My site, and all pages on it, are connected to Google Analytics. Google
Analytics is amazing and it is 100% free. Very easy to add to your
pages. Once you do. YOU have the total power of knowing all information
you would ever want to know about folks who come to your site. This is
critical in my SEO and marketing efforts.

With Google Analytics, on any given day, I can tell how many folks went
to my site, how many were new, where they came from, what town they were
from, what pages they went to, how long they stayed on each page, what
search term they used and even what browser they used plus a TON more.
This is how I track my marketing efforts.

My website is written and structured and geared towards total customer
marketing. Every page has a reason and purpose for being there and every
page has a call to action. I make sure I have a good balance of features
and benefits on each page and I use bullet point concepts as it draws
folks in more. I do not list prices on my site because I want them to
contact me. I want them to use the form and go through the process with
me. The form gives me the information I need upfront to add customer value.

Customer service has to be the key. You must be able to deliver a
consistent branded message and get back to someone ASAP. If you wait,
you lose. That is why my email template system is in effect and why I
have them saved in drop box and ever note. This means I can use and send
them no matter where I am in the world.

When at events, I also do a LOT of marketing. My goal is to brand myself
at all times. I have a sign on my table that has my logo and my website
URL. Every table has this sign on it. I have a vertical retractable
banner system 33 by 80 that is set up and used as part of my show and
backdrop that brands my image, my name and my URL again.

Every single child gets something THEY want to have. They want it so
they keep it. This is my Magicians Assistant Certificates. Of course
every one of them has my contact info on it, name, website, email,
Facebook fan page etc.

I make sure I have business cards with me at ALL times. I never leave
the house without them. I give them out as a business card left in your
pocket does you no good.

I utilize a POWERFUL thank you letter and evaluation form system. THIS
works well. It is a thank you letter from me to them but also an
evaluation form that is easy to fill out but gives me a ton of
information AND generates quotes I can use in my marketing. It also
talks about my referral rewards system and how this works to benefit
them. This thank you kit system really works.

I have a referral rewards system set into place. This makes people WANT
to refer their friends, relatives and others to me and to do so not
because I force them, but because they want to. It is all in how I have
it set up.

I do 2 special tricks with the b-day child and one being a big illusion.
Now THEY are the star. The child also gets a magic wand, a magician
certificate and a full magic kit. All of this once again cost me next to
nothing but adds huge value. Now if the other kids want this, they have
to have me at their party. It gets the kids always talking to the
parents and gets me handing stuff out to parents after shows. All items
once again are branded to me and have my contact information on it.

I have a Facebook Fan Page and I use it and social media a LOT. I am
also connected to LinkedIn as well as others. My fan page is an amazing
way to get folks knowing about what I am doing, where I will be and a
great marketing tool that cost me nothing at all. I get folks to join
because I state the fan page and talk about it during the show. I give
them also a reason to go there. =)

I make sure I am also using paid services as needed. For example
services such as Gigmasters, Gigsalad, Decidio and Thumbtack. Each have
to be evaluated by you but each can and have worked if you handle them
correctly.

I make sure that my marketing materials are the best I can possible make
them. I make my branding so quality comes first. That means everything
that goes out is branded the way I want it to be branded.

I also look and search out showcases. These may not be for birthday
parties but they could be for libraries or even parks and recreations. I
do it to get the name out there and get into their guide books. These
guide books DO get seen by parents and that means b-day gigs.

I also end my shows by talking to the adults. I thank them for coming
and I thank the client and I state clearly that if anyone is interested
in the shows I put on for birthday parties and other events, PLEASE see
me after the show and I would be happy to give you some information on
it. Simple as that and it works.

I list my public events on as many online community calendars as I can.
They even give you places for your URL in most cases. More folks at the
gig makes the client happy and more marketing for me.

I also list my website and services on a LOT of free online websites.
There are so many that will allow you to place your information on them
without any cost to you. The more you have out there, the better chance
someone is to see you. Not only that it is a part of SEO called back
links. It helps your rankings.

These are just a few of the things I do to land birthday party gigs.
There are more, but I will leave it at this as there is a lot of
information shared here. Take your time and go over them and read and
re-read them. I can and will go over any with anyone who asks it of me.
I can always be reached at magic4u02@aol.com. Thank you.

--------------------------------------------
8. Broken Wand - Bob Brown
--------------------------------------------
Message by Diana Zimmerman (US)

Bob Brown passed away on Sunday with Pneumonia. His family is having a
(funeral) memorial for him on Sunday, February 21 at Nauman's on
Freeport Blvd. in Sacramento.

--------------------------------------------
9. 2016 I.B.M. Convention - March 1st Price Increase
--------------------------------------------
Register NOW for the 2016 I.B.M. Convention in San Antonio, before the
March 1st price increase.

For more information on the convention, go to www.IBMConvention.com.

--------------------------------------------
10. Paul Diamond - I Was Hacked!
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Diamond <mrhumble@bellsouth.net>

I was hacked! I lost approximately 600 names from my mailing list and
many of them were also on your mailing list. I would appreciate if you
would let your subscribers know this and if they wish to get back on my
mailing list, I would appreciate if they could send me an email
requesting to get back on the mailing list.

--------------------------------------------
11. Magician Effortlessly Control 24 Drones, Indoors
--------------------------------------------
Article sent by Bill Phillips

Mashable Australia

Flying a drone isn't easy. Standing in the middle of 24 drones and not
getting whacked in the head is almost impossible - until it isn't.

In Marco Tempest's new video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4xtsH6pzoM
the cyber magician guides 24 quadcopters out of a suitcase and then
proceeds to control them as they fly around him, dance behind him and
hover within inches of his head. Throughout the roughly five-minute
clip, the drones appear to follow his gesture commands until he commands
them to go back to the suitcase, which they do so in a startling and
orderly fashion.

For the balance of the article go to:

http://mashable.com/2016/02/10/cyber-magician-drone-video/#f8fvGRYRHaqU

-------------------------------------------
12. FISM 2018 Open For Registration
--------------------------------------------
Message by Joan Caesar (Canada)

FISM in South Korea

The 2018 FISM website is now open to take reservations. It will be
continually updated with information about the convention. Now is the
time to book your reservation in order to take advantage of the lowest
fee and to be given the best seat possible for the Gala Shows:
www.2018fismbusan.com

I look forward to seeing you there.

--------------------------------------------
13. McBride's Magic And Mystery School
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jeff McBride (US)

A documentary on Jeff McBride's Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBJHYhkch9s

-------------------------------------------
14. The Magic Compass
--------------------------------------------
Message by Dal Sanders MIMC (US)

The Society of American Magicians quietly launched a new service to help
point magicians around the world towards the very best online content
dealing with the Art of Magic. That service is called The Magic Compass.

Initially The Magic Compass was conceived as a newsletter styled email
that would point readers toward magic's best viral videos, top news
stories, exclusive offers, contests, polls, tricks and more. People can
sign up for that newsletter at http://goo.gl/5LnzN9. The S.A.M. even
produced a video to explain the idea that was voiced by Mac King. That
video is at https://youtu.be/8AZOctEFnKs.

As The S.A.M. was developing this service the need for an anchoring
website became apparent and that is why The Magic Compass is also a
website that is regularly updated with the latest online magic
information. That website can be found at http://www.magic-compass.com.

Since being launched, The Magic Compass has already delivered news to
thousands of readers. This week alone The Compass has directed viewers
to videos and posts of magician Nathan J. Roberts making a little girl's
parents reappear after being deployed overseas, Justin Flom's Mega-Mix,
Penn & Teller's appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and
a Young and Strange magic Prank in England.

After quietly launching The Magic Compass, The S.A.M. is now ready for a
full roll out. This service is not just for members of The Society of
American Magicians but for anyone with an interest in The Art of Magic.

--------------------------------------------
15. FCM Announces 2016 Convention Info
--------------------------------------------
Message by Dennis Schick (US)

The Fellowship of Christian Magicians (FCM) has announced details for
its 2016 International Convention. It will move back to July (25-29), so
mark your calendars. It will still be in Nashville, Tennessee, and on
the campus of Trevecca University, as it was this year. But next year it
will be held entirely within the spacious Trevecca Community Church on
the campus. The theme for 2016 will be: "A Year of Second Chances,"
based on the Biblical verse 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The emphasis throughout the five days of the convention is learning,
teaching, and sharing the performing arts of magic, clowns,
ventriloquism, juggling, puppets, face painting, balloons, and
drama/story-telling/chalk art. Of course the emphasis is on applying
each of these to spreading the gospel. There are workshops, nightly
shows, hospital visits, inspirational talks, exhibitors, and even a flea
market and an auction to sell your unwanted things and stuff.

For more information about the international Fellowship of Christian
Magicians, go to their Website, www.fcm.org

--------------------------------------------
16. 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)

---------------------------------------------
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.magicnewzealand.com

Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday.

The opinions and statements expressed therein are those of the
individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®.
Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson QSM 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 QSM,
jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the
opinions or statements contained 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.

(c) Copyright 2016 Alan Watson QSM
www.magicnewzealand.com
www.facebook.com/magicnewzealandnewsflash
http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand
www.watson.co.nz
www.magician.co.nz
www.balloon-twister.co.nz


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.magicnewzealand.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 QSMvouch 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 QSM, 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 © 2016 Alan Watson QSM.


Magic New Zealand® E-zine