* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New
Zealand)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Issue Number: #1649
Date: Sunday 12th December 2021
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
================================
Hi here is the latest news
================================
1.
Editor's Message
2. Penn & Teller Fool Us Are Casting For Season 9
3. Melbourne Magic Festival 2022 - Applications Now Open
4. The Magic Word - Murray Sawchuck
5. S.Y.M. Academy Live!
6. This Week's Wizard Magic Review
7. Around The Lounge By Jeff Bibik #10
8. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
9. News From The Academy Of Illusions
10. Pin Thing - John Carey #145
11. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #41
12. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
13. E-zine Archives
14. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice
--------------------------------------------
1. Editor's Message
--------------------------------------------
If
you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML
format
go to: https://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1649-Dec12-2021.html
If
you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand
or have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com
--------------------------------------------
2. Penn & Teller Fool Us Are Casting For Season 9
--------------------------------------------
Penn
& Teller Fool Us are casting for Season 9, submit your
magic to fooluscasting@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------
3. Melbourne Magic Festival 2022 - Applications Now Open
--------------------------------------------
Message by Tim Ellis (Australia)
The
Melbourne Magic Festival is back in 2022 for its 15th year!
Running
from June 27 to July 9 we will have hundreds of performances
in our Festival Hub at Arrow on Swanston in the heart of
the city, as well as shows in satellite venues all over
Melbourne.
If
you'd like to produce a show, go direct to https://melbournemagicfestival.com/producers-pages/
to check out the brand new PRODUCERS GUIDE then fill out
your application online.
Applications
close January 20.
If
you'd like to see our incredible new poster - go here https://melbournemagicfestival.com/
--------------------------------------------
4. The Magic Word - Murray Sawchuck
--------------------------------------------
Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
The
Magic Word Podcast - Another "Murray" Christmas
Merry
Christmas, to all the readers of the New Zealand e-zine.
Or should I say "Murray" Christmas because this
week we take our annual virtual visit to Las Vegas to chat
with Celebrity Magician, Murray Sawchuck. This is our eighth
year of checking in on Murray to see what has been happening
on the magic scene in Las Vegas during this past year and
also see what's going on with Murray's life. He always has
interesting stories and updates us on social media that
he has been using and what's new in magic that's commercial
and he has put in his shows.
You
can listen to or watch us on YouTube on our channel at https://youtube.com/texasmagician
or listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
But for more content, be sure to visit the website at https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/653-murray-sawchuck
We also feature a few shout-outs from listeners from all
over the world who submitted their audio files. If you would
like to hear your voice on an upcoming episode, then please
record a short holiday greeting on your phone and send it
to me at scott@themagicwordpodcast.com
--------------------------------------------
5. S.Y.M. Academy Live!
--------------------------------------------
Message by Arlen Solomon (US)
S.Y.M.
Academy Live! is coming to Las Vegas in January of 2022
Looking
to meet other magicians your own age? Want to learn from
the Las Vegas pros and even share your magic with them too?
Join
us on January 15 and 16 2022 for some exciting lectures
and visits at The Society of American Magicians Las Vegas
Convention. The speakers will share their best secrets on
magic, scripting, and even the business side of magic. The
best part is it is FREE for S.Y.M. members with a paid adult
convention registration! Also if you want to stay another
day on Monday Penn and Teller are presenting a show at the
Rio just for the SAM.
For
complete details as well as to register visit samconvention.com
Saturday
January 16
S.Y.M.
9:00 am "Kerwin and Company: Welcome!"
9:30 am "Brad Kerwin: Parenting Magic & Security
(for parents)"
"Nadina Montes: Ice Breaker Session & Security
(for students)"
10:00 am "Kristi Toguchi: Performance Basics"
10:30 am "George Saterial: Talking to Yourself"
"Mycah Muranaka: Impromptu Magic"
11:00 am "Robert Moreland: Theme Park Performing"
11:30 am "Kainoa Harbottle: Coins for Beginners"
"Curtis Kam: Self-Working Card Miracles"
12:00 pm ? Celebrity Drive By ?
12:30 pm
1:00 pm "Lunch Break: Pizza with the President
(or at least at his Suite)"
2:00 pm "Stuart MacDonald: Get Your Act Together"
Kainoa Harbottle: Close-Up Fun"
2:30 pm "Marc DeSouza: Showing You the Business"
3:00 pm "Avi Yap: Practicing Perfection"
3:30 pm "Shawn Farquhar: Live from Canada"
4:00 pm "Share the Magic! You Teach a Trick"
4:30 pm "Curtis Kam: Dealing with the Dealer Room"
5:00 pm ? Dealer Room Adventure ?
5:30 pm
6:00 pm Dinner Break
Sunday
Jan. 17
S.Y.M.
9:00 pm "Kerwin and Company: Welcome Back!"
9:30 pm "Share the Magic! Student Performances"
10:00 pm "Alan Rorrison: Creativity Deconstructed"
10:30 pm "I'm Batman: Magic for Kids"
11:00 pm "Max Maven: Why Magic?"
11:30 pm "Cody Clark: Dis-impos-ability"
12:00 pm "Tom Gentile The S.A.M. and You"
12:30 pm Lunch Break!
1:30 pm Stars of Tomorrow
2:30 pm Break?
3:00 pm "Steve Daly: War Stories"
3:30 pm "Ice McDonald: Show No Nos"
4:00 pm "Farrell Dillon: Manipulation"
4:30 pm "Connie Boyd: Women in Magic"
5:00 pm "Headshots and Sessioning"
6 :00 pm "Kerwin and Company: See You Next Year!"
--------------------------------------------
6. This Week's Wizard Magic Review
--------------------------------------------
Message by David Penn (UK)
David
Penn & Wayne Fox take a look at some magic releases
on this week's Wizard Magic Review.
Discussed
on this week's Wizard Magic Review: Easy Money By Spencer
Kennard
Travel Around the World by Tony D'Amico Eclipse by Dee Christopher
and The 1914
All
from You Favourite Murphy's Magic Dealer
The
Wayne Fox Special Deal Available from www.magicfoxproducts.com
Support
the show by checking out all World Magic Shop's & David
Penn's products right here: https://www.worldmagicshop.com/
Follow
us on Instagram @wizardmagicreview
Thanks
for watching and please share in to magic groups worldwide.
https://www.facebook.com/worldmagicshop/videos/932300474329508
--------------------------------------------
7. Around The Lounge By Jeff Bibik #10
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jeff Bibik (USA)
Chicago Magic Lounge
ChicagoMagicLounge.com
Around
the Lounge
STOLEN!!
The
Chicago Magic Lounge is an age 21 and above venue, except
for our Sunday family matinee (which is currently on hold).
At the bar I often joke that we don't let kids in for 2
reasons. 1, we hate kids, and 2, they break stuff and steal
things! As it turns out, kids are not the only people who
steal.
If
you're a working magician, chances are that somewhere along
the way you have left a prop behind somewhere at a gig.
Some magicians seem to leave a trail of lost props! It happens.
When people steal your props however, that can be out of
your control.
Several
years ago I bought a small oriental style rug to use as
a close up mat. I didn't use it frequently, but once I started
working at the lounge I had it out on the bar all of the
time. One weekend I didn't have it in my close up case and
thought I must have left it at home as I was resetting my
props for the weekend. I don't really need it, but it looks
nice on the bar.
The
next day I looked at home and it wasn't there. It wasn't
in my car; it wasn't in my locker at the lounge. It was
nowhere to be found, so I called the owner of the lounge,
Joey Cranford.
As I've written before, we have a large collection of valuable
items at the lounge, so there is an extensive video security
system. In the world today we are videotaped far more than
we ever know, and this is true at the lounge too! These
systems are not only for security but for liability claims
as well.
Upon
reviewing the video, we discovered that one of our guests
had brazenly taken the carpet off the bar and slipped it
in their bag. I was on a short break away from the bar and
the bartender didn't notice so they didn't think anyone
would see, but the camera sees all!
That's
when the Cranford detective agency swung into action. Cynthia
Cranford is our marketing director as well as being married
to Joey. She pieced together the time of the event and the
credit card info from the night, and we had our culprit!
Now to try and find her.
I
remembered the person and the friend they were with. They
came in later on a Sunday night and it was obvious that
our bar was not their first stop of the evening. They were
in town from Pittsburg, where they told me they worked at
a major hotel. In fact, the culprit was the sales director
and the co-conspirator also worked in marketing.
Cindy
found the person on Facebook and sent a private message.
No reply, so she called the hotel and was put through. When
confronted with possible public humiliation they confessed,
and claimed they had too much to drink. I was sure it was
gone forever. I could imagine they woke up the next day
embarrassed and either threw it away or left it behind in
the hotel in Chicago. Believe it or not a week or so later
the rug was returned and I have a story with a happy ending.
This
week, the story has another chapter. On Friday night someone
snagged my magic wand off of the bar! In a similar scenario
I had stepped away from the bar and when I returned I started
my set. Half way through I reached for my wand and it was
not there. The Cranford detective agency is now back in
business! So today's pro tip is to always be aware of your
props, and keep them out of reach of those grabby hands
and sticky fingers.
Next
week, meet Joey Cranford
Jeff@Bibik.com
--------------------------------------------
8. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
--------------------------------------------
Message by Connie Boyd (USA)
Get
the inside scoop for @Penn And Teller Fool Us HD with Executive
Producers, Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt as they speak
openly with @Magical Women with Connie Boyd about the shows
successes for eight seasons, casting and their responsibilities
on the show. Watch this exclusive talk and learn insider
secrets about the show and what they are looking for with
talent and performance.
Penn
& Teller Fool Us are casting for Season 9, submit your
magic to fooluscasting@gmail.com
Emmy
Award-winning Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt are the executive
producers of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," a series
that began on ITV UK before its successful multi-season
run on The CW television network. Season 8 is currently
being broadcast every Friday on the CW Network.
Penn
& Teller: Fool Us is a magic competition television
program in which magicians perform tricks in front of American
magician-comedian duo Penn & Teller. Its first two seasons
were hosted by Jonathan Ross, and the third season onwards
by Alyson Hannigan.
Fool
Us Season One was filmed at Fountain Studios in London,
England. Subsequent seasons were filmed at the Penn &
Teller Theater at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
After each performance, if Penn & Teller cannot figure
out how a trick was done, the magician(s) who performed
it win a Fool Us trophy and a trip to Las Vegas to perform
as the opening act in Penn & Teller's show, also at
the Rio Hotel & Casino.
https://youtu.be/8siftE5U1K8
--------------------------------------------
9. News From The Academy Of Illusions
--------------------------------------------
Message by Jay Scott Berry (Australia)
Charles
Dickens famously wrote, "It was the best of times and
the worst of times''. It seems an appropriate sentiment
as we wind up 2021. At the Academy, we've chosen to focus
on the former, turning crisis into opportunity by actively
working to push the Art forward, with Online Lectures, Workshops,
Mentoring and Downloads. All of these are available to Individuals,
Clubs, Groups and Conventions.
This
week's Top story is GenoMania! In Episode 11, Geno opened
the Academy Library, where you can download over 100 pdf
magic books, including classic titles by Bobo, Marlo and
Anneman, at no charge! These are all in the public domain
and well worth checking out at www.DeVilleMagic.net. He
also gave updates on the Original Magic Competition, which
closes in 10 days, with the winner to be announced on January
1st. He launched two new segments to the show, one where
he and I discussed ongoing thievery in magic, and the other
which focuses on classic effects that everyone should learn.
We
are proud to be associated with the S.A.M. International
Assembly. I'll be starring in this Saturday's Gala and Awards
Ceremony, "It's in the Stars", which features
an international cast of masters and grandmasters. As always,
there is no charge for this Zoom Show, produced by Professor
Emeritus, Anthony Darkstone. Details are on the FB Page.
Another
new project that we are affiliated with is The Magic Inn
Convention, to be webcast on February 26/27, 2022. I will
join Shawn Farquhar, Suzanne, Håkan Berg and Simon
Fisher-Becker for this one day Online Event. A half price
early bird special is now available, along with all details,
at www.themagicinn.com.au
Finally,
if you haven't gotten your copy of "Wonder Workshop"
then you're missing out on some of the hottest new ideas
in magic promotional giveaways. In a genre that, heretofore,
has been dominated by balloon animals, this download presents
a treasure trove of practical, colourful alternatives. These
magical designs are perfect for beginners or experts and
applicable under all situations. Available now from DeVille
Magic.
-------------------------------------------
10. Pin Thing - John Carey #145
-------------------------------------------
Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/
Pin
Thing is my take on the modern classic Mentalism PIN divination.
There are some wonderful versions out there by some very
talented creators, including propless versions which are
pretty cool. I wanted a version that didn't go on forever,
was easy to do, and strong. Below are the fruits of my labor.
You
will require eight business cards. On the blank surfaces
you will write a different number with a sharpie. These
are:
13
18
23
28
33
38
43
48
You
will notice that these numbers are a stack where there's
an increment of five. Stack your business cards in the above
order and you are ready to rock n roll! In addition you
will require two business cards without writing on the blank
surfaces.
"Michael,
numbers play an important role in all of our lives. There's
door numbers, phone numbers, membership numbers, lottery
numbers, and of course PIN numbers just to name a few. In
fact, let's try a little experiment with PIN numbers right
here, right now. Now I wouldn't dream of asking or working
with your PIN. Instead, let's get you to combine a physical
action with a mental one to create your very own fantasy
PIN number!
I've
got some cards here with random two digit numbers on. Let's
mix them up with a few cuts from me but also you. Now please
take one out and I will look away and I want you to turn
over your card and lock the thought of the number you see
into your mind. Got it? Good."
So
the above is my opening script. It sets the scene and the
mood. I display the numbers, turn the packet over and give
it a complete cut and then ask my participant to do the
same a couple of times to mix them. Of course as we are
working with a cyclical stack, everything remains
the way it needs to be for us to get secret information
from them.
Spread
the packet of business cards for a free selection and look
away as they remember the number written on their card.
As you do this casually cut at the point the card was selected
from and complete the cut. Now by simply peeking the bottom
card you will know what their number is. Let's say you peek
18. That means they are thinking of 23. Turn back around
and hand them your cards and ask them to pop those and their
card away in a pocket. Take out two blank business cards
and a marker.
Ask
your helper to write their two digit number onto the blank
surface of their card. "So you've completed a physical
task, now you will combine that with a mental one and create
two more digits to form a PIN number." We will now
utilize my dear and brilliantly talented friend Michael
Murray's beautiful Springboard concept from his classic
book A Piece Of My
Mind. Say to your participant that they will create two
further random digits by playing a little game called higher
and lower. In our example we know they are thinking of 23.
Get
them to focus on their first digit they wrote down and ask
them do they want to make that digit one, two or three higher?
Let's say that they say two higher. Ask them to write that
new digit next to the two on the business card. You will
know that it is four because of Springboard. Next ask them
to look at the second digit and ask them if they want to
make that one or two lower? We shall say that they say one
lower. Get them to write that new digit next to the other
three digits, thus forming a PIN number. Because of Springboard
you will know that this is two and that their PIN is 2342.
You
now secretly have all the information you need to bring
this piece home. Take the other business card and the marker
and ask your helper to try and transmit their pin one digit
at a time. I act this out quite seriously and start writing
their pin down in stages, hesitating a couple of times as
if I'm uncertain. Finally I ask them to show the group and
I their pin and a moment later successfully reveal that
their thoughts are mine!
So
there you have it. A practical solution you will love using.
Just practice it for a couple of days and work on the script.
Change it to suit your personality and make the effect you!
--------------------------------------------
11. No Stone Unturned - Paul Stone - Article #41
--------------------------------------------
Message by Paul Stone (US)
We
live in an ever changing world and, for a variety of reasons,
probably expedited by the Covid virus, more and more people
are shopping online.
High
street stores have suffered hugely, and the smaller independent
retailers have been hit particularly hard.
Magic
shops have also felt the pinch. There was already a steady
decline in the number of brick and mortar magic shops and
the pandemic has only exacerbated this situation.
I'm
sure that like many magicians around the world, my first
introduction to magic was at one such store. It was called
the 'Wizards Den' and it was located in the down town area
of my home city Liverpool, in England.
For
me, as a 13 year old boy, it was an Aladdin's Cave, with
shelves filled with unusual looking props, the like of which
I'd never seen before.
It
was in this shop that I was first shown a copy of Goodliffe's
'Abra' magazine, which at the time was the world's only
weekly magazine packed with news items, adverts, lecture
and convention listings.
It
was this magazine that informed me about several magic shops
in London, and that was my entrée to Gamages, with
its impressive 'Gamagic' range, Harry Stanley's Unique Magic
Studio, Davenports, Ron McMillan's International Magic,
and Ken Brooke's Magic Place.
Davenports
especially, located as it was directly across the road from
the British Museum in Great Russell Street, in as prime
a position as you could hope to find, was everything you
could hope for in a magic shop. It was large, oldy wordly,
with packed showcases around the walls, and of course with
the inimitable Pat Page 'demming' behind the counter.
In
the USA, Hollywood Magic on Hollywood Boulevard, Al Cohen's
Magic Shop in Washington, Tannen's iconic store in New York
were all magic shops that sadly are no more, (Tannen's are
still in business but in a much smaller studio on the 5th
floor of an office building!).
These
brick and mortar shops were much more than just retail outlets.
They were places where you could meet other magicians, discuss
the latest tricks and often learn a great deal. And if you
were lucky, you might even get to meet a magic 'star' or
two!
There
are still a few magic shops left, and if there is one in
your town, try to support them with your business. We don't
want them to die out completely. And there's still a very
unique and special feeling when you walk inside.
-------------------------------------
12. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
-------------------------------------
Written by the late Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)
Parrots
and Cockatoos
And a detour back to New Zealand
I've
always had a strong empathy with birds. Yeah okay, go on,
have a good laugh; I'm talking about the feathered kind,
with wings. We have always wanted a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
but could never afford one in New Zealand - they cost a
bloody fortune. So a few months after we had arrived in
Australia, we bought one, they are quite cheap there - but
let me start from the beginning, a very good place to kick
off; the middle is too muddling and the end is going backwards
(Dementia)?
Back
in New Zealand, my first pet bird was a magpie that I named
'Jacky'. It must have been in 1964 because I do recall that
he was with me in the upstairs flat of a large house in
Auckland
that I was sharing with my old mate Murray Hobson, and a
bunch of other guys, also with rooms in the house.
For
the life of me I can't remember how I acquired Jacky, but
he sure was a character. He had a thing about shoelaces
- woe-betide all those who came to visit wearing shoes with
laces. Jacky would sneak around and very carefully peck
and pull the laces undone - take them right off your shoes
and, you wouldn't feel a thing! He would have made one hell
of a pickpocket. It wasn't that he was small or insignificant
- he was a full size, 'In Your Face' bird! Nothing stopped
him, not even if there was a party happening with several
people present - he was a right bugger!
His
wings weren't clipped so he had full flying capabilities.
Every morning I would open the large window that faced out
from the back of the house; he would take-off whenever he
felt like
it, usually heading for a large tree way off in the distance.
He had total freedom and would come and go as he wished.
Then came the day when he just didn't return. I guess he
found himself another mate, one with feathers - of the female
variety, who was far more attractive to him than I was.
I can't really blame him.
The
next bird (feathered) that entered my life was sometime
after I had met Veronica (un-feathered), a female cockatiel
that we named 'Brigitte'. Birds, like most family pets,
seem to pick a 'favourite' from the family, even if that
family is comprised of two only and, as far as Brigitte
was concerned, I was IT! Veronica summed it up thus; "That
bird thinks the sun shines out
of your fundamental orifice, even on a filthy day"!
She was right. I couldn't move without Brigitte flying over
and perching herself on my shoulder or on top of my head.
We used to take her with us when going to gigs - she just
loved going out in the car and she certainly knew the sound
of the car and, she could recognize it.
Veronica
was amazed when, late one afternoon, Brigitte started making
a hell of a racket. We were living in Wanganui at the time,
and had a flat upstairs on the main road, right in the centre
of town, opposite the radio station. At that time in the
afternoon the traffic was very busy and noisy, horns tooting
etc. and I was way down the road heading home, yet somehow
Brigitte
heard the car above all the clamour and, according to Veronica,
as my car hove into sight, Brigitte, who by now was sitting
on the windowsill, went totally mental as she recognized
the car
among all the traffic. She spotted me before Veronica did.
Amazing!
There
are two other incidents that I will always remember her
by. September 9th, we are on our way from Rotorua, where
we had done a show the night before (and had attended a
party that hadn't finished until the wee small hours) for
Napier where I was to attempt to break the world record
for the amount of weight you could hold whilst lying on
a bed of nails. Not surprisingly, I was feeling a little
shattered. Brigitte is sitting on the steering wheel, her
favourite position - as I'm driving along, fluttering her
wings to stay right on top as I turn the wheel. Then she
decides to get affectionate and leaps onto my shirtfront,
which was half unbuttoned, to snuggle up inside. DEAR GOD!
I'm yelling my head off in agony as her sharp little claws
dig into my skin. Veronica thought it was a hell of a joke
- there I was screaming over Brigitte's little needle-like
claws, and I'm on my way to break a world record on a bed
of very sharp nails that afternoon. It was a little incongruous
I guess. Then there was the episode when Brigitte threw
a wobbly in Queenstown. By the way, I BROKE THE RECORD!
Continues
Next Week
--------------------------------------------
E-zine Archives
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first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the
date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)
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