Number 327 - 30th September 2006

 

Marc Oberon stole the show at last week's British Ring Convention with a brilliant card routine that you've just got to see to believe! At the recent FISM convention in Sweden he presented a cut-down version of the same routine, but in Eastbourne we were treated to the real deal. Superb. Marc was awarded first place in the Close-up Competition, together with the £1,000 cash prize and Trophy. Saturday's Gala Show set new standards for a British Ring Gala Show with Paul Zerdin, Soul Mystique, Jeff Hobson, Wally Eastwood, and Mac King being the stand out performers for me. However the International Close-up Show, also on the Saturday, was completely let down by the appalling performing/viewing conditions. What a shame. The introduction of talks on Trade Show Magic and the business side of magic was welcomed and the standard of lectures and workshops in general, very high. The British Ring should give themselves a big pat on the back for staging an excellent 70th Convention, but they must sort out the performing conditions of the International Close-up! Bob Hayden looks back over the week in his report, which includes all the competition winners. (I didn't make it until the Thursday, so missed the stage competition). Click Here. 30.9.06

 

"After the opening overture of the ‘Ian Mac Big Band’ and the ‘Sophistication Dancers’ performing a Moulin Rouge type set, Charlie Frye & Co. was introduced. Like most of the acts, Charlie is in great demand and it is easy to see why. He romped through a highly energetic and entertaining juggling act with some excellent sight gags and comic sequences and got the theatre buzzing after an excellent start..." Kevin Gallagher reviews Paul Stone's WOW! production this week, see Reviews. 30.9.06

 

"Geoffrey Durham was the second half of the show. Often described as one of the country's finest performers and magical thinkers he went on to demonstrate exactly why. You will recall that in his lecture he had postulated that the performer has about 10 to 20 seconds to capture the attention of the audience? Well the atmosphere was such that he had undoubtedly achieved that whilst tying his shoe laces in the dressing room...." Graham Harper reviews Geoffrey Durham's lecture (photo) and the Nottingham Guild of Magicians Magic and Illusion show this week, see Reviews. 30.9.06

 

Richard Pinner sweeps the board! The Zodiac Magical Society, currently celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, has six major competitions which take place over two years. By winning the Rex Taylor Mental Magic Competition on Wednesday Richard Pinner is now the current winner of all six competitions. He is the only member to have achieved this outstanding feat! Richard has also won The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of The Year 1999, The British Ring Shield 2003 and The British Ring Close-up Competition 2003. 30.9.06

 

Perth Magic Circle welcome Harry Robson to their club on Tuesday October 3rd for a lecture and dealer demonstration at 8pm at Perth and District Ex-Servicemen's Club, 8-10 Brown Street, Perth. The entrance fee is just £5.00. Contact Michael McMillan on 07818 034396 to reserve a place. Harry's brand new DVD Magic Under Fire! will be released any day now by www.rsvpmagic.com. 30.9.06

 

Magician, entertainer and actor Paul Abbey has just received certificates awarding him a City and Guilds qualification for teaching Magic as a part time performance study course. Taking over from Michael Dow several years ago, Paul modified, adapted and developed the class which is now taught at a number of colleges across the South East. Richard Pinner MIMC was brought in to vet the course "having Richard as my industry professional observer was a great honour," said Paul. Paul's work has helped many students take the entrance exam for The Magic Circle and encouraged others to enter the world of the professional magician. (Photo: Richard Pinner and Paul Abbey) 30.9.06

 

Latin-Magic are cruising aboard the Oceana and Oriana until January 7th 2007. If you'd like to catch the couple on a cruise then the booking reference numbers are E625, X621, X624, X626 and X627. Or visit www.latin-magic.biz for constant updates and pictures of their adventure. 30.9.06

 

Campbell McRae, who worked full-time with his manipulative magic act back in the sixties, has launched what he describes as "probably the smallest magic store in the world" from his home in Scotland. Campbell only stocks and supplies his own creations and, currently, has two items on his new website: Campbell's Cube-Off and The ISO Box. Visit www.macsmagic.com and, for a video demonstration of Campbell's Cube-Off, Click Here More to come in the future. 30.9.06

 

Unearthly Magic have just released another new effect from Brian Caswell. This latest release, Animal Instinct, is a very simple to perform mental effect which is ideal for close-up work and can be performed strolling or at a table. T website now has online video demonstrations of many of their effects, including their best seller Cataclysm. www.unearthlymagic.com. 30.9.06

 

A group of children from Chernobyl visited Edinburgh recently. The highlight of their trip was a Magic Workshop hosted by magician Gary James www.themagicworkshop.co.uk. Although the children couldn't speak English the interpreters coped admirably with Gary's fast-paced blend of humour and magic tuition. Everyone had a great time, with the children mastering some magic tricks to take home with them. 30.9.06

 

Sheffield Circle of Magicians are holding their annual President's Dinner on Friday 20th October (7pm for 7.30pm) at Tapton Masonic Hall, Shaw Lane, Sheffield. Entertainment will be provided by top Radio Sheffield comedian, Jimmy Carol and close-up magicians will be performing at the tables throughout the three course meal, with music from 'One More Time'. Tickets are £20.00 (lounge suits) and all are welcome. Contact Entertainment Secretary Craig Frith on 01142 014770 or 07816 989946 or Dave Chambers (President) on 01302 537720 or 07740 404948. 30.9.06

 

"James started his lecture by asking us to forget the moves and just enjoy the magic. The point being that we all need to have experienced magic to be able to share it with others. Experience it we did. In performance he comes across as likable and fun. He has quite an understated presentational style that makes a good backdrop to the quite frankly jaw dropping magic that he performs..." To read Terry Ford's review of James Brown's recent lecture at the Bristol Society of Magic see Reviews. 30.9.06

 

Magicseen issues 8, 9 and 10 are now available to buy as downloadable PDFs for just £3.00 each from www.magicseen.co.uk. Each issue comes with hyperlinked contents and the full back catalogue, including the sought after first issue, will soon be available! Visit www.magicseen.co.uk for more information. 30.9.06

 

"Now you see it, now you don't. Within moments of meeting magician and independent film maker Paul Squires, he made a silk handkerchief vanish and reappear in a £10 note in the other hand. Having had a passion for trickery since childhood, Paul from Merrow has just published his second film 'Ever so Sleightly.' The live documentary begins in Surrey and spans the country, featuring a host of magicians performing their favourite techniques." To read the full article, first published in The Surrey Advertiser, see Articles. 30.9.06

 

Celebrity Scissorhands is a new BBC celebrity Hairdressing and Beauty show, which needs you! Would you like a top celebrity to style your hair or give you a beauty treatment on television? For this year’s BBC Children in Need, a group of celebrities are being transformed into hair and beauty experts, and are looking for clients to style and pamper. If you would like to come in to the ‘Celebrity Scissorhands’ salon at BBC TV Centre in London for a free treatment between 29th October and 17th November contact hair@endemoluk.com supplying your name and email address and request an application form. "Unfortunately we can't offer any payment for an appearance as it's for charity - but it really would be wonderful to have some magicians in to chat about what they do and maybe show us a few tricks." 30.9.06

 

Johnny Fantastica the first and only deaf magic lecturer will be at the Cornish Magic Society at Camon Downs Village Hall, near Truro, on Sunday October 15th at 3pm. Johnny will lecture on his life, how he became deaf and the triumphs and frustrations of being a deaf magician. With magic hints and tips and demonstrations of his own products. 30.9.06

 

International News: 11th Prix Juventa Magica in Berlin, Germany (November 3rd-5th). The Berlin Magic Circle have run their competition for 22 years and welcome international entries. Visit www.mzberlin.de for information. 30.9.06

 

The Portsmouth & District Magic Circle have just launched a brand new website: www.portsmouthmagic.co.uk • "Dueling Magicians: Whose Trick Is It Anyway?" Click Here • That's it for this week. Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 30.9.06

 

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