Number 343 - 20th January 2007
Gary
Young's 2nd Corporate Zone Magic Day - next Sunday! Seth
Kramer presents a talk on Trade Shows, Paul Stone
presents "Magic - It's
the Business", Jon Armstrong, "Corporate Branding" and
Mark Worgan, "Team Building". Plus a full Q & A session.
Sunday 28th January. Registration £70.00 in advance only - hurry!
www.corporatezonemagicday.co.uk.
20.1.07
Derren
Brown: The Gathering is being shown again on Thursday 1st February, on
E4. In this show Derren works in front of an invited audience of magic experts and
celebrity fans presenting a one-hour fusion of magic, suggestion, psychology and
misdirection. "I've always loved performing live and
of course it gives people a chance to see that everything's fair. The
audience will be made up of interested parties; some famous faces, some
psychics, magicians, psychologists and so on. Part of the fun of it for me
is having very little control over who I use on stage. The volunteers will
all be randomly selected." The televised version of Derren's hit show
Something Wicked This Way Comes, screened for the first time just a
couple of weeks ago, brilliantly captured the very palpable excitement and
amazement that he generates during a live show. See
TV Magic.
20.1.07
Hey
Presto! Magic Show. Bradford Magic Circle present their annual family
magic show on Saturday 14th April at 7.30pm at the Bingly Arts Centre.
Tickets £6.00, £5.00 children/concessions. Box Office: 01274 432000.
Starring Harlequin, High Jinx, Ross Risdon, Daryl Hackett, Vizage,
Spotlight Dancers and from the USA Greg Wilson. Greg will also be
lecturing at the Bradford Magic Circle on Friday 13th April (Non members
welcome, £7.00 on the door). For further details of the Hey Presto Show or
the Greg Wilson Lecture visit:
www.bradfordmagiccircle.co.uk.
20.1.07
International
News: 'A Magickal Life: Jeff McBride' to Air on Canada's Vision TV.
Magician and teacher Jeff McBride is among the first to be profiled on
"Enigma" the new documentary series on Canada's Vistion TV. The
documentary begins with a teenaged Jeff McBride performing his magic at
the Orange County Fair in upstate New York. By his twenties, McBride was
opening for rock bands like Cheap Trick, touring with Diana Ross and
headlining at The Hilton in Las Vegas. But at the height of his success,
this young illusionist was overcome by the urge to explore new territory.
So began his search for the source of real magic: a journey to the
mythological roots of this art form that would lead deep into the worlds
of neo-paganism, drum circles and fire rituals. "Magic is about
transformation," he says. "It reminds us that everything changes -
including ourselves." Filmed mostly in and around Las Vegas during the
spring of 2006, "A Magickal Life" takes viewers on a stroll down the Las
Vegas Strip, into one of McBride's Master Classes, onto the stage at The
World's Greatest Magic show, to local fire circle celebration, to the
Burning Man Festival, and to numerous other fascinating locales.
Interviewed are McBride, fellow magicians Lance Burton and Eugene Burger
and many others. For further information on Jeff McBride, visit
www.mcbridemagic.com.
To learn more about Enigma and view a clip from the show, visit
www.visiontv.ca.
20.1.07
The Lightning Switch Finale.
Jay Scott Berry writes: "This has become one of my absolute favorite
effects. I've performed it under virtually every situation from strolling
to stage, for screaming kids at parties to screaming executives at trade
shows (not that much difference really). The effect is clean, strong and
very surprising. Plus, it's easy to do, which is always nice. You borrow
or take out a £20 note for inspection. Slowly and deliberately, you fold
it into a small packet. Then, instantly it transforms into a large £20
note silk! This can be shown on both sides with no trace of the original
note." Now available in 3 different versions, visit
www.jayscottberry.com/ukspecials1.aspx for more information.
20.1.07
Peterborough
Society of Magicians 19th Annual Sale, Exchange and Lecture Day.
Sunday 25th March 2007, 10am-5pm. Admission £12 (free stand if required).
Concessions £6 (partners and under-16s). All stands must be booked in
advance. Refreshments available. Free parking. Lectures from Marc Oberon
and Alexander Allen. Workshops with Al Smith. Meet old friends and make
new ones and sell off some surplus props. Dealers welcome. For
details/bookings contact Keith Downs, 77 Eastgate, Deeping St. James,
Peterborough PE6 8HH. Telephone 01778 343167.
www.psmagicians.org.uk.
20.1.07
Sitgmata
is a new set of effects put together by The Black Hart: "The idea for this
came during a telephone call from one of my regular customers, Lionel
Smith. The 'Stigmata' set comes complete with a 'Pentagram Change Bag' and
a 'Bleeding Candle' and also the extras needed to present this as a séance
item, or as a 'coffee table' effect, for friends on a dark and stormy
winter's night! I like the idea of combining different effects into a
routine and presentation and despite the hard work involved I very much
enjoy the challenge." Visit
www.blackhart.co.uk
for more information.
20.1.07
TV
Trickster Paul's Treat For OAPs. "A television trickster has conjured
up a panto treat for a group of Pendle pensioners. Former Earby lad and
pupil at Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton, Paul Zenon (42), a celebrity
magician and comedian, will be returning to his home town to complete his
own magic circle by treating the pensioner responsible for sparking off
his showbusiness career to a trip to a top pantomime..." To read the full
story in Pendle Today
Click Here.
20.1.07
Blackpool
Magic Convention Update: Just 100 Gold Card Registrations now remain,
and these are expected to sell out within the next 7 days due to record
business. All VIP Registrations sold out months ago, and this year
visitors are coming from Iceland, South Africa, Iran and, in fact, all
four corners of the Earth! It is going to be a goodie!
www.blackpoolmagic.com.
20.1.07
Jez
Rose emails "I am currently in the process of moving and have a few of
my beginners mind reading DVDs left which I would like to clear before the
move. I'm offering these at only £6.50 including P&P. These make an ideal
gift for the new to mind reading and also make great room drops for
corporate events etc. I will be leaving the magic scene at the end of the
month and therefore the opportunity exists for you to sell these with no
competition. Wholesale enquiries welcomed." Contact
jez@jezrose.co.uk.
20.1.07
At
The Liverpool Magic Circle AGM on 18th January Bob Gurney was elected
President. The club now meet at The Alder Sports Club, Alder Road,
Liverpool L12 2BA (Map)
in a perfect room featuring a stage and lighting; which will allow the
club to present shows and dealer days. Membership is open to all magicians
and visiting magicians are always welcomed. They meet on the 1st and 3rd
Thursday of each month, and the first meeting in the new venue will be at
7.30pm (for 8pm) on 1st February. For more information contact Bob Gurney
on 07876 492665 or
bobsmagic@ntlworld.com.
20.1.07
Jon
Armstrong Lecture Tour. One of America's top magicians Jon has worked
all over the world including Disney's Epcot Centre and Caesar's Magical
Empire in Las Vegas. Jon's lecture debuted at the International Convention
last year and everyone who saw it immediately wanted to book him! The
lecture is a mix of magic effects, moves and thoughts, with something to
suit everyone - his one-handed double lift has been described as a "must
see." To book Jon for your club, or for information on up-coming dates so
that you can see him, contact tour organiser Kerry Scorah, on 07876
332933, email
kerry@kerryscorah.co.uk.
20.1.07
Stage
duo Illusion will be appearing live at the Reebok Stadium in
Bolton on Friday 16th February 2007. This spectacular charity event
promises to be a laughter filled show from start to finish.
Illusion who have recently completed a 13 week Summer Season in
Blackpool can't wait to be the first illusion act to appear at the
stadium. Tickets cost £45 and are available from the Bolton Evening News
Ticketline or by visiting
www.boltonnews.co.uk.
20.1.07
Quick
Change - Second edition just published! Quick Change was an
instant hit when first published, being snapped up by magicians and
illusionists worldwide. Famous Las Vegas illusionists, and “Cirque du
Soleil” ranking amongst the list of enthusiastic readers. "Quick Change is
an essential text book for every stage magician, and I highly recommend
it." Jim Steinmeyer. The author was seen in London recently, closing the
gala show at the International Magic Convention in London. Visit
www.quickchange.de
for more information and to order.
20.1.07
Graham
Lee has just returned from a trip to the States where he was awarded
first place in the Diamond Jam Balloon Convention's Stage Competition,
earning the title "Star Stage Performer of The Year 2007". Ten acts
competed in all - four from Japan, five from America, and one from
England! Graham has a couple of "Care & Share" days coming up: in Sutton
on Wednesday 31st January and in Rotherham on Wednesday 21st February
Click Here.
20.1.07
Manchester
Circle of Magicians AGM. At the Annual General Meeting of Manchester
Circle of Magicians attended by 150 members the following Officers were
elected: President: Geoff Berry, President Elect: Anne Lever, Secretary:
Derek Lever, Asst. Secretary: Anne Lever, Treasurer: Phil Tilston, Editor:
Walter De Ruyter, Welfare Officer: Geoff Berry, Video Librarian: Judith
Berry. Junior Section Organiser: Don George. The members were then
entertained by a Giant Dealer Demonstration featuring Kaymar Magic (Alban
Unsworth), Made To Measure Magic (David Baxter), Master of Mystery (Adrian
Sullivan) and King Entertainments (Andrew Normansell). The next event on
Monday 29th January is the Jumbo Magic Auction, commencing at 6.30pm.
20.1.07
Christmas
in Benidorm - Celebration at the Palace! Mike Danata reports,
Click Here • "Magicfest
returns with mind-boggling trickery"
Click Here • "Show Review: 'The Mac King Comedy Show'"
Click Here • "Red Skelton's beloved characters come alive in friend's
stage tribute"
Click Here • Herbert L Becker, author of 1995's "All the Secrets of
Magic Revealed" plans to release "Magic secrets of David Blaine: The
Street Magician Revealed" in 2008 • I had a little prop and magazine
clear-out last week via the MagicWeek
For Sale page - within hours
everything was gone! Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next
week, Duncan. 20.1.07