Number 374 - 25th August 2007

 

Illusionist Russ Stevens flies out to Las Vegas next month where he will perform his complete illusion show at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. As well as starring in the show, Russ is also directing and staging the illusion sequences, which feature some new illusions utilizing five huge LCD screens that make up part of the set. "Putting this show together has been a huge challenge, as it features a cast of 39 girls, plus several illusions that have been built into the set design itself. We also shot material in London last week for some of the illusion effects and that has been very interesting to work on too. Rehearsals have been taking place in London and will continue in Las Vegas once the stage set has been constructed. It's a very exciting time." The show takes place on September 23rd at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. www.russstevens.co.uk. 25.8.07

 

Dynamo - London Lecture. Dynamo lectures for International Magic on Thursday 30th August at their usual venue, Casa Italiana, 136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL (Map). Doors open at 7.15pm and the lecture starts at 7.30pm - entrance £10.00 per person. All those that wish to attend should contact Martin MacMillan on 020 7405 7324 or email martin@internationalmagic.com. 25.8.07

 

The 3rd Commercial Close Up Forum which is taking place at the Ramada Hotel, Peterborough is now just 7 weeks away and a proportion of the limited places have already been snapped up. If you are free on Sunday 14th October 2007 and are interested in commercial close-up, you should consider joining Mark Leveridge, Peter Wardell and Shaun McCree for a day of performances, lectures and discussion designed to inspire. The day is carefully planned to ensure that everyone who attends can get the very most from their day and if the two previous events are anything to go by, attendees are guaranteed a day they will not forget. To read comments and reviews, and to register online, visit www.markleveridge.co.uk. 25.8.07

 

Calling all young magicians. For the past few years, a workshop just for young magicians has been included in the British Ring Convention programme. This year's event will be held on the Saturday afternoon (September 15th) in the Arts Centre Board Room in Lord Street, Southport. Mandy Davis, Chairman of the Young Magicians' Club is, as always, arranging the workshop which this year features David Williamson, Boris Wild (photo) and Joanie Spina. If you are aged between 10 and 18 this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn from some real experts - don't forget to bring a deck of cards! Visit www.britishring.org.uk for convention details and to book. 25.8.07

 

Viktor Voitko, creator of the Flying Linking Rings, recently returned from Korea's 2nd Busan International Magic Festival and the API Magic Convention in Portugal, where his performances and lecture on lighting for invisible thread were a great success. Viktor is currently preparing a second DVD on lighting for invisible thread work, which will feature new material from the live lectures in Korea and Portugal, together with a with questions and answer session. Viktor Voitko has just released a new set of nickel plated Deluxe Flying Linking Rings which look and sound like stainless steel rings. See www.magic-voitko.com for details. Coming soon: The Voitko AF Table, Voitko's Snow Storming Fan and Magic Umbrella transformation. For more information and to order visit: www.magic-voitko.com . 25.8.07

 

Close-up Success Course, DVDs and Seminar - just 6 places remain! Five free DVDs, a 500 page course and a free One Day Seminar - only 6 places remain for the live UK seminar on January 6th 2008 - secure your place now before it really is too late. All course members will also receive a complimentary DVD featuring seminar highlights. Join immediately at www.closeupsuccess.com. "Join the world's most successful magic course - over 90% of members have made profit from this course." "Awesome... Just about the most intelligent piece I've ever read... will save years to someone who would have to do all of this work, study, and research on their own" - Bob Sheets. "You've tried the rest now try the best" - Wayne Dobson. "Without wanting to sound obsequious it is a work of Genius. Bloody brilliant. And I have only skimmed it so far. Simply brilliant." - Matthew Windsor (Magic Matt). "About half-way through the course I very conservatively estimate the information has already gained me £2000 worth of business that I would not otherwise have made. If I take the overall mindset shift it has created in me, and advice on how to tap into new and top markets, I wouldn't know what figure to put on it!" - Daniel Alexander. www.closeupsuccess.com. 25.8.07

 

TrickShop's new 17-page eBook Wiztax takes a fresh look at an old idea and introduces you to a new generation of patented adhesives that can be used as a kind of new and improved, super Wiztax for today’s magician! Learn what it is, how to use it, and where to buy it. Over two dozen effects explained. Plus for a limited time, download customers will also receive 24 pieces of New Wiztax by mail to get them started. www.trickshop.com. This is another beautifully produced photographically illustrated eBook from TrickShop.com; crammed full of material, and excellent value too at just $7.95. 25.8.07

 

"Painfully funny magician is very far from Hokum. Do you believe in magic? Well if you don't, you'd better have another good reason to explain Pete Firman shoving needles through his arm and popping a live mouse into a blender... Very funny and delightfully entertaining, Hokum is over far, far too quickly" To read the full review of Pete Firman's Fringe show Hokum, by Darren Scott in the Scotsman, Click Here. 25.8.07

 

Young Magicians of Mann. Formed in 1987, the club on the Isle of Man will celebrate their 20th birthday with a Dinner and Evening of Magic at the Douglas Bay Yacht Club on the evening of Sunday, 23rd September. Taking part in the entertainment Lexi Watterson (club member and 3rd in the 2007 Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year competition - see photo), Colin Boardman (Past Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year) and Marc Oberon. Tickets £25 from Mike Clague, telephone 01624 878328 email m.clague@doe.gov.im. 25.8.07

 

Lol James (aka Mr Lolly) is expanding his operations by launching a new website for his entertainment agency Lollypop Parties - featuring a broad range of children's entertainers, and lots more. Visit www.lollypopparties.co.uk (designed by www.trilltec.com). 25.8.07

 

Tom's Got Talent! Tom Rose performed his own brand of close-up magic for Simon Cowell, Danielle Lloyd (former Miss Great Britain) and a selection of others at the floating restaurant Hispaniola, on the River Thames last week. Baring a healthy tide and near sea sickness, the magic went down very well. Simon told Tom of his affection for magicians, despite witnessing a succession of terrible auditions for TV's 'Britain's Got Talent' and was pleased to see Tom's brand of contemporary magic going down so well." www.trmagic.com. 25.8.07

 

Chris Cox has been generating excellent reviews for his Edinburgh appearances: www.broadwaybaby.com, www.one4review.com, www.edinburgh-festivals.com. You can keep up with his latest adventures via his blog: Click Here. 25.8.07

 

Mark Leveridge Magic's E-Club. Mark Leveridge emails: "For several years Mark Leveridge Magic has been offering its customers a monthly email newsletter. Appearing on the 1st of each month this includes information about the 5 Web Offers for the coming month plus provides other information of interest to purchasers of Mark Leveridge products. Now the newsletter also contains a link to a monthly online Video newsletter called an E-Video. Provided you have Windows Media Player and are a Broadband user, you can just click on the link and the streaming video will provide you with the latest edition to view. To receive the monthly newsletter you need to join Mark Leveridge Magic's E-Club. Membership is completely free. Simply email us your name, postal address and the email address you wish the newsletters to be sent to and you will be added to the list of hundreds who already currently receive the mailings. We do not use your email address for any other promotional reasons and it is not passed on to any third parties, so it's safe to join." Full details are available from www.markleveridge.co.uk. 25.8.07

 

Mark Worgan lectures at the Southend Sorcerers on Sunday 2nd September (7.30pm for an 8pm start). Guests are welcome (£5 guest fee). Please note a permanent change of venue for the Sorcerers who now meet at the Bell Hotel, Prince Avenue, Southend on Sea, SS2 6RL (Map). 25.8.07

 

Magic Dave and Andy Clockwise are the only UK finalists in the Axtell's Puppet Video Challenge video competition. The competition was open to puppeteers around the world, with each being allowed to submit up to three video performances of themselves featuring an Axtell puppet. Submissions ran from May through to the end of July. The winners will be announced next week (on August 31st). For more information visit www.axtell.com. 25.8.07

 

Terry Herbert - "Gone with the Fairies". Terry Herbert (I've never seen him look so happy) had a great reception whilst lecturing and performing at the recent Family & Children's International Kidabra Convention in Tennessee. Terry had the honour of receiving a framed Diploma proclaiming Saturday 18th August 2007 as Terry Herbert Day following a highly successful lecture, which included an interview with well known New York kid's magician David Kaye aka Silly Billy. In the evening he compered a fantastic Gala Show with a superb array of artistes that included Aye Jaye (The original Ronald McDonald), Magic Al - one of America's top children's entertainers who'll perform at the British Ring Convention this year, Scott Francis - a very funny comedy magician, and Chris Capehart - a sensational magician whose linking ring routine has to be seen to be believed. Three hundred registrants enjoyed four days of in-depth lessons on marketing, branding, and selling, as well as learning many new routines all aimed at the entertainment of children. This highly successful convention has been running for 16 years and is organised and created by Mark and Tami Daniels. www.kidabra.org. 25.8.07

 

TomTom ONE Great Britain GPS v2. Never get lost in the back roads and horrible one-way systems of Britain's town centres again! Brilliantly simple, plug and go technology that really works "straight out of the box", from the market leaders. As used by MagicWeek! Just £149.00 (includes free delivery) from Amazon.co.uk Click Here. (It really does take the stress out of navigating your way to a show.) 25.8.07

 

Magic Car Boot Sale - 2nd September. For over 12 years Alec Powell has hosted a magic car boot sale, twice a year at The Beechmen Circus Warehouse, 43 Union Street, West Bromwich B70 6BP (Map). The next is to take place on Sunday 2nd September 2007 at the same venue, from 9.30am, admission is £4.00. As usual there will be over 20 stalls. It will also be a chance for visitors to see the Fancy Dress and costume hire shop now opened by Alec at the same premises - Fandango Fancy Dress. This is a busy time for Alec with the Kidology Convention which he jointly sponsors with Practical Magic taking place only two days later on Tuesday 4th September in Wolverhampton. There is still time to register for that convention via Practical Magic. See www.practical-magic.com for details. 25.8.07

 

Steve Beam Lecture Tour. Tony Griffith emails: "Due to a number of reasons Steve has had to put back this tour until 2009, and will commence on Monday 4th May (hopefully at The Magic Circle) 2009, ending on or around the 24th May 2009. I will be booking the lecture dates with any clubs interested as from January 2008." tony@tonygriffith.co.uk. 25.8.07

 

Thanks to Drew McAdam for his two Edinburgh Fringe reviews this week, Click Here, and to Ian Keable for his review of One Night in Vegas Click Here • "David Blaine Terrorizes Passersby... Again!" (two videos - watch the lower one first) Click Here • "Tesco bans clown from using balloons" Click Here • "Singapore magician teleports from ground to rooftop of 50-storey building" Click Here • "Magician’s giant wand trouble" Click Here • "Magician to put life on line to catch bullet" Click Here • "Gemma’s living the Vegas dream" Click Here • "'America's Got Talent' Chooses Its Winner" Click Here • "Goth Angel puts the TV magic back in magic" Click Here • "Britain's Got Talent shouldn't have shown 'Dr Gore'" Click Here • "A short history of magic and spiritualism" Click Here • "Wednesday Pick: Mind Control with Derren Brown" Click Here • "Magicians" video message for Amazon.co.uk customers Click Here • That's it for this week, see you next week, Duncan. 25.8.07

 

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