Number 483 - 26th September 2009
Armando
Lucero has just been added to the bill of The International Magic
Convention in London (November 27th-29th). Armando sprung into magical
prominence with his appearance at FISM in Den Haag in 2003. His
phenomenal card work and Matrix was the talk of the Convention. Since
then he has been incredibly busy and this will only be his second
appearance in England. Together with his close-up performance and stage
appearance in the Gala Show, Armando will also be giving a rare lecture
during the course of the weekend. Serious students of close-up magic,
who wish to discover, explore and develop, can sign up for seminars that
Armando will hold during the course of the week following the
Convention. The two day workshop “Pasteboard Devices” will start on
December 2nd, and the five day seminar “Coin Menagerie” will start on
December 4th; both will be held at a central London location. For more
details visit
www.armandolucero.com. The cost of the first workshop is £625, and
the second £2,175 (or £2,500 if both are taken). These workshops are for
the serious of sleight of hand magician. For convention details visit
www.internationalmagic.com.
26.9.09
MAGIC
The Complete Course, by Joshua Jay was officially published in the UK on
21st September 2009. "Here are the ten greatest card
tricks, tricks to dazzle a dinner date, tricks to perform for the boss,
tricks especially for children, and even tricks that can be done over
the phone. But what really sets this book apart is the visual element:
the book includes 500 full-colour photographs that demonstrate each
individual step, and a feature length 2-hour DVD where 35 effects are
performed and taught in great detail. The Master Class section teaches
the subtle nuances that make each trick come alive. Joshua Jay is one of
America's finest young magicians. He has performed and lectured in over
50 countries, is a headliner at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and
writes a monthly column in MAGIC." MAGIC
The Complete Course is a large book featuring 280 27.5cm x 21.5cm
pages, 500+ full-colour photos, and an excellent bonus DVD in which
Joshua performs and teaches 35 tricks from the book, including work on
timing, rhythm and misdirection. This really is a superb publication
destined to set many on a magic course that will last a lifetime.
Click Here to see the magic
Amazon.co.uk have worked on the already excellent value-for-money
cover price too. (DT).
26.9.09
Bristol
bar works its magic to take top industry Award! Illusions Magic Bar
in Kingsdown, Bristol, has been crowned Entertainment Pub of the Year,
seeing off competitors from the country to scoop the top prize in the
Great British Pub Awards 2009. Hundreds of pubs entered the Awards,
organised by industry ‘bible’ the Morning Advertiser, so to win the
national title is a spectacular coup for licensees Mark Bennett and
Sylvie Dagallier. Presenting them with their trophy, Paul Charity,
editor of the Morning Advertiser, said, “Winning one of these Awards is
a tremendous achievement and a testament to Mark and Sylvie’s talent.
Despite the difficulties currently facing the licensed trade, Illusions
is proof that, with imagination and hard work, it is still possible to
attract customers eager to experience a unique atmosphere.” Illusions,
the UK’s only magic bar, was opened two years ago by Mark, a member of
the Magic Circle. Judges commented, “Mark and Sylvie have created a new
style of bar that is genuinely different to anything else in Bristol and
indeed the country. They are to be commended for having the courage to
try something novel and making it an unqualified success.” Mark recalls
friends and family telling him the concept “would never work” and is now
proving them wrong with plans to open a second Illusions Magic Bar.
www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk.
26.9.09
Illusions Magic Bar
presents The Real World Lectures, October 4th, Bristol.
Illusions are launching a new style
of lecture! Aimed at magicians who want to advance their careers with
professional material James Brown, Thom Peterson and Jon Allen, three
full-time performers, will be presenting their own working material in
front of a real audience. They will then breakdown what you've just
watched, into a comprehensive Q&A session. Space is limited to just 50
places, so book now for what promises to be an exceptional event. Prices
are £25 per delegate (£15 for the first 20 to apply) and this will
include tea and coffee and a buffet lunch. Magicians may invite
non-magic guests and their entry will be free as they will be used as
the public audience, but this is on a first come first served basis and
is limited to 20 (note that lay guests will be asked to visit the museum
or Bristol while the Q&A session takes place). Payment must be made by
September 21st and this can be done by phoning Illusions Bar owner Mark
on 0117 9093405 (mobile 07974 005280) for details. It takes place on
Sunday 4th October, doors open 9am, and the lectures will begin at 10am
sharp. The day officially ends at 5pm. The bar will be open from 12 noon
to 12 midnight for those who want to stay and chat. (This
promises to be an exceptional event in great surroundings. DT).
www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk.
26.9.09
Cola
Cap by Axel Hecklau. He's done it again! If you liked the thinking
behind Axel Hecklau's brilliant torn and restored Newspaper "Newsflash"
you will love this one. A factory sealed Coca-Cola bottle is opened and
the bottle cap is examined by a spectator. The contents is poured out
and then the magic happens - the bottle cap penetrates the solid glass
bottle and the spectator can immediately examine everything. Watch the
uncut video demonstration on
www.axelhecklau.com.
26.9.09
Derren Brown: How to
Beat a Casino. 9pm on Friday 2nd October on
Channel 4. "Will Derren's ambitious final event, in which he stakes a
member of the public's money on a casino roulette wheel, see him win
£175,000 for one viewer? After successfully predicting the lottery,
Derren plays lady luck again, taking an unsuspecting viewer on a
heart-stopping journey as they watch him gamble £5,000 of their savings
on the single spin of a roulette wheel. The lucky viewer won't even know
it's their cash until Derren calls them.". See
TV Magic.
26.9.09
Passing
the Hat. BBC Radio 4: "Jolyon Jenkins explores the world of street
performance and busking, and takes to the streets of Cardiff as part of
a course with the School of Busking, founded by Mario Morris. Jolyon
meets fellow students, including a German juggler and a naked
unicyclist, and learns tips from the Geoffrey Durham and Gazzo, the
world's finest exponent of the cups and balls." Listen on iPlayer,
Click
Here (2 days left to listen).
26.9.09
Great
Lives: Houdini. BBC Radio 4: "Matthew Parris presents the
biographical series in which his guests choose someone who has inspired
their lives. Paul Daniels explores the life of Harry Houdini. They are
joined by Houdini biographer William Kalush, who argues that the master
escapologist may have been murdered by spiritualist." Listen on iPlayer,
Click Here.
26.9.09
Quick
Change 2 – the making of a quick change act. 144 pages, hardcover,
9½" x * 6½" (24cm x 17cm), 171 diagrams, drawings and photos. This is
the sequel to Quick Change - rapid costume changes for men.
Translated into English by Lee Alex it is now ready for pre-orders at
www.lexschoppi.com.
In this specialty book you will gain a deep insight into just what goes
in to creating a complete quick change act. Both the costumes and props
are described in detail; including the latest technical innovations.
"The techniques applied here are hard-core and allow the speediest
costume changes 'par excellence'." Background: At the end of 2008 Lex
Schoppi & Alina created a television act which amazed a television
audience of more than 10 million. Now Lex Schoppi has put pen to paper
to allow the reader a complete insight into the complexity of the whole
quick change act. You will get to see the effects from 'behind the
curtain' and understand what really happens within seconds. Apart from
the technical subtleties, the author goes into detail regarding the
correct presentation of the effects described. "You get to see how a
complete quick change act of 12 costumes was developed, how the costumes
work, exactly why they are performed the way they are and how technical
difficulties were overcome. The techniques described in this book allow
the split-second costume changes seen in the legendary television
programme to be performed faultlessly." For more information and to
pre-order visit
www.lexschoppi.com.
26.9.09
David Blaine: What is
Magic? E4 repeat David Blaine's What is
Magic? at 9pm and again at 12 midnight tonight, Saturday 26th. David Blaine travels across America to
perform tricks in the UK premiere of his show What Is Magic? He
visits New Orleans where he carries out a money trick in front of
locals, producing hundreds of dollars at their fingertips before
stopping off in New York to conduct magic in front of Orlando Bloom. But
the jewel in David's crown is his shot at the infamous Bullet Catch;
a trick which sees a 22 calibre bullet being fired at point blank range
directly at the magician, who then has to catch the bullet in a small
metal cup held in his mouth. The stunt is filmed using Phantom Camera
technology which shoots 10,000 frames per second so that not a fraction
of the action is missed. See
TV Magic for details
of this show and two more David Blaine specials.
26.9.09
Paul
Zenon has just completed three gigs at the Orleans Casino in Las
Vegas; audience members included Johnny Thompson, Kevin James, Diane
Zimmerman and Siegfried and Roy, so no pressure! Paul's now running his
Marquee de Sideshow at the Carnival's Edge at Brisbane Festival until
3rd October, featuring The Space Cowboy (Guinness World Record holder
sword-swallower), the Man Who Breathes Through His Eyes, mentalist
Philip Escoffey and Iman, the world's smallest stand-up comedian.
www.paulzenon.com.
26.9.09
NUMB3RS. NUMB3RS
is being repeated at 9pm on Wednesday 7th October on ITV3. Magic Show. Series 5, episode 6. "Detective
drama series about a maths genius recruited by the FBI to solve complex
criminal cases. The agents investigate the disappearance of an
illusionist during a magic act. As details surrounding the case unfold,
Don and his team are left wondering whether the magician's vanishing act
is all that it seems." With cheeky magic boy Penn Jillette. See
TV Magic.
26.9.09
The
Skipton Factor - 16th October. Variety show, The Skipton
Factor, returns for a third year running to raise money for Sue Ryder
Care Manorlands Hospice. The show, organized by magician Mark Waddington
features local talent, and this year, international artistes
too. Starring: Clive Cope - The Comedy Heavyweight and your worthy
Compère, May School of Dance - Energetic and talented young Dancers,
Saxuality - All your favorite sounds of Big Band, Mark Waddington -
Award Winning Cheeky Comedy Conjuring, Urban Circus - Fantastic juggling
dexterity, Dave Dean - The King of Swing and Skipton Factor Favorite,
Amethyst - International Magic and Illusions (photo). Friday, 16th October.
Skipton Town Hall. 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 for adults and £4 for under 12's
-
available by calling 01756 792879 or emailing
info@skiptonmagician.co.uk.
26.9.09
Granada
Television Memories. At the headquarters of Blackpool Magicians’
Club on 26th November legendary television producer Johnnie Hamp will be
relating his memories of working for Granada Television where he
produced and directed many ground-breaking shows. He is particularly
well-known for The Comedians, set in a working-men’s club, which
was the starting point to stardom for many stand-up comics. Another of
the more than 2000 television programmes he devised was The
Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, also set in a working men’s
club, which gave Paul Daniels his first major television appearance. He
also produced the Paul Daniels’ Blackpool Bonanza.
www.blackpoolmagic.com.
26.9.09
Merlins
of Wakefield are now stocking CSI - Coffee Shop Illusion by Lebanon
Magic. They are the only bricks and mortar shop in the UK to stock this
great effect. Dan at Lebanon Magic will be introducing new items over
the next few months, and Merlins will be stocking them when available,
so keep checking the website for details
www.merlinswakefield.com. The Lebanon Magic effects will complement
their UK exclusive range from Outlaw Magic and will appeal to anyone
wanting something unique for their mentalism or bizarre magic routines.
www.merlinswakefield.com.
26.9.09
Dave
Bonsall’s Ring Flight Revolution was officially released last week
and John Lovick will be reviewing it in the October edition of Magic
Magazine. "It’s already being used by many of the world’s top
professionals and pre-release sales have earned rave reviews on the
forums. It comes with a DVD, a 2-year warranty and a 1-month trial
period." Visit
www.ringflightrevolution.com for more information.
26.9.09
Craig
Petty Lecture - Newcastle. Newcastle upon Tyne Magic Circle's next
visiting lecturer is Craig Petty, at 7.30pm on Monday 28th September:
"Craig specialises in coin magic and has produced many DVDs including,
Flipped Out, Attack of the Bag, Return of the Bag, Split Happens,
Quarantine and effects like Blank, Mirage and Pentacle to name but a
few. This will be a top lecture and won't be all coins, so everyone is
bound to get something out of it! If you are a member of another magical
society then admission is £5, if not then it's £15" Venue: The Copthorne
Hotel, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3RT (Map).
Free secure car parking (hand ticket in at reception as you are leaving
and they cancel the charge). For more info email Martin Duffy
martin@martinduffy.com or
call 0191 237 6240.
26.9.09
Perth
Magic Circle 60th Anniversary Dinner and Cabaret: "To mark our 60th
anniversary, we extend a warm invitation to all magicians to join us for
what will be a great night! The Cabaret will feature the wonderful
comedy juggling of Michael Pearce plus '5th Dimension' will make a
welcome return to the Scottish Magic scene after continually working the
Corporate scene for the past 4 years. Dress casual, but smart!" Adrian
Harris. Friday 16th April 2010. Venue: The Grampian hotel, York Place,
Perth PH1 1QZ (Map)
www.perthmagiccircle.co.uk.
26.9.09
Peter
Scarlett, a member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star and The
International Brotherhood of Magicians, will be lecturing on all aspects
of trade show magic in a lecture entitled "Tricks of the Trade" at the
South Downs Magicians, on Wednesday 7th October at 8pm at Handcross
Parish Hall, High Street, Handcross, West Sussex RH17 6BJ (Map).
Visiting magicians welcome - £5 on the door. Further information:
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk
www.peterscarlett.com.
26.9.09
Momentum
Magic - A Gala show of Magic and Illusion for the whole family.
Saturday 3rd October 2009 is the second Magic Moments Day; a day where
magicians up and down the country present magic (anywhere) to raise
awareness of this art and to raise money for their chosen charity.
London Magic Producer Richard Leigh, for the second year, presents a
Gala Magic Show in aid of
Momentum, a
charity based at the Kingston Hospital supporting terminally ill
children and their families. This is Momentum's fifth anniversary as a
charity. The show stars Benson, Oliver Tabor, Humphrey James, Darren
Hoskins, Kieron Kirkland, Paul Brown and Richard Leigh. Momentum Magic,
Kingston Grammar School Theatre, London Road, Kingston Upon Thames,
Surrey KT2 6PY (Map).
Saturday 3rd October at 6pm. Tickets: Adults £10.00, Children and
concessions £7.00, Groups of 4 or more children £5.00 each. Box Office:
020 8974 5931.
26.9.09
Magician
Mike Fairall helped raise £184,000 for Gt Ormond Street Hospital
last Thursday at a charity event. Ronnie Corbett was delighted with
Mike's close-up magic and has invited him to perform at his birthday
party in London later this year.
www.magicmiracles.co.uk.
26.9.09
Andrew
Van Buren and his team have just returned from another successful
season Dubai where their show was geared to a truly international
audience. "Effects and presentation always have to be carefully
developed and formatted for the Middle East audiences, making sure that
cultures never clash." said Andrew. This season is followed closely by a
return to cruising and a new video project.
26.9.09
Magic
Wedding. "Had a wonderful day full of magic and mayhem with
magicians aplenty and Ace the magic rabbit making an appearance at the
church. Delighted to leave the service to a guard of honour of confetti
magic wands and many wishes from across the country from magical friends
unable to join us. Another highlight was to meet a Sri Lankan magician
on our honeymoon and are in the process of forging a link with his
magician friends at the Sri Lankan Magic Circle to ACES Magic Society in
Sussex." Nicky Lewis.
26.9.09
The
Paul Ormonde Illusion Show that
was to have taken place on November 7th has had to be cancelled due to
unforeseen circumstances. It has been rescheduled for November 6th,
2010.
www.paulormonde.com.
26.9.09
Magic Open Mic Night - Portsmouth. Sunday 27th September at The Raglan Room's, The Alma, 193 Highland Road, Eastney, Portsmouth. Doors open at 7pm. Admission: £3.00 (anyone performing will get 4 free tickets), 80 seated - plus standing room for 20. Contact: darren@themagicattic.co.uk for more info. www.events.themagicattic.co.uk or Facebook. 26.9.09
"Magician unveiled as celebrity endorser" Click Here • The Magic Cavern is seven years old this month - see What's On for upcoming show dates • "Magic is having a moment" Click Here • "A Magical Day with Wizbit & Paul Daniels!" - Book signing, 12 noon today, Borders, Preston, Click Here • "Accolade for North Devon magician" Click Here • "Irish magician Keith Barry's grandfather dies after robbery at home in Ireland" Click Here • "Grandfather of entertainer dies" Click Here • Henry Lewis writes about his recent trip to Chicago, Click Here • 70 Years of Pure Magic - D May reviews the Nottingham Guild of Magicians' recent show, Click Here • "Hundreds of magicians are in Southport for the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magician’s 73rd annual convention" Click Here • "Show Review: Rick Thomas" Click Here • "Discovery Sets Real-Life Mentalist Series" Click Here • Many thanks for your news submissions - always welcomed (please remember the strict Friday 12 noon deadline). See you next week, Duncan. 26.9.09