Number 564 - 16th April 2011

 

Shoot Ogawa UK Lecture Tour. Celebrating 25 years of performing magic, Shoot Ogawa returns to the UK to present his new lecture, ‘The Shot’. It’s over five years since Shoot's last UK lecture tour, and this year’s will include several new (and brilliant!) effects using cards, coins and, of course, rings. ‘The Shot’ will also be the title of a special DVD to accompany the tour. This is a great opportunity to see one of magic's finest, performing his greatest effects live. Shoot Ogawa will lecture at the following Magic Clubs and Societies:
The Magic Circle: Monday 11th July
Medway Magic Society: Tuesday 12th July
Sussex Magic Circle: Wednesday 13th July
Portsmouth Magic Circle: Thursday 14th July
Cardiff Magical Society: Friday 15th July
Nottingham Guild of Magicians: Sunday 17th July
Manchester Circle of Magicians: Monday 18th July
Blackpool Magicians Club: Tuesday 19th July
Cotswold Magical Society: Wednesday 20th July
Newcastle Magic Circle: Thursday 21st July
Aberdeen Magical Society: Saturday 23rd July
For tour information contact organiser, Sean Lobban: mistertall@mistertall.co.uk and for admission enquiries for non-members contact the actual clubs themselves; see Magic Societies.
16.4.11

 

Derren Brown: Miracles for Sale, 9pm on Monday 25th April on Channel 4. "Innovative entertainer Derren Brown returns to Channel 4 in a unique TV experiment that lifts the lid on faith healing. Derren goes undercover to investigate the reality behind the faith healing phenomenon in America and the belief in faith-inspiring miraculous recoveries. With the cameras in hot pursuit, Derren faces his toughest project yet, going in search of an unsuspecting member of the British public prepared to adopt the guise of a pastor and miracle worker. His chosen one then has six months to learn the trade and flourish across the pond as a convincing pastor. The final phase of the volunteer's extraordinary challenge sees them attempt to perform faith healing miracles live in Texas, but will Derren's new recruit be accepted as a faith healer or cast away as fake healer? Is the belief in divine intervention really justified, or will Derren expose the industry as one giant hoax?" See TV Magic. 16.4.11

 

Tinchy Stryder: Under Pressure, 11pm on Monday, 25th April on ITV2. Tinchy Stryder is about to face his toughest ever performance as he attempts to become a street magician: "The Prince of Grime has just three weeks to learn the tricks of the trade before putting on an outdoor show in front of hundreds, climaxing with a 50 foot high upside down straight jacket escape, made famous by Harry Houdini. Along the way, Tinchy must learn some of the darkest secrets of magic, including card tricks and the art of escapology. He will have to overcome his inhibitions and learn to engage with the audience. The earnest rapper has to attempt stand up comedy, opening for comedian Andi Osho. Mentored by top magician Nigel Mead, Tinchy has to overcome his deepest fears if he is to succeed. He has a fear of falling on his head, a fear of performing to audiences outside his usual rap crowd and, most of all, a fear of losing his tough image as a cool rapper. He has to learn to ditch the street smart image and show a more vulnerable side of himself or else the audience will never buy into his magic." See TV Magic. 16.4.11

 

Midlands Magic Day. WarpedMagic.co.uk are organising a new Magic Dealers Day in the Midlands on August 28th at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull: "The aim of the day is to give Dealers a specialist day to showcase their goods, with plans to hold this as an annual event, expanding year by year to include lectures, workshops and magicians showcasing their talents. We will be able to accommodate 40+ Dealers on the day. We have decided to use the day to support a local charity, the Acorns Children’s Hospice. We have pledged that 50% of the proceeds of the day will be forwarded direct to Acorns, and we are proposing to hold a fundraising raffle from Dealer donations, 100% of the proceeds of this and other fundraising items will go direct to Acorns. Quite a few dealers have already signed up, with more expected soon. Dealers and visitors can pre-book stalls and tickets from www.magicday.co.uk. For our first day we will be holding three lectures and already have firm bookings with Paul Gordon and Michael Vincent and we are awaiting confirmation from a third magician..." Visit www.magicday.co.uk for updates or email genie@warpedmagic.co.uk. www.warpedmagic.co.uk. 16.4.11

 

Magic Moments 2011 Zimbabwe Orphan Appeal. Magic Moments update: We are working with the Zimbabwe WI to bring magic to the orphans and Magic Moments needs your help. We've all got a trick or two tucked away in a drawer that we no longer use. Please take your unwanted magic tricks (and please make sure they have instructions with them), grab a jiffy bag, copy the following address on it, whack on a stamp, and on your lunch break bung it in a letter box, smiling knowing you've helped bring a moment of magic into somebody's life. Getting parcels through to the children in this country is difficult and dangerous and we are working closely with our contacts who ensure that the gifts you send will reach the orphaned children. Sue Van Neikerk, from Kariba, Zimbabwe emailed ' ...this is very exciting! Of course the children could do with a bit of magic in their lives!' We're often asked by magicians how they can get involved with Magic Moments besides putting on an actual magic show, and this appeal is a great way to be part of it. Ideally, we're looking for magic tricks that are not complex and that would be suitable for children from 6 - 18 years old. Send your gift to Magic Moments, c/o 24 Cambridge Road, Torquay, Devon TQ1 4QN. We'll be sending all of the donated magic tricks on this year's Magic Moments Day which is Saturday 1st October. Thank you - Jay Fortune and the Magic Moments Team. 16.4.11

 

The Leamington and Warwick Magic Society's Day of Magic is being held at the Cubbington Sports & Social Club, Windmill Hill, Cubbington, Leamington Spa CV32 7LN (Map) on Wednesday 22nd June. Admission £20.00, includes breakfast for early morning arrivals, a lunchtime buffet and evening BBQ weather permitting for all pre-paid tickets. With lectures from Paul Gordon (cards), Colin Dymond (Putting puppets into your act) and Andrew Normansell (mentalism), plus various workshops throughout the day. Followed by the evening Midlands Champion of Champions Close-up Competition. Plus magic dealers: Merlins, World Magic Shop, Graham Lee, Adrian Sullivan, Heidi's Costumes, Albion Magic, Keith Bennett, Andrew Normansell and Razamatazz Magic. Free Parking. For ticket reservations contact: Mick McCreath 07581 533397. 16.4.11

 

Royal Wedding Playing Cards. If that expected wedding invitation still hasn't arrived don’t despair, get the next best thing, a deck of Royal Wedding Playing Cards, now available from The Card Collection, www.cards4magic.co.uk (see 'New Lines Just In'). Available from Carta Mundi in bridge size and Piatnik in poker size - each card features a different photo. 16.4.11

 

Handle with Carey, is the brand new DVD from RSVPMagic: "Featuring 11 superb routines from John Carey, all of the effects are from John's working material and all have been worked and refined for many years. This not only makes them extremely practical for all conditions, but also hard hitting and extremely direct. This DVD runs for over two hours, representing great value for money. 'John Carey has a knack for creating strong, direct card miracles using simple and devious methods. The routines shine brightly in the real world' John Guastaferro" Running time over 2 hours! Watch the DVD trailer and see for yourself! www.rsvpmagic.com (All pre-orders will receive an additional free bonus DVD featuring 3 routines that couldn't fit onto the main disc - this is will be a limited collectors' edition, only available for those who pre-order). Watch three unedited performance clips Here, Here and Here. 16.4.11

 

Congratulations to Craig Longhurst, Surrey Society of Magicians Close-up Magician 2011. "Craig performed his 'technically brilliant' act to a capacity audience at the Bookham Grange Hotel, Surrey. The standard of entries was again very high, with James Fortune taking 2nd place, and Clive Hyams 3rd. Judges were John Kenton AIMC, Roger Chown (Rose Theatre, Kingston), and his partner." www.craiglonghurst.com. 16.4.11

 

The Card Solutions of Solomon - 3 Disc DVD Set! Coming soon from BigBlindMedia: "At just £27.99 this 3 DVD set is crazy value for money. Plus for readers of MagicWeek we are gonna throw in Alan Rorrison's 'Sigillum Diaboli' DVD (his work on the Card Warp routine) free! Just quote 'MagicWeek' when you order. David Solomon is one of the most respected and revered card magicians in magic today. With a compelling approach to handlings and method, plus a razor sharp attention to detail, Solomon's routines are performed by amateurs and experts all over the world. he Card Solutions Of David Solomon is a 3 disc extravaganza that explores the best and the brightest of his excellent repertoire. Featuring a mammoth twenty three effects this set will provide material that will excite everyone from beginners to advanced cardistry experts. In addition to learning excellent routines you will also gain a valuable insight into the creative thinking and problem solving techniques that David Solomon employs to such devastating effect. With crystal clear instruction honed over many years of lecturing all over the globe, this is a definitive guide to great card magic. 'You'll enjoy not just the trick itself, but the thinking behind it.' John Bannon. 3 Discs. 23 Effects. Nearly four hours of incredible card magic. Get ready to learn the Card Solutions of Solomon!" Pre-order today via www.bigblindmedia.com (released date: May 16th). 16.4.11

 

Bob Yelland talk, Strategic Marketing For Magicians at the HCMS, Reading, on April 21st: "How do you plan to grow your income in 2011? Do you pro-actively shape the type of engagements you receive or do you let fate decide? Are you dependent upon repeat bookings and the limited success of haphazard prospecting activity? Are you tired of enquiries seeking the lowest priced performers? If so, this thought provoking lecture is for you. Bob Yelland - Strategic Marketing For Magicians has been met with great reviews and discussions previously. A Chartered Marketer with over 20 years experience within a large multi-national company. He is also a keen amateur magician. In his lecture he will apply marketing techniques and strategies used by successful companies to a one-person magic business. He'll look at how a magician might go about getting more profitable bookings, increase their fees and attract the right customers for their services. This is a business lecture with no tricks that will challenge you to think seriously about your own business aspirations and potential. Non members are welcome at this lecture, a £8.00 charge will apply to any non members attending. Doors open 7:30, lecture starts 8pm. Please see the Programme and Lectures Page for full info. - www.hcms.org.uk". 16.4.11

 

Andy Nyman presents - Mindreader' Andy Nyman's iPhone App 'Mindreader' is available now (Click Here), adhering to Andy's "Simple to do... amazing to view" philosophy it's a very clean mentalism trick that is utterly fooling and unlike most Apps doesn't generate an "oh isn't the computer clever" type response - this one is about you being the magician. It is on sale for the first month for just 59p! 16.4.11

 

Steve Clements is Coventry Magic Circle's Aries Close-up Competition winner for 2011. Jon Stringer reports: "Steve gave an excellent performance which included a superb routine with spoons. Photo: Ian Milton (Vice President) presenting the Aries Close-up Shield. Congratulations. Thanks to the judges - Steve Evans, Dave Taylor and Sue Oakley and all members who took part and supported the event. www.coventrymagiccircle.co.uk. 16.4.11

 

James Prince will present a ‘Menu of Miracles’ at the Blackpool Magicians’ Club HQ on Thursday 28th April. He will be showing items from his recently released DVDs. These will include his sensational ‘Ring in Pepper Pot’ in which a borrowed finger ring vanishes to reappear on the stem inside a clear pepper mill, and ‘Mirrors’, the magical transformation of a pack of cards into five mirrors. His ‘Bill in Kiwi’ amazes audiences when a borrowed banknote vanishes and it then found inside a kiwi fruit! Other items James will be showing are ‘Repeat Traveller’, a variation of Jennings’ ‘Ambidextrous Travellers’, a quick routine for the ‘Cups & Balls’, and a sensational ‘Signed Card Through Window’. And that will not be all! For anyone into close-up or restaurant magic this lecture will be one not to be missed. Open to all members and associates, the headquarters of the Blackpool Magicians’ Club is to the rear of No1 Sherbourne Road, North Shore, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 2PW (Map). Doors open from 6.30pm. 16.4.11

 

The Scottish Conjurers' Association are delighted to host a lecture by Jay Scott Berry on Wednesday April 20th at their club rooms The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow G10 0QF (Map). The lecture begins at 7.30pm. Admission to non members is £10. 16.4.11

 

Magician Peter Moran’s pastry is so light it floats (that'll be down to his special formula self-raising flour!). Peter has been competing in Britain’s Best Dish recently recorded for ITV and you'll be able to follow his progress commencing Monday April 18th. Peter has a speciality, his cheese and onion tartlet, and it was closely scrutinised by show judges Michelin starred John Burton-Race, Jilly Goolden and Restaurateur Ed Baines on the programme fronted by Mary Nightingale. ITV visited Manchester to film Peter presenting one of his Magic Shows at a local venue, Prestwich Arts College, where he entertained staff and pupils. Peter is a member the British Ring of the IBM and The Order of The Magi. 16.4.11

 

British Ring Dinner. Reported by Geoffrey Newton: On the 9th April British Ring President Keith Cooper and his Lady, Pam welcomed 90 guests to their dinner at the Tillington Hall Hotel in Stafford. The tables were very attractively laid out on a red, gold and glitter theme with playing card centre pieces and floating star balloons. After a first class meal, short and witty speeches followed from Moira Fletcher, the President and Pippa Heath. Cabaret time now and compère Michael Carr introduced the Risky Business dancers to literally set the pace for what was to come. Opening was in my opinion a rising star, Mandy Fletcher with good movement and colourful magic. Following on the suave dove magic of Scott Penrose. Then came Shadowography from Paul Debek making an interesting diversion from magic. The seat gripping illusions of Diamond and Jade brought this most successful evening to a close. It’s back to work now for the committee putting together the final touches for the Southport convention (22nd – 25th September) and details are on www.magicconvention.co.uk. Geoffrey Newton PRO. 16.4.11

 

Popular Scottish Comedy Magic Entertainer Paul Brignall will once again be entertaining audiences on the Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos this summer throughout the season with his close-up magic, cabaret and music shows in the resorts of Kalamaki, Laganas, Tsilivi and Argassi. Be sure to say 'hello' if you are holidaying on the island. 16.4.11

 

Matchbox Puppets. Alan & Brenda Stockwell email: "Children’s entertainers and parents may like to know about our new publication Matchbox Puppets which is an A4 book of some sixty different characters. The concept is that the selected puppet in line-drawing form is copied on to A4 cardboard (2 per puppet), coloured as required and cut-out. Using a simply prepared household-size matchbox the puppet’s mouth can be made to open and close as if talking. A boon for budding ventriloquists! We were professional puppeteers for over forty years conducting many workshops for teachers showing various easy-to-make puppets. The matchbox puppet was always highly popular. The assortment of puppets, which are all made up in a similar manner, make the book suitable for a wide range of ages. The book is available from www.amazon.co.uk. For further details visit www.vesperhawk.com. 16.4.11

 

Do you lecture for magic clubs? Ask about a link on our Magic Lecturers page! 9.4.11

 

UK Close-Up Magician Steve Sherrrington is pleased to announce the release of his first publication Don't Waste Your Time: "This eBook contains 8 great close-up routines that combine Steve's unique sleight-of-hand and comedy." Click Here for details. 16.4.11

 

2nd Lincolnshire Day of Magic due to take place on 26th June has had to be cancelled. Organiser Paul Cooke emails: "It is with regret that I write to inform all that due to my consultancy work commitments I will not be able to run the Lincs Day of Magic this year. We do however plan to hold the convention again in 2012." 16.4.11

 

"20 things you didn’t know about Derren Brown" Click Here • "Britain’s Got Talent 2011: Ant and Dec Q&A" Click Here • Peterborough Society Of Magicians 23d Annual Sale, Exchange and Lecture Day is reported by Al Smith this week, Click Here • "Australian celebrity magician Christopher Wayne to perform stunt at Easterfest" Click Here • "75 Abandoned Theaters From Around The USA" Click Here • "I'm a celebrity, rent my island!" Click Here • Many thanks for your news this week, see you next week, Duncan. 16.4.11

 

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