Number 692 - 28th September 2013
Troy's
Story.
Channel 4 have commissioned a six-part magic series, Troy, starring 24 year old
Troy Von Scheibner. The show will be co-produced by Zig Zag Productions
and GroupM Entertainment and will air in 2014 with international
distribution being handled by Endemol. The show's format will feature
Troy performing magic and stunts in front of the public using hidden
cameras in an effort to really capture the 'wow moment' naturally,
together with close-up magic in the studio and a spectacular stunt to
close each show. Nine years ago in MagicWeek I wrote "...and look out
for Troy in the future... the brightest magic talent I have seen for
years" [Click Here].
It's really good to be able to update Troy's story this week. DT.
28.9.13
Current
Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year Piff the Magic Dragon,
following another hit sell-out show in Edinburgh, will be appearing with
his deadpan humour and astonishing magic together with sidekick Mr
Piffles, the World's First Magic Performing Chihuahua™, at the Soho
Theatre, London, from October 15th - 27th. 'Hilariously funny,
tremendously talented, Piff is quite simply delightful.' ★★★★★
Broadway Baby. When asked what the audience could expect from the new
show Piff said, “I will be trying to break the ancient curse of the
magic dragon, while Mr Piffles performs mathematics, translates French,
demonstrates why his heart is heavier than stone and attempts to survive
death by 14 razor sharp wooden spears. This year, we also have two guest
stars: Darren Gold, The World’s First Mind Reading Goldfish and Mr
Fluffles, Mr Piffles’ pet flea who will demonstrate his incredible
strength of brawn and memory provided the environmental health agency
don’t make us de-flea him.” More info
www.sohotheatre.com.
28.9.13
Magic
Moments 13 has come and gone! And what an amazing day it was. Jay
Fortune (pictured here with Cash 4 Kids mascot Courage the Cat),
organiser of the flagship event, reports a fantastic success raising
loads of money for a great cause. "This charity helps disadvantaged and
vulnerable children. In the current economic conditions it's difficult
to ask others who are also suffering hard times to part with money, but
we're delighted so many turned out to help. In no particular order
thanks to Richard Leigh, Steve Sampson, Jamie and Anna from Nickelodeon,
Magic 105.4's Jamie Edwards, Britain's Got Talent comedy star Kev
Orkian, Box of Awesome, OMG for Boys and Girls, Ricky Carusso, Linda
Lusardi, Sam Kane, Debbie Arnold, Katy Kerry, Steve Saunders, Mike
Sullivan, Lynn Whitnall, Pete Sampson, Alex Smale, Emily Jane, Paradise
Dancers, Rye House Go-Karts, Seghire Segways, Peppa Pig, Nik Robson,
Pinky, Lennie, Aaron, Craig, Ty, Cam, Matt Boyles, Keith at PSL, Passion
for Flavour catering, Mayhem Theatre, Hollyoaks' Anna Phillips,
Everyone's A Winner and all of the staff, animals and folks at Paradise
Wildlife Park, our friends at Magic 105.4 and everybody else who helped
make this a truly special Magic Moments. We'll add an update, total
money raised and photo's shortly to our
Magic Moments page here on
MagicWeek."
28.9.13
Card
Magic Course Launched. A complete online card magic video course has
been released by current IBM Close-Up Champion Steve Faulkner. With over
130 professionally shot videos, and many more to come, this is a must
for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge and skill. "Well done
Steve for making this course available at such a reasonable price as I
have no hesitation in saying that it is the best £35 I have ever spent."
Pat Fallon. "...delivered professionally by a guy who knows his
stuff, inside out. In short, it really will make you a better magician!"
Dave Forrest. “Steve has done a great job putting together this
course. I only wish this was available when I was learning” Peter
Wardell. To watch an introductory video and find out more about the
course visit
www.cardmagiccourse.com today! "Steve’s bag of tricks makes him the
magicians’ magician"
Click Here
28.9.13
The
Illusionists. Mike Danata reviews the first performance in the UK
leg of The Illusionists tour, seen in Bournemouth
last Tuesday, this week: "If the show comes near you do not miss it.
It’s fast moving, spectacular, amazing magic. Beautifully produced with
great artists and could herald the return of the big spectacular Magic
Show..."
Click Here to read Mike's full review and see
What's On for
September and October UK tour dates. Mike Danata, as most readers know, runs a
packed to the brim magic studio in Bournemouth:
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk. "The Illusionists - BIC"
Click Here. "The Illusionists – seven of world’s top magicians –
head to Scotland after stunning show left Dubai royalty spellbound"
Click Here.
28.9.13
Need
an injection of spirit? Noel Britten writes, "Perhaps one of the
down sides of being involved in magic whether professionally or as a
hobby is that we can find it difficult to recapture that sense of wonder
that our audiences so often experience. Knowing the techniques that we
achieve our magic through, we can lose sight of what a powerful thing
magic can be, as a vehicle beyond just entertainment and laughter and
become slightly 'wonder-blind'. The Monday daytime session of The London
Festival of Magic (November 11th, The Bridewell Theatre) plans to
redress the balance with an eye opening and inspirational set of
presentations and talks, to explore some of these areas. Whilst there
will be no tricks explained and only one 'performance' during the day, I
defy anyone not to attend this day and come away with a new found
respect for our craft. If you already love magic you will come away
prouder of being a magician and for those who are going through a
'magic-weary' stage it will provide a springboard to get you back on
track. I have organised many events and Conventions and this is the day
that I am proudest of putting together in terms of presenters and
material. I think it should be on everyone's list to attend and as such
I'll offer a personal money back guarantee to anyone who fails to leave
inspired at the end of the day - so what have you got to lose? I promise
this will be a reality and attitude changing day for anyone interested
in, or who cares about how magic is perceived. I really hope, for your
own gain, to see you there." Tickets:
www.internationalmagic.com, where you can also check out the other
days of The Festival programme as there are discounts available for the
more days you book, whether your interests are in close-up magic,
mentalism or street magic, or if want to work on your character,
presentation and showmanship.
28.9.13
Mathematical
Card Magic: Fifty-Two New Effects by Colm Mulcahy. From the
publishers: "Mathematical card effects offer both beginning and
experienced magicians an opportunity to entertain with a minimum of
props. Featuring mostly original creations, Mathematical Card Magic:
Fifty-Two New Effects presents an entertaining look at new
mathematically based card tricks. Each chapter contains four card
effects, generally starting with simple applications of a particular
mathematical principle and ending with more complex ones. Practice a
handful of the introductory effects and, in no time, you’ll establish
your reputation as a 'mathemagician.' Delve a little deeper into each
chapter and the mathematics gets more interesting. The author explains
the mathematics as needed in an easy-to-follow way. He also provides
additional details, background, and suggestions for further
explorations." Mathematical Card Magic may at first sound like a
rather heavy read, and it could have been, but it isn't. If you think back to some
of the most mind-scratchingly amazing magic you've ever seen, then
you'll often find some very clever maths (disguised in the
'presentation') behind it. This is clever stuff. I've only had a short time to dip into this
impressive 380 page volume, but 'wow' there's some really brilliant
magic in here. With a foreword by Max Maven. Highly recommended and
available from Amazon.co.uk (DT)
Click Here.
28.9.13
Superstars
and Superfans - Paul Daniels.
"Brendan Lambe is obsessed with magician Paul Daniels and will go to any
lengths to meet him face to face. What will happen when they finally
meet?" Find out on Superstars and Superfans at
10pm on Tuesday 8th October on TLC. See
TV Magic.
28.9.13
Surrey
Society of Magicians Auction. John Field writes: "One of our members
has decided to 'retire' from Magic and has asked us to auction his
props, books, DVDs etc. There are about 200 items and like so many of us
he appears to have bought the trick, opened it for its secret and then
put it back unused! In other words, many of the items are in pristine
condition. The auction will take place at 8pm on 17th October in
Bookham, Surrey. If anyone is interested in attending they can do so at
no cost. If they contact me I will pass on the venue details and the
list of items." Email: John Field
jope.field@gmail.com.
28.9.13
Christmas
Colour Change Waistcoat, new, from Lee Alex's Magic2Wear: "Only 10
weeks to when the busy Christmas period starts! This is your opportunity
to present a brand new design "Colour Change waistcoat" quick change
into your festive season show. The original Colour Change Waistcoat was
introduced by Lee Alex in 2006 and since then has been performed by
magicians, celebrities, dancers, jugglers, quick change artists,
singers, actors and even a snooker player all over the world, making it
the best selling ready to wear quick change item. This new Christmas
design incorporates the magic of quick change with the familiar "Magic
Painting" theme. A white waistcoat is worn throughout the performance. A
black and white picture of Father Christmas appears on the waistcoat.
After performing your favourite "Magic Painting" routine (optional) the
picture of Father Christmas becomes coloured on the waistcoat. A bright
array of colours and crisp, clean artwork. The waistcoat is made to the
highest standards. For those familiar with the original Colour Change
Waistcoat the technique applied to the 'Christmas Colour Change
Waistcoat' has been altered to allow for an even faster, smoother change
with no risk or fumbling. The waistcoat is supplied with spare buttons
and a pictorial instruction sheet! The waistcoat is available in three
sizes M, L and XL in a new longer length to fit most performers. Only
100 pieces of the 'Christmas Colour Change Waistcoat' available - once
they are gone, they are gone!" To order and find out more visit
www.magic2wear.myshopify.com.
28.9.13
DVDs
allowed! We've made some changes to the terms and conditions for our free
For Sale ads on MagicWeek. The sale
of Magic DVDs is now allowed so long as they are, of course, originals. We have also
changed the number of words allowed from 200 to 250 and have changed the
'maximum one ad per week' rule from 'one' to 'two'. The free classified ads are a great way
to turn unwanted items into magic spending money. MagicWeek and our classified ad section
has never been busier (see For Sale/Wanted) but please
fully read the Terms
and Conditions before submitting your ad. DT.
28.9.13
Channel
4 magic documentary. Film maker Jamie Roberts writes: "Calling all
Magicians or Budding Magicians. Are you struggling to make your dream of
becoming a Magician a reality? Do you want to become bigger than Dynamo?
Are you often on the road touring your routine, giving lectures and
selling tricks? Have you ever had a problem where magic has come between
you and something else in your life? (Religion, friendship, family,
love?) or do you or a friend of yours have a great story to tell? Or are
you currently going through difficult or interesting times? I am
currently developing a documentary for Channel 4 focusing on magicians.
If any of these points to these apply to you or anyone you know then
please get in touch, I would love to meet you and hear your thoughts.
Please contact me via email or telephone -
jamie@visitjamie.com or 0787
983 4562.
28.9.13
The
South London Magic Society is pleased to announce that Scott Penrose
will lecture for the club on Tuesday 1st October at 8pm. As usual all
are welcome, however there is a small fee of £10 payable on the evening.
The venue is South Norwood and Woodside Social Club, 12 Enmore Road,
London SE25 5NQ (Map).
www.southlondonmagic.co.uk.
28.9.13
Jon
Allen lectures for the Society of Irish Magicians, following their
AGM, at 8.45pm on Tuesday, October 1st. The lecture will feature
routines and advice from his acclaimed book and DVD set. Admission is
free for all current members. Non-members welcome for a cover charge of
€20. SIM meeting room, Cassidy’s Hotel, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
28.9.13
Mark
Elsdon is pleased to announce the release of his super-practical Workers
Diary. This audience tested new effect solves all of the problems of
previous versions, making it a must-have for performers who do any kind
of walkaround, banquet or restaurant work. It is available directly from
Mark:
elsdon.blogspot.co.uk. Also, Mark will be performing and lecturing
exclusively at Rodney James Piper's The Deviant convention in
Salou, Spain on October 8th-10th, where he will be presenting exclusive
new material from his forthcoming Equivoque Book and debuting a new
silent comedy routine. The event is 'invitation only', but anyone who is
serious about wanting to attend may contact RJP by emailing
info@rjpentertainment.com.
28.9.13
Following
Chris Dugdale's triumphant return to the Edinburgh Festival in the
summer, which saw his show smash all of his previous box office
records, Chris was flown out to The Seychelles for an exclusive one
night performance of "Magic and Mischief". Last week saw him in
Guernsey, London, Dubai and the Seychelles and next month he will be
supporting Simple Minds and Madness in another special performance.
28.9.13
Dave
Forrest will be presenting his new lecture at Winchester Magical Society
this Thursday, October 3rd. This lecture caters for all skill levels
with a great mix of strong original material featuring a mixture of
close-up and mentalism, with some material suitable for parlour and
nothing technically difficult. Visitors welcome for a nominal £5 fee.
The lecture starts at 8pm at Badger Farm Community Centre, Winchester.
See
www.winchestermagic.com for details. Phil Smith 07545 173038.
28.9.13
Alan
Shaxon Sophisticated Sorcerer: The Life and Magic of an International
Magician. Scott Penrose and Steve Short are completing this book,
with the help of Anne and the Shaxon family, which Alan had almost
finished before he sadly died last year. Scott and Steve will
have a limited lecture tour, visiting clubs to promote the book, in which
Steve will be showing images and film clips of Alan’s life and career in
magic and Scott will be performing and explaining a selection of Alan’s
effects. Contact Steve Short
steve@steve-short.co.uk telephone 07803 125180, for booking details.
28.9.13
Dastardly
Discoveries: A Weird History of Llandovery: Dr Nicolas Grimoire will
be taking the format of his successful new walking tour "Creepy
Carmarthen" to the nearby town of Llandovery this weekend for the annual
Sheep Festival. "One of the organisers joined the walk earlier in the
summer," says Nick, "and was blown away by the 'spooky town tour' and
asked me to recreate it for the festival." The free ninety minute walk,
which leaves the town's Heritage Centre each day at 1pm and 3pm, blends
magic with the bizarre true history of the ancient town including a
Butler who really did commit a murder, the horrible torture and
execution of a true Welsh patriot and a conspiracy to murder which led
to six men being hanged. Oh - and there's the tale of a randy old goat
and a drunken vicar as well. Saturday and Sunday, 28th and 29th
September
www.llandoverysheepfestival.co.uk.
28.9.13
David
Ginn lecture. Brian Banwell writes: Well known Children's
Entertainer David Ginn is doing his only lecture in the west country on
Friday 25th October. 7pm start at the Claverham Church Hall, BS49 4LP
between Bristol and Weston Super Mare. A great night not to be missed.
Tickets £10.50. Refreshments provided. Call Brian on 01934 835275 if you
would like to attend this one off night.
28.9.13
Charity
Magic Show. Magic Circle Member Danny Lee Grew, presented a special
children’s magic show at the Hub Community Centre in Newham recently.
The event raised £300.00 for children’s charity Masons Magic. Mason is 8
years old and has an inoperable brain tumour, the money he raises
through his charity helps other children with brain tumours; spreading
positivity. The event also included character appearances, face painting
and magic themed crafts. It was a huge success with every ticket being
sold.
www.dannyleegrew.com and
www.masonsmagic.co.uk.
28.9.13
John
Calvert. August 5th, 1911 — September 27th, 2013. Sad to report that
the boundless John Calvert died on Friday morning at the age of 102. I
first saw him on stage at an early International Magic Convention making
ping pong balls magically appear, endlessly, out of a line-up of
volunteer's mouths on stage - it looked amazing! John Calvert had an
incredible career in both film and magic. DT. "John Calvert: A Century
of Magic"
Click Here.
28.9.13
"David Copperfield Has No Illusions About His
New Film Prod’n Co. Red Safe"
Click Here • "Magician David Copperfield's $800 Million Fortune Could Make
Him A Future Billionaire"
Click Here • "David Copperfield’s new act: the face of a new line of slot
machines"
Click Here • "Bradford's Dynamo joins other celebrities in pictures at an
exhibition"
Click Here • "The long goodbye"
Click Here • "Saudi illusionist wins prestigious Merlin Award"
Click Here • "Harlow magician shortlisted for English Wedding Awards"
Click Here • "Harry Harwood Garrison, Obituary"
Click Here • "Prepare to be fooled by magician"
Click Here • "That’s Magic!"
Click Here • "Keeping magic alive"
Click Here • Many thanks for all your news this week - see you next week, Duncan.
28.9.13