Number 160 - 19th July 2003
Many
congratulations to Paul Dabek winner of this year's Magic Circle Young
Magician of the Year Competition (seen here being presented with the
Derrick Speight winner's trophy by Magic Circle president Michael Bailey). Eight
competitors made it through to the finals last Sunday in a competition
that was solid throughout. Ed Crafer placed 2nd and Joe Tracini 3rd.
Expect to see much more of all the competitors in the future - they did a
great job.
19.7.03
International
Magic once again present an informal weekend of close-up magic at the
Holiday Inn, Kings Cross, London on Saturday and Sunday, 6th and 7th
December 2003. Their close-up competition reaches its 20th year this
December and they've renamed the trophy "The Kevin Reay Close-up Award" as
a tribute to, and in memory of, Kevin, who was their first ever winner back
in 1984 and who died tragically last month. The competition is now open
for entries, Telephone 020 7405 7324 or visit:
www.internationalmagic.com. Jeff Sheridan lectures for International
today - see last week's news.
19.7.03
The
Scandinavian Magic Circle have just emailed with news of their bid to
stage FISM 2006, and already have a website up and running at
www.fism.com "The
website contains the presentation and budget for the next FISM in
Stockholm 2006. A lot of support is coming from the City of Stockholm
which is giving support of 50,000 euros and sponsors announced so far
include SAS and Volvo. If Scandinavia is trusted to arrange the event in
Stockholm there is a rumour Volvo will raffle a car among the
participants of the Stockholm FISM World Championship. A lot of events are
being planned and the City of Stockholm wants to open up the event and make
it a week of magic and street performances all over Stockholm. A lot of
performers will probably be contracted." There are a number of other
countries in the running. FISM 2003 starts on Monday:
www.fism2003.com.
19.7.03
Two
top Illusionists are banking on getting it right with their prediction
predicting the winner of this year's Big Brother - or they'll pay £10,000
to charity. David and Angelique Diamond of North-East based 'Corporate
Illusion' handed over their prediction in a sealed envelope on July 10th to
the HSBC Gateshead branch... never to be touched by them again! The signed
and sealed envelope is now securely locked in the bank's safe and will not
be opened until the day after Davina has announced the winner live on
Channel 4. The prediction not only includes the winner's name but also the
number of votes that he or she has received - plus the order in which the
final housemates will leave. "We are confident that the prediction
will be correct and if we're wrong we'll pay £10,000 to a charity of the
winning house-mate's choice," said David.
19.7.03
A
new deck of cards specifically designed for card productions and
measuring just 10mm thick (that's the thickness of a standard CD case!) is
now available exclusively from
www.manipulationcards.com. The "www.manipulationcards.com" deck has
been produced using a very fine, yet strong, card stock and the cards handle
really beautifully. For more information visit
www.manipulationcards.com.
19.7.03
Uri
Geller showed the power of positive thought by making a radish seed
germinate in the palm of his hand during a visit to a prison near Newton
Abbot on Thursday. To read the full story in the Herald Express
Click Here.
19.7.03
MagicBox
are holding a Video Sale featuring titles from Ed Marlo, Dai Vernon,
Daryl, Michael Ammar, Michael Close, Henry Evans, Dan Harlan, Brad Burt,
James Swain, Martin Nash and others. All the tapes are brand new. With
DVDs becoming more popular the company have decided to offer magicians
some real bargains. To see what's on offer
Click Here.
19.7.03
The
Magic Circle Annual Dealers' Day will be held this year on Saturday
1st November at the Royal National Hotel, Bedford Square, London (Map).
Car parking is available both at the hotel and in the street. Entrance is
free for Magic Circle members on production of a current membership card
and just £5 for non-members (£3 for under 18s). The doors open at 10am and
close at 5pm. Around 40 dealers will be there, including a number of
online dealers that until now you may have known only via the internet.
19.7.03
Tony
Griffith's Creative Magic Teach-In Day held on July 6th is reviewed by
Grant Willcox this week:
Click Here.
Adrian Burholt, President of The Bath Circle of Magicians said "A first
class day of highly useable and practical material. The definitive course
on corporate magic." Tony plans to hold another day in November.
Telephone 01275 837017 for details.
19.7.03
Breaking the
Magician's Code... Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed is being
repeated yet again on ITV, on Sunday 27th July:
TV Magic • Good luck to all the
magicians from the UK entering FISM this year - we'll bring you the
results as soon as we have them • Your magic news is always welcomed. That's it for
this week, see you next week, Duncan.
19.7.03