Number 181
- 13th December 2003
Astounding
Celebrities, ITV's new
"street magic" show featuring young
magicians performing close-up magic to celebrities, starts on Monday
December 22nd, at 5pm. Featuring Trevor McDonald, Carol Vorderman, Cliff
Richard, Claire Sweeney and Jade Goody. In the photo David Penn performs
for Trevor McDonald. See TV Magic for
listings.
13.12.03
Keith
Fields' m@gic.comedy. "He's fast, he's sharp
and he's always entertaining" Time Out. "With a
distinctive blend of stand-up comedy, magic and cutting edge computer
technology, Fields is responsible for devising a show that will propel
comedic entertainment kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. So sit
back and journey to the edge of reality and reason where magic, mind
reading and mutilation ensue
all for the sake of a good laugh."
Keith Fields brings his unique production to
London's West End as part of the Soho Blast Festival 2004.
Venue: Soho Theatre (Studio), 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE Dates:
January 20th (7.45pm) and January 22nd (9.15pm). Tickets: £8 (£6 concs).
Box Office 020 7478 0100.
Paul
Zenon coaches supermarket manager Martyn Moore
as he attempts to realise his
dream and become a magician
on The Test at 10.35am on
Wednesday 31st December (30 minutes) on ITV1. See
TV Magic.
13.12.03
www.my-magicshop.com
are advertising with MagicWeek from today. Founded by Stefan Schroetter
after a lifetime's interest in magic the shop sells to magicians all over
the world. "As I am a mathematics and science teacher I started to
enhance
my lessons with different mathematical magic tricks and scientific
mysteries. I fascinated my students and I also became more and more
interested in magic and also started creating some tricks myself. I
created my first magic homepage on which I started to offer some magic
items. I improved the design of the homepage several times with the help
of a Swiss magician and started to add video
clips and later added clips from magic
suppliers. The whole magic adventure started only for German speaking
magicians. After that I received more and more interest from around the
world (UK, USA, Russia, Hong Kong... ). So I decided to create an English
language version. And this is now the point
where we are standing at. Our shop in English is
open now!" Visit
www.my-magicshop.com today!
13.12.03
International
News:
Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger bring their
unique magical teaching programme to Europe next year in a special
'Masterclass' presentation which will take place in Amsterdam in April.
The sessions focus on close-up, platform and stage magic. Each session
begins with performances by Jeff and Eugene.
Session 1: Achieving Your Magical Dreams, Your Goal is a Dream with a
Deadline, Getting the Attention You Deserve, Growing in Magic, Creativity
Exercises and Brainstorming Techniques, Two Masterclass Style
Presentations with Feedback. Session 2: Power, Passion and Performance,
Getting the Most Out of the Magic you Already Perform, Routining Your
Show: The Seven Steps of Show Flow, Character Development: Finding Who You
Are, Business and Marketing Secrets: Selling Your Act for More Money, Four
Master Class Style Presentations with Feedback. Session 3: Taking Your
Magic to the Next Level, Play Big and Pack Small: Maximizing Your Impact,
Theater Arts: Props, Blocking, Movement and Music, Four Master Class Style
Presentations with Feedback, The Forbidden Secret of Magic, Real
Questions/Real Answers. For further details email
Romany:
romany@romanymagic.com.
13.12.03
On
Monday December 22nd Channel 4 are running David Blaine: Above the
Below Update, a documentary revisiting David Blaine's endurance feat
when he lived in a Perspex box for 44 days without food. The programme
looks at the build-up to the event and follows the moments following the
stunt when Blaine was taken to hospital to commence his recovery
programme, and includes previously unseen footage. That's all well and
good but Channel 4's decision to run, back to back, repeats of David
Blaine Above the Below (getting in the box) followed by David
Blaine Above the Below (getting out of the box) just days later on
Christmas Eve for two solid hours from 12.30 to 2.30am is a
little puzzling to say the least. Is that really the best Channel 4 have
to offer on Christmas Eve? A bit like many an endurance stunt
what Blaine did was "of the moment" and worked well, but has little
merit second time
around. Who's in charge of scheduling at Channel 4 these days? - stick 'em in a box.
13.12.03
The
Bradford Magic Circle present their annual 'Hey Presto' Family Magic
Show at the Bingley Arts Centre on Saturday 6th
March 2004 at 7.30pm. Lined up this year: Martyn James, who is a recent
winner of the British Magical Championships. Terry Herbert
(photo), who has been at the top of the magical comedy business for
over 30 years. Robert Temple, a finalist in
this year's Young Magician of the Year competition,
Tom Johnson, Stevie B, Ken Mitchell, 'The Jacksons' and the Spotlight
Dancers. Tickets are £6 for adults (£5
concessions) and are available from all Bradford
Theatre's booking offices and agencies, or by phoning 01274 432000.
Further details can be obtained from Keith Pickles, the current President
of the Bradford Magic Circle, on 01274 818305.
13.12.03
Noel
Qualter and Martin Cox appear in
The Magic Cavern at Barons Court on Monday 9th February. Venue:
'The Curtains Up', 28A Comeragh Road, West Kensington, London W14 9AU. Box
Office 020 8932 4747.
www.falseimpressions.com. If you are interested in performing at
The Magic Cavern during the season (April to August) contact
richard@falseimpressions.com.
13.12.03
Mind
Control - Unleashed by Jez Rose and Marc Paul has just been published
and is available exclusively from
MagicTricks.co.uk. Sections Include: Learn to mentally relax, Memory
improvement - remember names, faces, speeches, numbers, anything you like!
By following these very simple techniques, in no time at all, you'll have
a memory that amazes you and your friends alike!, Public speaking tips,
Conquering any fear quickly, easily and permanently, Stopping bad habits,
Developing self-confidence, Mind control of others - rapport, instant
rapport, spotting a liar. For more information visit
MagicTricks.co.uk.
13.12.03
International
News: Believe in Magic. "Genre going strong in Las Vegas, but
some wonder how much longer it will last" states Mike Weatherford in the
Las Vegas Review Journal. "Siegfried and Roy's favourite story used to
be about how, when they were new to town in 1967, Tropicana boss K.J.
Houssels sized them up and announced, 'Boys, I have to tell you, magic
don't work in this town.' The punch line was evident in the '90s, when the
Las Vegas icons were doing turn-away business at The Mirage. But now, with
the duo forced into retirement and no heir apparent on the horizon, it may
be time to wonder: Is it only a matter of time before a casino boss can
again deliver that line with a straight face?" To read the full article
Click Here.
13.12.03
International News:
The 49th Austrian Magic Convention
takes place from the 20th - 23rd May 2004 in
Mayrhofen, Tyrol, Austria. 800 magicians from
all over the world will meet in the beautiful surroundings of Austria's
Tyrol region. Top Magicians already booked include Paul Daniels England, Paul
Potassy Spain, Norbert Ferrι France, Jason Latimer USA, Armando
Lucero USA, Jean Merlin France, Patrick Page England, Tony Binarelli
Italy, Blub Russia, Sabrina Fakelli Germany, Manuel Muerte
Germany, Reed McClintock USA, Andy McJoy and Chris Joker Germany,
Markus Zink plays Schrott Germany, David Hungary and Brando & Silvana
Argentina. For more information visit:
www.zaubern.at.
13.12.03
Loki
has just returned from Istanbul, Turkey,
where he was invited to perform in a new magic series Hokus Pokus
which starts airing on Saturday. Other magicians on the show are
Lee
Alex (UK) providing stage illusions, "Lady" Ilkay Ozdemir and Ozgur
Ozdural (Turkey) performing close-up and Tom Comet (Canada) who juggled
chainsaws. Jeff McBride is booked for January.
13.12.03
We've
just heard from Alakazam that Luke Jermay's Building Blocks is now in
stock, but that they only have a small initial quantity. To avoid
disappointment order right now! Just a hint of what's on offer: 1. Imagine
having your spectator actually feel their thought leave their mind and
enter yours - imagine no more! With the Burst Bubble suggestion,
your spectator will believe they felt the moment of magic happen inside
their own mind! 2. You cause the spectator's sense of time to physically
slow down (we don't just mean their watch, although of course that happens
as well!). They are almost unable to physically move as they are stuck in
a single moment of time. For more information visit:
www.alakazam.co.uk.
13.12.03
Escapologist
Tom Lyon was challenged by the BBC to test a brand new padlock for
BBC1's 'Innovation Nation' programme, which will
air on Wednesday at 7.25pm. The programme is an invention competition and
one of the top ten competitors designed the new padlock. It is not in the
traditional hasp and body style but is shaped like a dumbell. The locking
mechanism, also completely novel, is situated at the end of a two and a
half inch deep keyway which is itself sealed with a plug. Tom
writes "I had been looking to perform a tribute
to David DeVal after his sad death last year. I dedicate this performance
to him; I think he would appreciate what happens. If you are familiar with
some of David's equipment watch carefully as
what you think is going to happen will not!"
13.12.03
Paul
Daniels Masterclass 2004, January 11th, 2004,
Las Vegas. Paul Daniels is presenting a brand new one day
Masterclass in association with the World Magic Seminar 2004. If
you would like to attend visit
www.pdmasterclass.com for full details.
There's a special ticket offer until the end of December.
13.12.03
Swedish
magician Jahn Gallos is visiting the UK on a short two week lecture
tour in April. The tour, organised by Tony Griffith, starts on or around
April 15th, finishing on the 29th. Jahn's lecture is called Real World
Magic and is a general magic lecture, which will suit
all tastes. Jahn has just returned from lecture tours in South
Africa and the USA and has received great reviews:
www.gallos-lecture.cjb.net. Clubs should
contact Tony Griffith as soon as possible on
01275 837017 or
tony@tonygriffith.co.uk.
13.12.03
The
free For Sale and
Wanted ads in MagicWeek continue to do well.
Items that caught my eye this week: A rare signed edition of The Magic
of Robert Harbin, the classic Card Magic by
Manipulation by Lewis Ganson,
a Sanada Gimmick
(under-rated and very useful!) and, pictured left, an original
Yogano Sit Down Levitation Illusion.
13.12.03
Kevin
Gallagher reviews last weekend's 20th International Close-up
Competition this week,
Click Here.
(I couldn't make it in the end... flu!)
www.puppetsbypost.com offer an excellent selection of puppets ideal
for children's entertainers
Despite appearing in official TV listings David
Blaine's promised appearance on the Frank Skinner show last week never
happened
Marc Dominic has sold his entertainment business Impact
Productions. The company will continue to book entertainers throughout the
Midlands and Marc will act as a consultant for several months. They can
still be contacted on 0800 783 6348. Marc and his wife are moving to
Havant That's it. Your UK magic news is always
welcomed, see you next week, Duncan.
13.12.03