Number 336 - 2nd December 2006
Blackpool
Magicians Convention - VIP registrations sold out! Normal Gold Card
registrations are still available, but are going rapidly. Registrations
for the 2007 Convention (23rd, 24th, 25th February) are at record levels
and it is already clear that the world's biggest Convention will be
another sold out event. Booked to date: Aldo Colombini, Simon Lovell,
Gregory Wilson, Dan Garrett, Jay Sankey, Henry Evans, Dirk Losander, David
Roth, Michael Rubenstein, Juliana Chen (photo), Ian Rowland, Omar Pasha,
Sos & Victoria Petrosyan, Adrian Walsh, Tony Stevens, Marc Metral, Nate
Kranzo, Stan Allen, Terry Seabrooke, Wayne Dobson, Hank Moorehouse and
Marc Oberon... with more names to be announced. There will be 104 Magic
Dealers with the Dealers Fair opening at 1pm on Friday 23rd in the Empress
Ballroom and The Arena. This year a delegation from China will be
attending, offering registrations for the Beijing FISM Convention in 2009.
For more information and to book visit
www.blackpoolmagic.com or contact Registration Officer Arthur Casson
on 01253 393688.
2.12.06
Kidology
UK 2007. If you attended Kidology UK 2006 and register for Kidology UK
2007 before January 1st 2007 you'll save £5.00 on the standard
registration fee of £35.00. Kidology UK is the only specialist convention
in this country aimed entirely at children's entertainers. The day
includes lectures, dealers, demonstrations and even lunch! Booked for
2007: the dynamic Poz, the incredible Ali Bongo, and, all the way from
Croatia, the sensational Jozo Bozo (photo). Tuesday, September 4th 2007,
Wolverhampton. For full details visit
www.practical-magic.com.
2.12.06
International
Magic - Close-up Competition winners: 1st Marc Oberon, James Brown,
3rd Dynamo (all from the UK) with Merit Awards to Eric Le Blon (France),
James James (UK) and Szabo Gabor (Hungary). This is Marc's second major
award in just a matter of weeks (he was placed first at the Eastbourne
Convention in September) - his "any card" routine really is simply superb
- congratulations again to Marc and all the winners! I only managed to
make the Sunday this year, and thoroughly enjoyed the international gala
show in the Shaw theatre. Numbers were well up on last year, resulting in
both gala shows being sold out... so book early next year to be safe!
www.internationalmagic.com.
2.12.06
Tommy
Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing The Definitive Biography of a
Comedy Legend by John Fisher is reviewed by MagicWeek this week,
Click Here.
2.12.06
Magicians,
illusionists or hypnotists urgently wanted! Jo Harrison, Casting
Researcher, Fever Media emails: "We are currently in production of a new
show for ITV1 with a working title of ‘Fortune’. The show features a panel
of well-known millionaire philanthropists who are giving away up to
£1million of their own money. Some people may be asking for £20 and others
£200,000 and it is entirely in the millionaires hands who they decide to
give it to. We are currently at the end stages of production and are
urgently looking for magicians, illusionists or hypnotists to appear on
the show who are in need on funding to further their magic career!"
Contact Jo Harrison, Casting Researcher, Fever Media
jo.harrison@fevermedia.co.uk
Telephone 0207 428 5756.
2.12.06
The
art of illusion. "The other day, Derren Brown lunched somewhere posh
with Robbie Williams - into whom, it will be remembered, the hip hypnotist
once stuck two very large needles during one of his television shows. 'I
asked him if he would like to come back to my place after lunch, as you
do,' confides Brown. To his amazement, the punctured performer agreed. 'I
was really flattered,' says Brown, giggling like a besotted teenage fan.
'I wanted Robbie to see what I've done with my apartment, so I was
thrilled when he said yes.' And it was an insight for Brown into the weird
world of celebrity. 'All we did was walk across the pavement, from his
limo to my front door, and suddenly he was being mobbed by all these
people screaming and shouting at him, wanting to touch him, pushing and
grabbing at him. It was unbelievable..." To read the full story by Jackie
McGlone in the Scotsman
Click Here.
2.12.06
Calling
All Talent for a New Prime Time Saturday Night Show. Catherine Verity,
Assistant Producer, BBC Entertainment Dept. emails: "Do you have an
unforgettable, jaw dropping, gob smacking talent? We are on the look out
for the next big thing to take part in a brand new BBC One Show. Whatever
your act we want to meet you, everything considered: Acrobats, magicians,
speciality acts, singers, dancers. If you think you have that extra wow to
entertain an audience call now 08700 100 670 or email
talentshow@bbc.co.uk (Calls from
landlines cost no more than 8p per minute. Calls from mobiles may vary.)"
2.12.06
West
meets East. Feather Touch Magic of Kyoto, Japan, recently scanned the
UK and US magic scene, reviewing mental type effects, resulting in three
items from Unearthly Magic, Cataclysm, No Joke, and The
Fifth Card, being selected for translation into Japanese. Unearthly
Magic are pleased to announce their association with Feather Touch and are
excited that their effects will now be available in a second language.
www.unearthlymagic.com.
2.12.06
Paul
Gordon has added some new tricks and books to his range: Back in print
after 22 years 'Corner of Piccadilly' (formerly Monte Sunshine) - a very
popular strolling Card Monte routine with a surprise ending.
'Explorations', a new book featuring magic from Peter Duffie and Marty
Kane, with comments from Harry Lorayne, Roy Walton, Matt Field, and
finally, a new bar trick for anyone with a "lively coarse sense of
humour!" - visit
www.paulgordon.net today.
2.12.06
Blue
Toon magician Stuart just pipped for TV award. "The North-east's top
magician Stuart Macleod was recently nominated for a Scottish BAFTA for
his hugely popular television show 'Tricks from the Bible'. The programme,
which stars Stuart and his magic partner, Barry James, was nominated in
the Best Performance category at the ceremony which took place on Sunday,
November 12..." To read the full story by Chris Lamont in The Buchan
Observer
Click Here.
2.12.06
Vizage
will be appearing in "Jack and The Beanstalk" at The Spa Theatre,
Scarborough, Yorkshire from 6th December 2006 to 1st January 2007. For
Ticket prices and performance times contact the Box Office 01723 357869
www.scarboroughspa.com.
2.12.06
Derren Brown:
Messiah is being repeated on E4 on Thursday 7th at 10 minutes past
midnight
"The psychological illusionist hosts a special programme, challenging
belief systems and our capacity not to question them. In particular, he
promises to test the tendency for people to accept directions from someone
in authority." See TV Magic for
listings
2.12.06
The
Original Funken Ring by Harold Voit with a one year guarantee, in
stock, visit www.topsecretmagic.co.uk (see 'New In').
2.12.06
Free
Money for Christmas! Purchase and pay for a Mike Danata's Magic Studio
£50.00 Gift Voucher during December and they will send you a £60.00
voucher! You can purchase as many as you like and the vouchers can be used
against purchases in the Studio or via mail order (they pay the postage).
They can also be used on their Sale Days, saving an additional 10%! (Next
Sale Day: Monday 1st January 2007 10am - 4pm)
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk.
2.12.06
The North West Commercial Close Up Forum is reviewed by Jan Culshaw this week... "I cannot praise this event highly enough. The format provides exactly what is missing at conventions i.e. the chance to talk to the lecturers both in small groups and on a one-to-one basis in the bar, or over a coffee. Also, resisting the temptation to cram ever more into the event results in a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to absorb the information on offer. If this event takes place again, my advice is - don't miss it!" To read the full review Click Here. 2.12.06
The
free MagicWeek For Sale and Wanted ads are as busy as ever. See
For Sale or Wanted
to see what's on offer, or to submit your own ad (please fully read the
Terms and Conditions to
ensure that your ad is placed) • Dave Bonsall's recently recorded
television commercial for Bona Sera, reported a few weeks ago, has now
been added to his website:
www.fingertipmiracles.co.uk • "Ireland’s premier druid master Keith
Barry returns to the west"
Click Here • "Magician Paul Daniels does time in Carmarthen lock-up"
Click Here • Severance, starring Andy Nyman, is out on DVD next month.
To pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here • "Potter back on his broomstick"
Click Here • "Lloyd Webber Looks To Copperfield"
Click Here •
Your UK magic news is welcomed as ever, see you next week, Duncan. 2.12.06