Number 397 - 2nd February 2008
Magic
Moments 08 - Update. With the sudden sad news of Jeremy Beadle's death
on Thursday, the organisers of the main show at the Harlow Playhouse for
Magic Moments 08, in which Jeremy Beadle was to appear, announced that the
show was to be cancelled. Many other events are taking place as planned
today though, visit
www.magicmoments08.com for the latest news. Although known as a
practical joker to millions of British television viewers, Jeremy Beadle
had a real passion for magic and could be seen enjoying the
dealers hall every year at the Blackpool Convention just like everyone
else. In the 80's his Beadle's Box of Tricks show featured a
major magic illusion each week. I never did work out how he made that
train carriage disappear mid-tunnel. "Jeremy Beadle. Britain's top
television prankster, he turned the practical joke into a public event"
Click Here.
2.2.08
Geoffrey
Durham Professional Secrets: A Life in
Magic, is reviewed in MagicWeek today
Click Here. To pre-order directly from Geoffrey Durham's website (at a
special price) visit the 'Magicians Only' section today!
www.geoffreydurham.com.
19.1.08
Derren Brown: The System
is being repeated at 9pm on Tuesday 5th February on E4. In this one-hour
special, the master of mind control anonymously tells a single mum from
London which horse will win at the next day's races - again and again -
culminating in a final, massive bet. Investigating the psychology behind
gambling and using his unique combination of skills to create guaranteed
wins, Derren proves his system works every time. Not only that, but he
explains it fully to us at home. But how fool-proof is this system and
will his participant, believing in him and his predictions, risk all on one more race?
Another excellent outing from the Brown stable. How about the stock market
next time Derren - now that would be fun (and maybe you could sort out
PartyGaming's shares). "Brown wants Allen for TV show"
Click Here. "A Racing Certainty"
Click Here. "Derren Brown: The System"
Click Here.
2.2.08
Steve
Short presents his talk on David Nixon at the
Merlin
Magical Society in Hertfordshire at 8pm on Thursday February 7th. The
evening will include video and photos in a Power Point presentation.
Visiting magicians welcome, entrance £5.00.
2.2.08
Mimefreak
- now this guy is entertaining! A perfect parody starring
Brandon Muller as The Mimefreak
Click
Here. Also visit
www.brandonmuller.com.
2.2.08
Amethyst,
Daniel Hunt and Annette Claire, are back in Blackpool this week following
last weeks successful 'Death Tank' escape, to perform 'Torn Apart'
(performed with kind permission from Arthur Coghlan). This time Daniel
will be locked and chained inside a secured aluminum box, and will then
have just moments to escape, before a vehicle tears the box, and Danny,
apart! The escape will take place at the Olympia, Winter Gardens,
Blackpool on Thursday 7th February at 11am. For more information visit
www.showzam.co.uk.
To watch the Death Tank escape on video "It's always a good day when
you're still alive!"
Click Here.
2.2.08
The
Session. "One of the most unusual things about this weekend was the
sheer number of star names and professional performers who were simply
attending the convention. With the registrants so talented, the booked
performers had better be good! Guess what? They were. Whilst I didn’t see
every event or performer, here is a brief rundown of who I did see and
what I thought..." Mark Elsdon reviews The Session this week,
Click Here.
2.2.08
Card
Capers is a new Day of Card Magic being organised and presented by
Paul Gordon. If you like card magic and want to see Paul Gordon teach
everything (well, nearly everything) he knows about card magic, including
tricks, sleights, presentation points, tips and much more, visit
www.paulgordon.net/cardcapers.htm to register your interest. Card
Capers will be a 'no-holds-barred' day of Card Magic.
2.2.08
One Night in Vegas, currently on tour
across the UK, features Zara Mason as one of illusionist Daniel Dean's
assistants. Zara was recently seen on television alongside Justin Lee
Collins as "Panache" Justin Illusion's magical assistant in the "Battle of
the Magicians" episode of Convention Crasher! Justin gave it his
all as ever and Zara's professionalism helped steady his nerve. One Night in Vegas
can be seen tonight at
The Roses
Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5NX (Map)
and throughout the year across the country. Visit
www.onenightinvegas.co.uk for full tour dates.
2.2.08
Max Somerset Lecture
- New Venue. Max's lecture on Wednesday March 12th for the
York Society of Magicians has been moved to a new larger venue due high
demand for tickets. Visit
www.yorksocietyofmagicians.co.uk for details.
2.2.08
The
Order of the Magi Annual Dinner and Cabaret is on 22nd March this year
(Easter Saturday), at their Headquarters, The Irish World Heritage Centre
in Manchester. The cabaret stars Amethyst (photo), manipulator Brian
Sefton and Bruce Thompson's one man band. Tickets are now available from
President Nick Barnes on 01260 280185
president@orderofthemagi.org.uk for £27.50 each for the four course
meal. The Magi dinner has become increasingly popular over the past few
years with numbers of up to 150 attending.
2.2.08
Mind
reader Rob Lupine to perform at Harborugh FM’s 1st Birthday. To
celebrate their 1st Birthday, Market Harborough based community radio
station Harborough FM are hosting a big listener party on Friday,
February 8th from 8pm, and are inviting listeners to join them at the
Copperfield Hotel in Market Harborough for a great night of entertainment
which will include performances by local singer Robin Maughan, and award
winning magician Rob Lupine. There's no admission charge, but you'll need
to register for tickets in advance:
www.harboroughfm.co.uk.
2.2.08
James
Brown lectures at the Northamptonshire Magicians Club on Tuesday 5th
February at 7.45pm. "A Lecture of modern magic and killer impromptu, out
of the pocket off-the-cuff effects". Non-members welcome (£8.00 charge).
The NMC meet at The Quality Hotel, Ashley Way, Northampton NN3 3EA (Map).
For more information contact Hon. Secretary Steve Dimmer on 01604 409010 .
2.2.08
John
Archer lectures at The Sussex Magic Circle at 8pm on Thursday 7th
February at Southover Grange, Southover Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1TP (Map).
Tickets are £5.00 for visiting magicians, contact Stuart Harley:
chairman@sussexmagiccircle.co.uk
www.sussexmagiccircle.co.uk.
2.2.08
Benjamin
Earl lectures at The Leicester Magic Circle on Monday 4th February.
The lecture starts at 7.45pm and guests are welcome (£5.00 charge). For
further information telephone Barry Martin, Secretary, on 01509 843066
www.leicestermagiccircle.org.
2.2.08
Deafblind
UK. Jonathan Lucia-Wright from Deafblind UK emails: As you know the
Blackpool Magic Convention is nearly upon us and this year it will be
attended for the first time by a deafblind gentleman (both deaf and
blind), who will be there with his guides, researching magic that can be
solely appreciated by touch alone. So if there are any magicians out there
who feel they cannot learn any more, and fancy a stab at a challenge
(please no more sponge balls!) please get in contact with me, JJ, at
instantmash@hotmail.com. This
trip has been supported by Uri Geller, Derren Brown, Beard Juggling,
Kaymar Magic and the IBM Blackpool.
2.2.08
Coinvexed.
WorldMagicShop.co.uk are now taking pre-orders for David Penn's Coinvexed
which is being launched at the Blackpool Convention. "David Penn has the
best solution for a signed, bending coin routine I have ever seen! This is
sure to become a regular performance piece for many professional
magicians." Nicholas Einhorn.
www.worldmagicshop.co.uk.
2.2.08
The
Real Hustle Does Vegas. The team of hustlers are back, but this time
they are in Las Vegas. With R Paul Wilson, Jessica-Jane Clement and
Alex Conran - 8.30pm on Monday 11th February on BBC 3 (+ repeats), see
TV Magic.
2.2.08
Aaron
Fisher lecture - Ipswich Magical Society. Aaron Fisher lectures for
the Ipswich Magical Society on Monday February 2nd at the Holiday Inn,
Ipswich. Guests are welcome, but they should contact the secretary first:
www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk.
2.2.08
Last
Wednesday Stephen Barry performed magic at the Big Brother Celebrity
Hijack wrap party. Stephen is seen here with host Dermot O Leary who now
leaves the series after 7 years.
www.stephenbarry.co.uk.
2.2.08
Doug
Segal has just returned from Holland where he worked with Philips on
the Global relaunch of their consumer electrical division performing four
shows a day for 1,000 people from every continent. A Philips spokeswoman
said: "Everybody really enjoyed your performance, I am so happy that we
chose you!" Doug's next two public shows are at the University of Wales in
Aberystwyth on February 19th (contact venue for tickets) and at the New
Hall Theatre, Tiverton EX16 6QP (Map)
on 14th March 14th at 8pm - tickets £10.00, call 01884 255999. Doug will
also be performing on October 16th as one of headliners at the Annual
Quartz Visual Arts Festival in Taunton.
2.2.08
South
Downs Magicians present a free dealer dem by
Top Secret Magic
on Wednesday, February 6th at 8pm at the club headquarters near Crawley in
West Sussex. All visiting magicians welcome. Further details from
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk.
2.2.08
Steve Taylor lecture. 7.30pm on 15th February, Steve's latest lecture, straight from The Magic Castle, "motivating your magic to make you more money." Venue: Davenports Magic Studio, 7 Charing Cross Underground Arcade, The Strand, London WC2N 4HZ. Tickets £10.00 from Bob Pamplin 020 8504 0979. 2.2.08
Mark Elsdon travels to Scandinavia this week to deliver his lecture, ‘Tricks You Might Actually Do’. Here are the dates: February 7th Horsens, Denmark (Lecture), February 8th Copenhagen, Denmark (Lecture), February 9th Halmstad, Sweden (Workshop), February 10th Halmstad, Sweden (Lecture), February 11th Norrköping, Sweden (Lecture). Mark is currently organizing 5 one-day seminars on his ‘Rubik Remembered’ routine, where he will be teaching his full, exclusive method for solving Rubik’s Cube whilst blindfolded. If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for these limited-availability events email Mark at: info@magicevents.co.uk. 2.2.08
Tabula Mentis III: Psychology, Suggestion, and Mentalism. Psycrets: The British Society of Mystery Entertainers is proud to host Tabula Mentis III: Psychology, Suggestion, and Mentalism. Lectures, effects, and discussions, plus special sessions with Paul Brook and Enrique Enriquez. 12th April 2008, 7 Mallow Street, London from 10am. Visit www.psycrets.org.uk for more details. Limited to 50 participants - book early! £20.00 for Psycrets members, £30.00 for non-members. Lunch and light refreshments provided. 2.2.08
Bolton Magicians Club are holding a 'New Members' night at 8.30pm on Wednesday, 6th February. This is at the usual venue, The Doffcoker Inn, Chorley Old Road, Bolton. Potential new members and visitors are welcome to visit the club. There's no pressure to perform, but you're welcome to if you'd like to. The club has a number of first class lectures lined up for the year ahead. Visit www.bolton-magic.co.uk for details. 2.2.08
An evening with Dave Chambers MMC. "Hilarious comedy evening intertwined with fun magic. Laughter will be heard during the whole show, you cannot help it!" 7.30pm to 9pm, Friday 11th April Phoenix Theatre, 22 Station Road, Bawtry, Doncaster DN10 6PT (Map). Bar and refreshments. Tickets £6.00, to book telephone 01302 537720 or 07740404948. 2.2.08
A Comedy Cabaret Magic Competition is being held in Doncaster on Friday March 14th, with a First Prize of £250. Acts can be up to 10 minutes in length and the competition (with musical interludes) will be held in the concert hall of Hallcross Upper School, Thorne Road, Doncaster. It is being produced by the Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre and the Northern School of Magic, Doncaster, as part of the ongoing endeavour to re-open the Grand Theatre in the centre of Doncaster. To enter contact M Rennison, 3 Whitton Close, Bessacarr, Doncaster. Telephone: 01302 535546 Registration is £10.00 per act and several regional magicians have already entered. 2.2.08
"It's a kind of magic!" Click Here • "Talented teenager more than an illusion" Click Here • Ed Hall and Kristian Digby are in Southport to conjure up a splendid, but spooky, new home for a magician and his family in To Buy or Not to Buy - see TV Magic • Granville Taylor (Faust the Magician) has just launched three new magic DVDs, for details visit www.faustsmagicinstore.com • "Being Funny" Click Here • "The Great Buck Howard’: A Sundance Review" Click Here • That's all for this week, your UK magic news is always welcome. See you next week, Duncan. 2.2.08