Number 426 - 23rd August 2008
Richard
McDougall is profiled by Bob Hayden this week
as we near the
British Ring Eastbourne Convention (September 24th -28th). An
international performer, Richard has appeared both in close-up and on
stage in over 40 countries worldwide.
Bob Hayden writes, "Carefully observe how Richard McDougall uses body language when he
performs for you in the Late, Late Gala on Friday evening. The dictionary
defines body language as the process of communicating through conscious or
unconscious gestures or poses. Get it right, as Richard does, it will enhance
your performance and raise your profile to a higher level. Get it wrong and you
may be considered smug or pompous..."
Click Here to read the full profile. And visit
www.britishring.org.uk
for all the latest convention info. 23.8.08
Rafael
flies in from Belgium in November to present three never-before-seen stage acts,
together with his stand up
spot, at this year's
International
Magic Convention at the Shaw Theatre in
London on November 28th-30th. “Having scored such a hit at previous IBM
and Blackpool Conventions with his Vampire and Dove Act, we were
thrilled to discover that Rafael has three other stage pieces, unseen in
England, that he will be performing over the weekend” said Noel Britten,
who books the acts for the Convention. “Rafael’s acts are always
beautifully produced, with brilliant off-the-wall magic, great costumes
and a wonderful tongue-in-cheek presentation.” He will be starring in
the Gala Show and also appearing in the Stand Up Comedy Show on the
Friday night. American performer and
author, John Lovick has also been added to the line up. Lovick is best known in the UK as the
author of Switch – the definitive guide to the $100 Dollar Bill Switch.
He is also a
regular product reviewer in Magic, and a fine performer in his
own right. John Lovick will be
appearing as 'Handsome Jack' his alter ego, on the Friday night
show, and will also be lecturing and performing in the Close Up Gala on
Sunday. Full convention details on the International Magic website:
www.internationalmagic.com. 23.8.08
Liverpool
Magic Circle - Big Night Out! "A fantastic fun night out featuring 3
great acts. Our very own Stephen Williams, and the unmissable PJ! With
star act of the night, the one and only comedy magician - John Archer.
Hot and cold buffet, all for only £12.50! Few tickets left - call now to
reserve your ticket." Friday, 5th September at 8pm. Venue: The Alder
Sports Club, Alder Road, West Derby, Liverpool L12 2BA (Map).
Call Alan Singleton (President) on 07982 253583, or email
magic2c@blueyonder.co.uk
www.liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk. 23.8.08
Ali
Cook - A Touch Of Vegas... "Part illusionist, part stand-up, Cook
intersperses the two and is equally great at both." Read the full four
star review in Three Weeks
Click Here, Ali also has a four star review in The List
Click Here. Consistently selling out (and two times pick of The
Fringe in The Edinburgh Evening News and The Scotsman) Ali has been
invited by Mick Perrin for Just For Laughs Live to bring the show
into London's West End one night only at the new Leicester Square
Theatre (formerly The Venue) as part of The Big Joke season
featuring the best in new comedy talent alongside icons including Joan
Rivers. Dates and more details to follow.
www.alicook.com. 23.8.08
Philip
Escoffey: Six Impossible Things Before Dinner. "The regular
appearances of stunt magicians, mind-readers and psychics on television
may have inured live audiences to the skill involved in the realms of
professional magic. That's a shame, because it perhaps takes longer than
it should to realise just how singularly gifted an entertainer Philip
Escoffey is." To read the full review in The Scotsman
Click Here.
www.thegreyman.com 23.8.08
Billy
McComb Auction - Sunday 7th September. News from David Goodman: I am
pleased to announce that I have been retained by The McComb Legacy to
auction the estate of Billy McComb on September 7th, 2008 at the Magic
Castle starting in the morning (the start time will be announced soon).
This should prove to be a great sale with something for everyone with an
interest in magic. Highlights include: Early McComb Scrapbooks,
Photographs & Posters, A Great Collection of June Merlin ephemera, A
Martin Card Rise & a Willman Jumbo Rising Card, Billy's extensive Magic
Book Collection, Vanishing Bird Cages including a rare Lindhurst cage, A
set of Billy's own color-changing silks, A unique set of Tarbell's
Course in Magic with each volume inscribed by Tarbell to McComb with
animated line drawings, plus much, much more - 304 magical lots in all!
A complete catalog of the offering is available on-line at
The McComb
Legacy as well as Terms & Conditions of Sale, Bidder’s Registration
Form, and Absentee Bid Form. Hard copies of the catalog will be
available to purchase for $20 from The McComb Legacy by emailing
legacyauction@dslextreme.com. 23.8.08
Barry
& Stuart - Extra date. Following a total sell-out run and 5 star
reviews Barry & Stuart are performing an extra special date of Part-Time
Warlocks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in a larger venue at midnight
on Saturday 23rd August in the
Underbelly. For tickets to this extra special dead of night gig
Click Here. "Welcome to the dark side of stand-up magic"
Click Here . 23.8.08
Simplicity
Magic are releasing their first ever magic product, 'Peter Knows':
"It is the ultimate ‘phone-a-friend’ effect. Visit
www.simplicitymagic.com where you will be able to view a
demonstration video of this effect that has amazed magicians throughout
the UK. There is currently a special offer too. The introductory price
of only £1.99 is a tenth of the normal retail price and less than the
price of a coffee!" Visit
www.simplicitymagic.com to watch a demo and order. 23.8.08
Magic
Car Boot Sale - West Bromwich, on Sunday 7th September, from 9.30am.
Admission £4.00 Stalls £13.00 at their the usual venue 43 Union Street,
West Bromwich B70 6BP (Map).
(Due to the fact that the fancy dress shop has been moved out, more
space is once again available. About 25 stands are expected, including
dealers Albion Magic, Keith Bennett, Stephen Tucker and many others.
Stalls must be pre-booked. For further information contact Alec Powell
on 07831 115448.
www.albionmagiccompany.co.uk. 23.8.08
South
Downs Magicians present a lecture and dealer dem by
Zane's Magic
Shop on Wednesday, September 3rd at 8pm at the club headquarters:
Handcross Parish Hall, High Street, Handcross, West Sussex RH17 6BJ (Map).
Visitors £5. The lecture will cover mostly close-up effects but will
also include stage and children's magic. The dealer dem will include
some of the latest products from the US. For more info visit
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk. 23.8.08
Dicey
dice! The Card Collection email: "For many years we have had
requests to stock a complete run of 1 to 6 misnumbered dice; at last we
have found a manufacturer who would make them to our specification, we
wanted a 16mm quality white dice with black spots that looked like a
regular everyday games dice that would not arouse suspicion. We now have
such a dice. The Card Collection can supply a set of 6 different
misnumbered dice plus 2 regular to match for £15 or you may buy 1
misnumbered, of your choice plus 1 regular for £3."
www.cards4magic.co.uk. 23.8.08
Devon Magic Circle Diamond Jubilee Dinner. Devon Magic Circle are
celebrating their Diamond Jubilee this year and will be having a Dinner
at the Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren, Devon on Friday 19th
September. The star performer for the evening is Fay Presto. Tickets are
£20.00 each, from the secretary Brian Hodge
bhodgedawlish@aol.com. Those
who have had connections with the Devon Magic Circle over the last 60
years will be especially welcome. Ian Adair is coming as one of the life
members of the DMC and Edwin, of Supreme Magic, was one of the founder
members of the DMC. The hotel is offering special overnight rates for
those travelling. 23.8.08
Beck's
Bunnies! Beck's have launched a special-edition collection of labels
showcasing the work of emerging contemporary artists. It is the first
time the iconic green bottle’s original label has been replaced since
imports began in 1952 and the first time the art labels have been
available to purchase by the public. The Duck/Rabbit image is being
showcased on 27 million bottles and allows massive exposure to the
concept of optical illusion to the nation. No doubt some magicians will
have fun with the possibilities that the Duck/Rabbit bottle offers
(although I'm not sure that drinkers need optical illusion to see things
differently)
www.becks.co.uk. 23.8.08
Zane's
Magic Shop have stock of the newly designed PK Finger Rings. Two
designs are available, the 'Dragon' (see photo - large) or the 'Zodiac'
(medium), and both silver in colour. "These look great and just like
the type of Fashion Rings you could buy on the high street which
make them all the more deceptive to use!" £19.99 each, from
www.zanesmagicshop.com. 23.8.08
Chris
Priest - Master Routines Lecture. The Sheffield Circle of Magicians
host Chris Priest's Master Routines Lecture on Thursday 4th September at
7.30pm at the Three Cranes Pub, 74 Queen Street, Sheffield S1 2DW (Map).
All welcome (Non members £5.00 on the door). For more information
contact Craig Frith (Entertainment Secretary) 07816 989 946 or Dave
Chambers (President) 01302 537720 or 07740 404 948.
www.sheffieldcircleofmagicians.org. 23.8.08
Practical
Magic's latest exclusive offering: Fantasy Crystal Blendo:
"Originally, this was an idea by Pavel of Switzerland, with some
significant additions from Pat Fallon. The effect will be of particular
interest to silk workers, stage performers and children's entertainers
(Pat has written a superb story for children). All the props are housed
in a lightly stained wooden box with brass fittings. In essence, four
18" silks are tucked into a piece of Perspex tubing, and, when you blow
through the tubing, out flies a 36" multicoloured silk! Silk and tubing
can be handed out, if desired. Price will be £75.00 plus postage. This
item will be a feature of Pat's lecture at Kidology on Tuesday,
September 9th in Wolverhampton (see last week's Magicweek for further
details) and the item will not be released before the convention.
On the subject of Kidology, there is a night-before get-together of
attendees in the Connaught Hotel, who are also offering discounted rates
if you mention 'Kidology'. Contact the hotel: 01902 424433. To book your
ticket for Kidology, please go to
www.practical-magic.com." 23.8.08
Magician
Ian Wragg was featured in the pages of Full House magazine
last week. Ian's been performing as a magician for 20 years but is
allergic to rabbits, despite having used one in his act for all those
years, so it is his wife Tracey who takes care of the rabbit and cleans
out the hutch! 23.8.08
Will
Houstoun Lecture - Leicester. The youngest ever British Champion of
Close-up Magic, William Houstoun, lectures at the Leicester Magic Circle
on October 6th at 7.30pm. Visiting magicians welcome, £5.00 door charge
(no need to book). Venue: Ramada Hotel, 71-73 Grandby Street, Leicester
LE1 6ES (Map).
For more information contact Secretary Barry Martin
barry@leicestermagiccircle.co.uk
www.leicestermagiccircle.co.uk. 23.8.08
Come
a Little Closer... Into the Magical World of John Derris is the name
of John Derris's almost daily online magic blog/magazine which is filled
with news, reviews, ideas and routines for magicians everywhere, from a
man who's been around magic for over 50 years. It's fun and it's free!
Visit
www.magicderris.com. 23.8.08
Bill
McLeod retirement sale. After over 40 years as a magic maker and
dealer Edinburgh magician Bill McLeod is having a retirement sale of his
dealer items and quality second hand props with many items at half
price. The Sale will be held on September 11th at the West Lothian Magic
Circle, East Calder & District Homing Society, Oakbank Road, East
Calder, West Lothian EH53 0EL (Map).
The Sale starts at 7.30pm and entry will be £2.00. 23.8.08
Man
U Magic! Matt Windsor emails: "Thanks so much for putting my request
on MagicWeek last week. I was astounded by the response - more than 40
magicians. The season started with a request for 16 magicians for the
1st game, which I had covered. Please find attached a photo of the
group."
Click Here
to enlarge. 23.8.08
Carey's
Cards - lecture now booking. John Carey would like to hear from
magic clubs interested in booking his lecture Carey's Cards (MagicWeek
Review) for dates in 2009. Email
johncareymagic@googlemail.com. 23.8.08
Malta's
Vanni Pule`and Mary Anne were featured in a two-page spread in
KullHadd last week. Unfortunately, the write-up is in Maltese, but
it covered the beginning of Vanni's public performances in the
mid-sixties and how this exploded into thousands of shows and hundreds
on TV in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It also explored the relationship between
Mary Anne and Vanii, now married for 32 years, Vanii's passion for
magic, and his scepticism of "paranormal phenomena".
www.kullhadd.com. 23.8.08
World
Magic Awards DVD available from Amazon.co.uk,
Click Here • House of Magic (UK) in the West Midlands will be open
on Bank Holiday Monday, August the 25th from 10am – 2pm
www.houseofmagicuk.com • "Less than magical Games for Daniels"
(scroll down)
Click Here • "Ian’s magic of the mind"
Click Here • "Blinkers may not be liars"
Click Here • "Conjuring trio show they're really magic"
Click Here • "Even up close, Minkin’s illusions are magical"
Click Here • "Pete Firman: Flimflam, Underbelly, Edinburgh"
Click Here • "Pete Firman: Flimflam [2008]"
Click Here • "David Blaine: Dive of Death"
Click Here • That's it for another week - see you next week, Duncan.
23.8.08