Number 428 - 6th September 2008
Blackpool
2009 - It's going to be a biggie! Next year's Blackpool Convention
is set to be one of their very best - featuring an international array
of magic talent that will appeal to every magical taste. Starring:
Jeff McBride (USA) - with something new specially for the
convention, Rick Merrill (USA) - a master in the art of
sleeving, Joshua Jay (USA) - a great ideas man, know to many for
his column in Magic magazine, Daryl (USA) - the magician's
magician, presenting an all-new lecture, Dr Sawa (Japan) - making
a rare convention appearance with four unique performances, Eugene
Burger (USA) - first appearance at the Blackpool Convention,
Michael Ammar (USA) - one of America's top close-up magicians,
Tony Chapek (USA) - interacting with a large flat screen TV - it's
an incredible act, An Ha Lim (Korea) - stunning card manipulation
from the IBM/SAM champion, Arthur Trace (USA) - innovative
award-winning magic, Ervan (France) - young sensational dove
magician, Tony Frebourg (France) - highly skilled juggler,
Richard Osterlind (USA) - one of the world's leading mentalists,
James Randi (USA) - first ever appearance at the Blackpool
Convention, Obie O'Brien (USA) the famous FFFF organiser,
Etienne Pradier (UK) - full of Gallic charm, a brilliant close-up
worker, Marc Oberon (UK) fresh from his People's Choice Award
for Close-Up Magic win at the recent joint IBM SAM Convention in the
States, Ian Keable (UK) - presenting an all-new lecture on stand
up magic, Ian Rowland (UK) - ever-charming mindreading miracles,
David Penn (UK) - presenting his all-new lecture, and Ken Dodd
(UK) - complete with tickling stick! And that's just for starters - with
more names to be announced! Plus 100+ magic dealers including for the
first time Magic Stars Studio from the States, and MagicWeek
regulars JB Magic and MagicTricks.co.uk. Blackpool
Magicians' Club are also in negotiation with magic stars Rick Thomas,
Jerome Murat, Voronin and Svetlana... keep an eye on MagicWeek for all
the latest updates. 20th, 21st, 22nd February 2009 - visit
www.blackpoolmagic.com to download a PDF registration form today! 6.9.08
Richard
Kaufman - London Workshops. Richard Kaufman will present a workshop
at the International Magic weekend in November on advanced card
technique on Saturday 29th November in the evening and again on Sunday
morning. Richard is the both editor and publisher of
Genii, and
has also written and edited many books on magic. The workshops at the
Shaw will be aimed at serious card magicians. There will be a £30.00
charge to attend. Korean card manipulator Hung Lee has just been
confirmed for the gala show - we haven't seen him but have heard amazing
things... To register for the main convention visit
www.internationalmagic.com. 6.9.08
The
Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year Competition 2009. First held
in 1961, The Magic Circle's Young Magician of the Year Competition has
produced such winners as Johnny Hart, Russ Stevens, Andrew O'Connor and
Dominic Wood - and more recently Steve Dela and Ben Hart. Entries are
now invited for this prestigious competition which is open to all young
magicians aged between 14 and 18 years old on 1st January 2009.
Competitors will be required to present a stage performance of magic,
suitable for a family audience, and lasting between eight and twelve
minutes. The heats will take place on Sunday 19th April 2009 at The
Magic Circle headquarters in London, and the final on Sunday 12th July
2009. For more information and a PDF application form
Click Here or contact Dr Michael Colley, The Magic Circle
Competition Secretary: 01367 252482 email
michaelcolley@themagiccircle.co.uk. 6.9.08
Pat
Page is presenting a lecture for International Magic in London on
Tuesday 16th September at their usual venue - 2nd floor 'Casa Italiana',
136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL (Map).
Email or phone Martin MacMillan
martin@internationalmagic.com or 020 7405 7324 if you would like to
attend. 7.15pm for a prompt 7.30pm start. Finishes at 9.45pm. £10.00 per
person. 6.9.08
Revelation
- in stock. International Magic have just received stock of
Revelation published by Mike Caveney's Magic Words. This new,
over-size book was triggered by the discovery of more than 160 long-lost
photographs of Dai Vernon’s hands that were taken in 1961 specifically
to illustrate this manuscript. It is as close as you will ever get to a
personal session with the Professor. Includes: A facsimile reproduction
of the entire, original typed Revelation manuscript. The entire text of
The Expert at the Card Table with Vernon’s annotations inserted at the
appropriate places illustrated with the newly discovered photos. Plus
more than 100 pages of added material including Vernon’s explanation
(with photos) of Topping the Deck, Walter Scott’s Second Deal and Double
Belly Cut, the Ping Pong Shift, The Hop, Allen Kennedy’s legendary
Center Deal and more. 392 over-size pages with a beautiful dustjacket.
The book itself measures 9" by 11½" with 392 pages and a beautiful
dustjacket designed by Michael Albright. The book is bound in green
cloth and stamped with copper foil. You can order it from the shop or
online via
www.internationalmagic.com. 6.9.08
The
Home Counties Magical Society is holding its annual dinner on Friday
26th September at the Sonning Golf Club in Sonning, Reading. A sumptuous
three-course meal is planned and the brilliant Mel Mellers will provide
the cabaret. Full details:
www.magicdinner.co.uk. 6.9.08
Drew
McAdam An evening of MindPlay, Bathgate, Scotland. Taking you on a
fun-filled journey to the centre of the mind. If you think your thoughts
are yours and yours alone, think again. Drew McAdam's "MindPlay"
abilities will blow you away! A new event is the arrival of the
well-known mind reader, Drew McAdam. Even Uri Geller is impressed by
him. Drew McAdam has numerous TV and radio credits to his name,
including a hilarious special guest appearance on Ready Steady Cook
where he not only read Ainslie Harriott's mind but bent all the spoons.
Drew is also the subject of the recent BBC series "School For Genius"
and has a regular spot as "The Interrogator" on the Trisha Goddard Show
(next appearances on 24th and 25th of this month). Great audience
participation! A wonderful night's entertainment. Come and be baffled.
Friday 24th October at 8pm.
Click Here for booking details. 6.9.08
Quick
Change lecture - now booking. British illusionist Lee Alex will be
making a rare visit to the UK at the end of January next year. Lee
spends most of his time abroad and has been based in Turkey for the past
nine years. His travels have taken him all over Europe, Asia, and as far
north as Siberia performing at -40 degrees centigrade! Lee is the
creator and producer of the best-selling Colour Change Waistcoat, Snow
Leopard Vest, and the new Happy Birthday Waistcoat and co-authored the
book "Quick Change". Lee is now offering a lecture on Quick Change to
magic clubs. The talk gives a basic introduction to quick change with
revolutionary methods that can be replicated by magicians who do not
wish to make a complete quick change act. It is interactive, and uses
members of the audience to demonstrate effects and methods. Volunteers
are taught the correct techniques to use for maximum speed. Included: a
complete breakdown of the Colour Change Waistcoat with first hand tips
on how to really perform this effect. Interested clubs should contact
Lee directly fore more information:
info@leealex.com.
www.magicwaistcoat.com. 6.9.08
Chris
Cox: Control Freak - on Tour. "You think you have free will? You
think you can decide what you choose? You think fate can't be changed?
You need to think again! 24 year old Chris Cox will change the way you
think! After selling out his entire run and winning the Zebra Award at
the 2007 Edinburgh Festival - the mind reader who can't read minds is
back reading minds with a new 18 date UK tour entitled 'Control Freak'
which kick's off in Crawley on the 5th October." See
What's On for dates. 6.9.08
Andy
Nyman in Big Brother nightmare! Andy Nyman, know to MagicWeek
readers for his theatrical take on the magic world, stars in the
upcoming E4 drama series Dead Set. The drama is set in a Britain
where the walking dead are attacking the living. It stars Jaime Winstone
as a production runner working on a fictional series of Big Brother who
tries to fend off the walking dead alongside the remaining housemates,
her producer boss Patrick (Andy Nyman) and boyfriend Riq. In Dead Set
the Big Brother house suddenly becomes one of the few remaining safe
places in the country, with the contestants blissfully unaware of the
horrific events unfolding outside. Until an eviction night where all
hell breaks loose… To watch an 18 cert video clip visit
www.e4.com/deadset
(and click on the eye). 6.9.08
Dave
Allen appeared in a documentary called Animal Crackers on
Satellite channel Animal Planet last week. The documentary
explored relationships between humans and animals, and in this episode
they interviewed Dave Allen and his infamous ducks.
Click Here to watch the piece.
www.daveallenmagic.com. 6.9.08
Steve
and Tricia Blake are currently cruising aboard the luxury liner
Regent Seven Seas Mariner until the end of May 2009. They be visiting
Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and South America and would
welcome a 'hello' from any acts in port at the same time.
www.steveandtriciablake.com. 6.9.08
Magic
Prints. Mike Danata's Magic Studio are offering sets of four magic
prints, produced on A4 canvas cards, including free black frames and
postage (in the UK) for just £30.00 per set. Overseas customers will
receive a set of 4 duplicate prints in post card size instead of the
frames, again with free postage! Both offers end on September 22nd and
stock is limited. Customers should phone or email to take advantage of
this special offer, mentioning "Summer Offer" when ordering. Telephone:
01202 391666 or email:
info@mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk.
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk. 6.9.08
John
Little (North Western Society of Magicians, Barrow in Furness) is
appearing with TV's 'The Hairy Bikers' (Si King and Dave Myers) in a
variety show at Forum 28, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria on 29th and 30th of
September, called 'The Hairy Bikers Big Night Out'. The show is a
variety show with dancers, music and some magic too. The boys will also
be doing some cooking and talking about their travels around the world.
It is almost sold out on both nights. Box Office: 01229 820000. 6.9.08
Close-up
magician Nic Picot is seen here entertaining wedding guests in St
Tropez last week. At the party Nic bumped in to Yogano junior - his
father Yogani, inventor of various levitations, was working on the
famous Pampelonne beach. Yogano's magic included a coin matrix, sponge
balls, card in shoe and the salt poor, and Nic's featured a mix of magic
and mindreading, together with some NLP. "The NLP approach to magic is
great as you have no props to carry, great for the jet set magician or
if you have no pockets!" said Nic. 6.9.08
Magic
Star Ali Bongo to open extension at “The House of Magic (UK)”. Magic
star and magical inventor Ali Bongo will open the new extension at The
House of Magic (UK), 80 Brook Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 3XB
(Map)
on Friday September 12th at 4.45pm. Proprietor John Milner said, “Ali is
a great ambassador for magic and we are delighted that he is performing
the opening ceremony.” Ali was the magic associate of the late David
Nixon for nine years, creating literally hundred’s of tricks and
illusions and playing David’s assistant “Alistair”, and then adviser to
BBC’s “The Paul Daniels Magic Show” series for sixteen years. He is also
one of a few magicians to receive The Magic Circle’s “Maskelyne Trophy”
and has received America’s highest magical honour: A Master’s Fellowship
from the Academy of the Magical Arts in Hollywood . He will be in
attendance from around 3pm and will be giving a lecture in the evening.
A few tickets are still available for the lecture. All magicians are
welcome to attend the opening ceremony. Contact 01384 373209.
www.houseofmagicuk.com. 6.9.08
Chris
Kenworthey's TeleThought Wallet... "Throw every peek wallet you have
out. They’re 'old school.' Usher in a new generation of thought
detection with the revolutionary TeleThought Wallet. If you truly desire
Extra Sensory Deception then the TeleThought Wallet is for you. Imagine
a spectator is invited to think of any word, symbol, picture, number,
etc. He writes it on a card. It is inserted into a sleek, black wallet
face down. Nothing is ever added or taken away. And there are no moves!
Remember, without any moves at all, without withdrawing anything from
the wallet, one hundred percent of the spectator’s information is
delivered secretly, ingeniously, and imperceptibly to the performer."
Find out more, limited supply, available from
www.waynedobson.co.uk. 6.9.08
Last
call for Kidology - the weekday convention for children's entertainers.
Registrations have now gone well past the 200 mark, but there are still
late places available. The convention takes place in Wolverhampton this
Tuesday, 9th September, with lectures from Pat Fallon, Russ Brown, Tony
Griffith and John Kimmons plus fourteen dealers and a buffet lunch all
for £35.00. No registrations on the door. If you are going to the Car
Boot Sale in West Bromwich on Sunday, you can book with Albion Magic
(see What's On).
Alternatively, contact Practical Magic
www.practical-magic.com telephone: 01691 690789. 6.9.08
Professional
close-up magician Craig James was recently asked to perform his
unique close-up magic for Britain's Olympic double gold medallist and
world record holder, Rebecca Adlington, at her exclusive VIP homecoming
party! The night was a huge success, with everyone in good spirits
enjoying the magic - especially Rebecca. "It was an honour to perform
for one of Britain's biggest sporting icons" said Craig.
www.craigjamesmagic.co.uk. 6.9.08
Top Secret Magic dealer dem. Top Secret Magic are presenting a dealer dem at the Plymouth Magic Circle, Tothill Community Centre, St Judes, Plymouth, on Thursday 11th September at 7.30pm. All welcome. www.topsecretmagic.co.uk. 6.9.08
Paul
Daniels - live on stage tonight, Ipswich Regent Theatre - see
What's On • "Conjuring
up a school by magic"
Click Here • "Best of British Variety: save your kisses for the
Krankies"
Click Here • "Paul Daniels, Rhyl Pavilion, September 20"
Click Here • That's it for another week, your UK magic news is
always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan.
6.9.08