Number 451 - 14th February 2009
An
Evening with Stars from The Magic Circle.
Friends of the Royal Free Hospital (charity no 266632) Present 'An
Evening with Stars from The Magic Circle' in the Peter Samuel Hall,
Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG (Map)
on Thursday 14th May at 7.30pm. See stars of The Magic Circle on stage
before your very eyes! Watch leading members perform magic right under
your nose! In memory of Chris Pratt, former Vice President and Secretary
of The Magic Circle. Tickets £15, to include a glass of wine in aid of
Radiotherapy services at the Royal Free Hospital advancing the treatment
of brain and other tumours. Parking available in the South Car Park.
Tickets available from: The Friends’ Office, Royal Free Hospital, Pond
Street, London NW3 2QG Telephone: 020 7830 2091 or email:
friends@royalfree.nhs.uk
To download a PDF booking form,
Click Here. 14.2.09
Beat
the Wand! Andrew James and Magic Sam Proudly Present... Beat the
Wand! A new, fun, late-night event that will take place at the
Blackpool
Convention immediately following the Saturday Night Intercontinental
Stage Show between 11pm and 1am.
Here's the outline: "By kind permission of Derek Lever, Andrew James and Magic Sam Proudly Present... Beat the Wand! A competition that anybody, with any sort of act may enter using magic, juggling, mentalism, comedy.. anything, as long as you have a five minute act. The three judges will be randomly picked from the audience and changed regularly throughout the evening. Ten contestants will compete. Each contestant has to attempt to entertain the audience for five minutes without being voted off. Each judge will be given a giant wand. When a judge becomes bored or has had enough of the act, they will raise their wand in the air. As soon as there are three wands in the air the act is stopped. Once the acts reach three minutes, a bell will ring, signalling that they “Beat the Wand” and they will be allowed to complete their act. Finalists will then return to the stage and a winner will be decided by ‘Clap-o-Meter’. The event will be overseen by the comperes, Magic Sam and Andrew James to ensure that none of the audience are being over zealous or biased with their eliminations! Entrants should bear in mind that the stage is very small and they will only have ninety seconds to enter and exit. To alleviate the Saturday night ‘Ruskin Rush’, Beat the Wand is taking place straight after the Saturday Night Intercontinental Stage Show from 11pm to 1am in the Theatre Bar, Winter Gardens (the rear room of the Galleon Bar).
What’s the big prize? Honour and the glory of being able to say that you
were the one who “Beat the Wand”. As if that wasn't enough, there will
also be a trophy, an “I Beat the Wand” t-shirt, and a gold ticket for
next year's convention! Beat the Wand will give convention attendees the
opportunity to get up on stage and perform for a substantial,
appreciative and energetic audience. We want to encourage new talent -
throw caution to the wind and get up there and give it all you've got!
We want old and young, amateur and pro on that stage, side by side,
giving it all they’ve got.
The emphasis will be on entertaining an audience. So a Dippy Duck
routine might beat a 38 coin matrix, or a five minute, one balloon
routine might beat billiard balls. Or not! We’ll have to wait and see.
Beat the Wand will be a raw, fun, down to earth, ego-free evening with a
real emphasis on entertaining an audience."
If you would like to be a part of this brand new convention event, email
a little info about yourself, together with a YouTube link if possible,
to the Beat the Wand organisers, Andrew James and Magic Sam at
beatthewand@hotmail.co.uk. 14.2.09
How
to Create Kids' Magic - and Triple Your Income! is the title of an
outstanding new book aimed at anyone who entertains children. Written by
John Breeds and published by Practical Magic, it is being released at
the Blackpool
Convention later this week exclusively on the
Practical Magic stand. The book is A4 sized, with approximately 200
pages, profusely illustrated throughout. With introductions by Terry
Herbert and David Kaye (Silly Billy). Whilst the book contains some
outstanding routines, there are whole sections on the business side of
entertaining children. Areas covered include Selling Yourself, Publicity
and Advertising, Audience Control and Staging, Funny Tricks and
Non-Elimination Games. "If you follow the advice that John Breeds has
given to you in this book, you cannot help but triple your income. I
only wish I had had this information when I turned fully professional 33
years ago." Terry Herbert. The UK price is £27.50 plus £3.50 p&p. For
more information visit:
www.practical-magic.com. 14.2.09
Chris
Cox is appearing in 'Frank Skinner's Credit Crunch Cabaret' on
Monday 16th February at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
W1D 7ES (Map)
Tube: Piccadilly Circus. Box Office: 0844 412 4661
www.chriscox.info. 14.2.09
The
Order of The Magi (Manchester) have just produced a Centenary Brochure.
This 28 page full-colour publication contains a history of the society,
famous magicians and their link to Manchester, members' achievements,
optical illusions, puzzles, origami, details of the centenary shows and
even something for children to colour in. There are also greetings and
advertisements. It is believed this will become a collectors’ item in
years to come. All members of The Magi will be receiving one free this
week. Copies are also available to non-members at £2.00 each (post free)
from: Geoffrey Newton, 6 Newcombe Court, Sale, Manchester M33 6RU
(cheques payable to The Order of The Magi). Why not send an order off on
behalf of your club members and be part of this celebration. 14.2.09
The
Photo Monkeys. Ian and Elisa have been involved in the entertainment
industry for over 8 years. They know that good promotional material is
paramount to receiving good quality work. By using their service you can
guarantee that you will receive exceptional eye catching images that
will sell your stage personality and ultimately reflect the
professionalism of your act. Visit
www.thephotomonkeys.co.uk. 14.2.09
What
a caper! Paul Gordon's Card Capers in 2008 was a great
success, and the next special day on Sunday May 10th is nearly sold out,
so Paul has decided to take the event on the road. On Sunday 13th
September, Card Capers will appear at The Cubbington Social Club
in Leamington Spa. It will be a full day of card magic tuition, with
workshop sessions and more. Visit
www.paulgordon.net/cardcapers.htm for details. 14.2.09
A
brand new issue of Magicseen is now out, as the UK's top full colour
independent magazine heads into its fifth year! Issue 25, for March
2009, is unique in that it has two front covers! Most copies will have
top man Pete Firman, one of the UK's most popular entertainers, on the
cover as the magazine catches up with him 4 years after he was first
featured along with Ali Cook on the cover of issue 1. But there will be
a small number of this issue which will have Andrew Normansell on the
cover - same contents, just a different face on the outside. These
special copies will be available from the Mark Leveridge Magic stand at
the Blackpool Convention, and have been prepared to coincide with the
release of Andrew's new book, "The Man Who Would Be King", which is also
being released by Magicseen Publications at the Blackpool Convention.
These editions of the magazine are bound to become collectors’ items as
only a limited number have been produced, so if you want to get your
hands on this special edition of issue 25, make sure to visit editor
Mark Leveridge at Blackpool! For more information about issue 25, which
now has a new sleek and glossy format, visit
www.magicseen.co.uk. 14.2.09
Paul
Kieve - at the Southbank Centre. "Paul Kieve taught Daniel Radcliffe
how to perform magic tricks, and worked as the magic consultant on the
film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. In his brilliant new book
Hocus Pocus, a boy called Paul is visited by famous magicians of the
past and learns about their amazing illusions and often grim deaths.
Paul reads from the book and performs a number of illusions, and you can
meet him in person after the show. Suitable for children aged eight and
over." Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX (Map)
on Monday 16th February at 11.30am. More info:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk. 14.2.09
Time
For A Change? Lee Alex has returned to Istanbul, following a very
successful UK lecture tour, that took in Portsmouth, Birmingham,
Newcastle, Surrey, and Bradford, where the Bradford Magic Circle hosted
their first inter-society meeting, sharing the evening with members from
Harrogate and Leeds. Unfortunately the snow halted his London and
Nottingham dates. Patrick Cross, President of the British Magical
Society wrote: "This was a most stimulating evening, beautifully
presented, and thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you very much both for the
lecture, and your kind gift of a copy of your book for our library."
Jeff McBride just received a copy of the lecture notes and in a words
described them as "Gorgeous!" Lex Schoppi wrote: "Lee Alex
refreshes the old systems and this book will be a revolution. An
absolute 'must have' for costume change performer and serious stage
magicians." Time for a Change? will be available exclusively from
the Magic Box stand at the Blackpool Convention. The notes (in the form
of a 190 page book!) are normally only available to those who attend
Lee's lecture, Magic Box have some stock that didn't arrive in time for
the tour.
www.magicwaistcoat.com. 14.2.09
Marco
Pusterla will be presenting six "Magical Storytelling" sessions at
Corby's Library, Northamptonshire, on Thursday 19th February,
starting at 11am. The shows will be part of Corby's Borough Council
Literacy Festival, "Play on Words", an event spanning a whole month with
events for children and adults. Marco Pusterla, the publisher of
Christian Chelman's book
Hauntiques,
rarely performs at public events, being busy working private parties and
corporate events and providing magical consultancies in Europe
www.mpmagic.co.uk. 14.2.09
Those
Blackpool Bloggers are Back! And this time 3 have become 4. Matt
Parro, Stuart Harley, Geoff Hunt and new addition to the blogging team
Max Curd, will be blogging all the latest news, as it's happening, live
from the Blackpool Magic Convention - if you can’t make the convention
this year than at least you’ll be able to see what you’ve been missing!
www.blackpool2009.blogspot.com. 14.2.09
Ring
in Pepper-Pot. After many requests from owners of the DVD set
Menu of Miracles by James Prince, RSVPMagic are delighted to
announce the exclusive release of his 'Ring in Pepper-Pot' routine. The
prop is hand-gimmicked, 100% effective and for a limited time comes with
a free copy of "Menu of Miracles - Vol.1" (worth £17.99 / $34.99!) "This
is straight out of James' working act and is a wonderful piece of visual
magic for all close-up workers. The prop is superbly made and will last
forever", says Russ Stevens. Watch the trailer and amazing reactions, on
www.rsvpmagic.com. 14.2.09
An
Evening with Roni Shacnaey. Simon Shaw emails: "I am pleased
(absolutely delighted in fact) to let you all know that Roni will be
lecturing and performing at the Ipswich Magical Society on Monday March
2nd 2009. Roni's style of bizarre magic-cum-mentalism is unique and a
joy to watch. Visiting magicians will be welcome, although there will be
a fee on the door." For more details visit:
www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk. 14.2.09
The
Notebook - Blackpool Launch. "The Notebook contains descriptions and
explanations of eighty one card tricks performed in the latter half of
the eighteenth century by some of the greatest magicians of the age.
Unlike other books from the time, The Notebook was written by a
knowledgeable magician author. Because of this The Notebook includes
details of the subtleties, outs and timing used; and importantly, the
tricks are those used by the performers themselves, rather than the ones
included in the books they sold to the public. This means that a large
number of items feel surprisingly modern and would work alongside magic
created in the twenty-first century, despite the fact they are over two
hundred years old. Some of the material could even be published today
and pass for current creations!" The Notebook is written and published
by Will Houstoun, and Will will be on the Monster Creations stand all weekend.
Will invites you to drop by to have a look at a copy at some point. 14.2.09
Surefire
is a 2 hour DVD starring Mark Southworth (the creator of Shoet)
featuring 11 routines from his working act. "Some of these routines
could have easily been marketed as separate DVD products, but we really
wanted to give our customers value for money, and make this one of their
favourite DVDs. Of particular interest to all workers will be
'Blockbuster' which is the perfect routine for corporate magicians and
mix and mingle performers. Come to our stand at the Blackpool
Convention, where Mark will be demonstrating all of the material and
will be able to answer any questions." Said Russ Stevens at RSVPMagic.
You can see a trailer online at
www.rsvpmagic.com. 14.2.09
Zane's
Magic Shop will have a large stand in The Arena at the
Blackpool
Magicians' Convention (Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd February) offering
lots of new tricks and DVDs, and really look forward to meeting
customers, old and new!
www.zanesmagicshop.com. 14.2.09
MagicPackagingDesign.co.uk
Graphic designer and magician James Howells emails: "Are you a magician
with a trick or DVD to sell? I have had an interest in magic and graphic
design for 15 years and have combined both passions, I have set up a
website offering my graphic design services to magicians with a trick to
sell, with the intention of designing their DVD cover or packaging for
their product." Visit
www.magicpackagingdesign.co.uk for more info. 14.2.09
Martin
Lewis, President of the Associated Conjurers of East Sussex, won the
prestigious Tom Hooper Close-up award against fierce competition.
Working on an entirely new routine, Martin had spent 6 weeks preparing
for this and showed off many new card and coin routines to the audience
of magicians and lay people in Lewes on Wednesday 10th February.
Speaking after the competition, Martin said he was delighted with his
win especially as Tom Hooper was a local Brighton magician whom he
thought had been one of the best around. “Tom even won the close-up
competition the year before his death when using crutches and was a very
talented man who is sorely missed by all who knew him” Reported by Nicky
Moon, Secretary, ACES Magic Society
www.acesmagic.co.uk. 14.2.09
Mark
Shortland lectures at the Bexleyheath Society of Magicians on
Wednesday 18th February. Visiting magicians welcome. Contact Secretary
Dave Andrews on 020 8853 1733 or email
magish1@aol.com for more details and to register your attendance.
www.bexleymagic.org.uk. 14.2.09
MasterClass
- The First Four Years. Although Magicseen Magazine is primarily a
features publication rather than a tricks magazine, it does have two or
three routines in every issue in the Masterclass section. In the first
four years of publication, 61 contributions have appeared and these have
now been collected together and are offered as a stand-alone publication
either as a book or download. Contributors include: Max Maven, Boris
Wild, David Stone, Aldo Colombini, Wayne Dobson, Jay Sankey, Mathieu
Bich, Marc Paul, Trevor Lewis, Joshua Jay and so many more, and they
have provided a varied and interesting selection of material. Comb bound
printed copies of “Masterclass – The First Four Years” will be available
at Blackpool from the Mark Leveridge Magic stand or you can order direct
from
www.magicseen.co.uk. 14.2.09
Illusioncraft
- New releases for Blackpool! Illusioncraft is pleased to announce
at long last “Magic Smoke From Anywhere” version 2 is now ready -
allowing the performer to produce puffs of smoke from anywhere, safely
and without any harmful or corrosive chemicals. Illusioncraft’s very own
Flash Money, first used by Keith Barry, will also be launched, together
with "a few more goodies that you will have to wait to see" we're told.
Flash Money stocks will be very limited, and Illusioncraft will only
have 30 Magic Smoke units ready for Blackpool. Email Adam for further
info: adam@illusioncraft.co.uk.
Be sure to visit them in The Arena! 14.2.09
Anthony
Owen will be on the TVMagic.co.uk stand
at the Blackpool Convention demonstrating several effects from the new
range of DVDs reviewed by Nicholas Einhorn this week,
Click
Here.
Anthony tells us he will also have a limited number of copies of the new
Magic Interview Series CD on 'The Secrets of TV Magic'. Geoffrey Durham
said this week about this CD: "Anthony is stimulating, exhilarating and
motivating. But, above all, he is right!"
www.tvmagic.co.uk. 14.2.09
This
year marks the 90th anniversary of The Cambridge Pentacle Club. "Our
major celebration takes place on Saturday 9th May 2009, and during that
day we're hoping to show as much of the club's history as possible. So,
we're searching for past members and past memories. If you have anything
to share about The Pentacle Club, please send it to us (even if you
can't make the convention). All hard-copy material and photographs will
be scanned and returned to you. Just include your name and the date you
were associated with the Club, and we'll do the rest. For details and
information on our special day of magic, contract Alan Maskell
(Secretary) on
secretary@pentaclemagic.co.uk or visit:
www.pentaclemagic.co.uk" Ian A Thomson. 14.2.09
Andrew
Normansell The Man Who Would Be King. Following the huge
international success of Wayne Dobson's book WD40, published by
Magicseen Publications a couple of years ago, they are pleased to
announce that a book featuring the magical thoughts and routines of
professional entertainer Andrew Normansell called "The Man Who Would Be
King" will be released on Friday 20th February at the Blackpool
Convention: "Readers of Magicseen will be familiar with Andrew as there
have been a couple of features on him and he has also appeared a few
times answering questions in the Close Up Clinic. Now Andrew reveals the
secrets of his commercial success by recounting his life story so far,
gives readers excellent food for thought in a section called Devil's
Advocate in which he passes opinion on all manner of magical themes, and
finally he also gives full details of 28 of his pet routines for
close-up, stand-up and mentalism. Everything Andrew does is geared to
commercial performance and his methods are delightfully
straightforward." Available at Blackpool from the Mark Leveridge Magic
stand or directly from
www.magicseen.co.uk. 14.2.09
Night
with Anne Robinson wasn't magic says Bromham conjuror. "Magician
Jack Stephens said he wishes he could make Anne Robinson disappear after
bearing the brunt of her remarks on The Weakest Link last week. Mr
Stephens, 55, who lives in Bromham, came a respectable third in the
running for the £3,300 prize money but was the last contestant to take
the dreaded walk of shame. He only realised he had a chance of appearing
on the hit BBC show after his daughter Susie, 20, secretly sent off for
the application form..." To read the full story in the Bromham website,
Click Here.
www.jackstephens.co.uk. 14.2.09
An
Evening of Fine Wine, Dining and Conjuring at Brown’s.
standnotamazed presents... An Evening of Fine Wine, Dining and Conjuring
at Brown’s, St Martin’s Lane, London, at 7pm on Friday 27th February. "A
rare opportunity to see contemporary magician John van der Put close-up
and live in the heart of the west end. The current UK International
Brotherhood of Magician’s Close Up Champion and ‘Heston Blumenthal’s
Magician’ (METRO), don’t miss your chance to see his award-winning
sleight of hand for yourself! Followed by coffee and cabaret starring...
Piff the Magic Dragon (Finalist of the Hackney Empire New Act of the
Year 2009), Maya Politaki (featuring The Spikes and The Rings), Richard
Pinner ("Marvellous skills he has enormous charm and humour" The
Stage). To book call Sarah on 020 7395 6092 or email
courtrooms@mbplc.com. 14.2.09
Illusionist
Guy Barrett will be performing at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing in
"Zippos Circus" from the 17th - 22nd February. Guy, Lisa and their
dancers will join an international cast, presenting several illusions
throughout the show.
www.guybarrett.com. 14.2.09
Marc
Lemezma's Card Magic. From the publishers: "Even the most baffling
card tricks rely on some simple mathematical principles and sleight of
hand. This book will reveal the tricks behind the dazzle, providing easy
instructions for anyone wanting to impress with cards. This beautifully
presented book guides the reader through the fascinating history behind
card tricks, then moves on to the concept of 'forcing' cards, the more
baffling (and impressive!) card tricks, how to amaze your audience by
sleight of hand, and even features the most famous card trick in the
world, 'Find the Lady'. Finally, the book also discusses the tricks
based around the increasingly popular gambling card games (such as Texas
Hold 'Em Poker). For both novices and performers alike, 'Card Magic'
provides a fantastic grounding in the basics and principles of card
magic." To pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. 14.2.09
Potter
& Potter Auctions is pleased to announce it's next public auction, A
selection of rare magicana from the collection of Jay Marshall. This
sale will include what is perhaps some of the best material from the
late great collector/magician's legendary holdings. Most of the items
will be offered at no reserve. The auction will include genuinely rare
and historically significant ephemera, books, apparatus, scrapbooks,
posters and memorabilia. Magicians represented in the sale include:
Houdini, Howard Thurston, Harry Kellar, Charles Bertram, Alexander,
Adelaide & Leon Herrmann, T. Nelson Downs, The Great Lafayette, Dai
Vernon, John Henry Anderson, Arnold DeBierre and more. The auction is
scheduled for Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield
Hotel, Schaumburg, Illinois. All attendees of the Magic Collectors'
Weekend convention (scheduled for April 23-25, also at the Hyatt Regency
Woodfield - visit
www.squashpublishing.com for details) will receive a complimentary
auction catalog - a $25 value - with their registration for the
convention. Further information and details will be posted at
www.potterauctions.com as they become available. 14.2.09
The
Super
Scottish Magic Auction that was to have been held on April 19th has
had to change its date (to be announced) to avoid clashing with another
event. Adrian Harris emails: "The S.C.A. has announced that as part of
their 85th Anniversary they are having lectures and dealers with a
dinner and cabaret on Saturday 18th in Glasgow so in order not to clash
with this, the decision was made to change the date of the sale." For more information
email
adrian.harris@blueyonder.co.uk
www.perthmagiccircle.co.uk. 14.2.09
Mark Raffles emails: "Re my forthcoming date at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea on February 14th. Unfortunately a health problem has cropped up and I have had to have a pacemaker fitted. Everything is OK and I will be back to work shortly but not in time for Bexhill." 14.2.09
Congratulations to Edward Hilsum, winner of 'Tonbridge Has Talent' on Friday 6th February, a talent competition held at Tonbridge School in the style of 'Britain's Got Talent' with five judges giving comments on the acts. There were 19 acts altogether with lots of variety including singers, dancers, comedians and jugglers. The event was organised by Weald School and all proceeds went to charity. See Edward on YouTube Click Here (Readers may remember how impressed we were with Edward's act at the Eastbourne Convention last year). 14.2.09
"Vegas magician, family see their income disappear" Click Here • "Magician's fundraiser in memory of Barbara" Click Here • "Magicians at Downing Street…" Click Here • "Presto! A professional stereotype vanishes!" Click Here • "Fairground attraction: See the amazing headless woman!" Click Here • That's it! Your magic news is always welcomed - see you next week, Duncan. 14.2.09