Number 474 - 25th July 2009

Illusions Magic Bar presents The Real World Lectures. Illusions are launching a new style of lecture! Aimed at magicians who want to advance their careers with professional material James Brown, Thom Peterson and Jon Allen, three full-time performers, will be presenting their own working material in front of a real audience. They will then breakdown what you've just watched, into a comprehensive Q&A session. Space is limited to just 50 places, so book now for what promises to be an exceptional event. Prices are £25 per delegate and this will include tea and coffee and a buffet lunch. Magicians may invite non-magic guests and their entry will be free as they will be used as the public audience, but this is on a first come first served basis and is limited to 20 (note that lay guests will be asked to visit the museum or Bristol while the Q&A session takes place). Payment must be made by September 21st and this can be done by phoning Illusions Bar owner Mark on 0117 9093405 (mobile 07974 005280) for details. It takes place on Sunday 4th October, doors open 9am, and the lectures will begin at 10am sharp. The day officially ends at 5pm. The bar will be open from 12 noon to 12 midnight for those who want to stay and chat. (Hurry - this one will sell out quickly - it promises to be an exceptional event in great surroundings. DT). www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk. 25.7.09

Magician-UK launches. Most readers will know about our original Directory of Magicians www.corporatemagicians.com launched in 2001. Very much aimed at the corporate market it has since proved to be a great success. Ten days ago I launched a brand new directory www.magician-uk.co.uk. In essence this new site is a localised version of CorporateMagicians.com, but is instead geared more towards the expanding wedding and private party markets. Magicians are listed only under the actual county that they live in, so that it really is "local" (although many will make it clear that they offer their services to a wider geographical region as well). Together with a listing, photo and web link, magicians can also add a link to their video showreel if they have one. The site is well optimised (and is still being tweaked) and I expect it to achieve solid results in Google and other search engines in 3-4 months time. It features a large map that displays the actual number of magicians available in each county, and it is very easy to use. A listing on www.magician-uk.co.uk is free for all CorporateMagicians.com advertisers, that's how it works. I wanted to add a little value and produce a genuinely localised magician directory that will, in time, generate bookings at local weddings, local events and local private parties too. DT. 25.7.09

The Twins - putting the magic back into Panto! The Twins’ theatrical and magical special effects will be seen in a number Christmas productions this year, including Irving Berlin's White Christmas in Plymouth and Manchester, Santa Claus and the Return of Jack Frost in Southampton, Jack and the Beanstalk in Bradford, Sleeping Beauty in Birmingham, Cinderella in Newcastle and Robin Hood in Cardiff, with more to be announced. Other upcoming projects include a major corporate event in August, which will be broadcast around the world, special effects work on a new movie. www.theillusionists.com. 25.7.09

MagicTricks.co.uk is proud to introduce www.moremagictricks.co.uk - "This is a brand new sister site that brings you over 7000 magic products which have been broken down into three basic categories - Tricks, Books and DVDs, with many sub categories to make finding the magic product you are after quick and easy! We have set up this additional site to offer you a wider range of products, yet keep our 24 dispatch promise running from MagicTricks.co.uk. Orders from MMT will take a few days longer to fulfill. However we are sure there is something for everyone on this site - so take a peek today and you won't be disappointed" Visit www.moremagictricks.co.uk today! 25.7.09

Blackpool 2010 - ready to rock! Since the announcement that the Registration Desk for the 2010 Blackpool Magicians’ Convention opened on 1st July the registration officer, Arthur Casson, has been inundated with requests for tickets. He hopes to get all the current registrations administered shortly. There is still plenty of time for you to get your registration in if you have not done so already. You can book online, using your credit or debit card, or you can remit by cheque payable to Blackpool Magicians’ Club Ltd by writing to Arthur Casson, 44 Bryan Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9BE, England. The Blackpool Magicians’ Convention is the biggest and best in the world featuring leading lecturers, sensational shows, outstanding amenities and a friendly atmosphere. And if you go down to the seafront you can even buy a stick of Blackpool Rock - a confectionery unique to England, which made its first appearance in Blackpool towards the end of the 19th century! Every year the Blackpool Magicians' Convention attracts over 3000 magicians and more than a hundred magic dealers from all over the world. 2010 promises to be even bigger and better than ever - visit www.blackpoolmagic.com for more information and to download a registration form. (Has anyone ever embedded the name of a playing card into a stick of rock?)  25.7.09

Brown's Sorcery! The original evening of Fine Wine, Dining and Conjuring has had a name change. The Courtrooms at Browns Restaurant (Covent Garden) present an evening of Browns Sorcery with award winning magician John van der Put and breathtaking cabaret by Stand Not Amazed on Friday July 31st at 7pm. The evening includes champagne on arrival, a three course meal, jaw-dropping table magic and cabaret. Tickets are £40.00 each. Call Sarah Barratt on 020 7395 6092 for reservations. www.browns-restaurants.co.uk. 25.7.09

Talent is no illusion... Yorkshire teen wins Magic Circle accolade. "Few Yorkshire residents would dispute that the county has been touched by a little magic. Now it appears one young illusionist has enough of that elusive quality to help him win membership of an exclusive 'club' for top performers. Huddersfield's Michael Jordan has a stage act heavily influenced by his home county, from the Yorkshire worsted wool suit he wears, to the Yorkshire Post he uses in his winning act and the stunts have been enough to secure him an accolade from the Magic Circle..." To read the full story by Katie Butler in the Yorkshire Post, Click Here. 25.7.09

Magicians against ID Cards. Thursday 30th July at the Inn on the Green, 3-5 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5XL (Map), just by Ladbroke Grove tube station. "The show is called 'Magicians against ID Cards' and features magic, mind-reading, comedy, juggling and stage pickpocketing by London's top performers. It will be an entertaining, not a political show, but is intended to publicise the campaign against ID cards and to support No2ID, which campaigns against ID cards. It's hosted by the very funny Tim Fitzhigham, who crossed the channel in his bathtub, and stars: Ian Saville: the socialist magician, James Freedman, the Man of Steal: 'probably the best pickpocket in the world' (Time Out) who will also be demonstrating magical identity theft, Michael Pearse: hilarious juggling and comedy, Stephen Barry: award winning comedy magic, Katherine Rhodes: mind-reading and mentalism and Russell Levinson: classic conjuring with a twist." Tickets are only £5 on the door. The performers are giving their services free. All proceeds go to No2ID. No2ID will have a stand at the gig. 25.7.09

Just Imagine Project™ The Magic of Landmark Education. News from Michael Vincent. For the last 7 months, Magic Circle member Michael Vincent has been attending evening classes run and hosted by Landmark Education. Michael emails that this extraordinary personal development program is transforming the lives of people around the world. He was introduced to Landmark Education by Magic Circle member Bruce Munton. Michael loved the first level program so much he graduated to The Advanced Course in March this year and then graduated further to The Self Expression and Leadership Program in May. This last program completed a seven month "Curriculum For Living" which graduates around the world have said has transformed their lives, their families lives and also the lives of their community. Part of Michael's course work for "The Self Expression and Leadership Program" was to design a community project. Michael created the "Just Imagine Project". The Intention of the Project was to transform the lives of young people through the power of magic. Fellow members Marvin Berglas, Tim Sutton, Paul Abbey, Ophir Samson and Richard Turner joined Michael for a special one-off event where an audience of young people from the Camden/Kentish town community where treated to an afternoon of fun, magic, mentoring and hands-on training. The event was a huge success and "Just Imagine Project" promises to reach out and inspire the lives of may more young people over the coming months. "Just Imagine Project"©™ is an Educational Division of Michael Vincent Productions and The Magic of Magic 1995-2009-All rights reserved. 25.7.09

Killer Closeup Magic - new from Big Blind Media: "Cameron Francis (star of The Omega Mutation, Rehab, Red Hot Prediction, Twists & Turns, Fresh Mint...) is back! And this time he is breaking out his very best close-up material. You want easy magic? You want heart popping spectacle? You want material that you will perform for years to come? Then you have come to the right place. Twelve routines, over two hours of content. And more fun than you can shake a stick at! But there’s more – included free on Killer Gaft is ‘Sleight School’. Cameron takes you through 18 different magical sleights. This is like ninja school (if magic was martial arts and Cameron was a ninja, which it isn’t and he isn’t – but you know what we mean)." Visit www.bigblindmedia.com for much more info and to watch the trailer. 25.7.09

Magician Damien O'Brien was seen backstage at last Sunday's T4 on the Beach performing for Peter Andre (photo), Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, The Gossip, and The Inbetweeners and managed to catch up with his close friends Diversity "It was an amazing day at Weston-super-Mare even though it was raining I had a great time and filmed some amazing magic and got to catch up with my friends - cool" www.damienobrien.com www.myspace.com/damiensmagic. 25.7.09

Premiermagic.co.uk have just returned from a short trip to Jersey where Etienne Pradier and Paul Martin were entertaining Princess Anne at a charity function for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. www.premiermagic.co.uk. 25.7.09

Wessex Magical Association presents The Magic Attic on Tuesday 11th August. Tony Hyams and Darren Holden will be giving their balloon lecture as well as ''The Six-Pack Lecture'' and a demonstration of some of their own 'Magic Attic' and other effects, in Bournemouth on 11th of August. Good discounts will be available off all products, with featured items priced even more generously. The evening starts at 7.30 for 8pm and visitors are especially welcome for a nominal £5 fee. The location is the Bourne Valley Community Association, 56 Herbert Avenue, Poole, Dorset BH12 4EE (Map). The Association, which attracts members from Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and beyond, was formed in October 1932 in Gatti's Restaurant, Bournemouth, a venue that was to remain its headquarters for some years. Dr Alan Chitty. www.wmagic.co.uk. 25.7.09

Former Legal Director of Associated Newspapers and magician Ivor Cole is just off to a three day engagement in Imperia, Italy, presenting his magic show in Italian. This is just prior to preparing his programme for the Edinburgh Festival 2009 having been invited to present The Mind Magic of Cole at the world-famous annual celebration. This follows the successful performances of the show in London at The New Theatre, Hampstead and The Kings Head, Islington where he was viewed and invited by the festival's producers. John Derris. 25.7.09

Deafblind Blackpool Convention trip. JJ (Jonathan Lucia-Wright) emails: "The money has been raised to enable Jimmy plus 2 carers to attend Blackpool in 2010. JJ and Jimmy would like to thank The David Berglas Foundation, Beard Juggling, James Hallam and Mr P Bentley as without them this would not have be possible." 25.7.09

Three Day intensive training course in Stage & Street Hypnosis. Hypnotist Jonathan Royle has teamed up with "Award Winning Magician Turned Comedy Stage Hypnotist" Robert Temple, experienced Stage Svengali Chris Lee and The Mysterious "Mr X" for a one time only, never to be repeated, Three Day intensive training course in Stage & Street Hypnosis on 14th, 15th & 16th November. "Only a handful of places are available to ensure effective learning - book now" www.roylehypnotist.wordpress.com. 25.7.09

Robert Temple, Comedy Hypnotist would like to congratulate the 12 recent graduates of his "School Of Stage Hypnosis" coaching programme. All of 12 of them successfully completed the entire 20 week home-study course and are all showing fantastic potential to bring themselves into the exciting world of stage hypnosis. www.school-of-hypnosis.com. 25.7.09

Magic baby! Sam and Vicki Lane (Vizage) would like to announce the arrival of their gorgeous baby boy Tyler James on Sunday, 12th July 2009 at The Hull Women's and Children's Hospital. Weight 8lbs 3 oz. Mum and baby both doing well. 25.7.09

Another Magic baby! On Sunday July 19th 2009 at 4.16pm magician Jay Adkins became a Daddy, his wife Debbie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called Emily-Jai Adkins weighing 7 and a half pounds. Thanks to all the staff at Worcester Hospital for everything that they did. Debbie, Emily and Jay are feeling fantastic. 25.7.09

FISM 2009 starts tomorrow - best wishes to Marc Oberon for competition success www.fism2009.org • Even David Copperfield is now on Twitter... http://twitter.com/D_Copperfield (spotted by Phil Smith) • Potter & Potter Auctions - next magic auction September 12th, Click Here • "Mentalist of the Year heading for Dún Uladh" Click Here • "Firman to bring magic to Watermans" Click Here • "Magic and Mentalism at the Edinburgh Fringe 2009" Kevin McMahon has compiled a list of events: www.kevinmcmahonmagic.com • "World Championships of Magic" Click Here • "Magician pleads not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon" Click Here • "Tears of a clown who will have to pay to entertain children" Click Here • Postcard From London: Magic Act" Click Here • Please remember the Friday 12 noon deadline for all news submissions. See you next week, Duncan. 25.7.09