Number 564 - 16th April 2011
Shoot
Ogawa UK Lecture Tour. Celebrating 25 years of performing magic,
Shoot Ogawa returns to the UK to present his new lecture, ‘The Shot’.
It’s over five years since Shoot's last UK lecture tour, and this year’s
will include several new (and brilliant!) effects using cards, coins
and, of course, rings. ‘The Shot’ will also be the title of a special
DVD to accompany the tour. This is a great opportunity to see one of
magic's finest, performing his greatest effects live. Shoot Ogawa will
lecture at the following Magic Clubs and Societies:
The Magic Circle: Monday 11th July
Medway Magic Society: Tuesday 12th July
Sussex Magic Circle: Wednesday 13th July
Portsmouth Magic Circle: Thursday 14th July
Cardiff Magical Society: Friday 15th July
Nottingham Guild of Magicians: Sunday 17th July
Manchester Circle of Magicians: Monday 18th July
Blackpool Magicians Club: Tuesday 19th July
Cotswold Magical Society: Wednesday 20th July
Newcastle Magic Circle: Thursday 21st July
Aberdeen Magical Society: Saturday 23rd July
For tour information contact organiser, Sean Lobban:
mistertall@mistertall.co.uk
and for admission enquiries for non-members contact the actual clubs
themselves; see Magic
Societies.
16.4.11
Derren
Brown: Miracles for Sale, 9pm on Monday 25th April on Channel 4.
"Innovative entertainer Derren Brown returns to Channel 4 in a unique TV
experiment that lifts the lid on faith healing. Derren goes undercover
to investigate the reality behind the faith healing phenomenon in
America and the belief in faith-inspiring miraculous recoveries. With
the cameras in hot pursuit, Derren faces his toughest project yet, going
in search of an unsuspecting member of the British public prepared to
adopt the guise of a pastor and miracle worker. His chosen one then has
six months to learn the trade and flourish across the pond as a
convincing pastor. The final phase of the volunteer's extraordinary
challenge sees them attempt to perform faith healing miracles live in
Texas, but will Derren's new recruit be accepted as a faith healer or
cast away as fake healer? Is the belief in divine intervention really
justified, or will Derren expose the industry as one giant hoax?" See
TV Magic.
16.4.11
Tinchy
Stryder: Under Pressure, 11pm on Monday, 25th April on ITV2. Tinchy
Stryder is about to face his toughest ever performance as he attempts to
become a street magician: "The Prince of Grime has just three weeks to
learn the tricks of the trade before putting on an outdoor show in front
of hundreds, climaxing with a 50 foot high upside down straight jacket
escape, made famous by Harry Houdini. Along the way, Tinchy must learn
some of the darkest secrets of magic, including card tricks and the art
of escapology. He will have to overcome his inhibitions and learn to
engage with the audience. The earnest rapper has to attempt stand up
comedy, opening for comedian Andi Osho. Mentored by top magician Nigel
Mead, Tinchy has to overcome his deepest fears if he is to succeed. He
has a fear of falling on his head, a fear of performing to audiences
outside his usual rap crowd and, most of all, a fear of losing his tough
image as a cool rapper. He has to learn to ditch the street smart image
and show a more vulnerable side of himself or else the audience will
never buy into his magic." See
TV Magic.
16.4.11
Midlands
Magic Day. WarpedMagic.co.uk are organising a new Magic Dealers Day
in the Midlands on August 28th at the National Motorcycle Museum in
Solihull: "The aim of the day is to give Dealers a specialist day to
showcase their goods, with plans to hold this as an annual event,
expanding year by year to include lectures, workshops and magicians
showcasing their talents. We will be able to accommodate 40+ Dealers on
the day. We have decided to use the day to support a local charity, the
Acorns Children’s Hospice. We have pledged that 50% of the proceeds of
the day will be forwarded direct to Acorns, and we are proposing to hold
a fundraising raffle from Dealer donations, 100% of the proceeds of this
and other fundraising items will go direct to Acorns. Quite a few
dealers have already signed up, with more expected soon. Dealers and
visitors can pre-book stalls and tickets from
www.magicday.co.uk.
For our first day we will be holding three lectures and already have
firm bookings with Paul Gordon and Michael Vincent and we are awaiting
confirmation from a third magician..." Visit
www.magicday.co.uk
for updates or email
genie@warpedmagic.co.uk.
www.warpedmagic.co.uk.
16.4.11
Magic
Moments 2011 Zimbabwe Orphan Appeal. Magic Moments update: We are
working with the Zimbabwe WI to bring magic to the orphans and Magic
Moments needs your help. We've all got a trick or two tucked away in a
drawer that we no longer use. Please take your unwanted magic tricks
(and please make sure they have instructions with them), grab a jiffy
bag, copy the following address on it, whack on a stamp, and on your
lunch break bung it in a letter box, smiling knowing you've helped bring
a moment of magic into somebody's life. Getting parcels through to the
children in this country is difficult and dangerous and we are working
closely with our contacts who ensure that the gifts you send will reach
the orphaned children. Sue Van Neikerk, from Kariba, Zimbabwe emailed
' ...this is very exciting! Of course the children could do with a bit
of magic in their lives!' We're often asked by magicians how they
can get involved with Magic Moments besides putting on an actual magic
show, and this appeal is a great way to be part of it. Ideally, we're
looking for magic tricks that are not complex and that would be suitable
for children from 6 - 18 years old. Send your gift to Magic Moments, c/o
24 Cambridge Road, Torquay, Devon TQ1 4QN. We'll be sending all of the
donated magic tricks on this year's Magic Moments Day which is Saturday
1st October. Thank you - Jay Fortune and the Magic Moments Team.
16.4.11
The
Leamington and Warwick Magic Society's Day of Magic is being held at
the Cubbington Sports & Social Club, Windmill Hill, Cubbington,
Leamington Spa CV32 7LN (Map)
on Wednesday 22nd June. Admission £20.00, includes breakfast for early
morning arrivals, a lunchtime buffet and evening BBQ weather permitting
for all pre-paid tickets. With lectures from Paul Gordon (cards), Colin
Dymond (Putting puppets into your act) and Andrew Normansell
(mentalism), plus various workshops throughout the day. Followed by the
evening Midlands Champion of Champions Close-up Competition. Plus magic
dealers: Merlins, World Magic Shop, Graham Lee, Adrian Sullivan, Heidi's
Costumes, Albion Magic, Keith Bennett, Andrew Normansell and Razamatazz
Magic. Free Parking. For ticket reservations contact: Mick McCreath
07581 533397.
16.4.11
Royal
Wedding Playing Cards. If that expected wedding invitation still
hasn't arrived don’t despair, get the next best thing, a deck of Royal
Wedding Playing Cards, now available from The Card Collection,
www.cards4magic.co.uk (see 'New Lines Just In'). Available from
Carta Mundi in bridge size and Piatnik in poker size - each card
features a different photo.
16.4.11
Handle
with Carey, is the brand new DVD from RSVPMagic: "Featuring 11
superb routines from John Carey, all of the effects are from John's
working material and all have been worked and refined for many years.
This not only makes them extremely practical for all conditions, but
also hard hitting and extremely direct. This DVD runs for over two
hours, representing great value for money. 'John Carey has a knack
for creating strong, direct card miracles using simple and devious
methods. The routines shine brightly in the real world' John
Guastaferro" Running time over 2 hours! Watch the DVD trailer and see
for yourself!
www.rsvpmagic.com (All pre-orders will receive an additional free
bonus DVD featuring 3 routines that couldn't fit onto the main disc -
this is will be a limited collectors' edition, only available for those
who pre-order). Watch three unedited performance clips
Here,
Here and
Here.
16.4.11
Congratulations
to Craig Longhurst, Surrey Society of Magicians Close-up Magician 2011.
"Craig performed his 'technically brilliant' act to a capacity audience
at the Bookham Grange Hotel, Surrey. The standard of entries was again
very high, with James Fortune taking 2nd place, and Clive Hyams 3rd.
Judges were John Kenton AIMC, Roger Chown (Rose Theatre, Kingston), and
his partner."
www.craiglonghurst.com.
16.4.11
The
Card Solutions of Solomon - 3 Disc DVD Set! Coming soon from
BigBlindMedia: "At just £27.99 this 3 DVD set is crazy value for money.
Plus for readers of MagicWeek we are gonna throw in Alan Rorrison's
'Sigillum Diaboli' DVD (his work on the Card Warp routine) free! Just
quote 'MagicWeek' when you order. David Solomon is one of the most
respected and revered card magicians in magic today. With a compelling
approach to handlings and method, plus a razor sharp attention to
detail, Solomon's routines are performed by amateurs and experts all
over the world. he Card Solutions Of David Solomon is a 3 disc
extravaganza that explores the best and the brightest of his excellent
repertoire. Featuring a mammoth twenty three effects this set will
provide material that will excite everyone from beginners to advanced
cardistry experts. In addition to learning excellent routines you will
also gain a valuable insight into the creative thinking and problem
solving techniques that David Solomon employs to such devastating
effect. With crystal clear instruction honed over many years of
lecturing all over the globe, this is a definitive guide to great card
magic. 'You'll enjoy not just the trick itself, but the thinking
behind it.' John Bannon. 3 Discs. 23 Effects. Nearly four hours of
incredible card magic. Get ready to learn the Card Solutions of
Solomon!" Pre-order today via
www.bigblindmedia.com (released date: May 16th).
16.4.11
Bob
Yelland talk, Strategic Marketing For Magicians at the HCMS,
Reading, on April 21st: "How do you plan to grow your income in
2011? Do you pro-actively shape the type of engagements you receive or
do you let fate decide? Are you dependent upon repeat bookings and the
limited success of haphazard prospecting activity? Are you tired of
enquiries seeking the lowest priced performers? If so, this thought
provoking lecture is for you. Bob Yelland - Strategic Marketing For
Magicians has been met with great reviews and discussions
previously. A Chartered Marketer with over 20 years experience within a
large multi-national company. He is also a keen amateur magician. In his
lecture he will apply marketing techniques and strategies used by
successful companies to a one-person magic business. He'll look at how a
magician might go about getting more profitable bookings, increase their
fees and attract the right customers for their services. This is a
business lecture with no tricks that will challenge you to think
seriously about your own business aspirations and potential. Non members
are welcome at this lecture, a £8.00 charge will apply to any non
members attending. Doors open 7:30, lecture starts 8pm. Please see the
Programme and Lectures Page for full info. -
www.hcms.org.uk".
16.4.11
Andy
Nyman presents - Mindreader' Andy Nyman's iPhone App 'Mindreader' is
available now (Click Here),
adhering to Andy's "Simple to do... amazing to view" philosophy it's a
very clean mentalism trick that is utterly fooling and unlike most Apps
doesn't generate an "oh isn't the computer clever" type response - this
one is about you being the magician. It is on sale for the first
month for just 59p!
16.4.11
Steve
Clements is Coventry Magic Circle's Aries Close-up Competition winner
for 2011. Jon Stringer reports: "Steve gave an excellent performance
which included a superb routine with spoons. Photo: Ian Milton (Vice
President) presenting the Aries Close-up Shield. Congratulations. Thanks
to the judges - Steve Evans, Dave Taylor and Sue Oakley and all members
who took part and supported the event.
www.coventrymagiccircle.co.uk.
16.4.11
James
Prince will present a ‘Menu of Miracles’ at the Blackpool Magicians’
Club HQ on Thursday 28th April. He will be showing items from his
recently released DVDs. These will include his sensational ‘Ring in
Pepper Pot’ in which a borrowed finger ring vanishes to reappear on the
stem inside a clear pepper mill, and ‘Mirrors’, the magical
transformation of a pack of cards into five mirrors. His ‘Bill in Kiwi’
amazes audiences when a borrowed banknote vanishes and it then found
inside a kiwi fruit! Other items James will be showing are ‘Repeat
Traveller’, a variation of Jennings’ ‘Ambidextrous Travellers’, a quick
routine for the ‘Cups & Balls’, and a sensational ‘Signed Card Through
Window’. And that will not be all! For anyone into close-up or
restaurant magic this lecture will be one not to be missed. Open to all
members and associates, the headquarters of the Blackpool Magicians’
Club is to the rear of No1 Sherbourne Road, North Shore, Blackpool,
Lancashire FY1 2PW (Map).
Doors open from 6.30pm.
16.4.11
The
Scottish Conjurers' Association are delighted to host a lecture by
Jay Scott Berry on Wednesday April 20th at their club rooms The Scottish
Mask and Puppet Centre, 8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow G10
0QF (Map).
The lecture begins at 7.30pm. Admission to non members is £10.
16.4.11
Magician
Peter Moran’s pastry is so light it floats (that'll be down to his
special formula self-raising flour!). Peter has been competing in
Britain’s Best Dish recently recorded for ITV and you'll be able to
follow his progress commencing Monday April 18th. Peter has a
speciality, his cheese and onion tartlet, and it was closely scrutinised
by show judges Michelin starred John Burton-Race, Jilly Goolden and
Restaurateur Ed Baines on the programme fronted by Mary Nightingale. ITV
visited Manchester to film Peter presenting one of his Magic Shows at a
local venue, Prestwich Arts College, where he entertained staff and
pupils. Peter is a member the British Ring of the IBM and The Order of
The Magi.
16.4.11
British
Ring Dinner. Reported by Geoffrey Newton: On the 9th April British
Ring President Keith Cooper and his Lady, Pam welcomed 90 guests to
their dinner at the Tillington Hall Hotel in Stafford. The tables were
very attractively laid out on a red, gold and glitter theme with playing
card centre pieces and floating star balloons. After a first class meal,
short and witty speeches followed from Moira Fletcher, the President and
Pippa Heath. Cabaret time now and compère Michael Carr introduced the
Risky Business dancers to literally set the pace for what was to
come. Opening was in my opinion a rising star, Mandy Fletcher with good
movement and colourful magic. Following on the suave dove magic of Scott
Penrose. Then came Shadowography from Paul Debek making an interesting
diversion from magic. The seat gripping illusions of Diamond and Jade
brought this most successful evening to a close. It’s back to work now
for the committee putting together the final touches for the Southport
convention (22nd – 25th September) and details are on
www.magicconvention.co.uk. Geoffrey Newton PRO.
16.4.11
Popular
Scottish Comedy Magic Entertainer Paul Brignall will once again be
entertaining audiences on the Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos this
summer throughout the season with his close-up magic, cabaret and music
shows in the resorts of Kalamaki, Laganas, Tsilivi and Argassi. Be sure
to say 'hello' if you are holidaying on the island.
16.4.11
Matchbox
Puppets. Alan & Brenda Stockwell email: "Children’s entertainers and
parents may like to know about our new publication Matchbox Puppets
which is an A4 book of some sixty different characters. The concept is
that the selected puppet in line-drawing form is copied on to A4
cardboard (2 per puppet), coloured as required and cut-out. Using a
simply prepared household-size matchbox the puppet’s mouth can be made
to open and close as if talking. A boon for budding ventriloquists! We
were professional puppeteers for over forty years conducting many
workshops for teachers showing various easy-to-make puppets. The
matchbox puppet was always highly popular. The assortment of puppets,
which are all made up in a similar manner, make the book suitable for a
wide range of ages. The book is available from
www.amazon.co.uk. For further details visit
www.vesperhawk.com.
16.4.11
Do
you lecture for magic clubs? Ask about a link on our
Magic Lecturers page!
9.4.11
UK Close-Up Magician Steve Sherrrington is pleased to announce the release of his first publication Don't Waste Your Time: "This eBook contains 8 great close-up routines that combine Steve's unique sleight-of-hand and comedy." Click Here for details. 16.4.11
2nd Lincolnshire Day of Magic due to take place on 26th June has had to be cancelled. Organiser Paul Cooke emails: "It is with regret that I write to inform all that due to my consultancy work commitments I will not be able to run the Lincs Day of Magic this year. We do however plan to hold the convention again in 2012." 16.4.11
"20
things you didn’t know about Derren Brown"
Click Here • "Britain’s Got Talent 2011: Ant and Dec Q&A"
Click Here • Peterborough Society Of Magicians 23d Annual Sale,
Exchange and Lecture Day is reported by Al Smith this week,
Click Here • "Australian celebrity magician Christopher Wayne to
perform stunt at Easterfest"
Click Here • "75 Abandoned Theaters From Around The USA"
Click Here • "I'm a celebrity, rent my island!"
Click Here • Many thanks for your news this week, see you next week,
Duncan.
16.4.11