Number 590 - 15th October 2011
Magician
Steven Frayne Gets Back to Reality. "The British magician talks to The Wall
Street Journal Europe about how he starts his weekend. Blending visual
illusions, stunts and card tricks with elements of break dance and hip-hop,
Steven Frayne continues to prove the old adage that the hand is quicker than the
eye. This summer, the 28-year-old performer, known by his stage name Dynamo,
appeared to walk on water. As onlookers crowded Westminster Bridge in central
London, Mr. Frayne crossed part of the River Thames to promote his four-part
television series 'Magician Impossible,' which will be released on DVD in the
U.K. on Oct. 17..." To read the full article in The Wall Street Journal Europe
Click Here. Meanwhile back home Dynamo guests on Never Mind the Buzzcocks
at 10pm on Monday 24th October and also joins Vernon Kay on BBC Radio One from
10am this morning. See TV Magic.
To pre-order Dynamo Magician Impossible from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here.
15.10.11
Going...
going... gone.
With just over a month to go before the International Convention (18th-20th
November) and the London Festival of Magic (14th-20th November) now is the
time to register as some of the events are close to being full (the
Sunday Night performance of the Gala Show) and some have only just a
handful of places left (the Saturday Night performance of the Gala Show). Don't
be as disappointed as those who left it too late and missed out on the
Max Maven Show (now completely sold out, although you can join the
wait list). The Convention has something for everyone, whilst the
individual day seminars during the week concentrating separately on
Advanced Card Technique, Mentalism, Creativity, Marketing and Making
Magic Memorable allow you to focus on your special area of interest and
spend even more time with the stars of the Convention. Full details:
www.internationalmagic.com.
15.10.11
David
and Karen 'Magic Is Back Live' "Magic partners, David Penn and
Karen Tomkins have wowed audiences from Las Vegas to China and were seen
recently on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent by 15 million people. This show
is an incredible experience for all the family to enjoy that will leave
you totally amazed." 7.30pm on Sunday 30th October at the Derngate,
Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP (Map). Tickets £24, £21, £18, £11.
For more info and to book visit
www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811. Video highlights
Click Here.
15.10.11
The Innovention is back! Paul Stone writes:
"After The Innovention 2010 Convention in October 2010 it was never my
intention to produce another one but, because so many people have asked
me to reconsider, I’ve decided to produce Innovention 2012 in Las Vegas,
on October 1-4, 2012.
Innovention 2012 will be at a new venue! We’re delighted to announce
that the Convention has moved to the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, located
next to the Rio and across from the Palms and very close to the Las
Vegas ‘Strip’.
The Gold Coast Hotel & Casino has an attractive Cabaret style Showroom,
excellent meeting rooms and comfortable accommodation. (We’ve been able
to negotiate a truly fantastic room rate of just $40 plus tax for
Premium Rooms – Single or Double occupancy for Innovention Delegates!).
All the facilities are conveniently located, so there’s no need to walk
miles to every session! And, if you want to visit the ‘Strip’, it is
close by. What makes the Innovention 2012 so different? The number of attendees is limited to 275; Outstanding talent; Surprise guests; Innovative Lectures and Workshops; Best technical production of any Magic Convention; Unbeatable accommodation room rates; Superb location; Great value for money.
We opened pre-registration for those who attended Innovention 2010 two
weeks ago, and many have already booked again.
General Registration is $345 - the same price as in 2010 but if you
register by November 30, we'll knock off $50, so you'll pay just $295.
Remember we limit the numbers to 275 and so we recommend that you don't
wait too long to register. You don't want to miss this outstanding
event!
To take advantage of the special discount offer, for more information, and
to find out how to
register, email info@innovention2012.com."
15.10.11
Globetrotting Geordie Daredevil
Chris Cross Escapes to Victory!
Chris's live stunt on Friday 7th October to launch the Big Splash
Festival on Newport’s Riverside saw the performer strapped up, hanging
upside down, trying to get out of a straitjacket!
Click Here to watch the escape and visit
www.chris-cross.co.uk to find out more about this dramatic stunt.
15.10.11
Close-up Magic at The Magic Circle. "Join us for intimate evening
of entertainment! Close-Up magic is one of the most popular and
impressive forms of the art and this event showcases some of the best
exponents. Audiences get to meet the performers and experience the magic
in the intimate setting of The Magic Circle Headquarters in London,
often taking part themselves. An amazing collection of close-up
magicians presenting superlative magic right before your very eyes.
Seeing is believing! Next performance: Saturday 29th October.
Currently featuring: The multi-award winning talents of Michael Vincent,
Will Houstoun, Tom Whitestone and Chris Wood. Doors Open 7.00pm - Show
starts at 7.30pm and finishes at approximately 9.30pm. All seats are £15
with special reduction to £10 for Members and Friends of The Magic
Circle. To book visit
www.themagiccircle.co.uk.
15.10.11
Another
Magic Moments day has come and gone. Updates are still being
gathered, but the first news is that this year's event has been the most
successful to date. In a year of economic gloom and doom magicians
managed to raise smiles and so far over £14,500 for charities! And all
in a day's work. The African Orphan Magic Trick appeal collected over
450 tricks, which will be shipped out to the orphaned children of
Zimbabwe. The Magic Moments team thank everyone for assisting and
donating their time, tricks and efforts. To read a full report of monies
raised to date
Click Here. If you raised money for a charity on the day but haven't
been in touch yet then email details and the total raised to
magicmoments@live.co.uk.
Never resting for a moment, the date for the 5th Magic Moments Day has
been set: Saturday 6th October 2012. Visit the
Magic
Moments page for more information.
15.10.11
IBM
British Ring Convention 2012 - they want to hear from you! The dates of the IBM
British Ring 2012 Convention to be held in Great Yarmouth are 26th –
30th September and the new convention organisers Peter Scarlett and
David Ball are starting to put ideas together but they need feedback
from conventioneers, whether they are members of the British Ring or
not. What do you want to see in a convention? Please spare a few moments
to fill in the questionnaire on
www.magicconvention.co.uk
and let them know. They will use their best endeavours to accommodate
reasonable requests. How many days should it be? What are your
priorities regarding lectures, shows, competitions, and many other
events? All this information will be closely looked at, so why not be a
part of making Great Yarmouth, Great! Geoffrey Newton PRO.
15.10.11
Halloween
Ghost Walks. Magician and ghost hunter Chris Stokes will be
reopening the creaking doors of one of Britain's most haunted buildings
this month just in time for Halloween. The Staffordshire-based
illusionist will begin a new round of 'Chris Stokes Ghost Tours' at the
famous Leopard Hotel in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday October 30th.
The town centre inn hides an astonishing 55-bedroomed Victorian hotel
which closed to the public in the 1950s and has been the scene of
alleged paranormal activity ever since. Chris leads ghost hunters on a
60-minute tour of the creepy cellars and abandoned hotel using magic,
illusion and story-telling to create a uniquely spine-tingling adults
only experience which ends with a 'séance' in the hotel's famed Red
Room. Tickets cost £25 per person, to include two course meal and
hour-long tour. They are available by ringing The Leopard on 01782 819
644. Venue: The Leopard Hotel, 21 Market Place, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire ST6 3AA (Map)
www.chrisstokesmagic.co.uk.
15.10.11
Award
winning Children's Ventriloquist and Magician, David Tomkins is now
taking magic lecture bookings for 2012. David's lecture is ideal for
magical societies, club nights and magic conventions. Experience
original and creative children's magic not seen in any other lecture. As
a professional ventriloquist, he includes a section on puppets too and
having turned full-time professional at sixteen, has a wealth of
experience to share. David has lectured at The Magic Circle, London, The
International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention, Southport and The
Blackpool Convention. Visit the
MagicWeek Lecturers
page for more information and to make contact. (I saw a part of David's
children's show a number of years ago and it was really excellent,
captivating the whole audience. DT).
15.10.11
Mel
Mellers Twists & Turns. Russ Stevens at RSVPMagic.com
tell us that they are just about to release a brand new Mel Mellers DVD
Twists & Turns: "Sit back, relax and enjoy a unique experience.
Welcome to the world of Mel Mellers, a place where he discusses bad
music, awkward audience members, fashion mistakes and 8 Brand New
Routines! As a free bonus, included is a stage performance of previous
material using new gags and bits of business. The new routines all use
items that you probably already own." Watch the trailer on
www.rsvpmagic.com
(Running time 2 hours 30 Minutes, worldwide playback).
15.10.11
The
Ultimate Nudist Deck - Ken Brooke (Mental Photography). News from
Malcolm Norton of
www.topsecretmagic.co.uk: "Finally, after however many years that
this project has been on my shelf, I have managed to finish the
instructions and make a batch of this great classic trick. Here's the
effect: The magician fans and spreads though a deck of cards and shows
both sides to be completely blank. He concentrates on a playing card
(which he names), cuts the deck, and magically prints the face of that
card! But, it has no back. The rest of the deck is shown still blank.
Next a back appears, but it has no face. Now he makes faces and backs
appear on all the cards, which are clearly shown on both sides. Finally
all the printing disappears and the magician ends up where he started
with a completely blank deck of cards. Completely self contained, an
ideal trick for table-hopping. Instantly ready for a repeat performance.
This is the Classic Ken Brooke style cut 'on the slant' - you can show
both sides of the deck at any time. Printed or blank, front and back!
This was, and still is the ultimate version of R. W. Hull's 'Mental
Photography / Nudist - Deck' as put out by Ken Brooke. Painstakingly
crafted here at the Top Secret HQ. I promise you won't be
disappointed! 'M'
www.topsecretmagic.co.uk."
15.10.11
Northern
Magic Circle President's Day. Northern Magic Circle President Terry
Crawford will be hosting his President's Day at Croftlands Community
Centre, Central Drive, Ulverston in Cumbria; 12 noon until 8pm,
tomorrow, Sunday 16th October. There will be a buffet on arrival and
again prior to the evenings mini Gala Show. A fun quiz from Dave
Simpson, magic from Brian Lead, plus a surprise lecture. The evening
show will star past president Su Jayne, daughters Leah Mae and Sara
Jade, with help from Gary Dunn. A great day out for only £10, just turn
up and pay on the door
www.northernmagiccircle.org.uk. Alan Mylecraine.
15.10.11
Portsmouth
Jumbo Day Close Up Sessions. The line up for the Portsmouth Jumbo Day Close Up Sessions can now be
announced. Matthew Garrett, Wayne Fox, Chris Webb and Ben Williams will
be performing on the day. The Star Lecture will be by Brad Manuel. The
Gala Show will feature Brad Manuel, John Kimmons (photo), High Jinx, Neil Kelso
and The Vox Brothers. If you'd like to save some money and beat the queues,
register for Fast Track tickets at only £17.00 per person via
www.jumboday.co.uk
by Tuesday, 18th October.
15.10.11
The
Slammer. A new series of the popular children's television show
The Slammer is back on CBBC in which a group of entertainers enter a
mock prison, and perform their acts to be voted 'free'. The show often
features magicians and illusionists. (I’ve just watched programme 2 of
the new series of The Slammer on iPlayer. Ventriloquist John Kimmons won
a couple of weeks ago, reports Philip Partridge) Catch up on
iPlayer.
15.10.11
South
Downs Magicians are staging a fundraising show next Saturday, 22nd October.
Nine club members will be taking part in the stage
show, including last month's stage competition winner Paul Martin. The
club's president Robin Carr and immediate past president Jonathan Cann
will share compère duties and the evening will include close-up magic,
both before the show and
during the interval. The show is at Handcross Parish Hall, High Street, Handcross,
West Sussex RH17 6BJ (Map). Doors open at 6.45pm and the stage show starts at
7.30pm. Tickets cost £6.00 from South Downs Magicians
secretary Paul Bromley on 01444 871161. Refreshments available. Money raised will be used in
part to fund a replacement community centre when the lease on the
current Edwardian hall runs out in 2014.
15.10.11
Mindforce.
Mentalist Chris North presents his stage show 'Mindforce' at the Fisher
Theatre in Bungay, Suffolk at 7.30pm on Saturday 22nd October. Tickets
£9 - (concessions £8). Any magicians wishing attend email Chris at
mindforce@live.com and you will
receive a password enabling you to purchase a full price ticket for just
£7
YouTube.
www.mindforce.biz.
15.10.11
Merlins
of Wakefield will be at The Magic Circle Dealers Day in London on
Saturday 29th October, and will have the Ultimate Power Pack by Bob
Swadling on their stand. Bob developed the Power Pack over 10 years ago.
Since then he has tweaked, tinkered and re-thought this incredible unit,
to finally arrive at perfection in the shape of
The Ultimate Power Pack. These are now available to order from
Merlins of Wakefield who can bring your order to the Circle Day to save
on postage. They are only available from two dealers in the UK and are
in limited quantities. If you are interested, contact
Merlins of Wakefield now!
15.10.11
Andrew
Van Buren & Allyson will be appearing in the Good Old Days at City
Varieties Music Hall Leeds on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th October.
Romany is also on the bill. This appearance is a special show for
Andrew as it 50 years, give or take a day or two, since his mother and father Fred Van Buren & Greta made their first
television appearance, as the Amazing Yoxani's, on 'The Good Old
Days' from City Varieties Leeds. 50 years on and the Van Burens are still going strong,
as is this
historic theatre too.
15.10.11
Carnival
of Freaks - Bizarre Cabaret, London. "An evening of comedy, magic
and the bizarre, featuring The Magic Skinhead (The Man Who Knows)
Tennyson Hanbury, Matt G The Mentalist, The Magic of James Prichard and
the hilarious Gemma Ensenat plus many more. This twisted cabaret show is
one not to miss and to top it off entry is free. Sunday, 16th October,
8pm to 11pm at The Comedy Pub (next to the Comedy Store), 7 Oxendon
Street, London SW1Y 4EE (Map).
15.10.11
Sean Heydon lecture,
Blackpool.
Madcap magician Sean Heydon will be lecturing at Blackpool Magicians’
Club on Thursday, 27th October. Although comedy is at the forefront of
his performances the magic is strong as well. Billed as 'The Alternative
Magician' Sean performs stunts and illusions in his own inimitable style
which has resulted in appearances at some of the world’s most
prestigious venues.
Members and Associates are in for a fun-filled evening packed with
practical knowledge based on many years’ experience performing on stage,
television, in restaurants, on cruise ships and
at corporate events. The evening is open to all members and associates of Blackpool
Magicians’ Club at their headquarters to the rear of 1 Sherbourne Road,
North Shore, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 2PW. Doors open from 6.30pm.
www.blackpoolmagic.com.
15.10.11
Craig
Petty is lecturing at the Leicester Magic Circle this Monday, 17th
October. Craig will be performing some new material together with his
old classics. £10 for non members, visitors welcome. Directions to
the LMC HQ can be found here:
www.leicestermagiccircle.co.uk.
15.10.11
Chris
Harding emails "I am delighted to have been shortlisted in the Best Wedding
Entertainment category of the Kent Wedding Awards 2011! I am the only
magician to have been put through to the final and consider it a great
honour to be recognised in this way. The awards recognise excellence in
various branches of the wedding industry and are judged by a panel
consisting of three couples, an independent entrepreneur and several
other wedding professionals." For more information visit
www.chris-harding.co.uk.
15.10.11
Roy
Zaltsman's Unpublished
Magic Tutorials project is growing!
Over 1,000 magicians and mentalists from all over the world are now
receiving video tutorials every two weeks performed by top notch
magicians including: Aaron Fisher, Thom Peterson, Manuel Muerte, Flip
Hallema and Gregory Wilson. To receive the tutorials sign up at:
www.telepathy.co.il/unpublished.
15.10.11
Fylde
Mystics Yearbook. Paul Joyce reports: At the recent IBM Convention
in Southport, the youngest member of Fylde Mystics, 11 year old Jonathan
Joyce, had the honour of presenting a copy of their 2011 Yearbook to
their honorary member and current FISM World Champion Shawn Farquhar.
There are some copies of the yearbook still available. For further
information please contact Alan Mylecraine at
info@fyldemystics.co.uk.
15.10.11
The
Karnival of Kitsch with Freddie Valentine and Holly Blue, London.
"High kicking lothario and king of the cabaret freaks, Lord Freddie
Valentine, along with his sidekick jazzy songstress Holly Blue, bring
you a night of extreme joy-inducing variety! All of the acts have been
hand picked by Freddie & Holly from the UK’s cabaret harvest and they
have selected only the finest for your delectation including mindreading
and magic." 7.30pm on 3rd November, price £5.00, at The Royal Vauxhall
Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5HY (Map)
Visit
www.vanderbelt.co.uk for full details.
15.10.11
The
New Kindle is here! 30% lighter than before, less than 170 grams,
18% smaller body, same 6" screen size - fits in your pocket. The most
advanced E Ink display; it reads like paper! Built-in Wi-Fi - Get books
in 60 seconds, and 10% faster page turns for seamless reading. £89
including free delivery from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here (MagicWeek receives a small commission from Amazon.co.uk
on sales generated from links on MagicWeek).
15.10.11
"Passion Sells Dynamo: Magician Impossible" Click Here • "Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin in Stamford on October 16" Click Here • "Joe has magic on the cards" Click Here • "Jim Carrey & Steve Carell Team For Magician Comedy Burt Wonderstone" Click Here • "Create Pure Magic" Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - see you next week, Duncan. 15.10.11