Number 925 - 17th March 2018

Jeff McBride live on stage, Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent. From the promoters: Come and see Las Vegas magician Jeff McBride perform his only public stage show in England in 2018! Jeff will be accompanied on stage by fellow Mystery School performer Larry Hass, and the UK’s own wonderful Romany, Mistress of Ceremonies. He has promised a very special show in the charming seaside town of Deal in Kent. The evening performance at the Astor Theatre on Friday April 13th is almost sold out, but tickets are still available for the matinée at 1.30pm on Saturday April 14th. Tickets can be purchased through the Astor box office (01304 370220) or via www.theastor.org. (Also see What's On for special workshop/convention/club dates). 17.3.18

Irish MagiCon 2018 update. From the organisers: The Irish Magic Convention is well known for being the most welcoming convention in the world. This April we'd like to invite you to join us in Dublin for MagiCon 2018. We are delighted to add Ian Keable and Andi Gladwin to the line up. They will join Greg Wilson, Jeff McBride, Larry Hass, Quentin Reynolds and many more! Vanishing Inc will be there along with Emerald Magic as the main dealers and we're hoping you will pop on over for a pint, some craic and some great chats. We’ve booked out an entire boutique hotel in Dublin City and the full weekend price includes a couple of light lunches, entrance to all the shows, lectures and dealers, a late night show and a BBQ dinner. Prices are as follows, including two lunches and a dinner: Full Reg Adult: €105. Under 16s Reg: €80. Non-Magician Partners, Parents and Guardians: €55. Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/R79SKS6jPtJHLyah2.

If you’d like to book a room, it’s the Hampton Hotel in Donnybrook, Dublin which is 5 minutes to the city centre by car and 15 minutes to the ferry port, and a taxi ride from the airport. It’s €110 per room per night (so that’s €55 per person sharing) and includes breakfast. There are a very limited number of rooms still available which can be booked online at www.hamptonhotel.ie or by telephone +353(0)1 6680955. Be sure to tell them that you attending the magic convention. The dates are the 20th, 21st & 22nd April 2018. If you have any questions please email Mark: irishmagicconvention@gmail.com. 17.3.18

Hull Magicians’ Circle Annual Dinner and Show. Jon Marshall writes: Hull Magicians’ Circle Dinner and Theatre Show 2018 features fine dining with a five-course banquet and a great line-up for the after-dinner show with Paul Zenon, Richard Cadell, the illusions of Safire and Burlesque Fire performer Voodoo Tuesday. From the Close-Up Magic and Bunco Booth Reception to the show, guests are promised a night of great entertainment. Saturday, 21st April, 6.45pm for 7.30pm. Canham Turner Building, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX (Map). Just a few tickets left at £40 - see tickets.hullmc.org.uk or call 01724 850518. 17.3.18

Aaron Calvert is taking his 'Awaken' show on tour for the first time this year. Following sell-out shows in 2016 and 2017, and fresh from filming a highly anticipated show for Channel 4, Aaron Calvert is heading out on tour to read your minds and showcase his extraordinary hypnotic abilities. Aaron unlocks the potential of the human mind, demonstrating inexplicable hypnotic feats, live on stage. Trained as a doctor, Aaron combines his medical background with his mastery of suggestion and showmanship to push the boundaries of what people can, and will do - making this show a truly unforgettable experience.
"A talented showman that will leave you baffled" ★★★★★ Daily Mail
"Moments that made me gasp I can't stop thinking about" ★★★★ Broadway Baby
"The master of psychology in a jaw-dropping spectacle" ★★★★★ The Upcoming.

See What's On for May, June and July tour dates. 17.3.18

Conjuring at the Court – Thursday 29th March. From the organisers: Witness the impossible at London’s longest-running monthly magic show! With the very funny John Lenahan; the darkly suave Norvil; the comic antics of James Fortune; and for the first time, the superb magic of Chris Power. Russell Levinson comperes. Tickets just £11 from www.conjuringatthecourt.com – it’s cheaper to book in advance. The show starts at 8pm and runs to 10pm with an interval. It’s in the lovely function room of the Drayton Court, 2 The Avenue, West Ealing, London W13 8PH (Map). Just 12 minutes from Central London: take the West Ealing train from Paddington and the pub is 2 minutes walk from the station. Parking is free from 6.30pm. 17.3.18

The MagicWeek Video Archive. This week, 'Shahid Malik: All Tied Up', a one-off special made for the Channel 4 series Mosaic in October 1985. See The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with past weeks and the occasional 'bonus' video Click Here. 17.3.18

Mark Elsdon lecture, The Mercian Mystics, Stoke-on-Trent. Andrew Sherratt writes: Mark Elsdon is lecturing at The Mercian Mystics in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday April 3rd at 8pm. All visiting magicians welcome, £5.00 door fee. The Venue is the Smallthorne Victory Club, 300 Hanley Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 1RE (Map). Website: Click Here. 17.3.18

Oliver Graham Lecture, Anglian Magic Society, Tuesday 20th March. Steve Majes writes: Oliver "Olly" Graham has been a magician and children's entertainer for over 25 years. For the last 10 years he has been the resident magician at Center Parcs, performing his family shows 3 nights a week. Olly is certainly not the most conventional children's entertainer and his lecture "The F Word" is all about one thing ... Family. Olly is a firm believer that when approaching children's entertainment that the show should appeal to everyone and this lecture will present his 'formula' for engaging all ages. Members: £3.00 - Visitors: £10.00. Tuesday 20th March at 7.30pm at the White Horse Inn, The Street, Trowse, Norwich NR14 8ST (Map). More details: www.theanglianmagicsociety.uk. 17.3.18

The March Mark Leveridge Podcast. Have you listened to the latest free podcast from Mark Leveridge yet? There's a new one released on the 1st of every month; here are this month's topics: Walking round the dealers at Blackpool reveals that many of the stands and much of the product packaging is so much more professional than it used to be. What makes for the best type of subject for a major headline prediction? The Sacred Riana - proving on Asia's Got Talent that presentation will always elevate magic irrespective of how strong the magic itself may be. The world is awash with information and if you want to be heard you need to play the long game with your publicity. You can find new magic for your act by looking outside the normal magic categories that you might consider. How do you evaluate the value of a marketed trick? The goalposts seem to have moved for children's entertainers. The 30 minute podcast is available to listen to online or to download from either www.markleveridge.co.uk/podcast.php or www.markleveridge.podbean.com. 17.3.18

Sport Relief 2018. Some of the biggest stars come together to raise money for good causes in the UK and overseas. Gary Lineker, Davina McCall and Ore Oduba start the evening with a live performance from Kylie Minogue and a special footballers' edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Magician Ben Hanlin goes behind the scenes at Sports Personality of the Year, and Salford Quays plays host to a clash of the channels. Claudia Winkleman and Paddy McGuinness then take over hosting duties as John Bishop tries to help the England football team prepare for the World Cup finals. Sir Andy Murray gets the shock of his life when Michael McIntyre and celebrity friends wake him up to play a very special edition of his Midnight Gameshow. Rob Brydon and the cast of Swimming with Men feature in a comedy sketch, celebrities go head to head in the ring for the evening's Celebrity Boxing battles, and Big Shaq makes a special appearance. Friday 23rd March on BBC1. See TV Magic. 17.3.18

Half Moon Magicians - Friday 23rd March. From the organisers: The new venue is working out a treat for the Half Moon Magicians (with more parking, a cheaper bar and better facilities) and the magicians are back to entertain you a week earlier this month. Yes, Friday 23rd March will see the welcome return of two of the Half Moon's favourite and most requested performers, The Great Al-Prendo and Wayne Fox. Your usual compere Martin Cox will be sadly touring Europe with his lecture tour that week and so this month we have guest compere, Andy Clockwise to hold the fort and run proceedings. What a line-up! Doors open at 7.30pm at the Bishops Stortford Football Club, Dunmow Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 5RG (Map) and the show kicks off at 8pm. It's still just £10 entry (cash payable on the door) or you can reserve a seat by calling Andy on 07958 415518 or by emailing info@andyclockwise.com. For more information visit www.halfmoonmagic.co.uk. 17.3.18

The Magicseen March Monthly Money Saver. Magicseen write: This month we would like to offer our customers a deal if they either take out a new download subscription or extend a current one. Take out a 1 year download sub/extension to Magicseen and you may request any four extra download back issues. Take out a 2 year sub/extension, and you may request any eight extra download back issues. On top of this, each time a new issue appears during your sub, you will be able to request a further two free back issues thus enabling you to gradually build up a complete library of Magicseen stretching right back to its beginnings in March 2005. And don't forget, Magicseen subscribers can also buy any Magicseen book or E-Book at a special 20% discount too, so it pays to be a subscriber directly with us, the publishers. This offer finishes on Friday 23rd March 2018 so act fast. For more information go to the special Monthly Money-Saver Order page at www.magic.forgecom.info/mmmform.htm. 17.3.18

Knight Rider with Lance Burton. Deadly Knightshade. Series 4, episode 15. Drama series about a young man who fights for law and justice in an incredible supercar: the Knight Industries Two Thousand, or KITT. Michael suspects a magician of two murders, but he appears to have the perfect alibi. Starring David Hasselhoff with special guest Lance Burton. Thursday 22nd March on 5Spike. See TV Magic. 17.3.18

Martin Cox: European Lecture Tour. Martin Cox MIMC has toured clubs and conventions in the US for the last two years. He is now set to embark on a European Tour later this month. The lecture covers Martin's approach to Close-up and Stand-up magic. Later on this year he will be presenting a new lecture 'Bites of Mr Biscuit'; his Family Show lecture in the UK. Dates for Europe: March 22nd Milano, Italy; March 23rd Aix-les-Bains, France; March 24th Lyon, France; March 26th Lausanne, Switzerland; March 27th Saint-Etienne, France; March 28th Reims, France; March 29th Paris, France; March 30th Nantes, France; April 3rd Rotterdam, Netherlands. www.comedyofmagic.co.uk. 17.3.18

Boris Wild's 'Sensations' lecture - Peterborough Society of Magicians. John Learoyd writes: Boris Wild will be performing his new lecture Sensations for Peterborough Society of Magicians at 7.30pm on Tuesday 20th March (ends 10pm) at the Millfield Community Centre, New England Complex, Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2PE (Map). Doors open at 7pm. Non Members welcome, £10 door charge (includes light refreshments). Do you like card magic when it is simple, direct and effective? Do you like to be fooled by impossible effects that leave a strong impact on the audience? Do you like routines that make your spectators feel a magical emotion? Then this is made for you! www.psmagicians.org.uk. See What's On for additional magic club tour dates. 17.3.18

Mel's New Zealand Magic. Mel Harvey is seen here at The Copthorne Hotel, North Island, where delegates at a Boss Convention were entertained by his close-up magic. Mel's New Zealand tour continues over the next fifteen days ending in Christchurch before returning to the UK to promote his new music and magic double act featuring Mel's guitar vocals with magician and accordionist Clive Fletcher... look out for "The Meltones" appearing at a theatre near you! 17.3.18

"Ken Dodd remembered by Taunton magician Nigel Ford" Click Here • "Kenilworth magician giving talks about coping with autism" Click Here • "35 Questions About ‘Deception’" Click Here • "Victorian magician returns to wow crowds in Beccles" Click Here • "Magician Blake Vogt Astounds Tony Hale and Jason Schwartzman" Click Here • "Deception: EW's TV critics investigate the show about a crime-solving magician" Click Here • "The world's most outrageous hypnotist Derren Brown reveals the truth about his secret powers... and the stunt that nearly blew his mind" Click Here • "The Science of Magic" Click Here • "Sister tries to prank her younger brother with 'magic trick' - but the little boy epically outsmarts her" Click Here • "‘Pilipinas Got Talent’: Illusionist baffles judges with levitation trick" Click Here • "The Illusionist" Click Here • "How the TV show 'Deception' depicts real magic tricks on screen" Click Here • "The Magic of Adam Trent" Click Here • "Chicago Magic Lounge putting a spell on guests" Click Here • And finally not magic but a little Star Wars love for Mark Hamill, YouTube • That's it for another week, see you next week, Duncan. 17.3.18

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