29 November 2011

Sidney Friedman: Mind Power

From the Facebook page:
Chicago mentalist and best selling author Sidney Friedman is coming to Toronto!

Known as "mentalist to the stars" for his many celebrity clients, Friedman will read your mind, perform ESP, telepathy, and premonition. Plus, you will witness his unique "Musical Mind Reading" where audience members think of a song and Friedman telepathically senses the tune and plays it on the piano.

Read more.

[h/t: Deborah Fallick]

28 November 2011

Happy blogiversary!

Belated, that is.

Last Friday was our one year blogiversary!  (Just goes to show you how busy life gets.  That milestone just whizzed right by my ears!)

In the past year we've served over 10,000 page loads.  We have more than 140 Twitter followers and have sent over 1400 tweets into the ether.  We also have 48 Facebook fans and over two dozen subscribers.  While the majority of readers are Canadian (go figure), we also have visitors from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, and the list goes on and on.

When this project started, I had no idea so much magic was going in inside this country.  I continue to be impressed as I learn about the number of magicians representing Canada abroad.  It's fabulous to be involved in such a generous and talented fraternity.

Thank you, as always, for reading, subscribing, re-tweeting, liking, sharing, submitting news, corresponding, making me aware of typos, guest posting and most of all for your wonderful feedback and continued support!

27 November 2011

Everything Erdnase

From Magicana:
The exhibition, created by Jason England and Julie Eng, showcases the legendary book, The Expert at the Card Table - by the mysterious, S.W. Erdnase – and the book’s perpetual appearance in print for over a century. While exploring the numerous variants, both here and abroad, the exhibition also highlights the slew of ancillary discourse, publications and products Erdnase has inspired.

Read more.
Visit the exhibition at EverythingErdnase.com.

26 November 2011

Broken wand: Peter Howard Nash

From the Globe and Mail on Wednesday November 23rd.
Died peacefully at home with his wife of 60 years by his side in Montreal on the 19th of November. Born in Sidcup, Kent, England in 1917, he graduated from the Stowe School, after which matriculated at Queen's College at the University of Cambridge where he earned his BMS and MA and qualified as an MD.

....

He was additionally an accomplished amateur photographer, birdwatcher and magician, the last of these avocations having been interpreted on stage while he was a university student.

Read the complete obituary.

25 November 2011

Greg Frewin on the Wendy Williams show

From Niagara This Week:

When producers of the Wendy Williams Show came calling, Frewin was quick to pack his magic bag of tricks and head to the Big Apple for a a spot the show calls “A Shameless Surprise.”

Read more.

Watch Greg's performance on YouTube:
  

24 November 2011

Sheldon Casavant: Photographs of a magician

From Edmonton Portrait Photography:
This year I had the opportunity to photograph several of the outstanding young Edmontonians nominated for the award and I’ll be featuring a few of them here on my blog over the next couple of weeks.
 
One of the individuals who was nominated is Sheldon Casavant – a magician and author from Edmonton. We met up in one of Edmonton’s back alleys for an urban-inspired photo shoot and Sheldon brought along several magic props to incorporate into the shoot.

Read more and see some of the photos from the shoot.

22 November 2011

Gazzo interviewed by Joe Culpepper

From The Magic Broadcast:
“Streets is a lifestyle,” says Gazzo. And he should know.

Garry Osborne has been busking as a magician in Britain, North America, and all over the world since he was fifteen. Join me, Joe Culpepper, in episode two of the Culpepper Cast as I catch up with him at Toronto’s recent Buskerfest (August 2011).

Read more and listen to the interview.

20 November 2011

[Guest post] Patrik Kuffs in Toronto

The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.

--
PATRIK KUFFS IN TORONTO
Review by The Magic Demon

Montreal-based magician, mentalist and comedian Patrik Kuffs appeared in Toronto at the Browser's Den Saturday night (November 19th).

Throughout the evening, Patrik easily charmed everyone with his wry wit and quirky humour as well as impressing them with his insightful advice on real world performances. Playing to an packed room his two hours-plus lecture enlightened, informed and entertained.

Moving quickly from one effect to another he demonstrated and then explained a wide range of surefire audience pleasers including a close up design duplication worthy of Annemann; numerous compelling card effects (his card stab/knife routine was especially well-received); a novel handling of a classic book test; intriguing possibilities utilizing shiners; an innovative stage design duplication concept; a clever routine with a unique and inexpensive homemade version of a mentalist's most invaluable prop; and some classic spoon and fork bending.

Also particularly memorable was his TT gag... if you were there, you certainly remember the huge laugh it received! (I'm sorry - I know I've left out a lot but I was enjoying myself so much I repeatedly forgot to take notes.)

As he explained every effect there were frequently small gasps of appreciation throughout the room at the simplicity but ingeniousness of his methods.

Perhaps best known for his excellent DVD on metal bending, Patrik surprised the crowd by revealing it actually only played a very small part in his professional career of over 20 years.

As a bonus he gave away two special gifts to everyone in the audience - including the secret for a seemingly impenetrable impromptu blindfold made with materials readily available in any home.

Patrik at one point modestly referred to his lecture notes package, on sale and a real bargain, which were scooped up by many in attendance. He went on to apologize that he wasn't actually very good at selling. Not true! When it comes to his magic and winning over an audience, Patrik Kuffs really knows exactly how to sell himself... and does so brilliantly.

If you ever get a chance to see him lecture you will come away with several practical workers in your notebook ready to put into your act right away. Thank you Patrik for an extremely fun and rewarding evening.

Additional thanks to Jeff Pinsky, the Browser's Den's most gracious host, for presenting Patrik in Toronto.




Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!

19 November 2011

Philip Murad in the Financial Post

From the Financial Post article "Op-Ed – Google’s Patrick Pichette: Canada needs a bolder innovation agenda":
This is perhaps the ultimate wonder and opportunity of the Internet age – a world without borders. For example, take Philip Murad, who went from being a very popular magician and ventriloquist in Montreal to managing a network of magicians across North America.
Read more.

18 November 2011

Ottawa: Éric Leclerc - Mystéric et la Mathémagie

From Shenkman Arts:
This two-time Canadian magic champion from Orléans presents an interactive, educational and hilarious show, skilfully combining magic and math. Mystéric has not always liked math, but has fortunately discovered Mathemagic.

Buy tickets or read more.

06 November 2011

Greg Frewin: Launch of the Lights

Greg Frewin peformed at Launch of the Lights in Niagara Falls yesterday.  Read about it at 610cktb or NiagaraFallsReview.

05 November 2011

Morrissey Magic: new store hours

From Morrissey Magic:
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday noon - 4pm
Monday - closed
Tuesday and Wednesday - 11am - 6pm
Thursday and Friday - 11am - 7pm

Confirm hours directly with Morrissey Magic.

04 November 2011

Nova Scotia: Patrick Drake

Nov. 6: Inaugural Squash CF Pumpkin Launch fundraiser

From Nova News Now:
Canada’s sleight of hand champion and magician Patrick Drake has donated his time to entertain at the event. The pumpkin launch begins at 2 p.m. and ends when all the pumpkins have been flung and squashed. All event proceeds benefit Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Read more.

03 November 2011

Rounding the Western rings in November

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

CityClubEvent(s)
Calgary, ABRing 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)- Jay Sankey lecture
Edmonton, ABEdmonton Magic Club- Jay Sankey lecture
Winnipeg, MBThe Magic Club of Winnipeg- N/A
Vancouver, BCRing 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)- Jay Sankey lecture
Victoria, BCRing 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - Jay Sankey lecture


Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in November

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Hamilton, ONRing 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) - magic diagnostic clinic
- Greg Frewin trip
London, ONLondon Magician's Guild- Marsha Bergeron lecture
Kitchener, ONRing 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)- Phil Cox , Wilber, and John from KW Magic
Ottawa, ONRing 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) - Richard Sanders lecture
- CHEO charity children's show
Toronto, ONRing 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) - Michael Weber workshop and lecture
Woodstock, ONCAM 1 (Friendly City Mystics)   - N/A


Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in November

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NSRing 316 (Conjourer's Court) - TBA 


Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

02 November 2011

Toronto: Patrik Kuffs lecture

From The Browser's Den:
PATRIK KUFFS MAGIC, COMEDY & MENTALISM LECTURE
Date: Saturday, November 19
Location: Browser’s Den of Magic
Ticket Price-FREE…THAT’S RIGHT…FREE!!
Read more.

01 November 2011

Toronto: Louie Lebetjis Exposing the Cheats Workshop

From Morrissey Magic:

Exposing the Cheats Workshop with Louie Lebetjis Saturday November 12 2011 3PM

Buy tickets or read more.

Visit Morrissey Magic to watch Luiz Castro interview Louie Lebetjis.