Showing posts with label ~The Vanishing Rabbit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ~The Vanishing Rabbit. Show all posts

08 October 2023

An update from The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop

From the September 14th Facebook post by The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop:

Hi All Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop Customers,

It has come to a point where I needed to address that we will not be opening a Brick and Mortar magic Shop but will remain as an online shop. I will be retiring soon and there is really no use in signing a two or three year lease especially when most landlords these days want a 5-10 year lease in Calgary. The magic community in Calgary is older and not interested in buying anything new as all the shelves are full but getting rid of their old stuff which doesnt keep a magic shop open. If you know of anyone looking to buy my remaining inventory Lets work out a deal !! Shipping from Canada  

I closed my doors 3 months into covid, because my lease ran out, I waited until covid was over and tried to think outside the box by going to all the hobby stores in Calgary and asking them if they wanted to lease to me 6 feet in their store. Thats's 1 - 6 foot showcase, which I still own, and they all declined, which I still today do not understand. YES I even went and talked to Scott and Charlie at Don's Hobby shop to see if they wanted to put a magic shop back into their store and that was declined as well. 

So I do not have much inventory left because of my incredible prices online but what I do have left will be slowy discounted even more and let go, then I will sell off my personal collection or vintage magic props, books, autographs and magic posters and my wife and I will head back to Barbados to visit friends until we get tired of it 

I grew up in the best time in magic with Micky Hades, John Kaplan, Murray Hatfield, Scott Imler, Paul Alberstat, Shawn Farquhar and The Magic Palace with Dale Harney being filmed in Calgary where all the TOP Magicians came through to the local TV station, and the Micky Hades Fun and Film Festivals which I attended only a couple. I was one of the founding members of the IBM Ring 66 in Calgary by signing the original charter and enjoyed those meetings every month as it was all about friendship and sharing.  

How did I get interested in magic?? Send me an email at vanishingrabbit@shaw.ca and if your right I will send you a 30% off discount card for the items I have instock  

I dont see where magic is headed other than the now cookie cutter .....tattoos, beards, hats and playing cards. Have we not learned yet to be yourself in magic and not copy other people like Chris Ramsey sheeeeesh. I asked Micky Hades one day where he thought magic was headed and he said that in time it will all swing around again from what it is now to what it was. I hope it does, as magic when I grew up was the best ! 

For now I remain performing magic in a few restaurants and doing shows for families, friends and public and remain humble about the fantastic opportuinites magic has given me.
Later
Brent


 

 

20 April 2021

And then there were two … (brick and mortar magic shops)

Just over a year ago we all put our heads down and did what needed to be done.  

While we were hunkered down, a big shift happened in the Canadian magic community.

We’re down to TWO dedicated brick and mortar magic shops.




From the October 1st, 2014 post “Why bother with a magic shop?” written by Evelyn Matlin wrote at the Perfect Magic blog:

It’s so easy to look up  what you want on line, find the cheapest price and order.  I can’t say that I blame anyone for doing that. But there may be a cost to the saving of money, especially in magic.
Click through to read Evelyn's thoughts on the matter.


A comment from the 2013/08/29 post "Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto"

...travelling magician (travelling light) from British Columbia stuck for a surprise gig in Barrie last summer and Dan really got me out of a jam. He was a great guy...asked what I had for a budget (tight budget since I wasn't getting paid!) and set me up with great stage sized stuff that made my show a success...customer service like that doesn't exist on some internet site ...
Don't have brick and mortar shop in your area? Consider supporting one through their online shops. (I direct your attention to one of our sponsors The Browser's Den of Magic in Ontario, and to Clownin’ Around in BC.)

Over the past ten years roughly 85% of all brick and mortar magic shops in the world have closed.
We need to think about how we can support the two remaining brick and mortar shops in Canada, Browser's Den of Magic & Clownin’ Around.


Thank you Jeff at The Browser's Den of Magic, and Quincy at  Clownin’ Around, for your fabulous brick and mortar shops!

16 September 2019

Calgary: Lance Burton Q&A

Friday September 20th, Gwyn Auger (The Magic Assistant) presents a Q&A with Lance Burton at The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop!


From The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop Facebook page:
Come see Lance Burton master magician & join in a quick friendly Q&A session at The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop

Join the I.B.M. - International Brotherhood of Magicians on site and renew your Calgary Magic Club membership.

There is NO COST to this event, but please support the shop and respect the time as he’s staying open late for us.


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27 August 2019

Welcoming a new patron: The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop

Welcome to our newest sponsor, The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop!


 

Brent Smith opened The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop in Calgary on June 27, 2000.  The shop was originally in a residential neighborhood.  Its first inventory order was from Herb Morrissey in Toronto and his first hosted lecture was Tony Eng from Victoria.

Brent started the shop so that there would "be a place where IBM meetings could be held and have a permanent home, magicians could come and jam and magicians could meet magicians."*

Magicians who have honed their skills at Brent's shop?  Names like Chris Mayhew, Tyler Wilson, Gwyn Auger, and Donovan Deschner!

Visit The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop at Vanishingrabbit.com on Facebook or on Instagram.


Thank you to The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop, for your sponsorship of Canada's Magic!




--
* Smith, Brent. "Bricks 'N Mortars." Canadian Association of Magicians Spring 2019 23(1):22


18 December 2016

Another five years for The Vanishing Rabbit!

From The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop Facebook page:
The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop just signed another 5 year lease soooo it looks like were staying OPEN serving all the Tricksters, Jokesters, and magicians in your life!!!!! We look forward to being your go to Brick and Mortar Magic shop in Alberta, Western Canada and Canada !!!. In January look for our Junior Magic Club starting for kids ages 9-17 and depending on your past purchases with us .....The Vanishing Rabbit preferred customer discounts cards.




16 July 2014

Calgary: Mega Magic Camp

From the Vanishing Rabbit's Facebook page:





12 May 2014

Calgary: Thomas Baxter lecture

From the Vanishing Rabbit:
Mentalist THOMAS BAXTER will be lecturing at the Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop
MAY 23rd 
Would you like to be able to perform a full- evening show with just the contents of a briefcase, get paid MORE than someone per- forming a complete illusion show, and get standing ovations at every performance? Or perhaps you'd just like to completely astonish your friends and family with NO PROPS, but just your own understanding of human behavior? Thomas Baxter can show you how.

Tom is a professional mentalist from Canada and has been one of Canada's most successful mystery performers for well over 30 years. He’s performed his one-man show in 31 countries around the world, entertained on cruise ships, created and starred in television specials, in night clubs and has even presented hundred of theatrical seances.  
Read more and buy tickets.

09 March 2013

WowFest in photos

From Glen Co Photography:
I’m glad I went.  I got to feel like a little kid again.  I guess I only covered a small portion of the festival since looking at their website now (http://wowfest.ca) the whole event ran for several more hours after I had left.  The portion that I had covered was the Family Fun Magic Show.  This was the part where families can spend a day together watching some neat magic!  Sounds like a good time, right?  Bring the kids, the grandparents, even the in-laws!  There was a face painting station, The Garden Variety Show booth was making balloon animals for their willing recipients, and The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop was performing slight of hand trickery for those who dared near it!

Read more and see the wonderful photos.

17 June 2012

Calgary: Magic day camps

From the Vanishing Rabbit:
Course 1:  JAW DROPPERS
8 - 10 Years old
July 16 - 20th 
Noon - 4 pm Each day

Course 2:  The Complete Course
11 - 99 years old
July 23- 27th 
Noon - 4 pm Each day

Read more to confirm price and details.


[h/t: magicinfo.ca]

30 May 2012

The Vanishing Rabbit is moving!

From The Vanishing Rabbit:
We're moving June 30th to a new location.
1712 Edmonton Trail NE
But were not there yet!

Read more.

02 April 2011

April Fooled

I only saw one major Canadian magic prank yesterday.  The Vanishing Rabbit posted this on their website and Facebook page:
After very long negotiations, I would like to annouce that The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop has SOLD to a private Magic Shop Chain out of the United States. Although the shop will stay open and the Name will change, I will remain as a Manager and consultant, I would like to thank all who have supported my Magic Shop business the last 10 years and hope that you will remain customers of ours.


While not Canadian, this prank is certainly worth a mention!  From The Magic Newswire this post from The Magic Circle:
The Magic Circle To Mount Legal Challenge 

The Magic Circle is considering mounting a legal challenge to proposals which would see the composition of packs of playing cards dramatically altered from April 2012.
The proposals announced under European Union Directive 27745 / 3665 include the removal of the twelve Jacks, Queens and Kings from every pack of cards manufactured within the EU to reflect modern Republic Member States. A new suit of 'Stars' is to be introduced alongside the traditional Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades making the total number of cards exactly 50 in the new 'metric' packs.
Spokesman for The Magic Circle states "We are very concerned by these new rules. We very much value our Royal connections and cannot accept such a scandalous interference from the EU. The standard pack of 52 cards embodies a long legacy of cultural and magical history.”
A spokesman continues: “Frankly many of our Members are hoping to make these new rules disappear!"
Read the original post (complete with image of the new deck) here.
 
What April Fool's day pranks did I miss?

31 March 2011

Calgary: Card Magic Essentials with Brent Smith

From The Vanishing Rabbit:
When:  3 Saturday Nights - April 2, April 9th, April 16th
Time: 7-9pm
Where: The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop

Join Award Winning Magician BRENT SMITH for 3 Nights of Essential Card Magic Sleights. Learning card magic is like building a house. Everything starts with a strong foundation of basic building blocks. These won't we your Grampa's Card Tricks.

This 3 night course will start you at the beginning of card magic and take you to a working professional level.

Learn the core skills (the ones that get used over and over again in thousands of tricks) from a well trained Award winning Magician
For more information, contact The Vanishing Rabbit.

[h/t: Gwyn Auger]