Showing posts with label Loran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loran. Show all posts

18 August 2023

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 5

Recap (click to show | hide)

From Part 1 of the series:

In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts.  We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.

If you completed our survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment!  

If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time.  The survey can be found here:  https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76

Thank you to all that contributed!


 

Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.

 

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari
<< part 4  |  part 6 >>

 

Part 5 features:  Dennis Gorya, Loran, and Mark Clearview

 

  Dennis Gorya  
Entrepreneur, TidalCommerce.ca

Attended Sorcerers Safari as a camper.

Since his time at camp Dennis has:

  • Run a successful consulting company working with super star clients.


In his own words:

  • Camp helped me develop self confidence and a deeper ability in performance, sales and routine.

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • The polar dip :)

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • Attitude follows you in all that you do.

 

 

  Loran  
Professional magician, LoranIllusion.com

Attended camp from 2000 to 2016 as staff.

Since his time at camp Loran has:

  • Opened for AC-DC and the Rolling Stones in Toronto.

  • Editor's note:  Loran was too modest to include his submission that he published the book “The Fabulous Book of Magic Secrets” available in English and French.


In his own words:

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Scare all the campers with a ghost story. Houahaha!!!

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • Tons of wonderful memories.

 

 

  Mark Clearview 
Professional magician, MarkClearview.com

Attended camp in: 

  • 2008 - 2011 as a camper, 
  • 2012 as a counsellor in training (CIT), and 
  • 2013-2016 as counsellor.

 

Since his time at camp Mark:

  • Set a world record  
    [Longest Amount of Time Wearing a Straitjacket, World Record - 2014],
  • Moved to New York City and has has own monthly show Magic, Unlocked
  • Has performed all over the world,
  • Cruise Ship Magician on Virgin Voyages,
  • Appeared on Penn and Teller: Fool Us 


In his own words:

  • Literally all of my accomplishments were made easier having gone to camp!
  • Scott Hammell is my mentor and we went to Sorcerers Safari together. 
  • Aaron Fisher is a mentor who opened so many doors for me. 
  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • My first time hosting the camper show. I remember my magic wasn't near as good as anyone else's. Those kids were schooling me! Even up to my counsellor years. But when I hosted that show I realized I had something. I could perform. And Lee Asher came up to me after the show and said "you're going places" the first of which was the bathroom to throw up.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • My friendship with Scott Hammell, Aaron Fisher, Lee Asher, Jonah Babins, Ben Train, Mind Bender, Keith Brown, etc.

My craft got stronger. My magic got better. I got funnier. The opportunity to host shows and perform and meet friends in the community. I cannot say enough good things!

 

Thank you Dennis, Loran, and Mark for sharing your memories!

Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!

 

 Previously featured 

 

Learn more about Sorcerers Safari.

part 1part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

<< part 4  |  part 6 >>

 

 

15 September 2022

Rawdon: Captain Loran at the 10th anniversary of "The English Community Organization of Lanaudière (ECOL)" [Sep 17]

From the September 11th Facebook post by Loran:

Captain Loran will be performing this Saturday 17th September in Rawdon to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "The English Community Organization of Lanaudière (ECOL)"
Entertainment, music with DJ from 5pm. Show (in English) by Captain Loran at 6:30 pm followed by fireworks at 7:30 pm. The activity is free of charge. Captain Loran is waiting for you. But beware... because he's a pirate! 

 

 

 

04 November 2021

Toronto: Loran book signing

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

We are very excited that this SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH from 1PM-3PM professional magician extraordinaire LORAN will be in the store for a meet + greet, as well as having copies of his new book for sale! Get the book signed while you're at it! Please note that in order to attend we will be requiring proof that you are double vaccinated.

Loran is truly one of Canada's hidden treasures. His magic is powerful and theatrical, designed to really move you. Many in the Toronto magic community know Loran from his appearances at Sorcerer's Safari magic camp, where he was a staple for almost the camp's entire run. He's worked with Jackie Chan, and he also opened for AC-DC and The Rolling Stones at SARSTOCK in 2003, the largest concert in Canadian history!

Read more.


23 November 2020

Loran interviewed on C'est ça la vie

From the November 8th Facebook post by Loran Magie (translated by Facebook):

If you want to know me better, here's a recorded interview for the program ′′ C ' est est la vie ′′ broadcast on the channel TELUS. But here you will discover not the magician, but rather the ′′ person ′′ behind the character. I tell my personal life journey. It's not always easy to be an artist in your soul, but it's my life and I wouldn't change it.




21 May 2020

Welcoming a new Friend: Loran

Please join me in welcoming our newest Friend, Montreal based Loran!

I had the pleasure of first meeting Loran almost 20 years ago at the Magical Arts Festival in Toronto, and then being reacquainted with him through Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.  His shows are consistently a feast for the senses (and often involve fire)!

You can see some recent video of Loran 5 seconds into the video "Magic in Canada - 100 Magicians Come Together for Food Banks Canada," at 1 minute and 17 seconds into the video "Magiciens au Québec - Magicians in Québec," and in his magical Steampunk glory at the 5 minute 5 second mark of the video "Pass the Map."

Learn more about Loran at his website LoranIllusion.com and follow him on Facebook.

Thank you Loran, for becoming an official Friend of Canada's Magic

20 May 2020

Magiciens au Québec

The Vancouver Magic Circle magicians aren't the only ones with video tricks up their sleeves!


From Loran's YouTube channel:
La magie existe au Québec. C’est pourquoi nous somme 20 magiciens québécois se sont réunis pour vous offrir un petit brin de folie et d’émerveillement. Merci à tous ces magiciens qui habitent partout en province ainsi qu'à Romain Kowalsky pour le montage. À partager sans retenu pour transporter la magie partout !
Magic exists in Quebec. This is why we are 20 Quebec magicians who have come together to offer you a touch of madness and wonder. Thank you to all these magicians who live throughout the province as well as to Romain Kowalsky for the editing. Share the magic everywhere!



14 January 2020

Toronto: Browser's Bash #6 in The Six update

A quick reminder that Andi Gladwin will be lecturing at The Den later in the month.


Browser's Bash logo  
From the Browser's Den newsletter:
We are thrilled that underground legend Erik Tait will be making a rare convention appearance for us! With killer Sleight of Hand chops he fooled Penn and Teller and on top of that he is damn funny! Not to be missed!
Other great talent locked in so far that includes Eric Bedard, Michel Huot, Aaron Patterson, Loran, Anthony Lindan, Bill McCourt, Chris Mayhew, Ben Train. With special free classes by Al Grose, Simon Rotstein & Greg Hobor. And of course everybody’s favourite MC, the one and only Dick Joiner! More names will be announced soon including our headliner… stay tuned! 



To buy your tickets go to http://www.browsersden.com/bash or call the shop, 416-783-7022.


22 November 2019

Montreal and Quebec: Loran

From Loran's Facebook post:
- Je suis heureux d’annoncer que j’ai été choisi par le chanteur Allan Rayman, prix Juno du meilleur nouvel artiste 2018, pour ouvrir son spectacle à L’ANTI Bar-Spectacle (27 nov.) à Québec, ainsi qu’au centre MTELUS (29 nov.) à Montréal. Une soirée qui sera feutré en musique et magie!

- I am very pleased to announce that I was selected by singer Allan Rayman (he received a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2018) to open his show in Quebec at L'ANTI Bar-Spectacle (Nov 27) and at the MTELUS Center (Nov 29) in Montreal. An evening that will be felted with music and magic!


02 October 2019

Ottawa: Sky High Magic Series - Sorcellia with Loran

From Ingenium Canada:
October 14, 2019

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is proud to present the lineup for this year’s Sky High Magic Series.

Prepare to be captivated by amazing magic and science-based illusions. These talented, high-energy magicians perform unbelievable feats of magic, blended with fast-paced comedy. They’ll tickle your funnybone, while leaving you utterly mystified!

Seating is limited. To avoid disappointment, please reserve your tickets in advance.

Dazzling and highly visual, Sorcellia is a magic show like no other. Inspired by the mysticism of the Middle Ages, Loran's illusions are different from traditional magic shows. Prepare to expect the unexpected!

See a magical cup float through the air before it suddenly disappears. Watch as clocks materialize from nowhere. Enjoy the suspense of the guillotine challenge, along with great illusions featuring theatrical choreography, and even a ghost story with a mysterious portrait.

This mesmerizing performance offers moments of poetry and humour, as well as audience participation. Overcoming language barriers through the universal language of music, Loran helps viewers discover the world of mystery with wit and style.

Read more.


11 January 2019

Quebec City: Loran at the Galerie de la Capitale

From the Facebook post of Loran Magie:
-I am very pleased to announce that I will be performing on January 18-19-20 at the official opening of the New Mega Park "Steampunk Theme" at the Galerie de la Capitale in Quebec City. I will be there to presents close-up magic performances everywhere on the site. Several members of Steampunk groups from Quebec, Montreal, Beauce and Ottawa will also participate to the event with their original costumes. Set your watches for this Retro-Futuristic event !

-J’ai le grand plaisir de vous annoncer que je serai présent les 18-19-20 janvier prochain lors de l’ouverture officiel du Nouveau Méga-Parc « Thématique Steampunk » des Galerie de la Capitale à Québec. J’offrirai des performances partout sur le site en magie rapprochée. Plusieurs représentants des groupes Steampunk de Québec, Montréal, Beauce et Ottawa participeront aussi à l’événement avec leurs super costumes. Réglez vos montres pour cet événement Rétro-Futuriste !




14 May 2018

Pictures from the 2018 Festival de Magie de Québec and CAM

From Loran Magie's Facebook page:

A note to subscribers: the content of this post is embedded from another website and is not available to preview. To view the content of the post, please visit http://CanadasMagic.blogspot.com. Some of the embedded code may be visible in this notification.

20 December 2016

Loran interpreting a historical figure for the "Pointe à Callière Museum"

From Loran's Facebook page:

Big news!!! I will soon be immortalized at the "Pointe à Callière Museum" in Montreal! You will see me in a documentary video interpreting a historical figure in the company of "Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance" during the ice jam of 1642. This event was at the origin of the cross on Mont-Royal. The video will be part of a new permanent exhibition scheduled for May 17, 2017 as part of the 375th anniversary of Montreal. It's pretty cool to know that ... during my lifetime ... I'll be in a museum!

28 June 2016

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 10

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A camper's notebook. Photo by Rosemary Reid
A camper's notebook.

Day 5: Tuesday August 18th*
Cheesy omelette breakfast.  I saw the rabbits again!  And I saw a bright green frog too.  Still no sign of the deer. 
At card class Shawn Farquhar talked to us about stuff I’d never considered.  He said, “give people a sense of wonder.  Don’t make them feel stupid or small.”  And then he said this quote from American poet Maya Angelou:   
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

We played “Capture the Flag” which was so. much. FUN!

6pm
The camper show was fantastic.  Before the show, Lee Asher made his group perform walk around for the audience.  They did really well. 

Pre-show walk around. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Pre-show walk around.

Then the show started.  Some of the kids performed things they just learned (or even made!) this week!  Others made stuff up and some came prepared with things they’d been working on the whole year.  Shout out to them all!
Emcees: Chaz and RJ.
Performers: Cathy, James, Brad, Matt, Tariq, Jordan, Ava, Vincent, Landon, Matthew, Nathan, Will, Ben, Jack, Nick, and Jeff.
Backstage: Simon, Holden, Serena, and Jarrett.
Sound and tech: Steve Kline (for this and all the other shows!).
Production assistants: Mike and Lisa Close, Dan Wiebe, and Mike Toal.

Owning the stage. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Owning the stage.


Sponge balls. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Sponge balls.


Something big is about to happen! Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Something big is about to happen!


The coolest thing about the show was that everyone’s performance looked good.  Beginner kids went first so they didn’t have to go after someone who had more experience.  I don’t see any competition between the kids.  The adults want us all to shine. 
Today’s electives were Pulp Friction (with Lee himself!), linking rings, Gravity Half Pass (with Aaron Fisher!), Assistant’s Revenge stage illusion, Miser’s Dream, any card at any number, and Patriotic Ropes. 

Bill Wells and Sheldon Casavant talking coins. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Bill Wells and Sheldon Casavant talking coins.

Patriotic ropes with Phil DaCosta. Photo by James Carey Lauder.




I did the linking rings and was kinda surprised (and disappointed) to learn how they work.  It seems that some of the most wonderful effects are based on simple ideas.  Loran was a great teacher, but I’m going to have to practise a lot more until I feel comfortable doing it in front of anyone!

Rats. Camp swim got rained out.  (I wish I tried the high jump yesterday).  Silver lining: we all piled into the Staff Lounge and had a big impromptu panel with Shawn, Eric, Phil, and Mark.  They do things off the top of their head better than I can do anything I’ve rehearsed a million times.  I wonder how much of it is pure talent and how much of it is hours and hours of practise.

Shawn speaking at the panel. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Shawn speaking at the panel.


To be continued ...


--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca



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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

21 June 2016

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 9

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A camper's notebook. Photo by Rosemary Reid
A camper's notebook.

Day 4: Monday August 17th (cont)*
5pm
After lunch (burgers and lemonade and ice cream!) everyone gathered around a bunch of the adults on benches.
Cook out for lunch! Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Cook out for lunch!

There was excitement in the air and I could barely see what was going on.  It turns out that Daryl eats his pie in a really unexpected way.  Who knew?




Great elective choices today:  cups and balls, memorized deck, mentalism, rope magic, spoon bending, and dancing canes.  I picked the dancing cane and it was so much fun!  I can actually make it look like I’m levitating it and making it move.  (And it’s so much easier than juggling.)  I need to own one. 


Dance cane, dance! Still from footage by Chris Mayhew.
Dance cane, dance!

Cups and balls. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Cups and balls.




At performance workshop we played the “questions only” game.  You can only reply to someone by asking another question. Much harder than it sounds!  It’s supposed to help us to listen and to think on our feet. It’s hilarious.  I laughed so much I cried!
Questions only! Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Questions only!



9pm
All I remember about dinner was ice cream with chocolate sauce!

The lip syncs rocked.  I especially liked Shawn and Lori Farquhar doing "You're The One That I Want" from Greece, and Magic Mike Segal (and Stephanie Kline, Chris Galonska, Jen Segal, and Lisa Close) doing "Mahna Mahnam" from the Muppet Show.

Mahna Mahnam. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Mahna Mahnam.



It was a super talented show again tonight.  Loran did an elegant time themed piece, Mark did some stage stunts, Philip and Jonah and Chris Mayhew were fantastic.  The show ended with the Marion and Ted Outerbridge doing a fabulous stage show with big props, fancy costumes and great illusions.  Ted has the best disco ball jacket ever!

Loran. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Loran.


Ted and Marion Outerbridge. Photo by James Carey Lauder.
Ted and Marion Outerbridge.




Marion stopped by our cabin to visit. She had amazing stories of touring and performance.  She MADE Ted’s sparkling jacket.  So. much. WORK!


To be continued ...


--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca



|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 -910 - 11 - next > 

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

09 June 2016

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari

Almost 20 years ago, armed only with the idea of making magic more accessible to kids who want to learn magic, "Magic Mike" Segal opened the doors to Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.  Sorcerers Safari is Canada's only sleepaway magic camp, hosting up to 150 campers a year.

Words fail to adequately describe the phenomenon that is Sorcerers Safari.  Everyone comes away from camp with their own unique experience.  To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, here’s a list of:

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari (in no particular order):
  1. My favourite camp memory would have to be when I first went to Sorcerers Safari. I saw all of my idols in magic and there were so many magicians that I had watched on TV and on YouTube. It was brilliant to see them perform and not only to see them perform but just to have a normal magic or even non magic conversation with them was amazing to me. It was literally like a dream come true!

    Brad B.
    Camper: 2014-2015


  2. The first year I ever attended I recall walking down a wooded path and seeing Michael Ammar talking to a group of campers who were seated under the shade of a huge tree.  Michael was talking about choosing magic as a career and I could see the look in all the campers eyes as I eavesdropped.  I knew in that very moment I would return to camp as often as I could as I felt something I’d never felt before.  Not sure how to describe it, but it was just so special.

    Shawn Farquhar (magichampion.com)
    Instructor: 2008-2013, 2015
  3. A favourite memory was making a card flourish duel that appeared in the 2013 camp video.


    Eric S.
    Camper: 2007-2014


  4. I was overwhelmed by the quality of instruction and the dedication of Mike, Jen and the entire board and staff. It was without doubt one the finest experiences I've had in my almost 40 years in the Magic business.

    Phil Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
    Guest: 2014
  5. I would have to say that my favourite memory at camp would have to be after Brett C. and I performed the “cube in cube out” stage illusion. It was a huge relief that the whole thing went successfully and it was also the first routine that Brett and I created together.

    Holden L.
    Camper: 2008-2015

  1. Many of my favourite memories at Sorcerers Safari come from the late night jam sessions in the campers' cabins.  You never know what newest tricks or guest magicians you'll find.

    For example, a few years back, I witnessed Tyler Wilson sharing the longest and most entertaining card revelation I've seen. Over the course of about 45 minutes, the cabin filled with campers as they watched him attempt to find the card.  Pure suspense. Needless to say, he had no idea what the card was, and was playing us the entire time.

    The jam sessions offer a great opportunity to see the campers' talent and creativity.  In 2015, Philip B. and I posed an Ambitious Card challenge to the cabin.  They split into 2 teams to work together to create an Ambitious Card routine from scratch.  This impromptu competition went on for close to 2 hours and was a blast to watch!

    Sheldon Casavant (SheldonCasavant.com)
    Camper: 2003, Counsellor: 2004 and 2007, Instructor: 2015
  2. Trying to find only one Sorcerers Safari good memory is impossible because there are so many!  So let’s say that one of them is when Anders Bjorkman, Johnny Toronto, and I did a “fire trio act” together on the beach during the party night. I believe it happened in 2010. We literally had a blast!!!

    Loran, (LoranIllusion.com)
    Instructor: 2000 - 2015

  1. a) The first time (repeated over the years) that all the campers hit the stage on the final night to present their interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ... (always a fun moment).
    b) Seeing the "shy and timid" take the stage for the first time in front of their peers and proudly present an effect they have learned at camp.
    c) The meal times with the table banging under the direction of Lee Asher.
    d) Seeing a camper on TELEVISION presenting magic... and only a few years earlier not being able to communicate...
    e) Year after year - the reunions. Campers emailing each other to make sure they would be in the same dorm.
    f) The chant of "we love Dick, we love Dick."

    Dick Joiner, (DickJoiner.com)
    Instructor: ~2001-2015


  2. Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp was the first time I ever went to camp. I'm in my seventies and it was fun and exciting. I loved the enthusiasm of the kids and their teachers, who were the best. We met old friends and made new ones. Keep up the good work and thank you Mike for inviting us.

    Evelyn Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
    Guest: 2014
  3. I have so many wonderful memories of camp that it's near impossible to choose just one. But a camp classic that we continually reminisce about all the time happened on my first year when Rob 'Fish The Magish' Fishbaum secretly hid in the woods during the middle of the night, waited until I walked by, then jumped out making a loud squealing pig noise. I shrieked like a little girl, jumped into Steve Kline's arms completely terrified, and almost crapped my pants.

    It was an amazing moment. It's also when I knew these people would be part of my family for the rest of our lives. The best part, scaring the newbie staff has since become a long-standing camp tradition.

    Lee Asher (LeeAsher.com)
    Special Guest: 2001, Instructor: 2002-2015


  4. Lip Sync Battles


      

    Jeff P.

    Counsellor in Training: 2015
  5. When the whole camp did a one camera take lip dub! That was so exciting and EVERYONE had a part and nailed it! The video was a hit and definitely one to be remembered.

    Watch the 2011 Sorcerers Safari Lip Dub on YouTube:



    Lorena Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014

  1. a) I remember one night at the nightly stage shows in the Pinetages theatre:  the air was hot and thick… the performers were breaking a sweat after literally 30 seconds on stage.  And out of the blue we see Lee Asher come out and perform a trick (and a dance!) in a massive eggplant costume! It was epic.

    b) One year we decided to do a lip dub. It was amazing to see everyone come together and participate with such passion and precision. Check out the video it took us about a half-day to film. It was truly awesome.

    Eric Leclerc (EricLeclerc.com)
    Instructor: 2008-2015


  2. My favourite memory from camp was probably performing for Michael and Lisa Close's daughter on stage. I was able to use her last name to do a hilarious bit for the entire camp while poking fun of their last name.

    Chris Westfall (ChrisWestfallMagic.com)
    Instructor


  3. One of my favourite memories would be Eric Leclerc and a few of us attempting to scare RJ late at night with a bunch of scary halloween masks and then RJ wouldn't wake up. I have the video footage of it, but it is one of those bits that never made it into the annual Sorcerers Video, but was very funny to observe at the time.

    Chris Mayhew (ChrisMayhewMagic.com)
    Videographer: 2013-2015
  4. a) Performing on the camp stage. The first time I worked a stage, wore a mic, stood in front of the lights, and performed for a "big" crowd all came at camp. I'll never forget the love and support people showed me, and it's probably a major reason why I'm still getting up there today!

    b) Watching my campers grow up.  I still maintain relationships with campers I had a decade ago.  Some have become better performers than I would have ever imagined. Some are even better than I am... which is both awesome and infuriating!  One that stands out to me is Nathaniel Rankin.  I watched him grow from a cute, but shy, juggler to a world class magician performing on cruise ships around the world.  I don't take credit for his success -- that was all him -- but I'm glad to have been a stepping stone on his path to finding something that makes him so happy.

    Ben Train, (BenTrain.ca)
    Counsellor in Training: 2000-2001, Staff: 2002-2015

  1. This memory is from 2006.  For the end of the week camper show, Sami S. and I decided to dress up like veteran campers and counsellors, Kelvin and Dustin.  Every year, this eccentric duo would perform the “one-handed card trick” in which they are Siamese twins, joined at the hip where each only has the ability to use only one hand.  2006 marked one of the first years Kelvin was not at camp (but Dustin was) so we did not get to see their jubilant routine.  Instead, Sami and I dressed up like the duo and impersonated them and the one-handed card trick.  It was really goofy, not many people understood what we were doing.  But I distinctly remember Scott Hammell and Magic Mike in the audience laughing uncontrollably.

    This memory isn’t about the moment itself, but about the inside joke shared with the other veteran campers and staff that makes it stand out so strongly in my mind.  The inside jokes are what I remember now; nonsense jokes told around the campfire (knock-knock jokes will always be the funniest for me because of camp), and ridiculous one-liners.  There are moments with sugar shots, fruit stickers on our foreheads, crocket, fridge box racing, pushing Steve Kline in the lake and so many defining “coming of age” moments that bring me back to camp.  There are too many small memories to put one as the best, but the inside jokes between fellow campers and life-long friends are something I hold onto very dearly.

    Lauren Proctor
    Camper: 1999-2008
  2. My favorite memory is when Magic Mike told us that the visiting volleyball camp found an (invisible) deck, and not knowing what it was straightened all of the cards for us. I retell that story to magicians all the time.


    Jonah Babins (JonahBabinsMagic.com)
    Camper, Counsellor in Training, and Instructor


  1. Playing capture the flag with the kids during active time, then one of them realizing that I was the entertainer he watched on stage the night before! He was so excited, then I noticed a few more kids running around with me to beat the game!

    Trevor Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014



  2. I have so very many memories of camp, having been the guy who started it, and having attended every year, that it is hard to pick just one. There really are so many in the 20 years… but one stands out, and is particularly appropriate for this summer.

    I remember the summer 15 years ago when we switched our host camp after 5 years at another camp.  It was an amazing summer, as everything felt new again. The energy (which is never lacking at Sorcerers Safari) seemed to be ramped up that summer in everyone, staff and campers. Exploring the new grounds, and meeting new challenges really made everyone bring their ‘A’ Game. It was great.  The move was extremely positive, making me that much more excited to see what our move will bring this summer.

    Magic Mike Segal (SorcerersSafari.ca)
    Camp Director: 1996 - 2016

The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016.  For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

23 April 2016

Montreal: Loran at "lune de sang"

The event is on April 29th.

From Loran's Facebook page:
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24 November 2015

Montreal: Le Lab Magique

Next show is on Wednesday November the 25th and includes Mario Choinière, Mosh and Loran.

From Le Lab Magique's Facebook page: A note to subscribers: the content of this post is embedded from another website and is not available to preview. To view the content of the post, please visit http://CanadasMagic.blogspot.com. Some of the embedded code may be visible in this notification.

09 July 2014

Montreal: Lab Magique

There is a magicians’ association in Montreal called REGROUPEMENT DES MAGICIENS QUÉBÉCOIS. Its purpose is to promote the art of magic in Quebec and is open to professionals and amateurs to exchange ideas, techniques, etc. Phil and I were invited to a show they were presenting in an intimate cabaret like theatre  in a room upstairs of Le Fripon, a restaurant in Old Montreal, on Jacques Cartier Square. Go know! It’s a “LABATOIRE EXPÉRIMENTAL POUR MAGICIENS ET ARTISTES  DE VARIETÉ”. I say its a great idea because its a place that seats about 65 people and it was full, and it’s presented like a real show, which it is, with an M.C. who was Eric Electrik that night, with several magicians performing. This is a place for them to try out their stuff.

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Also from the article:

  • Patrick Reymond September 24, 2014, 
  • Loran - October 22, 2014 and 
  • Patrick Kuffs – November 19. 


07 June 2014

Review: Magic at the Comedy Nest

Magicians had a real treat last Sunday evening, if they managed to get into the Comedy Nest. Although there were magicians who came to see the show, most of the audience was comprised of lay people. 
David Acer was the M.C. and was his usual funny self.

Loran, from Quebec City, had a beautiful act, serious, artistic and a pleasure to watch.

Vincent Pimpare did a comedy hynotism act. It was an unexpected break from the usual hypno act and had the audience laughing, so it fit right into the Comedy club setting.

Richard Sanders did a great bill to lime with a lot of hilarious detours along the way. He has a way of making the audience feel as if he is really one of us. He connects well.

Romaine. What can I say about Romaine.  Dressed in tails and a top hat, and slightly tipsy, (part of the routine, of course) he wowed the audience with his continuous production of cards, multiplying billiard balls, and the real magic of Vaudeville days, which mosts of the audience had never seen and they showed their appreciation.

Jonathan Burns did some very funny stuff. My favorite was Cards Across with cheese slices (you know the ones, wrapped in cellophane) instead of cards. Funny stuff. 
And then there was the audience.

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