I started my career on their stage while I was still in still high school. I had a full stage crew to set my props, run my music (on cassette!) and supply my mic (where I learned proper technique and went from handheld to headset) For the last ten years, I've done tech and this year and last, I was exclusively at the Kiddieland stage. Interestingly enough, the acts were the same both years (plus one additional Juno-nominated siging duo). It was a great opportunity to see how some acts grew (or not) why some acts stayed the same (because it works) and how an act that (according to them), never play these types of events, fit in (they didn't).
I was 'the old guy' in the group but with a unique perspective being both a performer and a technician. Everyone's goals were aligned - gather a crowd and entertain them - however as a performer, I know what the crew needs to make my show a success and as crew, I know what I need to support the stage acts.
Here are a few tips from both perspectives.
Read more.
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Showing posts with label Peter Mennie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Mennie. Show all posts
24 September 2019
Peter Mennie's advice based on "40 Years As A Kid's Performer"
From the September 16th article "40 Years As A Kid's Performer Helps" by Peter Mennie at LinkedIn:
19 February 2019
Ontario: Ryan Joyce
From Ryan Joyce's February 16th blog post "Magician on tour: Upcoming Ontario magic shows":
I'll be travelling with my long-time friend and on-stage partner Jenna and my magician friends Peter Mennie and Graeme Reed. Meet all these crazy characters plus Will our sound engineer.
OWEN SOUND:O.S.C.V.I. Auditorium – East Ridge Community SchoolFriday, February 22, 2019
BELLEVILLE:Maranatha AuditoriumSaturday, February 23, 2019
PETERBOROUGH:Showplace Performance CentreSunday, February 24, 2019
COBOURG:COBOURG COMMUNITY CENTREMONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019Read more.
04 February 2019
Peter Mennie unpacks his TV archive
From Peter Mennie's blog post "That’s a Lot of Magic!":
Peter's also posted:
Way back when (about two years ago), I did a lot of television. Every month for 11 months, I had an appearance on a local TV chat show. I did two-three routines every time (that's 20-30 tricks) for nearly twenty years!
Over the next few months, here are some of the greatest hits - in no chronological order - and with apologies for the video quality of some of the segments.
Read more and watch video. [1 - Straight Ahead]
Peter's also posted:
- Television Magic Archives – Part 2 [2 - No Cards Required]
- Television Magic Archives – Part 3 [3 - Never Play with Matches]
- Television Magic Archives – Part 4 [4 - The Cards Know Everything]
- Television Magic Archives – Part 5 [5 - A Dual Reality Card Trick]
03 October 2018
Rounding the Central rings in October 2018
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.
Please leave a comment or email me about corrections or omissions.
| Montreal, QC | Ring 62 (20th Century Ring) | - TBA. |
| Hamilton, ON | Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) | - Peter Mennie lecture. |
| London, ON | Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild) | - Magic history and rubber band workshop. |
| Kitchener, ON | Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle) | - Graemazing lecture. |
| Ottawa, ON | Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) | - TBA. |
| Ottawa, ON | Ottawa / Gatineau magicians | - TBA |
| Toronto, ON | Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) | - Quentin Reynolds lecture. (also Chris Philpott lecture at Browser's) |
Please leave a comment or email me about corrections or omissions.
23 May 2018
Fergus: FLASH TV Filming
From Ryan Joyce's Facebook page:
***TV FILMING UPDATE in FERGUS****
We have a last-minute FLASH TV Filming in Fergus with special guests and surprises!! This Sunday, May 27 come eat dinner at the Brew House on the Grand and enjoy FREE world-class entertainment!!!! Special guests including Michael Paul - Comic/Writer/Director direct from Hollywood and more!!!! Arrive at 5:30pm enjoy a meal at the Brew House and be part of this incredible opportunity that is taking place in our community. Help us make magic happen!
VERY LIMITED SEATING!!!!!! ONLY 15 SPOTS LEFT!!!!!!!!
You must register below, show tickets are free with your meal!
PS: You will see us around Fergus Filming this weekend! Say hi and tell a friend!
PSS: Don't forget we are filming!!! By arriving you agree to be filmed for TV.
11 February 2018
Do you market with darts?
From the article "Marketing Your Magic Business - Do you shoot guns or toss darts?" by Peter Mennie at Magician's Masterclass:
When developing your magic business marketing plan there are two potential strategies: shotgun or darts. In my experience, most magicians use the shotgun approach which targets a broad base of potential clients with little to no focus.
I prefer the second strategy called D.A.R.T. which stands for Directed At Responsive Targets.
Guns are loud, fired from far away and hurt or kill their prey. Darts are tossed at their targets from 10 feet away and everyone drinks when you hit the bulls-eye.
Let me explain.
Read more.
08 January 2018
Fergus: Bringing magic to the Fergus Grand Theatre
From the January 5th, 2018 article "Ryan Joyce aims to bring world class magicians to Fergus" by Jaime Myslik in the Wellington Advertiser:
From Fergus Filming:
“I’m trying to find ways to stay more locally bound and still do what I love,” he said. “I think we might have found a unique way to do both.”
The first project he’s working on is called Magician’s Masterclass, which is an educational show for magicians hosted by a guest magic legend and will be filmed at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
The goal is to “see how they learn and teach and explore magic, all on camera,” Joyce said.
The first episode was released in December with host Michael Close, a magic consultant for Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
Read more.
From Fergus Filming:
I asked Michael (Close) to join us to film an exciting new project for the magic community that teaches some of magic’s most well-gaurded secrets. The project is turning out better than I expected and there is interested to bring other world-famous magicians and variety artists right here to our community.
While filming, it became very clear the opportunity that lay ahead. I am gearing up to bring some of the world’s greatest magicians, variety artists and visual entertainers right here to Fergus Grand Theatre and film shows for distribution.
These performances will be free* and we need to fill all 255 seats with an enthusiastic live studio audience. Sorry, I can’t mention too many juicy details yet. You’ll be the first to know by signing up for updates below! Don’t worry, I don’t have time to spam you– kinda busy working to make this happen (plus travelling like crazy for my job)
Read more and subscribe to newsletter.
Introducing "Magician's Masterclass"
Magician's Masterclass is brought to you by Ryan Joyce, Graeme Reed, Peter Mennie, and Matt DiSero.
From Magician's Masterclass:
From Magician's Masterclass:
A place where magicians help magicians.
Registration is free and you can join now. Behind these walls are videos, podcasts, ideas and trade secrets for serious magicians, enthusiasts and professionals. We’ll also offer incredible classes and resources from the minds of the world’s greatest magicians.
Read more and register.
20 October 2017
Vote for Captain Corbin, Daniel Steep, Keith Brown, and Peter Mennie in the "Our London Best of London Awards"
Updated at 10:40am to add:
From Captain Corbin's Facebook page:
From Daniel Steep's Facebook page:
From The Agri-Magic Show Twitter feed:
- Captain Corbin, Daniel Steep, Keith Brown, and Peter Mennie are all in the running for "Live Entertainment"
- Captain Corbin and Daniel Steep, are in the running for "Children's Amusement"
From Captain Corbin's Facebook page:
From Daniel Steep's Facebook page:
From The Agri-Magic Show Twitter feed:
Support Canadian Magic - vote for @petermennie @KeithHBrown @Captain_Corbin & @danielsteep in @OurLondonOnt Best of London Awards #ldnont— The Agri-Magic Show (@agrimagicshow) October 20, 2017
28 July 2017
Peter Mennie in the Sarnia Observer
From The Observer:
From Peter Mennie's Twitter feed:
A night of live magic is coming to downtown Sarnia.
Mixx Lounge on Front Street is hosting a show by London magician Peter Mennie being called Magic at the Mixx Lounge, Aug. 10.
Reservations, available by calling 519-491-0077, are required for the $15 show set for 8 p.m. in a special events room at Mixx Lounge.
Mennie said it came about when he was hired to perform at a private birthday party in the back room at the downtown lounge earlier this year.
As he was setting up for the party, a man seated in the lounge recognized Mennie was a magician and called him over.
Read more.
From Peter Mennie's Twitter feed:
"Magic At The Mixx" a melange of Magic, Mind Reading & Marvelously Mixxed Merriment! Aug 10. @MixxSarnia #magicshow #lounge #cabaret #fun pic.twitter.com/fXtSn0AlDe— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) July 25, 2017
04 March 2017
Peter Mennie on Roger's Daytime London Jan. and Feb. 2017
From Peter Mennie's Facebook page:
And from Peter's Twitter feed:
ICYMI: January's Daytime appearance. https://t.co/zw2j00YjaI @daytimeLondon @RtvLondon @RTVWoodstock #magicontv— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) February 2, 2017
And from Peter's Twitter feed:
ICYMI. Here's my February appearance on @daytimeLondon on @RtvLondon for #FamilyDay https://t.co/YvIIiFijY4— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) February 22, 2017
15 October 2016
16 August 2016
Peter Mennie answers the question: "Why are you a magician?
From Abrakidabra:
This night there was only one possible helper nearby so I approached. She was really shy and wouldn’t give me her name. Her sister did and after a bit of conversation I was able to get her up front. She didn’t want to sit on the stool initially but with my help, she got comfortable. She is 4.
As you saw, this routine is a bit animated and sometimes young helpers won’t open up and relax to have fun. this was my worry here because she was REALLY shy.
Read more.
11 June 2016
Video peeks behind the scenes of fundraising for Fort McMurray
Watch on Paul Romhany's YouTube channel, video highlights of the New Westminster edition of "Fundraising for Fort McMurray."
Watch on Ryan Joyce's YouTube channel, video highlights of the Brantford edition of "Fundraising for Fort McMurray."
Watch on Ryan Joyce's YouTube channel, video highlights of the Brantford edition of "Fundraising for Fort McMurray."
02 June 2016
Fighting Fire with Smoke and Mirrors
From the Brant News:
The local response to the Fort McMurray wildfires has been magical.
Not only has Brantford city council approved a $50,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross, but the city has waived rental fees and crew from the Sanderson Centre has donated their time for a fundraiser on Thursday night (June 2).The show "Magicians versus Fort McMurray Wildfire – Fighting Fire with Smoke and Mirrors" will feature several of Canada’s top magicians in an up-close-and-personal performance at the Sanderson Centre.All of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross to support relief efforts for displaced Alberta residents.
Read more.
23 May 2016
Brantford: Fundraising for Fort McMurray
On the heels of New Westminster's "Magic for Fort Mac" event (raising approximately $8,150 for the Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal) and "Family Fun for Fort Mac" in Calgary, comes "Magicians vs Fort McMurray Wildfires" in Brantford, ON.
The talent listed at the Benefit Show site include:
Read more and buy tickets.
The talent listed at the Benefit Show site include:
- Keith Brown
- Craig Douglas
- Ryan Joyce
- Peter Mennie
- Ryan Edwards
- Doug Hunt
- David Merry
- Graeme Reed
Read more and buy tickets.
29 April 2015
09 March 2015
20 October 2014
Peter Mennie on Free 98.1
Watch Peter Mennie with Botten from Free 98.1 on YouTube:
A Twitter reminder about Peter's upcoming show:
A Twitter reminder about Peter's upcoming show:
Magic, illusions and humour! Don't miss our new show Oct 24th. Tickets on sale this Monday! pic.twitter.com/sMvqnQ98rT
— WesternFair District (@WesternFair) September 27, 2014
24 September 2014
Peter Mennie on Daytime
From Peter Mennie's Twitter feed:
My latest TV appearance: http://t.co/UHt8ovWJxw @RTVLondon @DaytimeLondon
— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) September 26, 2014
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