11 January 2011

'Magic really does exist'

From WindsorStar.com:
'Magic really does exist'
Magician puts smiles on sick children's faces

By Frances Willick, Windsor Star January 3, 2011

Read about how magician Ron Gudel visits sick children "every Monday to provide a bit of relief from their pain, boredom and anxiety."

"Almost invariably, the kids respond to the magic tricks with wide eyes, smiles, laughter or rapt attention."
"Though he's skilled at mystifying his audiences with illusions, Gudel says that's not where the real magic lies. "Magic really does exist. And it's not in the tricks nor the sleight of hand, or even in the sleeves, but more in the look of wonder and the smiles on these kids' faces."
Read the full article at WindsorStar.com

[h/t: iTricks.com

Kreskin’s in Canada next month

From AmazingKreskin.com:
For details about the events, please contact the venues directly.

10 January 2011

James Biss starts new one year run at Dave and Buster's

Join James Biss at Dave & Buster's Toronto (Concord) location THIS Saturday night for the start of his new one year run there, every Saturday night. Doors open by 9:30pm. James is on at 10pm.

Please confirm details by contacting James.

Murray Hatfield's US dates

Murry Hatfield and Teresa will be in California at the end of March, including 7 days at the Magic Castle.

April, May and June will bring them back to beautiful British Columbia.

For more information visit MurrayHatfield.com

08 January 2011

Shawn Farquhar at Louisiana Magic Weekend 2011

Shawn Farquhar is confirmed for Louisiana Magic Weekend 2011 March 18-19, 2011.

For more information about the convention, or to register, visit Louisiana Magic Weekend 2011.

Shawn will also be lecturing in Arizona (February), Louisiana (March), Florida (March) and touring France in May and June.  For details visit MagicLecture.com

07 January 2011

Review: Magic 'n' Miracles

We'd previously posted about "Murray Hatfield and Teresa: Magic 'n Miracles tour."

Today, Murray Hatfield's Magic 'n Miracles was reviewed by Tom Zillich in Surrey Now.

From 'Miracles' happen with Vegas-level magic show:
Murray Hatfield is loving the current touring version of the Illusions: Magic 'n' Miracles production that hits the Bell Performing Arts Centre stage three times on Saturday, Jan. 8.

"It's proving to be one of the strongest shows we've ever done," he told the Now.
also:
Over the past couple of decades, the touring Miracles show has raised an impressive $10 million for charity, notably the Firefighters Burn Fund.
On this tour, which began in Ontario in November, Hatfield is joined by "three of the strongest guest acts ever." Featured are Danny Cole, an award-winning magician who fuses original magic with contemporary music, and Charlie Frye and Company, billed by Hatfield as "the most amazing, energetic and frantic juggling act in the world." Also in the spotlight is B.C.'s own Shawn Farquhar, the first Canadian to win a "grand prix" at the world championship of magic, sponsored by the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM).

Read the full review at TheNowNewspaper.com

Links for 2011-Jan-07

04 January 2011

Additional dates for Martin Lewis Canadian lectures in 2011

Tip of the hat to Lee Asher for letting me know that there are more Martin Lewis lecture dates than the ones I'd previously posted.

The according to to the X-elent Lecture Series website Martin's lecture dates are:
Note that the Calgary date on the X-elent Lecture Series website, Martin's lecture dates conflict with that on the Ring 66 site. 

Please confirm details about dates, times and locations by contacting each club. 

Browser's Den: CHAD ZHOU

From the Browser's Den of Magic:
The new year is starting off at 'Browser's Den' with a Special Guest at our Magic Club Meeting this Saturday, January 8. MR. CHAD ZHOU will be coming to our Magic Club to perform and teach some of his favourite coin and card material. He will also be sharing some ideas that he is working on for discussion. When I (Old Jeff) first met Chad some five years ago Chad showed me his 'Any Card at Any Number' which fooled me and many others in the shop; and fooled me badly. In fact it was pretty much only Jeff Hinchliffe who at that time had an idea of the method that Chad used.

We would like to publicly thank Chad for coming and being our Special Guest; especially so since he lives quite a distance from the shop. So we hope that you will attend the meeting this Saturday at the shop from 2:30pm until 4:30pm.

If this interests you, please confirm details directly with the Browser's Den of Magic.

03 January 2011

The world of magic: Looking for a new rabbit

That's the headline of this Toronto Star article which quotes Jay Sankey, Dan Trommater, Shawn Farquhar, David Acer and Murray Hatfield discussing the decline and relevance of contemporary magic.

What do you think?  Is Jay the only one who thinks that magic as we know it is doomed?


[h/t: Shawn Farquhar]

Eric Leclerc's Project 365

Eric Leclerc, a young professional magician from Ottawa, has started "Project 365" where he plans to post a magic video on YouTube every single day for an entire year.  (Calen Morelli from the US is almost a third of the way through a similar project titled "365 Days of Magic.")

We should be in for a treat as this project unfolds.  You may remember that Eric is currently the only magician to win both the stage (2003) and close-up (2007) competitions at CAM conventions!  To follow along, subscribe to his YouTube channel, LeclericShow.

Here's day one to get you started:



In addition, Eric and his team will be giving away just over $3000 in prizes throughout the year. Prizes include a Canon digital camera, an iPod Touch, a Sony E-book reader, a portable DVD player even a Playstation 3! You'll need to watch the videos for contest details.

Support  Eric by subscribing to his channel and commenting on the videos.

02 January 2011

Rounding the rings in January

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

CityClubEvent(s)
Calgary, ABRing 66 (Calgary Magic Circle)- n/a
Hamilton, ONRing 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) - Clown Alley Lecture
London, ONLondon Magician's Guild- lecture: Performance tips by Peter Mennie
Kitchener, ONRing 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)- n/a
Ottawa, ONRing 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) - business
- something "new"
Toronto, ONRing 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) - auction
Vancouver, BCRing 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)- annual general meeting
- initiation ceremony
Victoria, BCRing 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) - Unopened deck competition
- Teach a Trick: Justin Louie
- dinner and dance
- Martin Lewis lecture (dates of other Canadian lectures this year)

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

01 January 2011

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours a year filled with awe and wonder!

Here's a beautifully choreographed card routine to start your year. "Shapes" by Shawn Farquhar.

30 December 2010

28 December 2010

Sorcerers' Safari 2011 Magic Sumer Camp: dates confirmed

According to SorcerersSafari.ca this summer's camp dates are Tuesday August 30th, 2011 through Sunday September 4th, 2011.

What is Sorcerers' Safari?  From their website:
From ages 8 to 20. Disappear for a week and immerse yourself in the rich art of magic, make friends and life-long memories, all while enjoying the great outdoors. Try your hand at palming cards, master the art of illusion, learn to juggle, and perfect your stage presence. Plus daily swimming, canoeing, bon-fires, and so much more await you at Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.
Read last year's daily schedule to find out what goes on at Magic Camp.  Browse the myriad of electives offered.  Stay tuned to their blog to learn who will be the special guest in 2011. 
Previous years' special guests:  (1997) Johnny Ace Palmer, (1998) Jay Sankey and David Acer, (1999) Josh Jay, (2000) Dan Harlan and Steve Kline, (2001) Lee Asher, (2002) Oscar Munoz, (2003) Aaron Fisher and Nathan Kranzo, (2004) Oscar Munoz, (2005) Gregory Wilson, (2006) Joe Givans and Eric Buss, (2007) Wayne Houchin, (2008) Michael Ammar, (2009) Daniel Garcia and (2010) Dan and Dave Buck.
Visit SorcerersSafari.ca to register for the summer session 2011 or to read more about magic camp.

26 December 2010

Sale, sale, sale!

Looking for the bargains?

Check out Browser's Den of Magic's boxing week sale (it started today)!

Also, The Vanishing Rabbit will be having a New Year's sale on Friday January the 7th, 2011.

Please visit each store's website to confirm the details of their sales.

22 December 2010

Oscar Munoz: Canadian lectures in 2011


Oscar Munoz will be in Canada lecturing in 2011!  
Please confirm details about dates, times and locations by contacting each club. 

Martin Lewis: Canadian lectures in 2011

UPDATED 2011-1-4:  Additional dates posted here.

Martin Lewis will be in Canada lecturing in 2011!

Please confirm details about dates, times and locations by contacting each club. 

Video clip of Greg Frewin on ET Canada

If the scheduling confusion caused you to miss Greg Frewin last night on ET Canada, you can watch the segment on the GlobalTV.com website.

21 December 2010

Welcome CAM members!

Welcome CAM members!  Have a look around and I hope you enjoy your stay.  We're happy to have your feedback or suggestions.

Thank you Jon and Susan for the mention in the latest issue of the  Canadian Association of Magicians (CAM)'s eZine, Northern Sleights!   CAM is a national organization "dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of magic and magicians in Canada."

Visit the CAM website for more information about the organization or to join.