Ellusionist interviews Shawn Farquhar at sea

Watch Shawn Farquhar answer questions asked by Ellusionist forum director Adam Wilber.  In it, Shawn answers questions about creativity, how he keeps his chops fresh and exactly what made him decide to go on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us."





[h/t: iTricks]

Perfect Magic's 100th post and Bobo's Canadian connection

Congratulations Evelyn Matlin on her 100th post, over at the Perfect Magic blog.


Did you know Bobo has a Canadian connection?   I didn't.


Go read about it in her post, "What does the name J.B. Bobo mean to you?"

Toronto: David Stone lecture

From Morrissey Magic:

Saturday, September 8th


David Stone is one of the brightest rising stars in magic today, having collected an impressive number of prizes and awards from top competitions. David won the 3rd prize for Micro-Magic at FISM in Stockholm, Sweden in 2006 and was voted in April 2008 the TMW Award for Best Magician. In 2010 the FFFF convention voted David to be Guest of Honor for FFFF in 2012.


Read more.

Canadian card magicians

I received the following e-mail from reader Pepe F:

I'm doing a researching about card magic that involves the evolution and history of card magic in Canada. I'm looking for information about canadian magicians that were / are importants for the card magic worldwide.

The magicians that i'm looking information are: 

Roy Cottee

P. Howard Lyons

Ron Scharf

Mel Stover

Cliff Green

Sid Lorraine 

And any other canadian magicians that are influenced in evolution of card magic. I'm interested in other people, perhaps i don't know.

If you have information about Canadian card magicians you'd to share with Pepe (and us!) please leave a comment, e-mail me or e-mail Pepe directly at "josfemo at gmail dot com" (without the quotes).


Also from Pepe:

Last december, i started a social web related with magic, it's called magicsocial and is like facebook but for magicians, registrations are free, people can share magic videos, photos, or experiences. Is in spanish and english language. You can register and see.

http://www.magicsocial.org

Toronto: There's magic at The Ex!

There's magic at the CNE again this year!

At The Farm, Daniel Steep's is back with , Agri-Magic, an interactive magic show that educates audiences about Canadian Farming.

Majinx is back at Kids' World with Professor Wick's School of Magic and Illusion.

And Ted Outerbridge is at the Variety Stage; just west of Food Building.

This year the Ex runs from August 17th to September 3rd, 2012.  Please check the CNE's website for dates and showtimes.

Shawn Farquhar: The Magic Café Forum special guest of honor

From August 19th through the 25th, Shawn Farquhar will be the special guest of honor at the Magic Café!

The fashion of magic

From The Toronto Standard:

This week photographer Sarah Blais literally stepped on a stage to find out what was up the sleeves of Toronto’s Magicians. From mentalist to escape artist, they all bring their own style to their performance - in this weeks edition of The Uniform Project.

Read more (and see great photos!) of Magic Mike, Bobby Motta  and  Scott Hammell!

Lies, Damn Lies and More Media Coverage

From Mooney on Theatre:

Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks is James Alan’s intimate magic show. It doesn’t make you smarter or share the secret to making money without working.

The show is a magic act, not a play. It is very engaging and entertaining. An hour will fly by before you know it.

Read more.

From Open 'Til Midnight:

During the course of his performance, Alan never loses sight of the notion that magic requires a sort of social contract between prestidigitator and audience member.  I, as the observer, must agree to believe him, even if I know that he doesn’t play fair; he, in turn, makes magic happen that evokes wonder and, ultimately, turns any conclusions I might draw on their heads by the very end.  What we believe and what we refuse to believe is toyed with and pushed to its limits by one feat after another.

Read more.

Amber Waves has also posted a short clip of the show on YouTube:

For show and ticket information, visit the Abracadabaret website.

Ottawa: SuperEx bringing Midway Magic to south Ottawa

From Ottawa East EMC:

Popular hypnotist Fernandez is the star, and will offer his "hypnotic comedy" at 4 and 8 p.m. each day on weekends. Ottawa magician Ian Quick will also offer two shows each day on the weekend, which are "filled with laughs, thrills and jaw-dropping effects," according to the Midway Magic press release.

But it's Quick's understudy, 14-year-old Gabe Roberge, that visitors should watch for.

The young Sandy Hill magician will perform twice a day on weekends at the biggest gig of his short career.

Read more.

David Acer interviewed by Chris Beason

Almost finished the internet? @penguinmagic blogger Chris Beason interviewed me about stuff (and things) here: tinyurl.com/cv46wkx
— David Acer (@David_Acer) August 14, 2012

From Chris Beason's interview of  David Acer over at Penguin Magic:

I only remember a few acts from the first convention that I ever attended. I remember a few really bad acts (you know who you are!) and I remember seeing the funniest act of my life…

…and that hilarious act was David Acer. His performance was equal parts wit, skill and expertly performed magic. Since then, I’ve bought every book, trick and DVD that he’s come out with and used several of his effects in my act. To say that I’m a fan would be an understatement, so I thought it’s about time that I asked him some questions.

Read more.

Toronto: Browser's Den auction

From The Browser's Den of Magic:

MAGIC AUCTION!!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
At ‘Browser’s Den of Magic’
Cost to Attend: Free!

Read more.

Nico Moretti and Johnny Bryson: OSMAP

From Metro News:

“It beats working in an office,” said Nico Moretti, 22, of London. “I spend the day sitting outside and grilling with my buddy.”

Moretti and Johnny Bryson, 22, also from London, opened their pop-up grilled cheese stand at Dundas and Talbot streets in June. 

With Moretti’s background in business and Bryson’s in hospitality, the business team is a match made in heaven. One cooks while the other keeps customers busy, doing magic tricks and telling jokes while they wait.

Read more.

 I've been told that Nico and Johnny are Sorcerers Safari magic camp alumni.  Very clever idea!

Jay Sankey at The Session

Jay Sankey will be appearing at The Session, the UK's only close-up magic convention, in January 2013.  At that time, Jay will receive their Lifetime Achievement Award!

Congratulations Jay!

The secret to Sorcerers Safari's success

Almost sixteen 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.  Flash forward to 2011 to see how far Segal's magic camp has come from its humble beginnings.  Sorcerers Safari is Canada's only sleep away magic camp, hosting up to 150 campers a year.

What is the secret to this Canadian magic camp success story?  I spent 24 hours at camp in August 2011 and here's what I discovered.

Video of 1987 Dai Vernon roast

From The Magic Newswire:

Thanks to Michael Ammar for sharing this video from the 1987 roast of Dai Vernon at the New York Magic Symposium.. According to Michael :

If you are a magician or if you love magic this is a real treat.  This is the only known footage from the roast of Dai Vernon, the Professor, in 1987 at the New York Magic Symposium.  Tom Mullica is the MC and everyone who speaks is renowned in the world of magic. 

Read more.

Watch the video on YouTube:

Summerworks review of Lies, Damn Lies and Magic Tricks

From Now Toronto:

Affable magician James Alan presents an hour-long show that toys with the theme of art and reality. A comical opening bit grabs attention, and tricks flow together well.

Read more.

Tony Eng Memorial Peoples Choice Award

From The Daily Deception:

The very first Tony Eng Memorial Peoples Choice Award was given out at this years PCAM 2012, and will continue to be given out each PCAM to follow. This award is voted on by the people and features the 1st place winners of the competitions from the convention.

Read more.

Watch the award presentation:

[h/t: @james_alan]

The magic life

From The Magic Newswire:

I love Magic Documentaries. I know.  I'm a magic Nerd. That's ok, because some of my magic friends are involved in a project that I want to bring to your attention.

The Magic Life is a film by Nelson Chang featuring Juliana Chen, Jonathan Levit and Richard Turner.

Read more.

From The Magic Life Film:

An Inside Look at a Very Different Career Path

Three aspiring individuals try to turn their passion into a career. Can they pull off the biggest trick of their lives and become working magicians?

Read more.

Watch the trailer:

The Magic Life - Documentary Trailer from Nelson Cheng on Vimeo.

Mark Beltran living his dream

From ABS-CBN News:

A young Filipino-Canadian is living his dream of doing magic in the streets.

Mark Beltran has been interested in magic since he was a kid. But it was a backpacking trip to Australia where he watched an amazing magic show on the street that did the trick.


Read more.

US politics on this blog?

From The Globe and Mail:

As a teenager growing up in Toronto, Dan Senor used to perform as a magician to earn money. These days, he is attempting a different kind of feat – getting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney elected.

Read more.