2024 Canadian Rising Star

Congratulations to Gabriella Lester for winning the Allan Slaight Canadian Rising Star award!  

  

From the June 17th Instagram post by Magicana:

The Slaight Family Foundation founded the Allan Slaight Awards a decade ago to celebrate magic as an art. As we kick off this week of celebration, we are delighted to congratulate GABRIELLA LESTER as this year’s Canadian Rising Star!

 

 

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Browser's Bash: Getting to know Ben Train

  

Will you be at the 2024 Browser's Bash on Saturday, July 13, 2024?

We are pleased to have the opportunity to do short interviews with some of this year's performers.  Next in the series is Ben Train!
 

You may already know that Ben:

• Received the Len Cooper Memorial Award in 2008, 
• Created the film A Series of Unfortunate Effects (Mayhew & Train), 
• Was a camper, CIT, Counsellor, and staff at Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp,
• Was recognized as Inspirational Canadian Magician in 2017,
• Co-runs TorontoMagicCompany.com, a company that produces magic shows,
• Appeared on Penn and Teller's Fool Us, and 
• Delivered magic lectures in more than 70 cities around the world!

We're delighted that Ben made time to answer our questions ahead of this year's Bash!

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
Is it too cheesy if I say "my dad"? 'Cause I think he's pretty awesome...

I'm inspired by artists, athletes, writers, politicians, activists, etc. Instead of listing any... you can talk to me and ask. :)

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

When I was 8 years old my parents took me to the Browser's Den as a reward for doing well (or doing better than I normally did) at school. I'm sure I saw a lot of magic that day, but the one I remember most vividly was the Mismade Queen - a scaled down close up version of the famous ZigZag illusion. I loved that trick, and ended up playing with it so much that I wore out the cards that came with it!
 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

Rather than give you specific names, I'll break it down into the two types of magicians that inspire me. 

First are the people who focus on growing and building up their local communities. These are the volunteers at magic clubs, the ones that provide spaces for their fellow performers to try things, the ones that organize regular jams and hangouts. I see the Ottawa magic community as an example of people doing this really well. 

The other type of magicians that inspire me are the ones NOT involved in their local communities directly - the ones that just focus on making their own magic as good as they can possibly make it. These are the people inventing new tricks, performing kick-ass magic, and making magic better simply by being GOOD.
 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

Sure! In chronological order:

1. Jeff Pinsky made me feel welcomed into the world of magic.

2. Steve Forte and Dai Vernon (videos/books) helped me fall in love with learning magic.

3. Sorcerers Safari gave me the confidence to start sharing magic.

4. Bill Abbott and Bobby Motta made me want to be a full-time performer. 

5. All the amazing friends over the years that inspired me, and continue inspiring me, to keep working on getting better!

Ben Train

Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
God. All the freaking time. I think about shows that went wrong. Audiences that didn't seem to care about what I was sharing. About how bad I am compared to other performers I know. About how useless, in the grand scheme of things, what I do is.

But then I take a breath and remember why I LOVE what I do. About how happy it makes people when I'm able to connect with an audience. About how good I feel when a show goes well. 

Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals you’d be willing to share with our readers?
 

First and foremost, I set the stage with everything I need for the show and then double check it’s all there and where I need it to be.

Next, I do a quick walk-through of how I want the show to run. This means preplanning where I’m calling audience members from, how long it’ll take people to get on stage, where I’m entering and leaving the stage, etc.

Depending on my mood and the event I might be interacting with the audience before the show or “hiding”, but either way I’m trying to get psyched up for the show. I remind myself I don’t HAVE to be doing this - but rather I GET to do it. And I remember how much I enjoy sharing magic, making people laugh, and connecting with people.

Then I take a big pre-show poop and hit the stage.

 

What are you most looking forward to about participating in the 2024 Browser's Bash?
 

I love seeing friends and meeting new people… but if I’m being honest what I’m looking forward to the most is seeing dope magic. 

 

 

Do you have a favourite Browser's Bash memory?
 

Yes.

  

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing magic. So if you’re coming to the Bash I would be DELIGHTED if you show me a trick. .

 

 

Thank you Ben for making the time to answer our questions!  We look forward to seeing you at this year's Bash!

Learn more about Ben Train by visiting TorontoMagicCompany.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

Visit the Browser's Den of Magic website to buy your ticket and learn more about this year's Bash!  See you on Saturday, July 13, 2024!

 

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CAM Members: Save on performer's liability insurance

From the June 2nd Facebook post by the Canadian Association of Magicians:

📣📣 INCREDIBLE NEWS!!  📣📣
*   EXCLUSVE: Huge Savings for CAM Members on Performer’s Insurance
*   Save 20% on annual insurance premiums with BOTH $2 million and $5 million options
*   Available to CAM Members in EVERY province

Special thanks to Peter Mennie for spearheading this project and all of the executive of CAM for this exclusive opportunity for CAM members! 

 

 

 

 

Broken wand: David Johnson

Many of you may remember that David created and ran the Kingston Magic Theatre.  He was a friend to the blog, and we've heard from our readers that he was extremely talented.

Our sincere condolences to David's wife Lindsey, their two children, and their extended family and friends at this difficult time. 

 

From Tribute Archive:

The world is left with a little less magic as we announce the passing of David William Johnson, an incredible husband, loving father, brother, son, uncle, dear friend, magician and soldier.

David was a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces and a remarkable Magician at Kingston Magic Theatre and all over eastern Ontario and the world.

David lived his life to the fullest every day with no regret, and encouraged those around him to do the same. David brought astonishment and wonder to others with a deck of Bicycle playing cards and his ability to make a connection with anyone through a sense of shared wonder. David was rarely seen without cards in his hands, and although he was Sgt Johnson, most referred to him as the Magic Man.

David was a wonderful, loving husband and father who cherished his family. He will always and forever be loved and missed by his beloved wife of 16 years Lindsey and their two beautiful children Nicholas and Katie. David was predeceased by his father David Ricardo Kellar (Debra), mother-in-law Elizabeth Hamilton (Reginald), and brother Byron Grant Kellar (Jenni). David will fondly be remembered by his mother Margaret Lutes (John) and siblings Lucas Kellar (Nicole), Satara (Kid) Stephens (Johnny), Lance Kellar (Leah), father-in-law Bruce Black (Sandi), sister-in-law Vanessa Black, and brother-in-law Chad Hamilton (Kaitlyn). David’s many nieces and nephews will always remember the enchantment that their uncle David shared through magic tricks and the family gatherings that always included HOTDOGS on the bbq and pepperoni pizza.

David passed away at Kingston General Hospital with Lindsey by his side, on Friday May 24th, 2024 at the age of 47 after a short battle with cancer that did not allow any mercy

In loving memory of David, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or to Veterans and Everyday Heroes First Responders (DONATIONS for our initiatives can be e-transferred to donations@v-eh.ca or by scanning the QR Code on their website under sponsorship) would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements in the care of Wartman Funeral Home - Kingston 

Read more.

 

 

[With thanks to Ian Crawford for letting us know.]