This is our 6500th post at the Canada's Magic blog!
Whether you've read all 6500 posts over the past 15+ years, or you are stopping by for the first time, thank you for visiting!
15 July 2026
Celebrating 6500 posts!
Niagara Falls: A Sense of Wonder with George Marchionda and Ken McCreedy [Jul 18]
Tickets at Eventbrite.
From the July 6th Facebook post by Ken McCreedy:
I will be appearing in George Marchionda show called “SENSE OF WONDER” on July 18 at Johnny Rocco’s in Niagara Falls.
Previously shared on Facebook July 6.
14 July 2026
Ramara: Neil and Ashley Croswell at Fern Resort [Fridays until Sep 4]
From the July 3rd Instagram post by Neil Croswell:
Estactic to be performing with @ashleycroswell at Fern Resort all summer long, every Friday night July 3rd - September 4th.
13 July 2026
ICYMI: Kameron Marshall's AGT Audition
From the July 8th Facebook post by Reid Ferry:
Check out Kameron Marshall’s FULL America's Got Talent audition!
From the July 7th upload "How Did He Do That?! Kameron Marshall’s Impossible Card Magic" at the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:
Magic is alive! Kameron Marshall shocks the judges with impressive card tricks that end with a jaw-dropping reveal. Mel B calls it "brilliant" and Sofia Vergara names it her favorite audition of the day!
Previously shared on Facebook July 8.
10 July 2026
Winnipeg: Magic at The Winnipeg Fringe [Jul 15 - 26]
The Winnipeg Fringe (July 15 - 26) is fast approaching!
Here are the magic show listings at this year's Fringe:
- A Magician with Jordan Rooks
Created & Performed by Jordan Rooks - Dirk Darrow: Magic of Future Past
Written & Performed by Tim Motley - Double Dare Magic
By Double Dare Magic & Kelly Saltel Music by Arthur & Leslie Stead - Escape Reality: A Magic Show
Written & Performed by Patrick Gregoire - Fringe Family Fun Show
By Greg & Oonaugh Wood - The Great & Powerful Tim: Magic Bachelor
Written & Performed by Tim Hoffman - Mr Richard's World of Magic and Puppets
Found at the July 3rd Facebook post by Greg Wood.
What'd we miss?
09 July 2026
Michael Close on IBM Official Podcast #37
From the July 1st upload "I.B.M. Official Podcast Ep.37 - Meet Michael Close - Magic Producer, Teacher, and Legendary Worker" on the IBM YouTube channel:
Magicians and I.B.M. Podcasters Jason Michaels, Scott Cantrell, and Ben Young welcome Michael Close, the magic producer for Penn & Teller: Fool Us, creator of the Workers series of magic instructional books/ebooks, and incredible teacher to the show. They discuss his approach to teaching magic, the inspiration for several of his most iconic tricks - including The Pothole Trick, Frog Prince, and Big Surprise, and his belief of the number one job of a magician.
From the July 1st Facebook post by Michael Close:
I just spent a pleasant hour or so talking to Jason Michaels, Ben Young, and Scott Cantrell on their I.B.M. podcast. For those of you who might be interested in my Explorer 1 classes (the next session begins on July 11), there's a pretty thorough discussion of why I developed it and what I'm trying to accomplish with it.
Previously shared on Facebook July 1.
08 July 2026
Chicago: Nick Wallace at the Chicago Magic Lounge [Jul 9 - 12]
From the July 3rd Instagram post by Nick Wallace:
Very excited to be returning to the one and only @chicagomagiclounge July 9-12.
Previously shared on Facebook July 3.
07 July 2026
A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 2 of 3 -- "The Show"
Updated July 10th to add:
- Welcome to readers of Duncan Trillo's excellent publication, MagicWeek! We hope you enjoy your stay!
--
Continued from Part 1 where we learned about Load-In, the Technical Run, The Run, and Pre-show activities.
A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 2 of 3
The Show - Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular (Dec 2025)
I have seen five iterations of Champions of Magic including their 2018 Toronto debut. Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange (as Young & Strange) were part of the 2018 cast. Only three carryovers from that show remain.
Continue reading this password protected (clue below*) article.
* Password clue:
- Canadian magician who appeared on The Muppet Show
- Additional clue for our UK readers, this magician also ran as a candidate for the Natural Law Party in England in the early 90s.
- Format: Firstname_Lastname
For tickets and more information, visit ChampionsOfMagicTour.com
An abridged version of this article first appeared in VANISH Magic Magazine. Republished with permission.
- Part 1 - May 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53
- Part 2 - June 2026 #143, pgs 48 - 53
- Part 3 - July 2026 #144, pgs 66 - 71
From the May 30th Instagram post by Champions of Magic:
Thank you to our personal sponsors for July 2026!
A quick reminder of our earlier Mail as Medicine request for Katie Hunt. If you have the time, Katie and Doug would both benefit from hearing from their friends!
--
Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Peter Mennie, Noah Nogueira, Cam Dix, Ian Batterbury, Eric Bedard, Sonny Patel, and the Toronto Magic Company for being Friends of Canada's Magic!
It's good to have friends like you.
You too can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
or
06 July 2026
Billy Hsueh SAM 2026 Close-up winner!!!
Congratulations Billy on your well-earned recognition at SAM 2026!
From the July 4th Facebook post by Shawn Farquhar:
Especially Billy Hsueh who won First Place, plus People's Choice and the rarely given Silver Medal of Honor.
From the July 4th Facebook post by The Society of American Magicians:
Close-up Contest
1st Place, People's Choice, and Silver Medal Winner: Billy Hseuh
Previously shared on Facebook July 4.
05 July 2026
Random thoughts about Keith Brown's show "110% Wizard" at the Toronto Fringe
Yesterday, we ventured to the Aki Studio in Toronto.
- This was our first visit to this theatre which is located in the Daniels Spectrum building. According to the Aki Studio website, they are fully accessible for both patrons and performers.
- The theatre is a cozy space, with a capacity of 120 seats (with raked seating). The seating goes about 6 rows deep. Every seat has a great view of the action and Keith has cameras setup to make the small details clearly visible to all. There are seats reserved in the front row, for audience members who have accessibility issues.
- The theatre is air-conditioned (very welcome with the current heat wave).
- The show is approximately an hour in length, with no intermissions.
Pre-show:
Keith is Fringe veteran. (He mentioned that this was his 60th (!!) Fringe festival.) He hosts a pre-show segment designed to make the audience feel at ease. In it he discusses:
- audience participation and what to do if you don't feel comfortable volunteering (this is the first time we can remember a performer proactively giving the audience a method by which they can decline volunteering), and
- what it means to be in his 'relaxed performance' show (sensory friendly, house-lights on the majority of the time, in and out privileges, etc).
It's also worth noting that Keith made this showing a Pay What You Can performance, in the hopes of making live shows more accessible to everyone.
On with the show:
- In a theatre this size, you get a good view from every seat. (Especially with the camera's Keith has setup.)
- The show was nearly, if not completely sold out.
- As Keith mentioned in his interview, 110% Wizard is a brand new show.
- Without giving too much away, the show did involve gift bags, money, cards, cell phone (audience supplied), luggage tags, water fowl, drinks, and family photos (his).
- There is plenty of audience participation. By our count there were well over dozen volunteers (including one not even at the show)!
- The show is very family friendly and kept the children in the audience engaged.
- Keith shared with us, what is was like working his first ever cruise contract earlier this year. He punctuated his tales with effects that directly related to his experiences.
- In his interview with us Keith mentioned a trick that fools magicians. He said, "they think it's a trick they've seen before until it isn't." We were very much fooled!
- If you've seen one of Keith's shows, you'll know that he's an expert at making lemonade out of the lemons he is dealt. We're happy to that he continues to do so in 110% Wizard!
"110% Wizard"
is a very refreshing lemonade!
Don't just take our word for it, read what the press at the Orlando Fringe had to say about this show:
-
From the May 18th article "Review: HIGHER THAN RAINBOWS, 110% WIZARD, and YOUNGER US at The Orlando
Fringe Festival" by Benoit Teves at
Broadway World:
Fortunately, the cruise ship staff gathered enough miscellaneous items for Brown to cobble together a performance of basic yet dazzling illusions, a few of which still grace the Orlando stage this go-round.
Read more.
-
From the May 13th article "Orlando Fringe 2026 review: ‘110% Wizard’" by Seth Kubersky at
Orlando Weekly:
If you have any doubts that Orlando Fringe changes lives, look no further than illusionist Keith Brown. A fixture of the Festival for over a decade, Brown landed an agent as a result of his 2024 show here, and is now an in-demand guest artist aboard Norwegian and Virgin cruise ships.
Read more.
-
From the May 15th article "2026 Orlando Fringe Review: 110% Wizard" by Jimbo Wood at
Orlando Shine:
Brown, a familiar face to Orlando Fringe audiences and a three-time Critic’s Choice winner for Best Magic Show, returns with what he jokingly describes as the “same wizard, now 10% better.” The framing device for this year’s show centers around a cruise ship residency thrown into chaos after an airline loses the costumes and props intended for the run.
Read more.
For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit
FringeToronto.com
For more information about Keith Brown, visit his website at AbsoluteMagic.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
From the July 4th Instagram post by Canada's Magic (photos taken with permission):
03 July 2026
Thank you to our July 2026 sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.
This site would not be possible without their backing.
We're grateful to have the support of:
- Clive Court - Life Member, Canadian Public Relations Society,
- Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic,
- Michael Close, author of the new Paradigm Shift ebooks, the Workers series and others, and
- Toronto's IBM Ring 17, the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club!
The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!
For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year!
Donations of any size are always welcome.
or
02 July 2026
Montreal: Magic Unleashed [Jul 8]
Presented by the Montreal Magic Jam and featuring:
- (Derrick) Chung
- Marc Desaulniers
- Alex Moreaux
- Marc Trudel
- David Acer
For tickets and more information visit the post "Magic Unleashed - SHOW [18+]" at Montreal Magic Jam.
01 July 2026
Random thoughts about James Alan's show "Mysteries and Lies" at the Toronto Fringe
Yesterday, we ventured to the Sweet Action Theatre in Toronto.
- This was our first visit to this theatre which is located in the Artscape Youngplace. According to the Youngplace website, they are "Fully accessible by Ontario standards."
- The internet suggested parking in the area was scarce (roughly Dundas St. West and Ossington) so we braved the TTC. The Ossington 63 south takes you to within a 4 minute walk of the theatre.
- As James revealed in his June 5th interview with us, the theatre is a cozy space, with a capacity of 46 seats (with raked seating). Every seat has a great view of the action. There are seats reserved in the front row, for audience members who have accessibility issues.
- The theatre is air-conditioned (very welcome with the current heat wave).
- The show is approximately an hour in length, with no intermissions.
On with the show:
- In a theatre this size, you get a good view from every seat. The closer you sit, however, the greater the astonishment!
- As teased in his interview, Mysteries and Lies is completely different from any of James' other shows we've had the pleasure to attend.
- Much to our dismay, there was no wine bottle nor were there citrus-y 'arts and crafts.'
- Without giving too much away, the show did involve glassware, coins, cards, cups, balls, jewellery, envelopes, and a condiment.
- There was plenty of audience participation. Four lucky audience members were able to sit at the table with James, scoring better-than-front row seating. (It should be noted that consent was obtained, and no one was forced to sit at the table.) In addition to those four, another seven or eight people from the audience contributed to the uniqueness of the show.
- The show touched on history, astronomy, astrology, biology, physics, and pop culture. There was even a Browser's Den of Magic Easter egg, if you were paying attention. (This was possibly unique to opening night.)
- While we have seen more than our share of Cups and Balls routines, we have never seen anything quite like the one in this show!
- Last week we saw a sneak peek of James performing one of the card effects, and we had no idea how he did it. At the show we were sitting roughly 4.5 metres (~15 feet) away and are no closer to determining the method.
- James performed excellent sleight of hand with a wide variety of objects. This was so much more than a 'card magic' show. (But the card magic in it, is excellent!)
"Mysteries and Lies" is our favourite James Alan production to date!
Disclosure: We were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely our own. We did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.
Don't just take our word for it, read what Teena in Toronto had to say about it in her June 30th Instagram post.
For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit
FringeToronto.com
For more information about James Alan, visit his website at JamesAlan.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
From the July 1st Instagram post by Canada's Magic (photos taken with permission):
BC, NL, AB: Mostly Magic with Wes Barker [Jul 3 - Oct 3]
From WesBarker.ca/tour-dates:
- Jul 3 - Kelowna, BC
- Jul 10 - Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
- Jul 11 - St. John's, NL
- Jul 17 - San Antonio, TX
- Jul 18 - Corpus Christi, TX
- Jul 19 - Austin, TX
- Aug 8 - Cranbrook, BC
- Sep 19 - Vancouver, BC
- Oct 2 - Edmonton, AB
- Oct 3 - Edmonton, AB
- Nov 5 - Erie, PA
Check back often for updates.
Found at the June 25th Instagram post by Wes Barker.
30 June 2026
Top 5 posts in June 2026
There were 27 posts at Canada's Magic this month. Here are the top 5 posts in the previous 30
days:
5. Road Ready -- Variety Arts Touring Intensive Program [Aug 13 - 15] - A thoughtful and inclusive way to give back to the community!
4. Checking in with James Alan's show Mysteries and Lies at The Toronto Fringe - We were teased an effect or two at last week's Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club meeting. It promises to be a great show!
3. Broken wand: Bill Jones - Our sincere condolences to Bill's family and friends.
2. Random thoughts about Explorer 2: Build your skills - Thinking about taking the Explorer series of classes? It's great value! Visit MichaelClose.com
and the most viewed post this month ...
1. A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 1 of 3 - An eye-opening behind the scenes look at the considerable effort involved in delivering a touring magic show full of grand illusions!
29 June 2026
Las Vegas: Mark Clearview returns to The Mayfair Supper Club [Jul - Oct]
Learn more about The Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio.MGMresorts.com/en/restaurants/the-mayfair-supperclub.html
From the June 25th Instagram post by Mark Clearview:
Cannot wait to return to @bellagio as the resident magician in The Mayfair.
27 June 2026
Toronto: Magic at The Toronto Fringe [Jun 30 - Jul 12]
Updated June 29th to add:
- On June 28th, James was interviewed by Donna G on CIUT’s The More the Merrier to talk about Mysteries and Lies. Learn more about it at the June 29th post, The More the Merrier, at James Alan's blog.
--
The Toronto Fringe (June 30 - July 12) is fast approaching!
Here's what we know about the shows:
-
James Alan's
Mysteries and Lies
- Watch James' June 3rd appearance on CP 24
- Listen to David Peck interview James in the June 19th podcast "Truth, Technology & the Art of Deception" episode 634 of Face2Face, where "They talk about creativity, philosophical issues surrounding truth, illusion and lived experience and explore the intersection of magic, AI, and technology and how their performance challenges perceptions of reality."
- From the June 3rd post "Fringe Five 2026" from Stage Door Dialogues:
There are forty-five seats per performance. And we decided to take advantage of that intimacy to get up close and personal with the audience. Inspired by magicians from Spain and Argentina, we have members of the audience on stage the entire show. They make the magic happen as much as I do. We’re giving up a lot of control and a lot of certainty. It also means each show will be different and anything can happen.
Read more. - From the June 18th post "Toronto Fringe Festival 2026" by YoungW:
We’re interested in building work that crosses boundaries: theatre, mystery, storytelling, magic, literature, and old-fashioned showmanship. We want to make live events that feel rare – the kind of thing you had to be there for.
Read more. - And our interview with James
- Watch James' June 3rd appearance on CP 24
-
Keith Brown's
110% Wizard
- From the May 18th article "Review: HIGHER THAN RAINBOWS, 110% WIZARD, and YOUNGER US at The
Orlando Fringe Festival" by Benoit Teves at
Broadway World:
Fortunately, the cruise ship staff gathered enough miscellaneous items for Brown to cobble together a performance of basic yet dazzling illusions, a few of which still grace the Orlando stage this go-round.
Read more.
-
From the May 13th article "Orlando Fringe 2026 review: ‘110% Wizard’" by Seth Kubersky at
Orlando Weekly:
If you have any doubts that Orlando Fringe changes lives, look no further than illusionist Keith Brown. A fixture of the Festival for over a decade, Brown landed an agent as a result of his 2024 show here, and is now an in-demand guest artist aboard Norwegian and Virgin cruise ships.
Read more.
-
From the May 15th article "2026 Orlando Fringe Review: 110% Wizard" by Jimbo Wood at
Orlando Shine:
Brown, a familiar face to Orlando Fringe audiences and a three-time Critic’s Choice winner for Best Magic Show, returns with what he jokingly describes as the “same wizard, now 10% better.” The framing device for this year’s show centers around a cruise ship residency thrown into chaos after an airline loses the costumes and props intended for the run.
Read more.
- And our interview with Keith
- From the May 18th article "Review: HIGHER THAN RAINBOWS, 110% WIZARD, and YOUNGER US at The
Orlando Fringe Festival" by Benoit Teves at
Broadway World:
For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com
26 June 2026
Checking in with Keith Brown's show 110% Wizard at The Toronto Fringe
The Toronto Fringe (June 30 - July 12) is fast approaching!
Keith Brown kindly agreed to answer some of our questions ahead of his upcoming show 110% Wizard at The Toronto Fringe.
What is your first memory of magic?
My first memory of magic is probably David Blaine's first special. I was 6 years old when it came out. It inspired my brother and me to learn tricks. I can vividly remember my brother making a card appear on the other side of a window in our front room. Not only did I want to know, I needed to know.
How long have you been performing professionally?
When I was 13, I was offered money to perform in a bar, and I never looked back.
Why is now the right time for you to be at the Fringe?
I am working on a new show that's more storytelling based. I focus on my recent experience as a cruise ship magician. I am breaking in new material as well as some very old material. It's interesting to me to revisit a piece that I haven't touched in a decade and breathe new life into it.
I normally compare the fringe circuit to building a house. First you need to lay the foundation, which is what I did in Orlando. We learnt a lot in the first run and now have the opportunity to make bigger changes. We will build the house up and refine the insides all summer.
I normally compare the fringe circuit to building a house. First you need to lay the foundation, which is what I did in Orlando. We learnt a lot in the first run and now have the opportunity to make bigger changes. We will build the house up and refine the insides all summer.
How, if at all, does this show differ from your previous shows?
This show is more story based. In the past, I would be doing a magic show and then it would be story time. The story almost always leads into a trick and then I go back to doing magic. This show is more thematic, has a through line and more stories woven into the show from start to finish. It feels better crafted than some of my previous shows.
When did you start writing and preparing for this show?
In January I worked my first ever cruise contract. I wanted to use my time on the ship to develop a new show, but I didn't really have the opportunity given the circumstances. Fringe snuck up on me. They say to write about what you know, so I wrote about my experiences working the ships.
It's always scary putting new material in front of an audience, whether it's a trick or a story. You never know how they're going to respond to it, or if it's any good until you put it in front of people. After performing it in Orlando, the stories really resonated with the audience. It's also very rewarding to discover the moments when presenting it for the first time. I have a pretty good road map of how to get from A to B, but I never truly know what moments and opportunities the audience will serve me during a performance. It's my job to listen and respond accordingly. It's their input that always makes the show better than what I could have made by myself.
It's always scary putting new material in front of an audience, whether it's a trick or a story. You never know how they're going to respond to it, or if it's any good until you put it in front of people. After performing it in Orlando, the stories really resonated with the audience. It's also very rewarding to discover the moments when presenting it for the first time. I have a pretty good road map of how to get from A to B, but I never truly know what moments and opportunities the audience will serve me during a performance. It's my job to listen and respond accordingly. It's their input that always makes the show better than what I could have made by myself.
Will you tease an effect or two for us?
The first card trick in the show is something I am revisiting after 8+ years. When I first started performing it, many magicians came up to me after the show and told me it fooled them. I never considered it a "magician fooler" per se, but I realized it's because they think it's a trick they've seen before until it isn't.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
For the last year and half, I have been working with Brendan Hong to design my very own deck of playing cards. The first run was printed with Shuffled Ink and I got my hands on them in May. For now, the cards are available exclusively at my shows. I am super proud of the cards and it's a really great feeling to be able to perform with them every night.
Thank you Keith, for making the time to answer our questions!For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com
For more information about Keith Brown, visit his website at AbsoluteMagic.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
25 June 2026
Edmonton: Edmonton International StreetFest 2026 [Jul 3 - 14]
For more information visit https://edmontonstreetfest.com/
Magic acts include Ron Pearson and Jay Flair.
Found at the June 23 Instagram post by Edmonton Street Fest.
24 June 2026
Calgary: Wit and Wizardry [Jun 26]
For tickets and more information visit MagicTickets.ca/manager/events/wit-and-wizardry
Found at the June 23 Instagram post by Ryan Pilling.
23 June 2026
Montreal: Alain Choquette [Nov 27]
For tickets and more information visit TicketPro.ca
From the June 12th Facebook post by Billets.ca:
Alain Choquette in Montreal!
Don't miss his show on November 27, 2026 at Salle Pierre-Mercure!
Found at the June 16th Facebook post by Alain Choquette.
22 June 2026
Windsor: Capitaine Loran at the Fête nationale du Québec Windsor [Jun 24]
For more information about Fête nationale du Québec Windsor visit val-ouest.com/fete-nationale-du-quebec-windsor-la-celebre/
For more information about Capitaine Loran, visit CapitaineLoran.com
From the June 19th Facebook post by Loran:
Captain Loran will dock his ship in Windsor on June 24th in celebration of the National Quebec Day. It's a date at 5pm for his stage show "A Pirate Like No Other!"
Previously shared on Facebook June 19.
19 June 2026
Videos of John Giordmaine thanks to our friends at Magicana!
New videos of John Giordmaine are now available to watch thanks to our friends at Magicana! With thanks to James Alan for letting us know.
From the June 17th post "John Giordmaine - Cardistry Before There Was Cardistry" at Magicana:
This footage was captured and edited by Sid Lorraine in 1931 in Lima, OH, courtsey of the David Ben Collection
John Giordmaine was a prominent Toronto magician. He was celebrated as a family entertainer but probably best known for his decades-long work demonstrating magic in the toy department of Eaton’s.
From the June 17th post "John Giordmaine - Chicago 1940" at Magicana:
This clip was recorded at the SAM Conference in Chicago in 1940.
The performer who appears beforehand for just a brief few frames is Al Baker performing his celebrated “Cake in the Hat”.
18 June 2026
Saskatchewan: Danny Kazam speaking at 2027 CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons Conference
From the June 17th Facebook post by Danny Kazam:
I have to say I'm incredibly honored and excited to share that I’ve been invited to speak as an expert presenter at next year’s CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons Conference (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers).
Visit CANSCAIP.org to learn more about the organization.
17 June 2026
Las Vegas: Now You See Me Live (with Gabriella Lester) [Oct - ???]
Pre-sale starting later today!!!
For tickets and more information visit TicketMaster.com.
Found at the June 16th Facebook post by Gabriella Lester.
Previously shared on Facebook June 16.
16 June 2026
Toronto: The Comedy Magic Show [Jun 25]
Tickets and more information at Eventbrite.
From the June 15th Facebook post by Chris Mayhew:
... with special guests James Alan (magician) and Ernie Vicente (stand up comic).
15 June 2026
Vancouver: The Parlour Magic Show [Jun 17]
Tickets and more information at Eventbrite.
From the June 12th Instagram post by WH Kung:
Excited to be returning to The Show Cellar for another night of impossible magic, laughs, and surprises. I’ve something special planned, and I’d love to see some familiar (and new) faces in the audience!
14 June 2026
Broken wand: Trent Darren Tinney
Our sincere condolences to Trent's family and friends at this impossible time.
From the Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home:
He was also a phenomenal fly fisherman, spending several years as a guide on the Bow River, and professional magician, entertaining family and friends with his skill and sense of humour. He will be greatly missed.
Found at the June 14th Facebook post by Brent Smith.
12 June 2026
Guelph, Toronto, & Barrie: Magic Guys at Work & Phenomena [Jun - Jul]
Tickets and more information at EventBrite.com/o/80980743733
From the June 11th Instagram post by Ian Batterbury:
- Jun 12 - Magic Guys at Work: Whiskey Business, Guelph
- Jun 26 - Phenomena: Distilled and Refined, Guelph
- Jun 28 - Magician Showcase, Toronto
- Jul 5 - Magic Guys at Work, Toronto
- Jul 10 -Magic Guys at Work: Mulligans and Mind Games, Barrie
- Jul 14 - Phenomena: Lifted Spirits, Toronto
- Jul 25 - Phenomena: Off Course, Barrie
Previously shared on Facebook June 11.
11 June 2026
Random thoughts about Explorer 2: Build your skills
Michael Close's Explorer 2: Build Your Skills
Teaching the magic beyond the tricks
This article first appeared in last month's issue of VANISH (May 2026 #142, pgs 78 - 79). Republished with permission.
From MichaelClose.com:“Explorer 2 continues the structured training from Explorer 1, focusing on rarely-mastered sleights and advanced routining. You'll refine your technique, learn Michael's deceptive new handling of a popular stand-up effect, and develop the skills that separate hobbyists from performers.”
Michael Close has decades of experience performing and has authored fifteen books of original material for magicians, including the highly regarded “Workers” series. He is a sought-after magic consultant, notably consulting for “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.”
Last Fall, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience auditing Michael’s six week online course, Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic. In level one, Michael introduces a dozen foundational sleights (with cards and coins), more than a half-dozen tricks that incorporate the sleights, theory, critique, and insights on practise, finding your style, construction, routining, and presentation.
It goes without saying that I was eager to discover what Michael had in store for the next series of classes in Explorer 2.
The classes build directly on the material presented in Explorer 1. Michael methodically expands our knowledge base on foundational sleights with both cards and coins. In these classes there is a focus on some card and coin techniques that are often poorly executed by magicians in general. Guided by Michael’s extensive real-world experience observing what can go wrong in their execution, he teaches the skills in easy to digest layers (including the assignment of preparatory exercises), as well as alerting the students how to both mitigate and circumnavigate potential issues.
The format for Explorer 2 is similar to level 1 of the course. The online classes are about an hour in length, delivered weekly, and run for 6 weeks. The class size is capped at twelve students, which allows students to participate in discussions, ask questions, and receive personal attention. The classes are recorded, which means if you are absent for a class, you can watch the recording on your own time before the next class. (It’s a tremendous gift if you’re having difficulty mastering a move because you can slow down the video!)
Michael provides many opportunities to ask questions both during and between classes. While there is no requirement for students to perform during classes, he encourages them to submit videos of their progress for him to provide feedback. He is also available by email to answer questions between classes.
One huge advantage to learning this material from Michael is his ability to draw on his considerable knowledge and experience to suggest alternative handlings if one’s skill set or dexterity aren’t quite up to the material as initially presented. He can tell you the “why, when, and how” of the technique creation and point you to suitable workarounds if required.
In contrast to Explorer 1, where it was recommended to practise fifteen minutes a day to achieve mastery by the next class, many of the techniques presented in Explorer 2 require greater daily effort and may take longer than a week to truly master. It is recommended that you set aside at least thirty to forty-five minutes a day for practise.
With respect to teaching effects and routines, Michael provides insights into an effect’s construction. Theory is interspersed with the card and coin technique. He shares his thoughts about the routining and what can be done to elevate the experience of the spectator. Michael offers constructive criticisms and encourages his students to do the same. Thought is given to the optimal way to present the effect and reading material is assigned to provide context regarding an effect’s creation and subsequent evolution.
Similar to Explorer 1, Michael has both assigned and supplemental reading, sharing wisdom from magicians such as Stewart James, Roberto Giobbi, Arturo De Ascanio, Jon Racherbaumer, Frank Garcia, Johnny Thompson, Martin Gardner, and John Carney. (We also received the notes to Michael’s fantastic 2017 lecture "Magic Theory, or Magic Fact? Let's Find Out.") The reading material serves to frame the lessons by reinforcing critical thinking skills, walking through the history and refinement of effects, and expanding on the opinions and observations of notable figures in magic.
As with Explorer 1, most of the class materials for Explorer 2 continue to be available to the students beyond the six week course enrolment.
I had a fantastic time and learned an incredible amount participating in Explorers 1 and 2! If you’re looking for a way to refine your technique and elevate the impact of your performances, the Explorer series is for you!
For more information about the Explorer series of classes, visit MichaelClose.com.
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Disclosure: I audited the classes as a guest. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.
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