Vancouver: James Randi In Conversation With Matt Dillahunty

There will also be a show with Shawn Farquhar with Camilo The Magician and Matt Dillahunty!

From UBC:

Sunday 02 April 2017

Matt Dillahunty is thrilled to return to the Chan Centre stage to share the evening with one of his great idols in magic and skepticism. Matt is well known for his role in the Atheist community, but he also dabbles in magic! The amazing James Randi has an international reputation as a magician and escape artist, but today he is best known as the world’s most tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims.

Read more and buy tickets.

 From the Pangburn Philosophy Facebook page:

Bobby Motta in City Life

From City Life:

The magician places a large dice in my hand, then takes my wrists and gives them a shake.

“Now open your hand. What number is it?” he asks.

It’s six.

“You have no idea what’s going on, do you?”

I absolutely do not.

“Don’t worry about it. I do weird things sometimes,” he says. Then he dangles my watch in front of my face, which I hadn’t even realized was missing from my wrist. “And here’s your watch back, by the way.”


Read more.

From the City Life Twitter feed:

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE FEB/MAR 2017! In this magical new issue, we sit down with famed #Toronto #mentalist @bobbymotta https://t.co/vV9DjxNJgV pic.twitter.com/JtWNExaou7

— CITY LIFE MAGAZINE (@citylifetoronto) February 7, 2017

From the Facebook page of Project Four Public Relations:

Jay Sankey on Bringing Magic To Your Business

From Twist Image:

Welcome to episode #540 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Mirum Podcast. I have been blown away by Jay Sankey. He's a magician who has managed to do some pretty amazing and impossible things. I'm not just talking about the 700-plus illusions he has invented over his incredible career. I'm not just talking about the fact that David Copperfield, Criss Angel and David Blaine have performed his illusions. He knows so much about business, marketing and storytelling that this could be one of the important things any business professional might listen to this year. (and that's not hyperbole) With close to 200,000 subscribers to his Sankey Magic YouTube channel, Jay has broken down the wall between the audience and the mystic of magic.

Read more and listen to podcast.

Bill Abbott: The Secret to Successful Weekly Shows, Magic Monday, and lecture

From Well Attended:

Bill Abbott discusses his weekly theatre show at Dave and Busters, why having a quality show matters, how he decides where to perform, and how he uses a custom backdrop for photo opportunities to help promote his show.

Read more and listen to podcast.

From Steven Lafond's Facebook page:

Billy Kidd's episode of The Magicians' Podcast and The Next Great Magician

From The Magician's Podcast:

Canadian born Billy Kidd started life as a child actor and didn't find magic until her twenties. She now lives in Bath and has done it all including street performing, close-up, stage and a ton of television, later this year you will see her on ITV1 attempting to become 'The Next Great Magician' too. In this interview Billy gives us an incredible insight in to what it's like to be a female in our male dominated industry

Read more and listen to podcast.

From Billy Kidd's Twitter feed:

Official like butter...#itv new show #NextGreatMagician starts Sunday's November 6 at 7pm.
I'll be on episode 4. #magic #magicians #itv1 pic.twitter.com/eVaSirhiXS

— Billy Kidd (@Billykiddshow) November 1, 2016

From the ITV Press Centre:

Derren Brown’s Vaudeville Productions and Crook Productions have been commissioned by ITV to co-produce a brand new magic competition show, The Next Great Magician (6 x 60’). Crook Productions is part of Andrew O’Connor and ITV Studios’ Cat’s On The Roof Media, and The Next Great Magician is Crook Productions’ first big entertainment commission since the group’s inception earlier this year.

The series will feature the world’s best magicians performing their greatest tricks, many of them for the first time ever on television, as they compete to be crowned The Next Great Magician.

Read more.

James Alan: Face2Face, Mystic Hallowe'en, and Hillsburgh

From Reality Based Magic:

I sat down recently to have a chat with David Peck, the host of the Face2Face Podcast. As far as I can tell, David is a man who never sleeps. In addition to putting out a prodigious number of podcast interviews (mine is number 222) he also teaches in the International Development Program at Humber College, practices magic and has a family.


Read more and listen to podcast.

Also from Reality Based Magic:

Join the live studio audience at the upcoming “Mystic Halloween” Connected Circle Live Show and Dance Party! as mystic guest mediums, tarot card readers and magicians share insights to help you discover your mystical self. Meet the mystics and dance the night away with other audience members.

Halloween costumes optional but encouraged.

The show’s live filming will take place on Friday, October 28th from 5:30pm onwards at Maezo Restaurant + Bar (formerly The Rum Exchange) in downtown Toronto.

Read more and buy tickets.

From Magic and Martini:

Saturday, November 19 & 26
 
Come enjoy the magic of James Alan at the NEW restaurant of Chopped Canada winner Chef Pam Fanjoy in the Village of Hillsburgh.
 
Read more and buy tickets.

Michael Close on WISH TV

From WISH TV:

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Each and every week Dick Wolfsie shares an interesting and unique story that has a connection to central Indiana.

This time Dick Wolfsie talked to magician Mike Close.

Close, who is the president of the Society of American Magicians, discusses the intricacy and process that goes into performing an illusion and a trick.

Read more and watch videos.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5

[via The Magic-Compass and iTricks]

Catching up with David Peck's "Face 2 Face"

Edited at 10:15am to add a list of magicians David's interviewed over the years:

• Matthew Disero - episode 3
• Jay Sankey - episode 5
• David Merry - episode 27
• Anthony Lindan - episode 45
• Gabe Fajuri - episode 48
• Tom Ogden - episode 102
• David Ben - episode 145
• James Alan and Mike Close - episode 79
• Lawrence Hass - episode 150
• Viveka Melki - 177 - On the Circus
• Marcie Hume - filmmaker - about the movie "Magicians" - episode 187
• Jeff McBride - episode 188
• Mac King - episode 189

Coming soon:

• Lawrence Hass (Part 2)
• Bobby Motta 
• Jeff and Tessa Evason
• Matthew Disero (Part 2) 

David's got a long list of interesting guests on his "Face 2 Face" podcasts this year.  Check out his interviewees, then click through to his site and have a listen!  (I'm hoping to get a chance to listen to the Mac King and Jeff McBride interviews soon.)

From David Peck Live:

• Greg Paul – Episode 193

• Brian McKenna  – Ep. 192

• Alex Hinton – Episode 191

• Jay Whitelaw – Episode 190

• Mac King – Episode 189

• Jeff McBride – Episode 188

• Marcie Hume – Episode 187

• Michael Coren – Episode 186

• Mitch Abrams – Episode 185

• Nicholas Greco – Episode 184

• Susanne Regina Meures – Episode 183

• Peter Stockland – Episode 182

• Christal Earle – Episode 181

• Alethea Arnaquq – Episode 180

• Todd & Jedd Wider – Episode 179

• Anjali Nayar – Episode 178

• Viveka Melki – Episode 177

• “Best and Most Beautiful Things” – Ep. 176

Read more and listen to podcasts.

Jack Lillico in the Vancouver Magic Circle June 2016 Newsletter

Last month I posted  a link to John Smithman's interview of Jack Lillico.  This month, the Vancouver Magic Circle published a special "pull-out" section about Jack.  It includes John's interview, along with some fabulous photos of magic history.

Check it out on pages 7 - 14 of the June 2016 edition of the Vancouver Magic Circle Newsletter.

As an added bonus, watch on Facebook, a video John made of an 89-year Jack Lillico doing a Card Sleight:

Catching up with Discourse in Magic

Jonah Babins and Tyler Williams have been steadily producing podcasts since their launch in April.  Have a look at what they've released so far...


From Discourse in Magic:

Welcome to the Discourse in Magic podcast! This is where we tackle magic’s hardest issues, theories, philosophies, discussion, and more to help you explore.  We jump into all sorts of resources and most importantly actionable tips to help better the art and become a killer performer!

• Episode 11 – How to be a Great Teacher, Mentor and Student of Magic with Aaron Fisher and Adam Grace
  June 16th, 2016
• Episode 10 – Playing Card Innovation and Economy in the Era of Crowdfunding with Lee Asher June 9th, 2016
• Episode 9 – Community Month: Introduction Magic Shops, Camps and Friends June 2nd, 2016
• Episode 8 – Performing Tips for the Working Magician, From Restaurants to Big Illusions with Chris Westfall May 26th, 2016
• Episode 7 – Ethics and morals for the modern magician with Ben Train May 19th, 2016
• Episode 6 – Creating a fictional premise with conflicts and twist endings that rock May 12th, 2016
• Episode 5 – Designing magic for the screen and the stage with Patrick Kun May 5th, 2016
• Episode 4 – Improv and being open to change with Chris Mayhew April 29th, 2016
• Episode 3 – Personality, character and connecting with your audience with Eric Leclerc April 27th, 2016
• Episode 2 – Going viral, the Reddit secret, and Rubik’s cubes with Steven Brundage April 23rd, 2016
• Episode 1 – Introduction Episode April 20th, 2016

Read more and listen to podcasts.

McSorley & Chung Magic Hour interviewed at Bad Feeling

From Bad Feeling magazine:

Grant McSorley & Derrick Chung are two scholars in engineering and mathematics, respectively, whose 10+ years friendship grew out of a love of magic while working together behind-the-scenes for renowned magicians.

With years of magical knowledge, part of which were imparted by some of the best illusionists in the world, they debuted their first two-person show at the Black Theatre Workshop last Friday and played a sold-out show on Saturday, where they amazed audiences with their twists on the effects that have sparked their own love for the craft. Complemented with their teaching backgrounds, their approach to the realms of the known and the baffling has always been to engage their audiences and pupils.
None of that male chauvinism of lovely assistants as eye-candy, no boxes sawed in half. This is stripped down sleight of hand prestidigitation down to its fundamental basics, performed in front of an intimate crowd reminiscent of parlor sessions during the heydays of vaudeville. Feel like a kid again full of wonderment, this is magic accessible to all!

I had the chance to nerd out with these two about magic & the known realm…


Read more and catch McSorley and Chung at the Montreal Fringe.

Catching up with The Dave Attwood Show

Dave's been busy this year, recording new podcasts every week or so.  Have a look at who he's been interviewing, then click through to his site and have a listen!

From Attwood Magic:

The Dave Attwood Show

A glimpse into Dave's mind and his slant on current events, celebrity news, relationships and the ever changing roller coaster ride of fatherhood.

Episode 130, 2016-06-04 (Mike Norden and Gordon Boyes)
Episode 129, 2016-05-28 (Raul Fernandez and Frank Padilla Jr.)
Episode 128, 2016-05-22 (Anastasia Synn)
Episode 127, 2016-05-14 (Greg Dow AKA The Shocker, Bizzaro, Krystal Lawrence)
Episode 126, 2016-05-07 (David Regal)
Episode 125, 2016-04-30 (Murray Sawchuck)
Episode 124, 2016-04-09 (Kenrick ICE McDonald)
Episode 123, 2016-04-02 (Trevor And Lorena Watters)
Episode 122, 2016-03-26 (Bill Abbott And Jamie D Grant)
Episode 121, 2016-03-19 (Eric Knaus aka The Great Zucchini)
Episode 120, 2016-03-12 (Kainoa Harbottle)
Episode 119, 2016-03-06 (Max Maven)
Episode 118, 2016-02-27 (Lee Asher)
Episode 117, 2016-02-14 (Karl Hein)
Episode 116, 2016-02-13 (Shawn Farquhar)
Episode 115, 2016-02-06 (Jeff McBride)
Episode 114, 2016-01-30 (Dan Harlan)
Episode 113, 2016-01-23 (Oscar Munoz)
Episode 112, 2016-01-17 (Joe M. Turner)
Episode 111, 2016-01-09 (Jason England)

Read more and listen to podcasts.

John Smithman interviews Jack Lillico

From Workplace Champion, read "The Magic that is Jack Lillico":

Jack Lillico has been a member of the Vancouver Magic Circle for 70 years. His life was filled with magic; but he also had other pursuits like a career as a Denturist and two cross-Canada tours in his homebuilt Model T Ford. This article reflects some of his story as a magician in Vancouver, British Columbia.

I interviewed 89-year old Jack Lillico at the home of legendary magician and author Ray Roch and his wife Pat on April 14th 2016. These are my notes of the Interview. – John Smithman

THE YOUNG MAGICIAN
Born in 1927, Jack started magic when he was 8 years old. Pretty soon he had ‘a burning desire to learn more about it.’ “I did garden parties and church events. Then, I met Rolf Blackstaad. We called ourselves The Black Jack Magic Club and had a blackjack as our insignia In 1937.

Read more.

Ryan Meehan interviews Shawn Farquhar

From First Order Historians:

Shawn Farquhar has been entertaining audiences around the globe for over two decades. His magic has been seen on Television shows like the X-Files and Highlander, in motion pictures like Spooky House and the Fly II, for corporate clients like IBM and Konica, and on the most luxurious cruise vessels such as Norwegian Star and Radiance of the Seas. Recently Shawn has been a key note speaker/lecturer for the world’s best magic events including London’s famed Magic Circle, Siegfried and Roy’s World Magic Seminar and the world’s largest magic convention in Blackpool, England. Shawn’s unique look, flashy suits and infectious smile are all signs that you booked a professional. Shawn’s show is filled with incredible magic, gut busting humor and his dynamic personality which has earned him over 500 standing ovations over the course of the last five years. The Canadian Association of Magicians awarded Shawn the Magician of the Year Award in 2003 and 2010, the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians awarded him the Grand Prix D’Honneur, the International Brotherhood of Magicians awarded him both Stage Magician and Sleight of Hand Magician of the Year, making him the only magician in history to win both world championships and the Olympics of Magic in Beijing, China awarded him the highest award in magic, the Grand Prix World Championship of Magic in 2009! We are honored to have Shawn Farquhar as our guest today in 10 questions. 

RM:  How would you best describe growing up in a family comprised of entertainers? Did you feel a lot of pressure to constantly be a showman in front of your immediate relatives, or were your parents satisfied with you exploring all of your options before deciding on a career in their preferred industry? 

Read more.

Anne-Lovely Etienne and Adrien Fichelle interview Luc Lanagevin

From le journal de Montréal:

Il nous fascine. À la télévision comme sur la scène, sa magie est hypnotisante.

L’illusionniste Luc Langevin, originaire de Québec, considère maintenant Montréal comme son chez soi. Il se rappelle d’ailleurs, comme si c’était hier, sa première fois dans la grande métropole lorsqu’il avait visité une boutique de magie. Il nous dévoile maintenant ses adresses chouchous de la ville.

Le restaurant favori ?

Il y en a plusieurs, mais l’un qui me vient spontanément à l’esprit est le Bistro Lustucru. Il est situé sur l’avenue du Parc. Je suis un amateur de tartares et ils en concoctent de très bons, dont les tartares au cerf ou au canard. En fait, leur spécialité est leur bar à cru. Sinon, j’aime le Geppetto, pour leurs pizzas vraiment délicieuses.

Read more (en français).

From Web Mag TV:

Luc Langevin a reçu l'equipe de WebmagTV dans son hotel pour nous parler de son univers et de ses différentes expériences. Il sera du 10 au 21 février 2016 au Casino de Paris. 

Read more and watch video (en français).

David Ben on CBC's "q"

From the CBC:

Three decades ago, David Ben left a career in law to pursue his passion: magic. Now he's one of the top sleight-of-hand artists in the world, performing over the years at Shaw Festival and Luminato.

His new show, simply called Tricks, is now playing at Toronto's Soulpepper theatre. Ben talks to Shad about the surprising array of people that inspired the program — from Frank Sinatra to Glenn Gould — and how he straddles several decades with his performance.

Read more, watch videos and listen to the interview.

Darcy Oake in the news

Updated at 13:43 EST to add:

• At tomorrow's show in Toronto, there will be a free pre-show conversation with Magic Mike the 2013/2014 Canadian Magician of the Year! The pre-show is approximately 30 minutes in length and will begin at 6:30PM in the lower lobby. Seating is limited and will be available to the first 250 guests. 

A reminder that there's a coupon code you can use to see Darcy's show tomorrow in Toronto.

From the Toronto Sun:

For Darcy Oake, the magic started early. And by accident.

The Winnipeg-born illusionist who vaulted to fame on Britain’s Got Talent last year says his father — veteran sportscaster Scott Oake — inadvertently set him on his career path with a fluke card trick some two decades ago.

“My dad knows zero magic,” explains the 28-year-old Oake. “But there was a deck of cards sitting there and he was just playing with it. He said, ‘Pick one, look at it and put it back in the pack.’ Then he shuffled the cards, reached into the pack, pulled one out and said, ‘That was your card.’ And it was my card!

“I had no idea how he did it. It drove me crazy — until I found out weeks later it was a total accident. He had a one-in-52 chance of getting it right, but played it like he meant to do it. It captivated me — being fooled like that. That’s where it all started for me. Who knows how things would have turned out if that trick hadn’t worked.”

Read more.

From the Globe and Mail:

He’s a Canadian illusionist who appeared – suddenly, right before our eyes – on the world stage. In advance of the upcoming Ontario dates of his cross-country Edge of Reality tour, we spoke to magic man Darcy Oake.

You were a finalist in the 2014 season of Britain’s Got Talent. How did that come about?

They approached me to do the show. I was doing a spot in a variety show in Paris, and I was working a lot on cruise ships. Artistically, it was unsatisfying. But doing Britain’s Got Talent could have been risky. I didn’t want to get there and get buzzed off and ruin everything I’d built up to that point. But they assured me that my style would fit the show perfectly. I went and did it, and it turned out to be the smartest thing I ever did.

But you’re from Winnipeg. Did you pull a British passport out of a hat or something?

Anyone can do any of those talent shows. It’s open. Their show is the biggest one, though. I thought: if I’m going to do one, it’s going to be that one.

Read more.

iTricks interviews Lee Asher

Listen to Lee Asher talk with iTricks about playing cards, Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Camp (the 20th anniversary, learning from the kids, the B4 class, Keith Brown, and women in magic), Greg Frewin, becoming a Canadian citizen, and Pulp Friction the book.

Darcy Oake on CBC's "Q"

A reminder to enter by October 17th, our contest to win Darcy Oake's book and tickets to his show, "Edge of Reality," in Toronto.  Our readers also have access to a coupon code for Darcy Oake's, "Edge of Reality" in Toronto.

From CBC Radio:

As children, many of us fall in love with magic — but growing up often means giving up on the illusion.

Not so for Darcy Oake, who quietly trained for years before getting his big break on Britain's Got Talent. After wowing the talent show audience, Oake's life changed in a matter of days, and hasn't stopped since.

Today he joins Shad to discuss the dimly-understood craft of magic as well as his new book, Beyond the Illusion. He also opens up about how his brother's death affected him as both an artist and a person.

Read more and listen to the interview.

Greg Frewin on the Aug 10 Today Show

From the Greg Frewin Theatre Facebook page:

Greg is spreading the #MastersofIlusion magic Monday on the Today Show don't miss it! Stay tuned to follow Greg on his New York adventure.http://hubs.ly/H012MN80
Posted by Greg Frewin Theatre on Thursday, 6 August 2015