Toronto: Richard Osterlind lecture and workshop

Lecture at the Ring 17 meeting (Nov 5), workshop the following Saturday (Nov 7).

From Eventbrite:

Lecture Thursday, November 5

Workshop Saturday, November 7

Read more and buy tickets.

Rounding the Central rings in October 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Executive Installation Ceremony.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Three card monte.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Halloween Magic & Rope magic.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- David Kaplan lecture.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- James Alan lecture.

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

Rounding the Central rings in September 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- TBA
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Mark Mason lecture.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- What you learned this summer.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- TBA
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- TBA
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- David Ben lecture.

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

Random thoughts from the Ring 17 year end banquet

• The year end comes far too quickly.
• People drive a long distance to come to these events.
• A group of magicians is very good at entertaining themselves and each other during delays.
• The young people today spell llama differently than I was taught.
• The even younger people have a totally different approach to llamas.
• La llama es una quadrupido
                                                 ... but I digress.
• In their show "Sketchy Magic," Chris Mayhew and Chris Westfall give a crazy and high-energy performance as one would expect with individual lecture titles like "Calculated Chaos" and "Mayhew Mayhem."
• Rumour has it that Chris Harvison, Andrew Goss and James Alan are back on the executive next year.  And that Phil Pivnick will be joining them.
• Next season opens with a David Ben lecture.
• Thank you Ring 17 for another great season!

Rounding the Central rings in June 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- TBA
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Year end dinner.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- TBA
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Year end party.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Year end dinner featuring Chris Mayhew and Chris Westfall in "Sketchy Magic"

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

Rounding the Central rings in May 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Ted Outerbridge - Assistants Auditions & Rehearsals
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Meeting cancelled.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Lecture.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- 4F Convention Sharing by 4F Gang - Memorial Night/Classic Magic.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- David Merry lecture.

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

Rounding the Central rings in April 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Assistants, auditions and rehearsal. - Stage workers.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Prop and pocket management.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Magic auction.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Show and tell. - Executive Nominations. - Martin Cox and Will Gray lecture.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Ben Train lecture

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

Rounding the Central rings in March 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Stage work
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Members' Favourite
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- TBA
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- a possible exchange night with Hamilton & London Clubs
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Stand-up Magic
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Browser's Den visit

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

Rounding the Central rings in February 2015

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

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Stage workers
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- TBA
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Sponge ball magic.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Impromptu tricks found around the house and in Dollarama
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Member’s Night:  Jean-Luc’s Theme Night “Everything Book Magic” - Literacy Magic - Initiation Shows - Charity Show:  Rehabilitation Hospital Show (Adults)
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Pre-meeting Jam with Rob Powers:  "jam session from 6 till 7 before the meeting. Bring whatever you'd like to jam with but if you use linking rings, ill be jamming with rings so bring them along and we can trade some cool moves" - Members' night - lecture/panel discussion featuring the cast of the movie "A series of unfortunate effects."

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in January 2015

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Auction Night in Canada
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- n/a
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- A dealer demo
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Member’s Night:  Tenyo Magic Presentation by Pierre B. - Something New - New Member Induction Presentation
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Auction

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in December

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- n/a
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Christmas Dinner.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Michael Close lecture - Christmas Party Pot-luck dinner
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- David Regal workshop - David Regal lecture

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in November

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- David Merry lecture.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Taking the stage.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Magic Movie night.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Joint meeting with the other Ottawa Club - Flea Market - Close-up magic - CHEO Charity Show
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- Joint meeting with the other Ottawa Club
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Dr. Michael Rubinstein lecture and workshop.

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in October

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Corporate strolling.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Shane Cobalt lecture
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- David Kaplan lecture
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- Lecture.
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- David Kaplan lecture

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in September

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- n/a
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	-  Bobby Motta lecture

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

Random thoughts about 90th birthday parties

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending two 90th birthday celebrations, both for Toronto's very own Gordon Precious.  Gordon is an absolute gentleman in every sense of the word.  I've known Gordon for close to 20 years and in that time he's been consistently positive, welcoming and encouraging.  He's younger at heart than many people of my generation.  Simply having Gordon in your life, makes you a better person.

First up was the Browser's event:

• The event was extremely well attended.  There were people in attendance that I didn't see that day -- it was that packed.
• It was fabulous showing of friendship from the magic community.  (Folks drove in from Kitchener, Hamilton and Ottawa!)
• No one does the the Vanishing Birdcage like Gordon.
• David Merry did a set that kept everyone in stitches.
• Jeff always throws wonderful celebration parties!
• I am incapable of entering a magic shop without leaving with a purchase.
• Read more about it (and see pictures) at the Browser's Den blog.

And later in the week, a celebration by Ring 17 at their year end banquet:

• The banquet was also very well attended.  (Folks also drove in from Kitchener, Hamilton and Ottawa!)
• Gordon did a wonderful set, entertaining young and old alike!
• There was a Zig-Zag illusion that went off without a hitch.
• I had no idea Gordon could breathe fire.
• Paul Wildbaum and Bill Abbott were entertaining, as always. 
• See photos at the Ring 17 Facebook group.

Wonderful celebrations for a wonderful person!  Happy birthday Gordon!

Rounding the Ontario rings in June

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Dinner and close-up show.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- tbd
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Year End Party Pot-luck / Banquet
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Year end banquet and Gordon Precious' 90th birthday bash!  Happy birthday Gordon!

 

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in May

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- No meeting this month.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Movie themed magic.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- The Annual Auction. - Robert Barna props and cases to be put up for auction. - Other clubs are welcome to attend.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Business Meeting. - Open Night of Magic.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Vincent Hedan lecture. - Vincent Hedan workshop.

 

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

Toronto: Vincent Hedan workshop

I attended a lecture by Vincent Hedan last Spring.  What a brilliant magician!

From the Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club:

Saturday, May 3, 2014 

The Browser’s Den of Magic

Read more and buy tickets from Ring 17.

[via Magic Information Canada]

Rounding the Ontario rings in April

Updated April 24th to add the following from the Doug Henning Magic Wand Club:

Mark your calendars for next Wed. April 30th. No, it’s not Tax Filing Deadline (CRA  gave a 5 day extension).  It’s the Tri-City Lecture (London,Kitchener & Hamilton Clubs) hosted by Kitchener IBM Ring#235 at 7pm. at

St.Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,54 Queen St.North @ Weber Street, Kitchener N2H 2H2.

Originally our 3 clubs were having Mickael Chatelaine from France lecture, after his appearance at the 4F convention (this weekend in Batavia NY.) Unfortunately, Mickael broke his elbow a few weeks ago and will not be attending the 4F convention.  Our thanks to member Joan Caesar for arranging a substitute lecturer/performer/entertainer & multi award winner Michael Dardant, who coincidently was born in France, but calls his home in the “Big Easy” New Orleans.

Read more.

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Kitchener Club (roadtrip!) - Mickael Chatelain lecture
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Magic Auction
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Literacy Magic - Executive Nominations
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- Chris Westfall lecture
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Kenton Knepper lecture

 

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

Random thoughts about Ring 17 Members' Night

• Shout out to everyone who hosted and performed at Members' Night last week! 
• It takes incredible courage for amateurs to perform in front of the club.  Well done everyone who made it up to the front of the room! 
• The presence of a child, whom James Alan referred to as Urchin, allowed all of the women in the room to let out a collective sigh of relief.  (They were spared the fate of "volunteering" for the evening.)
• Urchin was treated very well while volunteering.  Impressive.  I've seen highly respected "legendary" professionals treat children horribly.  Keep up the great work folks!
• There are some very talented magicians in Ring 17.
• Ariel Frailich knows a lot.
• The members behaved very respectfully during situations where life wasn't going quite according to plan.  It's nerve-racking performing in front of talented professionals.  Thanks for being supportive!
• There's truth to the proverb:
  'Tis a lesson you should heed:
  Try, try, try again.
  If at first you don't succeed,
  Try, try, try again.
• Are all magicians from Calgary named Chris as talented as the two we saw last week?
• I finally witnessed a peformance by Mark Lewis with young people in the room.  I'm a fan.  Doubly impressed that he took Urchin aside at the end of the night, to teach an alternate presentation of an effect shared that evening.
• James can tie a perfect bowtie without the aid of a mirror.