Showing posts with label ~Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ~Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp. Show all posts

03 March 2015

Thirty seconds with Mark Correia

This is the seventh in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.

Professional magician Mark Correia from Toronto, Ontario is probably best known for spending two weeks inside a straitjacket last summer, to raise awareness for Parkinson's Disease.  In November 2014, Record Setter recognized Mark with a World Record for the "Longest Time Wearing a Straitjacket."  Mark raised over $15 000 through his efforts.

FUN FACT:
Mark performed for Usher at The Magic Castle.

DID YOU KNOW?
- Mark's pre-show routine involves rolling up his pant-legs an hour before show time, and then rolling them down right before the show starts?
- Mark is also working on a book and documentary about his experience with the Escaping Parkinson's straitjacket endurance stunt.  Keep an eye out for the book as early as this summer!.
Three year old Mark was bitten by the magic bug when "The Wacky Wizard" performed his (Mark's) birthday party.  Mark started performing professionally at the age of five.  He was at The Browser's Den of Magic when he first heard that Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp was "the" place to be if you were a young performer interested in magic.  One of his favourite things about camp is that you get to spend time with the people that literally wrote the books he reads.  In fact, when Mark thinks about magic camp, it's the amazing special guests that come first to mind.   Mark's spent seven seasons at Sorcerers Safari, two of which have been as a counsellor in training.  Needless to say, camp feels like family to him.

When Mark's not being magical, he's probably treading the boards in the Dramatic Arts Program at The National Theatre School of Canada or acting professionally in Toronto.

From the Fireside Productions Facebook page:

Post by Fireside Productions.




Previously published "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews:



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24 February 2015

Thirty seconds with Lorena and Trevor Watters

This is the sixth in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.
Lorena and Trevor Watters are professional magicians from North Delta, BC.  They both love the beautiful scenery and friendliness of Canada.  They first heard about Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp when Magic Mike Segal and his wife Jen approached them at the World Magic Seminar.  This was  Lorena and Trevor's third year as camp instructors.

FUN FACT:
They're both big fans of the original Star Wars trilogy..

DID YOU KNOW?
- Lorena's most embarrassing magic moment was at the West Coast Fair when wind blew her skirt up!  (Apparently they had a much bigger audience the next day!
- Trevor's pre-show routine involves him doing push ups against a wall for 10 seconds to help him relax and psych himself up.
The Watters, like so many of the adults who pass through camp, wish that something like this was available to them when they were growing up.  When they think of camp they think of amazingly talented kids, fun times and unforgettable memories.  To them it's the perfect place to learn "magical performance arts."  They've loved camp since the first day and look forward to it yearly.  Lorena sums up one of their favourite things about magic camp, "It's awesome to watch how much kids grow (both physically and magically) in a year."

Trevor's first memory of magic goes back to the age of 12.  He remembers his dad coming home from Las Vegas with some magic tricks.  That's when Trevor fell in love with the craft.  As for Lorena, her first solid memory of magic was in the very early days of dating Trevor.  Trevor asked her if she'd like to come back to his place to see an illusion.  Lorena added, "He asked if I could fit into a box on the floor.  Then he said he was going to put 12 swords into it. The rest is history."

Lorena wishes that more people would think of magic as an art form.  Trevor agrees and would like people to respect magicians as much as they respect actors, or lawyers.  Both of them have the same advice for the young magicians out there:  Practise makes perfect.  Don't be afraid to fail; some of their best material comes from epic fails.

We wish them all the best as they represent Canada in the FISM World Championship held in Italy this July!

Visit their website at TrevorWatters.com .

 From the Fireside Productions Facebook page:

Post by Fireside Productions.

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From the Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:
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23 February 2015

Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp Documentary 2014

If you've read my post "The secret to Sorcerers Safari's success," you'll know that Magic Mike Segal's magic camp is pretty awesome.  Words, however, cannot adequately describe the experience.  Check out Chris Mayhew's fabulous documentary filmed at camp last summer.  (If you look very carefully and don't blink, you'll even see me in the video!)

For those of you who want to go to camp, but are worried about being able to cover your costs, I encourage you to seek out the organizations and individuals who offer scholarships to Sorcerers Safari.


From Sorcerers Safari:
See what Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp is all about - from our campers perspective. 
2014 Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp ‘KIDS CUT’ Documentary from the Sorcerers Safari YouTube channel:  


After watching this documentary you’ll see what makes magic camp so special and why campers keep coming back year after year.  While the grounds are amazing, the teaching is top quality and the nightly shows are stellar, magic camp is much more than the sum of its parts - this documentary helps explain why. 
Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp runs at Camp White Pine in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada for one awesome week every summer.  For more information, or to join us this August 15th - 19th, 2015, visit http://sorcererssafari.ca/about/register-for-magic-camp-2015/


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17 February 2015

Thirty seconds with Ben Train

This is the fifth in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.

Professional magician Benzi Train is from Toronto, Ontario.  Proud of his homecountry, Ben thinks of "poutine, maple syrup, and free health care" when thinking about Canada.  (Good thing for that health care too; poutine and maple syrup aren't good for you in large doses.)

FUN FACT:
Ben's a fan of Harry Potter, chocolate chip cookies and Netflix.

DID YOU KNOW?
Ben's most embarrassing moment was getting pantsed at camp last summer. (I think there's video footage of that out there somewhere.  Finding it will be left as an exercise for the reader.)
Ben first came to Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp loving the idea that two of his passions, magic and camping, could be experienced simultaneously.  He comes back because, it's "the most amazing place in the world."  The words family, fun, and magic come immediately to mind when he thinks about magic camp.    Last summer marked Ben's twelfth year at Sorcerers Safari.  He has attended as a counsellor in training, a counsellor and most recently as an instructor.

Ben's first memory of magic was seeing Triumph performed when he was 14 years old.  He hopes that magicians today adapt to, integrate, and utilize all of the new technology and platforms to their advantage.

Ben heads up Five Academy Magic and performs as well as lectures all over the world.

Visit Ben's website at bentrain.ca .

Ben will be appearing this coming Sunday at Magic Tonight (50% discount with coupon code cmagic) .


From the Fireside Productions Facebook page:

Post by Fireside Productions.





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13 February 2015

Toronto: Markham Street Films at the Browser's Den of Magic

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook page:
Hello everyone! Tomorrow a film crew from Toronto's Markham Street Films will be at Browser's Den of Magic starting around 2:30pm to shoot footage for a documentary film about the bullet catch. The documentary features Scott Hammell, Magic Mike Segal (who will be in attendance at Browsers), and numerous other magicians. The crew would love to meet some young, budding local magicians to hear their stories, see them shop and talk about tricks, and to discuss the joy and wonder of getting into magic for the first time. Please come out if you are interested in participating. Please note, individuals under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them to sign a consent form to appear on camera. We hope to meet everyone there! 
Read more.
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10 February 2015

Thirty seconds with Alex Seaman

This is the fourth in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.
Alex Seaman is a university student and professional magician from Vancouver, BC. Alex's magic mentor, Shawn Farquhar, first tipped Alex to Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp many years ago.  Alex considers magic camp to be the "best week of the year" and can't wait to come back.  He says Sorcerers Safari is all about "sharing magic and experience."  Alex has been a camp counsellor for four years.

FUN FACT:
Alex takes Superman over Batman any day.

DID YOU KNOW?
This past summer, Alex was nominated to the Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and hopes to help nourish the growing strength in the community of magicians.
Alex's first memory of magic is seeing a magician at a birthday party when he was five years old. Alex received a magic kit as a gift and the rest, as they say, is history.  Alex hopes that the younger generation in magic will develop a strong sense of ethics in magical performance and display a greater willingness to credit the sources / resources upon which they draw.  He advises aspiring magicians to learn about the importance of performance over method, to cite sources, and to connect with their audiences.

Alex has empowered new students through the art of magic in his after-school programs and lessons across the school district. Leading by example, at only 19 years old Alex became the President of the Vancouver Magic Circle (I.B.M. Ring #92), making him the youngest Ring President in the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

When not engrossed in magical activity or his university studies, Alex spends his free time as a Scout Leader.

Visit Alex's website at:  GottaBeMagic.com .

Here's a picture of Alex doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge at camp from Carey Lauder's Facebook page:

Post by James Carey Lauder.
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Previously published "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews:



From the Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:

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03 February 2015

Thirty seconds with Lisa Close

This is the third in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.

 Former professional magician Lisa Close is a Toronto, Ontario native who thinks about family when she thinks about Canada.  She has a fondness for both camping and magic, so when she heard about Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp (from chatting with Magic Mike Segal at The Browser's Den of Magic), she knew she had to try it out.  Lisa has been a part of Sorcerers Safari for three years.

FUN FACT:
Lisa prefers "Harry Potter" to "The Lord of the Rings" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" to "Star Wars."

DID YOU KNOW?
- Lisa is the graphic designer for M-U-M, the magazine of The Society of American Magicians.
- Lisa also loves to crochet.  You can purchase some of her creations at her Etsy shop.
Lisa loves the whole experience of magic camp.  Especially the cooperation, camaraderie and fun had by everyone.  The "back to nature" setting is a big plus.  Lisa really enjoys watching campers see a magic trick they can't explain.  To her, magic camp means reuniting with old friends, eating together and watching kids take to the whole experience.

Her first memory of magic was when she was nine years old and her dad showed her a silk vanish.  She hopes that the young magic enthusiasts won't forget the importance of reading about magic and learning from books.  Her advice for aspiring magical youth:  "Come to Sorcerers Safari!"

Lisa loves watching movies, especially comedies, when taking a break from magic.


From The Browser's Den Twitter feed:


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From the Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:
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27 January 2015

Thirty seconds with Eric Leclerc

This is the second in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds. It didn't always work that way.

Eric Leclerc is a professional magician from Ottawa, Ontario.  He loves the beautiful scenery of Canada and especially the friendly people.  Eric first saw information about Sorcerers Safari at a convention and decided to investigate further.  He thinks magic camp is fabulous because it's about guiding and mentoring.  "Most importantly," Eric said, "it's about showing that magic isn't all about the tricks; it's about soft people skills like how to approach people."*  He comes back to camp every year to see the kids progress year over year.  He loves that there's a place where a "group of geeks / people just like us" can get together.  Eric's attended camp for six years as a counsellor.

FUN FACT:
While a fan of Superman, Eric prefers the Marvel world to DC comics.

DID YOU KNOW?
- You can see Eric on the National Geographic show Brain Games which has over 100 million viewers in 45 languages.  The opportunity came about because of Eric's YouTube video project 365 interactive card trick.

- Some of his project 365 episodes are also appearing on BBC One's "Now you see it!"

- Keep an eye out for Eric on YTV in September.   He's got his own 20 episode show of hidden camera magic!
Eric's first memory of magic was a hat tear performed at the annual Veterans' Christmas party he'd traditionally attend with his grandfather. He thinks that the instant access of so many magic effects today is a double-edged sword. On one hand there's greater variety and ease of access. On the other hand, there isn't the "gate keeper" of a magic store owner to help filter things for kids based on appropriateness and/or skill level. When asked for advice he'd give aspiring magicians, Eric offers up some tips he was given when he was starting out: "Work on your people skills, not just the technical side of the effects. Take marketing and business classes. Learn about promotion and book keeping and everything else you can learn."

When not honing his magic skills, Eric enjoys video editing.

Visit Eric's website at EricLeclerc.com


From Fireside Productions Facebook page, Eric entertaining a volunteer:

Post by Fireside Productions.





From the Brain Games Facebook page, Eric and some chicks:

Post by Brain Games.



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* I've had the pleasure of seeing Eric perform his "Rocky Raccoon" routine a number of times.  Enough times that I have a good feel for his script, rhythm, and pacing.  One day I saw a young child, six or seven years of age, watch with rapt attention as Eric worked with Rocky.  Eric began to focus the presentation to the child, much to their delight!  This time, however, Eric left out the part of his routine that generally gets the biggest laughs.  I asked Eric about the script change, and he said it was his opinion that the child may not have reacted favourably to the missing bit.  I also chatted with the child's father, who agreed with Eric's assessment that including the left out bit would likely have led to tears.  Knowing "how to approach people" is a big deal indeed!


Previously published "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews:


From the Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:
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20 January 2015

Thirty seconds with Dan Wiebe

This is the first in a series of "Thirty seconds with ..." interviews, so called because I approached the interviewees at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp last summer with the idea that I would interview them for 30 seconds.  Little did they know ...


Semi-professional magician, Dan Wiebe, from Winnipeg Manitoba, is one of the first faces I remember meeting at my first visit to Sorcerers Safari.   Dan is super friendly and has a great sense of humour.  His son Graham previously attended camp for over half a dozen years.  Dan's been an instructor with the camp for seven years.

FUN FACT:
Dan would rather watch Star Trek: The Next Generation, than Star Wars.


DID YOU KNOW?
Dan's most embarrassing magical moment was during a performance as "Alex R. O'Leif," when he blanked on the script after recognizing a student as an audience member.
Dan loves that Sorcerers Safari as a fun place to be.  He's a big part of making it that way.  His classes are practical, patiently taught, entertaining and creative.  For the very young kids with shorter attention spans, he'll sometimes get them to do a little craft that gets incorporated into the routine he teaches.  While helping set-up last year's camper show, he made sure that all of the kids would be showcased and their talents highlighted in a lighthearted and entertaining way.  (Who can forget the sight of one of the smallest performers choosing what had to be the tallest volunteer?)  Dan's first memory of magic dates back to about ten years of age, when he watched someone make an "invisible flea" fly onto a piece of paper.

Dan is a 13 year instructor with the Society of Young Magicians (youth chapter of the Society of American Magicians).  His advice for young magicians:  "Practise."

When not in a magical mood, you're likely to find Dan at a computer.

From Becky Wells' Facebook page:


Post by Fireside Productions.


For more information about the Society of Young Magicians in Winnipeg:



Post by James Carey Lauder.

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15 January 2015

Erin Thomas writes about a Performance Critique Workshop

Back in 2013, author Erin Thomas wrote about her experience at Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp.  Orcabook's has recently published Erin's impressions of the Performance Critique Workshop (with Aaron Fisher, Justin Flom and Bobby Motta) she attended that summer:
The other night I sat in a room with a handful of other writers here in my hometown. It’s a routine occurrence—we’re a writing group, and we meet at the library every second Tuesday. We all write in different genres and styles, we all bring different backgrounds and experiences to our writing, and we’re all there for one reason: To make the work better.

One of the things I found most fascinating in researching ‘Forcing the Ace’ (Orca Limelights, 2014) was that magicians do the same thing. The day I attended Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp in Ontario, I was lucky enough to sit in on a Performance Workshop led by professional magicians Aaron Fisher, Justin Flom and Bobby Motta. It took place in a pineboard hall with stacking chairs and a stage, and the participants, tracking in pine needles and swatting mosquitos, were teenaged magicians.

Read more.


From Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:
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23 December 2014

Last minute stocking stuffer

Here's a fabulous last minute stocking stuffer for a young magic enthusiast!  (Okay, it's more like a group gift, but how happy would they I they be to get this as a gift?)


From Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:
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18 November 2014

[Guest post] Watching the Magic Unfold

The following is a guest post from Erin Thomas, author of "Forcing the Ace,"

Erin talks about Sorcerers Safari, early memories of magic, magic at Canada's Wonderland (Paul Pacific or Jeff Pinsky, perhaps?) and more.

Today's the last day to enter to win your copy of Forcing the Ace!

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Having already written a few times about the awesomeness that is Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp in Ontario, and rejoiced in the similarities between magicians and writers (introverts unite!), I think it’s time to try a different tack. Today I want to share some of my memories of watching magic and enjoying it. Because really, that’s what it’s all about.

As it turns out, magic is probably one of the first things I ever saw clearly. I was eight or nine years old when my parents took my brother and I to see David Copperfield in Toronto. We sat up in the balcony, looking down on a big, brightly lit stage. I kept squinting and turning away, complaining that my eyes hurt. Acting on a hunch, Dad handed me his glasses. Wow! Whaddya know… there was a person down on that big stage! And he was doing really cool stuff.

Sadly, I remember the fact of the show more than the details, although there was one memorable moment when he walked through a giant wall onstage. Wikipedia tells me that his Great Wall of China effect was in 1986, a couple years later, so I might be confused, but this is how I remember it. That, and him reaching into a tiny bottle and pulling out a rainbow-coloured scarf that seemed to go on forever.

I do remember the sharp, sudden realization that the world was a place with edges, and that details existed more than an arms’ length away. My world got bigger that night. And if you could pick one thing to be your first sight through corrective lenses, a magic show is a pretty decent option.

I know I saw other magicians over the years. There would have been shows at day camps and birthday parties, magicians on stages at town carnivals, Canada’s Wonderland, the Mediaeval Faire. And I would have watched and clapped, laughed and been astonished. These are all vague impressions, though.

There was that “Circus” in the McQuay family’s backyard—a show put on by the neighbourhood kids for parents lined up in lawn chairs. I remember Piper’s acrobatics, and I think some kind of “lion act” featuring Katie the Airedale. The tightrope was a skipping rope stretched across the grass, and we took turns balancing across it. Of course there was a magic act, courtesy of one of those boxed kids with plastic cup-and-balls pieces and a disappearing chamber as tall as a Barbie doll. None of us ended up pursuing magic as a calling, so I suspect it might have been the sort of act that comes from reading the directions five minutes before the show, but watching, I still thought it was cool. Even the possibility of things disappearing and reappearing was enough for me.

I watched magic shows when I was researching the book. My favourite, of course, was the final performance at Magic Camp. I brought my husband and my daughter along, to see the kids I had talked with earlier in the week perform. I LOVED that. It wasn’t always the most polished magic, but it was sincere.

Unfortunately, my husband and daughter haven’t been bitten by the magic bug the way I was. They don’t always want to go see the shows. But I dragged them along to a Christopher Tracy’s family magic show at a resort in Florida last winter, and we had a great time. My daughter was chosen as the first audience volunteer. He broke the rules in a fun way, instructing her to close her eyes while he made things “disappear” by tossing them behind a counter. He invited the whole audience in on his secret—this isn’t really magic, we’re here to have a good time—so that when he started in on the tricks that baffled us, we enjoyed it even more. We laughed, and my daughter felt special for having been part of the show.

We’re not done with magic, my family and I. I’m not done with it. I have no plans to become a magician (becoming a writer is more than enough work, thanks very much), but I sure do like being in the audience.

Sometime soon, maybe I’ll see you there.

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Thank you Erin, for guest posting at Canada's Magic!  Today's the last day to enter to win your copy of Forcing the Ace!
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13 November 2014

A Q&A with Erin Thomas

Author Erin Thomas kindly agreed to a brief Q&A about her latest book for the 11-14 set, "Forcing the Ace."  Read what Erin has to say about The Den, Magic Mike, Justin Flom, Sorcerers Safari and more!


1. Your book portrays magic very authentically.  How much time did you spend researching the magic community? 

First of all, thank you for the compliment! Of all the books I’ve written, this is probably the one I enjoyed researching the most. That’s lucky, because I had originally pitched a few different ideas to Sarah Harvey, the editor of the Limelights series at Orca. Most of them were for areas of the performing arts where I had at least a little bit of knowledge or experience. And then there was the magic idea. When that one turned out to be her favourite, I knew I was going to be doing a lot of research.

I spent months learning about magic. Many months. I initially met with a friend’s son, who happens to be a magician. He sent me to Browser’s Den magic shop in Toronto, and suggested that I get in touch with “Magic” Mike Segal, who runs a week-long summer camp for young magicians. Both of those turned out to be incredible leads.

I read instructional books about magic and watched a ton of videos and television specials, including those “magic’s secrets revealed” types of shows. I learned how a lot of magic effects are created, but I don’t kid myself that it’s the same thing as being able to actually create the effects—that would take hours upon hours upon hours of practice. I did fumble around with cards a little bit… enough to gain a healthy respect for how hard it is. I also attended a workshop that Justin Flom presented at Browser’s Den and met some of the magicians there.

The best research opportunity was the visit to camp when you and I met, Nicole. It was incredible to have the opportunity to speak to so many young magicians in person and learn what they feel is most important about the art. That was relatively late in my writing timeline, and I remember wishing I could re-imagine the whole book after that. I made some adjustments to the storyline I had, and decided that I’m probably not done writing about magicians—there are so many more stories to tell.


2. How does the performance art of magic differ from any of the other performance arts that you know about?  How is it the same?

I think one thing that makes magic special is that it rewards a certain kind of suspension of disbelief. When you see a play or a ballet, you know that you are watching a show unfold… you’re conscious of the artifice. With magic, that’s still the case—we all know that chairs can’t float and cards don’t change colour—but I think there’s a tiny voice inside saying, “Maybe.” The magician and the viewer agree together to pretend that the laws of physics can be suspended, just for a little while. At least, that’s how I prefer to watch magic performed.

Another thing that makes magic special is that it can be enjoyed on so many levels. There’s the element of wonder and the feeling that the world might have possibilities in it beyond the everyday—that’s the first level. On the second level, it’s a puzzle to be solved, if you enjoy that sort of thing. I don’t think I’d want to try too hard to solve it, but sometimes that can be fun. And even when you know how an effect is performed, the third level of enjoyment kicks in, which is just the pure pleasure of watching someone do something well.

Of course, all the performance arts have some things in common. What strikes me most is the extreme amount of dedication and focus required. Even a short performance requires countless hours of learning and practice, whether you’re playing the piano or making one disappear.


3. What were the three biggest surprises to you, about the magic community?

I was most surprised by how welcoming and forthcoming everyone was. There were magicians I reached out to via email, and some I met in person. Nearly without fail, they were all warm, polite, supportive and extremely helpful. Seriously, falling-over-backwards helpful. I wasn’t kidding about wanting to write more about magicians; there just wasn’t room in one small book to use all the story possibilities that people opened up for me, or to do credit to the amount of help they offered. Maybe because of the secrecy associated with the craft, I had expected to meet with more resistance, but that wasn’t the case at all.

One thing I found interesting was the overlap between magic and other crafts. I hadn’t thought of it, but a magician needs to master stagecraft the way an actor does—voice projection, bearing, even character creation. It’s funny, but I never thought about a magician putting on a “persona” for an act. To me as an audience member, they simply were the way they were. It’s silly in retrospect. And then, of course, there’s the storytelling aspect—a performance can be like a short story, in a lot of ways. Some of the best short stories show a character in a moment of change, and create that change for the reader. A magician creates that change moment in the audience. That takes planning, and a rigorous editing process. I got a glimpse at that editing process when I sat in on a performance workshop at the Sorcerers Safari camp.

The third surprise reveals more about my ignorance going into this, I think. I really had no idea that some of the people I met were “big deals” in the magic community until after the fact. They didn’t act like it—they were just these lovely, friendly, down-to-earth people, happy to talk about magic. It was kind of like meeting Margaret Atwood in a bookstore and asking her for reading recommendations without having any idea who she is. I hope I didn’t annoy anybody too much.


4. How did you learn about magic being used for physical rehabilitation?  Did you know there's a Toronto based organization, Magicana, that runs a program like that at a children's rehabilitation hospital?

Oh, yikes. I don’t remember who told me about that initially, and I don’t see it in my project notebook right now. I do remember that as soon as I heard about magic being used this way, I loved the idea, and wanted to include it in the book somehow—I thought it was absolutely the perfect thing for someone struggling to re-learn motor skills. I’ve known some people involved in terrible accidents, and so I know how long the road back can be. This just struck me as a wonderful, positive aspect of the magic community, and I wanted to make it part of the story.

I didn’t know about Magicana, but I researched other organizations that run similar programs. It’s wonderful that there’s one right in Toronto.


5. Currently, magic is strongly male dominated.  I was surprised to see so many magical females represented in your book.  Was that a conscious decision?  If so, why?
It was a conscious decision. I wanted to admit in the book that magic is male dominated, but still present some female magicians as characters, to show that to readers as a possibility. I didn’t have room for a huge cast, so the balance probably comes out more female because of that. Partly, it was in response to the fact that Zoe’s backstory, the way she comes to magic, is a bit tragic and atypical. Because of that, I didn’t want hers to be the only ‘female’ story in the book. I gave Donna a more conventional magic backstory—her father was a magician. “Magic families” were something else I learned about by talking to magicians, and I love the idea of the craft being something shared between a parent and a child. Jack and Donna end up on rocky ground later in life, but magic remains their connection point.


6. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?  (About you, your research, your books, the limelight series, as examples.)
Mostly just that I enjoyed learning more about the magical community, and I’d like to thank everyone who helped, especially the Sorcerers Safari group. Magicians are a fascinating bunch.

Overall, I think the Limelights books do a great job of providing a behind-the-scenes look at the different arts, so I’d recommend them to anyone who’s curious about what goes on backstage. 


Thank you Erin for your candid insight into the writing process!



A reminder to enter today to win your copy of Forcing the Ace!








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11 November 2014

Win a copy of Forcing the Ace

The contest is now closed. The winner was announced at "Winner of Forcing the Ace."

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that a Canadian book had recently been published with a dedication that read, in part, "To the kids at magic camp".

You may remember that a little over a year ago, writer Erin Thomas visited Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Camp.  She was doing research for her recently published novel, "Forcing the Ace."


I was generously provided a copy of the book to read.  Read it I did -- all in one night!  Although the book is intended for children ages 11 to 14, I really enjoyed it.  (Say what you will about my smarts or reading ability!)

Here's the teaser from the back cover:
Sometimes the real magic happens offstage.
Alex wants to enter the Silver Stage magic competition, but he needs a sponsor. Jack, a veteran card wizard, is willing to take on the role, but only if Alex agrees to team up with Zoe, another young magician—and Alex’s rival. Working with Jack and sharing the spotlight with Zoe, Alex comes to see that there are other ways to be a magician besides competing—and that magic is about entertaining people, not fooling them. 

I am impressed with the ease with which Erin writes about the technical aspects of performing.  She mentions Tarbell and Erdnase.  There's a nicely placed Vernon quote.  References to Copperfield, Blaine and Neil Patrick Harris made me smile.  The idea that magic can be used to help with physical rehabilitation (much like Magicana's My Magic Hands program at Holland Bloorview), is a nice addition to the story.  Some adult magicians could stand to learn one of the performance lessons realized in the novel.

It's not all hard work and sleights for the characters either.  There's plenty of pre-teen and teenage drama to keep readers entertained.  The bits that are specific to magic, are fairly accurate.

My favourite line in the book is one in which I'm paraphrased.  Five hundred points* to the first person who can identify that line.

If there's a young reader in your life who likes magic, this would make a nice gift.  (Or perhaps a giveaway to audience members or birthday children.)

Pick-up a copy to see what magic shop influenced Erin, or to see the fictional novel helped along by so many Canadian magicians.  On the Acknowledgments page Erin mentions, among others:  Tom Ogden, Dana M, Jeff Pinsky, Jen and "Magic" Mike Segal, Lee Asher, Shawn Farquhar, Aaron Fisher, Justin Flom, Bobby Motta, Dan Wiebe, Ali Shelley, Alex Seaman, Chris Mayhew, Rosemary Reid, Quinton, Phil, C.J., Griffin, Charles, Ben, Tyler, Mike, Johnah and Phil H.


CONTEST:

I have been offered a copy of the book, "Forcing the Ace," from the Orca Limelights series (an ongoing series of performing arts novels),  to give away to my readers.  The winner will receive a hard copy or an e-version of the book (winner's choice).

I will be holding a random draw to determine the winner.  (There will be one winner.)  The draw results will be posted Wednesday, November the 19th, 2014.

To enter:
  1. Leave a comment on this post, with a piece of advice you'd give to a a young person starting out in a performance art.  (You do not need to be a magician to enter the contest.)(Your piece of advice could simply be, "don't stop!")
     
  2. Leave your name, along with a way that I may contact you (e-mail address, phone number, website, Twitter handle etc.) so that I can notify you if you win.
      
  3. If you win, you must be willing to provide your full name and contact information for me to share with Orca Book publishers.

The fine print:
  1. To participate in the contest, you must be 18 years of age or older.
      
  2. One entry per person.
      
  3. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents.  (This contest adheres to the Quebec Sweepstakes Laws dated Nov-01-2014.)
      
  4. This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
      
  5. If you experience difficulties leaving a comment, you may e-mail it to me for posting.  (I am not responsible if your e-mail is misdirected or gets stuck in my Spam folder.)
      
  6. You must be able to use the book as offered.  (No cash value will be offered.)
      
  7. The odds of winning depend on how many people enter the contest.
      
  8. Contest closes Tuesday, November the 18th at 11:59pm EST.


With thanks to Amy Collins from Orca Book Publishers for generously making this book available to you!


--
*  To borrow a phrase from Drew Carey in "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", the points don't matter.

Posted by Canada's Magic at 12:09 AM 5 comments
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28 October 2014

Magic camp book dedication

I have in my hands a book, penned by a Canadian author, with the following dedication:
"To the kids at magic camp, and in loving memory of Y.C."

Details, and possibly a giveaway, to follow.
Posted by Canada's Magic at 2:01 PM 0 comments
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24 August 2014

Canadian magicians and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Updated September 7th to add:



 Updated September 6th to add:

 Updated August 29th to add:

Updated August 26 to add:


Quite a number of magicians have taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge:  Isaac Haber, Harris III, Lazarus Benson, Rich Ferguson, Wayne Gonce, Justin Willman, Michael Trixx, Thomas Hayden,  Brad Ross, Penn & Teller, Piff the Magic Dragon & Mac King, and many, many more I'm sure.

Alex Seaman thought that it was time for Canadian magicians to get into the game.  At Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance camp, he took the challenge and then challenged the entire camp.  The campers took up the challenge, with a little help from Steve Valentine.  Watch what happened next:





They're looking at you:  Jon Armstrong, Jay Sankey, David Acer, Johnny Ace Palmer, Oscar Munoz, Eric Buss, Steven Kline, Greg Frewin, Dan Harlan, Lee Asher, Aaron Fisher, Nathan Kranzo, Danny Garcia, Michael Ammar, The Buck Twins, Soma, Shawn Farquhar, Eric Jones, Justin Flom, Joe and Carol Givan, Lance Burton, Penn & Teller, Criss Angel, Wayne Houchin, Nathan Burton, Mac King, Rich Bloch, David Blaine, David Copperfield, Dan Sperry, Homer Liwag, Chris Kenner, The Amazing Johnathan and Anastasia, Jordan Gomez, Alex Ramon, Justin Willman, Eric Mead, Kevin James, Jen & Mike Segal!


Donations to ALS research can be made at ALS.ca


Posted by Canada's Magic at 12:07 AM 0 comments
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22 August 2014

Random thoughts from Sorcerers Safari 2014

  • Mike and Jen Segal are totally awesome and inspiring people!
  • It is tremendous that organizations such as Ellusionist support Sorcerers Safari. (Kids, did you remember to send a quick "thank you" e-mail to them for the generous gift you received?  Do it now!  -- Mom)
  • The safety and welfare of the children is an absolute priority.
  • Spotted: Mike and Jen Segal, Dan Weibe, Eric Leclerc, Aaron Fisher, Dave Mitchell, Carey Lauder, Lee Asher, Dick Joiner, Steven Kline, Lisa & Michael Close, Ben Train, Chris Mayhew,  Mike D'Urzo, Chris Pilsworth, Rosemary Reid, Joan Caesar, Evelyn and Phil Matlin, Becki & Bill Wells, Philip DaCosta, Mark Correia,  Lorena & Trevor Watters, Chris Westfall, Scott Hammell, Alex Seaman, Loran, Asi Wind and Steve Valentine ... I'm sure there were more!
  • It's very cool to see that some of the youth of today have such a philanthropic bent.  I'm thinking here of Mark Correia's "Escaping Parkinson's" stunt to raise money for Parkinson's research project which raised over $15000 and Alex Seaman entry in to the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to raise funds for ALS (video to be seen shortly).
  • One just never knows where Aaron Fisher is going to appear.
  • It can get mighty cold at night.
  • The star-gazing is incredible away from all the city lights!
  • Cube Zags are cool.
  • There's always something to do or someone to talk to.  If you want "down time" you have to make it! (And risk missing out!)
  • I saw a deer and a rabbit in the woods.  And a hummingbird too!
  • Egg plants can be really big.
  • Bonfires can have blue flames! (Merci Loran!)
  • Candlelit lanterns are wonderful.
  • The campers' show was all kinds of AWESOME! Twenty-seven brave performers in just under 2 hours!  My favourite from the campers' show was Holden & Brett's 3 card monte routine.  (Although Ava and Steve's partnership came a close second.)
  • To answer a question asked by Doug, Steve Valentine may very well be taller than David Acer.  
  • If you haven't met Steve Valentine yet, get thee to the Browser's Den for the "Getting together with Steve Valentine" event.  He's a wonderful person.  You're welcome.
  • Being a cabin counselor is a tough gig.  The magic has to come second to taking care of the kids.  (Kind of like being a parent.)
  • The kids at camp are were very polite.  They spontaneously thanked me for interviewing them!  Impressive.
  • Perfect Magic also brought thoughtful gifts for the campers!  (Kids, I just said you were polite, so while you're sending your thank you e-mail to Ellusionist, make sure you send one to Perfect Magic too.  Do it now!  -- Mom)
  • Carey Lauder is an incredible photographer.  (See samples of his magic camp from three years back in Vanish magazine.)
  • Chris Mayhew shot some fabulous footage – I can't wait to see this year's camp video!
  • Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp gets better every year!
  • Mike Segal and Mike Toal should be very proud of what they started together over 18 years ago.
  • Sorcerers Safari is full of super nice, caring, talented individuals!

Don't just take my word for it, here's what other people had to say about this summer's magic camp experience:








Post by Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.
Posted by Canada's Magic at 12:08 AM 0 comments
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01 August 2014

Steve Valentine surprise special guest at Sorcerers Safari

How exciting for this year's campers!  Among many other notables, Steve Valentine was the 2013 Magic Castle Lecturer of the Year!

From the Sorcerers Safari Facebook group:
Well we can finally let the cat out of the bag.....our surprise special guest this year, along with Asi Wind, will be Magic Castle's lecturer of the year....Steve Valentine!!

So excited to have these guys up at Sorcerers! Along with our awesome 'regulars' Lee Asher , Aaron Fisher,  Eric Leclerc, Steven Kline  and so many others, It's really going to be the BEST SUMMER YET!! Hope you can join us Aug. 15-20. See you there! 
Read more.


Posted by Canada's Magic at 7:17 PM 0 comments
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30 July 2014

They're all fabulous, of course!

What do the following people have in common, other than the fact that they're all Canadian magicians?

Any idea?

Maybe this will help.  The following magicians also have the same thing in common:

They are a fabulous group of people to be sure!   Words can't describe what an opportunity it would be, to be able to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a room with these bright minds and seasoned performers.  What about spending a week with them?

If you're a kid between the ages of 8 and 18, you can!

All of the above folks are scheduled to be at the 2014 season of Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Camp!  (You can read my thoughts on Sorcerers Safari in my post "The secret to Sorcerers Safari's success" or watch the 2013 Magic Camp documentary.)

There will also be many other wonderful and talented people at camp this year.  Too numerous to count.  My apologies if you're going to be there and I neglected to get your name down.

This year Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp runs from Friday August 15th through to Wednesday August 20th.  There's still room for a few last-minute registrations.  Register at http://www.sorcererssafari.ca




Posted by Canada's Magic at 12:02 AM 0 comments
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15 July 2014

Toronto: Asi Wind lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:
From the same people who brought you Michael Ammar, Daniel Garcia, The Buck Twins, Eric Jones and many others -- Sorcerers Safari presents the Asi Wind Lecture in Toronto - Wednesday August 20th.

WHAT: The Asi Wind Lecture WHERE: Browser's Den // 3220 Dufferin Street #19, Toronto, ON M6A 2T3. WHEN: Wednesday August 20th, 2014 

Asi Wind comes to Toronto! With the help of Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp, the Browser's Den is proud to offer you the opportunity to spend an evening with Asi Wind - World renowned mentalist.

Spontaneous and unpredictable, Asi's magic lectures are a roller-coaster for the brain. Combining his free-spirited playfulness and uniquely creative mind, Asi treats each audience to a truly unforgettable experience. At one moment Asi might reveal the name of your past love and another he might read someones mind over the phone. The only thing you can expect is the unexpected.

Read more and buy tickets.
Posted by Canada's Magic at 12:01 AM 0 comments
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