Tickets at The Basement.
From the February 22nd Facebook post by Patrick Gregoire:
Two chances to catch Speakeasy Magic in April at The Basement Winnipeg! Sold out twice, don't miss out!
Previously shared on Facebook February 26.
Showing posts with label -MB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label -MB. Show all posts
01 April 2025
Winnipeg: Speakeasy Magic [Apr 25 - 26]
29 March 2025
Brandon: Magician & The Muse, Dogs Do Magic, & Canine Circus at the RMWF [Mar 31 - Apr 5]
Great opportunity to see Chanelle Munroe, Sean Watson, and Aaron Matthews!
From the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair:
Magician & The Muse
Prepare for an enchanting blend of magic, music, and storytelling with Magician & The Muse! This duo of illusion and artistry will transport audiences into a world of wonder and mystery, performing daily in the Manitoba Hydro KID ZONE.
Canine Circus – Presented by Fusion Credit Union
This one-of-a-kind canine performance is a thrilling showcase of agility, talent, and teamwork! Featuring some of the world’s most skilled trick dogs, the Canine Circus will leave you amazed with their jumps, flips, and playful antics in Westoba Place Main Arena.
Dogs Do Magic (Canine Circus)
The Canine Circus also brings Dogs Do Magic, a charming blend of trained dog tricks and magic! This heartwarming and hilarious performance highlights the amazing skills and intelligence of man’s best friend.
From the March 23rd Instagram post by Sean Watson:
From the March 12th
Instagram post by the Provincial Ex of Manitoba:
09 March 2025
Rounding the Western rings in March 2025
Updated March 16 to add:
- Rumoured lecture by Mike Norden in Calgary on March 31.
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - Tricks with the theme "luck". - Lecture by Steve Warburton. - Lecture by Mike Norden |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - The Magic Festival including the Mystery Magic Dinner and the Children's Magician of the Year competition. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A |
Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.
21 February 2025
Winnipeg: Circus Club 10th annual showcase [Mar 2]
Tickets at Eventbrite.
From the January 26th Instagram post by Brett Oddly:
I'm so happy to return to the very place that started my career. A fundraiser for the Winnipeg circus club. Come check out brand new performers, rising stars and top talent all in 1 show!
And check out @wpgcircusclub to learn some skills.
You won't find a better ticket price to value anywhere!
09 February 2025
Rounding the Western rings in February 2025
Updated February 19th to add:
- Calgary's meeting will be a lecture from Ryan Lackey.
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - Ryan Lackey lecture. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - Annual dinner. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A |
Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.
16 January 2025
Winnipeg: Speakeasy Magic 2 [Jan 25]
Tickets at The Basement.
From the December 6th Instagram post by Patrick Gregoire:
After a sellout show last fall, Brett Oddly and I are back on January 25th with a new show full of magic, mind-reading, and danger at 'The Basement' in Winnipeg!
Get your tickets now (link in bio!)
05 January 2025
Rounding the Western rings in January 2025
Updated January 9th to add:
- Calgary's meeting will be a mini-lecture from Dan Stephenson, "My go-to self-working card tricks."
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - Mini lecture from Dan Stephenson "My go-to self-working card tricks." |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - JAM session. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - N/A. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - Annual dinner with Sawyer Bullock. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
09 September 2024
Winnipeg: Patrick Gregoire and Brett Oddly [Sep 27]
From the August 29th Facebook post by Patrick Gregoire:
⚠️⚠️ 𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓! ⚠️⚠️
👀 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐞:
“When’s your next magic show?” 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬…
I mostly perform at private events - and very rarely for the public. 𝐒𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕𝐭𝐡...
I’m teaming up with Winnipeg’s most dangerous performer, Brett Oddly, for a one-night-only public show at 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (a super-secret, super-cool speakeasy club in Winnipeg).
𝟕𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝-𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 from two of Winnipeg’s top mystery artists!
🤯 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜
🧠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
💀 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
This will be 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒, and 𝐅𝐔𝐍!
👉 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲: https://shorturl.at/QgMuG
Hope to see you there!
01 July 2024
Winnipeg: Magic at the Fringe with Brian Archer and Greg Wood
From the June 25th Facebook post by Mindshocker Entertainment:
Excited for my new Fringe show starting July 17th. Advance tickets are on sale now at www.winnipegfringe.com or by visiting my website directly at www.mindshocker.ca
Prepare to be #mindshocked.
From the June 25th Facebook post by Greg Wood:
https://comedyillusions.com/fringe/
27 June 2024
ON, MB, NWT, & FN: Magician and the Muse Summer Tour
From the June 26th Facebook post by Sean Watson:
We are excited for our summer tour! Hopefully some of you can make it to one of our shows!
01 May 2024
Rounding the Western rings in May 2024
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - N/A. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - Sean Taylor lecture. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - N/A. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
29 April 2024
MB, SK, BC, ON: Wes Barker [May - Sep]
From the April 25th Instagram post by Wes Barker:
This is what we have so far! More dates being added soon. Can’t wait to see you out there 🍻
23 April 2024
Winnipeg: Sean Watson and Chanelle Munroe at the Red River Ex [Jun 14 - 23]
Confirm details at the Red River Ex website.
From the January 9th
Facebook post by Sean Watson:
#winnipeg We are excited to share that we will be performing our full grand Illusion show at the Red River Ex this summer! Hope to see you there! 😀
16 April 2024
Rounding the Western rings in April 2024
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - N/A. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - N/A. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
05 March 2024
Rounding the Western rings in March 2024
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - N/A. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - Fun Night! - Improv Games and Laff-Off. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - The Magic Festival - Children's magician of the Year competition - Annual banquet with Jay Alexander |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - N/A. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
09 February 2024
A peek behind the curtain with Richard Young [2023]*
This is the sixth and last in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates in Western Canada:
- Lethbridge, Enmax Centre [Mar 16]
- Regina, Conexus Arts Centre [Mar 17]
-
Winnipeg, Centennial Concert Hall [Mar 18]
- Saskatoon, TCU Place [Mar 19]
- Lloydminster, Vic Juba Theatre [Mar 20]
- Edmonton, Festival Place [Mar 22 - Apr 6]
- Prince George, CN Centre [Apr 7]
- Vancouver, Great Canadian Casino [Apr 8]
Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.
* Regular readers of the blog may know that there's typically an elapsed time of weeks to months between us completing an interview and having it published. Case in point. Due in part to our densely packed December content calendar, we've held Richard's interview (which belongs to our 2023 series of Champions cast interviews that started last October) until now, ahead the Western Canada leg of their tour.
In addition to Champions of Magic you may also know Richard Young through:
- his weekly podcast What's Going On? which is part of the Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link),
- his manufacture and selling Bob Swadling's "Swadling Magic Changing Card?" at Changing Cards, and
- Young and Strange's show, Delusionists.
We're delighted to interview Richard ahead of his Western Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
September 17th 1995 when I saw David Copperfield’s show in Birmingham in the U.K. My Dad often tells the story that on the drive home that night I asked him if it would be at all possible for me to do something like that as a job when I grew up.
I haven’t and I really wish I had. If I was to give any younger magician some advice it would be to go and learn all this stuff. It seems like a lot of fun and would have helped me so much over the years.
|
|
Richard Young listening to Sam Strange |
After seeing a recent Champions performance in Toronto, one
of our readers thought they spotted a small but meaningful detail in the
show, that you may have included as an homage to David Copperfield. Is
this an intentional 'Easter egg'?
I was thrilled someone spotted it. Absolutely. It’s supposed to showcase that I’m living my childhood dream in his shows following my tribute to him 15 minutes earlier.
The Champions show order changes from time to time, based on the constraints of the venue and the health of the performers. We imagine that sometimes muscle memory reverts to the show order you do most often. How do you and the rest of the cast and crew remind yourselves of set deviations?
In 2021 we were developing a lot of new material and the show was changing almost every night. It was stressful and frankly impossible to stay on top of. We have stage prompts printed on the stage floor and other similar techniques. I remember there was one night where I got the show order wrong, it happened to be on a night when there was no sound relay backstage and as I walked towards the stage I saw a scene playing out on the stage I was supposed to be in, without me in it!
What's your go-to time filler if the crew needs you to stall for more time than "hands"++ provides?
We really do just have ‘hands’ to save some time. Anything needing more than that will be a show stop. We have only had a few of those over the years. Although it’s nice if you can fill a mistake or buy some time without the audiences noticing, a show stop is nothing to be embarrassed about, I’ve seen West End shows in London with show stops and as an audience member you appreciate they are stopping because they want you to see the best possible show rather than some sort of bodge job attempt to wrangle through. If you do hundreds of shows, there’s no way to avoid it. Eventually you’ll need to stop and restart.
++ To learn more about "hands" have a listen to Episode 127 of Through the Magic of Television with host Alex McAleer, on Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link).
++ To learn more about "hands" have a listen to Episode 127 of Through the Magic of Television with host Alex McAleer, on Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link).
|
|
Richard Young, Champion of Magic |
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
When we are touring I really miss British chocolate but honestly it’s probably good I can’t access it, keeping weight off while touring I find basically impossible. I don’t watch things, I tend to just find my head is completely immersed in what we are doing.
When we are touring I really miss British chocolate but honestly it’s probably good I can’t access it, keeping weight off while touring I find basically impossible. I don’t watch things, I tend to just find my head is completely immersed in what we are doing.
One imagines that it’s sometimes hard to leave the comforts of your home
for a lengthy tour. Do you bring a special something from home with
you?
I do indeed have a little mascot who travels with me. He’s a stuffed toy raccoon called Rufus, my girlfriend bought him for me when we visited a national park in Tucson, Arizona together. Unfortunately Rufus accidentally forgot to get inside my suitcase when I left a hotel in Los Angeles and despite many phone calls to the hotel after I left, he was not found. I however managed to find him for sale on a website and quickly had him sent to me by FedEx hoping my girlfriend would not notice he wasn’t exactly the same Rufus. She didn’t but eventually my conscience made me tell her the truth that Rufus is in fact now Rufus 2.0.
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Rufus 2.0 |
Every performer has experienced some level of post-show blues. Post-tour blues, we expect, are on a whole different level. Do you have any tips for touring entertainers with respect to re-entering one’s non-touring life, after an extended time away from home?
It’s so so hard. Coming off the road and re-adjusting to a much slower pace of life for me personally takes quite a long time. When we finished after a 9 month solid tour in May 2023 I truly was burnt out and needed a break, but honestly that’s the first time I have ever felt like that. Usually I am sad when we finish and do worry a little about how I’m going to re-adjust. I have however learnt how to take care of myself. I immediately get my head into other work. I don’t take time off, I tend to actually have a lot of new energy I can place into podcasts or some other kind of creativity. The fact is for many of us this is the biggest part of our lives and so although sleep, no airports and less stress is welcome, life does feel a little empty when away from the road. I truly believe 1 year of touring is the equivalent life experiences to about 20 years of life for a normal person in terms to fun, emotional ups and downs and pure experiences.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of
Canada’s Magic?
We're really looking forward to sharing our show with your readers in Western Canada.
Thank you Richard, for making the time to answer our questions!
Learn more about Richard at RichardYoungMagic.com and check out his podcast at the Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link), and learn more about Bob Swadling's "Swadling Magic Changing Card" at Changing Cards.
31 January 2024
Rounding the Western rings in February 2024
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - N/A. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - N/A. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - N/A. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
08 January 2024
Rounding the Western rings in January 2024
Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each
club's website.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - N/A. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - N/A. |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - SYM. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) | - N/A. |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - Jeffrey Wang online lecture. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - Jeffrey Wang online lecture. |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - Annual dinner awards show. |
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.
02 December 2023
A peek behind the curtain with Fernando Velasco [2023]
This is the fifth in a series of interviews leading up to the
Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour Canadian dates in:
This is the fifth in a series of interviews leading up to the
- Toronto, Ticketmaster [Dec 27 - 31] ** extended to Dec 31 **
- Lethbridge, Enmax Centre [Mar 16]
- Regina, Conexus Arts Centre [Mar 17]
-
Winnipeg, Centennial Concert Hall [Mar 18]
- Saskatoon, TCU Place [Mar 19]
- Lloydminster, Vic Juba Theatre [Mar 20] ** recently added **
- Edmonton, Festival Place [Mar 22 - Apr 6]
- Prince George, CN Centre [Apr 7]
- Vancouver, Great Canadian Casino [Apr 8] ** recently added **
Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS! Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.
You may also know Fernando Velasco as the winner of the 2018 Junior Achievement Award at The Magic Castle.
We're delighted to interview Fernando ahead of his Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
We were fortunate to see Champions of Magic in three times in the
past five years. Your part in the show changed significantly from year
to year. In fact the 2022 experience was very different
from the first time we saw you in Toronto in 2018.
When you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify and advance your act?
When you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify and advance your act?
I’m not sure what the motivation factor is; I love entertaining, I love making changes to try and find the best possible version of the acts to share with audiences, It’s also a way to keep it fresh, even if its just little changes to the script that’s enough to keep us engaged and in search for the perfect/most genuine presentation.
Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines?
Recently I’ve been studying writing and storytelling, I think it’s definitely helped me give my magic some meaning. Hopefully sharing stories that might mean something to people and might make them FEEL something… A feeling is what I’m currently after.
I also spend a lot of time analyzing other artists from a variety of different disciplines just trying to learn anything I can from them; Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robbie Williams, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Pixar.
|
|
Cutting it close! |
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
YES, the moment I joined The Magic Castle Junior Society and debuted at 14 years old during Future Stars of Magic Week in 2012 -- that was the moment I knew I had found my entertaining vehicle. There was no looking back.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
Hahahah might be too soon... (Darkest day of my career.)
Once upon a time in Houston, Texas, (Richard) Young, (Sam) Strange, and myself had a catastrophic prop malfunction in a part of the show we do together.
I wish I could tell you that we played it off and walked off stage like heroes, but we did not.
First, we were exposed to 1/3 of the audience (being generous with ourselves), then Young fled the scene leaving me and Strange alone on stage to finish the act... to which the act finale also failed.
In other words, NOTHING worked… it was like a scene out of Magic Gone Wrong.
Once upon a time in Houston, Texas, (Richard) Young, (Sam) Strange, and myself had a catastrophic prop malfunction in a part of the show we do together.
I wish I could tell you that we played it off and walked off stage like heroes, but we did not.
First, we were exposed to 1/3 of the audience (being generous with ourselves), then Young fled the scene leaving me and Strange alone on stage to finish the act... to which the act finale also failed.
In other words, NOTHING worked… it was like a scene out of Magic Gone Wrong.
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
First the insane production level, it blows any other touring magic show in North America out of the water.
Second, our interactions with each other, the way the show intertwines with all of us and our collaborative routines.
We are a cast rather than four ensemble acts, that’s really unique.
Second, our interactions with each other, the way the show intertwines with all of us and our collaborative routines.
We are a cast rather than four ensemble acts, that’s really unique.
|
|
After a quick dip in the water tank. |
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
My biggest guilty pleasure is food, I love food, and I'm lucky to share this pleasure with my great friend Richie (Young). Sharing meals together tends to be a highlight of the day haha. As well as riding Birdies (electric scooters) around cities.
My biggest guilty pleasure is food, I love food, and I'm lucky to share this pleasure with my great friend Richie (Young). Sharing meals together tends to be a highlight of the day haha. As well as riding Birdies (electric scooters) around cities.
One imagines that it’s sometimes hard to leave the comforts of your home
for a lengthy tour. Do you bring a special something from home with
you?
I really love touring, it's our life.
But touring can be hard, it can get lonely. You are in a bubble for months in which nothing enters or leaves, it's like we are isolated from the real world…
I wear bracelets that friends and family give me, I wear them all the time, it's my way of keeping a part of loved ones near all the time.
But touring can be hard, it can get lonely. You are in a bubble for months in which nothing enters or leaves, it's like we are isolated from the real world…
I wear bracelets that friends and family give me, I wear them all the time, it's my way of keeping a part of loved ones near all the time.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of
Canada’s Magic?
Best version of Champions of Magic is on its way. We hope you come to the shows and enjoy them as much as we do.
Thank you Fernando, for making the time to answer our questions!
Learn more about Fernando at FernandoV.net and follow him on Facebook, and
Instagram.
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