Fourteenth in this year's Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase, is the Society of Young Magicians (SYM) Manitoba!
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SYM Manitoba: Inspirational Canadian Magicians. |
Submitted by Carey Lauder
Congratulations to the membership of the SYM Manitoba! Keep up the great work!
Thank you to the Carey for your excellent submission!
To learn more about Carey Lauder, visit his website LauderPhotography.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
From Part 1 of the series:
In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts. We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.
If you completed our survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment!
If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time. The survey can be found here: https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76
Thank you to all that contributed!
Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.
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| << part 1 | part 3 >> |
Part 2 features: Cameron Dunlop, James Carey Lauder, and Brad Bond.
Thank you Cameron, Carey, and Brad, for sharing your memories!
Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!
On June 6th, Dean Gunnarson participated in a rededication of a plaque at the building where it all started over 100 years ago.
From the June 5th article, "Winnipeg still a magic city 100 years after international organization’s founding" by Sam Thompson at Global News:
Internationally-known illusionist and comedy magician Brian Glow says the brotherhood, which is the largest organization of magicians in the world, was founded in Winnipeg in 1922.
The city’s long history of magic — which includes a 1923 performance by the legendary Harry Houdini, who escaped from a straightjacket 30 feet above a downtown building — is largely due to its geographic location.....
Although the brotherhood became so popular that it moved to the U.S. less than a decade after its founding, Gunnarson said the city has a long history of famed magicians to this day — from himself and Glow to the likes of Doug Henning, Darcy Oake, and Greg Wood.
“Sometimes we don’t appreciate things in our own backyard… and Winnipeg has such a vibrant, rich history of politicians, entertainers — and of course magic,” Gunnarson said.
From the June 6th article "'The magic city': 100th anniversary of International Brotherhood of Magicians marked in Winnipeg, where it all started" by Devon McKendrick at CTV News Winnipeg:
IBM was started by three magicians, including Len Vintus, who is from Transcona, in 1922, and now the organization has around 15,000 members with local groups in more than 88 countries.
"He created the world's largest magic organization with no computer, no smartphone, no fax machine, all with a typewriter and a mimeograph machine," said Dean Gunnarson, who is a Winnipeg escape artist.
The IBM was created to connect magicians who lived outside major cities and were unable to attend magic club meetings."(Vintus) promoted magic, the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba. He was a real ambassador for this city and province and, of course, magic."
From the June 29th article "World’s largest magic club celebrates 100th anniversary, Winnipeg roots" by Cody Sellar in the Free Press Community Review:
To celebrate the anniversary, local members held a ceremony at the original headquarters on June 6, recreating the unveiling of the 1986 historical building plaque by setting the veil ablaze.
Transconian Melvin McMullen, better known by the stage name Len Vintus, founded the organization in 1922 at the age of 19. He rented an office on the seventh floor of the building at Main Street and William Avenue and set to work.
“He was absolutely driven. Wore a suit and tie and vest every day of his life that I knew him, until he went to the hospital with a stroke,” said Dean Gunnarson, a Winnipeg escape artist who became friends with McMullen until his death in 1999....
The Winnipeg ring has now morphed into the Magic Club of Winnipeg, run in part by brotherhood member Carey Lauder. He’s helped teach a host of young magicians, including Darcy Oake. He said for some kids, magic provides a crucial confidence boost.
“It’s like kid Toastmasters,” he said, citing parents who told him their children gained the self-assurance to speak up in class and other such things.
Lauder, who also works at the magic counter at Toad Hall Toys, said McMullen’s legacy is a point of pride for the Winnipeg magic community.
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Gunnarson said his tombstone is carved in the shape of the province and inscribed with the title: “Mr. Manitoba.”
From the Winnipeg Fringe:
Comedy Illusions of Greg Wood
Winnipeg, MB
Fringe Family Fun Show
by Greg Wood and Carey Lauder
A high-quality show featuring humour, feats of magic and hilarious audience participation. Magic was meant to be funny. And it was meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
5 STARS "Polished and professional, Wood has a delightful rapport with his audience and keeps the crowd laughing and smiling right to the end" - Winnipeg Free Press
5 STARS “He’s a pro. His magic is well-honed and he’s funny.” - Christopher Read, CBC
"...the act never fails to reduce the audience to tears of laughter." - The Neepawa Banner
Director: Carey Lauder
Cast: Greg Wood
Read more and buy tickets.
Facebook posts with photos from Dean Gunnarson's Halloween Houdini escape last Saturday.
Photos by James Carey Lauder.
Since the production keeps a tight lid on the specifics of the competition to prevent spoilers, the show descended on the city with the impressive organization of a top-secret military operation. Only in a couple of instances — competitions at the Legion and The Forks — were members of the general public allowed to witness the proceedings.
The Winnipeg leg was something of a homecoming for unflappable host Jon Montgomery, a former gold medal Olympian skeleton racer born and raised in western Manitoba town of Russell.
Read more.
When that tour wrapped up, Alison stayed in England to visit with relatives and Daryl returned to Vegas. The day he got in, he called to say he was back. I suggested he come over to our house for a home-cooked meal, something I thought he’d appreciate after such a long time on the road. He came by that evening.
Lisa and I prepared a pasta dish, with salad, bread, and red wine. We ate, talked, and listened to stories of the life of a lecturer. It was obvious Daryl was jet-lagged and beat to hell, which made him the perfect foil for a practical joke.
Read more.
"with thoughts that maybe we could have said or done something, or with guilt over having missed any warning signs."
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| Daryl. |
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| Learning from Daryl during free time. |
| 2015 camp photo. |
"All I ask is, in the present or future, you support magic and mentalism creators with your wallet, not just words, so they can make a living too."
PLEASE DONATE TO THE DARYL EASTON FAMILY FUND
The office at the Magic Castle has received calls from members and magicians around the world, asking how one can offer support and donations to the Daryl Easton family.
The Academy of Magical Arts has now established a fund to receive donations for Alison Easton, Daryl’s wife, and their two daughters. You can also send bereavement cards for Alison to the AMA offices as well, who will forward them to the family.
If you would like to make a donation to the family, please send a check payable to “The Academy of Magical Arts, Easton Family Fund” to:
The Academy of Magical Arts
ATT: Daryl Easton Family Fund
7001 Franklin Ave
Hollywood CA 90028
If you would like to donate via credit card, please call Trish Alaskey at 323-851-3313 ext. 301.
The Academy will work with Alison and the family, and pick a date in the future to hold a memorial for Daryl. If you have any questions, please email the General Manager, Joe Furlow, at: jfurlow@magiccastle.com.
You can also donate via PayPal directly using magic@daryl.net
- 6 Quick Dick Tricks: A Dirk Darrow Investigation by Tim Motley
- Absolute Magic by Keith Brown
- Charlatan! by Travis Bernhardt
- David Eliot Presents EVOLUTION - A Journey Through Magic by Eliot Entertainment
Read more and buy tickets.
- The Magic of Kindness by Comedy Illusions of Greg Wood, directed by James Carey Lauder
1. Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp is hosted at an actual outdoor camp in Haliburton, Ontario. With an actual lake. Be sure to pack your swimsuit. And lots of sunscreen.What would you add to this list?
and
20. There is no one single thing that makes Sorcerers Safari successful. As Magic Mike Segal often says, "it is more than the sum of its parts." And he's right. He's created, seemingly by alchemy, a unique opportunity for young magic enthusiasts to learn from and network with, professionals who are open and approachable. When asked how he came by this elusive recipe, a modest Segal said, "I'm totally amazed. This is the best trick I have ever pulled off in my life."
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Erratum: #5 In 1997-2000 Sorcerers Safari was hosted at Camp Tamarack. From 2001 to 2015 it was at Camp White Pine.
Morning comes too early. I’m tired. Started the day with scrambled eggs and cereal (no sugary cereals here… boo!). Card class was great. Dick Joiner taught us how to do an effect called “Hotel.” I’m amazed at how it works!
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| Card class with Dick Joiner and Ted Outerbridge. |
I heard that some of the more advanced kids need to get some card tricks ready to perform walkaround magic in the audience before the camper show. I’m glad I’m just a beginner!
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| Camp stretch. |
Field activity was a game called “Food Chain.” The rules were a little complicated, but it was fun. One kid hid under the mess hall stairs to try and “survive” longer in the game!
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| There's always time to squeeze in some more magic! |
5pm
Fueled up at lunch with meatball sandwiches and corn! Apparently Joan Caesar, the founder of the Canadian Association of Magicians, is here visiting today. And Bill and Becki Wells from the International Brotherhood of Magicians are here all week. Wow! More great electives to choose from (camper show walk through, impromptu magic, classic force, balloons, stage presence / performance tips, elastic thread, the business of magic, and necklace magic).
The balloon elective was tonnes of fun! Balloons kept popping all the time. It was crazy! Even the instructors, Carey Lauder and Chris Westfall, were surprised at how much they kept popping. We learned some easy things like dogs but also some more complicated things like flowers and ladybug bracelets.
Before the camp swim, they got EVERYONE in the camp together to take the camp photo at the dock. I took forever to get everybody organized. I can’t wait to see it. I learned an important lesson too: never be late for the camp photo! There were a few stragglers and boy did they get get in trouble. Not only are they not in the photo, but now they have to clean up ALL THE TABLES at dinner tonight!
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| 2015 camp photo! (Scroll to see everyone.) |
Turns out that Carey is also the official camp photographer. During camp swim he did something called “Levitation Photos.” We all got to pose for a photo either levitating someone, being levitated by someone or both! (The line got longer by at least 20 people when Neil’s assistant was being levitated!) I posed for pictures with one of my new best friends. I can’t wait to see them! (Diary, you’ll have to understand if I don’t reveal the secret here. I’d hate for it to fall into the wrong hands if I happened to lose you!)
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| Levitation photos! |
The big kids looked like they were having so much fun jumping off the tall platform. The lifeguard did some trick flips too! I want to try jumping but it looks scary. I don’t like heights.
In performance workshop we played a game called “Freeze Tag.” That was hilarious. It was improvising and then anyone could call out “freeze” and tag someone out, take their spot, and change the entire setting! It’s supposed to help with thinking on the spot, playing characters, and doing scene work, but I just think it’s great fun!
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| Mark Correia and Chris Westfall make improvising fun! |
Oake, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, pulled off what he calls "literally the most death-defying escape that I've ever done or ever attempted" at the end of the 30th annual parade, performing for hundreds of thousands of spectators in the U.K.
Before bringing to life the parade's theme — 30 years of magic — Oake explained how he would escape and avoid drowning.
Read more and watch video.
[via Clive Court]
Fiona Gourlay has added me to the landscape and nature challenge, I will work on that right away. But for now here is a shot from Darcy Oake's Edge of Reality tour that finished in Winnipeg this last Friday.
Posted by James Carey Lauder on Sunday, 6 December 2015
Many years ago Santa Claus gave a magic set to a child. That girl learned almost every trick in the set. When spring arrived, she performed a magic show for her friends.
A visit to the Society of Young Magicians stirred those magic memories. Chapter 7 of the Society of Young Magicians meets every second Saturday from mid-October to the end of May at Riverview Community Centre.
Instructor Graham Wiebe teaches a class of seven-to-nine-year-olds and, following a short break, a group of 10-to-16-year-olds.
The day I attended, the classes were performance workshops whereby students performed a trick in front of an audience made up of Wiebe, his father Dan (who became involved with the Society of Young Magicians when he drove his son to meetings), parents, classmates and me.
Read more.
Guarantee your spot at #MagicCamp Aug.15-19 2015. Tell your parents registration is on your wish list - it's now open at sorcererssafari.ca
— Sorcerers Safari (@SorcerersSafari) December 22, 2014
Many parents & friends who do not attend camp are left wondering just how/why/what makes camp so awesome that their kids actually get a job so they can come back the next year. Here is a GREAT article written by Nicole Lee that outlines just what we do in the woods of Ontario for a week every summer and why it works!
Get it FREE at www.vanishmagazine.com
You'll want to click on 'Edition 8' and head to page 98 for the goods.