Dan McLean Jr interviewed by Jenna Melanson at Canadian Beats

From the October 5th article "DAN MCLEAN JR UNVEILS NEW SINGLE, “KISS ME ONCE” (INTERVIEW)" by Jenna Melanson at Canadian Beats:

I’ve been a musician for … wow … 45 years. I started out singing the hard rock that I loved from when I was a kid in the mid-70s. At some point, I started being drawn to great singers inside and outside of rock, and those singers still motivate me. Gino Vannelli, Daryl Hall, Mavis Staples, Paul Rogers, Sammy Hagar. There’s something transcendent about the sound of their voices and their emotional impact.

Fast-forwarding, I’d stopped singing for 15 years when suddenly I decided to start playing acoustic shows around Toronto. I just wanted to sing. I didn’t want to start another band or write songs. I just wanted to sing. After playing Soul covers in Toronto cafés and small clubs, mostly in Kensington & Parkdale, I decided to film a show to use as promotional material and booked a theatre. A day or two later, I called my old writing partner Dave Dunlop, and asked if we could try writing again. “Oh, by the way, Dave, I have a show in eight weeks and I need enough songs to fill the show”.

Over the next couple of years, we wrote a bunch of songs and I put together “Dan McLean Jr & Some Honey” with three really great backup singers. During lockdowns, we wrote a bunch more songs together online, and we drew on those two groups of songs for the album.

Read more. 

 Listen to Dan's single "Kiss Me Once" at Dan's YouTube channel:

 

 

Richmond Hill: Joker's fundraiser with Erik Tait, Dan McLean Jr, Ben Train, Elvis Gallant, and more! [Oct 6]

From the September 25th Facebook post by Dave Curran:

Our fundraiser is coming up! Don't just come to support us, but show love for all these incredible performers that are donating their time. This show is going to be lit!
https://www.showclix.com/event/fire-sale

 

 

 

 

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 8

Recap (click to show | hide)

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.

 

<< part 7  |  part 9 >>

 

Part 8 features:  Jesse Arndt, Dan McLean Jr, and Rosemary Reid. 

 

  Jesse Arndt  

Graphics installer and Sign maker.

Attended as a camper in 2007.

Since his time at camp Jesse has:

• Performed for events, parties and private shows.

In his own words:

• Learning magic within the Sorcerers Safari magic camp community made me a more confident person talking to groups of people.
  
  
  
• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Learning card magic and different sleight of hand secret moves from some of the very best such as, Aaron Fisher, Lee Asher, Ben Train, Steven Kline, Mike D’Urzo!
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• All of the above when it comes to making new friendships, and connections with people when it comes to magic and the playing card industry!
  

 

Such an amazing experience at this camp!
A once in a lifetime experience! 

 

 

  Dan McLean Jr  

Live Music Production Professional (Musician), DanMcLeanJr.com.

Attended camp from 2001-2016 as Cabin Counsellor, Bus Coordinator and occasional instructor.

 

Since his time at camp Dan has:

• Finished recording an album of original music, and is almost finished recording and “unplugged” EP of more original music.
• Had a couple of my patters/scripts used by professional magicians. So gratifying.
  
  

In his own words:

• As a magic hobbyist, much of my performing experience was at Sorcerers Safari, so the pros who've used my script ideas are people I met at camp.
  
  
• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Sneaking in to join Lee Asher's card classes. Oh! And the "Camper Shows"! 
• The “Camper Shows” were at the end of the week where campers performed on the big stage. Many of them did magic they learned that week at camp!
  
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• Definitely the people. I have many good friends that I met at camp, including several who were young campers when we met.
  
  

Those years at camp are some of my best memories. I’m so proud to have been part of encouraging young people to be creative, positive, and active.

Sorcerers Safari was "my happy place" for many years. I still tell people about it all the time.

 

 

  Rosemary Reid 

Professional magician, RosemaryReid.com.

Attended camp for 17 years as Camper, Counsellor, Staff, and Instructor.

Since her time at camp Rosemary:

• Was named Dalhousie's Most Talented Student,
  
• Delivered a TEDx presentation,
  

• Conducted the largest survey in the magic industry on the experience of women magicians, 
• Produced SISTERHOOD Playing Cards as a vehicle of information to communicate the results, and
• Writes monthly articles for CARD CULTURE Magazine discussing the contributions to the industry of those who often go unnoticed or under appreciated.
  
  

In her own words:

• Through Sorcerers Safari I met my magic community, who would turn into dear friends. My best friends are from magic camp, as well as my magic mentors. It's impossible to imagine what my life would look like if I'd never attended magic camp!  [Emphasis added.]
  
  
• Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
• Time spent in the evenings around the campfire, hearing magic anecdotes from time's past, telling jokes and getting to know the special guests and instructors.
  
  
• Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
• My community <3.

 

 

Thank you Jesse, Dan, and Rosemary for sharing your memories!

Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff!

 

 Previously featured 

• Alex Zander - part 7 
• Ben Train - part 1
• Brad Bond - part 2  
• Brett Chrest - part 3
  
• Byron Berry - part 1
• Cameron Dunlop - part 2
• Chris Pilsworth - part 6
• Dennis Gorya - part 5
• Dick Joiner - part 3 
• James Carey Lauder - part 2
• Jennifer Antonio - part 6
• Jonah Babins - part 6
• Jonathan Santiago - part 7 
• Keith Brown - part 4
• Loran - part 5
  
• Mark Clearview - part 5
• Matt DiSero - part 3
  
• Sam Pearce - part 1
• Shawn Farquhar - part 7 

 

Learn more about Sorcerers Safari.

part 1 | part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

<< part 7  |  part 9 >>

 

 

The Guelph Christmas Music Project 2020

From the December 23rd article "Made In Guelph: Local musicians spread holiday cheer with Christmas playlist" by Ariel Deutschmann in Guelph Today:

Dan McLean Jr. is the organizer of a 35 music video playlist of original Christmas songs and covers of the classics.

Five weeks ago, McLean created a private Facebook group and invited 50 musicians from Guelph, asking them if they would like to participate in The Guelph Christmas Music Project 2020.

“If a bunch of us do this, we can put together a playlist in which we can get together and give a Christmas gift to ourselves, to each other, to our families and to our community,” he says.

The playlist can be found here.

For someone who has taught self-care programs for the Canadian Mental Health Association for 15 years, McLean says organizing a community-building event was in his character.

Read more.

 

 

So many people to thank!

Thank you very much to the MonteCassino staff!

Thank you also to: Annie Pinsky, Dick Joiner, Mike & Jen Segal, Michael Gillis, Eric Hansen, Jon Sy, John Morgan, Luiz Castro, Chris Mayhew, Lidden Li, Stephanie Kline, Jeff Hinchliffe, Andres Gil, Shawna York, Nicole Lee, John Michalson, Roxanne Talbot, and Christina Asher.

Thanks again to Bash Ambassadors:  Arthur Poon, Al Grose, Derick Finn, Rosemary Reid, Morgan Pierce & Alex Boyer!
 

The musical interludes today were custom-made songs sung by the multitalented Dan McLean Jr.!

Last, but definitely not least, a big thank you to John Talbot and Lee Asher!

Guelph: Dan McLean Jr and Some Honey

From Brown Paper Tickets:

May 28, 2016

This will be a live concert filming of Dan doing songs from his upcoming album, and Dan will be accompanied by his three backup singers "Some Honey".

Opening the show will be two of Dan's most talented songwriter friends. Jane Lewis of Guelph, and Mandippal of Kitchener-Waterloo, both of whom also will be recorded.

ALL AGES!

Admission includes a full night of music and some snacks. Excellent food & drink will be available for you to order.  4.5 stars on TripAdvisor & Yelp.

Read more and buy tickets.

Dan McLean Jr. in "Guelph Today" and reviewed in "Jamsphere"

From Guelph Today:

Dan McLean Jr. found his singing voice in a farmhouse near Putnam, ON., back when he was a teenager. 

Anyone within earshot at that time could feel Dan’s soul from bootstrap to cowlick. Audiences feel about the same now when the soul-pop singer/songwriter belts it out.
McLean Jr. arrived in Guelph from Toronto a couple of years ago. His father was ailing with Alzheimer’s disease, and his mother needed a hand. When his father passed away, 

Dan took it hard. Sadness over the loss gave way to depression. The only way out, he said in an interview, was to sing his way out. 

New songs have emerged, one of them, “I’ve Seen Love,” was recently released on about 30 music streaming and downloading services, and on YouTube. Others songs will follow. 

Read more.

From Jamsphere:

Fate would have it that Dan McLean Jr’s homepage somehow unfolded before my eyes prior to his Soundcloud stream opening. So I came, I saw…and then heard. So what happens when you see a slightly balding, greying and bearded middle-aged man, with a guitar and a microphone at hand? Well, you imagine the sound dummy! Is this a semi-retired rock hero, a lovesick country balladeer or a well-traveled, folk-styled troubadour?

Read more.

Toronto: Dan McLean Jr's residency Swan Song

From Dan McLean Jr's Facebook photo:

Post by Dan McLean Jr.

Toronto: Dan McLean Jr as "Trashy Claus"

From Facebook:

Friday December 20th

This Friday night is the Trash Palace's Christmas party, and they've asked me to be their "Trashy Claus": A drunken, grumpy Saint Nick.

I'll be just a small part of the evening's fesivities, singing an unsavoury version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", and reading a few pages from "Santa's Diary" (more unsavouriness, from my 1992 essay).

Read more.

Toronto: Dan FREE at Harlem

From Dan McLean Jr's Facebook event:

Saturday, July 20

FREE show at this really wonderful soul food & soul music club! Three-and-a-half hours of solo acoustic soul. Philly, Motown & more, plus a few originals.

This show always is sold out for most/all of the night, so your best best is to make reservations. 416-368-1920. The food really is great. My faves are the Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle, the Blackened Catfish, the Jerk Beef Meatloaf, and the Guinness-Marinated Stewed Chicken.

Read more.

Toronto: Pub night at O'Grady's

From the Pub Night @ O'Grady's Facebook page:

Saturday, 8 June 2013

Come out for a night of live music, comedy magic, drinks & door prizes, and help send a kid to Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp! To learn more about camp visit: www.sorcererssafari.ca. All proceeds go towards a camp scholarship for one lucky kid!

With performances by:

• Dan McLean Jr
• Rosemary Reid
• Bill Abbott
• Bobby Motta
• Mark Correia

and the man who started it all:

• Magic Mike Segal

Read more.

[via: Deborah Fallick]

See a photo of Emma, scholarship winner from Chris Westfall's Slice of Magic fundraiser, from Sorcerers Safari Twitter feed:

Our scholarship recipient from @westfall_magic's Slice of Magic event last night; everyone had a great time! twitter.com/SorcerersSafar…
— Sorcerers Safari (@SorcerersSafari) May 1, 2013

While you're here,  have a look at the video Justin Flom made specifically for Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp:

Toronto: Music, Magic, Muggles...and some other M word.

Updated March 25th: 
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

From the Music, Magic, Muggles...and some other M word Facebook page:

Where: C'est What, Toronto.
When: Sunday March 31

Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Camp has been opening up the world of magic and performance to talented and creative youths aged 8-18 for more than 15 years! We combine the fun and exciting experience of summer camp (swimming, bonfires, canoeing) with instruction on the history and practice of magic (street, stage, parlour, etc.) and help kids learn how to get up in front of a crowd and perform. Fun-loving counselors and professional magicians come together with the campers to build friendships, make connections, and create a memorable experience that campers will hold on to for a lifetime. This fundraiser is designed to help keep this program going...and growing! 

Performers:

• Rosemary Reid
• Dan McLean Jr.

Read more.

Book launch: "The Lives of a Showman"

Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending a book launch party for “The Lives of a Showman” by Mark Lewis. (I live tweeted the event with the tag #TLOAS though I missed tagging a few tweets here and there.)

Upon entering Browser’s Den of Magic, I was instructed to direct my attention upward. Hanging from the ceiling were more than a dozen cheerful Lee Asher sign creations containing “Markisms” such as “If they were all the nine of hearts it would look like this” and “You're quite slow, do you work for the post office?” The mood was set!

It was clear that Mark has a tremendous amount of support in the local magic community! I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with Jeff Pinsky, Jeff Hinchliffe, Ariel Fralich, Mia Ngueyn and Adam Harmes who had all made contributions to, or were mentioned in, the book. Other notables present include*: Gordon Precious, Owen Anderson, Paul Pacific, Chris Westfall, John Pellatt, Richard Lyn, John Michalson, Shawna Ross-York, Dan McLean, Steve Shrott, Joe Schwarcz and young Daniel (one of Mark’s students).

While reading from his book, we were regaled with stories of Mark’s experiences with The Worst Audience Ever at The Blue Angel and his early days of (not so) psychic readings in Ireland with Adam Harmes. Mark also read a piece written about him by Mai Nguyen, winner of the Jerry Gladman Memorial Scholarship in Journalism.

To round out the evening we were treated to James Alan’s rendition of Mark’s “Pig Trick” and then we all laughed ourselves silly through Jeff Hinchliffe’s impersonation of Mark doing his Svengali deck hustle.

It is always a delightful experience to hear an author read his own words. If the rest of the book is even half as entertaining as the launch party, it should be a good read indeed!

To purchase “The Lives of a Showman” visit Mark's website, Browser’s Den of Magic or contact your local magic dealer.


--
* If I’ve missed listing anyone who was there please send me an e-mail or leave a comment below! Thank you to John Pellatt, Ariel Fralich and James Alan for providing attendee intel on the parts of the room I didn’t make it to.