Eric Leclerc in season 2 of Tricked

Unfortunately, the videos on BYU TV appear to be geoblocked.  Anyone out there know how we can watch this in Canada?


From the Tricked Facebook page:

Join us as Season 2 returns to #BYUtv on February 25th at 6:30 pm MT. Will you be watching? #TrickedTV

Reginacadabra 2018: Talent

The Reginacadabra Magic Festival will be held July 25-28, 2018.

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed the sign-up for more information about CAM 2019, July 24-27, 2019!


From Reginacadabra:

Matt Gore aka “The Ginger Ninja” from South Africa

• After winning the title of FISM Africa Magic Champion in 2012, and competing in the World Championships of Magic twice, Matt has achieved international recognition for his performances. Matt is a talented entertainer with over 12 years’ experience performing all around the world; add to that his cheeky character and sharp sense of humour and you have the ultimate comedy magician. Matt interacts among your guests, standing or seated at tables, bringing his exceptional brand of interactive comedy magic right to them. Your guests may have seen magic on stage or TV, but never has the impossible happened so close to them, the magic will literally happen in their own hands!

Danny Kazam

• Danny is a full time professional children’s entertainer, magician, and puppeteer. He is also a talented song writer, and has created magic for other magicians. He studied acting at Studio Sound Stage in Toronto, Ont. and has a background in both theatre arts and child development. Two of his biggest influences in becoming a children's entertainer was Shari Lewis and Ernie Coombs/Mr. Dressup.

Andrew Kinakin

• Andrew Kinakin is a professional entertainer from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Having travelled five continents around the world, he is happy to be back performing in the province he calls home. Being one of the youngest professional performers around this area Andrew brings a new, fun, high energy form of entertainment that you will find both captivating and refreshing. In the past few years Andrew has had the opportunity to make appearances on media outlets such as Global, CTV, C95 and CruzFm. Performing close-up magic gives everyone an opportunity really experience the entertainment right under their noses! Be prepared to experience entertainment with extra excitement!

Eric Leclerc - Canada's Two-Time Magic Champion from Ottawa

• Eric Leclerc is a globetrotting speaker and magician that performs feel good magic for your brain. His popular YouTube videos have gathered over 10 million views worldwide. He currently co-hosts the game show AU DÉFI on TFO Networks and is a regular guest on National Geographic's top rated show Brain Games. His original magic and hilariously crazy attitude have made him a 2-time winner of the "Canadian Magic Championship" title. Whether it's in front of the camera, performing live on the world's stages or simply speaking to inspire, Eric uses his charismatic personality to delight and connect with any audience. His shows have been described as ''a unique journey through interactive experiments and calculated craziness''. Think you know what magicians do? Think again. See why Eric's performances guarantee a healthy dose of laughter for your soul, and magic for your brain.

Chris Lovely

• For almost as long as I can remember I wanted to be an entertainer. Wasn’t sure just what at first, all I knew was that I loved to see people having a good time and laughing. When I was 11 years old I saw David Copperfield on TV for the first time, and I was hooked, I had found my calling in the entertainment world. Every year since I looked forward to his yearly T.V. specials and counted the days when his next special was airing. It was something my Mother and I watched together year after year. I started doing some research on how one becomes a magician. When I was 14 I met the local magician in Fredericton NB named Pearly Palmer. He became my mentor and is one of my main reasons I became the magician that I am. He gave me my first paying gig. My passion for magic and entertaining people has never changed. I am dedicated to providing not only a quality show but being sure you get the right show for your event.

Richy Roy

• Saskatchewan's own Richy Roy has been performing magic across Canada, for over a decade, entertaining audiences with his amazing magic, incredible balloon twisting, energetic stage performances, and hilarious antics! Nobody entertains quite like Richy! Card manipulations, linking rings, unbelievable rope magic, and levitation are only some of the impressive routines Richy Roy will perform. Hilarious entertainment professionally crafted to keep you amazed and laughing all show long!

Kent Wong

• Kent Wong is one of the most sought after entertainers in North America. With numerous appearances on national television, he is also a two-time, international Gold Medal Champion and a member of Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle. Kent has astounded audiences with his unique brand of magic and humour for over 35 years. From strolling magic to banquet shows and grand scale illusions, Kent has done it all. Kent’s close-up magic is similar to the Street Performing festivals prevalent throughout many cities each and every summer, with much of the magic happening right in your hands. Kent Wong can bring the joy and excitement of this festival right to your doorstep!

Read more and register.

Canadians on AGT 2018

The next season of America's Got Talent is right around the corner.  How many Canadians will we be seeing this season?


From Alex Kazam's blog:

In due time, for now, let me begin at the beginning. It was December 7th, 2017. I was performing at my usual Thursday night spot, St.Louis Bar and Grill in St. Catharines, Ontario. It was one of the first really cold nights, the evening was just starting up. The restaurant was still fairly quiet, and slowly starting to fill with patrons anticipating dinner service. I moved to my usual spot in the back corner of the space, hung up my coat, and prepared what I needed to perform. I noticed my client Jim Reaman (the owner) standing near the bar chatting with some staff.

Since I had a few minutes to spare, and genuinely enjoy catching up with Jim, checking-in and so forth, I headed towards him. We quickly moved from talking about personal affairs, to talking about what I’d been working on, my aspirations, and so on. I mentioned an idea that had been floating around my head, like an annoying little balloon. Sometimes it was filled with helium, sometimes with Sulfur Hexaflouride. The idea was light, in that it was clever, fun, inspiring, educational and full of potential for awesome. It was heavy in that it was terrifying, risky, draining, and full of potential for embarrassment, failure and rejection.

Read more.

From Eric Leclerc's Facebook page:

You Laugh, You Lose, Canadian magician edition

Chris Ramsay, Wes Barker, Spidey, Vincent C, and Eric Leclerc face-off in the ultimate "You Laugh, You Lose" challenge where they each have to come up with their own magic related Dad Jokes!

Definitely NSFW.

From Chris Ramsay's YouTube channel:

Ottawa: Eric Leclerc family magic show

Updated at 7:50am to add:

• The event has been cancelled.

From evensi:

Saturday 16 December

Eric Leclerc who has appeared in countless TV Shows FINALLY does an incredible show for his fans in Ottawa. Come See One Of Canada's Top Performer And Magician Live!


Read more and buy tickets.

Quebec: Festival de magie de Québec May 3-6, 2018

From the Festival de magie de Québec newsletter:

We are really excited ton inform you that the Festival de magie de Québec will be back for the 8th Edition, in May, 2018. Please visit Web site: www.festivaldemagie.ca

In 2018,  many new concepts will be offered like the "Strange Gala" on Friday night, the "Kids Gala" Saturday afternoon and of course our "International Gala" Saturday night with 7 renowned artists.  You will have the chance to see during that gala: Bill Abbott, Juliana Chen, Éric Leclerc, Max Maven, Xavier Mortimer, Xavier Tapias and Daniel Coutu as Emcee.

Since the Festival also organises the CAMarederie in 2018, the magicians will have the chance to see 9 lectures from Bill Abbott, Stéphane Bourgoin, Juliana Chen, Max Maven, Xavier Mortimer, Xavier Tapias, Christopher Taylor, Marc Trudel and R.Paul Wilson.

You can already buy your magician's package at 300 $ + tx (value of $400 + tx) on our Web site. We also offer a show only package at 75 $ + tx. (Value of $95 + tx)

Prices will raise on January 1st, 2018.

You can also register for the Magic School that will offer different levels during the week-end.  You can also join the Club de Magie du Québec. Its mission is to support magicians who want to compete at high levels of competitions.  You can also register to our 6th Edition of the Concours International de magie "Michel Cailloux" with $4000 in prizes for the winners.

Read more and buy tickets.

Winners of the 2017 Allan Slaight Awards

From Magicana:

Congratulations to this year's recipients:

MAX MAVEN
Lifetime Achievement ($15,000)

DEREK DELGAUDIO
Sharing Wonder ($15,000)

JOHN LOVICK
Sharing Secrets ($10,000)

EDWARD HILSUM
International Rising Star ($5,000)

ERIC LECLERC
Canadian Rising Star ($5,000)

Read more.

Rounding the Eastern rings in October 2016

I've heard that Eric Leclerc is going to be out this way early in the month.

Does anybody have current information to share about the Magic Circle of St. John?

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

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- Visit their Facebook page.
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- TBA

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

YTV's "Tricked" in the news

From the CBC:

P.E.I.'s Dave Moses is no stranger to the magic of television.

The writer/producer/actor has credits that range from the comedy Robson Arms to the gritty, real-life Emergency: Life & Death at VGH, set in Vancouver General Hospital's emergency room.

And then there's the surreal life of the upcoming Real Housewives of Toronto.

But he's now also involved in some actual magic on TV, thanks to the current show Tricked, airing on YTV.

Read more.

From TV, eh?:

“We spent five months in Vancouver filming, and performed 300 tricks,” Leclerc says during a press day in Toronto. “It was the first time in my career where I was doing magic that I wasn’t choosing to be put out there.” Adapted from a series in the UK, Force Four Entertainment auditioned hundreds of magicians before picking the Ottawa-based Leclerc. He and a team of magicians came up with all-original tricks, created and worked with him to perfect them before unleashing the brain-twisters on the public in 20 episodes.

Read more and watch video.

Eric Leclerc in YTV's "Tricked"

We previously mentioned Eric's kids' show MathXplosion. Now he's in another show set to air next month!

Watch the promo on YouTube below.

From TV, eh?:

YTV is making magic this fall with the debut of the new Canadian original series, Tricked (20 x 30). Produced for YTV by Force Four Entertainment, and hosted by veteran magician Eric Leclerc, Tricked baffles unsuspecting people with magic, sleight-of-hand, and super sneaky pranks. The series premieres on Monday, September 5 at 7:30 pm ET/PT and will air Monday to Thursday on YTV.

In each episode of Tricked, Eric goes undercover to pull well-crafted pranks on unsuspecting people, all caught on tape by hidden cameras. Well-known from his popular YouTube videos, which have garnered more than 10 million views worldwide, Eric performs illusions, misdirection and mind-reading tricks that will leave viewers in awe and disbelief day after day.

More magical content will be uploaded on YTV.com and YTVGo featuring tricks of the trade and tutorials on how to prank family and friends with magic that can be done at home. Also available online are videos revealing secrets from Tricked’s “Magic Camp,” where Eric and the magic team taught kids tricks using household items, which they then performed on camera.
 
Read more.

 Watch the promo on YouTube:

 

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 11

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A camper's notebook.

Day 5: Tuesday August 18th (cont)*

8pm

Dinner was wings and fries and salad and donuts!  Jen Segal, Christina Galonska, Stephanie Kline, Lori Farquhar, Lisa Close, and Mike Toal worked hard to get it organized and serve us since we weren’t in the Mess Hall tonight.  They’re always working really hard to making sure all of the non-magic stuff is taken care of.  I sure am grateful for their efforts. 

Dance party = so much fun!   Mark Correia did a wicked Michael Jackson impersonation and two of the littlest kids here had an incredible dance off!  Phil DaCosta DJ’d again and gave away t-shirts and cards and stuff too for answering questions and making clever requests.  I love this place. 

Mark doing his thing.

The weather must have cleared ‘cause they’re letting us have camp swim!

10pm
I did it!!  I got scared and wasn’t going to.  But then I remembered that Scott Hammell and Eric Leclerc both say that we should try things “out of our comfort zone” now and again.  The lifeguard said it was safe to jump from up high and that he’d make sure nothing bad happened to me.  I was so nervous climbing up those stairs.  They went up forever.  The lake looked such a long way down.  I froze and almost didn’t do it.  Then I jumped!!!!  I was surprised how long it took for me to hit the water -- it felt like hours.  I didn’t get hurt, nobody laughed and my friends all cheered for me!  I really feel like I’m part of one big family here.

I did it!!!

There was more dancing and a spectacular fireworks show.  Everyone sang some song by a band called “Queen” and that was the end of the night.  I’m so excited and tired.  I don’t remember much else.  I don’t want camp to end tomorrow.

This is so. much. FUN!

Everybody dance now!

To be continued ...

--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 10

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A camper's notebook.

Day 5: Tuesday August 18th*

Cheesy omelette breakfast.  I saw the rabbits again!  And I saw a bright green frog too.  Still no sign of the deer. 

At card class Shawn Farquhar talked to us about stuff I’d never considered.  He said, “give people a sense of wonder.  Don’t make them feel stupid or small.”  And then he said this quote from American poet Maya Angelou:   

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

We played “Capture the Flag” which was so. much. FUN!

6pm
The camper show was fantastic.  Before the show, Lee Asher made his group perform walk around for the audience.  They did really well. 

Pre-show walk around.

Then the show started.  Some of the kids performed things they just learned (or even made!) this week!  Others made stuff up and some came prepared with things they’d been working on the whole year.  Shout out to them all!

Emcees: Chaz and RJ.
Performers: Cathy, James, Brad, Matt, Tariq, Jordan, Ava, Vincent, Landon, Matthew, Nathan, Will, Ben, Jack, Nick, and Jeff.
Backstage: Simon, Holden, Serena, and Jarrett.
Sound and tech: Steve Kline (for this and all the other shows!).
Production assistants: Mike and Lisa Close, Dan Wiebe, and Mike Toal.

Owning the stage.

Sponge balls.

Something big is about to happen!

The coolest thing about the show was that everyone’s performance looked good.  Beginner kids went first so they didn’t have to go after someone who had more experience.  I don’t see any competition between the kids.  The adults want us all to shine. 

Today’s electives were Pulp Friction (with Lee himself!), linking rings, Gravity Half Pass (with Aaron Fisher!), Assistant’s Revenge stage illusion, Miser’s Dream, any card at any number, and Patriotic Ropes. 

Bill Wells and Sheldon Casavant talking coins.

I did the linking rings and was kinda surprised (and disappointed) to learn how they work.  It seems that some of the most wonderful effects are based on simple ideas.  Loran was a great teacher, but I’m going to have to practise a lot more until I feel comfortable doing it in front of anyone!

Rats. Camp swim got rained out.  (I wish I tried the high jump yesterday).  Silver lining: we all piled into the Staff Lounge and had a big impromptu panel with Shawn, Eric, Phil, and Mark.  They do things off the top of their head better than I can do anything I’ve rehearsed a million times.  I wonder how much of it is pure talent and how much of it is hours and hours of practise.

Shawn speaking at the panel.

To be continued ...


--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Catching up with Discourse in Magic

Jonah Babins and Tyler Williams have been steadily producing podcasts since their launch in April.  Have a look at what they've released so far...

As an aside, am I the only one wondering when someone is going to launch Datcourse in Magic?

From Discourse in Magic:

Welcome to the Discourse in Magic podcast! This is where we tackle magic’s hardest issues, theories, philosophies, discussion, and more to help you explore.  We jump into all sorts of resources and most importantly actionable tips to help better the art and become a killer performer!

• Episode 11 – How to be a Great Teacher, Mentor and Student of Magic with Aaron Fisher and Adam Grace
  June 16th, 2016
• Episode 10 – Playing Card Innovation and Economy in the Era of Crowdfunding with Lee Asher June 9th, 2016
• Episode 9 – Community Month: Introduction Magic Shops, Camps and Friends June 2nd, 2016
• Episode 8 – Performing Tips for the Working Magician, From Restaurants to Big Illusions with Chris Westfall May 26th, 2016
• Episode 7 – Ethics and morals for the modern magician with Ben Train May 19th, 2016
• Episode 6 – Creating a fictional premise with conflicts and twist endings that rock May 12th, 2016
• Episode 5 – Designing magic for the screen and the stage with Patrick Kun May 5th, 2016
• Episode 4 – Improv and being open to change with Chris Mayhew April 29th, 2016
• Episode 3 – Personality, character and connecting with your audience with Eric Leclerc April 27th, 2016
• Episode 2 – Going viral, the Reddit secret, and Rubik’s cubes with Steven Brundage April 23rd, 2016
• Episode 1 – Introduction Episode April 20th, 2016

Read more and listen to podcasts.

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari

Almost 20 years ago, armed only with the idea of making magic more accessible to kids who want to learn magic, "Magic Mike" Segal opened the doors to Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.  Sorcerers Safari is Canada's only sleepaway magic camp, hosting up to 150 campers a year.

Words fail to adequately describe the phenomenon that is Sorcerers Safari.  Everyone comes away from camp with their own unique experience.  To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, here’s a list of:

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari (in no particular order):

1. My favourite camp memory would have to be when I first went to Sorcerers Safari. I saw all of my idols in magic and there were so many magicians that I had watched on TV and on YouTube. It was brilliant to see them perform and not only to see them perform but just to have a normal magic or even non magic conversation with them was amazing to me. It was literally like a dream come true!
   
   Brad B.
   Camper: 2014-2015
   
   
   
2. The first year I ever attended I recall walking down a wooded path and seeing Michael Ammar talking to a group of campers who were seated under the shade of a huge tree.  Michael was talking about choosing magic as a career and I could see the look in all the campers eyes as I eavesdropped.  I knew in that very moment I would return to camp as often as I could as I felt something I’d never felt before.  Not sure how to describe it, but it was just so special.
   
   Shawn Farquhar (magichampion.com)
   Instructor: 2008-2013, 2015
3. A favourite memory was making a card flourish duel that appeared in the 2013 camp video.
   
   
   Eric S.
   Camper: 2007-2014
   
   
   
4. I was overwhelmed by the quality of instruction and the dedication of Mike, Jen and the entire board and staff. It was without doubt one the finest experiences I've had in my almost 40 years in the Magic business.
   
   Phil Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
   Guest: 2014
5. I would have to say that my favourite memory at camp would have to be after Brett C. and I performed the “cube in cube out” stage illusion. It was a huge relief that the whole thing went successfully and it was also the first routine that Brett and I created together.
   
   Holden L.
   Camper: 2008-2015
   
   

6. Many of my favourite memories at Sorcerers Safari come from the late night jam sessions in the campers' cabins.  You never know what newest tricks or guest magicians you'll find.
   
   For example, a few years back, I witnessed Tyler Wilson sharing the longest and most entertaining card revelation I've seen. Over the course of about 45 minutes, the cabin filled with campers as they watched him attempt to find the card.  Pure suspense. Needless to say, he had no idea what the card was, and was playing us the entire time.
   
   The jam sessions offer a great opportunity to see the campers' talent and creativity.  In 2015, Philip B. and I posed an Ambitious Card challenge to the cabin.  They split into 2 teams to work together to create an Ambitious Card routine from scratch.  This impromptu competition went on for close to 2 hours and was a blast to watch!
   
   Sheldon Casavant (SheldonCasavant.com)
   Camper: 2003, Counsellor: 2004 and 2007, Instructor: 2015
   
7. 

   Trying to find only one Sorcerers Safari good memory is impossible because there are so many!  So let’s say that one of them is when Anders Bjorkman, Johnny Toronto, and I did a “fire trio act” together on the beach during the party night. I believe it happened in 2010. We literally had a blast!!!
   
   Loran, (LoranIllusion.com)
   Instructor: 2000 - 2015
   
   

8. a) The first time (repeated over the years) that all the campers hit the stage on the final night to present their interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ... (always a fun moment).
   b) Seeing the "shy and timid" take the stage for the first time in front of their peers and proudly present an effect they have learned at camp.
   c) The meal times with the table banging under the direction of Lee Asher.
   d) Seeing a camper on TELEVISION presenting magic... and only a few years earlier not being able to communicate...
   e) Year after year - the reunions. Campers emailing each other to make sure they would be in the same dorm.
   f) The chant of "we love Dick, we love Dick."
   
   Dick Joiner, (DickJoiner.com)
   Instructor: ~2001-2015
   
   
   
9. Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp was the first time I ever went to camp. I'm in my seventies and it was fun and exciting. I loved the enthusiasm of the kids and their teachers, who were the best. We met old friends and made new ones. Keep up the good work and thank you Mike for inviting us.
   
   Evelyn Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
   Guest: 2014
10. I have so many wonderful memories of camp that it's near impossible to choose just one. But a camp classic that we continually reminisce about all the time happened on my first year when Rob 'Fish The Magish' Fishbaum secretly hid in the woods during the middle of the night, waited until I walked by, then jumped out making a loud squealing pig noise. I shrieked like a little girl, jumped into Steve Kline's arms completely terrified, and almost crapped my pants.
    
    It was an amazing moment. It's also when I knew these people would be part of my family for the rest of our lives. The best part, scaring the newbie staff has since become a long-standing camp tradition.
    
    Lee Asher (LeeAsher.com)
    Special Guest: 2001, Instructor: 2002-2015
    
    
    
11. Lip Sync Battles
    
    

    

    
    

    

      
    
    Jeff P.
    Counsellor in Training: 2015
    
12. When the whole camp did a one camera take lip dub! That was so exciting and EVERYONE had a part and nailed it! The video was a hit and definitely one to be remembered.
    
    Watch the 2011 Sorcerers Safari Lip Dub on YouTube:
    
    
    
    Lorena Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014

13. a) I remember one night at the nightly stage shows in the Pinetages theatre:  the air was hot and thick… the performers were breaking a sweat after literally 30 seconds on stage.  And out of the blue we see Lee Asher come out and perform a trick (and a dance!) in a massive eggplant costume! It was epic.
    
    b) One year we decided to do a lip dub. It was amazing to see everyone come together and participate with such passion and precision. Check out the video it took us about a half-day to film. It was truly awesome.
    
    Eric Leclerc (EricLeclerc.com)
    Instructor: 2008-2015
    
    
    
14. My favourite memory from camp was probably performing for Michael and Lisa Close's daughter on stage. I was able to use her last name to do a hilarious bit for the entire camp while poking fun of their last name.
    
    Chris Westfall (ChrisWestfallMagic.com)
    Instructor
    
    
    
15. One of my favourite memories would be Eric Leclerc and a few of us attempting to scare RJ late at night with a bunch of scary halloween masks and then RJ wouldn't wake up. I have the video footage of it, but it is one of those bits that never made it into the annual Sorcerers Video, but was very funny to observe at the time.
    
    Chris Mayhew (ChrisMayhewMagic.com)
    Videographer: 2013-2015
16. a) Performing on the camp stage. The first time I worked a stage, wore a mic, stood in front of the lights, and performed for a "big" crowd all came at camp. I'll never forget the love and support people showed me, and it's probably a major reason why I'm still getting up there today!
    
    b) Watching my campers grow up.  I still maintain relationships with campers I had a decade ago.  Some have become better performers than I would have ever imagined. Some are even better than I am... which is both awesome and infuriating!  One that stands out to me is Nathaniel Rankin.  I watched him grow from a cute, but shy, juggler to a world class magician performing on cruise ships around the world.  I don't take credit for his success -- that was all him -- but I'm glad to have been a stepping stone on his path to finding something that makes him so happy.
    
    Ben Train, (BenTrain.ca)
    Counsellor in Training: 2000-2001, Staff: 2002-2015
    

17. This memory is from 2006.  For the end of the week camper show, Sami S. and I decided to dress up like veteran campers and counsellors, Kelvin and Dustin.  Every year, this eccentric duo would perform the “one-handed card trick” in which they are Siamese twins, joined at the hip where each only has the ability to use only one hand.  2006 marked one of the first years Kelvin was not at camp (but Dustin was) so we did not get to see their jubilant routine.  Instead, Sami and I dressed up like the duo and impersonated them and the one-handed card trick.  It was really goofy, not many people understood what we were doing.  But I distinctly remember Scott Hammell and Magic Mike in the audience laughing uncontrollably.
    
    This memory isn’t about the moment itself, but about the inside joke shared with the other veteran campers and staff that makes it stand out so strongly in my mind.  The inside jokes are what I remember now; nonsense jokes told around the campfire (knock-knock jokes will always be the funniest for me because of camp), and ridiculous one-liners.  There are moments with sugar shots, fruit stickers on our foreheads, crocket, fridge box racing, pushing Steve Kline in the lake and so many defining “coming of age” moments that bring me back to camp.  There are too many small memories to put one as the best, but the inside jokes between fellow campers and life-long friends are something I hold onto very dearly.
    
    Lauren Proctor
    Camper: 1999-2008
    
18. My favorite memory is when Magic Mike told us that the visiting volleyball camp found an (invisible) deck, and not knowing what it was straightened all of the cards for us. I retell that story to magicians all the time.
    
    
    Jonah Babins (JonahBabinsMagic.com)
    Camper, Counsellor in Training, and Instructor
    

19. Playing capture the flag with the kids during active time, then one of them realizing that I was the entertainer he watched on stage the night before! He was so excited, then I noticed a few more kids running around with me to beat the game!
    
    Trevor Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014
    
    
    
    
20. I have so very many memories of camp, having been the guy who started it, and having attended every year, that it is hard to pick just one. There really are so many in the 20 years… but one stands out, and is particularly appropriate for this summer.
    
    I remember the summer 15 years ago when we switched our host camp after 5 years at another camp.  It was an amazing summer, as everything felt new again. The energy (which is never lacking at Sorcerers Safari) seemed to be ramped up that summer in everyone, staff and campers. Exploring the new grounds, and meeting new challenges really made everyone bring their ‘A’ Game. It was great.  The move was extremely positive, making me that much more excited to see what our move will bring this summer.
    
    Magic Mike Segal (SorcerersSafari.ca)
    Camp Director: 1996 - 2016

The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016.  For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 7

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A camper's notebook.

Day 3: Sunday August 16th (cont)*

9pm
Dinner was good but the ice cream pie was AMAZING!

At the theatre they said Chris Mayhew is making a video of camp.  I can’t wait to see that!  Rosemary said she runs the Sorcerers Safari social media accounts and will help promote events that campers are involved with.  Impressive.  I don’t get the sense that people here think they’re better than anyone else -- they all just want to see everyone succeed.  Just like our moms and dads.  But WAY cooler. 

Mike Close played some beautiful piano before the show.  (Is everyone here crazy talented?)  The lip syncs were extra funny tonight. Rosemary (singer) and Chris Westfall (background cheerleader) did “Cheerleader" by Omi, and Jonah (with Jonah supporting) did a duet -- "Love Is An Open Door" from Frozen.  HYSTERICAL!!!!

Found myself a cheerleader!

Jonah backing up Jonah.

Tonight’s show was called the “World Champion Show” and featured three award winning magicians!  I got to see Greg Frewin, Shawn Farquhar, and Daryl all on the same stage.  I bet that the evening shows alone are worth the price of camp.

Greg Frewin.

Shawn Farquhar.

Daryl.

Rocket popsicles for bedtime snack!  (The sugar will help keep me awake for cabin visits!)  Eric came and gave us all mouth coils to try.  (I thought they would never end!!  We’re going to decorate the bunks with them tomorrow.)  Lee Asher showed us some super cool tricks with cards and then he showed us specialty decks we’d never heard of.  They looked really fancy.

Eric sharing secrets.

Goodnight.

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Eric Leclerc in MathXplosion

From the National Screen Institute:

Ottawa-based kids’ content producer GAPC Entertainment is in production on a new web series for TVOKids and TFO. mathXplosion is produced by GAPC’s Hoda Elatawi (NSI Global Marketing).

The 50-episode series has mathemagician Eric Leclerc taking children, six to eight years old, through an adventure in the world of math. Everything from measuring tree height with your thumb to finding treasure with a grid map, these short, kid-friendly episodes are aimed at inspiring both children and their parents to try out fun, accessible math experiments for themselves.

mathXplosion is produced in conjunction with TVO and TFO with financial participation from the CMF, Shaw Rocket Fund and Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.

From Eric Leclerc's Facebook Fan page:

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 5

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A camper's notebook.

Day 2: Saturday August 15th (cont)*

5pm
Camp swim is so much fun!  We get to use huge inner tubes to float in the docks at the lake.  Eric Leclerc went out of the designated area in an inner tube, to get a ball that floated away.  It was funny to watch him try and paddle with his hands!  There’s a slide that goes into the lake and a super high platform that you can jump off of too.

Inner tubes are fun!

Squeezing more magic in before the swim.

We had “performance workshop” where some campers performed something and everyone got to tell them what they liked about it and what they thought could be improved.  Some kids got up and did things that we just learned at electives today!  Everyone seems really supportive and encouraging here.  No one was mean about it.  

Then we played the “Umm” game.  It’s where you have to talk as long as you can about an assigned topic (think unicorns, chocolate, soccer, etc) without saying things like “umm” or “ahh.”  It’s hard!  (And fun to watch!)  Now I know that I need to script my performances because I’m not so good at improvising!

Performance workshop.

10pm
What a night!  We ate chicken burgers and chocolate mousse!  At the theatre we watched video messages for us from magicians from Las Vegas and other places in the US.  Apparently there’s a camper show later in the week.  I wonder if I have anything good enough to do for the show...

The evening performance was mind blowing.  Mike Close, Eric, Sheldon Casavant, Scott Hammell, Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva are all fabulous.  I got to see dove magic live for the first time.  Neil made birds appear out of NOWHERE. 

Mike Close.

Eric Leclerc.

Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva.

Rosemary Reid, Mark Correia, and Chris Mayhew did lip syncs tonight.  I laughed so hard when Chris “blah, blah, blahed” his way through "Single Ladies" by Beyoncé.

Chris Mayhew channeling Beyoncé.

After that we had a beach party -- wait for it -- on the beach!  There was fire floating in the lake (I’d never seen that before).  We had fries and chicken nuggets and fried zucchini for snack.  Phil DaCosta, the DJ, had everyone moving and doing the limbo and forming conga lines.  I liked it when he played the “Cha Cha Slide” and “Uptown Funk.”  I complained when my counsellor said I had to leave early ‘cause I’m so little.  Secretly I’m glad I’m back at the cabin.  I’m pooped.

How low can you go?

Beach party!

More beach party!

 
To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -5- 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - next >

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 3

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A camper's notebook.

Day 1: Friday August 14, 2015 (cont)*

11pm 

After dinner we went back to the cabins to get some rain gear -- the weather report said it was going to thunderstorm.  We headed off to the “Pinetages Theatre.”  The theatre is about the size of my school gym, maybe a little smaller but with a bigger stage. 

The Pinetages Theatre.

Each cabin did something for “cabin intros” under the guidance of the counsellors (Philip Bowser, Greydon Gilmore, Jonah Babins, Tyler Williams, Mark Correia, Nathaniel Rankin, Rosemary Reid, and Sam Segal).  Cabins did really clever things including impersonating well-known magicians (like Penn & Teller and David Blaine), miming deliberate misinterpretations of magic terms (like overhand shuffles and dribbling), a version of the TV show “Fool Us,” and magic effects performed using people instead of things (linking rings, sliding knot on rope, and cups & balls).  I was sooo nervous.  I took some deep breaths and I didn’t mess up!  It feels amazing to be on stage and hear everyone clap and cheer for you. 

Cabin intros.

More cabin intros.

Rosemary announced that they were going to do a lip sync competition all week.  She started it off and then Eric did “Your Name” by Taylor Swift.  Hilarious!  It rained really hard while we were in the theatre.  (Glad I brought rain boots!) 

Rosemary singing.

Eric channeling Taylor Swift.

Daryl did amazing rope magic. Ben Train did a wild book test.  Phil DaCosta did more fun rope magic.  Chris Westfall and Chris Mayhew made everyone laugh so hard.  They even threw some “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Llama” shirts into the audience.  I wish I got one.  At the end we all got brand new decks of really cool cards that Dave Mitchell got donated from Ellusionist.  They look so nice, I don’t want to use them!

Chris and Chris bringing the laughs.

It is soooo dark here at night.  I can see more stars here than I knew existed!  At our cabin we had a “cabin visit” from Chris Westfall. He showed us AMAZING tricks using cards, rubber bands, and coins!

Chris Westfall being magical.

I feel a little sad.  I miss my home and my bed and my room.  And especially my family.  Everyone here is super friendly and nice though.  And this place is so much fun!  I’m super excited about tomorrow.

We all got ready for bed.  I tried to go to sleep without writing here.  But I just couldn’t.  That’s why I’m writing here so late.  Tired now.  G’night.

To be continued ...


--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 -3- 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - next >

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.