Winnipeg: Speakeasy Magic [Jul 31 & Aug 1]

Tickets at The Basement.   

 

From the June 26th Instagram post by The Basement Winnipeg:

Be prepared to have your mind blown by incredible master magicians, Patrick Gregoire and Brett Oddly! 🪄  

Read more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about Explorer 2: Build your skills

Michael Close's Explorer 2: Build Your Skills
Teaching the magic beyond the tricks

This article first appeared in last month's issue of VANISH (May 2026 #142, pgs 78 - 79).  Republished with permission. 

From MichaelClose.com:

“Explorer 2 continues the structured training from Explorer 1, focusing on rarely-mastered sleights and advanced routining. You'll refine your technique, learn Michael's deceptive new handling of a popular stand-up effect, and develop the skills that separate hobbyists from performers.” 

  Prerequesite  

Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic 

Read our thoughts about 
Explorer 1:  Transform Your Magic

 

Michael Close has decades of experience performing and has authored fifteen books of original material for magicians, including the highly regarded “Workers” series.  He is a sought-after magic consultant, notably consulting for “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.”

Last Fall, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience auditing Michael’s six week online course, Explorer 1: Transform Your Magic.  In level one, Michael introduces a dozen foundational sleights (with cards and coins), more than a half-dozen tricks that incorporate the sleights, theory, critique, and insights on practise, finding your style, construction, routining, and presentation.

It goes without saying that I was eager to discover what Michael had in store for the next series of classes in Explorer 2.

 

 

 

 

The classes build directly on the material presented in Explorer 1.  Michael methodically expands our knowledge base on foundational sleights with both cards and coins.  In these classes there is a focus on some card and coin techniques that are often poorly executed by magicians in general.  Guided by Michael’s extensive real-world experience observing what can go wrong in their execution, he teaches the skills in easy to digest layers (including the assignment of preparatory exercises), as well as alerting the students how to both mitigate and circumnavigate potential issues.

 

 

  Explorer 2: Build your skills  

Topics covered include:

• Review of Explorer 1 foundational sleights with cards and coins.
• Approximately twice as many foundational sleights are explored with cards and coins in Explorer 2 compared with Explorer 1. 
• More than a dozen card techniques are taught.
• Roughly twice as many effects are shared incorporating those sleights (no gaffs needed!) in Explorer 2 compared with Explorer 1,
• Several excellent coin effects, including one of the most baffling coin routines I have ever seen.
• More than a dozen card routines.
• The repertoire consists of venerable effects with Michael’s added refinements, touches, and insights.  There are no performance restrictions.
• Six weeks of insightful magic theory, perspectives, and history.
• The critique, deconstruction, and mindful reconstruction (with deceptive new handling) of a popular stand-up effect.
  
  

 

The format for Explorer 2 is similar to level 1 of the course.  The online classes are about an hour in length, delivered weekly, and run for 6 weeks.  The class size is capped at twelve students, which allows students to participate in discussions, ask questions, and receive personal attention.  The classes are recorded, which means if you are absent for a class, you can watch the recording on your own time before the next class.  (It’s a tremendous gift if you’re having difficulty mastering a move because you can slow down the video!)

Michael provides many opportunities to ask questions both during and between classes.  While there is no requirement for students to perform during classes, he encourages them to submit videos of their progress for him to provide feedback.  He is also available by email to answer questions between classes.

One huge advantage to learning this material from Michael is his ability to draw on his considerable knowledge and experience to suggest alternative handlings if one’s skill set or dexterity aren’t quite up to the material as initially presented.  He can tell you the “why, when, and how” of the technique creation and point you to suitable workarounds if required.

Michael teaches with the end in mind.

 

In contrast to Explorer 1, where it was recommended to practise fifteen minutes a day to achieve mastery by the next class, many of the techniques presented in Explorer 2 require greater daily effort and may take longer than a week to truly master.  It is recommended that you set aside at least thirty to forty-five minutes a day for practise.

With respect to teaching effects and routines, Michael provides insights into an effect’s construction.  Theory is interspersed with the card and coin technique.  He shares his thoughts about the routining and what can be done to elevate the experience of the spectator.  Michael offers constructive criticisms and encourages his students to do the same.  Thought is given to the optimal way to present the effect and reading material is assigned to provide context regarding an effect’s creation and subsequent evolution.

Similar to Explorer 1, Michael has both assigned and supplemental reading, sharing wisdom from magicians such as Stewart James, Roberto Giobbi, Arturo De Ascanio, Jon Racherbaumer, Frank Garcia, Johnny Thompson, Martin Gardner, and John Carney.  (We also received the notes to Michael’s fantastic 2017 lecture "Magic Theory, or Magic Fact? Let's Find Out.")  The reading material serves to frame the lessons by reinforcing critical thinking skills, walking through the history and refinement of effects, and expanding on the opinions and observations of notable figures in magic.

As with Explorer 1, most of the class materials for Explorer 2 continue to be available to the students beyond the six week course enrolment.

I had a fantastic time and learned an incredible amount participating in Explorers 1 and 2!  If you’re looking for a way to refine your technique and elevate the impact of your performances, the Explorer series is for you!


For more information about the Explorer series of classes, visit MichaelClose.com.  

 

---

Disclosure:  I audited the classes as a guest.  The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

 

 

 

Mirrors vs video camera for practise -- a false dichotomy?

Last September we had the pleasure of listening to two well respected master card magicians speak.  Both of them touched on the topic of practise.  

• Magician A suggested that reviewing video recording of one's performance was optimal because among other things, magicians are unlikely to catch a poorly performed sleight in the mirror.*  
• Magician B suggested that performing in front of a mirror was the way to go, because you need to learn how to adjust in real time, if something goes wrong in the execution of a move.        

They both raised valid points.  We got to wondering how you, dear readers, practise?

In October, we asked the following on Facebook and Instagram:

What do you do when you practise?  Do you:
A. Use a mirror 
B. Video record the session 
C. Both of the above 
D. None of the above 
E. I don’t practise 

 

Seven people replied.  Two were 3-way mirror responses, two were video responses, we had two responses from those who do neither, and one of you have a very thoughtful practise involving both mirrors and video.  

The practise preference was divided along social media platforms. 

• Facebook preferred video,

• Instagram favours mirrors or neither. 

 (With N=7 it's difficult to draw meaningful inferences.  We found it interesting nonetheless.) 

From the April 27th Instagram post @CanadasMagicDotCom: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Canadas Magic (@canadasmagicdotcom)

 

 

A thought from the pro-video camp:

• Chris Yuill wrote: 
  " If you use a mirror but look down to look at the props you miss seeing what happened at that moment. Just my opinion.
  
  "PS if you video yourself to post on social media, watch the video first before posting. See too many crappy videos of crappy done magic on FB and the gram." 
  
  

 

A very thorough and insightful answer from Eric Bedard, who kindly took the time on October 2nd to write [emphasis added]:

"Mirror at home when first learning a new sleight or routine (3 mirrors one head on, two at 45 degrees on each side), also practice facing the mirror, then turn right angle to one side so you can see what people see over your shoulder or looking behind you, then repeat on the other side - when you are satisfied that you do not flash, then record at home several times while tweaking, adjusting blocking, checking script and timing, etc. and then definitely record the first time if it is a stand up routine. Close-up if you do all of the above, you should be bullet proof when you perform. However, you will continue to make adjustments and improvements once you have performed the first 100 times - in Martial arts it is said that you must do a move 10,000 times before you can start to really learn it - in Magic it is not 10,00 but definitely after you have field tested a routine, trick or sleight a minimum of 100 times, you can start to really understand the subtleties involved. Real world practice is best, just make sure you are bullet proof before you perform out in the world or you make us all look bad. Carry on......" 

 

We have nothing to add to Eric's excellent answer.  It seems that the method of practise is often presented as a false dichotomy.  One or the other.  In reality, a blend of both may be the recipe for optimal results.

In the comments, let us know whether you use mirrors or video or both in your practise!

-- 

* We have heard it said that when practising in front of a mirror, magicians are more likely to blink while performing the sleight, and therefore will be unable to see themselves flash or make a mistake.  We wondered if there was any literature to back this claim.  This is what we found: 

• From a 2022 paper by Anthony Barnhart [emphasis added]:
  "Indeed, magicians were more likely to blink when engaging in deceptive action than when not, and blinking was more prevalent when performing more difficult sleights. However, this tactical blinking was only evident in the performance setting." [1] 
  
  
• A quote from Anthony from a September 2022 article [emphasis added]:
  "'While my magician participants were more likely to blink their eyes when carrying out deceptive action than when not, this tendency was increased in a performance setting without a mirror compared to a rehearsal setting with a mirror,' Barnhart explained to PsyPost. 'This was surprising and didn’t match the predictions from the world of magic.'" [2]

 
Other thoughts about practising in front of a mirror:

• "Do not watch yourself in a mirror as you practise. You cannot perform the action naturally if you divide your attention between what you do and how it looks. Moreover, mirror watching has a tendency to cause the eyes to widen; this is not attractive and can become a fixed habit." [3]

References: 

1. Barnhart, A. S., Richardson, K., & Eric, S. (2022). Tactical blinking in magicians: A tool for self-and other-deception. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 9(3), 257. DOI:10.1037/cns0000321
   
   
2. Ellwood, B. (2022). Study suggests magicians unconsciously blink their eyes to manipulate the audience during difficult tricks.  PsyPost.
   https://www.psypost.org/study-suggests-magicians-unconsciously-blink-their-eyes-to-manipulate-the-audience-during-difficult-tricks/
   
   
3. Hugard, J, Braue, F. (1948). The Royal Road to Card Magic. pg 358

 

 

 

 

 

Windsor: Motown Magic at Harbour House [Feb 19]

Tickets at SimpleTix. 

 

From SimpleTix.  

The night features Tee Turner, delivering smooth, high-energy Motown performances filled with timeless hits and crowd-pleasing vocals. Throughout the evening and during dinner service, guests will also be entertained by Eric Bedard, a master magician performing close-up magic right at your table, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience. 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

Found at the January 26th Instagram post by Eric Bedard. 

 

 

 

 

Quebec: Entre histoires et illusions [Jan 24 - Jun 6]

Tickets at AlainChoquette.ca (please Alain's website for the most current information)

• Février 01 - Saint-Eustache,  Le Zénith Promutuel Assurance
• Février 07 - Lac-Mégantic, Salle Montignac
• Février 08 - Sherbrooke, Salle Maurice O'Bready
• Février 14 - Brossard, Le Club 
• Février 15 - Rivière-des-Prairies, Salle Désilets
• Février 20 - Saint-Hyacinthe, Centre des arts 
• Février 22 - Gatineau, Salle Odyssée
• Mars 01 - Laval, Salle André-Mathieu 
• Mars 07  - Montréal, Salle Pierre-Mercure 
• Mars 08 - Granby, Palace
• Mars 15 - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Cabaret Théâtre 
• Mars 22 - Sainte-Thérèse, Théâtre Lionel-Groulx 
• Mars 29 - Magog, Vieux Clocher 
• Avril1 6 - Baie-Comeau, Centre des arts 
• Avril1 7 - Forestville, Pavillon des Arts 
• Mai 02 - Québec, Salle Albert-Rousseau  
• Mai 08 & 09 - Saguenay, Palace Arvida 
• Mai 17 - Varennes, Collège St-Paul  
• Juin 06 - Brossard, Le Club 
• Février 06, 2027 - Saint-Jacques-de-Montcalm, Salle Julie-Pothier

 

 

From https://alainchoquette.ca/spectacle/ (translation to English by Google):  

Master of the elusive and unparalleled storyteller, Alain Choquette returns to the stage with a new show as entertaining as it is inspiring, Between Stories and Illusions. In this performance, Quebec's most charismatic and experienced illusionist invites audiences of all ages to delve into his vast book of magic. This time, his captivating stories, ranging from the history of magic (Robert-Houdin, Houdini, Copperfield, Magic Tom…) to the surprising experiences he's had over his 35-year career, will lead the renowned judge of La magie des stars (TVA) to dazzle you with his elusive performances, his historical knowledge, and his storytelling prowess.   

Read more and buy tickets.  

 

 

From the January 22nd Facebook post by Alain Choquette:

Magic doesn't just stay: it travels, it tells stories, it joins you all over Quebec. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edmonton: Magic Mania [Nov 29]

Tickets at Showpass.  

 

From the November 3rd Facebook post by Jordan Sabo at the Edmonton Magic Club:

It’s official! The next Magic Mania is November 29th featuring a new host. And without promoting the show yet we have already sold tickets! Be sure to secure your seat while you can.

✨🎩 Magic Mania Sparks the Season 🎩✨

On November 29th, step into a world where wonder glimmers brighter than the winter lights. Magic Mania Sparks the Season is an evening of breathtaking illusions, dazzling sleight-of-hand, and theatrical surprises that ignite the spirit of the holidays.

Featuring practicing members of the Edmonton Magic Club, this spectacular show celebrates the joy of togetherness and the timeless power of imagination. From laughter that warms the heart to mysteries that leave you spellbound, every moment is designed to dazzle, delight, and inspire. 

This edition of Magic Mania will feature:

Jason Wong - Using a simple deck this card carrier will unlock the hidden power of the mind. Matter and free thought are blended seamlessly to have you looking into the beyond.

Frank Mcallister - Breaking the bonds of our physical world, Frank is a master in the art of Escapology. With television appearances and years of experience under his belt, you can’t wait to see what he slips out of next. 

Von De Leon - Featured in luxury hotels and restaurants across the globe, this resident magician joins us now to share his truly unique sleights. His stories and magic will transport you as you are brought along on a powerful adventure.  

 

 

 Previously shared on Facebook November 7th.

 

 

 

Blackpool: Richard Sanders lecture [Feb 19] and Eric Leclerc hosting The Family Entertainer of the Year Competition [Feb 2026]

Applications for the The Family Entertainer of the Year Competition close November 30th.  Visit the Facebook post by Blackpool Magic Convention for submission details.

 

From BlackpoolMagicConvention.com: 

✅ Lineup Almost Complete!
The 2026 schedule is packed with world-class talent, including:

✨ Hans Klok – Renowned illusionist famous for his lightning-fast grand illusions
✨ Richard Sanders – Sleight-of-hand innovator and creator
✨ Paul Gertner – A true legend of close-up magic
✨ Banachek – Master mentalist and mind reader
…and many more still to be announced!

--

Richard Sanders’ original magic creations have infiltrated the repertoires of magicians all over the world; with lectures and appearances in Canada, United States, France, Spain, U.K. Australia, Germany, Japan and as a featured lecturer and performer at FISM (THE WORLD CONGRESS OF MAGIC).
Richard’s products have been hailed by magicians all over the world as some of the best magic effects on the market!

 Venue, Circle Hall Theatre, Date: Thursday 19th February 

Read more and register. 

 

 

From the September 25th Facebook post by Blackpool Magic Convention: 

BMC are proud to announce The Family Entertainer of the Year Competition 2026.

It’s easy to apply:
Simply submit a short performance video (no more than 10 minutes duration) to be in with a chance of appearing in the live final on the incredible Opera House Theatre stage at The Blackpool Magic Convention 2026.  

 

 

 

 

Toronto: David Ben lecture [Sep 24]

 

 David Ben lecture

Thursday, September 24th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Agricola Lutheran Church - 25 Old York Mills Road

We’re thrilled to welcome David Ben as our special guest for the launch of the 2025-2026 Hat and Rabbit Club season. David is a master magician, author, and co-founder of Magicana, a performing arts organization dedicated to the advancement of magic as a performing art.  

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Gore featured at CJME

From the February 5th article "From magic school to master illusions: Matt Gore’s mind-bending tale" by Brittany Caffet at CJME:

Gore, a skilled magician who has captivated audiences around the world with his mind-bending illusions and performances, knows that his profession is often met with curiosity, wonder, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

He sees magic as more than just a performance, but a chance to offer people a brief escape from the stress of their everyday lives.

“Everyone’s got stuff going on in their life. Everyone’s got problems. But for a moment, we’re going to forget about all that and just enjoy a moment together,” Gore explained. “After the show, you can go back and you can pick up that weight that you once had, but it feels so freeing just to just be like, ‘How is that possible?!’ That’s the power of magic.”

Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 posts in November 2024

There were 24 posts at Canada's Magic this month.  Here are the five most viewed posts in the past 30 days:   

5. Pentiction: Jingle and Mingle with Leif David [Dec 6] - Still time to grab tickets!

4. Montreal: Master X of Magic [Dec 26 - 31] - Lots of magic in Montreal!


3. [Guest post] Random thoughts about "Magic Show" with Ken McCreedy - Well done John Smithman and Ken McCreedy!

2. A peek behind the curtain with Liberty Larsen - Liberty is the 2nd, fourth generation magician we've interviewed! 

Technically, here are  4th and 5th most viewed posts, but we're bundling them by subject matter:

• You can see Liberty in ON, QC, NB, NS, BC, & AB: Champions of Magic "Chasing the Unbelievable" [2024 - 2025].
• Read our thoughts on last year's Toronto show: Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2023.
  
  

 

and the most viewed posts this month  ...

1.  Broken wand: Mark Wicken - Our sincere condolences to Mark's family and friends.

 

 

 

 

Montreal: Master X of Magic [Dec 26 - 31]

Tickets at Théâtre Rialto.  Shows available in English and French.

 

From the November 7th Instagram post by Xavier Mortimer:

Tickets now on sale! See Xavier Mortimer in Montreal, and find out why he’s the most followed magician on social media. See the Master of Magic!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Xavier Mortimer (@xaviermortimer)

 

 

 

Toronto: Alex McAleer - Mind Reader [May 3 - 12]

Our regular readers may recall that we were crushed when Alex McAleer, due to circumstances beyond his control, was not available perform in Champions of Magic in Toronto last December.  Imagine our delight when we heard that Alex is bringing his one-man show Alex McAleer - Mind Reader to Toronto in May!

Tickets at Starvox Entertainment. 

 

From the March 22nd Instagram post by Starvox Entertainment:

🎟️ Tickets ON SALE now! 🎟️
See Champions Of Magic’s mind-reading master Alex McAleer live in Toronto! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Starvox Entertainment (@starvoxent)

 

 

Improved magic coverage at Canada's Magic!

Hello, magic lovers!

We have a confession: writing about magic takes way too much time. Between practicing new tricks, attending magic shows, and trying to writing funny blog posts, we're starting to feeling like we need a little magic of our own to make it all happen.

So we decided to let the artificial intelligence (AI) take over for a while. That's right, starting with this one, all new posts on CanadasMagic.blogspot.com are now generation by AI. Who knows, maybe it will we came up with amazing tricks or funny jokes that even we didn't think of.

 

AI created graphic

Don't worry, we'll still being around to add our personal touch and share our love of all things magic. But for now, let's sit back and letting the robots do the work. Who knows, maybe they will even reveals the secrets behind some of the biggest hoaxes of all time.

Watch the magical madness created by artificial intelligence and, as always, believe in the impossible! 

Later this week, details about:

1. Magic in the City: A showcase of Canadian magicians in Toronto, featuring performances by some of the country's top illusionists.
   
   
2. Canadian Magic Convention: An annual gathering of magicians from across Canada, featuring workshops, lectures, and performances by both established and up-and-coming talent.
   
   
3. The Great Canadian Magic Show: A touring production featuring a lineup of Canada's most renowned magicians, performing a variety of mind-bending illusions and tricks.
   
   
4. Magic on Ice: A unique event combining the art of magic with the beauty of figure skating, featuring Canadian magicians and skaters performing together in a dazzling display of skill and creativity.
   
   
5. Canadian Magical Masters: A competition showcasing the best magicians in Canada, with contestants vying for the title of "Canadian Magical Master" and the chance to represent the country on the international stage.

 

Before you get too excited about the events (we're super anxious to get our tickets for #4), we encourage you to double-check your calendars.

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Seriously though.  Check the date. 

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Toronto: Kendrick “Ice” McDonald Workshop [Feb 16] (and reminder of Feb 15 film screening)

Details for the film screening with ICE at the bottom of this post.

 

From the February 11th post at the Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club Facebook group:

Kendrick “Ice” McDonald Workshop
Friday February 16
Browsers Den 

Learn from a true master with a passion for perfection who has earned an international reputation for excellence.   He has done it all, illusions, trade shows, closeup.  He’s been seen on most major US networks.

Ice’s workshop will focus on trade show work, parlour, close up magic and more.  
Members $75, guests $100. To secure your spot, message Ian Crawford.

“When ICE takes center stage, he displays a patent passion for perfection.”
Lee Earle, World Class Mentalist

�“It’s not often I write reviews on magic lectures but just lately the standard has been so high that I have felt compelled to put pen to paper… Ice set the tone for the evening by stating that this was a lecture designed for magicians who are serious about their art. Which it was but put over in a fun and entertaining way. In fact it’s hard to do justice as to how good a lecture this was or be able to mention all of the subjects covered…”
UK Guild of Magicians

Read more.

 

 

From the IBM Ring 17 website:

When: Thursday February 15th
Tickets: Free for members and $10 guests
Where: Agricola Lutheran Church - 25 Old York Mills Road

In celebration of Black History Month, we proudly presents the Toronto Premiere of "The Quiet Masters - The History and Relevance of the Black Magical Artist." The director of the film, acclaimed magician Kenrick McDonald will be with us LIVE to host this exclusive event.

 Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

 

 

A peek behind the curtain with Sam Strange [2023]

This is the fourth in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour Canadian dates in:

• 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.

Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 

 

You may also know Sam Strange from:

• the show Young & Strange Delusionsists or
• our interview with the bickering delusionists Young & Strange
  

We're delighted to interview Sam ahead of his Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!

 

Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines? 

It really highlights the scam that being a magician can be sometimes. So many magicians, including myself, hide behind the tricks/illusions when there is little talent outside of that. When I was in my 20s I did learn to partner dance (modern jive) and you could argue that gave me some coordination. However, I think honesty that would be very generous to say that it helped inform my balletic movements during the final Las Vegas parody sequence.


 

In retrospect are there skills or knowledge that you wish you had prior to pursuing magic full time? 

Certainly there are a host of skills that would have been so helpful. Being good at video editing and photoshop would be so useful. It would mean you could produce online content quickly and easily without the cost of using a professional. 

 

 

Red light, green light!

 

 

 

 

Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted to perform magic full time?

I do remember actually with some clarity.

When I started to ‘gig’ (a few kids parties and events for friends), I was about 18 years old. Simultaneously I joined the ’Thames Valley Magicians Guild’ and would go to the weekly meetings there. After a few weeks I was kindly asked to cover a residency at a restaurant in Oxford, England. I did that on Friday and Saturday evenings. At that point there was a simple and clear connection between my magic passion and an income, of sorts. I knew at that point I wanted to be a professional magician.

 

 

 

What is your most memorable performance misadventure? 

There are so many to mention, which is both a sign of experience and flight time, but also unprofessionalism. (Richard) Young and I did the Edinburgh (Fringe) festival for 4 consecutive years and at that point new material is being worked in and lessons are being learned!

Lesson 1. Never leave the Master Prediction Tube inside the actual box. Especially when hanging that box (and ultimately the show’s finale) in full view of the audience.
Lesson 2. Always remember the key to a locked box with a spectator's watch inside.
Lesson 3. Never commit wholeheartedly to the gender of an audience member.
Lesson 4. Never perform magic on a stage at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, on New Year’s Eve in 2019, in the wind and rain. Ever.
Lesson 5. Never perform an under-rehearsed Table of Death.

All of the above had no outs. 

One of the most haunting experiences might not sound at all a problem, but knocked my confidence for years afterwards. I remember going out on stage for the show opening and having a complete mind blank. I genuinely didn’t know what I should say or how to start saying my script. Fortunately being in a double act means that essentially you have a script advisor standing next to you. But the fact that can happen means it might happen again and standing on a stage with nothing to say or nowhere to go, is a lonely and embarrassing experience.  

 

 

What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic shows?

Although Champions of Magic does contain 5 magicians each performing in their own style, from their own discipline of magic, the show does feel very cohesive. It shouldn’t feel like a Magic Convention line up but without the MC. We perform together onstage throughout the show and because of that it hopefully feels like you’re watching a team of magicians, rather than segmented acts. That unifying aspect makes the show memorable, rather than the individuals within it. Coupled with the humour and no ability to take ourselves seriously, means it should be distinctive enough from the show's competitors.  

That's a lot of money

 

Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
 
At every venue we go to there is a well stocked fridge and Coke (both Zero and full fat) is always on offer and display. When it’s always there, I will most likely choose it over the bottled water. It’s not a vice I suppose, but I know it’s probably not good for you in large quantities and I do love it.

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? 

Leaving home for longer tours is an emotional challenge for sure. However, that challenge comes with the territory and it’s not like I’m down a mine shaft for weeks on end or on the front line in Afghanistan. I’m not sure if there is a front line in Afghanistan anymore, but you get the sentiment.

I do carry a couple of photos of my family, which feels very old fashioned and probably crazy considering I have my iPhone’s camera roll with me at all times. I’m sure that if I printed out all of the iPhone images of my kids and put them into a flicker book, you’d essentially get a live stream since birth.

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

We STILL have a large quantity of shot glasses available on the merchandise stand. You would think dropping the price to $15 would have helped shift them, but it did very little for sales overall. It’s the worst business idea we have ever had. Please can your readers buy them when attending a show? After a lot of trial and error (and critically the right room humidity) the Young & Strange logo CAN be scratched off with a box cutter.

The shot glasses are versatile and I’ve provided some ideas for their use below:

- Candle holders.
- A Crockery Smash stall at a local fundraising event.
- A Glass Walking routine you are working on.
- A lecture for a business studies group on 'Loss Leaders'.   

Young and Strange "One More!" shot glasses
📸 : Kidlet, Kitchener, 2022

Thank you Sam, for making the time to answer our questions!

 

Learn more about Sam at SamStrangeMagic.co.uk and follow Young & Strange on Facebook, and Instagram. 

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Sam in Champions of Magic touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

• Toronto, Ticketmaster  [Dec 27 - 30] 
• Lethbridge, Enmax Centre  [Mar 16]
• Regina, Conexus Arts Centre  [Mar 17] 
• Winnipeg, Centennial Concert Hall  [Mar 18]
  
• Saskatoon, TCU Place  [Mar 19]
  
• Edmonton, Festival Place  [Mar 22 - Apr 6]   
• Prince George, CN Centre  [Apr 7] 
• Vancouver, Great Canadian Casino [Apr 8]

Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS!  Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:

• Alex McAleer
• Michelle Mazzarella
• Hollie England 
  

Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

• Hollie England
• Alex McAleer
• Sam Strange
• Fernando Velasco
• Richard Young 

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

 

 

 

NYC: Asher, DeGuzman, and Ramsay at Cardtopia [Nov 4]

From the October 4th Instagram post by Cardtopia:   [emphasis added]

Join us on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Moonlight Studios in New York City for unforgettable performances by the biggest names in the world of cards: Chris Ramsay, Anna DeGuzman, Chris Brown, Felipe Mojave Ramos, Bea Staack, Rick Smith Jr, Rokas Bernatonis, Lee Asher, Chris Chelko, Bill Kalush, Richard Turner, Laetitia Barbier, and the dynamic duo, Kristen & Alex! 🎩🃏

But hold onto your seats, because that's just the stars you can witness on stage at the Studio! 🌟 Stay tuned for the list of performers on stage at the TED World Theater and the full program, including master classes, discussions, interactive games, and more, which we'll reveal this Wednesday. You won't want to miss it! 🤩

There's still time to be part of this card lover's paradise! 🎫 Grab your tickets now at www.cardtopia.com and let the magic unfold before your eyes. Don't miss out on the ultimate card experience! 🎉

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A post shared by Cardtopia (@cardtopiaworld)

 

 

From the October 23rd Instagram reel by Chris Ramsay:

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A post shared by Chris Ramsay 🇨🇦 (@chrisramsay52)