Ryan Michael, the acclaimed master of illusion, brings an unforgettable live magic experience to Marionette Winery—an intimate evening where reality bends, minds are read, and the impossible happens right in front of you.
Your ticket includes a glass of wine upon arrival and access to our famous interactive charcuterie board, a one-of-a-kind experience that engages all the senses and becomes part of the show itself.
Join us for Lance Burton Master Magician & Friends, live at River Rock Casino Resort on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Lance Burton is widely considered by his peers to be the greatest stage Magician of the past century. As magic historian Mike Caveney has stated; “Take every Magician in the world, line them up and give them each twelve minutes…Lance Wins!”
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.)
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."
"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:
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
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.
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.
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.
✅ 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
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.
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.
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.”
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!
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:
Magic in the City: A showcase of Canadian magicians in Toronto, featuring performances by some of the country's top illusionists.
Canadian Magic Convention: An annual gathering of magicians from across Canada, featuring workshops, lectures, and performances by both established and up-and-coming talent.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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! 🎉
