Pittsburgh: Free IBM Jam

From Alex Zander:

FREE I.B.M. JAM!‬
‪Spend a full day of learning and jamming with magic masters. Open exclusively to I.B.M. members.

‪Jan. 12, 2020. ‬
‪10am-4pm, WyndhamGrand Pittsburgh‬
‪Details at IBMJAM.com‬

*Advertisers in The Linking Ring get a free Dealer Table!*

Shawn hosted a couple of free CAM JAMs in his time (Niagara Falls and Port Coquitlam) and they were great fun.  If you can attend the JAM in Pittsburgh, go!

Broken wand: Gail Elsie Burke-McMullen

The following was sent to us by Peter Mennie who informs us that Gail was a magician, clown, and balloon artist.  Thank for you for letting us know Peter.

Our thoughts go to Gail's family and friends.



From The London Free Press:

Peacefully with her family by her side, on Sunday, December 8th, 2019, at St Joseph's Hospice, London, Ontario, in her 68th year. Beloved wife of John McMullen for nine years. Loving mother of Angela Gilbert and Holly Ridgeway, stepmother of Marci Hutchinson, Alex McMullen and Josh McMullen, adored grandmother of Chase, Cienna, Ciara, Aiden, Ali, Grace, Eleanor, Nicole, Jordyn, and Harlea. Survived by sisters Dianne and Janet. Predeceased by her parents Lillian and Clifford.

Read more.

Reader's Digest puts Acer on 2019 watch list

For those of you keeping track, David Acer was on last year's list of  "22 Canadian Comedians to Watch Out For—and Their Best Jokes."



From the article "50 Canadian Comedians to Watch Out For—and Their Best Jokes" at Reader's Digest Canada:

36. David Acer

I just bought a Canada Goose jacket. I love it—it’s warm, it’s comfortable. The only problem is, whenever I run into other people wearing Canada Goose jackets, we all have to walk in a V-formation.

Follow Montreal comedian David Acer on Twitter @David_Acer.

Read more.

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2019

A quick reminder that the Champions of Magic are half-way through their Canadian tour.  Remaining dates:  Saskatoon (January 16), Regina (January 17), Prince George (January 26), and Rama (February 29).

Champions of Magic. 
Photo credit: Champions of Magic.

Last Saturday Kidlet, Kidlet's Friend (KF), Kidlet's Other Parent (KOP), and I made the trek in the wet snow, to Oshawa's Tribute Communities Centre (TCC).  We arrived early and had a chance to get the feel of the arena. 

• This was my first time attending a show at the TCC.   (My first arena show too.  Thank goodness McAleer posted that arena shows are cold.  We were dressed accordingly!)
• All of the arena staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous!  Special thanks to (TCC's) Kayla for her time spent with Kidlet. 
• The show is about an hour for the first half, 15 minutes intermission, and about an hour in the second half.
• Again I am genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.

 

On with the show...

Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There's also a smoke machine involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

So. Much. Fun!

 

KOP's review: A great cast puts on a great performance!

• While the show has the same overall structure as the one at The Bluma Appel Theatre that I saw last year, there are many new wonderful moments.  (Sadly, there were fewer Chimpions.  Also missing: a dinosaur and two folding chairs.) 
• They've refined their scripting and introduced some brilliant new lines.
• The audience came ready to have a good time!  They were all very friendly and primed to be entertained.  (It seemed like everyone in the audience knew each other, at least where we were sitting.)
• The four magic acts are interwoven through the show, which works really well at keeping each of the disciplines fresh and reduces down time.
KF had this to say: They did a really good job of making a coherent show while preserving each magician's unique style.
• Kayla Drescher, Alex McAleer, Fernando Velasco, and Young & Strange all do what they do very well!
• The cast seem to genuinely get along amazingly well both on and off stage.
• The show starts strong with Young and Strange and keeps up an astonishing pace.  It's refreshing to see a man get put into boxes to be squished and skewered!  
• Even after having seen them perform a similar set before, Young and Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch.  One can't help but get caught up in the fun they are having on stage!
• They sure know how to play to the crowd!
  
  

  

  Young (sporting the jersey of the Oshawa Generals) and Strange.
  Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences.

  
  
• There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!
• McAleer does impressive mind reading.  If he asks you how you are, be sure to ask him how he's doing too, so he knows that Canadians are a caring bunch. 
• He masterfully handles the subject of geography from a unique frame of reference.
• Should I ever be in a position to interview McAleer live, I'm going to need to wear an aluminum foil hat to keep him out of my thoughts!
  





Kelly and Dave help out Alex McAleer. 
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences.



• Velasco succeeds in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.  Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he does makes me nervous!  He made some else in the audience nervous too.  About the same time the photo below was taken, I could hear someone shout "Common! GET OUTTA THERE!"
  
  

  

  Fernando Velasco in danger.
  Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences.

  
  
• During intermission, the audience was amazed and energized from the first half.  I heard many people wondering out loud, "How on earth did they do that?"
• The second half opened with a "new to me" segment that is very engaging.  It gave us a chance to connect with each of the performers in a simple but meaningful way. 
• Drescher did some fabulous close-up in the audience, and a couple of types of "arts and crafts."  (Also of note, Drescher's volunteer Sean, was reluctant to break her heart.)
• I need to mention that Drescher's handling of volunteers, especially young Mason, was EXCELLENT!  Things were explained in advance.  Consent was obtained.  Respect was given.   As it should be.  (This should come as no surprise to anyone who listens to  "Shezam," the podcast she co-hosts, which has touched on the topic of volunteer handling on more than one occasion.)
  
  

  

  Kayla Drescher with Mason and Brian.
  Photo credit:  William Balfour, Spectra Experiences.
  
  

• Canadian trivia: Gerry Frenette's original illusion is still in the show!
   
Note to performers: Always be extra nice to the sound techs.  You never know when they WILL exact their revenge!
• I'll never get tired of watching Young and Strange channel their inner SARMOTI in their high energy illusion medley!  
• Marissa Maiorana, the aerialist was fabulous!
  
  

  

  Marissa Maiorana flying high.
  Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences.

  
  
• Also fabulous:  Kaylan, Brendon, Brandon, Will, Matt, and the rest of the stage crew and theatre crew.  Especially Alex J.  These folks hustle to keep the pace going!
• The show felt lighter and more playful this year.  Everyone was on board with it! 
• Drescher said in her interview: "We work hard to make the show not just magically impressive, but an absolutely fun time." 
  
  
  Achievement unlocked.
   
Kidlet really enjoyed the show.  Even knowing what it was going to be, Kidlet still really loved the ending!
• Although this was the second time seeing the show, I was again thoroughly entertained!  There are so many moments of joyous laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle. 
• Bonus post-show magic: three primary school aged girls in adorable dresses, created piles of golden confetti, threw the shiny pieces up in the air and danced and sang "red light, green light" as it showered down over them.  Repeatedly.

While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening.

They definitely hit their mark!

Don't just take my word for it, have a read of TCC Reviewer Sherri Norton's December 15th post "#TCCreviewer: CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC."  Here's part of her review: "The memories? Priceless - a must see show!"


Catch the Champions of Magic in Saskatoon (January 16), Regina (January 17), Prince George (January 26), and Rama (February 29).

Thank you Oshawa @MyTributeCentre for a really fun show last night! One more on this leg of the Canadian tour at @Place_Bell arena tonight, then we're back in January with shows at @SaskTelCtr, @conexusartscntr, @CNCentre and @CasinoRamaLive. We love Canada! pic.twitter.com/2Br52oiyMR

— Champions Of Magic (@ChampionsMagic) December 15, 2019

Disclosure:  My family and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

For more photos, read Sherri's review "#TCCreviewer: CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC" or visit the Tribute Communities Centre Instagram.

Brilliant show! Wasn't sure what to expect but it exceeded all expectations!

— Sun, surf & sand (@dawnlrogers) December 15, 2019

It was a great show. Will definitely see it again.

— Lesley Kielly (@lesley_kielly) December 15, 2019

Was at the #ChampionsOfMagic show today at the #TributeCommunitiesCente and was awesome! What a great show, we were truly amazed #YouGottaSeeThat

— moOre (@_mo0re_) December 15, 2019

Broken wand: Randy Burtis

Our thoughts go out to Randy's family and friends at this difficult time.


From Yeatland Wong:

On Dec 16, 2019, Calgary Magician and Past President of the Calgary Magic Circle Ring 66, Randy Burtis passed away after a year long battle with cancer. Randy had performed magic for over 25 years, and had a passion for gospel magic. He is the author of "Gospel Illusions: Object Lessons you can do!". Randy enjoyed working with kids and families, both in magic and as a pastor. Randy is survived by his wife and two daughters. His family will be hosting a celebration of life at 11am on Dec 20 at the Centre Street Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honour of Randy to Samaritan's Purse.

From Piersons:

Randy was born on September 2, 1969. He passed away peacefully at his home in Calgary on December 17, 2019. Randy was a loving, nurturing father and husband with a deep, abiding faith is Jesus Christ. He was a children's pastor at Centre Street Church, a published author and a talented magician.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Cara; their daughters, Katie and Julia; his mother, Heather and cousin, Mitch Bell and all of Cara's family.

Read more.

From Gwyn Auger:

Randy wrote a book earlier this year, I’ve been encouraging people to consider purchasing even if it’s not their type of magic.
https://www.amazon.ca/Gospel-Illusions-Randy-Burtis/dp/1628628162