Links for 2011-Mar-18

• Apply for a scholarship for Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp from the Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund
   
•  BrowsersDen.ca link round up:
  - Ellusionist and Theory 11 items for sale
  - Aaron Fisher on Sunday, March 20
  - Roy Kueppers on  March 27
  - Auction on April 10
   
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube:
  69. Impaled Card Trick - Day 69 of 365
  70. The Flying Subway Wrapper - Day 70 of 365
  71. The Deck Vanish - Day 71 of 365
  72. The Teleporting Match - Day 72 of 365
  73. Livestrong In Dominican - Day 73 of 365
  74. Self Opening Cigarette Pack - DAY 74 of 365
  75. Taking Off Your Finger - Day 75 of 365
  76. The Hovering Pour - Day 76 of 365  

Happy 14th birthday CAM!

The Canadian Association of Magicians (CAM) was founded on March 15, 1997 by Joan Caesar.  The creation of CAM as our national magic representative allowed us to apply for membership to FISM.  In the year 2000, CAM was accepted as a FISM member and Canadian magicians could, for the first time compete under the Canadian banner at FISM's World Championship of Magic.

CAM also hosts CAMaraderie, a now yearly national magic convention.  This year's CAMaraderie will run from July 28th to 31st in Vancouver, BC and will be held in conjuntion with the annual convention of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians (PCAM) under the guidance of the Vancouver Magic Circle (Ring 92).

Thank you Joan, for creating this wonderful national association 14 years ago!

For more information about the organization please visit the CAM website or the CAM Wikipedia entry.  Please visit magicianconvention.com for details about the joint CAM/P-CAM convention.

Links for 2011-Mar-11

• Caleb Wiles blogs about his lectures in:
  - Toronto (mentions of Ben Train, Simon Lovell,  Greg Frewin, Lee Asher, David Acer, Jay Sankey,  and videos of Jeff Hinchliffe, Chris Westfall, Glenn West and Mahdi Gilbert)
  - Ottawa (video with Eric Leclerc and Ben Train)
  - Montreal (mentions of  Derrick Chung, Grant McSorley, Yves Tourigny, Ekaterina)
  - New York (video of Ben Train)
   
• Piff Paff Poof!
  - reviews
  - another contest to win tickets and prize pack
  - ticket deals
   
• Rocky the tiger takes a well deserved snack break during his visit with Greg Frewin on Real Life! [h/t: @LeeAsherMagic]
   
• @magicassistant raising money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters
   
• The Flight of Time by David Ben
       
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube:
  62. Beginner Lego Magic Trick - Day 62 of 365
  63. The Charlie Sheen Magic Trick - Day 63 of 365
  64. Julie the Magnificent - Day 64 of 365
  65. This one time... at Magic Camp... - 65 of 365
  66. Pizza Man Mentalism - DAY 66 of 365
  67. Magic Trick While Getting Chest Waxed - DAY 67 of 365
  68. 4 Phase Colour Change - Day 68 of 365

Book launch: "The Lives of a Showman"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Edmonton: Abra-Kid-Abra

From Sahida [pdf]:

Family Magic Show: ABRA-KID-ABRA -- DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?

Then don’t miss Abra-Kid-Abra on Saturday, April 2nd 2011. The  Edmonton Magic Club and Al Shamal Shrine Clowns are proud to present a magic extravaganza for the senses. Two hours of incredible magic! From close up magicians to strolling performers and balloon twisters, the magic will overwhelm you from the moment you walk in the door. Then the curtains open with a full stage show featuring some of the best magicians Edmonton has to offer. We’re even going to take a boy or girl from the audience ... and make him or her float in the air. That’s right, FLOAT!

If you enjoy magic – if you enjoy being amazed – if you enjoy laughing and having fun, you need to be at Abra-Kid-Abra! This is a show for all age groups, grand parents to grand children. Tickets are limited, so get yours today! Tickets will be available shortly through unit heads and the Shrine Office.

[h/t: Gwyn Auger]

Ottawa: The Shadow Cutter

"The Shadow Cutter"  is a play about Dai Vernon staged in his city of birth, by Ottawa's Great Canadian Theatre Company.
From their website:

Step into the seductive world of magic, where secrets are currency and illusion rules supreme. In The Shadow Cutter, two actors take us on a dramatic journey through the remarkable life of Dai Vernon, the Ottawa-born magician who earned his international reputation as the only man ever to fool Houdini. Pierre Brault’s newest play conjures up Dai’s lifelong, obsessive quest for the ultimate card trick, and the unexpected cost of mastering it.

Visit their website to purchase tickets or for more information.


[h/t: The Magic Newswire]

Calgary: A Brush With Death

"A Brush With Death" is Calgary’s first nightclub magic act exclusively for adults.  Self-described as "an intimage evening of morbid comedy and macabre magic" it is hosted by Yeats Wong, features Curtis Brown (The Rolling Magician), headlines Brent Smith and has a special appearance by Gwyn Auger.

Visit BrushWithDeath.ca for more information or to purchase tickets.