Toronto: Best Magician Contest 2014

From Arthur Poon:

Hello to all Magic Lovers, the moment is finally here.

In the evening of April 26th , 2014, “[A1] Chinese Radio” is giving out opportunities to the magic lovers in Toronto! Bringing along with own incredible skills, the candidates will enter into an exciting competition held on a magical platform in Market Village.

Same as the previous years, this magic contest will gather all of professionals and entertainers within the magic scope and the qualified contestants will compete among themselves. After all, they are going to the same stage to compete for the fame of Top Magician in Toronto. It is absolutely an extraordinary experience to give yourself a chance to present your talent.

Date: April 26, 2014 (Saturday)

Time: TBA

Contestant: All Ages, All Genders (The show will be hosted in Cantonese. However, English and other language speakers are welcomed.)

Performance: Stage Magic or Close-Up Magic. For stage magic, it does not have to be “big stage illusion; any magic that can be performed on stage is fine, such as producing a rabbit from an empty hat etc.)

Venue: Market Village (Steeles & Kennedy)

Audition: We will start with YOUTUBE audition right away. From now till March 22nd, all participants only need to submit a roughly 2-minute video to: starz@classicforce.com. All videos should be titled as “Best Magician Contest 2014 1st Audition: XXXXXX (the title of your performance)”. (P.S. Video editing is permitted; HOWEVER, no editing on the MAGIC PERFORMANCE. Two minutes are including the effect AND all of the editing.)

• By submitting your video before March 16th, 2014, the entry fee will be automatically waived. Any video(s) submitted after March 16th, 2014, a $20 entry fee will be applied.
• When submitting the video, please provide us your name and contact, so we can contact you.
• ONE video entry per contestant.

The winner of the competition will be receiving the following:

a. “Best Magician 2014” trophy,

b. Your chance to perform live at CNE on July 1st, 2014 Canada Day.

c. Gift(s) from our main sponsor(s).


Look forward meeting you guys, See you all at there!!

Toronto: Browser's Den Auction 4/2014

From the Browser's Den:

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

Dear Magic Friends,

It is time for another fun-filled and bargain-filled magic auction!!

This is the time of the year when you our dear customers get to bid on magic equipment, tricks, books and DVDs at fantastically low prices.

For those of you who would like to bring in items to be auctioned off… Please bring in those items to the shop anytime between March 10 and April 3.

Please note that you may bring in no more than 3 LOTS.  However, a LOT may consist of more than one item. Please try to make sure that everything has directions and is in good working order.

Read more.

Random thoughts about Ring 17 Members' Night

• Shout out to everyone who hosted and performed at Members' Night last week! 
• It takes incredible courage for amateurs to perform in front of the club.  Well done everyone who made it up to the front of the room! 
• The presence of a child, whom James Alan referred to as Urchin, allowed all of the women in the room to let out a collective sigh of relief.  (They were spared the fate of "volunteering" for the evening.)
• Urchin was treated very well while volunteering.  Impressive.  I've seen highly respected "legendary" professionals treat children horribly.  Keep up the great work folks!
• There are some very talented magicians in Ring 17.
• Ariel Frailich knows a lot.
• The members behaved very respectfully during situations where life wasn't going quite according to plan.  It's nerve-racking performing in front of talented professionals.  Thanks for being supportive!
• There's truth to the proverb:
  'Tis a lesson you should heed:
  Try, try, try again.
  If at first you don't succeed,
  Try, try, try again.
• Are all magicians from Calgary named Chris as talented as the two we saw last week?
• I finally witnessed a peformance by Mark Lewis with young people in the room.  I'm a fan.  Doubly impressed that he took Urchin aside at the end of the night, to teach an alternate presentation of an effect shared that evening.
• James can tie a perfect bowtie without the aid of a mirror.

Toronto: Wonderz @ Whistler's

From Chris Westfall at the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook page:

Excited to announce the debut of "Wonderz @ Whistler's". It's a hilariously elegant and intimate magical experience hosted and performed by yours truly in this unique set up last Monday of the month! It's magical and delicious! Tickets officially for sale so reserve now at: http://www.chriswestfallmagic.com/public-events/whistlers/

Read more.

Remembering Jack Bateman

On February 19th, I reported on the passing of Jack Bateman.  On March 3rd, Ring 17 sent an e-mail with recollections of Jack by Dick Joiner.  I'm republishing them here, with Dick's permission.

Recollections by past president, Dick Joiner:

Jack L. Bateman, 95, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, died February 17, 2014, in a local hospital. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1945-1965), and Ring 17 (Toronto).

He became interested in magic as a schoolboy after watching a performance by magician "Laurante," and magic became a passion the rest of his life. He always carried props in his pockets so he could practice wherever he went. In his youth he developed his comedic talents and an illusion show, featuring his own versions of a "sub trunk" and "cut the lady in six." He invented many tricks, some still on the market, such as "Rub-a-dub-dub," featured on a Bill Malone video.

He also was a teacher of magic; one of his pupils was Doug Henning. He was the Technical Supervisor for Outside Broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He developed the first mobile television broadcast units for the CBC.

When he died in the hospital, there was a paddle at his bedside, no doubt to entertain the nurses.

Free Trick Friday: Chris Westfall

From Ring 17's Twitter feed:

Check out @westfallmagic on Murphy's Free Trick Friday http://t.co/HvKLqfUTzi
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) March 7, 2014

Breaking Magic 2

From Discovery:

Wednesdays from 12th March, 8.00pm & 8.30pm

BREAKING MAGIC is back for another season of jaw-dropping illusions and mind-blowing tricks.  Performed by an international, all-star cast of the freshest magic talent, including British Ben Hanlin, alongside  Wayne Houchin, Billy Kidd, and newcomer  Nate Staniforth, each week the stellar cast perform phenomenal street magic, across London, New York and Warsaw, baffling bystanders and audiences at home alike.

Read more.