How well do you know me?

When I started this site back in 2010, I did so pseudo-anonymously.  In part because I'm a private person, and partly because I didn't want who I am to influence this bloggy experiment.

As the site gained traction, I've been fascinated learning who you some of you think I am.  Typically the guesses have been very flattering, but wrong!  There are still a number of you out there who don't know me, that think you have an idea of who I am.  Let's see how right you are.

For fun, fill out the poll below.  People who know my (not so) secret identity are welcome to participate.  The poll will close in 13 days.  (For a score and bragging rights, e-mail me your answers or post them in the comments.)

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic:

• is shorter than the average of the heights of Richard Forget, Ryan Pilling, James Alan and David Acer
• is / has been on the executive of CAM
• is / has been on the executive of IBM
• was born in Western Canada
• was born in Central Canada
• was born in Eastern Canada
• performs / performed magic professionally
• performs / performed magic semi-professionally
• performs / performed with live animals
• box jumps / jumped
• has recently (within the past 5 years) published a book
• has created and marketed at least one original magic effect
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 10 years
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 20 years
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 30 years
• has at least two X chromosomes (making them either female or a male with Klinefelter's syndrome)

If you're feeling confident, leave the name of who you think I am in the comments.  (Unless you really do know.)

Let the games begin!

Clive Court, Life Member of the Canadian Public Relations Society

Congratulations Clive!

From the Canadian Public Relations Society:

Clive Court began his PR career in London’s Fleet Street as assistant to the Publicity manager of a major daily newspaper. He was responsible for the promotion of the Children’s I-SPY Book series which was recently revived in the UK. In the late 50s, he also launched the famous Michelin Travel Guides into the UK market. He soon moved to television and was responsible for the launching promotion of Get Ahead which eventually became known as Dragon’s Den (or Shark Tank in the US). Before leaving the UK in 1962, Clive worked for Granada Television on the promotion of Coronation Street during its first year of production.

Read more.

Steffen Banta wins Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp scholarship

Congratulations Steffen on winning a scholarship to Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp!

This year Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp runs from Friday August 15^th through to Wednesday August 20^th.  They are currently taking registrations at http://www.sorcererssafari.ca

From the IBM Facebook page:

Post by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians.

And rumour has it that

I've just been informed that North American FISM champs, and world's cutest couple, are coming to @SorcerersSafari this summer!
— Ben Train (@ErdnaseinTO) July 8, 2014

Congratulations Mike D'Urzo!

Congratulations Mike D'Urzo on your Wedding Industry Experts Award for 2014!

From Mike's Twitter feed:

Top 10 Magicians Worldwide by the 2014 Wedding Industry Experts Awards! pic.twitter.com/Qn4Yz1yrRj
— Mike D'Urzo (@MikeDurzo) July 1, 2014

Escaping Parkinson's now underway

Best wishes Mark!

Watch his Day One video on YouTube:




From Global News:

Toronto teen Mark Correia got strapped into a straitjacket Tuesday morning — a straitjacket in which he plans to spend the next two weeks.

The 18-year-old magician and actor hopes to raise $25,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research by living in the straitjacket until July 22.

“This is real,” he said, as Liza Fromer of Global’s The Morning Show helped buckle him in. “No breaks. No freedom. No escape until the last minute.”

Read more and watch video.

From Inside Halton:

Escaping from a straitjacket has become a mainstay trick for many magicians. Illusionist Harry Houdini made it a staple of his own act while hanging upside down from a crane.

Now, Mark Correia is putting his own twist on the age-old magic trick by spending two weeks — as of today (Tuesday) strapped into one in support of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.                              

Read more.

Family Fun Day with Greg Frewin

This is a great idea for families.  A nice early show for the kiddies and a rare chance at a Q&A with Greg himself!  (As you know, I think the experience is wonderful even without the Q&A.)  Don't just take my word for it, Yashy Murphy wrote about her experience too.  Read Murphy's post Greg Frewin's Imagine Magic Show!


From Greg Frewin Theatre's Facebook page:

Post by Greg Frewin Theatre.

Review: Rosemary Reid

From Mooney on Theatre:

Rosemary Reid is one of the buskers at this years Fringe Club. If she comes over to your table and asks if she can sit down and do some magic, say yes. We did and all five of us thought she was terrific.
She impressed us with her card tricks, always a good thing, but what really dazzled us was her wit and personality. She was at ease before she even sat down; funny, fast, and delightful.

Read more.