Advertising the Festival de magie de Québec!

Every year, the Festival de magie de Québec has some wonderfully creative advertising.  In 2011 it was this magical billboard. In 2012, it was la disparition.  In 2013, pouvoirs magiques.   This year, watch le balai magique:





[via EricESPINOSA8]

IncrediBrent and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

A reminder that donations to ALS research can be made at ALS.ca

From IncrediBrent's Facebook page:

Post by The Magic & Comedy of IncrediBrent.

Phil Pivnick and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

A reminder that donations to ALS research can be made at ALS.ca

From Phil Pivnick's YouTube channel:

So, my sister nominated me to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Make a donation, or dump a bucket of ice water on my head. Well, 8 hours later, I did both. 

This is the video of (sorta) getting ready for the Ice Bucket Challenge, and then dumping the ice over my poor little self.

Canadian magicians and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Updated September 7th to add:

• Shawn Farquhar's video

Updated September 6th to add:

• Paul Pacific's video

Updated August 29th to add:

• Eric Leclerc's video
• Daniel Steep's video

Updated August 26 to add:

• Dave Curran's video
• Incredibrent's video
• Phil Pivnick's video 

Quite a number of magicians have taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge:  Isaac Haber, Harris III, Lazarus Benson, Rich Ferguson, Wayne Gonce, Justin Willman, Michael Trixx, Thomas Hayden,  Brad Ross, Penn & Teller, Piff the Magic Dragon & Mac King, and many, many more I'm sure.

Alex Seaman thought that it was time for Canadian magicians to get into the game.  At Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance camp, he took the challenge and then challenged the entire camp.  The campers took up the challenge, with a little help from Steve Valentine.  Watch what happened next:





They're looking at you:  Jon Armstrong, Jay Sankey, David Acer, Johnny Ace Palmer, Oscar Munoz, Eric Buss, Steven Kline, Greg Frewin, Dan Harlan, Lee Asher, Aaron Fisher, Nathan Kranzo, Danny Garcia, Michael Ammar, The Buck Twins, Soma, Shawn Farquhar, Eric Jones, Justin Flom, Joe and Carol Givan, Lance Burton, Penn & Teller, Criss Angel, Wayne Houchin, Nathan Burton, Mac King, Rich Bloch, David Blaine, David Copperfield, Dan Sperry, Homer Liwag, Chris Kenner, The Amazing Johnathan and Anastasia, Jordan Gomez, Alex Ramon, Justin Willman, Eric Mead, Kevin James, Jen & Mike Segal!


Donations to ALS research can be made at ALS.ca

Broken wand: David Allan Smith

We were notified by Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring, of the passing of David Allan Smith.

From Your Life Moments:

SMITH, David Allan (Al) - 1924 - 2013 Died peacefully in the early morning hours on Monday, November 25, 2013 at the Extendicare Mapleview. He was a Second World War Veteran. Beloved husband of Joan. Predeceased by his sister-in-law Gwen Brighty. Caring father of Pat, Garr (Mary) and Wendy Piper (Jeff). "Pop" to Stephen Smith (Lorraine), Marnie (fiance Andy), Mitch and Bren Piper. Great grandfather of Spencer Smith. "Uncle Smit" to John Brighty (Lori Johnson), Sue Brown (Doug) and Kevin Brighty. For many years he was a dedicated member of Kiwanis, holding several positions including Lieutenant Governor. In recent years, he enjoyed the fellowship of his former Kiwanians at their regular Tuesday lunches at Reggies. He was very proud of the fact that he was a Kiwanian as well as a honourary Rotarian. He was a long time Rotary judge at the Community Day Parade and he was heavily involved in the Musical Comedy Guild designing and constructing sets. He had a fascination with magic and performed at numerous shows. 

Read more.

Random thoughts from Sorcerers Safari 2014

• Mike and Jen Segal are totally awesome and inspiring people!
• It is tremendous that organizations such as Ellusionist support Sorcerers Safari. (Kids, did you remember to send a quick "thank you" e-mail to them for the generous gift you received?  Do it now!  -- Mom)
• The safety and welfare of the children is an absolute priority.
• Spotted: Mike and Jen Segal, Dan Weibe, Eric Leclerc, Aaron Fisher, Dave Mitchell, Carey Lauder, Lee Asher, Dick Joiner, Steven Kline, Lisa & Michael Close, Ben Train, Chris Mayhew,  Mike D'Urzo, Chris Pilsworth, Rosemary Reid, Joan Caesar, Evelyn and Phil Matlin, Becki & Bill Wells, Philip DaCosta, Mark Correia,  Lorena & Trevor Watters, Chris Westfall, Scott Hammell, Alex Seaman, Loran, Asi Wind and Steve Valentine ... I'm sure there were more!
• It's very cool to see that some of the youth of today have such a philanthropic bent.  I'm thinking here of Mark Correia's "Escaping Parkinson's" stunt to raise money for Parkinson's research project which raised over $15000 and Alex Seaman entry in to the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to raise funds for ALS (video to be seen shortly).
• One just never knows where Aaron Fisher is going to appear.
• It can get mighty cold at night.
• The star-gazing is incredible away from all the city lights!
• Cube Zags are cool.
• There's always something to do or someone to talk to.  If you want "down time" you have to make it! (And risk missing out!)
• I saw a deer and a rabbit in the woods.  And a hummingbird too!
• Egg plants can be really big.
• Bonfires can have blue flames! (Merci Loran!)
• Candlelit lanterns are wonderful.
• The campers' show was all kinds of AWESOME! Twenty-seven brave performers in just under 2 hours!  My favourite from the campers' show was Holden & Brett's 3 card monte routine.  (Although Ava and Steve's partnership came a close second.)
• To answer a question asked by Doug, Steve Valentine may very well be taller than David Acer.  
• If you haven't met Steve Valentine yet, get thee to the Browser's Den for the "Getting together with Steve Valentine" event.  He's a wonderful person.  You're welcome.
• Being a cabin counselor is a tough gig.  The magic has to come second to taking care of the kids.  (Kind of like being a parent.)
• The kids at camp are were very polite.  They spontaneously thanked me for interviewing them!  Impressive.
• Perfect Magic also brought thoughtful gifts for the campers!  (Kids, I just said you were polite, so while you're sending your thank you e-mail to Ellusionist, make sure you send one to Perfect Magic too.  Do it now!  -- Mom)
• Carey Lauder is an incredible photographer.  (See samples of his magic camp from three years back in Vanish magazine.)
• Chris Mayhew shot some fabulous footage – I can't wait to see this year's camp video!
• Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp gets better every year!
• Mike Segal and Mike Toal should be very proud of what they started together over 18 years ago.
• Sorcerers Safari is full of super nice, caring, talented individuals!

Don't just take my word for it, here's what other people had to say about this summer's magic camp experience:

If ur into magic, or if u hve kids who luv doin magic (truly the greatest hobby for a child, teaches so much) I recommend @SorcerersSafari
— Steve Valentine (@Stevevalentine) August 21, 2014

@LeeAsherMagic fully supports my dietary choices! Thanks for an awesome week @SorcerersSafari #MagicCamp #ss2014 pic.twitter.com/qCUAIbk9wt
— Aaron Fisher (@aaronfishercard) August 20, 2014

Home from the stars and magic, & the future stars of magic @SorcerersSafari until next year..I'm out! @LeeAsherMagic pic.twitter.com/Yo0TnJSVMW
— Chris Westfall (@westfallmagic) August 20, 2014

Just left Canada's magic camp. I had an amazing time with @LeeAsherMagic @aaronfishercard @MikeCloseMagic and many other great magicians.
— Asi Wind (@Asiwind) August 20, 2014

Back home from Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp it was an incredible time, seeing all those kids so enthusiastic about... http://t.co/Nf1Jn8Yq3R
— chris mayhew (@chrismayhew1) August 20, 2014

Just back from our 1st visit to @sorceressfari. What a wonderful experience and great time we had. Read Evy's blog next Wednesday!
— Philip Matlin (@Perfect_Magic) August 21, 2014

Post by Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.

[Guest post] Kreskin at the CNE

The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.  Photos taken during Kreskin's second show at the CNE on Friday, August 15th, 2014.

--

Kreskin loves Canada. And Canada loves Kreskin. He said he thinks of Canada as his second home. Many Canadians even think of him as one of us. No wonder, we've long been enthralled by his charismatic performances, most memorably those also seen throughout the world during his famous 1970s television series taped in Ottawa and Toronto.

Kreskin's twice daily performances at this year's CNE in Toronto is like attending a master class in audience management. With nothing more than his easily recognized voice and considerable stage presence, Kreskin presents a remarkable demonstration of the "powers of suggestion". He says it is definitely not any kind of hypnosis (which he asserts does not exist anyway). Whatever it is, he held the entire audience (both onstage and offstage) spellbound with his supreme confidence and showmanship honed over a lifetime of such performances.

Here Kreskin's "powers of suggestion" render onstage audience members unable to voluntarily control the movement of their own hands and fingers, much to the amusement of the rest of the audience.

During the show Kreskin stopped to chat with this onstage audience member who, under Kreskin's influence, appeared to be unable to remember his own name.

Here Kreskin's influence causes an onstage audience member to believe the woman beside him has eleven fingers, which he repeatedly miscounted, much to his growing bewilderment.

Kreskin concluded his entertaining performance with an homage to Dunninger: "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't [believe], none will be good enough". Kreskin's shows follow in the tradition of Dunninger's who originated the disclaimer.

Anyone within traveling distance of the CNE should see Kreskin this summer. His act may be old school but he still knocks it out of the park each and every time. At nearly 80 he is an inspiration. Dare I say "amazing"? There is so much to learn from watching him. He's well worth the price of admission.

Also at this year's CNE in Toronto, ventriloquist Michael Harrison presents two shows daily. His laughter-filled act is clever and fast paced and a total audience pleaser.

Here Michael does the talking for both his dummy and also for an audience member in a climax to his act that left his delighted audience wishing for more.

Photo taken during Michael's second CNE show on Friday, August 15th, 2014.

If you plan to attend this summer's CNE in Toronto you should be sure to check out the "Browser's Den of Magic" booth in the Hobby Building. Although primarily designed to create interest among newbies, there's some extra good deals on offer that should be of interest to all.

Here Browser's Den of Magic associate Ahmed entertains an enchanted young fan.

Photo taken at the CNE on Friday, August 15th, 2014.

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Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!