Montreal: Steve Beam lecture

A quick reminder that Steve will be lecturing in Toronto on November the 13th.

From the Montreal Magic Jam:

Monday November 14

From Las Vegas to Barcelona and from London to Vienna. Steve Beam has lectured all over North America and Europe. His lectures feature the latest in sleight of hand interwoven with the hottest semi-automatic magic from the guy who coined the term. The magic is designed and presented with the audience in mind – magic that will enthrall and entertain.

You will learn clever principles, witness devious subtleties, and experience eye candy with a purpose. All of this while seeing how these ingredients can form more than just tricks. Beam has created well over a thousand magic effects. In addition to publishing The legendary Trapdoor magazine for 15 years (1983-1998), writing 10 volumes of Semi-Automatic Card Tricks, he has published effects and articles in dozens of other magazines throughout the world. He not only creates and publishes his own magic; he also performs and teaches it. So, pull up a chair, take a card, sit back, and prepare to be amazed.

Read more and buy tickets.

Rounding the Western rings in November 2016

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- John “Handsome Jack” Lovick Lecture - TBA.
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- John “Handsome Jack” Lovick Lecture
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- John “Handsome Jack” Lovick Lecture
Fraser Valley, BC	IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring)	- John “Handsome Jack” Lovick Lecture - Christmas banquet - Third Monday Magic.
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- Three of Clubs convention - Christmas dinner and stage competition.
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	- TBA
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Three of Clubs convention - John “Handsome Jack” Lovick Lecture

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Central rings in November 2016

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- Executives meeting. - Trix R Treats Halloween close-up. - Public magic auction.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Road trip to Buffalo.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Walk around, close-up.
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Round-table discussion.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- TBA.
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- TBA
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Browser's Den 41st anniversary party - Outerbridge touring secrets lecture

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions

Rounding the Eastern rings in November 2016

Does anybody have current information to share about the Magic Circle of St. John?

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- Visit their Facebook page.
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- TBA

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions

Shawn Farquhar in Forbes

From Forbes:

“What famous magicians do and what birthday party and local magicians do is, at the heart of it, the same thing,” he says. “The only difference is some have been discovered while the others haven’t.”

Just because these more minor gig mean less elaborate tricks and smaller audiences–whether for children at a school, private parties or corporate events–it can still mean money.

Take Shawn Farquhar, for example, the ex-president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians–a society of about 15,000 magicians, 20% of whom are professionals. He says that a magician’s best-kept secret is usually his unexpectedly high earnings.

“Most can make $100,000, no problem, especially if you’re in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago and doing corporate events” he says of professional magicians. While this six figure salary may be a fraction of the $64 million made by David Copperfield (the world’s highest-paid magician), it is still quite a respectable salary.

In his best years, Farquhar makes about ...

Read more.

Quantity vs quality

I have to agree with Evelyn Matlin's observation about the sheer volume of magic effects brought to market these days.  The selection is far greater than I when I first dipped my toe in, *mumble mumble* years ago.  I wonder if the quality of the effects, over all, is higher, the same, or lower than back in the day.


From Perfect Magic:

As a magic dealer, I am overwhelmed by the new magic that comes out on a daily basis. Especially because I do the banners on our home page of Perfect Magic and edit the write-ups for our catalog. There seems to be no end to it.

I remember a time when Albert Goshman (think Sponge Balls – Magic by Gosh) came to Montreal to perform at Magie Montreal when we had our Conventions, back in the 80’s. He stayed in our home and we took him to the Brown Derby in the Van Horne Shopping Centre for dinner one evening. Unfortunately, neither Albert nor the Brown Derby are with us any more.

Read more.

Dean Gunnarson in the Westman Journal

From the Westman Journal:

Imagine being shackled and chained inside a glass box filled with water. It’s a stunt few people can pull off. Escape Artist Dean Gunnarson is going to attempt just that at this year’s Toastmaster’s Conference.

While being on stage and performing in front of people seems to come natural to Gunnarson, the performer has had to overcome fears of his own.

“He has quite an inspirational story. He’s faced a lot of his fears,” said Ryan Sturgeon.

Gunnarson’s attempt to escape the Russian Death Tank will cap off the conference being held Nov. 11-12 at the Victoria Inn.

Read more.