And then there were two … (brick and mortar magic shops)

Just over a year ago we all put our heads down and did what needed to be done.  

While we were hunkered down, a big shift happened in the Canadian magic community.

We’re down to TWO dedicated brick and mortar magic shops.

• The Vanishing Rabbit went online only last May.
• Perfect Magic went online only late last year.
• Last month, Magie Spectram announced their intentions go operate online only.

From the October 1st, 2014 post “Why bother with a magic shop?” written by Evelyn Matlin wrote at the Perfect Magic blog:

It’s so easy to look up  what you want on line, find the cheapest price and order.  I can’t say that I blame anyone for doing that. But there may be a cost to the saving of money, especially in magic.

Click through to read Evelyn's thoughts on the matter.

A comment from the 2013/08/29 post "Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto"

...travelling magician (travelling light) from British Columbia stuck for a surprise gig in Barrie last summer and Dan really got me out of a jam. He was a great guy...asked what I had for a budget (tight budget since I wasn't getting paid!) and set me up with great stage sized stuff that made my show a success...customer service like that doesn't exist on some internet site ...

Don't have brick and mortar shop in your area? Consider supporting one through their online shops. (I direct your attention to one of our sponsors The Browser's Den of Magic in Ontario, and to Clownin’ Around in BC.)

Over the past ten years roughly 85% of all brick and mortar magic shops in the world have closed.

We need to think about how we can support the two remaining brick and mortar shops in Canada, Browser's Den of Magic & Clownin’ Around.

Thank you Jeff at The Browser's Den of Magic, and Quincy at  Clownin’ Around, for your fabulous brick and mortar shops!

A Reddit AMA with Vitaly Beckman

From the April 15 Instagram post by VitalyEveningofWonders:

Join me for Reddit's Ask Me Anything! Wed, Apr 28 @ 10am PST / 1pm EST
http://reddit.com/r/IamA

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vitaly Beckman (@vitalyeveningofwonders)

 

Mark Clearview's "Try This at Home" with NYC mixologist Melissa Brooke

From the April 11th Facebook post by Mark Clearview:

TRY THIS AT HOME is an interactive virtual magic show happening on April 24th and 25th at 7:00pm EST. Featuring NYC mixologist Melissa Brooke! Come learn how to make cocktails and magic!

Pay what you can tickets at: www.markclearview.com/trythisathome

 

 

 

Connie Boyd interviews Renée-Claude Auclair

From the April 15th video at the Magical Women with Connie Boyd YouTube channel: 

Renée-Claude Auclair is the Canadian Association of Magic (CAM) current President, she is also the current President of the Quebec 2022 FISM World Championships and the Co-Organiser of FISM which will be held in Canada July 25-30, 2022.   This will be the FIRST time, ever, that FISM (Federation International Society of Magicians) also known as "the World Championships of Magic" will be held in North America.

In this talk Renée reveals her story and the strategy to win the bid for FISM and how her determination and the work-ethic she developed as a Canadian world-class diving team member served her well in the quest to secure the prestigious event in Canada.  We hope you will enjoy Renée's talk as much as we did. Be sure to subscribe & to hit the notifications bell so you will know when Renée's second talk is uploaded.

Blackpool Magic Virtual Convention [April 18]

Updated April 19th to add:

• Screenshots from the event added to the bottom of the post.
  

 

From the March 29th Facebook post by Blackpool Magic Convention:

Blackpool Magic - Virtual Convention - LIVE

In these unpredictable times, The Blackpool Magicians Club proudly presents a unique event from a locked down Winter Gardens as a way of thanks for your continued support.

This is a FREE event.

Starring:

• John Archer
• Ben Hart
• Ali cook
• Brendan Rodrigues  
• Marc Oberon
• Romany
• R Paul Wilson
• Phil Hitchcock
• Sam Hurst
• Graeme Shaw
• Noah Kelly
• John Kimmons
• Gary Dunn

Plus Special Guests

18th April - 6pm GMT
Only on Facebook Live

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Canadas Magic (@canadasmagicdotcom)

 

 

Big Trick Energy (Ramsay, Leclerc, Barker, and Boyer) on Ellen

After the reading the newspaper articles about Alex and Wes, we share with you the video of team Big Trick Energy on Ellen!

(How many Canadian magicians have appeared on Ellen?  Shawn Farquhar, Shin Lim (2, 3) ...)

From the April 15th video "Magicians Stun Ellen with Their ‘Big Trick Energy’" on TheEllenShow YouTube channel:

Wes Barker in the Cloverdale Reporter

From the April 15th article "VIDEO: On ‘Ellen,’ former City of Surrey employee works magic with new ‘Big Trick Energy’ gang -- A decade ago, Wes Barker quit his job with the city to do magic professionally" by Tom Zillich in the Cloverdale Reporter:

Barker honed his magic skills while working for the city in his early 20s, between time spent studying business administration at university.

“I did lots of jobs for them – water meters, watermains, weedeating on the roads and drainage,” he said during an interview in 2014. “You take your lunch breaks in your truck, because there’s nowhere to go and everyone just packs a lunch, and you have your half-hour lunch and two 10-minute coffees. So there’s 50 minutes a day where you’re just sitting in your truck with nothing to do, so I just brought books with me, on magic, and on my breaks I’d practise magic tricks. Every partner I had thought it was hilarious that I had this library of books in the truck, and during every break I’d pull out cards, coins and whatnot. Kind of weird.”

Read more and watch video.