Thank you to our personal sponsors for November 2021!

A quick reminder of our earlier Mail as Medicine request for Katie Hunt.  If you have the time, Katie and Doug would both benefit from hearing from their friends!

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Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Richard Hough, Robin Dawes, Eric Bedard, Loran, Peter Mennie, David Johnson, Gordon Precious, Colin Geddes, and Graeme Reed for being Friends of Canada's Magic!

It's good to have friends like you.

You too can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.

 

 

Toronto: Hocus Jokus with Babins, Clearview, Train, and Westfall

Catch them Sunday November 21st. 

From the November 5th Instagram post by the Toronto Magic Company:

Is this Toronto’s FUNNIEST magic show or Toronto’s most MAGICAL comedy show?

Why not both?!?

Four of Toronto’s funniest magicians are jumping on the Yuk-Yuk stage for a night of non-stop laughs, fun surprises, and of course, mind-blowing magic.

You’ve seen them on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, America’s Got Talent, and Breakfast Television. Now see them LIVE for ONE. NIGHT. ONLY!

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Jonah Babins in Narcity Toronto

From the October 25th article "How This 27-Year-Old Queen's Math Major Ended Up Earning Six Figures As A Magician" by Sarah Rohoman in Narcity Toronto:

As he got older, Babins said that enough people started hiring him that it seemed like something he could potentially get into full-time.

"I had to give it a shot, you know, so it was more exciting for me to do that than for me to pursue something a little more serious. And it just ended up kind of snowballing from there."

As well as being a magician and doing both live and virtual shows, Babins notes that he wears many hats in order to run a successful business and that no day is ever the same because of it.

"I am a podcaster. I interview world-famous magicians, and I share it with the world," he said. "I'm a magic business coach. So I help other magicians grow their businesses and use some online marketing techniques to make them effective and more fun. And then I'm an event producer. We produce ticketed events for people that come to see magic shows, and also we produce events online for magicians for the community."

Read more.

 

 

A peek behind the curtain with Fernando Velasco [2021]

 

Learn more about Fernando, the 2018 Magic Castle Junior Achievement Award winner, in the second of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic World Wide Wonders Tour shows in Kitchener and Peterborough early next year.

Read our 2019 interview where we learn Fernando's:
 
- magical and non-magical inspirations,
- first memory of magic,
- pre-show ritual,
- advice for touring magicians,
- secret to keeping performances fresh, and
- his Broadway dream role!

 

Champions of Magic performed in Canada in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.  After a two year absence, what are you most looking forward to on your return to Canada in early 2022?

I truly love Canadian crowds, they are wonderful to us.

Just coming back to Canada in general is something I’m really looking forward to.

 

Fernando Velasco in danger.
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa 2019.

 

 

 

The Great Pause (COVID Lockdowns)

Did you experience any silver linings? 

With all the COVID negatives aside, I actually thought this time off was great over all.

Many positives came out of this eternal lockdown.

I got to practice my close up skills.

I got really close with my younger brother and sister.

And went on a few road trips through Arizona, Utah, and Oaxaca (Mexico).

What was your comfort binge?
 
Doing meditation at the beach in the morning a few times per week really kept me sane, and it has also helped improve many aspects of my life.

Also for the first time in my life I went through a number of books, a few biographies, physiology books, and self improvement books.

Were you able to explore your personal passions?

I went full on athletic mode, started with hiking, running, then I joined a soccer team and I’ve definitely developed a golfing addiction which didn’t exist before, golf has been my main hobby during this time off, And let me just say this… I’m not that bad ;) !

How did you keep your skills fresh and performance ready?

Since I couldn’t be on stage I thought I'd try the TV screen.  I went on Fox’s “Game of Talents” as well as TBS’s “Go Big Show” (airing January 2022).

Also, I learned some close up/strolling magic which I’ve been performing anytime-anywhere I have a chance in a real world setting.

 

What was it like travelling and performing with Champions of Magic in Mexico during the pandemic?
 
Doing Champions during a pandemic was amazing. Although it was sad to be limited to such small % of people in the theater.

We filmed the online special with Cinepolis Klick which was great to do, but it was hard to film without a crowd. it definitely didn’t feel the same

Have audience reactions to live magic performances changed after Lockdown? 

I’ve watched a few live shows already and I can tell you the crowds are ecstatic.

Eager for entertainment, and I can’t wait to give our audiences the best entertainment I can.

 

 

 

 

 

In September, we learned that Hollie England will be joining the Champions of Magic family.
 

How will you welcome Hollie into the Champions family?

We are all looking forward to working with Hollie. 

I’ve already email her to say if anyone gives her a hard time to just let me know… 

Not that anyone will BUT I like to say that.

Also the tour will
need a villain soon. 
(Every tour has a villain).

[Editor's note:  could this be foreshadowing?]

What advice do you have for Hollie to help her thrive in the Champions family?

Hollie will be amazing, no advice needed….

If you could go back in time to study (magic or otherwise) under anybody, who would you choose to be your mentor?

If I could go back in time and choose a mentor I would have to pick P.T. Barnum, the great showman himself.  I think it would definitely be between P.T. and of course Houdini. Very hard choice.  There is so many greats throughout history that is hard to pick one.

 

 

What’s your go-to Karaoke song?

I like to please the crowd and “Sweet Caroline” never fails. That and Angels by Robbie Williams are my go-to songs (naturally Angels closes the night).

If you could only perform one effect for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I couldn’t only perform one effect for the rest of my life. I would go crazy.

But if I had to choose it’ll probably be The Blaney (Ladder) Levitation, I love performing that effect very much. It’s fun and I just love the simplicity of it! 

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I hope to see some of you at one of our shows. We are excited to get back and share our new magic. Lots of love!

 

Thank you Fernando, for making the time to answer our questions!


Catch Champions of Magic in Kitchener and Peterborough early 2022! 

 

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It Factor LIVE 2021: Back to the Future

With Anthony Lindan, Mario The Maker, Brad Ross, and more!

From the October 22nd Facebook post by Brad Ross:

Look Who You Can Learn From at It Factor Live 2021…

Time is running out to join us (in person or virtually) for It Factor LIVE 2021: Back to the Future.
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IFL is the Ultimate Transformational Marketing Workshop & Business Building Boot Camp that will help you book more shows, close more sales & finally hit SIX FIGURES WITH YOUR SHOW BUSINESS!
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Let us help you grow your Show Business by booking the kinds of gigs you want and getting the results you deserve.
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Learn What’s Working NOW in Branding, Online & Offline Marketing, Social Media, Digital Advertising, Video Marketing, Lead Generation, Negotiating, how to close more sales and so much more!

Toronto: Loran book signing

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

We are very excited that this SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH from 1PM-3PM professional magician extraordinaire LORAN will be in the store for a meet + greet, as well as having copies of his new book for sale! Get the book signed while you're at it! Please note that in order to attend we will be requiring proof that you are double vaccinated.

Loran is truly one of Canada's hidden treasures. His magic is powerful and theatrical, designed to really move you. Many in the Toronto magic community know Loran from his appearances at Sorcerer's Safari magic camp, where he was a staple for almost the camp's entire run. He's worked with Jackie Chan, and he also opened for AC-DC and The Rolling Stones at SARSTOCK in 2003, the largest concert in Canadian history!

Read more.

Hamilton: Restaurant Magic

From Ring 49:

Tue Nov 9

Will be held as usual on the second Tuesday of the month. I would suggest that people can come by as early as 630 pm. You can choose to eat dinner or just order a beverage. It would be obviously customary to order something since we are using the facilities for our meeting. The place did not appear to be noisy, and there was plenty of room on a Tuesday for our members. The theme would be restaurant magic, what makes good magic to perform in a restaurant setting. Please bring some magic to perform and/or to discuss to make it an enjoyable evening.

Please remember that you will need to follow restaurant protocols for Covid-19.

If you have not paid your membership fees and will be attending next week, please bring $20 cash and I will collect on Tuesday.
There has always been plenty of room at the restaurant so we are hoping for an enjoyable evening.