Windsor: The Illusionists Magic of the Holidays [Dec 10 - 11]

From the September 30th Instagram post by The Illusionists:

The magic returns this holiday season! ✨ Come join us for a merry evening of astonishing acts of magic performed by the world’s greatest illusionists - tickets are on sale now. Visit the link in our bio for more info. 

 

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Hastings: Nathaniel Rankin [Dec 3]

From All Events In:

Nathaniel Rankin - Canadian champion of magic
Award winning magician & circus artist. He has entertained audiences around the world.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

Edmonton: Laugh-a-cadabra [Nov 20]

From the November 1st Facebook post by Jay Flair Magic:

In JUST THREE WEEKS, Alberta's FUNNIEST MAGICIANS take the stage at @yukyuksedmonton! ⁠
⁠
On November 20th, my friend Jeff is hosting @Jeff Newman LAUGH-A-CADABRA at the Century Casino, and we have a night FILLED with amazing magic, incredible mind-reading, and stunning sleight of hand, thanks to, Ryan Pilling Jimbo Jordan . Not only will we blow your minds, but we'll split your sides! ⁠
⁠
This is a show you DON'T want to miss, and tickets are going to go FAST...luckily, you can get them in this link!
https://www.yukyuks.com/?action=club.comicDetails&comedianID=2337&venueID=2480
⁠
See you there!

 

 

Thank you to our personal sponsors for November 2022!

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!

 --

Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Robin Dawes, Eric Bedard, Loran, Peter Mennie, Graeme Reed, Gwyn Auger, Chris Gowen, Cam Dix, Jokers, and George Blott, 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.

or

 

 

Victoria: Jason Verners live at Ecologyst [Nov 18 & 19]

From the October 21st Instagram post by Jason Verners:

In case you missed the announcement on @chek_news, I am excited to announce that I have partnered up with @ecologyst_ for an exclusive run of intimate magic shows on November 18/19th in their retail space in Victoria, BC! Honestly, this is my best work yet- the show has my favourite pieces across all of my past productions. I am so excited to share these evenings with you. The room is small, tickets are moving fast & are available at: jasonverners.com/tickets (or check out the link in my bio)! See you there. xo

 

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Remembering Max Maven

In case you missed the sad news, Max Maven passed away on November 1st.  

Our sincere condolences to Max's family and friends.

 

From the November 3rd post "A Legend" at Magicana:

Max Maven was a giant in the world of magic.

His love for this art. His devotion to creating exceptional magic. His passion for magic history. Max Maven will be remembered for many tremendous contributions. As a performer, as an educator, as a mentor, and as a colleague, Max Maven was incredibly special, to so many. 

Read more.

 

 

From the November 3rd Facebook post by Michael Close: 

 

 

From the November 2nd Facebook post by David Acer: 

 

 

From the November 2nd Facebook post by Alex Zander: 

 

 

From the November 2nd Facebook post by Matt DiSero: 

 

 

From the November 3rd Facebook post by FISM Québec 2022: 

 

 

 

A peek behind the curtain with Sam Strange [2022]

 

This is the last of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].     

Canadian tour to start April 2023!

Read our 2019 interview where Sam shares:
 
- his interests outside of magic
- about pre-show rituals
- keeping performances fresh
- and his Broadway role of choice

 

What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

Champions of Magic is now a bigger show in scale, production and crew numbers than ever before.  Because of that, it is such a vibrant circus to be a part of. Even on the days off, or travel days between shows, there is always a good-spirited atmosphere with lots happening. Travelling in a large group with a shared passion for the show unifies everyone too. Needless to say that performing the actual show is an amazing buzz in itself, so that is a tempting first answer to give.

 

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What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 

The most important thing for my own mental health and self care is to ensure Young and I get the biggest cheer and reaction during the final curtain call. As we are unlikely to receive that through our own ability as performers, we have to lower the standard of the other acts. Sabotaging props and playing complex mind games backstage often lowers their personal contribution to the show, therefore peacocking Young and I into a stronger position. Failing that we just pay off the sound technician to pipe in extra applause through the speakers.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
We once did a show in Saskatoon in January and by the time the trucks had made it over to the venue, everything inside was frozen. The extreme temperature over a prolonged trucking time had caused mayhem with so many of the illusions! Bolts wouldn’t move, batteries had failed and the technical crew setting up the lights, pyro etc were encountering countless problems. It really was a period of extreme whether and something I had never experienced before.

[Editor's note:  They say you haven't truly toured Canada unless you've had your equipment wheels freeze making load in, urm, challenging.]

In 2018 we managed to get a spot performing our illusions at the Toronto New Year's Eve celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square. We had been booked to perform at 11.40pm on the main stage. It was windy, raining and the DJ had to stop his set for us to do our introduction. Almost everything went wrong in that performance and it really wasn’t what 10s of thousands of people in the square wanted to see! We did our time but were rightly heckled throughout for killing the vibe in the lead up to midnight. We have never spoken of that night again...

I do genuinely love Canada and the Canadian people so I’m really sorry that both things that spring to mind were performances with a lot of stress and uncertainty.

[Editor's note:  Oh my!  Those are definitely memorable experiences, and not the good kind.  You need to tour here in the warmer weather.  You'll like your visits better, we're sure of it!]

What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?

 

I find this a tough question to answer. The reason for that is that we are continuing to work in new material and when that succeeds that feeling is difficult to compete with. It’s such a buzz. However, if pushed I’d have to say the finale which is a collaborative effort from the cast and crew; it has the vibrancy, energy, humour and production level to match my childhood dreams of becoming a stage illusionist. 

 

 

What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  

 

Without doubt one of the best moments of the show to watch is when a new routine goes into the show. We always refer to it as a ‘sell out in the wings’. A new routine inevitably evolves quickly but that first night when scripted jokes are untested, magic techniques are a little shaky and you can see the subtle fear in the performers eyes, really make you appreciate live theatre. If it happens to be your own new routine or material in the show that night then it’s terrifying!  

 

 

 

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What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?

 

That gratitude for the show we are in and those moments of reflection really are important.  In 2012 we had performed very little onstage and I think the biggest theatre we had played at that time was the Chipping Norton Theatre in Oxford, England, with a capacity of about 200. To think of the ground we have covered and rooms we are now playing with the show, it’s beyond what we imagined would have been possible. That relentless stage time also means the show (and hopefully our act within it) is only going in one direction.

There really is no secret to making a show good -- just perform it loads and try to proactively make improvements. 

   

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

I think all magicians fall into that trap of seeing a show once, making a judgment on it and then dismissing it having ‘seen it already.’ We have so many new elements to the Champions show now that even if you have the show before it will have evolved quickly and improved massively. So do come and see it if you can!

 

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

 

 

 

Catch Champions of Magic in:

• Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1]
• Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and 
• Peterborough [Dec 9]. 
  
  Champions of Magic Canadian tour to start April 2023!