09 August 2023

Toronto: Hokus Jokus with Ben Train, Jonah Babins, and Mark Clearview [Aug 13]

Tickets available at Yuk Yuk's.

(As an aside, all three of these performers are part of the Sorcerers Safari Legacy!)


From the August 4th Facebook post by The Toronto Magic Company:

What do you get when you combine a Comedy Mindreader, an Award-Winning Magician, and a World Record Holder into a single 90-minute show? 

Answer: an amazing night of fun for YOU!

Jam packed with laughs and mind-blowing magic, this show is perfect for a night out with friends, a date, or just because you need a break from your annoying kids.  

Featuring Ben Train (Penn and Teller's Fool Us), Jonah Babins (2021 Allan Slaight Award Winner), and Mark Clearview (World Record Holder), it's all happening Sunday August 13th at Yuk Yuk's Toronto.

 

 

 

 

08 August 2023

Calgary: Magic and Martinis with Michael Berends [Aug 11 and 12]

From the July 21st Facebook post by ACE Casino Airport:

๐ŸŽฉ๐Ÿธ Step into the enchanting world of "Magic and Martinis" at the Ace Casino Airport Social Room! ๐ŸŒŸ✨ Join us for TWO extraordinary evenings on August 11th and 12th with the mesmerizing Michael Berends as he dazzles you with mind-bending illusions ๐ŸŽญ๐Ÿ”ฎ, while you sip on handcrafted drinks ๐Ÿน and immerse yourself in a night or two of wonder and sophistication! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ•บ Don't miss out on this magical experience! ๐ŸŽ‰✨ #MagicAndMartinis #AceCasino #EnchantmentAtItsFinest ๐ŸŽฉ๐Ÿธ 

Book Your Tickets Today!

https://acecasinos.ca/event-details/magic-and-martinis-aug-11th-2023-600pm/

https://acecasinos.ca/event-details/magic-and-martinis-aug-12th-2023-600pm/

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

 

 

07 August 2023

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari - part 1

August is the time of Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.

I continue to feel extraordinarily grateful that I had the opportunity to experience Sorcerers Safari as an embedded reporter, a parent of a camper, an impromptu cabin counsellor, and an arts and crafts instructor.  It was the highlight of my summer for five years!

The Canadian sleep away magic camp, Sorcerers Safari, was the brainchild of Mike Segal and Mike Toal.  It was produced annually by Mike and Jen Segal.  Located in Haliburton, Ontario, it hosted a yearly gathering of magicians and magic enthusiasts from across the world.  In 2016, after 20 seasons, a bus full of magic campers left Haliburton for the very last time.  

This time of year has magic camp staff and alumni reminiscing about our time at Sorcerers Safari.  It's the perfect time to share with you this occasional series, “The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari.” 

In lieu of a physical reunion bringing together past campers and staff, Canada’s Magic is hosting a virtual reunion of sorts.  We’ve reached out to the Sorcerers Safari community with a dozen or so questions to help bring us up to date on what everyone has been up to since our magic camp days.

Almost thirty of you have responded with your most cherished memories of camp as well as your significant accomplishments since camp. 

If you completed the survey, keep your eyes peeled for your segment! 

If you would like to participate but haven’t filled out the survey, there’s still time.  The survey can be found here:

https://forms.gle/umg77yj9QxUzfpm76


Thank you to all that contributed!  

Mike, Jen, Sorcerers Safari staff, and alumni, this series is for you.

The Legacy of Sorcerers Safari
>> part two >>

 

Part 1 features:  Sam Pearce, Byron Berry, and Ben Train.

 

Professional magician, CanadianIllusionist.com
  Sam Pearce  

Attended camp for 2 years (approximately 2006 and 2007) as a camper.

Since his time at camp Sam has:

  • Performed cross-Canada tours, entertaining Canada's top executives.


In his own words:

  • On top of learning great magic, it was an amazing behind-the-scenes look at the magic biz

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Meeting magicians I admire, working backstage at the theatre.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • I made some great friends, and learned a ton about how to make a career as a magician.

 

 

  Byron Berry   Registered Nurse.

Attended camp:  2010 - 2011 as a camper.

Since his time at camp Byron has been a:

  • Bartender Magician,
  • Hospital Magician, and a
  • London Magician’s Guild Member.


In his own words:

  • Absolutely all of them [his accomplishments] are because of, or were made easier by my time at Sorcerers Safari.  I’m still connected with camp goers to this day.

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • Shawn Farquhar teaching me the Classic Force.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • I have learned that skill does not come overnight, as demonstrated by my terrible dancing cane act on the camper’s show lol!

I’m all for bringing this back, please Mike! 

 

 

  Ben Train   Professional magician, TorontoMagicCompany.com

Attended camp from 2000-2016. CIT (counsellor in training, 2000-2001), Counsellor, Staff.

Since his time at camp Ben has:


  • Delivered magic lectures in more than 70 cities around the world.
  • He co-runs TorontoMagicCompany.com, a company that produces magic shows!


In his own words:

  • ALL of my accomplishments were made easier having gone to camp. 
  • I gained knowledge but also confidence because of camp!

  • Favourite Sorcerers Safari memory?  
    • My legal council advises I don't answer” this.

  • Biggest take-away from Sorcerers Safari?
    • My friends and my love for community-building.

Bring back camp! Sorcerers 2.0!!!! 

 

Thank you Sam, Byron, and Ben, for sharing your memories!

Check back throughout the month to read updates from other Sorcerers Safari alumni and staff! 

part 2 >>

 part 1part 2  | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12

 

 Learn more about Sorcerers Safari 

 

 part 2 >>

 

05 August 2023

David Ben teases the magic in Grand Magic at Stratford

Updated August 11:

 

Tickets at Stratford Festival.ca.

 

From the July 23rd Instagram post by StratFest:

So what we're hearing is David Ben, #Magic Consultant, of #SFGrandMagic finds our creative teams.... magical? ✨

Yeah, that checks out!

 

 

From the July 20th upload at the Stratford Festival YouTube channel

 

 

04 August 2023

Jack Schwartz interviewed by Kidney PLUGGED IN

From the August1st upload "Meet Jack, a grade 7 student at Vancouver Talmud Torah. Jack is a Magician and Youth Philanthropist." on the Kidney PLUGGED IN YouTube channel:

Jack is an accomplished magician, helped to raise funds by putting on fabulous magic show for friends and family!  Inspired by his father, Daniel Schwartz, a nephrologist at St. Paul’s hospital.
Jack chose to donate the proceeds from his show to the BC & Yukon Branch of The Kidney Foundation in support of vulnerable kidney patients in BC/Yukon.

On this episode, you’ll meet this amazing young man, hear about what motivated his philanthropic and be treated to a performance of some of Jack’s magic tricks.

Read more and watch video.



From the August 2nd Facebook post by Shawn Farquhar:

Meet Jack Schwartz, one of the younger members of the Vancouver Magic Circle, IBM Ring #92. He was just featured in this nearly thirty minute program, performing magic and doing interviews. He's not only a Magician, but a Philanthropist for raising $2,600.00 for the Kidney Foundation by producing his own magic show. 

I love that he mentions the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and our local Ring, and was delighted to be included in his list of mentors along with his Father and Rod Boss.
We have a wonderful community of magicians in the lower mainland and Jack is a fine example.  Kudos to you Jack on a job well done! *Daniel Schwartz, you can be rightfully proud!  ๐Ÿ˜‰

 

 

 

03 August 2023

Thank you to our August 2023 sponsors!

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support. 

This site would not be possible without their backing.

We're grateful to have the support of:


The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!



 









 
 
 

 
 
For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.

Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.


or 

 

 

 

 

 

02 August 2023

Contribute to a Canadian Hocus Pocus Parade for the Linking Ring [Aug 31 deadline]

Submit your ideas to Ryan Pilling by August 31.

 

From the July 27th Facebook post by Tips & Tricks for Magicians:

ATTN: Canadian Magicians

I spend a lot of my time researching and reading through the dusty pages of The Linking Ring magazine.

My attention always perks up when I come across one of the many Canadian Hocus Pocus Parades, which were an almost annual tradition between 1943 and 1972. It's wonderful to see magic from both the famous and not-so-famous, including many who are the namesakes of our Canadian Rings; Ernie Crockford, Roy Cottee, Sid Lorraine...

Other than one "Canadian 4F Gala Parade" compiled by Joan Caesar in April 2016, this tradition has been long lost to history.

Well, here I am attempting to pick up the torch and spark something.

I'm reviving the Canadian Hocus Pocus Parade! And I'm inviting you to be a part of the legacy.

Canada's greatest strength comes from diversity of its people and regions, and I'm hoping to put together a collection of great magic with an equal variety, from magicians coast to coast to coast.

I'm looking for your most creative magic, be it inventions or adaptations.

If you have it written up, that's great... send it along.

If not, you can film a quick home video to teach the idea to me, and I'll write it up.

Bonus points if you can send a performance or demonstration video that we could include as a digital supplement to the Parade.

What makes a good magazine contribution - an idea that looks/sounds FUN to PLAY with.

A quick trick, a new use for a common prop, something easy to make, etc.

What makes an ignored magazine contribution - difficult or complicated routines.

If you can't decide what to send you're welcome to send along more stuff and allow me to choose.

I'll give you a timeline of August 31 to get your submissions to me.

Thanks!

Maple flavourdly yours,
Ryan Pilling
ryan @ wowryan . com
(Calgary, Ring 66)

P.S. You are welcome to forward this invitation to your local clubs and Canadian magician friends. I'd especially appreciate your help if you know magicians from more remote regions. Worst case is that I get so much I can do it again next year!