Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Mitchell Hrycan

Next in our series of short interviews with some of the magic acts listed in the March 5th Canada's Got Talent media release is Mitchell Hrycan!
 

You may already know that Mitchell:

• appeared on Canada's Got Talent last night!
  

We're delighted that Mitchell made time to answer our questions! 

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the album by the singer, RAYE, Live at the Royal Albert Hall (At the moment.)

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

My mom made a coin disappear by rubbing it against her elbow. I was around ten years old.  

 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

Derren Brown and the people he works with. Also, David Copperfield.
 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

Mr. Willard at Willard's House of Magic in Edmonton. It was a six hour drive from Saskatoon but he was an amazing guy to watch work. I only saw him a few times but he made a big impact. I bought Williamson's Wonders in his shop, on his recommendation. I also drove seven hours to see my first lecture. Jay Sankey ... it was an eye opener. A person who wrote a magic book, that came to life.

📸 : CGT

Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
Yes, the constant hustle wears you down. After trying a few different things,  I realized that magic was where my talent was. It helps me work harder. This is it.

Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals you’d be willing to share with our readers?
 

Before I step on stage I say out loud to myself, "Focus, pause, inflection." And sometimes, "I love the audience, the audience loves me."

 

Why is now the right time for you to be a part of Canada's Got Talent?
 

I'm older, maybe wiser, but in the end, how many more opportunities like this will I get? Take a chance and hope that myself and my magic are received in a positive way.

 

 

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

Search out the real working pros. When you do magic for a living, it changes how you think. If a professional can't mentor you, just absorb what they say in stories or experiences. Hang out with them once in awhile. My generation grew up on books. There was no way to copy a performance on video because videos weren't out yet. We didn't have the internet. You had to quickly develop your own personality and style. Focus on just a few things to perfect at a time, then improve them every time you perform. Keep a notebook. You'll thank me later.

 

 

 

Thank you Mitchell, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about Mitchell (and Michael) at their website DoubleVisionMagic.com and follow them on Facebook.

 

 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesdays on CityTV.

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Ken Margoe lecture [Apr 14]

Tickets at Eventbrite.

 

From the April 1st Instagram post by Ken Margoe: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ken Margoe (@kenmargoe)

 

 

Improved magic coverage at Canada's Magic!

Hello, magic lovers!

We have a confession: writing about magic takes way too much time. Between practicing new tricks, attending magic shows, and trying to writing funny blog posts, we're starting to feeling like we need a little magic of our own to make it all happen.

So we decided to let the artificial intelligence (AI) take over for a while. That's right, starting with this one, all new posts on CanadasMagic.blogspot.com are now generation by AI. Who knows, maybe it will we came up with amazing tricks or funny jokes that even we didn't think of.

 

AI created graphic

Don't worry, we'll still being around to add our personal touch and share our love of all things magic. But for now, let's sit back and letting the robots do the work. Who knows, maybe they will even reveals the secrets behind some of the biggest hoaxes of all time.

Watch the magical madness created by artificial intelligence and, as always, believe in the impossible! 

Later this week, details about:

1. Magic in the City: A showcase of Canadian magicians in Toronto, featuring performances by some of the country's top illusionists.
   
   
2. Canadian Magic Convention: An annual gathering of magicians from across Canada, featuring workshops, lectures, and performances by both established and up-and-coming talent.
   
   
3. The Great Canadian Magic Show: A touring production featuring a lineup of Canada's most renowned magicians, performing a variety of mind-bending illusions and tricks.
   
   
4. Magic on Ice: A unique event combining the art of magic with the beauty of figure skating, featuring Canadian magicians and skaters performing together in a dazzling display of skill and creativity.
   
   
5. Canadian Magical Masters: A competition showcasing the best magicians in Canada, with contestants vying for the title of "Canadian Magical Master" and the chance to represent the country on the international stage.

 

Before you get too excited about the events (we're super anxious to get our tickets for #4), we encourage you to double-check your calendars.

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Seriously though.  Check the date. 

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ICYMI: Nicolas Ribs' Canada's Got Talent audition

From the March 28th upload "You Won't Believe Your Eyes | Nicolas Ribs' Magic Act" at the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Howie admits this is the best magic he's ever seen after watching Nicolas Ribs' unexplainable performance! 

 

 

Toronto: Loran lecture [Apr 20]

From the Browser's Den of Magic Newsletter:

Accomplished magician, lecturer, and author, Quebec illusionist Loran is thrilled about sharing the secrets he has accumulated over a lifetime with you and offers a most inspiring lecture.

With over 30 years of experience, Loran has amazed thousands of spectators around the world. He has collaborated on stage and films with the Rolling Stones and AC-DC, Allan Rayman, and Jackie Chan.

Loran has presented his magic on English-language screen TV networks, CTV, CBC and City TV, as well as the national French-language networks, TVA, and Radio-Canada. His acting and consulting skills have been seen in a wide variety of Canadian and American movies, and television series, notably; Relic Hunter, The Tuxedo and Terror Train (Remake 2022).

THE LECTURE
Covering a vast array of topics on the art of illusion, Loran guarantees that no matter what your current skill level is, you will come away with knowledge that can be immediately implemented in your current presentations.

Loran presents and explains many of his original effects using various objects such as cards, spoons, scarves, and T-tip for close-up and stage magic performance. Most of the effects are commercial routines that include the complete presentation. Here are some of the effects.

•     Mirrorize” A mystifying coincidence with mirrors.
•     Unreal Silk” The scarf that penetrates matter.
•     The Nostradamus egg” Is it an egg or a prediction?
•     Card-Trap” A dangerous game with a mousetrap.

A part of the lecture is also devoted to the technical aspects of stage performance. This includes subjects like how to create a good cue sheet and technical requirement document, how to manage your music, what type of microphone and road case you may need. This segment will benefit both the seasoned professionals, as well as the novice beginner, and is indispensable if you are performing for school, on small as well as the large stage.

The knowledge that is shared with you by Loran, has been obtained over decades spent in real stage situation experience.

We look forward to seeing you all at what will be an incredible lecture!

 

From the March 12th Facebook post by the Browser's Den of Magic:

Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Mark Lewis

Next in our series of short interviews with some of the magic acts listed in the March 5th Canada's Got Talent media release is Mark Lewis!
 

You may already know that Mark:

• wrote the books The Lives of a Showman, Streetwise TAROT, and The Royal Road to Stage Hypnotism, and
• is a hypnotist, an accomplished palmist, and tarot card reader, in addition to being a magician.
  

We're delighted that Mark made time to answer our questions ahead of his April 2nd appearance on the 2024 season of Canada's Got Talent!

 

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
Nobody really! Or maybe there is but I can't think of any right now!

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

I was nearly 13 years old and went into a library and saw a book on magic. I took it out on loan and that started the whole thing off and it has lasted 66 years!

 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

Nobody really! I think the best magicians are all dead!  In other words there are many, many magicians from the past that inspired me. David Nixon in the UK certainly did. As did David Berglas, Harry Lorayne, Tommy Cooper, Paul Potassy and many, many more! However, I can't think of anybody alive that does! That is probably a sign that I am an old misery born in the age of the dinosaur!

 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

No. I was completely self taught from books. I never met a magician for the first two years of my studies and I thank God every day for it! I think I went downhill very slowly after that! 

📸 : CGT

Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
I have never even for a single second thought about quitting magic. I have devoted my life to the art.

Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals you’d be willing to share with our readers?
 

Not really. I do know the great Howard Thurston used to jump up and down before going on stage saying, "I love my audience! I love my audience!" Of course he had never worked the working men's clubs of Northern England or to drunks in the middle of the night in London night clubs like I have!

 

Why is now the right time for you to be a part of Canada's Got Talent?
 

Because I am 79 years old and nearly dead! I don't think they accept applications from the spirit world so I better do it now while I am still above ground!

 

 

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

Not really. I have probably said too much as it is! 

 

 

Thank you Mark, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about Mark at his website MarkLewisMagic.com and follow him on Facebook and YouTube.

 

 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesdays on CityTV.

 

 

 

 

Buffalo: Ken McCreedy and Shawn Farquhar at MAWNY 2024 [Apr 28]

From the February 16th Facebook post by IBM Ring 12:

The greatest one day convention in the world! MAWNY 2024 is approaching on Sunday April 28 at the M Hotel in Buffalo, NY! Register at mawny.org today!