Top 5, er 6 posts in April 2024

There were 32 posts at Canada's Magic last month.  First and second most viewed posts are related, so we grouped them.  Here are the six most viewed posts in the past 30 days:   

6. Improved magic coverage at Canada's Magic! - Administrative updates from the first of this month.

5. A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2024] - Alex's show "Alex McAleer -- Mind Reader" opens this Friday in Toronto!  (Catch his alter-ego's lecture on May 6th at the Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club.)

4. Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Alexandra Burgio - Thanks for a great interview Alexandra!

3. Toronto: Win tickets to see "Lost in the Shuffle" at the Hot Docs Film Festival - Congratulations to Nick!  We hope you enjoy the show!

 

 

 

and the most viewed posts this month  ...

2. ICYMI: Mark Lewis' Canada's Got Talent audition - People want to see Mark's audition, and

1.  Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Mark Lewis - People keep wanting to read about Mark!

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Win tickets to see "Alex McAleer -- Mind Reader" [contest closes May 1st]

Great news folks! We have been offered tickets to give away to our readers, for the Canadian premiere of the show Alex McAleer - Mind Reader in Toronto May 3 - 12th.

 

 

Alex McAleer (right)

 

If you don't want to leave your tickets to chance, you can purchase them directly at the Starvox Entertainment.

There will be a random draw for four (4) tickets to the show.  

• There will be one (1) winner.
• The prize consists of four (4) tickets. (Approximate retail value of $160.)  
• The draw results will be posted by end of day on Sunday May 5th, 2024.

To enter:

1. Log into the RaffleCopter widget at the bottom of this post, using a valid email address.
    
2. Mandatory: Leave a comment in the widget, telling us your favourite mentalism effect / routine to perform or to watch.
    
3. If you win, you must be willing to provide your name, email address, and phone number, so that a representative from Starvox Entertainment can coordinate the prize with the box office.
   
   
4. The winner will be notified by email.  You will have 24 hours to claim your prize.  If we have not heard back from you within 24 hours, your entry will be disqualified and we will draw an additional name.

The fine print:

• To participate in the contest, you must be 18 years of age or older.
  
  
• One entry per person.
  
  
• This giveaway is open to Canadian residents, excluding residents of Quebec. (Je m'excuse!)
  
  
• This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
  
  
• This giveaway may be terminated or withdrawn at any time.
  
  
• Entries may be disqualified at any time (reasons for disqualification include but are not limited to the provision of information that is untruthful, inaccurate, incomplete, or suspected fraudulent behaviour).
  
  
• You must be able to use the tickets as offered.  (No cash value will be offered if you cannot use the tickets.)
  
  
• Transportation to/from Toronto will not be provided.
  
  
• Accommodations will not be provided.
  
  
• Photo ID will be required to claim the tickets at the box office prior to the show on your way into the theatre.
  
  
• The odds of winning depend on how many people enter the contest.
  
  
• Contest closes on Wednesday May 1, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.  Entries received after this time will be disqualified. 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

With thanks to Starvox Entertainment for generously making these tickets available to you!

 

Read our interview with
Alex McAleer

where we learn:

• about the differences between the solo show and his appearances in Champions of Magic,
• the structure of his one-man show,
• soundtrack inspirations,
• the advantage to performing in intimate theatres,
• routines that play better small, and
  
• changes to his act in the past 10+ years.
  

 

 

 

 

MB, SK, BC, ON: Wes Barker [May - Sep]

From the April 25th Instagram post by Wes Barker:

This is what we have so far! More dates being added soon. Can’t wait to see you out there 🍻

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wes Barker (@stuntmagician)

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Alexander Marsh lecture [May 6]

We have it on good authority that there potentially will be things for sale.  Possible things for sale include:

• Billet Masterclass (via download code)
• Art of Stagecraft (via download code)
• Penguin lecture (via download code)
  
• Forgotten Princess gimmicks (limited)
• Thy Will Be Done gimmicks (limited)
    

Budget accordingly!

 

 

From the April 25th Instagram post by the IBM Ring 17 Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit club:

Special Lecture! - Alexander Marsh

When: Monday May 6th
Where: Agricola Lutheran Church - 25 Old York Mills Road
Admission: FREE for members and $20 for non-members
 
Special Lecture!
 
Who is Alexander Marsh? Well he is the pen-name and alter-ego of Alex McAleer and he'd prefer it if you referred to him as Alexander Marsh online, or just Alex is fine too. He thanks you for your understanding.

Under his pen-name, Alexander Marsh has lectured at the prestigious Magic Circle; contributed to publications by Jerome Finley, Elliott J. Bresler, and Banachek; filmed two Penguin Live Lectures; released best-selling effects such as Forgotten Princess and Thy Will Be Done; and with The 1914 Magic released a masterclass on The Art of Stagecraft and the a 5 hour Masterclass on Billet work.

We are excited to have snagged Alex to do a lecture for us while he is in town performing at Lighthouse Artspace.

The lecture covers Mentalism for stage, parlour, close-up, and casual. Topics covered will include Billet work (peeks, predictions, more), ESP cards, an impromptu book test, Mentalism with coins and cash, and much more.

♣️♥️♠️♦️🃏 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hat & Rabbit Club, Toronto (@hatandrabbitclub)

 

 

 

 

 

Winner of tickets to see "Lost in the Shuffle"

The contest to win a pair of tickets to attend the world premiere of Lost in the Shuffle is closed.  Thank you to everyone who played!   

Shawn Farquhar and Michael Vincent at The Magic Circle

Pick a card, any card!  

If you’re looking for magic and mystery, then you’ll love the new documentary LOST IN THE SHUFFLE which will be having its world premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival running from April 25 – May 5.  

World champion magician Shawn Farquhar delves into a medieval murder cold case among Jacks, Queens and Kings as he devises a new trick inspired by the world’s best sleight-of-hand artists.

The film will be playing at the TIFF Lightbox on April 29 and May 1st.  If you love magic, then you’ll love this film!  

Get tickets through the Hot Docs website or visit:
https://bit.ly/HD2024LIS 

Which of the special guests are folks most excited to see on screen?  Not surprisingly, they were all named!  

1. Alexandra Duvivier,
2. Michael Vincent,
3. Richard Turner, and of course,
4. Juan Tamariz!  
   Someone wrote this in their contest entry:  "He is and will always be the great maestro of magic!"
   

Random draw results from Rafflecopter:

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The winner has been notified and the prize distributed.  Rafflecopter only contains information from the winning entry.

Congratulations to our winners!  We hope you enjoy the show!

With thanks to the Hot Docs Film Festival for generously making these tickets available to you! 

Shawn Farquhar performing an original routine created for the documentary

Kyle Key in the Red Deer Advocate

From the April 18th article "Magician to teach some tricks of the trade at Red Deer museum" by Lana Michelin in the Red Deer Advocate:

On April 27 at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery, Key will be teaching magic tricks to anyone who registers (ages 5 and up). The two workshops, each an hour long, are designed to “unlock magical potential,” not only by teaching these skills, but by using the lessons to build self-confidence, public speaking and fine motor skills.

“Magic is a great mechanism to improve your core competency,”says Key. He feels it’s one thing to show somebody a trick, it’s another to present it with the flair of a street performer, while telling a story to build interest.

His fascination with “magic” began at age five, after he got a Halloween-themed kit for his birthday.

Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Love is Tricky [Apr 25]

Tickets at Eventbrite.

 

From the April 22nd Instagram post by the Toronto Magic Company:

We’ve got the trick to finding love -- you’ve got to go out and meet people!

And we get it. That’s not easy. Where can you go to meet awesome singles your age without the awkwardness of speed dating or the stress of approaching people you don’t know at bars?

We’ve got the answer - and it’s happening THIS THURSDAY (April 25th) at the incredible Super Wonder Art Gallery near Dufferin and Bloor!

We’re filling the place with interactive magic, music, and some of Toronto’s most eligible singles - people looking for a fun night and to connect with awesome people like you. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toronto Magic Company (@torontomagiccompany)