ICYMI: Spidey in Shin Lim's LIMITLESS

From the April 4th Facebook post by Spidey:

Reading minds nightly at The Venetian in Las Vegas in LIMITLESS, starring the incomparable Shin Lim! Come say hi!!! 🤗

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Jeff Hinchliffe Lecture [Apr 17]

A reminder that you can see Jeff's show, Stepping into the Impossible, at the Red Sandcastle Theatre on May 22nd.  Tickets at Eventbrite.

 

From the Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club (IBM Ring 17):

I've been involved in magic for nearly 30 years, and yet in those 3 decades I had never put together a complete show. In the summer of 2024 that finally changed. With the encouragement of our own Mahdi Gilbert, I set out to create my first show. A show about how and why I became a magician.

In my lecture this month I'm going to dissect my show for you.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

Do you think Jeff will explain the set he performed at the Browser's Bash this summer?

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Banff: The Lost Things with Scott Silven [Apr 16 - 17]

Tickets at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

 

From the Banff Centre:

From the moment you enter the theatre lobby, The Lost Things begins. The past lingers, memories shift, and unseen connections stir the senses in unexpected ways, pulling you deeper into its unfolding mystery.

Be among the first to experience this intimate preview, a rare chance to witness the evolution of The Lost Things before its grand world premiere at the iconic Sydney Opera House in June 2025.

Read more.

 

[With thanks to Gwyn Auger for letting us know!] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montreal: Alain Iannone lecture [Apr 21]

From the Montreal Magic Jam (translation by Google):

Alain Iannone presents “Magic for the Real World”

You may not have heard of him, but audiences around the world certainly do. Alain Ianonne has been a featured performer at major events in Europe for 25 years, as well as at Hollywood's famous Magic Castle. His work has been published worldwide in various magic magazines, including Genii and a "One Man Parade" in The Linking Ring.

His lecture goes far beyond new tricks. Alain blends proven ideas from decades of successful live performances. He'll offer practical advice and theoretical insights on how magicians can make their magic more... magical. 

Read more and buy tickets.

 

From the Facebook event Conférence Alain Iannone:

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: Ben Kahan's Canada's Got Talent audition

Read our interview, Canada's Got Talent:  Getting to know Ben Kahan.

 

From the April 6th upload "Magician Ben Kahan Blows Our Mind With Crazy Technology" at the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

 

 

Thank you to our personal sponsors for April 2025!

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, Loran, Peter Mennie, Noah Nogueira, Aaron Matthews, Cam Dix, and Ian Batterbury 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

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Ben Kahan

On March 4th we shared with you that this season of Canada's Got Talent has quite a few Canadian magic acts. 

Next in our series of short interviews with some of the magical acts is Ben Kahan!
 

We're very pleased that Ben made time to answer our questions ahead of his appearance on the April 8th episode of Canada's Got Talent!

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
I love when artists do something completely new, and I'm also a film fan, so I have to say Charlie Kaufman. He's a brilliant writer who knows when to exposit and when to let visuals do the talking, which is the hallmark of a great storyteller. His movies are always offbeat and often unfold in unexpected, passionate ways. As artists, we can learn a lot by studying how he builds his stories.

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

I grew up in the UK at a time when David Blaine was hitting TV and making magic "cool." For a few years, magic sets were a common present for young boys (like me). Unlike my other friends, I just never grew out of it. My first memory was receiving a Marvin's Magic set, which had one of my all-time favourite effects, the Dynamic Coins. Seeing those coins appear and disappear for the first time felt like witnessing real magic.

 
 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

Mentalist Derren Brown was a huge influence on me growing up. His approach and presentation are timeless. He not only develops head-scratching effects that stump other magicians, but he also performs in a way that's completely accessible to lay audiences - often hiding his methods behind psychology and hypnosis. It's a fantastic example of how to make magic approachable and impactful, while totally misdirecting your audience about your methods.

 

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

Another magician introduced me to The Young Magician's Club, which is the youth initiative of London's Magic Circle. At their famous headquarters, I spent one Sunday each month surrounded by other talented young performers. We were mentored by some of the greats in British magic and learned from workshops and seminars led by Ali Bongo, Paul Daniels, David and Marvin Berglas, and Fay Presto, and many others. It was inspiring and opened my eyes to the entire magic world.

Ben Kahan
📸 : CGT

Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
I did quit magic - for 6 years! I was working tables at events in London, but grew jaded, finding myself on autopilot and no longer having fun with it. After moving to Toronto in 2018, I lost touch with my magic community. Over time, I realized how much I missed it, so I joined Toronto’s Hat and Rabbit Club. I’ve re-found my people, and in the process, rediscovered my joy in performing magic.

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

Before performing, I put myself in my audience’s shoes, remembering they’re about to see something impossible that they’ve never witnessed before. When I focus on how lucky I am to provide that experience - no matter how nervous I am - it fills me with energy and excitement that overcomes everything else.

 

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

After returning to performing for the first time in over six years, I want to prove to myself that I’ve still got what it takes to create something new - and actually perform it. Doing it on the biggest stage in Canada would be an incredible opportunity to share my passion with an even wider audience.

 

 

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

With how quickly technology is evolving, there’s no denying it’s transforming the way magicians approach magic. It’s a shame that for all the brilliant coin routines out there, hardly anyone carries coins these days. But technology has always driven innovation in magic, just as it has in any other art form. It’s exciting to imagine how today’s young magicians will harness tomorrow’s tools to create miracles.

 

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

Follow Ben Kahan on Facebook, and Instagram.
 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesdays on CityTV.

 

 

 

Don't blink or you'll miss it!  Catch a sneak peek here in the April 5th Instagram post by Canada's Got Talent:

 

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