Murray SawChuck's motivator

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

It was William Hung who convinced him.

"I had performed all my life at this point," says the magician billed singularly as Murray. "I'm sitting there watching this guy who can't sing," he recalls of Hung, whose 15 minutes of fame came in 2004, after an atrocious rendition of "She Bangs" on "American Idol."
"He's got 40 million people who know him now, and he's getting $30,000 for a corporate show. Here's a guy who came out of nowhere, with no talent, and he's more famous than I'll ever be at this moment."

And so was the start of Murray's realization that he needed to be a brand as well as a magician. And he needed reality TV to help him.

Read more.

[h/t: iTricks:]

Rounding the Western rings in May

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.
 

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- N/A
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- N/A
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- N/A
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- close-up magic with competitions for both adults and juniors
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Mirth and Magic: Family oriented evening show featuring the Victoria Magic Circle’s most talented magicians.

 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in May

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.
 

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- joint Auction with other clubs at Kitchener
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- joint Auction with other clubs at Kitchener
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- joint Auction with other clubs at Kitchener
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- business meeting - initiation shows - open night of magic
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- lecture by Ben Train and Chris Mayhew
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Will Houstoun lecture
Woodstock, ON	CAM 1 (Friendly City Mystics)	- N/A

 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in May

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- N/A
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- N/A

 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Oakville: Hey! Look Us Over!

From Inside Halton:

That’s the theme of the musical extravaganza that The Entertainers will put on stage on May 5 at the Holy Trinity School in Oakville. This annual Spring Show will feature guest performances by the 70-voice ‘Circle of Harmony’ championship ladies chorus and a rising young magician, Mark Baluk, who will also emcee the program.

Read more.

Kingston: Bright Night, Big Dreams

From Kingston This Week:

Bright Night, Big Dreams is taking place Friday, May 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Renaissance Event Venue.

The event is in support of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, a non-profit organization that grants dreams for children with severe physical disabilities and life-threatening illnesses. Dreams can include a chance to meet a hero, a trip or an item like a new bicycle.

“It breaks your heart and makes you happy at the same time,” said Elaine Turner, president of the Kingston branch of the Sunshine Foundation. “It breaks your heart that the child is ill, but it gives you such an uplift to know that one more child has had their dream fulfilled.”

The colourful cocktail reception will feature live entertainment by magician and illusionist Ray Chance and 3D chalk artist Guy Wales.

Read more.

Eric Leclerc: Day 364 1/2

Watch Eric Leclerc talk about what he's been up to for the past few months and about things he's got in the hopper:

Magic Mike: On the cover of MUM

Congratulations to Magic Mike Segal who is featured on the cover of the May edition of MUM magazine!

Click through to see the cover.

Shawn Farquhar: Penguin Magic lecture

Did you miss Shawn Farquhar's live online lecture at Penguin Magic on Tuesday? Have no fear, you can download it (for a fee) from Penguin Magic.

Toronto: Morrissey moving weekend

From the Morrissay Magic Facebook page:

Special Hours this Weekend
Moving this Weekend
This Saturday April 28 2012 we will close early at 2PM.
We will also be closed this Sunday April 29 2012 All Day.

Our Current Location will close forever this Saturday at 2 PM.

Read more.

Baldini: Interview with Gordon Precious

Watch Baldini interview Canadian War Veteran & Magician, Gordon Precious:

Tim Vallillee is making Great Strides

From The Yarmouth County Vanguard:

Now, at the age of 44, Tim’s organizing a Great Strides walk in support of cystic fibrosis in Kingston on Sunday, May 27.

also

He now has his own entertainment business, performing as The Great TimBeanie magician and Stripes the Clown, in addition to singing in a classic rock band - Joker's Right.

Read more.

Montréal: Will Houstoun workshop

From the Will Houstoun Workshop Facebook page:

Monday, 30 April 2012
5445 de Gaspé, Suite 1010

Exclusive 3 hour workshop with Will Houstoun - Only $50!

We are very excited to announce that on April 30, Will Houston will be presenting an exclusive, 3hr hands-on workshop where he will be teaching some of his favorite routines, both published and unpublished. This event is striclty limited to 10 attendees to ensure that everyone will receive personal instruction and will leave with new material to add to their acts.

Read more.

Got talent: And then there were none

Despite Oslen's efforts in this week's Canada's Got Talent semifinal episode, he did not progress to the finals.

Once again, here's a big shout out to all of the magicians featured on the show: Vladimir the Great, Neil Croswell, Ryan Joyce, Mike D'Urzo, Warren Toaze, Jordan Murciano, Edward Stone, Lucas Wilson, Oslen and Benoit Fournier.  You all did a fabulous job of representing the magic community and raising the profile of magic in the mainstream media with your appearances on CGT!

Remembering Doug Henning

Evelyn Matlin has a wonderful post up at the Perfect Magic blog describing Phil's encounter with Doug Henning.   From her post:

Once, many years ago, Doug Henning, the first celebrity magician in  50 years, came to Montreal to perform. At that time a customer, who was an ardent magic collector and a friend, was dying in the hospital. The friend’s wife phoned Phil and asked if there was any way for Doug Henning to come and visit her husband because it would mean so much to him. Phil said he would try.


Read more.

CAMaraderie: One day passes

From the April 20th CAM newsletter:

Want to come to CAMaraderie but can't take the time to come for the whole conference? We have a solution for you.

Although it hasn’t been widely advertised, we now offer 1-day convention passes. These passes costs $95.00 and deliver a whole bunch of magic.  Each day there are many fabulous lecturers as well as a variety of other events. Choose the Friday pass and you can attend the Close-up show. Choose Saturday and you can attend the Gala Show!

Read more.

Day passes are a wonderful way to make the convention more accessible to those on a shoe-string budget and those with scheduling constraints.  Thank you CAM for this opportunity!

Toronto: Call for volunteers

From Sharing Wonder:

Seeking volunteer magicians/performers for a Luminato show. No experience required.

Can the non-sighted experience the same sense of astonishment that those with sight feel when witnessing magic? For Chilean magician Juan Esteban Varela, anyone with an imagination can transform fantasy into reality. In From the Dark, he does just that. Each audience member is blindfolded, provided with a box of props and then, individually and collectively, directed by him to create magical feats. It is a unique and thrilling experience.

We are looking for volunteer magicians/performers to help make the magic happen!

Read more.

Please note that this is a Toronto-based opportunity.

Got talent: Will you be watching Oslen tonight?

According to the Canada's Got Talent Facebook page, Oslen (the only magician in the semi-finals) will be peforming live tonight.

Will you be watching?

If not, why not?

Toronto: Luminato tickets on sale now

From Sharing Wonder:

Luminato tickets can now be purchased by the general public, bringing you one step closer to Toronto’s  electrifying festival.

Magicana is proud to present three enthralling, cutting-edge shows that will surely challenge the way you perceive the world.

Read more.

The Luminato Mind Over Matter magic series features Banachek, Richard Turner and Juan Esteban Varela.  Buy your tickets now!

Calgary: Garden Variety Show

From the Garden Variety Show newsletter:

April 26, 2012 - 7:30 pm

Past the halfway point and entering the home stretch, the Garden Variety Show has almost finished their third season.  Spectacular juggling, mind blowing magic and illusions, and some of the best stand up comedians in Canada.  Every show seems to be better than the last, leaving every audience member with something wonderful to try and describe the next day at work.

This month on the Garden Variety Show, magician and expert balloon sculptor TD Sparks will be premiering a brand new magic effect, never before seen in Calgary.  YoYo master Song Yao will amaze and astound, along with our juggler Jeff Olynek. As usual we feature a local singer song writer every month, this month Kaley Kinjo bass player for the Plaid Tounged Devils and so many other popular Calgarian bands will present us with his unique solo project.

Read more.

If that wasn't enough talent, the show's hosted by magicians James Jordan and Ryan Pilling!