10 June 2012

Banachek: prediction results and show reviews

From The Star:
The surprise retirement of I’ll Have Another was there. The out-of-the-blue bid for the 2024 Olympics was there. The story on gang violence? There. He even had the feature article on Australian Aboriginals.


Read more.

From Torontoist:
For someone who makes his living performing feats of mentalism (telepathy, psychokinesis, hypnotism, seances, and dermaoptics, a.k.a. “the magic of sensing without sight”), British-born performer Banachek’s entire backstory is pretty unique. And given that the audience at last night’s opening night show was not short on skeptics—a handful of whom we spoke to during intermission, or casually eavesdropped on, and a number of whom were volunteers on the stage itself—it is the highest praise to say the entire audience left looking absolutely baffled, but also delighted.

Read more.

From Mooney on Theatre:
A lot of people believe in telepathy, psychokinesis, past life regression and ghosts. These people go to a magic show ready and willing to believe. Others, like me, are skeptics who go simply for entertainment. Banachek’s The Alpha Project, playing as part of Luminato, is a great show for the latter. I suspect it might be a bit confusing for the former. For both kinds of people (and those in between) it’s still a fun night.

Read more.

Halifax: Norman Beck lecture

From the Conjurers Court:
Hi Folks,

Just a note to let you know that Norman Beck is confirmed and will be lecturing in Halifax on August 21.

It will be sometime in the evening – probably 7:00. 
Location, price and other particulars are yet to be determined but I’ll let you know as soon as the details are firm.
Read more.

09 June 2012

Got Talent: second season

Because it's a FAQ:



keywords: Canada's Got Talent auditions 2012

The top 100 most notable Montrealers

From the Montreal Gazette:
On Nov. 14, 1999, The Gazette published a list of more than 200 notable Montrealers who were felt to have had an impact on the city or who had made a major contribution to society while living and working here.

Readers were asked to make 10 choices and rank them. A first-place choice got 10 points, a second-place choice 9, and so on. From the more than 1,000 responses received, Gazette copy clerk Sherry Hattem and aide Marcia McInnis, with help from systems specialist Rob Ramsey, compiled the final tally of 100 notable Montrealers.

Read more.


Why are we mentioning this here?  Because representing magic, at number 87, is Tom Auburn!

08 June 2012

Hamilton and Toronto: James Alan in "Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks"

From Abracadabaret:
At The Hamilton Fringe Festival and the Summerworks Theatre Festival (Toronto)

Magician James Alan in a new one-man show about what’s true and what isn’t.

What wouldn’t we give to know whether someone as telling the truth? What if someone told you he was lying, but you believed him anyway?

Read more.

07 June 2012

Banacheck predicts Saturday's news

From the Toronto Star:
Renowned U.K. mentalist Banachek has written down a few predictions of what he believes will appear as headlines on the front page of the Saturday Star on June 9 and sealed them in a glass box on display in the front window of Kiehl’s, a cosmetic/beauty products store at 407 Queen St. W.

Read more.


[h/t: Sharing Wonder]

Toronto: An Evening with Eugene Burger

From Abracadabaret:
Friday, September 14, 2012
Venue: Toronto Centre for the Arts

Additional information coming soon.

Read more (and keep an eye out for updates to the site).

06 June 2012

Banachek on the Morning Show

From Sharing Wonder:
Minds were blown when the world’s leading mentalist performed a feat on the hosts of Global Toronto’s The Morning ShowWatch him talk about his live show, The Alpha Project, featured in this year’s Luminato’s Mind Over Matter Magic Series.


Read more.

Paul Pacific interviewed by Chris Beason

From Penguin Magic:
Paul Pacific is one of Canada's busiest mentalists. He performs his brand of mentalism at almost every kind of gig imaginable, and has a very engaging stage character.

I caught up with Paul to ask him a few questions about his work.

Read more.

05 June 2012

Toronto: Jay Sankey lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:
Sunday, June 24

That’s right Jay will be giving a new Two Hour Magic Lecture.

And for the FIRST TWENTY people to buy a ticket your seat will be reserved closest to the front.

Jay will share a BIG BUNCH of stuff during the lecture at the Browser’s Den, including many impromptu effects requiring no set-ups or special props. In fact, over the past year, Jay’s been slowly combing through the many DVDs and books he’s released on the market, and ‘blowing the dust off’ a collection of impromptu effects he hasn’t performed in years. Jay’s also been developing new handlings and variations, many of which he will be sharing at the lecture.

Read more.

04 June 2012

Toronto: Banacheck predicts

From Sharing Wonder:
Last night at Kiehl’s on Queen Street, world-famous mentalist, BANACHEK, was spotted sealing a prediction – now on display – of headline news from The Toronto Star which will be revealed June 9.

Read more.

Victoria: 2012 Tri - City 3 of Clubs Magic Convention

From the Victoria Magic Circle:
Tri - City 3 of Clubs Magic Convention
DATE: Fri Nov. 2 to Sunday Nov. 4
Friday - Vancouver Magic Allstars Show
Saturday - Gala Show
Sunday - Close up Show
plus Lectures, Dealers Room, Performances, and Lot's More!
Read more and register!


Talent listed on the site includes:

03 June 2012

Rounding the Western rings in June

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


CityClubEvent(s)
Calgary, ABRing 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)- David Acer lecture
- Year end meeting
Edmonton, ABEdmonton Magic Club- Mike Caveney & Tina Lenert
Winnipeg, MBThe Magic Club of Winnipeg- David Acer lecture
Vancouver, BCRing 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)- Children's Magician Of The Year competition
- David Acer lecture
Victoria, BCRing 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - David Acer lecture
- Annual picnic
 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in June

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

Hamilton, ONRing 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) - Elections
- Potluck / BBQ 
London, ONRing 265 (London Magician's Guild)-
Kitchener, ONRing 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)- Potluck / BBQ
Ottawa, ONRing 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) - Year End Party Pot-luck / Banquet
Ottawa, ONOttawa / Gatineau magicians-
Toronto, ONRing 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) - The Annual Banquet
Woodstock, ONCAM 1 (Friendly City Mystics)   -
 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in June

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


Halifax, NSRing 316 (Conjourer's Court) - Annual magic show
St. John, NBMagic Circle of St. John- N/A

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

02 June 2012

The value of a quarter

A few days back, Michael Fisher tweeted about experience familiar to many:

Evelyn Matlin caught my retweet of the situation and wrote up a fabulous post about her memorable experience with a gaffed coin, titled "Magicians! Just How Much Is A Quarter Worth?".   That could have been a very expensive mistake indeed!

Which brings us to our first poll:

Have you ever lost a gaffed coin?



01 June 2012

New York: Bill Abbott lecture and workshop

From Tannen's:
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
The Lecture Includes:
• 6 Complete Stand-Up Routines that feature General Magic, Geek Magic and Mentalism, are performed as a full show and then explained.
• The Theory of The Pack Smart Play Anywhere approach is discussed, examined and demonstrated during the performance.
• How to develop your own Pack Smart Play Anywhere Show to take with you on your next flight, throw into the glove box of your car or perform at your next paid function.
Read more.

Sunday, June 10th, 2012
Along with this workshop and some consistent practice you will be adding The Thing to your working repertoire sooner than you think. Whether The Thing is already part of your act and you want to improve or you want to start from scratch this workshop will have enough information and personal instruction to help you on your way. 
Read more.

31 May 2012

Jay Sankey: On the cover of MAGIC

Congratulations to Jay Sankey who is featured on the cover of the June edition of MUM magazine!

Click through to see the cover.


Read some of the teaser of the article written by Jamie D. Grant:
With over 1,800 published magic tricks, it's hard to believe Jay Sankey needs an introduction. Odds are you have one of his effects or DVDs in your home or office somewhere and, as a result, have heard or seen Jay as he teaches you something in his recognizably offbeat and impromptu manner. But when you actually stop and think about it, about him, questions can rise to the surface — none more curious than this: what do we really know about Jay Sankey?

Read more.

Murray Sawchuck at the Laugh Factory

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Murray's great idea is to ramp out the comedy club's regular stage to a circular extension surrounded by the audience. Murray doesn't stick to just close-up parlor tricks, but mixes in a couple of Vegas-style cabinet illusions. So squeezing the lovely Chloe Louise into the usual contraptions takes on a new interest from this "in the round" perspective.

Read more.

[h/t: iTricks]

30 May 2012

Morinville: Kip the Court Jester

From the St. Albert Gazette:
“It’s all Mom’s fault,” says the tongue-in-cheek court jester who is slated to be one of the major drawing cards at a carnival held this coming Saturday in Morinville.


Kip the Court Jester, as he’s known to a legion of fans big and small, will perform at the Morinville Public Elementary School (MPES) parent fundraising association carnival. It takes place at the Ray McDonald Sports Centre from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.


Read more.
Oh, sure.  Blame it on mom!