Toronto: Eugene Burger extravaganza!

Updated October 17th to add link to photos from SNAP.

See photos from The Presence of Magic show c/o SNAP North York.   

[h/t: Deborah Fallick]

This coming September, Eugene Burger will be in Toronto for:

• a Ring 17 lecture on Thursday September 13th
• The Presence of Magic show at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on Friday September 14th
• A Magic Minimalism workshop on Saturday September 15th [only 7 spots left!]
• A Magic Scripting workshop on Sunday September 16th [only 1 spot left!]

Only one spot left for Eugene Burger's Magic Scripting Workshop in Toronto bit.ly/M2j4WY
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) June 28, 2012

What are you waiting for?  Get your tickets now!

Alex Seaman: youngest IBM ring president

From The Vancouver Courier:

This year, Seaman added another notch to his magician’s belt, which, to his credit, is not diamond encrusted. In February, then only 19 years old, he became the president of the Vancouver Magic Circle and the youngest president in the history of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, which includes the Vancouver chapter.

Read more.

Obie O’Brien: French Cultural Influence gold medal winner

From the Watertown Daily Times:

Whether it be at the local supermarket or in Dunkirk, France, magician Ronald J. “Obie” O’Brien is always ready to entertain.

At his riverfront home just off Kring Point Road late last month, four days before turning 80, he reached into his back pocket for his wallet shortly after welcoming a guest. He revealed a card carrier, took out four cards and launched into a routine:

“A magician and a gambler were talking. ... ”


Read more.

Congratulations Obie!

How to audition for Canada's Got Talent 2012

You can't. 


From Canoe:

Canada’s Got Talent will not be back for a second season in 2012-13, Rogers Media and Citytv confirmed on Friday.

“After careful consideration of all factors, including the current economic climate, Citytv has refocused its programming strategy and will not be producing Canada’s Got Talent for the 2012-13 season,” said Rogers Media president of broadcast Scott Moore in a statement.

Read more.

[h/t: TV,eh?]

Toronto: Soma lecture

From the Browser's Den:

Soma: Current FISM World Champion’s Lecture in Toronto – Sunday August 26th, 2012.


FISM World Champion comes to Toronto! With the help of Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp, the Browser’s Den is proud to offer you the opportunity to spend an entire afternoon with Soma – World renowned manipulator and FISM champion.


Read more and buy your ticket!

Kade Mazury, The Great Kadeini of Hidden Valley

From the Calgary Herald:

While it remains to be seen what illusionist’s name will be famous when we look back at the current decade, there is at least a possibility that a Calgarian will make the list. Kade Mazury—a.k.a. The Great Kadeini of Hidden Valley—has the makings of a memorable magician.

Read more.

Outerbridge: The Celebration of ME

According to the Patty Obey newsletter, Marion Outerbridge is one of two winners of "The Celebration of ME" Dance Scholarship Fund who will attend the Jazz Dance World Congress in Pittsburgh, PA July 31-Aug 5!

Congratulations Marion!

St. Catharines: Alex Kazam's One Night Stand

From Alex Kazam's Facebook page:

Saturday, 21 July 2012

Witty Magic's Last show: "Don't Tell Mom!" was COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!
If you missed it, don't worry- It was a launch to a recurring series of show, now billed as:
"ALEX KAZAM'S ONE NIGHT STAND"
Don't miss your chance to see a fantastic show.

Read more and buy tickets.

Buffalo: Matt DiSero

Matt Deserio DiSero will be at Rob's Comedy Playhouse in Buffalo Williamsville, New York on June 23rd.  Here's your chance to see him peform on dry land!

Garbage @ The Phoenix

From Open 'Til Midnight:

In a stroke of brilliance that makes me wish other artists would think of it, the night opened with magician James Alan, who took the crowd on a raucous spree of snark and sly card tricks, rocking the finale where a procured twenty dollar bill from an audience member disappeared, only to reappear in a cantaloupe cut open on stage. Hope the bartenders enjoyed the scented cash! As much as I love discovering new artists, major labels frequently pair artists with openers that make no logical sense for the audience at hand, meaning it’s a true 50-50 shot for enjoying them. An awesome magician though? Always welcome!

Read more.

Southern Ontario: Moving magicians for TV show

From James Alan:

The show is based around a family-run moving company that's been in business for the last 15 years.  Each episode will focus on their family dynamic as they move one or two homes or businesses. 

Right now we're looking for people throughout Southern Ontario with a unique or interesting move in the next 3 weeks -- and what's more unique than a magician??

As a thank you for being a part of the show, we'll cover the cost of the move -- one less thing to think about on moving day!

Contact James Alan if you are interested in this opportunity.

Almonte: Puppets Up!

From Ottawa Start:

This year, It’s Magic! is the theme as the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival celebrates its 8th season. On August 11 and 12, Puppets Up! will once again present a two-day festival of wonder and amazement as ten professional puppet troupes perform in our family-friendly tented theatres.

and

In addition to the festival’s world-class puppeteers, Magician Elliott Smith will headline an outstanding line-up of magicians and street entertainers who will mystify and enthrall you! (Elliott is the real deal – he’s received the Order of Merlin Shield, a very prestigious award given by the International Society of Magicians [sic].) He’ll be joined by festival favourites the Balcony Puppeteers (think Sesame Street’s Statler and Waldorf) and other artists like musician and children’s entertainer, Jake Differ, and Matt Ficner, whose fantastic animatronic robot puppets are often seen zooming up Mill Street.

Read more.

The Grappler up for auction

Were you at the Harry Anderson lecture, "Tipping the Hat" last month?  Do you remember the story he told about purchasing the Holdout, which was featured in his Grappler routine?  Do remember what his career trajectory looked like after that purchase?  Ever wanted to own one?

Potter and Potter has one up for auction.  Lot 126.

I couldn't afford it at the price he originally paid.  I wonder what it will go for on June 23rd?


[h/t: iTricks]

Hypnosis not recommended for children under 14 years old

Updated June 19 at noon to add:

I am prepared to throw a BOMBSHELL into the story of the "hypnotized students" who were stuck in a "trance".
—The Amazing Kreskin (@Kreskin) June 19, 2012

From Global Post:

A Canadian hypnotist might have been too attractive for his young, female audience to resist.

Sacred Heart College, a private all-girls school in Sherbrooke, Que., hired Maxime Nadeau last week to perform a special year-end show for a class of 12- and 13-year-old girls.

Read more.

From The CBC:

A show at a private girls' high school in Sherbooke, Que., went strangely awry when a young hypnotist left several students in "mass hypnosis" limbo and he had to call in his mentor to snap them out of it.

Read more.

CBC: Magic world standoff over tricks of the trade

Should magic secrets be kept secret?

From the CBC:

Professional magicians dazzle audiences, but in the age of Google and instant answers, might tell-all books and video explainers forever expose what's up performers' sleeves?

According to Alex Stone, author of Fooling Houdini and a practising magician who has competed in The Magic Olympics, it's high time to reveal the magic world's secrets to the public.

Read more.

Watch the video (including comments by David Ben and Julie Eng):

[h/t: Sharing Wonder]

Who will be at Sorcerers Safari 2012?

From the Sorcerers Safari Facebook group:

Wayne Houchin and Soma will be at Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp this summer! I hope you will, too!

Read more.

Soma?  Did Mike just announce that Soma is going to be at camp this summer?  Wow!

Calgary: Magic day camps

From the Vanishing Rabbit:

Course 1:  JAW DROPPERS
8 - 10 Years old
July 16 - 20th 
Noon - 4 pm Each day

Course 2:  The Complete Course
11 - 99 years old
July 23- 27th 
Noon - 4 pm Each day

Read more to confirm price and details.

[h/t: magicinfo.ca]

Who will be at MINDvention 2012?

From the Magic Convention Guide:

I want to give you a brief update and overview of the 2012 MINDvention mentalism convention taking place in Las Vegas from November 11-13th.

Read more.

It goes on to state that Canadians Tony Chris and Christopher Taylor have been added to this year's line up.  Visit the 2012 MINDvention for more information.

From the Dark: an interview with Juan Esteban Varela and Michael Weber

From Cadence Canada:

Cadence recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Juan Esteban Varela and Michael Weber, the incredible mind and director behind the astonishing illusionary production From the Dark, which makes its North American debut this weekend as part of the sixth annual Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity. As part of the third joint venture between Luminato and the Canadian magic non-profit group Magicana—this year titled Mind over Matter—Varela’s show is one of the most unique magical productions to ever be staged, a production that involves blindfolding both the performer and the audience, to experience a wide breadth of classic magic tricks from a sightless perspective. A novel show and celebration of magic unlike any other, Varela’s show debuted in 2010 at the National Magic Congress in Madrid, Spain, and has since been spellbinding audiences around the world. Stemming from an idea that pegs the question of whether a person truly needs the sense of sight to reason, imagine, and be amazed, Varela’s From the Dark is a conceptual behemoth and an experience that will surely tanzilize the senses—minus those involving the eyes, of course—and promises to give the audience a show unlike any they’ve experienced before.

Read more.

Visit Magcana's website for more information about The Luminato Mind Over Matter magic series.

Welcoming a new patron: Magic Information Canada

Welcome to our newest sponsor, Magic Information Canada!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Magic Information Canada, it is a fabulous repository of links helpful to Canadian magicians.  Established near the end of the 1990s, the site has fabulous lists of Canadian magic:

• shops (complete with contact information, map location, and identification of whether it's a virtual or bricks and mortar shop)
• clubs,
• tutors (lists of those willing to teach individuals and / or groups) and
• events (location, price and contact information are provided). 

I especially like the events section, which primarily includes lectures and workshops, because the events are listed sorted by date and are also entered into Google Calendar!

The site is maintained by magic enthusiast Doug Cuff from Ottawa, Ontario.  Doug is proud of the fact that he has attended every CAMaraderie since 2001.  (That's eight in total!)  In his own words, he's "downright smug about it."

Thank you Doug, for all of the work you put into the Magic Information Canada website and for your sponsorship!