Edward Stone predicts Review headline

From Niagara Falls Review:

How is it possible for someone to know weeks in advance what a newspaper’s top headline will be?

Illusionist mentalist Edward Stone will prove it, so he says.

Stone, who has travelled throughout North America performing for thousands during his 90-minute Seeing is Believing show, has written his predictions for the front-page headlines on the Sept. 28 editions of the Niagara Falls Review and Buffalo News.

The two predictions have been sealed inside a locked chest hanging from the roof of the Trailside Bar and Grill on Ridge Rd. in Ridgeway.

Read more.

Rounding the Western rings in September

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)	- Cameron Francis lecture
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- n/a
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- Cameron Francis lecture
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- n/a
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	-
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- n/a

 

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

Rounding the Ontario rings in September

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

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Anthony Lindan lecture:  "I’m So Old, I’m New Again"
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Bizzare Night
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- Steve Reynolds lecture
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Michael Close lecture

 

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

Rounding the Eastern rings in September

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.

Use it or lose it

Two Canadian magic institutions shuttered their stores on the very same weekend. It sends shivers down my spine.

Again I urge you to support our local brick and mortar magic shops. It's the first place many kids get bitten by the magic bug. It's a place they can go for encouragement and coaching, by people in the know. A nurturing community is formed in a local shop, which can't be duplicated through the internet.

Don't have brick and mortar shop in your area? Consider supporting one through their online shops. (I direct your attention to two of the wonderful sponsors of this blog, Perfect Magic and
The Browser's Den of Magic!)

If you don't use it, you'll lose it.

Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto

On Saturday August 24th, after 54 years in the industry, Morrissey Magic closed its doors for the very last time.

Founded by Herb Morrissey in 1959, Morrissey Magic's niche product was his "Morrissey Cups."  His retail shop opened in 1964 with a second shop opening in Toronto in 1978.  Some time later, the entire operation settled in Toronto.

Morrissey Magic was the first real magic shop I'd ever experienced.  I can't tell you how many hours I've spent there.  Or how many pay cheques.  (The numbers are likely higher than I'd care to admit.)  Being in their store always felt like home to me -- no matter the location.  Their anniversary parties were the perfect combination of celebration, community and entertainment!  (I will never forget the impromptu performance by Richard Lyn a few years back!)  I feel fortunate that I was able to share my love of the store, and the people who ran it, with my family.

Thank you to Dan, Phoebe, Mike, Luiz, Richard and of course Herb, for the wonderful contributions you've made to my life.  Dan and Phoebe, I wish you all the very best as you begin a new chapter in yours!

Daniel Steep interviewed by Sean McGaughy

I interviewed @danielsteep after his #agrimagic show at #cne2013 @LetsGoToTheEX https://t.co/K1aiEuUdxY
— Sean McGaughey (@Sean_McGaughey) August 26, 2013

Toronto: Jay Scott Berry lecture

From the Browser's Den:

BONUS LECTURE - JAY SCOTT BERRY!
Date: Sunday, September 29

Dear Magic Friends,

We have arranged to squeeze in one more lecture for this September.  We agreed because JAY SCOTT BERRY is an exceptional magician from Australia that will be touring North America during this time. A true smooth as silk pro!

It has been ten years since he gave a lecture in Toronto.

Read more and buy ticktes.

Jay Sankey in Europe

Just booked for a magic convention in Germany! Been too long since I shook hands with my awesome German fans. http://t.co/DxxZ87UYsp
— Jay Sankey (@jay_sankey) August 15, 2013

From Magic-Convention:

Some of the best magicians from around the world have made the long trip to Lübeck to present to you their expertise. During the 4th Lübeck Magic-Days, which will be held 27th-28th September 2013, they will be teaching aprox. 250 magicians from all over the world.

You would like to attend our exclusive convention “Nordisch Nobel” as well as all the lectures? You’ve come to right place. Register as soon as possible as the number of participants is limited to 250! (register here)

Read more.

I was also just booked to perform + lecture at this FUN event in the Netherlands. Gonna be a fun trip! http://t.co/ln1xa1OQVj
— Jay Sankey (@jay_sankey) August 15, 2013

From Dynamite Day:

October 5

What can you expect on this day?

Lectures;
National and international magicians which we specially books have their favorite effects for you, and better yet, then they teach you every detail so that you yourself can learn these tricks

Competition;
A limited number of participants may participate in this stage and close-upwedstrijd which will be judged by a jury of professional magicians and "lay" or simply public. Thus we find that a fair idea can be given of how a magician really comes across public and we do not attach any value to techniques used. However, the combination of the two provides the highest possible performance!

Gala;
The gala which will take place in the evening you can see a selection of international artists / magicians that special one-time offer this complete show for you. This should not be missed!

Read more.

Vancouver: Paul Romhany's Murder by Magic

October 14th and 15th

My one man show is coming to town - if you live in Vancouver check out this poster with details: October 14th... http://t.co/HeygPK3Obn
— Paul Romhany (@paulromhany) August 19, 2013

Discovery channel: You Couldn’t Do This

From Canada.com:

You can retire from TV, but you can never get away from science — especially if you inculcated a lifelong interest in how things work from a young age. Jay Ingram, one of the original hosts of Discovery Canada’s Daily Planet newsmagazine, gets in touch with his inner child with his return-to-TV special You Couldn’t Do This.

Ingram explores the science behind magicians’ death-defying acts, showing how the most dangerous stunts can’t be explained away by illusion, misdirection and sleight-of-hand. Sometimes, what magicians do is real, aided and abetted by the old-fashioned laws of physics. Understanding science can make it possible for a human being to be fired from a cannonball or contort oneself into innumerable different positions and poses, all of them painful. Seeing is believing, they say, but one of the first laws of science is that you can’t always trust your eyesight alone to tell you what’s going on.

True, by taking a hard, science-based look at the world of illusion, Ingram risks playing the part of party-pooper. Ingram is more science nerd than spoilsport, though, and You Couldn’t Do This is worlds removed from Breaking the Magician’s Code.

Read more.

Lee Asher on The Magic Way

Will you be seeing Lee Asher at Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp next week?  If so, be sure to congratulate him for his recent cover on The Magic Way!

Made the cover of the Chinese magic magazine THE MAGIC WAY! pic.twitter.com/akMffGXg8L
— Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) August 18, 2013

Read the article they published last summer about his 2012 tour through China.  (Read in English via Google Translate.)

Festival de magie de Québec 2013

August 30th to September 2nd.

Performers include:

• Mathieu Bich
• Stéphane Bourgoin
• Simon Pérusse
• Bob Arseneau
• Simon Bernard
• Billy et Manu
• Jean Deshaies
• Ekaterina Dobrokhotova
• Jean-Pierre Dussault
• Fredo
• Nicolas Gignac
• Michel Huot
• Jack maître magicien
• Le magicien Jules
• Yannick Lacroix
• Sébastien Louis-XVI
• Martin le magicien
• Carl Pellerin
• Jacques Pétard
• Carol Rondeau
• Richard Tremblay
• Marc Trudel
• Général Patente

And from Doug at Magic Information Canada:

J'ai ajouté le conférence Mathieu Bich au Québec en Septembre à http://t.co/Q7MlBSmksb (with apologies for my shaky French).
— Doug C. (@magicinfo_ca) August 18, 2013

Visit Festival de Magie de Québec for more information or to buy tickets.


Watch this year's interactive advertising for the event on YouTube:

Edmonton: Ryan Pilling and Gwyn Auger

When you go to see these two lecture, be sure to thank them from me, for being wonderful sponsors of this blog!


From Facebook:

Sunday, 25 August 2013 

Don't miss this double-feature lecture.

Gwyn Auger - The Magic Assistant - Columnist for VANISH magazine, and veteran of promotion and live marketing. In her role as social media coordinator she was instrumental in the success and sold out shows of WowFest Magic Festival in Calgary earlier this year. She will be sharing her tips and techniques on personal branding and promotional marketing that will get you recognized and booked. Make sense of your online marketing strategy and get the results you want!

Ryan Pilling - Comedy Magician and Improvisor - Author of "Finding The Funny", a guidebook for getting amazing reactions with your audience interaction. Ryan is going to break down the magic he does in his show. Not only share and teach real-world routines, but dive in to to work of creating, writing, and developing those acts. Tips for making the magic more powerful through connecting with your audience, and developing your own creative muscle.

Read more.

Nine years of My Magic Hands

Congratulations Julie, on the continued success of this fabulous project!

From Sharing Wonder:

It is hard to believe that My Magic Hands was originally launched nearly a decade ago.

Magicana applied for funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation(OTF) to develop a pilot program version of  ”Magic Hands”.  In 2004, the program was designed and tested during the year in four different at-risk communities around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including Canada’s top children’s rehabilitation hospital, now known as Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. The response to the pilot program was excellent and Trillium agreed. Magicana was then awarded a multi-year grant to expand  My Magic Hands program (and, to simultaneously develop Senior Sorcery – a program designed specifically for the senior population). My Magic Hands continued to evolved and developed through funding from private foundations and donors. Today, this program is funded solely by the Slaight Family Foundation.

Read more.

Toronto: Jason Palter

From Pubaret:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
MAGICIAN JASON PALTER

Could it be time for another first at The Pubaret?  Yes it could cuz we've never had a magic show until now:  Magician Jason Palter.

Palter. Say the name PAUL, add a TER, and that’s how you pronounce Jason’s last name.

Like many magicians, the love of magic was born at an early age; Jason was just 9 years old when he received his first magic set. After that, it was only natural that his tendency to be class clown and overall goofball would one day merge with his love of magic. A comic magician was born!

Read more and buy tickets.

Goodbye to Murray’s Trick and Joke Shop -- the end of an era in Victoria

A reminder to us all to support our local brick and mortar magic shops while we still can.

Don't have brick and mortar shop in your area?  Consider supporting one through their online shops.   (I direct your attention to two of the wonderful sponsors of this blog, Perfect Magic and
 The Browser's Den of Magic!)

Read the comments on Murray's Facebook page.


From the Times Colonist:

There will be no large puff of smoke or silk curtain drawn as house lights fade to black. Instead, with the simple closing of a door and turning of a key, three decades of illusion and whimsy will end as Murray’s Trick and Joke Shop closes for the final time Aug. 25.

The store — the go-to destination for gear, tricks and effects for amateur and professional magicians, as well as a year-round costume source and a gold mine for would-be office pranksters and kids of all ages — is about to pull its own disappearing act.

“It’s sad because of the long history of this place, and my wife and I were thrilled to have been a part of that,” said current owner Murray Hatfield, who along with wife Teresa Midbo bought the store seven years ago from Tony and Ann Eng.

Read more.

Guelph: Laughing Matters

From River Run:

As Canada’s Premiere Comedian, Derek Edwards creates enchanting tales based on everyday subjects and delivers them with polished style and impeccable timing. With Jim McNally and Matt Disero warming up the crowd you are guaranteed to be left doubled over with laughter wanting more!

Laughing Matters is an event to raise awareness about poverty and support local at-risk communities. Proceeds from this event are going directly back into the community through Speroway’s work procuring and distributing food in Guelph.      

Read more and buy tickets.

Magic Information Canada has added features!

Earlier this summer, Doug Cuff over at Magic Information Canada, added some nifty new functionality to his awesome site!

In his own words:

Added "muggle events" check box to http://t.co/Q7MlBSmksb -- which allows magicians to include performances in their agenda of lectures etc.
— Doug C. (@magicinfo_ca) June 2, 2013

I admit it: I added the "muggle" check box because I was irked that my site didn't offer an easy way to view all the @McBrideMagic events.
— Doug C. (@magicinfo_ca) June 2, 2013

Added "closed" check box to http://t.co/aNhDze6sVE -- which allows you to include business that have closed and save time chasing dead ends.
— Doug C. (@magicinfo_ca) June 2, 2013

If you haven't already, click over and visit this great resource.

Thanks for your continued hard work Doug!

Toronto: Buskerfest!

The 2013 Scotiabank BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto will be held from August 22nd to August 25th.  Magical performers include:

• Charlie Caper (Sweden)
• Chris Capehart (USA)
• Diogo Alvares (Brazil)
• Max T. Oz (Canada) and
• Nathaniel Rankin (Canada)