Random thoughts about Magic @ The Cage

Over March Break, we made our way to The Cage to catch Abracadabaret in action.   On tap were James Alan, Chris Westfall and Jamie Stam.

• The Crimson Lounge at The Cage is a great venue for dinner theatre.  [This is a cash only venue.]
• Performers who are aware that there minors in the audience, and adjust their script / set to accommodate for young people, win over the children's parents immediately.  Doubly so if the show wasn't billed as a child friendly show.
• Performers who mind their language because of the presence of young persons with perhaps delicate ears, can be more entertaining than if they had ignored the fact entirely.  [Kudos and thank you to James Alan!]
• Adults are surprisingly entertained by children volunteers on stage, as long as the children are enjoying themselves and especially if the children are laughing.
• Kidlet has seen a balloon animal act before, a few times, more times than I can remember and was still well entertained by Chris's handling.  Impressive Chris!
• I'm always delighted to see James on stage with a roll of duct tape in hand.  Because I know what follows is going to be wonderful.
• Jamie presented some material I hadn't seen him perform before.  Very creative, visual and effective.
• Most of the Sunday (and some of the Tuesday) shows this month have been sold out.  Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance to reserve your seats!  (If you have comps, do let James Alan know which date you're hoping to attend.)

Montreal: Chris Westfall's Calculated Chaos

From Montreal Magic Jam:

April 3rd

One of the things we enjoy most about organizing these lectures is being able to introduce you to new up-and-coming magicians, so we’re very excited to be bringing Chris Westfall to Montreal. Chris is a true student of magic as well as a worker in every sense of the word. With thousands of performances under his belt in a multitude of venues, Chris has developed a style and repertoire suited for the real world. Chris’s material has been published in Magic, Genii and M-U-M, and he was an invited speaker at the acclaimed 2013 Magi-Fest convention.

Read more (également en français) and buy tickets.

I should also remind you that Chris is giving his lecture in Ottawa on April 1st:

pic.twitter.com/2dTXs9Hro1
— Chris Westfall (@westfallmagic) January 7, 2014

Wendy's missing seven

Earlier I mentioned that there were 7 missing videos from the “Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger Magic Show.”

Here they are!

Watch Extra Trick 4, Ken Margoe, on YouTube:





Watch Extra Trick 5, Baldini, on YouTube:





Watch Extra Trick 6,  Rob Testa, on YouTube:






Watch Extra Trick 7, Baldini, on YouTube:





Watch Extra Trick 8, Baldini, on YouTube:





Watch Extra Trick 9, Mark Lewis, on YouTube:





Watch Extra Trick 10, Adam Swaye, on YouTube:

Wendy's makes magic

Last summer, a number of Canadian magicians were involved in an ad campaign for Wendy's.

From Strategy Online:

Working with agency MacLaren McCann, Wendy’s auditioned 10 different magicians and asked them to incorporate the burger into their routines. The stunt was filmed, with each of the 22 magic tricks shot in one take, and uploaded to Facebook and YouTube over several weeks as part of the “Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger Magic Show.”

Read more.

[via Reality Based Magic]


Those of you who were paying close attention, remember the following acts:

• Act 1 - James Alan
• Act 2 - Baldini
• Act 3 - Magic Mike Segal
• Act 4 - James Alan
• Act 5 - Mike D'Urzo
• Act 6 - Ken Margoe
• Act 7 - Baldini
• Act 8 - Rob Testa
• Act 9 - Mike D'Urzo
• Act 10 - Rob Testa
• Act 11, Mike D'Urzo
• Act 12, Baldini
• Extra Trick 1, Rob Testa
• Extra Trick 2, Phil Pivnick
• Extra Trick 3, James Alan

Which means we're 7 tricks short of the 22 shot.  According to the post at Reality Based Magic, at least one of those involves Mark Lewis.

Off to search the internet we go!

Review: Sankey lecture, Card collectors and Bobby Motta

From the Browser's Den:

Since most of us are talking as much about the weather as we are about our latest sleight of hand moves I am pleased to report that I will make a prediction.

As popular is mentalism these days it was never of much interest to me for most of my formative years studying magic.  Though I do appreciate it more now than then...I still enjoy scarves changing colour and canes changes to candles, linking rings and coins and cups and balls, etc.etc.

That being said, I have decided that I will make a prediction regarding our weather. The cold will disappear by the time I write my next Blog!

Read more.

Jeff, about your prediction, I hope you're right!  (And write soon!)

Murray Sawchuck on Penguin Live

From Penguin Magic:

Murray Sawchuck LIVE: Sunday Mar 23rd 

Who is he?

Murray’s star power has exploded onto the entertainment scene with the charisma, personality and talent of an entertainer born to be on stage and screen, after his successful run as a semi-finalist on NBC-TV’s “America’s Got Talent.”

The #1 network summer series was viewed by over 22 million fans nationwide. Murray dazzled the judges: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel by producing a Ferrari from thin air, transforming a girl locked in a cage into a 450 pound tiger and did the largest trick ever on “AGT” by vanishing an entire 1918 steam train locomotive in mere seconds.

All of these illusions took place before a “live” and national “TV” audience, and brought standing ovations from the judges.

Read more and buy ticket.

[via iTricks]

Sharing wonder with the help of Magicana

From Magicana:

Through our Tony Eng Youth Fund, Magicana sponsored two young people to attend the John Carney Lecture in Toronto on Feb 15, 2014.

The pair are actively part of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto – an organization near and dear to Magicana as past partners in our My Magic Hands program. Through a happy coincidence, Big Brother, Mike Johns, happened to hear about the lecture and thought it would be the perfect outing with his Little, Wes.

Wes is a budding 12-year old magician with a huge interest in magic and his Big, Mike – equally interested in magic – thought it would be the perfect outing for the two of them. But, limited funds proposed a challenge. Resourcefully, Mike reached out to Magicana and through our Tony Eng Youth Fund, we were able to make their attendance possible. After all that’s what the fund is all about – to motivate and inspire young people who are passionate about magic.

Read more.

Screenings for "An Honest Liar: The Amazing Randi Story"

You may recall an earlier post about the Kickstarter campaign to get this James Randi documentary off the ground.  And a post about with the work-in-progress trailer.  And the post quoting from the Hot Docs Forum report.  So it's fitting that I post about the completed film's upcoming screenings in New York and Toronto.

From "An Honest Liar":

Upcoming Screenings  

Tribeca Screenings (New York City, USA)  

FRI 4/18
SUN 4/20
WED 4/23
FRI 4/25


Hot Docs Screenings (Toronto, Canada)  

Wed Apr 30 at Hart House Theatre
Thu May 1 at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
Sat May 3 at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Scott McClelland's The Necromancer

Tour dates for The Necromancer from Scott McClelland.

From The Paranormal Show:

• Ottawa, March 22nd
• Hamilton, March 29th
• Toronto, April 4th

Review: The Evasons in South Tyneside

From The Shields Gazette:

Jeff and Tessa Evason left everyone completely gobsmacked as they delved into minds, pulling out the information they needed.

It’s absolutely impossible to explain how they did what they did.

Read more.

From The Journal:

Unless I’m much mistaken, there will be a few hundred people like me still wondering: How on earth did she do that?
The apparent mind-reading ability of Tessa Evason of The Evasons prompted a standing ovation to conclude this final South Tyneside International Magic Festival in style.

Read more.

Congratulations to Mike D'Urzo

Congratulations Mike D'Urzo on being named 2014 "Performer of the Year" by Events Ontario!

Winner of the 2014 "Performer of the Year" award by Festivals & Events Ontario! pic.twitter.com/RAqMw6anUQ
— Mike D'Urzo (@MikeDurzo) March 3, 2014

Vaughan: Diamond and Ottaway

From Ring 17:

We would like to make a prediction... or perhaps reveal a prediction:

After reading the subject line, fifty percent of you are saying, "Who's Dustin Diamond?" And fifty percent are saying, "Who's Glenn Ottaway?"

For those born after 1985, Glenn Ottaway is the godfather of comedy magic in Toronto. Mostly retired at the moment, you may have seen him at the Morrissey Magic anniversary parties or at our own comedy magic workshop a few years ago.

For those born before 1985, Dustin Diamond was "Screech" on Saved by the Bell (1989-1993), one of the great television nerds of all time.

This Saturday night (March 15), there is a special comedy gala headlined by Dustin Diamond and hosted by the legendary Mr. Ottaway himself at Dave & Busters (Highway 400 &7).

Read more.

Toronto: Vincent Hedan's The Wish

From the Abracadabaret Facebook event:

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

French champion of magic, Vincent Hedan, will be joining us in Toronto for one night only for a performance of his new show The Wish. Vincent has performed in Europe, Australia, and Asia and has performed for Fortune 500 companies including Calvin Klein, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz. This is his first public performance in North America.

Read more and buy tickets.

Toronto: Sorcerers Safari Open House 2014

Post by Jen Segal.

Toronto: Best Magician Contest 2014

From Arthur Poon:

Hello to all Magic Lovers, the moment is finally here.

In the evening of April 26th , 2014, “[A1] Chinese Radio” is giving out opportunities to the magic lovers in Toronto! Bringing along with own incredible skills, the candidates will enter into an exciting competition held on a magical platform in Market Village.

Same as the previous years, this magic contest will gather all of professionals and entertainers within the magic scope and the qualified contestants will compete among themselves. After all, they are going to the same stage to compete for the fame of Top Magician in Toronto. It is absolutely an extraordinary experience to give yourself a chance to present your talent.

Date: April 26, 2014 (Saturday)

Time: TBA

Contestant: All Ages, All Genders (The show will be hosted in Cantonese. However, English and other language speakers are welcomed.)

Performance: Stage Magic or Close-Up Magic. For stage magic, it does not have to be “big stage illusion; any magic that can be performed on stage is fine, such as producing a rabbit from an empty hat etc.)

Venue: Market Village (Steeles & Kennedy)

Audition: We will start with YOUTUBE audition right away. From now till March 22nd, all participants only need to submit a roughly 2-minute video to: starz@classicforce.com. All videos should be titled as “Best Magician Contest 2014 1st Audition: XXXXXX (the title of your performance)”. (P.S. Video editing is permitted; HOWEVER, no editing on the MAGIC PERFORMANCE. Two minutes are including the effect AND all of the editing.)

• By submitting your video before March 16th, 2014, the entry fee will be automatically waived. Any video(s) submitted after March 16th, 2014, a $20 entry fee will be applied.
• When submitting the video, please provide us your name and contact, so we can contact you.
• ONE video entry per contestant.

The winner of the competition will be receiving the following:

a. “Best Magician 2014” trophy,

b. Your chance to perform live at CNE on July 1st, 2014 Canada Day.

c. Gift(s) from our main sponsor(s).


Look forward meeting you guys, See you all at there!!

Toronto: Browser's Den Auction 4/2014

From the Browser's Den:

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

Dear Magic Friends,

It is time for another fun-filled and bargain-filled magic auction!!

This is the time of the year when you our dear customers get to bid on magic equipment, tricks, books and DVDs at fantastically low prices.

For those of you who would like to bring in items to be auctioned off… Please bring in those items to the shop anytime between March 10 and April 3.

Please note that you may bring in no more than 3 LOTS.  However, a LOT may consist of more than one item. Please try to make sure that everything has directions and is in good working order.

Read more.

Random thoughts about Ring 17 Members' Night

• Shout out to everyone who hosted and performed at Members' Night last week! 
• It takes incredible courage for amateurs to perform in front of the club.  Well done everyone who made it up to the front of the room! 
• The presence of a child, whom James Alan referred to as Urchin, allowed all of the women in the room to let out a collective sigh of relief.  (They were spared the fate of "volunteering" for the evening.)
• Urchin was treated very well while volunteering.  Impressive.  I've seen highly respected "legendary" professionals treat children horribly.  Keep up the great work folks!
• There are some very talented magicians in Ring 17.
• Ariel Frailich knows a lot.
• The members behaved very respectfully during situations where life wasn't going quite according to plan.  It's nerve-racking performing in front of talented professionals.  Thanks for being supportive!
• There's truth to the proverb:
  'Tis a lesson you should heed:
  Try, try, try again.
  If at first you don't succeed,
  Try, try, try again.
• Are all magicians from Calgary named Chris as talented as the two we saw last week?
• I finally witnessed a peformance by Mark Lewis with young people in the room.  I'm a fan.  Doubly impressed that he took Urchin aside at the end of the night, to teach an alternate presentation of an effect shared that evening.
• James can tie a perfect bowtie without the aid of a mirror.

Toronto: Wonderz @ Whistler's

From Chris Westfall at the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook page:

Excited to announce the debut of "Wonderz @ Whistler's". It's a hilariously elegant and intimate magical experience hosted and performed by yours truly in this unique set up last Monday of the month! It's magical and delicious! Tickets officially for sale so reserve now at: http://www.chriswestfallmagic.com/public-events/whistlers/

Read more.

Remembering Jack Bateman

On February 19th, I reported on the passing of Jack Bateman.  On March 3rd, Ring 17 sent an e-mail with recollections of Jack by Dick Joiner.  I'm republishing them here, with Dick's permission.

Recollections by past president, Dick Joiner:

Jack L. Bateman, 95, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, died February 17, 2014, in a local hospital. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1945-1965), and Ring 17 (Toronto).

He became interested in magic as a schoolboy after watching a performance by magician "Laurante," and magic became a passion the rest of his life. He always carried props in his pockets so he could practice wherever he went. In his youth he developed his comedic talents and an illusion show, featuring his own versions of a "sub trunk" and "cut the lady in six." He invented many tricks, some still on the market, such as "Rub-a-dub-dub," featured on a Bill Malone video.

He also was a teacher of magic; one of his pupils was Doug Henning. He was the Technical Supervisor for Outside Broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He developed the first mobile television broadcast units for the CBC.

When he died in the hospital, there was a paddle at his bedside, no doubt to entertain the nurses.

Free Trick Friday: Chris Westfall

From Ring 17's Twitter feed:

Check out @westfallmagic on Murphy's Free Trick Friday http://t.co/HvKLqfUTzi
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) March 7, 2014