Eric Leclerc introduced by Kal Penn at Comic Con

Yesterday, Eric Leclerc presented at Comic Con in San Diego. From Zap2It: 

Game Your Brain to Superhero Status will feature Tony Gonzalez (CBS Sports’ “THE NFL TODAY” analyst, You Can’t Lick Your Elbow), Dr. Armand Dorian (ER physician, You Can’t Lick Your Elbow), David Rees (Going Deep with David Rees) and Eric Leclerc (illusionist, Brain Games). Together, the panelists will take attendees through a series of interactive experiments that will mess with your mind and show you that what may seem superhuman is actually within your reach. The panel will take place Friday, July 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center, Room 24ABC.

Read more.

Post by Eric Leclerc.

Apparently at Comic Con, they know how to treat volunteers!

Post by Eric Leclerc.

Montreal: Mario the Magician

From the Perfect Magic Facebook page:

Post by Perfect Magic.

Win tickets to Greg Frewin's show!

From Greg Frewin's Facebook page:

Post by Greg Frewin Theatre.

Jeff Pinsky on the cover of Northern Peeks

Jeff Pinsky, owner of the Browsers Den of Magic, is featured in the most recent issue of Northern Peeks (Vol 17, 1, Summer 2014), the publication of the Canadian Association of Magicians!

In it, Joan Caesar has a wonderful interview with Jeff.

From the interview, Jeff says:

However, a magic shop is a specialty retail store and as such has some unique factors that come into play.  Its most unique feature is that the person operating the shop is more central to its relations with the patrons.

Too true Jeff.  And we're lucky to have you operating Browser's!


Lee Asher agrees:

With many brick and mortar magic shops closing down and going out of business theses days, Jeff Pinsky works hard to ensure the Ontario magic community continues to thrive.  Running The Browser's Den of Magic seven days a week is a small testament to his immense dedication and passion for the art of magic.  Thank you Mr. Pinsky.  Thank you!

What Lee said!

I've said this before and feel the need to say it again.  I urge everyone to support our remaining 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 of course, The Browser's Den of Magic!)

Mark Correia's great escape!

From Global News:

Tue, Jul 22: Toronto teen Mark Correia got strapped into a straitjacket two weeks ago. The 18-year-old magician and actor’s goal was to raise $25,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research by living in the straitjacket until today. He’s back in studio to tell us how far he got.

Participate in "Guinness World Record for Most Magicians in a Magic Show"

From CAM:

C.A.M. members have now been accepted to participate in:

JUST RECEIVED MY CONFIRMATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “MOST MAGICIANS” trying to break the “Guinness World Record for Most Magicians in a Magic Show” 

This will be held in Colon Michigan Wednesday August 06th 2014…

Read more and register BEFORE JULY 25th.

Classifieds: Own a piece of magic history

The following is a classified ad from David Merry.  For more information, or to make an offer, contact Dave directly.

--

Own a piece of magic history.

I am just about to buy an amazing piece of comedy memorabilia and am putting up a magic four pack of autographs from my collection. They are Houdini (a letter with his actual signature from 1926) and pictures framed. Blackstone Sr. (from 1949) an actual Merlin playbill signed by Doug Henning and Chita Rivera from early 1980’s) and David Copperfield see attached pictures. I thought I’d put it out to my friends in Canada first before the open market $2500.


Houdini letter with his actual signature:





Houdini letter (above) and pictures framed





Blackstone Sr.:





Signed Merlin playbill:





David Copperfield:

Spot the Canadian

Trick question, of course.


From the IBM Facebook page:

Post by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Escaping Parkinson's: less than 2 days to go!

Mark Correia has just under 2 days to go in his "Escaping Parkinson's" stunt to raise money for Parkinson's research.  According to the Michael J. Fox fundraising site, Mark has already raised over $8000 in donations.  Way to go Mark!

Visit the Michael J. Fox fundraising site to help Mark reach his $25000 fundraising goal.

Look at Mark's YouTube channel to see his daily videos.

See some of the press Mark's generated below:

Here we are on @HumbleFredRadio the best show on the airwaves, very funny! We are at 1:18:00 if you want to hear us! http://t.co/7LhnUdiLL1
— Mark Correia (@Mark_Correia) July 18, 2014

Check out this great article about #EscapingParkinsons written by @HuffingtonPost http://t.co/VTEEbiJ05a
— Mark Correia (@Mark_Correia) July 18, 2014

Magician @Mark_Correia wearing #straitjacket to raise funds for #parkinsons http://t.co/aRDPqO3BRs @morninglive @MichaelJFoxOrg
— CHCH News (@CHCHNews) July 17, 2014

Here's my video featured on the @globeandmail http://t.co/kZgl1gnsHM Enjoy! Don't forget to keep donating! #escapingparkinsons
— Mark Correia (@Mark_Correia) July 17, 2014

Check me out in the @mtlgazette http://t.co/fWPtInYhMn ...So happy and proud of how far my team and this stunt have come #escapingparkinsons
— Mark Correia (@Mark_Correia) July 17, 2014

Video: Why Toronto teen @Mark_Correia is spending two self-imposed weeks in a straitjacket http://t.co/5vcebs1GEn
— Victoria Ahearn (@VictoriaAhearn) July 16, 2014

Asi Wind to lecture Montreal and Ottawa too!

You've already read about Asi Wind's Toronto lecture date.  Now go on over to Magic Information Canada where you can see the details for Asi's lectures in Montreal and Ottawa!

• Montreal, QC: Tuesday, August 12 - lecture
• Montreal, QC: Wednesday, August 13 - workshop
• Ottawa, ON: Thursday, August 14 - lecture

Shawn Farquhar wants to give you $200 in magic!

To be more specific, Shawn wants you to promote the IBM.  The person who promotes the IBM the most between now and September will be awarded a "box full of magic."

Read all the details on the IBM Facebook page.

Post by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Trevor and Lorena Watters on Global News

Watch Trevor and Lorena Watters on Global News:

Shawn Farquhar: Third Time’s a Charm

Dennis Schick from the IBM has kindly provided me with a PDF copy of the (previously mentioned) cover story about Shawn Farquhar in this month's issue of The Linking Ring to share with the readers of Canada's Magic.

From Dennis:

If you are an I.B.M. member, you have already seen and read the cover story on Canada's own Shawn Farquahar in the July issue of The Linking Ring. If you are not an I.B.M. member, here it is, with a reminder that this is a good example of what you are missing by not being a member. Why not join and support Shawn and his year as president? Go to www.magician.org.

Thank you very much Dennis!

Calgary: Mega Magic Camp

From the Vanishing Rabbit's Facebook page:

Post by The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop.

Post by The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop.

Keith Brown on Global News

Watch Keith Brown on Global News promoting the Winnipeg Fringe Festival:

Toronto: Asi Wind lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

From the same people who brought you Michael Ammar, Daniel Garcia, The Buck Twins, Eric Jones and many others -- Sorcerers Safari presents the Asi Wind Lecture in Toronto - Wednesday August 20th.

WHAT: The Asi Wind Lecture WHERE: Browser's Den // 3220 Dufferin Street #19, Toronto, ON M6A 2T3. WHEN: Wednesday August 20th, 2014 

Asi Wind 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 evening with Asi Wind - World renowned mentalist.

Spontaneous and unpredictable, Asi's magic lectures are a roller-coaster for the brain. Combining his free-spirited playfulness and uniquely creative mind, Asi treats each audience to a truly unforgettable experience. At one moment Asi might reveal the name of your past love and another he might read someones mind over the phone. The only thing you can expect is the unexpected.

Read more and buy tickets.

Shawn Farquhar, president of the I.B.M.

Updated on July 16 to add:

Dennis Schick from the IBM has kindly provided me with a PDF copy of the (previously mentioned) cover story about Shawn Farquhar in this month's issue of The Linking Ring to share with the readers of Canada's Magic.

Thank you very much Dennis! 

From Dennis:

If you are an I.B.M. member, you have already seen and read the cover story on Canada's own Shawn Farquahar in the July issue of The Linking Ring. If you are not an I.B.M. member, here it is, with a reminder that this is a good example of what you are missing by not being a member. Why not join and support Shawn and his year as president? Go to www.magician.org.

Updated at 3pm to add:

• Dennis Schick has a wonderful interview with Shawn on page 22 in this month's issue of the Linking Ring (v94, 7) July 2014.

As many of you already know, Shawn Farquhar recently became president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Dennis Schick wrote up some interesting parallels between Shawn and Kenrick “ICE” McDonald, incoming president of the Society of American Magicians.  

From the IBM blog:

The combined convention this year of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians will establish a number of firsts, as well as other interesting and historic events. Until someone actually researches the archives, some of these are more assumptions than facts. They are interesting to speculate about anyway. Besides, astute magic historians likely will come forward to set the record straight whatever we say. But until then, here are a half-dozen observations and tidbits about the two new presidents of the largest (I.B.M.) and the oldest (S.A.M.) magic organizations in the world.

Read more.

Post by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians.

How well do you know me?

When I started this site back in 2010, I did so pseudo-anonymously.  In part because I'm a private person, and partly because I didn't want who I am to influence this bloggy experiment.

As the site gained traction, I've been fascinated learning who you some of you think I am.  Typically the guesses have been very flattering, but wrong!  There are still a number of you out there who don't know me, that think you have an idea of who I am.  Let's see how right you are.

For fun, fill out the poll below.  People who know my (not so) secret identity are welcome to participate.  The poll will close in 13 days.  (For a score and bragging rights, e-mail me your answers or post them in the comments.)

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic:

• is shorter than the average of the heights of Richard Forget, Ryan Pilling, James Alan and David Acer
• is / has been on the executive of CAM
• is / has been on the executive of IBM
• was born in Western Canada
• was born in Central Canada
• was born in Eastern Canada
• performs / performed magic professionally
• performs / performed magic semi-professionally
• performs / performed with live animals
• box jumps / jumped
• has recently (within the past 5 years) published a book
• has created and marketed at least one original magic effect
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 10 years
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 20 years
• has been involved in the magic community for more than 30 years
• has at least two X chromosomes (making them either female or a male with Klinefelter's syndrome)

If you're feeling confident, leave the name of who you think I am in the comments.  (Unless you really do know.)

Let the games begin!

Clive Court, Life Member of the Canadian Public Relations Society

Congratulations Clive!

From the Canadian Public Relations Society:

Clive Court began his PR career in London’s Fleet Street as assistant to the Publicity manager of a major daily newspaper. He was responsible for the promotion of the Children’s I-SPY Book series which was recently revived in the UK. In the late 50s, he also launched the famous Michelin Travel Guides into the UK market. He soon moved to television and was responsible for the launching promotion of Get Ahead which eventually became known as Dragon’s Den (or Shark Tank in the US). Before leaving the UK in 1962, Clive worked for Granada Television on the promotion of Coronation Street during its first year of production.

Read more.

Steffen Banta wins Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp scholarship

Congratulations Steffen on winning a scholarship to Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp!

This year Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp runs from Friday August 15^th through to Wednesday August 20^th.  They are currently taking registrations at http://www.sorcererssafari.ca

From the IBM Facebook page:

Post by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians.

And rumour has it that

I've just been informed that North American FISM champs, and world's cutest couple, are coming to @SorcerersSafari this summer!
— Ben Train (@ErdnaseinTO) July 8, 2014