Top 5 posts in July 2015

It's been another busy month for news with 40 posts!  Here are the most viewed posts at Canada's Magic this month:

5. Wanted: Counselors in Training (CIT) for Sorcerers Safari -- I've heard it's going to be the "Best Year Ever!"

4. Who's where July 2015  -- It was a busy month for many of you.

3.  Win tickets to see Darcy Oake's show,"Edge of Reality," in Toronto  -- The contest is closed.  Congratulations again John!

2. Casting call: The Thrillusionists  -- Did you audition?  Tell us about it!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Video: Shawn Farquhar Fool Us REVEALED  -- People really want to know how Shawn did it!

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

This Saturday at Browser's Den, August 1 from 2:30pm until 5:30pm is our next (free) Magic Club. All welcome to attend.

Read more.

Toronto: Keith Brown at "Magic Tonight"

Confirm details by visiting Abracadabaret.com

Toronto (Sun):  Keith Brown









James Alan, over at Abracadaberet, has kindly offered the readers of Canada's Magic a coupon code for 50% off tickets to "Magic Tonight!"  Use the coupon code cmagic when you buy your tickets for Magic Tonight to receive your discount*.



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* Offer is subject to change without notice.  Canada's Magic earns a commission when you use the coupon code cmagic.

Murray SawChuck's "Extreme Escape"

Watch on YouTube, Murray SawChuck try to escape from hydrochloric acid (from "Extreme Escapes"):




[via iTricks]

Wanted: Counselors in Training (CIT) for Sorcerers Safari

Sorcerers Safari currently has openings for male Counselors in Training (CIT) for this upcoming session.  Being a CIT is a required stepping stone towards becoming a full Sorcerers Safari Counselor.  The best part is, once the cabin is settled, you get to jam with everyone else!

If you're 16 years of age or older and interested in learning more or applying for a CIT position, please contact Jen at info [at] sorcerers-safari [dot] com .

Review: Just for Laughs' Circus Awesomeus

From the Montreal Gazette:

Bill Brownstein — So they sent in the clowns, and if this wasn’t the Greatest Show on Earth, Circus Awesomeus sure beat the Oscars all to hell. After three weeks of standups, it was a blast to touch base with a clown channelling his inner Céline Dion, sword swallower, aerial acrobat, bawdy balladeering puppet, juggler and X-rated diva.

Denise Duguay — I went in to Monday night’s Circus Awesomeus gala expecting greatness and hoping for a nod to host Neil Patrick Harris’s evil woman-sawing turn in the TV series American Horror Story: Freak Show. I got all that plus a terrifying but endearing giant clown.

Monique Muise — Anyone purchasing tickets to a show dubbed “Circus Awesomeus” was likely hoping for a spectacle, and that’s exactly what we got from Neil Patrick Harris and company. From puppets to magicians to jugglers to singing clowns to (very funny) dwarves, this show had it all.

Read more.

Toronto: SOULO Theatre Festival

Friday, August 7, 2015 - Sunday, August 9, 2015

From James Alan's post in the Ring 17 Facebook page:

Slightly off-topic, but in a few weeks down on Queen Street, I'll be helping to produce a storytelling workshop for actors. He was here earlier this year headlining a theatre festival and he's a hilarious and engaging speaker. The shows will be fantastic if you want to go see, but I think the workshop would be really valuable for magicians. Information is up here if you want to go:   http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/soulo-theatre-presents-three-nights-of-james-judd-in-toronto-tickets-17748859316?aff=es2

Chris Funk's unexpected vanish

Wishing you a speedy recovery Chris!

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

MAGICIAN Chris Funk was there one minute, and then — abracadabra! — he disappeared from the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

The Wonderist, as Funk is known, was scheduled to open his show Redefining Wonder July 15 but had to cancel the run because of an injury that took place at the Toronto Fringe Festival last week.

Read more.

Toronto by the numbers and contest for free "Magic of Science" school shows

Toronto magician Gambit, has put together a clever routine describing his city.

Watch it on YouTube:





Gambit is also giving away 10 free "Magic of Science" shows for schools in the GTA.  He has an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering (B.E.) and studied in the U.K. for his post graduate Law School degree (L.L.B.).  He uses his shows to promote education, with a focus on STEM subject matters (science, technology, engineering and math).

To enter, place the name of your school (or educational facility) in the "comments" section of the previous or next YouTube videos (either video is fine). The contest is open to elementary, middle and high schools. The cut off date for entering is mid Sept. Multiple entries per school are permitted.  For a complete list of contest rules, contact Gambit.


Watch Gambit talk about the "Magic of Science" on YouTube:

The illusion of fame

Mark Correia and his production company "Noodle Boys" did an interesting stunt illustrating the illusion of fame.

Watch it on the Noodle Boys YouTube channel:

Toronto: Update to "Used Magic Day"

I previously posted about the upcoming Used Magic Day at the Browser's Den of Magic.

Jeff recently posted some new information about the day in the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

All the fantastic deals will be in boxes and tables throughout the shop. Many items priced less than $5.00. Plus 'Bags of Magic' loaded with stuff for less than $10.00 per bag. The items to be on sale are not from one source. Rather, they are from a bunch of smaller collections.

AND for those who stay right until the end (5pm)...Jeff will make a truly unbelievable offer.

An offer that you will truly not be able to refuse.

Once you hear the offer you may come to the conclusion that Jeff has actually lost his mind or that he has watched the Godfather movie too many times. (Probably both true.)

Read more.

What could Jeff possibly have up his sleeve this time?

Greg Frewin in the Niagara Falls Review

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It's no illusion that you're seeing double with Greg Frewin this summer.

In addition to a regular nightly show at his Ellen Ave. theatre, the Niagara Falls magician can also be seen on the CW Network's revival of Masters of Illusion. He was on the first episode of season 2 July 10, and appears in five upcoming segments, starting with Episode 3 Friday night.

Frewin filmed the episodes last February. Among the illusions he performs are the 'squishier' illusion and the 'glass sawing origami' illusion. In the season premiere he performed the 'sphere,' in which one of his dancers is placed in a container which is pierced with flame lit stakes. When the container opens, two dancers and a wolf emerge.

Read more.

Toronto: Phil Pivnick at "Magic Tonight"

Confirm details by visiting Abracadabaret.com

Toronto (Sun):  Phil Pivnick









James Alan, over at Abracadaberet, has kindly offered the readers of Canada's Magic a coupon code for 50% off tickets to "Magic Tonight!"  Use the coupon code cmagic when you buy your tickets for Magic Tonight to receive your discount*.



--
* Offer is subject to change without notice.  Canada's Magic earns a commission when you use the coupon code cmagic.

Montreal: Neil Patrick Harris' "Circus Awesomeus"

Double-check the dates.  It's July 27 and 28.

From the Just For Laughs Twitter feed:

1 week until... @ActuallyNPH's Circus Awesomeus LIVE in Montreal! #AnythingCanHappen #JFLMTL http://t.co/WrcopNpbPL pic.twitter.com/y2xbNymuL9

— Just For Laughs (@Just_For_Laughs) July 20, 2015

Casting call: The Thrillusionists

It's been a long time since I could play 10-14.

From the Sorcerers Safari Facebook group:

Campers!! Here is an amzing opportunity for many of you. I hope all of you take advantage of this, and PLEASE let us know how it goes. Good Luck!!
Posted by Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp on Monday, 20 July 2015

What tips do you have for new magicians?

Evelyn Matlin has a great post up at Perfect Magic Then and Now titled "A Few Tips For New Magicians."  It covers a lot of good points that newcomers to magic should think about as they start performing for others.

My favourite from the post:

2.  Let’s say someone else or a magician comes to entertain you and you know the trick they are doing. What do you do and what do you say?
   
Correct Answer: Nothing. Not even to your best friend. Even after the show. If you have to tell someone, tell your mother.

Of course, I think that answer applies to a lot of situations that kids can get into.  Always tell your mother!

Do you have any other pointers or general magic etiquette guidelines to add?

Alex Seaman - 2016 IBM Executive Committee Member

From the IBM Facebook page:

2016 I.B.M. Officers and new Executive Committee Members inducted into office yesterday at the I.B.M. General Membership...
Posted by IBM - International Brotherhood of Magicians on Friday, 17 July 2015

Shin Lim on Penn and Teller's "Fool Us"

From Mothership:

On the July 13, 2015 episode of British-American television programme Fool Us, a Canadian-born, Singapore-raised magician Shin Lim blew the judges and audience away with his sleight-of-hand close-up card tricks and elegant showmanship.

The magic competition show, hosted by Jonathan Ross, sees magicians perform tricks in front of Penn & Teller, the American magician-comedian duo who are also well-loved sceptics.

Read more.

Watch the performance on YouTube:

Winner of Darcy Oake tickets!

The contest to win tickets to see Darcy Oake's show, "Edge of Reality," in Toronto closed last night at midnight.

A reminder also, that Canada's Magic has been offered a coupon code for you to use to save on tickets for the Toronto show.

Some great illusions were mentioned ranging from the all time classics "sawing a woman into halves," and "Metamorphosis" to more modern pieces like "Teller's Shadows."  A lot of you out there seem to like levitations too!


Here's the list of entrants:

#	Date	Name
1	2015-06-29	James Alan
2	2015-06-29	Durgy Spade
3	2015-06-29	Mike D'Urzo
4	2015-06-29	Mike Segal
5	2015-06-29	Phil DC
6	2015-06-29	Willson Wong
7	2015-06-29	Dan McLean Jr
8	2015-06-29	Ken McCreedy
9	2015-06-29	Jason Maiuri
10	2015-06-29	Ray Xu
disqualified (no contact info)	2015-07-09	derek johnston
11	2015-07-09	Doug C
12	2015-07-09	John Harrison
13	2015-07-11	Jon Paris

Random draw results:

Congratulations to John Harrison!

I'll be contacting you soon  with instructions about how to claim your prize.  I hope you have a fabulous time at the show!  (And don't forget to let me all about it.)

Thank you all for playing! A special thanks to the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts for generously making these tickets available to you!

Las Vegas: The Evasons in "MAGIC Live"

From The Evasons' Facebook page:

Just found out who the stage director will be for our show at MAGIC Live! 2015 in Las Vegas next month. So excited to work to be working together again. Less than 4 weeks to go and we can't wait!
Posted by The Evasons - Mind Readers on Tuesday, 14 July 2015