Picture this
For the first time ever I signed up to go to magic camp! I stepped on the bus, looked around and saw about 90 other people that were also magicians just like me.
That was the first time that I realized that I wasn’t special.
Not only were they all just as much magicians as I was, but they were even doing the same goddamn tricks! How did that happen? I didn’t learn magic with them, I thought I did my own thing. But all of a sudden we were all doing the same goddamn tricks???!! And performing them in pretty similar ways.
Read more.
28 August 2016
You're special! Or are you?
From the post "You Aren't Special" at Discourse in Magic:
27 August 2016
26 August 2016
[Guest post] "Unbelievable" Review
A reminder that the show runs at the PNE August 20 – September 5, 2016 (Closed Monday August 22 and 29).
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
--
A ninety minute large scale magical extravaganza, nightly at 7:30 pm, free with admission to the PNE, Vancouver.
In a word, "Wow".
This is big time illusion-based magic at its best.
Playing to capacity crowds, "Unbelievable" combines fast paced magic with modern rock concert visuals and music to create a memorable evening's entertainment well worth the cost of admission to the PNE.
I loved that they began with pre-show screenings of some of the greats from the past - Sorcar, Cardini, etc - all in glorious b&w - while the audience filed in.
How to review such an awesome celebration of magic and illusion? I can't. It was just too much to absorb. But here are a few thoughts I somehow managed to jot down:
- American Matt Marcy's understated humour and impressive close up magic (seen on the big screen) should earn him an honorary Canadian citizenship.
- Marty Putz - undoubtably the hardest working funny man in all of showbusiness. And the most beloved by children of all ages.
- Juliana Chen's performance - sheer visual poetry. Beautiful, enchanting, mysterious. This is Art.
- Scott Pepper - definitely the contemporary reincarnation of Houdini's daredevil anything-can-happen spirit.
- Murray Hatfield and Teresa - the most accomplished, most polished, most energetic all around magical performers.
If you are anywhere near Vancouver this summer run (do not walk) to the PNE and catch "Unbelievable" before it disappears forever as the PNE ends for another summer.
The Magic Demon
~~~~
Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
25 August 2016
24 August 2016
Toronto: There's magic at the 2016 CNE
From The Ex:
- Daniel Steep's Agri-Magic (only until August 24th)
- The Incredible Magic Of Professor Wick
- The Sentimentalists
Read more.
23 August 2016
Toronto: BuskerFest 2016
BuskerFest runs September 2-5.
From Toronto Buskerfest, magical performers include:
Read more.
From Toronto Buskerfest, magical performers include:
- Bella Magic (You may know her from "Chris Westfall Magic and the Porcelain Princess.")
- Magic Man
- Max T. Oz
- Ran'd Shine
Read more.
22 August 2016
21 August 2016
[Guest post] "Can A Magician Be Too Skillful?"
The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.
--
Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
--
"Can A Magician Be Too Skillful?" A fan of magic blogs about itOne of my favourite non-magic bloggers has just written an interesting post about magic.You may agree or disagree with him but he always writes about chosen subjects with wit, insight and a heavy dose of humanity.Why mention him here? Well, here's a born-and-raised Torontonian (although he's lived and worked in LA for many decades). Guess we can still claim him as one of ours even if he has U.S. papers. He wrote/produced some great comedy television shows (although he is now long retired) - many of which you might remember. And his thoughts on magic (from the POV of a non-magician) are worthy of reflection by all of us.His question: Can a magician be too skillful?To read more, check out the always thoughtful blog of Earl Pomerantz and read his post of Monday, August 8th, 2016. You'll find it here:And who knows? Maybe like me you'll find his blog a very pleasant daily must-read habit. Even when he's not writing about magic.The Magic Demon
~~~~
Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!
20 August 2016
Review: Sheldon Casavant's "Ta Da!" in the Edmonton Journal
"Ta Da!" got a 5 / 5 rating!
From the Edmonton Journal:
From the Edmonton Journal:
Sometimes you come across a show so magical you have to drag the whole family to see it. This is just such a show. Pack up granny, round up the kids and run, don’t walk, to see Ta Da!
Morton loves magic. Morton the magician loves practising magic, and he loves performing magic. The young man practsces [sic] at home when he should be studying. He flings his wand around and tries out all of the staples of a beginner magician: card tricks, the broken rings and even the old ‘fire your talking stuffed rabbit across the room into a covered box.’
His mother reminds him again he should be studying, but Morton is a boy, and boys will be boys. It’s the big talent show at school that is occupying our hero’s thoughts, keeping him up at night when he should be sleeping. He is kept up by doubt and fear, emotions we can all relate to.
Read more.
19 August 2016
Toronto: Shigeo Futagawa lecture
From the Browser's Den of Magic:
Sunday September 25th, 2016
If you've never heard of him before, that's OK.
A close-up legend in his own country, for decades, Futagawa has energized Japan with his creativity, ingenuity, and love for sleight of hand. Japanese magic enthusiasts from all over flock to Yokohama, just to meet and session with him.
Furthermore, Futagawa has spent quality time with a multitude of phenomenal western magicians like Dai Vernon, Larry Jennings, Slydini, Max Maven, Geoff Latta, Michael Weber, David Roth, etc. when they came to visit Japan.
Now it's our turn to spend time with Futagawa. And yet, we don't have to travel fifteen hours across the ocean to do so. For the first time ever, Futagawa is coming to Canada.
Accordingly, Futagawa plans to travel around by train visiting Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal sharing his magic with us -- all while soaking up our culture. Opportunities like this don't come along often.
Attend his informative talk on coins, cards, and close-up, and you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. By the end, you'll walk out of the Shigeo Futagawa lecture with new ideas, be refreshed on old ones and filled with memories of meeting a guy that you'd normally need to travel thousands of kilometers to see.
"A true East meets West! When I spend time with Futagawa, I always learn something new." - Lee Asher (Close-up magic aficionado)
Read more and buy tickets.
18 August 2016
John Kaplan in the Vancouver Metro News
The last set of courses runs Aug. 22-26.
From Metro News:
[via The Magic Demon]
From Metro News:
If your kids have an aptitude for making household objects vanish without a trace, causing money to magically disappear, and seeing the wonder in every day life, this month's summer magic camps may be for your family.Just don't call them "tricks," warned Richmond "master magician" John Kaplan, a 37-year veteran of the craft who is offering two day camps next week through Douglas Park Community Centre, his last of a series this summer.
"Trick has a negative connotation," he said. "It can also be a verb: I tricked you. But the point is not to trick or fool the audience, but to give them a feeling of wonder."
Read more.
[via The Magic Demon]
17 August 2016
Toronto: "Cheap Tricks" impromptu magic competition
From Chris Mysterion's Facebook page:
7 magicians. One goal. Create the best routine on a budget in less then an hour to showtime. Inspired by real world "...
Posted by Chris Mysterion on Wednesday, 3 August 2016
16 August 2016
Peter Mennie answers the question: "Why are you a magician?
From Abrakidabra:
This night there was only one possible helper nearby so I approached. She was really shy and wouldn’t give me her name. Her sister did and after a bit of conversation I was able to get her up front. She didn’t want to sit on the stool initially but with my help, she got comfortable. She is 4.
As you saw, this routine is a bit animated and sometimes young helpers won’t open up and relax to have fun. this was my worry here because she was REALLY shy.
Read more.
15 August 2016
Toronto: Magic, mystery, and mayhem
From James Alan's Facebook page:
I'll be part of a special one-night only show Saturday, August 20 at the The Social Capital Theatre with the hilariously...
Posted by James Alan on Thursday, 4 August 2016
14 August 2016
Review: Paul Romhany's "Dream Prediction Elite"
From Olympic Reviews:
It’s the usual confabulation performance of a dream - you first place an envelope down with a prediction clearly visible in the window section. The participant selects a destination, an amount of money and a travelling companion. You write these down in a notepad, which is shown around. The selling point of this effect is that you open the envelope and the piece of paper seen through the window falls out on to your hand, and the participant opens it and reads it. I’m really not sure why we don’t have more variations of performance in these, it always seems to be a dream, but this is a good one.
Oh, and you perform this entirely solo, and it’s instant reset.
More discussion below…
Read more.
13 August 2016
Matt Disero will be on "Penn and Teller Fool Us" Season 3
From Matt Disero's Facebook page:
FINALLY ! I can say that on Aug 17th I'll be performing on Penn and Teller's TV show Fool US, on the CW Network. Shot...
Posted by Matt Disero on Tuesday, 2 August 2016
12 August 2016
Kitchener-Waterloo: Keith Brown at momondays
From the Twitter feed of MomondaysKW:
KEITH BROWN - Half-Time Show entertainer at #momondaysKW - Aug 15, 2016. Get tickets now https://t.co/RSTqyYz2Os pic.twitter.com/NFcxsDoAZb— MomondaysKW (@momondaysKW) August 1, 2016
11 August 2016
Ron Martin's Pokemon Go magic!
From Ron Martin's Facebook page:
And the second installment from Ron's Facebook page:
Ron Martin visits Gage Park in Brampton and performs some amazing magic the Pokemon Go! Pokemon Go Magic! Check it out for yourself.
Posted by Ron Martin on Monday, 25 July 2016
And the second installment from Ron's Facebook page:
The second in the series of Pokemon Go magic in Brampton Gage park.
Posted by Ron Martin on Saturday, 30 July 2016
10 August 2016
From Perfect Magic: Phil Matlin vs Julius Caesar
From Perfect Magic:
If you’ve been to the Perfect Magic Facebook site, then you know that Phil has a few gigs playing piano for the Cote St. Luc Library on the first Tuesday of the summer months. A piano had been donated to Cote St Luc and it went to Rembrandt Park and was inaugurated by none other than Oliver Jones. The media was there, as well as the politicians and it was a big deal.
The first Tuesday of June came along. We had our plans but nature had other plans. There was a storm the night before and the tarpaulin didn’t do its job and the piano was ruined. But in the tradition of show business, the show went on. Some folks from the library came to our condo and carried down Phil’s electric keyboard and speaker and whatever else and he played. It was not his best show, a little trouble with equipment, and whatnot, but people came over after and said they enjoyed it thoroughly. The other day in the elevator, a lady said to Phil, “You’re the piano player. It was so wonderful.” and he said “If you enjoyed it I’ll be there again this Tuesday.”
Read more.
09 August 2016
Camrose: Reveen at the Camrose Resort Casino
From the Facebook page of Reveen The Legend Continues:
• Sept. 23 (Friday) Camrose AB - Camrose Resort Casino Buy Tickets Now! http://www.camroseresortcasino.com/entertainment/upcoming-events/item/425-reveen
Posted by Reveen The Legend Continues on Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)