Quantity vs quality

I have to agree with Evelyn Matlin's observation about the sheer volume of magic effects brought to market these days.  The selection is far greater than I when I first dipped my toe in, *mumble mumble* years ago.  I wonder if the quality of the effects, over all, is higher, the same, or lower than back in the day.


From Perfect Magic:

As a magic dealer, I am overwhelmed by the new magic that comes out on a daily basis. Especially because I do the banners on our home page of Perfect Magic and edit the write-ups for our catalog. There seems to be no end to it.

I remember a time when Albert Goshman (think Sponge Balls – Magic by Gosh) came to Montreal to perform at Magie Montreal when we had our Conventions, back in the 80’s. He stayed in our home and we took him to the Brown Derby in the Van Horne Shopping Centre for dinner one evening. Unfortunately, neither Albert nor the Brown Derby are with us any more.

Read more.

Dean Gunnarson in the Westman Journal

From the Westman Journal:

Imagine being shackled and chained inside a glass box filled with water. It’s a stunt few people can pull off. Escape Artist Dean Gunnarson is going to attempt just that at this year’s Toastmaster’s Conference.

While being on stage and performing in front of people seems to come natural to Gunnarson, the performer has had to overcome fears of his own.

“He has quite an inspirational story. He’s faced a lot of his fears,” said Ryan Sturgeon.

Gunnarson’s attempt to escape the Russian Death Tank will cap off the conference being held Nov. 11-12 at the Victoria Inn.

Read more.

Tick, tock

Time is running out to take advantage of our October sale offering 40% off yearly sponsorship rates!


Alternately, get your name listed as a friend to the blog for a donation of only $20 a year.



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James Alan: Face2Face, Mystic Hallowe'en, and Hillsburgh

From Reality Based Magic:

I sat down recently to have a chat with David Peck, the host of the Face2Face Podcast. As far as I can tell, David is a man who never sleeps. In addition to putting out a prodigious number of podcast interviews (mine is number 222) he also teaches in the International Development Program at Humber College, practices magic and has a family.


Read more and listen to podcast.

Also from Reality Based Magic:

Join the live studio audience at the upcoming “Mystic Halloween” Connected Circle Live Show and Dance Party! as mystic guest mediums, tarot card readers and magicians share insights to help you discover your mystical self. Meet the mystics and dance the night away with other audience members.

Halloween costumes optional but encouraged.

The show’s live filming will take place on Friday, October 28th from 5:30pm onwards at Maezo Restaurant + Bar (formerly The Rum Exchange) in downtown Toronto.

Read more and buy tickets.

From Magic and Martini:

Saturday, November 19 & 26
 
Come enjoy the magic of James Alan at the NEW restaurant of Chopped Canada winner Chef Pam Fanjoy in the Village of Hillsburgh.
 
Read more and buy tickets.

Luc Langevin in a show benefiting la Fondation Leuco dystrophie

Get your tickets for the November 3rd benefit show here.

From Luc Langevin's Twitter feed:

Je vous convie au spectacle bénéfice que je donnerai au profit de la Fondation Leuco dystrophie le 3 novembre ! https://t.co/0MIYljFHHj pic.twitter.com/c1vMAaTBow

— Luc Langevin (@LucLangevin) October 3, 2016

Names announced for Browser's Bash 2017

  

From the Facebook group for the Browser's Den of Magic:

What do Michael Ammar, David Kaye, Chris Mysterion & Steffi Kay all have in common?

All of them will be at the 2017 Browser's Magic Bash on Saturday, April 1st, 2017!

Plus, card guys, mentalists, stand-up magicians, children's entertainers, jam sessions, close-up, stage performers, great stuff for sale, and everything in-between! If you love magic, the Browser's Magic

Bash 2017 is designed for you!

We hope you will join us for all the fun. Book your ticket today!

Browser's Magic Bash 2017
http://www.browsersden.com/bash

See you at the Bash!

Magicana invites you to enter the Lyons Den

From Magicana:

Mr. Swiss will now be providing online content on a regular basis for Magicana which can be found here www.magicana.com/lyonsden. His first review will be released this Friday, October 21, featuring the new book The Performance Pieces & Divertissements of the Famous Handsome Jack etc. by Handsome Jack and annotated by John Lovick.

Funding for this project is provided by an endowment to Magicana by the late Pat Lyons. Pat was an accomplished commercial artist, pulled into the world of magic by her husband, P. Howard Lyons. Together they created Ibidem, combining Pat’s individually silkscreened covers and interior illustrations with Howard’s curatorial eye for creative approaches to magic. The Lyons Den, named in honour of Pat and Howard, is just the first of a variety of initiatives being developed by Magicana thanks to the generosity and vision of Pat Lyons.

Read more.