Happy sixth blogiversary to me!

Six years ago today, this blog was born!

Thanks to you wonderful people who have supported this project!  More than 2,790 posts have been published, and well over 98,500 page loads have been served (over 479221 by Blogger's count).  One hundred and seventy-four of you have given us your thumbs-up on Facebook, more than 1070 of you are following along on Twitter (17,000 tweets and counting!), and approximately 60 of you have subscribed to this site's feed.  The bulk of you are Canadian, and I'm delighted to see visitors from United States, the United Kingdom, India, France, and the list goes on.

There are so many of you doing such a fabulous job of making magic a priority in this great country!

A special thanks to:

• All of my early supporters.  Special shout outs to Ariel, Doug, James, and John for your continued  encouragement.
• All of you readers, Likers, RTers, submitters, guest posters, contest prize providers and all other manner of promoters of this site.
• All of my sponsors, past and present.  That means you: Magic Information Canada, Ryan Pilling, Clive Court, Perfect Magic, The Browser's Den of Magic, and The Amazing Corbin!
• All of the blog's official friends, past and present.  That's you:  John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, and Ted & Marion Outerbridge.
• My family for their support of this bloggy experiment.

My continued thanks to all of you!

New names announced for the 2017 Browser's Magic Bash

  

From the Facebook page of the Browser's Den of Magic:

A Party Of This Magnitude Only Comes Once A Year!

Where else can you get a scrumptious free lunch & dinner, the opportunity to spend the day with like-minded peers, and twelve hours of magic with so many top name magicians?

"The Browser's Magic Bash packs in more magic, with more value for your dollar, than anything we've ever offered you before."

Without further adieu, it's our pleasure to announce MORE amazingly talented artists who plan to spend the day with us at the 2017 Browser's Magic Bash.
- Dick Joiner
- Buck Macleod
- Scott Hammell
- Luiz Castro
- Keith Brown

Additionally:
- Michael Ammar
- Silly Billy
- & The Sentimentalists (Chris Mysterion & Steffi Kay)
...will spend the day with us, too. We plan to celebrate our common love for magic together.

If this fun sounds like the good times you're looking for, please take two minutes right now to register for the 2017 Browser's Magic Bash.

Browser's Magic Bash Tickets Starting At $99 Plus HST
http://www.browsersden.com/bash
(cut and paste if not clickable)

We hope you'll join us.

Book your ticket today, and see you at the Bash!

Magical Hugs,
Jeff Pinsky, John Talbot, & Lee Asher
(Your faithful Browser's Magic Bash Team)

Patrik Kuffs: 25 years magic

From Patrik Kuffs' Facebook page:

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Julie Eng on the cover of Genii

Congratulations Julie!


From Richard Kaufman's Facebook page:

This issue our cover is adorned by the remarkable Julie Eng. Lest. As the author of our piece, David Ben, aptly points out, not only is Julie a beloved figure and an accomplished magicienne, she also possesses the near superhuman ability to get almost anything that comes her way DONE. Yes, all caps for emphasis. She does much good work for kids, seniors, and behind-the-scenes good deeds for magicians that goes unheralded—but the word is now officially out. 

Perfect Magic's 40th Anniversary Sale

From Perfect Magic:

... come in and see us while our 40th Anniversary Sale is on.

10% on everything in the catalog
an additional 5% if we have it in the shop
and an additional 5% if you buy in person.
The Sale lasts until Dec.3rd and we’re open Saturdays too, from 11am to 5pm.
 
Read more and shop now!

Jay Sankey on Bringing Magic To Your Business

From Twist Image:

Welcome to episode #540 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Mirum Podcast. I have been blown away by Jay Sankey. He's a magician who has managed to do some pretty amazing and impossible things. I'm not just talking about the 700-plus illusions he has invented over his incredible career. I'm not just talking about the fact that David Copperfield, Criss Angel and David Blaine have performed his illusions. He knows so much about business, marketing and storytelling that this could be one of the important things any business professional might listen to this year. (and that's not hyperbole) With close to 200,000 subscribers to his Sankey Magic YouTube channel, Jay has broken down the wall between the audience and the mystic of magic.

Read more and listen to podcast.

Festival de Magie de Québec 2017

With thanks to Jean-Luc for sending this information along.  From Jean-Luc Rivard:

Great names coming at the Festival de Magie de Québec  MAY 4 - 5 - 6 - 7  2017 .

BUY TICKETS HERE : http://www.festivaldemagie.ca/billets

GRAND GALA :

- Luc Langevin (CANADA )
- Hector Mancha ( FISM  World Champion 2015 - Spain )
- Rob Zabrecky  ( USA)
- Boris Wild ( France )
- Nicolas Dutel  ( CANADA )
- MysterAct ( CANADA )



ALSO  at the Festival :

-  Jean-Pierre Du Sault
-  Fredo - Magislain
-  Billy et Manu
-  Jean Deshaies
-  Marc Chabot
-  Énigma & Méphisto -
-  Bob Arseneau
-  Marc Trudel
-  Stéphan Therien
-  Simon Bernard .

And more to come !!!!

Andrew Kinakin at the Saskatoon Family Expo

From The Saskatoon Family Expo:

Our next Expo will be taking place Saturday and Sunday November 19 and 20 - Hope to see you there

Watch our Facebook page for all the announcements:
https://www.facebook.com/saskatoonparentandtotexpo/

Read more.

From Andrew Kinakin's YouTube channel, watch Andrew promoting the event on CTV news:





[via iTricks]

Keith Brown's busy November (and Montreal Fringe in 2017)

From Keith Brown's Official Facebook Fan Page:

Dear friends, this month is crazy! Here are all of my public performances and where you can catch me. I am still taking some bookings for holiday parties, if you know of any please send me a message.

Nov 18 & 19 - Collingwood
Collingwood Cabaret: featuring some of Toronto's Hottest Acts

Nov 21 - Kingston
Momondays Kingston November 21 moShow

Nov 22 - Toronto
The Newest Trick in The Book hosted by Benzi Train

Nov 24 - Toronto
Nerd Nite Toronto Holiday Nerdtacular

Nov 27 - Mississauga
UNPLUGGED!

Also from the fan page:

Bill Abbott: The Secret to Successful Weekly Shows, Magic Monday, and lecture

From Well Attended:

Bill Abbott discusses his weekly theatre show at Dave and Busters, why having a quality show matters, how he decides where to perform, and how he uses a custom backdrop for photo opportunities to help promote his show.

Read more and listen to podcast.

From Steven Lafond's Facebook page:

Mississauga: Chris Westfall at Boston Pizza

From Chris Westfall's Facebook page:


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Montreal: Last lab magique of 2016

From the Facebook page of Le Lab Magique:

For the last lab magic of the year 2016 on Wednesday, 30 November, we're looking for testers.

The numbers must be between 5 AND 8 minutes. All the kinds of issues are welcome:
Magic, juggling, circus, mime, music, humour, comedy and more...

If this interests you let us know.
514 937 6702

Toronto: The Newest Trick in the Book

The graphic on James' site states that the show is running every Tuesday in November.  Contact Ben Train for more information.


From James Alan:

Coming to See-Scape in Toronto, there's a new show organized by Ben Train, The Newest Trick In The Book. In the same way that comedians experiment with new and fresh material at open-mic nights, and plays are refined through workshops, this is an opportunity for magic material in development to be tested in front of a live audience.

In addition to having the privilege of seeing tricks for the first time, guests have the opportunity to offer feedback to help shape the new material. It's an interesting experiment that I'm looking forward to being a part of.

I'll be appearing on the show Tuesday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 15 performing never-before-seen tricks. If you'd like to join us, the entire event is pay-what-you-want.

The location is 2480 Dundas Street West in Toronto.

Luc Langevin helped to raise $47000 for Leuco dystrophie research

Well done Luc!

From Luc Langevin's Twitter feed:
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Et voilà ! La soirée bénéfice d'hier a permis d'amasser 47 000 $ qui financeront la recherche de traitements contre les Leuco dystrophies ! pic.twitter.com/EqqyyLfufH

— Luc Langevin (@LucLangevin) November 5, 2016

Calgary: Mega Magic Camp at Montanas

See if you can say that 5 times fast!

From the The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop's Facebook page:

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London: Keith Brown at the 2017 Fringe (and Rogers TV)

Congratulations Keith, on getting one of the early bird spots for the London Fringe!

From Absolute Magic:

Keith Brown will be performing 6 shows at the London Fringe between May 30 - June 10

 

And if you wonder what he is all about, you can watch him on this clip from Keith's September appearance on Rogers TV.

Toronto: Daniel Steep at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

It's been a while since I was at the RAWF.  If I recall correctly, it was for one of Kidlet's school field trips.  We would have had so much fun if The Agri-Magic show had been playing when we went!


From the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair:

Visit Ag-Tivity Central and join Canadian magician Daniel Steep as he introduces families to the magical world of Canadian farming and agriculture. This high-energy, educational and interactive show is dedicated to creating a positive image of the Canadian Farmer and Ag Awareness. 

From the Twitter feed of The Agri-Magic Show:

Matilda and Dan met @rickvaive22 today at @THERAWF - see our daily @agrimagicshow in AgTivity Central! #RAWF16 #RoyalWinterFair #rawf pic.twitter.com/0ng7JlbScA

— The Agri-Magic Show (@agrimagicshow) November 6, 2016

Random thoughts from the Browser's Den of Magic 41st anniversary party

I had the pleasure of spending some time at the Browser's Den of Magic 41st anniversary party on Sunday.  A great time, appeared to be had by all!  Here are a few random thoughts:

• I missed the auction, but heard it was absolutely packed, with a lot of great deals to be had.
• There are lots of a amazing finds and deals in the Back Room.

• Found something unexpected for sale @theBrowsersDen back room. Also had a great price on H. Anderson's jumbo cards. pic.twitter.com/NrZl9IyqL6

  — Canada's Magic (@canadasmagic) November 6, 2016

• The trivia segment was great fun, as always.  Jeff has a lot of very knowledgeable patrons!
• Among other things, trivia question answers included: Jeff Hinchliffe, Abdurrahman Ahmed, and 1995.

• The back room find @theBrowsersDen foreshadowed the answer to an impromptu trivia question! pic.twitter.com/mdGQTbkspW

  — Canada's Magic (@canadasmagic) November 6, 2016

• Jeff never stopped working the whole day @theBrowsersDen anniversary party! pic.twitter.com/47uvFAgcII

  — Canada's Magic (@canadasmagic) November 6, 2016

• Congratulations to Ryan Murray, the year's recipient of @theBrowsersDen Len Cooper Memorial Award! pic.twitter.com/a39GWQjeD2

  — Canada's Magic (@canadasmagic) November 6, 2016

•  Congratulations on another great anniversary event, Jeff et al!

Welcoming new Friends: The Outerbridges

Please join me in welcoming our newest Friends, The Outerbridges!

I first met Ted and Marion Outerbridge at Sorcerers Safari a couple of summers back.  You may have seen them at the IBM convention in Jacksonville in 2015, or this past year in the Grand Gala performance at the CAMaraderie Convention/Festival de magie de Québec, or at at SAM New York's "2016 Salute to Magic."

I had the pleasure of seeing their full stage show earlier this year, and attending their recent lecture at IBM Ring 17.  They are truly a talented and delightful duo!  (As an aside, it's worth the price of admission to see Ted sporting the "mirror ball" jacket hand crafted by Marion.  Photos do not do it justice.  It is absolutely eye-popping and dazzling!)

Thank you Marion and Ted, for becoming official Friends of Canada's Magic!

David Blaine special on CTV

From World Screen TV Real:

LOS ANGELES: Electus International has secured deals for the new special David Blaine: Beyond Magic, featuring cameos with Margot Robbie and other celebrities, in the U.K., Australia and Canada.

Electus International sold the finished tapes to Channel 4 in the U.K., Australia’s Network Nine and CTV in Canada. David Blaine: Beyond Magic is slated to air on ABC in the U.S. on November 15.

Read more.