11 November 2019

An Evening with Darcy Oake in the UK

From AXS:
  • SAT 21 MAR - Northumbria Institute, Newcastle    
  • SUN 22 MAR - The Caves, Edinburgh   
  • MON 23 MAR - St Luke's, Glasgow 
  • TUE 24 MAR - The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham    
  • WED 25 MAR - Arts Club, Liverpool  
  • THU 26 MAR - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds   
  • FRI 27 MAR - O2 Academy 3 Birmingham, Birmingham  
  • SAT 28 MAR - Manchester Academy 3, Manchester    
  • SUN 29 MAR - Thekla Bristol, Bristol    
  • MON 30 MAR - Komedia Brighton, The Lanes    
  • TUE 31 MAR -  Islington Assembly Hall, London    
Read more and buy tickets.




10 November 2019

Michael Close's November 2019 newsletter

Just finished reading the November newsletter from Michael Close.  You may be interested in:

  • A couple of Stephen Bargatze stories that are very entertaining, especially if you hear Michael's voice reading them to you!
  • Michael tips us to a film to begin shooting in Toronto and Buffalo next year.
  • Michael Close has a podcast for subscribers, titled "Conversations with Close."   This month's guests are Merrill and Bargatze. 
  • Michael wrote up a fabulous review of the recent Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Convention.
  • From the playing card patent files by Lee Asher.
  • The Magic of Science 
  • It's Not Magic... But
  • The Art of Conjuring by Mick Ayres.
  • A nice shout out to Jonah Babin's Discourse in Magic interview with Ryan Hayashi. 
  • A Ricky Jay tribute by Tom Zito.
  • Technically Speaking by by Bruce Kalver.
  • and many other newsworthy tidbits from the magic community!


Sign-up at MichaelClose.com to receive Michael's newsletters. 

09 November 2019

Magic and the Mind

From the November 5th post "Magic and the Mind" by Evelyn Matlin at Perfect Magic:
As most of you know, I was treated for cancer, and had Chemo and a robotic operation and now I’m back and so far so good. I was anxious to get back to the shop. A new customer came in and I picked up Cardtoon to demo it and I had no idea how it worked. I asked Phil. He said, “I never did it. You always demo it.”  I put it aside.

When he left I sat down with the deck and for the life of me, I could not remember how to do it. I opened a new pack to read the instructions and it was so complicated I couldn’t understand it. Then I remembered that whoever bought it, I showed them how it worked because the instructions were so complicated I felt they would take it home and never use it. It’s such a simple trick so I took a few minutes and showed them the secret so they would never have to look at the instructions. Still I couldn’t remember it or follow the instructions.

Read more.

08 November 2019

Ontario: Outerbridge Clockwork Mysteries

From Ted Outerbridge:
  • November 30, 2019     Rose Theatre, Brampton, ON
  • December 31, 2019     Oakville Centre, Oakville, ON
  • January 10, 2020         Imperial Theatre, Sarnia, ON
Read more and buy tickets.





07 November 2019

Vernon: Shriners Variety Show

From the October 26th article "Vernon Shriners Variety Show to feature award-winning Canadian illusionists" by Brendan Shykora in the Vernon Morning Star:
Award-winning illusionists Murray Hatfield & Teresa are set to wow a Vernon crowd as they headline the upcoming Vernon Shriners Variety Show.

The Victoria duo, who were named Magicians of the Year”by the Canadian Association of Magicians, will perform at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 6.

Fans of the Penn & Teller: Fool Us may have seen Murray Hatfield and Teresa on the popular TV series in 2017, or on stages around the world.

Aaron Gregg, Comedian and previous Guinness World Record holder for juggling chainsaws, will be there to warm up the crowd at the event. Rounding out the show is master bubble artist Geoff Akins-Hannah, who will attempt to put a person inside of a bubble.


Read more.