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Issue No.31 RRP £4.50 THE MAGIC MAGAZINE FOR

www.magicseen.co.uk Vol. 6. No.1 March 2010 MAGICIANS & MENTALISTS

STEVE WYRICK:
REAL MAGIC?

WAYNE FOX:
TURNING THE TABLES

TIM SHOESMITH:
ONE BIG DRAMA

PLUS:
THROWDINI
THE YOUNG MAGICIANS’ CLUB
GAFF COINS PART 4
REVIEWS
MASTERCLASS
AND LOTS MORE...

MARC
OBERON
HOW TO BECOME A
WORLD MAGIC CHAMPION
magicseen: THE MAGAZINE YOU CAN’T WAIT TO PUT IN YOUR RECYCLE BIN!
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Contents
7. Welcome
8. Letters
9. News
10. Lots of Magic Website
12. In the Phone Box
16. Tim Shoesmith
p16
22. Bristol Day of Magic
26. Steve Wyrick
32. Dealer’s Booth
34. The Young Magicians’ Club

p26
36. Marc Oberon
42. Magicnews.tv
44. State of Play
50. Reviews
56. Wayne Fox
60. Masterclass
64. The World of Fake Coins - Part 4
62. Next Issue p56 p36
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WELCOME

Issue No.31 RRP £4.50 THE MAGIC MAGAZINE FOR

www.magicseen.co.uk Vol. 6. No.1 March 2010 MAGICIANS & MENTALISTS

STEVE WYRICK:
REAL MAGIC?

WAYNE FOX:
TURNING THE TABLES

TIM SHOESMITH:
ONE BIG DRAMA

PLUS:
THROWDINI
THE YOUNG MAGICIAN’S CLUB
GAFF COINS PART 4
REVIEWS
MASTERCLASS
AND LOTS MORE...

MARC
OBERON
HOW TO BECOME A
WORLD MAGIC CHAMPION
magicseen: THE MAGAZINE YOU CAN’T WAIT TO PUT IN YOUR RECYCLE BIN!

Editor: Mark Leveridge

Welcome...
Deputy Editor: Graham Hey
Design Editor: Phil Shaw
So what else awaits you in this issue? Well, Advertisement Enquiries:
we've been in (and essentially still are in) a advertising@magicseen.co.uk
...to the first issue of our 6th year! Firstly, all the recession, so we thought it would be Website Design: Jane Stewart
team who work on magicseen would just like interesting to find out from some top children's Circulation: Sarah Logan
to say how much we appreciate the very many entertainers how they have been affected, and Circulation Assistant: Jessica Culver
kind and encouraging comments that we in State Of Play you will discover what the life of Contributors: Craig Petty, Paul Preager, Gary
receive from our readers. It seems that even pro performers Paul Megram, Gary James, Pat James, David Oakley, Pat Fallon, David
after half a decade, you still like the way we do Fallon, David Tomkins, Jack Stephens and David Tomkins, Jack Stephens, Paul Megram, Ian
things, which is great - we will endeavour to Oakley is like these days. The future of magic Adair, Jon Allen, Benoir Grenier
continue to bring you the sort of magazine that rests with the youth of today, and so we find Reviewers: Mark Leveridge, Phil Shaw,
you want to read from cover to cover. out what help is available from the Magic Daniel Lander, Paul Preager, Stuart Bowie
Circle's Young Magicians' Club. Throwing sharp
magicseen’s management board consists of
Talking of covers, we are very pleased to knives at young ladies is a dirty job but Graham Hey, Mark Leveridge & Phil Shaw
welcome to the cover of issue 31 one of the someone's got to do it, and so we spend 30p
General enquiries and comments:
UK's most successful magicians - Marc Oberon. in the phonebox chatting to the man who grahamhey@magicseen.co.uk
Marc is one of magic's most thoughtful takes on that challenge - Throwdini! We
Subscriptions:
magicians - he will agonise over small details of discover that the Bristol Society Of Magic has
On-line at www.magicseen.co.uk,
his act until he is sure it is as perfect as he can been organising its one day convention for 50
or sending your details and a cheque payable
get it, and that's what makes him the big years, and that Dave Allen and Gordon Drayson to ‘magicseen’ to magicseen Subscriptions,
success story that he is. We're proud to have have come up with the magic equivalent of 13a Lyndhurst Road, Exeter EX2 4PA, UK.
him on our latest front page. Tim Shoesmith eBay - it's the place for you to sell or buy £25.00 for annual subscriptions, Europe
talks a lot of sense and despite his experience, your magic. £37.00, worldwide £46.00.
is honest enough to admit when things haven't Copyright. The views and opinions expressed in this
gone quite right. His article shows a candour Filling in the blank spaces round all the above magazine are those of the individual contributors and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. All
that is hugely refreshing. Steve Wyrick is no (!) we have part 4 of Craig Petty's Fake Coins
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly
stranger to controversy, and success and series, Masterclass tricks from Jon Allen and prohibited without the prior consent of the publishers.
failure seems to follow him around in equal Ian Adair, several pages of product reviews, Colour transparencies, manuscripts or discs are sent at
measure. You have to admire his self belief plus news, letters and other bits of silliness the owners’ own risk. Neither the company nor its
agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. All
though! When I was running my British Close that we love to put in. Hope you enjoy this
unsolicited material should be accompanied by a
Up Magic Symposia, Wayne Fox and his dad issue, and if you are going to Blackpool, do stamped addressed envelope.
were regular and highly enthusiastic attendees, remember to visit the magicseen stand and
Thanks to: Marc Oberon, Wayne Fox, Tim
and so we are delighted to be able to feature say hello. We'll have some treats in store for Shoesmith, Steve Wyrick, Throwdini
him in this issue (that's Wayne, not his dad!) as you there.
he is one of the nicest and most earnest pro Published by MSUK Publications

close up magicians you are likely to meet. Mark Leveridge

www.magicseen.co.uk 7
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LETTERS

Readers’ letters...
If you have anything you would like to tell us, whether it’s about the magazine or anything magic related, please email: grahamhey@magicseen.co.uk

TREVOR’S ESCAPES
I watched a TV documentary recently, which featured Trevor Baylis, the man
who invented the wind-up radio, and he mentioned that he was an
escapologist! What exactly did he do?

Liam Morton, Berwick

Trevor was an accomplished swimmer in his younger days (he swam for great
Britain when he was just 15!) and worked for a company called Purley Pools which
developed swimming pools. He subsequently got into stunt work and worked as an
entertainer/escapologist - diving into ‘clear-sided’ pools and escaping from things like handcuffs! He staged an
elaborate underwater escape while working for the Berlin Circus, and make a pretty penny out of it, which bought
Eel Pie Island where he lives today.

BRING BACK GUY! I NEED A CHANGE! McClean, who

Hi, I am looking to make a big has worked in HELP!
Great to see Guy Bavli featured in change to my act. I have TV for a Hi, I have been offered a
the last issue of magicseen. I performed as mainly a children’s number of couple of stand-up shows in
remember seeing him around entertainer, but would love to do years writes an April, but the audience know
fifteen years ago in the UK, and I a more adult act. Any advice article about me pretty well already. Any
managed to have a brief chat with would be appreciated as it’s an how he has put ideas for effects that will help
him when he lectured at a magic area I know very little about - and an act together me fill 20 minutes?
society. He was a really friendly I don’t want to rush in, buy tons for the comedy clubs (with comedy
chap - and very down-to-earth of stuff and never use it. What’s mind-reading) starting from scratch. Harry Gregg, Cardiff
despite all his success in Vegas the first thing I should do? He covers everything from choosing
and on TV in the US. It’s great to JS, via email the effects, the sort of humour he Not easy really, as only you know
hear that he sounds as enthusiastic wanted and the sorts of venues he the sort of things that will suit you,
as ever, thanks for featuring him… Well…get an act that will suit the wants to play. This may help you and that you like to do. However,
audience you intend to perform for. In more than a few sentences on this there are things which have
Kenneth Yates via email the next issue of magicseen, Mike page ever could. Good luck with it. impact, and might fit the bill… Bill
Abbott’s 5 card opener - easy,
builds to a climax, room for your
WHAT’S THE EFFECT CALLED? personality, gets the audience fully
involved! (3-5 minutes).
I have been looking for the name Harry Lorayne says, “It's called
of one I saw performed once but Melt-Through. I used to sell it, but Mel Mellers’ Pseudo card trick
cannot remember anything else then taught/explained it in Trend (based on a Barry Richardson
about it apart from: An odd card Setters so that I wouldn't have to idea) - easy, audience
is placed on the bottom of 2 sell it anymore. Trend Setters is out involvement, fun... Perhaps
others and when rubbed comes of print, but it's being re-written, Invisible Deck with a decent
up between the top 2. I think this updated, etc., along with other stuff, presentation... Choose reasonably
is fairly new? in LORAYNE: THE CLASSIC quickly and then concentrate on
COLLECTION, Volume 3. the patter.
M.H, Middlesbrough

8 magicseen Vol. 5 No. 5

MS Issue 31 BU3 FIN:Layout 1 03/02/2010 11:42 Page 9

NEWS

In the news...
You read about these things of Royal Berkshire in no time at all.
course, so the first thought was By now Debbie had joined me
‘Is this what a heart attack feels and sat watching it all happening.
like?’ I guess you don’t know
unless you’ve had one. “By now of course I was bored so
I started to create comic answers
I waited until 8am before calling the to the questions and Debbie kept
local surgery who said they could on ruining that by telling them the
fit me in about 10.30am. I thought truth. I was connected up to Blaine does it
PAUL’S SPOT OF
that might be a bit too late,
because, being a man, I already
loads of gadgets and now I knew
it was really serious because I for Haiti
BOTHER! knew I was at death’s door, so they know how painful it is to pull them Illusionist David Blaine has
Paul Daniels reported on a recent changed it to 8.50am.” damn sticky pads off again. worked some of his magic to
heart scare through his always help earthquake victims in Haiti.
interesting blog. Paul said he sneaked out of the “They scanned my heart and
(http://www.pauldaniels.co.uk/blog/). house and went to see the doctor. showed me the scan pictures. David performed round the
Ah... it wasn’t a heart attack... clock for three consecutive
Of course, we wish the master “After some questions I was put I was pregnant, well, that’s what it days in Times Square to raise
magician well - and some of us into the nurse’s room for the looked like. money for Red Cross
were surprised to hear that Paul is same questions and tests and earthquake relief.
71 years old! He seems to have suddenly I am in the back of an “It turned out my heart is slightly
more energy and passion for the ambulance, “ he continued. enlarged. Big Hearted Daniels “People could give me a penny
art than people half his age. that’s me, and now they want me or a hundred dollars, whatever
“I must say that the doctor, the to have my arteries checked to see they wanted,” said Blaine, who
Paul said, “I awoke at about 6.30am nurse and the ambulance crew if there is any blocking because the performed sleight-of-hand
to find that I had a pain in my chest. were all brilliant and I was in the scan doesn’t show that stuff.” tricks near the Army recruiting
station at 43rd St.

FISM AT BLACKPOOL 2010 Blaine’s latest stunt was inspired

The FISM European Championships will be held at Blackpool during by the 10 days he spent
the 2011 event, and a meeting will be held at this year’s event to plan performing magic in Haiti in
the fine details. Of course, the FISM World Championships will be held 1999. “That trip changed my
in Blackpool in July 2012 (and the normal magic convention will take life, when I heard about the
place in February as usual). earthquake, I couldn’t
understand how it could
happen to these people. I feel
obliged to do what I can to
help.”

DOBSON’S CHOICE In 2000, Blaine stood in a

Love him or love him, you cannot block of ice at Times Square
ignore him - even though he for over 63 hours for a TV
swears like a ruddy trooper. Mr FREE RESOURCE FOR MAGICIANS! special.
Dobson, or “Wayne” as we like to A FREE resource-topsites for magic, magicians, creators, retailers,
call him, has a briliant new book publishers and all things magical to identify the very best magic related Pal of magicseen, the MD of
out called Dobson’s Choice: web sites on the net has been launched! Joining The Magic Top will Blacks Magic, James Clark
Special Effects. It’s a real cracker connect you to a Magical Network and expose your website to new was also doing his bit for Haiti
and you can find out more details readers interested in exactly what you have to offer. Join NOW ! It's 100% - he was out there using his
from www.waynedobson.co.uk FREE at www.themagictop.com military experience to help.

www.magicseen.co.uk 9
MS Issue 31 BU3 FIN:Layout 1 03/02/2010 11:42 Page 10

MAGIC WEBSITE

Dave Allen

Since the launch the site has been busy, with

magicians putting their unwanted items up for
sale, and others buying them - often at a healthy
saving, a win win situation for everyone. The
founders have listened hard to feedback and
have announced some major improvements.

Lots Of Magic
All the regular auction features were present
from the start, however, many new features are
now available, such as you can receive an email
when an auction item is near closing. You can

Just Like eBay For Magicians

deliver lecture notes, written tricks and ebooks
as digital downloadable pdf files, automatically
once an auction has closed. Also you can show
video with your listing, there is no better way to
Buy and Sell New and Used Magic Fast, Easily and Cost Effectively - ONLINE
sell magic than by demonstrating it.

Register for nothing and start bidding on items

immediately. Sellers can list items for free by

T
he Auction Website where you turn value reduced. That is why magical secrets using the basic listing. If the item is not sold
unwanted props and more into ready should not be available to non magicians. there is no charge. So brush the dust of those
cash and where you find that addition to Magicians have been keeping secrets for over props in your cupboard and make some cash.
your show - perhaps at a bargain price. 5,000 years.
Dealers and lecturers with more products can
Lots of Magic (www.lotsofmagic.co.uk), the With magic props and other paraphernalia open their own “store” on the site, allowing
brain child of professional magicians Gordon appearing on eBay it is open to be stumbled them to list their items and keep stock
Drayson and Dave Allen is an auction website upon by accident. I searched for things that information up to date. Lots of Magic charge a
dedicated to magicians and entertainers from had magic in the title but were not actual small fee on sold items which goes towards
all over the world. magical effects. Sure enough magic props running the site.
started appearing in the results.
I asked why there is The founders are pleased the site is working
a need for such a Lots of Magic was launched in early 2009. The for magicians as they are passionate about
site? launch attended by over 150 magicians - offering an alternative way to sell magic in a
amateurs, semi pros and professionals, along safer environment, away from public view. You
The response was with a number of VIP guests. can join in, simply visit, www.lotsofmagic.co.uk
fascinating - magic is sign up and start using it. The more magicians
spoiled if the secret They all gave their support to the fun and lively using the site the better it becomes.
is known, its website which allows sellers to describe their
mystique is lost and sale item in detail without fear of giving away More features like iPhone and Android apps
Gordon Drayson the entertainment secrets. are planned soon. ms

10 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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IN THE PHONE BOX

The Great Throwdini (Rev. Dr. David Adamovich) is one of the foremost professional knife throwers in
the world today. Respectively referred to as The World’s Fastest Knife Thrower, he has 25 world records
to back up that claim. One record has been designated as One of The Top 100 Guinness World Records
of All Time. Throwdini has performed with Stars of The World Famous Moscow State Circus, received
an IMS Merlin for Outstanding Performance in the Impalement Arts, and performs regularly at New
TGT and target girl
Tina Nagy.
York’s longest running magic show, Monday Night Magic.

What better way to list. If a stunt is too risky I’d rather leave it out
than risk harming my partner.
Biggest influence in your life?
My parents. They’ve always loved me and
spend thirty pence than given me the best they could. My dad is
Tell us your biggest fear... deceased but I’m sure he’d be very proud of
to ring up one of the My biggest fear was performing the Wheel of me.
Death for the first time before a live audience.
world’s leading knife- Believe me, after that everything else is a piece What are your greatest accomplishments as a
of cake. knife thrower?
throwers, and ask him First and foremost, being a Merlin recipient. I’m
What don't people really understand about knife the only person to have stopped/caught a
some stuff! This is what throwing? bullet, an arrow, and a knife. Ripley’s Believe it
Some people think knives come from the back or Not! honoured me with a cartoon. My top
we got for our money... of the board. That might be true for certain world records are throwing 144 knives around
illusions, stabbing a playing card for example. a target girl in 1 minute, throwing 3 knives
But not in mine. In fact I finish my act by within 1 second, throwing 10 knives in 3.7
impaling a chosen playing card. Some say it’s seconds, catching 25 knives in 1 minute, and
How do you get to be a famous knife-thrower? I magic. I say it’s magical. throwing a knife through the ash of a lit
guess you have to kill a few people along the way cigarette held in a target girl’s mouth — without
while practising? Has knife throwing brought you any other fame? moving the cigarette!
Fame comes from “paying your dues” over Yes, it’s opened the door for me to represent
many performances. It starts out with just one Record Holders Republic If you could do anything in 2010 what would you do?
lucky break and some good exposure. (www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk) as their US Perform at both the Magic Circle in London
Regarding killing a few people along the way, President, allowing me to adjudicate world and the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
it’s better to “Aim to miss your targets (target records. We are about to release Believe The
girls). They last longer that way.” Unbelievable — The Ultimate Book of World Best advice you can give to would-be knife throwers?
Records and the People Who Pursue Them. Practise and don’t do anything careless that
Everyone can have an 'off-day' - but not you, eh? Bartleby Press, 2010. could jeopardise the safety of your partner.
For me an OFF day could be costly. I always Sine qua non (without which there is none).
aim to miss. There has been an occasional What would you do for a million dollars?
scrape, nothing serious but upsetting none- Make me an offer. I can be bought. Got 2 million? Throwdini's website is www.knifethrower.com
the-less. It’s helped develop a deep sense of (would you have expected anything else?)
trust between my partner and I.

Were you always good at throwing stuff at school?

No. I began knife throwing at the age of 50
after a career as a professor of exercise
physiology and electrocardiography. After the
initial learning curve, which was very fast for
me, it became second nature. I don’t think
about throwing, I just do it!

What sort of mentality do you have to have?

Mentality? Yikes, I’ve been accused of having
none for what I do! But it requires a great deal
of concentration and serious attitude. My
target girl’s safety is always number one on the

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TIM SHOESMITH

Tim Shoesmith
Life’s One Big Drama!
16 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1
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TIM SHOESMITH

A
s a professional actor for a number of years, followed by six
years as a paramedic, Tim Shoesmith has had his fair share
of dramas. Then he became a professional magician, and
has subsequently worked as a magic consultant for both the BBC
and Channel4.

A former IBM Champion, Tim is in demand on the corporate circuit and

has had the pleasure of being flown all over the world at other people’s
expense! magicseen decided to find out what makes this brilliant
performer tick...

What do you think 30 seconds before you begin a know I’ve got it right. It doesn’t happen at Biggest challenge in close-up:
performance? every job but enough to make me feel I might Getting the work! Close up is very competitive
That depends on the type of performance. be good at it. and it is quite easy to get competent at it
With cabaret I think far less before I go on, because you can get a lot of stage time
because there is very little I can do until I get Rubber band magic: Underrated cool stuff, or stuff quickly. If you perform at 10 tables a night
on the stage. However, with close up you for the classroom? twice a week that’s a thousand performances
really do dictate when and where you perform. Perhaps a tongue in cheek question. (yes – ed) a year. I wish you could do the same with
So my thought goes into making sure the I had a reputation for using rubber bands cabaret.
people I am about to introduce myself to are particularly when I first started competing.
suitable and if so, how am I going to gain their Arthur Setterington’s Crazy Man’s Handcuff’s This means there are a lot of magicians whose
attention. was the first trick I learned properly. I saw close up magic is good. Given that most
Michael Ammar do it for a large room of members of the public rarely see a magician
I am in the process of writing a book on
performing close up at banquet tables and I
think that there is a lot to think about before
one stops a table of ten and demands they
watch a performance they didn’t even know
Less is more. It is easy to stay too
was going to happen.
long at a table, or work too long in cabaret.
I think magicians expect audiences to be as
There is a real science to getting into a table
without being too demanding and holding their
attention for a short time. When I first started I
got it wrong as many times as I got it right, but enthusiastic about magic as they are.
things improve with practice.

I never leave home without:

Thumb Tip, Three Ropes and Rubber Bands!
If I could only choose one item and I needed a magicians, it looked great. I put a lot of time they have no concept of quality. So a
lot of material I would take a deck of cards but into getting it right and won a few competitions competent magician with good marketing skills
I’ve never been really happy with cards at a with it. will always do better than an excellent
banquet table, they are hard to use in a way magician without those marketing skills.
everyone can see. Now I combine the linking bands with the
watch steal, which makes it the strongest trick One thing many magicians seem to forget is:
I feel great when… I have. It also ticks all the boxes, performed at Less is more. It is easy to stay too long at a
I know I have a room, close up or cabaret, you chest height, works from all angles, resets, table, or work too long in cabaret. I think
know when they like you, which is the key. If I small and portable. I wear them on my wrist magicians expect audiences to be as
finish performing tables at the end of a so it doesn’t interfere with pocket enthusiastic about magic as they are. That
banquet and everyone applauds when I leave I management. may be true for a short period. You have to

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TIM SHOESMITH

I was out of my comfort zone a lot in 2009,

but I like that. Progress doesn’t happen without risk So it is hard to think of work as anything but a

and risk isn’t risk unless there is some failure. I very small part of last year. However, I had
some real highs and some lows. I didn’t do
would say, if you are not experiencing some failure, well at the IBM in Southport, but luckily I did
better on the cruises. Although cruises can be
then you probably aren’t improving either. frustrating the theatres are amazing. I was
playing to a thousand seats at a time.

I was out of my comfort zone a lot in 2009, but

identify those who wish to see more and keep underestimate the number of performances I like that. Progress doesn’t happen without
it short for the rest. Agents are a particular that are necessary to get something right. If I risk and risk isn’t risk unless there is some
problem with this, booked out for 3 hours to had a backer I would do the same with failure. I would say, if you are not experiencing
entertain 20 people you really aren’t going to cabaret. I would perform every night if I could. some failure, then you probably aren’t
look good. It boils down to the right magician improving either.
in the right place for the right amount of time. Describe 2009 for you...
On April the 11th 2009 my daughter Maya was Biggest disappointment:
If I had a billionaire backer I would: born. I just walked around the house with her in When the hard work doesn’t show! We have
Get more stage time. The standard of my my arms, singing her Bruce Springsteen songs all gone into a project ill prepared and I guess
close up, whatever that may be, is down to and crying. I can’t quite believe it was me, I unless we are lucky, we get what we deserve.
repetition, the more times I perform the better I really didn’t expect it to effect me so profoundly; It is much more disappointing when a lot of
get. A few years after I started using my close I think it went on for weeks. For someone as hard work and preparation is undertaken but
up set I noticed a tangible improvement. I was selfish and self-obsessed as I am I was for some reason it just doesn't come together
really surprised but I think some magicians surprised by this feeling of unconditional love. on the night.

18 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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TIM SHOESMITH

I think I’m really good at…

Playing tables! Ten tables at a banquet is what
I believe I am really good at. I think my act is
also suited to The Magic Circle events and The
Magic Castle, I work well in corporate
situations.

What are your views on pricing?

It is obviously not about your worth but your
perceived worth. I think magicians should be
proud of themselves, they have a high perceived
worth in the entertainment industry. Even a
relative newcomer to magic is likely to earn more
in an evening than an experienced comedian or
singer and certainly band member.

I don’t know how this happened but it is in our

interest to protect it. I do charge above
average for an appearance and I’m sure I lose
out on work because of the price but I know
there are magicians whose CV’s are not as
good as mine earning a lot more.

There are many factors, which a client takes

into account when booking. I know I have lost and it showed what was possible. To be judged common question he got was, “How do you
out to an inferior magician due to the fact that I favourably along side the other well-known learn all those lines?” He replied, “Learning
quoted less. You can’t win, ask yourself what contestants was a very proud day for me. them is the easy part, working out how to say
the work is worth to you and quote that. them is hard!” I think the same is true in
Although I believe I perform better now, I magic, it’s not the trick it’s how you perform
haven’t reached that level in the Magic Circle the trick that is difficult.
The trick I always have in my pocket is: Close Up competition again, I’m not sure why.
I don’t! Sometimes there are rubber bands on The atmosphere has certainly never been as Top three influences and why?
my wrist that I have forgotten to remove, but in good since. I think magicians sometimes forget those
the main I carry nothing with me. I feel that closest to home when listing their
either I am working or I’m not. Comedians get Worst booking ever: influences, which seems strange to me. We are
very irritated if they tell someone what they do I did the IBM Southport Stage Competition this more likely to be influenced by those around us
for a living and the reply is, “well tell us a joke year and wasn’t happy with it at all. I really than someone we haven’t even met.
then”. I fall into that bracket, magic is not me, didn’t read the audience correctly while I
it is what I do for a living and I feel rather prepared and consequently I disconnected John Gordon sat with me for hours when I first
uncomfortable performing in other badly on the night. It is always embarrassing started in the late 90s, for very little
circumstances. I appreciate there are many to fail in front of your peers. remuneration. I am sure without him I wouldn’t
who are happy showing off their skills at every have had the success I did. He prepared me
opportunity and that’s ok too. Conventions are You do really find out who your friends are in for my first national competitions and observing
different, I’m always happy to talk and those situations. While everyone else was him hold a table was a remarkable sight; a ring
exchange ideas with others. looking the other way, Fay Presto and Richard of faces all looking at exactly the same spot.
Pinner were getting me back on stage again His table magic is quite exceptional and it gave
Best booking ever: and it’s nice to be able to thank them publicly me something to aim at.
The Magic Circle Close Up Competition 2003, for that. As I said earlier, risk will inevitably lead
something happened that night and I wish I to failure, when that happens you just get up My influences for cabaret are those I was
could bottle it. I didn’t want to do it, I felt out and try again. I don’t think there is a good act brought up with, I’ve always admired Andy
of my depth, I had been a professional for a out there that hasn’t gone through that process. Clockwise’s freedom on stage and Rob Cox’s
little over a year and I was competing against authority, I also learned a lot by watching
some of the biggest names in close up magic. Do magicians frustrate you at all? Terry Seabrooke at both the Magic Circle and
Many famous magicians have said you don’t Magic Castle.
However there was a real energy in the room need any more tricks, you need to work on
and when I walked out it took me over, I presenting the ones you have got. Brian Cox a I would hope I am drawing influences from
definitely performed above my ability that night famous Scottish actor said that the most other art forms, I have tried to do a lot of Stand

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TIM SHOESMITH

I do find magic limiting though, it can be banal,

lack emotional substance, I think this is one of
the reasons we can’t compete with other art
forms. Just look at what is being watched on
TV each night, a large proportion is drama and
some quite hard hitting. The idea that the
public looks to entertainment purely for a laugh
is just not true.

What is world class?

Magicians and lay people see this differently. I
am often surprised at those who are considered
world class by magicians. Some don’t have the
most basic skills of audience contact, the most
important skill for any performer. For magicians
world class magic is effect driven, for members
Up Comedy, I don’t think I will ever be great at As a kid I was… of the public it is performance.
it but it helps develop certain muscles and I I have heard magicians say that magic saved
know I am stronger for it. them from the bullies. It’s not true in my case, Real world class performers are easy to spot,
yes I did get bullied as a child and I did fight they have the same standing in both the magic
What makes you 'different'? back but playing cards were not my weapon of and the real world. I believe magic is one of
Not enough! The edgy pieces that I have done in choice. the hardest areas to excel in, particularly if you
competition definitely make me different, I’m not choose comedy. It is hard to get a trick right
aware of anyone else working in the same way. My father was an academic with a keen and it is also hard to be funny, put them
They are controversial and not everyone is going interest in puzzles of all kinds. He was a together and I think you have one of the
to like it but being liked by everyone has never member of the Pentacle Club while a student hardest jobs in the world.
been the key to success. I know being liked is at Cambridge, so the first tricks I saw were
important but it’s not possible to be individual his. Originally I wanted to be a football player Think of a juggling unicyclist. Juggling is hard
and liked by everyone at the same time. but didn’t have the physique to take the and so is riding a unicycle but put the two
knocks or the ability to score the goals. together and you have a real challenge. This is
I know when I won the IBM close up what a comedy magician must do. Hobson,
competition in 2005 some people were I found I was good at acting and spent most of King and Williamson are all examples of those
offended by the content. Magicians, en masse, my school and college years in some play or who have indeed become world class. We
don’t understand the use of irony in the same another. Magic was a very small part of my life know it and so does the public.
way a comedy club does, so I always knew it although I was a member of the Pentacle Club
would be misunderstood by some. It was at the age of fifteen but for no more than a year What is the key to improvement?
however described by others as “ground or so. Repetition of performance, analysis and
breaking” which I believe it was. I also stand rehearsal! I’m always happy to talk about
behind the content one hundred percent, it is I spent five years as a professional actor. I was someone’s act and always happy for others to
one of the best pieces of writing I have done not unsuccessful, touring, South America, talk about my own. I have had some very hard
and it had the effect I wanted it to have in all Europe and the British Isles a number of times. conversations about my own act in the last year
four rooms. However I was not successful enough to get a but I also believe I have seen improvement.
mortgage so I left to be a paramedic for a
Being different is the most important attribute couple of years…I stayed for seven before I am approached quite a lot by experienced
of any performer which is why Max Somerset becoming a professional magician. performs asking my advice. I have to say I am
is so good. Not everyone is going to want Max honest and if you do ask me I will tell you what
but if you do then you have to book Max Magic has really helped my... I think just as I would expect you to do if I
because there really isn’t another one. I’d like It has helped but it has also side tracked me asked you about my own act. I did have one
to be like that. from acting, which is a shame. The diary fills instance where a high profile performer asked
and it is hard to put three months aside to me what I thought and didn’t like the answer
The magic item I wear out most is? perform in the theatre. Magic has allowed me and stopped talking to me all together, so be
Rope! I get through a lot with the three ropes to travel the world, meet my wife and warned. We are very fragile! ms
routine that I do as well as using Steve consequently have a child. I can’t say magic
Bedwell’s, “In Over Your Head” for cabaret. has treated me badly. www.timshoesmith.com

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BRISTOL DAY OF MAGIC

Etienne Pradier Ian Keable Michael Vincent

50 YEARS OF
The Bristol Day of Magic
By Paul Preager (Joint Convention organiser)

Local society magic conventions have The story starts back in 1960 when the idea of Wethered Cup, named after the Bristol
come and gone over the decades with a joint society convention hosted and Society’s first long standing President (and
some lasting no more than a few plucky organised by a different local West Country Judge) of some 50 years. In the early years this
attempts. Others manage some impact for club each year was floated. With little interest took the place of a gala show, although the
a few years and some even flourish for a forthcoming from other clubs around the West Wethered Cup was still being fought for up
the Bristol Society bravely decided to go it until the 1980s! All the best UK professionals of
significant period before disappearing
alone in 1961 with popular Bristol magician the day performed and lectured in those days
suddenly for all kinds of reasons such as
Roy Darnley as the first organiser, a role which with the first overseas magician, Anverdi from
lack of venue, lack of funds or lack of an
he maintained single handedly for the first ten Holland, visiting in 1980. In the early 1980s
organiser. For what was originally a small
years. The main lecture of the current Max Maven starred and Glen Falkenstein and
scale convention to have become a
convention is still named after him. Frances Willard performed their famous spirit
permanent fixture on the magical cabinet act.
calendar through five decades and reach The notable veteran of variety theatres and
its fiftieth year is a major achievement magical author of those far off days Edward By the 1980s the convention had outgrown
and this year the Bristol Society of Magic Victor was the star guest of the first two church halls, Filton High School in North
will be patting itself on the back (and convention. This was in the days when Bristol and so was moved to the Wills Hall, part
possibly opening a few bottles of members’ wives cooked high tea for all the of the old Wills Tobacco factory site. Eventually
champagne) as it approaches its 50th registrants and the neighbouring magic even this was demolished so the convention
Bristol Day of Magic on May 9th 2010. societies would send a member to compete in was moved to the Armstrong Hall in Thornbury,
the inter society stage competition, The a small town 10 miles to the north of Bristol.

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BRISTOL DAY OF MAGIC

Pilou Roy Davenport Rafael

As the larger UK provided some of the best facilities seen at a

UK magic convention, including a modern
As the larger UK conventions have grown and
are now all held over three or more days, the

conventions have grown large dealers’ hall, lecture hall and close-up
show rooms, while the 700 capacity of the
Bristol Day of Magic can stake a claim to being
the largest One Day convention in the country

and are now all held over Playhouse Theatre is perfect for stage magic. with up to 500 magicians converging on Weston
Super Mare every second weekend in May!
three or more days, the For many years the Bristol convention has
featured star names from the USA like Eugene
For Bristol’s 50th we are looking forward to first
time visits by Michael Vincent and Etienne
Bristol Day of Magic can Burger, Michael Finney, Bob Sheets, Whit Pradier in the close-up shows, Geoffrey
Haydn, Mike Caveney, John Carney and Tina Durham presents his unique lecture,
stake a claim to being the Lenert. From Europe a small selection of international acts Rafael and Pilou appear on
names includes Tommy Wonder, Roberto the Gala show, plus we have welcome return
largest One Day Giobbi, Manuel Muerte, David Stone, Pit visits from the UK’s most entertaining mentalist
Hartling, and Norbert Ferre. Most of the UK’s Graham Jolley and France’s skilful close-up
convention in the country significant stage and close –up magicians, too magician David Stone. This year also features a
many to mention here, have performed at the special 50th anniversary night before get
with up to 500 magicians Bristol Day, some many times. together.

converging on Weston A few special memorable names of recent The Bristol Day of Magic attracts many
years really brought world class performances magicians from around the West of England
Super Mare every to the Bristol Day’s Gala show including David but some now travel from other parts of the

second weekend in May! and Dania in 2006, Norbert Ferre in 2007,

Juliana Chen in 2008 and Shawn Farquhar in
country because they enjoy the quality of the
magic and the atmosphere without the
2009 and in 2000 let’s not forget a rare massive crowds of some conventions. It’s
convention appearance by Derren Brown in the more than just a day out at the seaside! ms
short time before he became known to
By the 1990s, with this also now proving too magicians and his fee went through the roof!
small, a major decision was made to hire the Bristol also introduced a unique ‘One Man Registration details are available on
Winter Gardens in the seaside resort of Show’ spot a few years back, this being very www.bristolsocietyofmagic.co.uk
Weston Super Mare, 25 miles south west of popular with attendees who have been able to and from the registration Officer
Bristol, along with the town’s Playhouse relax and enjoy great entertainment from the Andy Mac 0117 942 2449
Theatre. This was a significant and brave move likes of Graham Jolley, John Lenahan, Marc andy@andyjmac.com
for the convention and for the last 15 years has Paul and John Archer.

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26 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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STEVE WYRICK

Steve Wyrick
Real Magic?
By Benoit Grenier

O
nly a handful of illusionists
have made their way to the
strip or the surrounding area.
Among them Penn & Teller, Lance Burton
and occasionally David Copperfield.

About twelve years ago, a young guy landed at

the Lady Luck casino in the old Vegas. Since
then, he has worked his way up to arrive on
the strip: first at the Sahara and then at the
Aladdin Casino, which later became the Planet
Hollywood Resort & Casino. He had the
chance to work in a custom built 36 million
dollars theatre, with a lounge bar and magic
shop. With 7 shows a week, he did his best to
entertain the family audiences day after day…

He could have been a success story - if there

hadn’t been so much animosity towards him in BENOIT GRENIER MEETS STEVE WYRICK Can you tell us how you got your first show here in
the magic community. He was sued for what IN LAS VEGAS FOR MAGICSEEN. Las Vegas?
seems to be some work ethic related I was back in Texas and the one thing that
problems, trashed by magicians who thought When I met with Steve just a few days prior to made me happy was performing. I did a lot of
he should not be on the strip and partly the closing, he was relaxed. We sat in the corporate shows. I met with Gary Ouellet, who
abandoned by the public, who didn’t fill the green room backstage, next to a huge neon had just left David Copperfield, back in L.A.
450+ seats of his theater as planned. sign with the initials SW (part of the original and I told him that with corporate shows I
dismantled signs of the now defunct would sometimes do 5 shows a month, and
This all led to the unforeseen closure of the Castaways casino) and the hood of the Ford sometimes I would do none. It would depend
Steve Wyrick’s theatre at the beginning of mustang that was part of his latest stunt on the on what the market was at that time. I really
December 2009. No official statements were Las Vegas Boulevard. With an upcoming TV loved making people happy and he felt the big
issued. And speculation was high on the series and a national Ford campaign airing key to my success would be in me landing a
cause of the quick and messy closure. soon, he had all the reasons in the world to feel big show in Las Vegas. I loved Las Vegas, but I
His website states that the show will reopen good about himself, the show and his career. didn’t know, at that time in my career, how to
soon, but at the time of this article, no official move forward. He had mentioned that there
word has been given, so we will leave it at that I was impatient to know more about the guy, was a lady downtown, Melinda, the first lady of
for the moment. All we know is that there are his magic and his way of doing things… Magic, who was performing for the Lady Luck
lawyers involved and disputes Because, frankly, I liked the show, there were a and he said she was leaving to go on tour. He
over non-payment to acts which appeared at lot of good things in it and like me, the felt that this would be a great venue for me.
the theatre. audience seemed to have enjoyed it too. After speaking with Gary, the very next day, I

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STEVE WYRICK

Everyone should with Circus Circus Enterprises. He built a huge this art I practised, I love it so much, it makes me

be approachable. As a business, and he threw real creative marketing

techniques into whatever he did. He built the
happy. I love seeing the smiles on people’s
faces. To me that is the reward. There are so

star, I am only as good Excalibur and from the profit of Excalibur he

built the Luxor. He cashed all his chips and
many stars who don’t embrace their fans, they
don’t spend time with their fans. I don’t have to

as my fans. I got into bought the Sahara around 1997 and in 2000
he brought me from the Lady Luck on the strip
go out in front and say hi to everybody, I have a
room for my guests. I do that because, I love to

this business because to the Sahara, and he built a $56 million dollar
theatre, called the Steve Wyrick Theatre, from
embrace the people that see the show.

I love making people the ground up for me. It was amazing to have
someone that I respected so much to actually
I am amazed by the balance of the illusions and the
close-up segments in your show. There are a lot of
happy. let me design a theatre. It was one of the intimate tricks: Sam the bellhop, linking rings, bill
coolest times of my life. switch…! How does the public react to these?
To me it is weird, because I feel that my show
What were the terms of your deal with Mr Bennett? has literally some of the biggest tricks on the
I opened in 2000, I was at the Sahara for 3 strip and some of the smallest. There are very
had my management contacting the Lady years. The only deal that I ever had with Mr few other people who do, in my opinion, really
Luck and a year and a half after that I opened Bennett was, the first thing he said : “I am going big and really small. I think it is cool, because it
my show. to pull you out downtown and make you a star shows two different sides. Nowadays the show-
and the other thing”, he said, “Steve I am not goers really want to see what they perceive as
So we could say, that it was kind of easy? going to be around for ever. If anything ever street magic acts, they wanna see some really
It took about a year back and forth with them, happens to me, I want you to keep moving big illusions, they wanna see a couple things
because they were not sure if the big show down the strip. Because I believe in you, I with girls… If you noticed, in my current show
they wanted would be a magic or a review believe in your talent. You have a gift of making there are really no dance numbers. I guess you
show… A year later, we signed a deal and I people happy and I want everyone to be happy.” could say at the beginning with the helicopters,
started working towards what would become but I took all the dance numbers out. When I first
my first show in Las Vegas. Some wonderful Almost 3 years after the opening Mister Bennett started 11 years ago, there were dance
people helped me with that, Gary was one of passed away. He had so many qualities. He was numbers, magic tricks, dance number… When I
those people. The show at the Lady Luck was a billionaire, but so nice, so well spoken, he developed the show, I wanted to show more of
not all magic , there were a lot of dance would be willing to give his time, sit there and my personal life, it is more about the stories now.
numbers. I was there for three years and at the talk with you. Everyone should be approachable.
end of my contract there was a gentlemen who As a star, I am only as good as my fans. I got How do you create an illusion?
showed up to see my show one night, his into this business because I love making people Most of the time, I start with the feel of the
name was Bill Bennett. He was a ‘Steve Wynn’ happy. I didn’t get in to make money, I didn’t get effect, not the method, and I work forward or
type of casino mogul who basically started off in it to become famous, I got into this because of backward depending on where I am at. For me

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STEVE WYRICK

it is all about the effect, not the method, I like

to put wild and crazy things in the show. I
would never put in a live tiger because, in my
opinion, it is very disrespectful for any
magicians to use tigers because it is linked to
Siegfried and Roy’s name. Even when they
were performing there were other magicians
doing tiger ticks. My ideas are different. There
are only one or two animals I would use: a
sheep or a penguin and I’ve decided to use a
sheep in one of my future illusions!

In my show you’re going to see some great

magic, some things that fool you silly. It is all
about the magic, it is all about having a great
time, to me there are so many ways someone
can be inspired by my show

People, mostly magicians, often accuse you of

being a clone of David Copperfield. What do you
say to that?
Here is what I hear. From laymen, I have never
heard that once and there is no one that
respects David more than I do. I’d take a bullet
for the guy. What he has done for magic, what
he has done for our art is amazing. So, in my
opinion, I am offended when magicians say
that because every single one of the effects in
my show, except for a couple that are public
domain, like the motorcycle vanish, are original.

Of course David has used that vanish but so

have many other magicians.

But, it is true, that you are working with the same

type of magic as David Copperfield – I’m thinking
of the emotional pieces…
There was only a couple of magicians who did
things like that when I started. When you
watched Siegfried and Roy, it was a production
magic show, you look at Lance, also a
production magic show, he has got all the
dancers… Criss (Angel), I wanna say he is a
headliner magic show but, there are a lot of
other things there. To me, the way David and I
are similar would be that, with the exception of
Penn & Teller, we are the only performers who
can carry a whole show. And I say that not in
arrogance. Penn & Teller, they carry their own
show, there are no dancers, it is about their
intellect and their stories and they are brilliant
at what they do. David on the other hand is in
a completely different direction and I feel like,
you are going to see things in the show that
are reminiscent of family, with warm and fuzzy
feelings, you’re gonna see things, but all are
my character, they are me…

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STEVE WYRICK

We shut the Las

Vegas strip down both
ways from Harmon to
Flamingo and it took almost
5 hours to set up the illusion
and the lighting.

acrylic over the front of the framework and over

the back, so you can see me the entire time. The
world’s most famous drifter, Vaughn Gittin junior
who drifts for Ford, is put half a mile back in this
brand new 2010 mustang. He then drifted
through me. Going at 80 miles an hour. It was a
more dangerous stunt than ‘’Death Drop’’,
I was really nervous. Anything could have
There were a lot of discussions after your “failed” Will the TV show reflect your stage show ? happened, but it was a Slam-dunk hit!
stunt on Las Vegas Boulevard in July… Can you So far, the producers have let me create things.
tell us what happened ? Things that tantalise the public. On the series What is amazing is that Death Drop was one of
I did an illusion on July 4th, when I shut the strip people will be able to experience my different the most challenging nights of my life and Point
down. This was the first time I did it. It was with personalities. That is what I am hoping to bring of Impact was one of the greatest nights of my
the band Linkin Park and it was the first episode to the series. It is a docu-series, different from life - and they both happened on the strip.
of my series I was taping. It was an illusion called what Criss (Angel) does, which is only magic. It
‘’Death Drop’’. I was going to be put in one of will actually educate people, they will follow me How long did you work on “Point of Impact”?
their equipment boxes, lifted one hundred feet in around with my everyday life, but, in my From the moment Ford watched the concept,
the air, all the ropes of the boxes would be on everyday life they are exposed to creating it took 6 weeks, so it was very, very quick. It is
fire and basically I would have to escape before magic. My life, what I enjoy, what I don’t like the second time that I shut the Las Vegas
the box dropped onto some flaming spikes. So, and the things that make me tick. Because Boulevard down. Las Vegas Boulevard had
unfortunately, it was the most horrifying night of there are some wild and crazy things that are never been shut for any magic trick or any
my life and I almost got killed. I have never been happening to me! It won’t focus on the Las stunt in history. The only time it is shut down
in that traumatic a situation before. I never got to Vegas show. I work 7 days a weeks, even if I both ways is New Year’s Eve.
attempt the illusion because of the fact that there perform only 6 days a week, I work 7 days. The
was a pyro explosion before I got to the thing that is most challenging with the television How did you get the approvals?
challenge. I was put into the box and the whole and everything I am working on, is most of the It took the mayor and the governor to approve
thing exploded before I left the ground. This was week I am in Burbank in Los Angeles, and then the stunts. When the traffic ceases you can’t
the toughest night of my life. I was rushed to the I fly back to do the show. get to the Bellagio, Bally, Planet Hollywood…
trauma centre along with a couple of the It is an incredible feeling to see Las Vegas
assistants who were really close when it blew You have just done a new stunt on the Las Vegas Boulevard without any cars driving by and to
up. Thankfully, everyone is perfectly okay. Boulevard involving a Ford Mustang… attempt something like that. It was a rush.
Yes, we have just done a stunt on the 23rd of
Death Drop was part of your upcoming TV show. November, which was the largest illusion that I So what can we expect from you in the future?
What will it be? have ever done in my entire life. It took 223 I am working on a lot of new ideas. 15 new
It has 13 one-hour episodes, the name of the people. Amongst those people was the Las illusions will be added to the show in 2010. One
series is ‘Steve Wyrick’s Tricky Business’. We Vegas Metropolitan Police department. We shut of them will be a new piece I am working on,
filmed the first episode, which was Death Drop, the Las Vegas strip down both ways from and I’m so incredibly proud of it. It’s called the
and we are getting ready to do Death Drop 2, Harmon to Flamingo and it took almost 5 hours ‘Cracker Jack’. Basically it’s another heartfelt
which is going to be an emotional roller to set up the illusion and the lighting. It was for story that was developed in my head, based on
coaster. Death Drop is something that I a television commercial for Ford. It’s a national a relationship that I shared with my grandma
practised, I rehearsed and had it down. We are TV, national print and global internet campaign and my grandpa. There will also be a new
going to show Death Drop 1 and film Death they are doing with me. The illusion was called version of the woman cut in half illusion, using
Drop 2 for another episode, in a different place. ‘’Point of Impact’’. It is an illusion in which I am LCD screens as cover. Something that has
We are going to do it in New Mexico. chained into a metallic frame and they put never been done before. ms

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DEALER’S BOOTH

products. However Joshua and Andi are

looking to make their website a cut above
many others. For instance, they have had their
site custom designed in an attempt to provide
their customers with the best shopping
experience possible. Their site will also feature
reviews of all the products listed and there will
even be video film reviews too where possible.
Plus they provide free taster downloads of
some products too, so that you can ‘try before
you buy’. The overriding aim is that the guys
want to provide a business that is trusted by its
customers - “It’s the old fashioned traditions of
magic shops from decades ago brought
forward for the internet generation, “ says Andi.

Despite the importance of the website,

Vanishing Inc Magic will not be hiding itself

well. This means that customers can reduce away entirely from physical view, as both
Question: What do you get when you their P&P costs by being supplied from their Joshua and Andi will be attending selected
bring two professional magicians nearest source. At the moment Vanishing Inc conventions. They had a stand at the recent
Magic has about 350 different products Session convention in Gloucester and they will
together and give them time to talk
available, but volume in its own right is not be exhibiting at the Blackpool Magic
over loads of ideas? Answer: in this
something which the guys want to pursue, as Convention this February. The boys will also be
particular case, Vanishing Inc Magic!
Andi explains: “The number isn’t important: available to lecture at magic club nights, and
When American Joshua Jay was only the quality. We’ll certainly be adding to our when appearing they will also bring selected
touring the UK in 2008 he stayed for range a lot slower than most magic shops, but items from the Vanishing Inc Magic range for
some of that time with Andi Gladwin. you can guarantee that we’ll only be adding club members to see and buy. So, there will be
They talked a lot about their magical the best magic releases and the ones that we a face (or faces) to the business name!
dreams and ideas and found they had really think need to be part of your repertoire.”
much in common, including the desire Although Joshua and Andi are the main people
to run a magic shop. Over the course of Because both Joshua and Andi are performers behind the business, they are well supported
that couple of months while Joshua and creators themselves, customers can by a number of other notable performers in
was over here they decided what expect to discover that Vanishing Inc Magic magic such as Pit Hartling, Rune Klan, Jay
products are ones that the guys themselves Sankey, Troy Hooser, Gregory Wilson and
would make the perfect magic store
either do or would be happy to perform. The Patrick Redford. There are several projects
and then took it one step further by
emphasis is on cherry picking the best of the lined up for the future with these gentlemen, so
creating Vanishing Inc Magic.
new releases and mixing these with their own it is clearly going to be an exciting time for
ideas and products to present a highly Vanishing Inc Magic and their customers.
practical and commercial inventory. Despite the business name, it looks unlikely
that this business will be vanishing any time
At present the business is based mainly in As with the vast majority of magic businesses soon. ms
the US and most items are despatched from these days, Vanishing Inc Magic is an internet
there, although in more recent times items based company which relies hugely on its Vanishing Inc Magic
are starting to be shipped from the UK as website to attract attention and to showcase www.vanishingincmagic.co.uk

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YOUNG MAGICIANS’ CLUB

THE YOUNG
CONTENDERS
A look at the Young
Magicians’ Club
By Mark Leveridge

W
Had I been starting out today, I suspect that to have an enthusiasm and interest in the art in
hen I was a teenager in the my first port of call would have been to join the order to gain a membership badge - well, that
late 1960s growing up in Young Magicians’ Club (YMC), the youth and a £30 a year membership fee! Mandy
the depths of South East initiative of The Magic Circle in London. Started Davis, current chairperson of the YMC,
Kent I was a frustrated and rather in 1996 by a small band of enthusiastic Circle explains the aims of the club.
lonely young magician. At that time it members including such well respected names
was very difficult to meet other like- as the late Richard Stupple, Marc Paul and “The Young Magicians’ Club is a starting point
minded performers of my own age. Anthony Owen, this organisation today boasts for those who are seriously interested in
around 500 members worldwide and is a learning magic in all its forms. We hope to
Magic clubs did not usually admit a
vibrant and important source of information bring together, in one way or another, young
new member until he reached 18 years
and contact for any young person aged people who share this interest which can only
of age and whereas today the internet
between 10 and 18 and who is interested in grow strongly through interaction with others.
is an instant portal to information and
magic. We don’t necessarily teach - but we do
contact with others, in those days
inspire.”
nothing even remotely like it existed. One of the most appealing aspects of the YMC
As a result, I virtually didn’t meet is that to join it you do not have to have So how does the Club actually set about trying to
another magician until I went to reached some required standard in order to inspire its young members?
University in Bristol at 18, which meant gain admittance. Unlike its adult counterpart
that for over a decade I had been trying The Magic Circle, entry to which requires a
to learn magic on my own from books performance audition on an examination night,
and the occasional purchased trick. prospective members of the YMC merely have

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YOUNG MAGICIANS’ CLUB

Secrets Workshops
Well, firstly there is the bi-monthly YMC Thirdly, the YMC provides workshop days perfomers and even a quiz - great fun for
magazine called Secrets. This publication throughout the year as part of the membership everyone. It’s also a good opportunity to make
started out as an 8 page black and white price. Most of these take place at the Magic first contact with the YMC organisers and to
magazine which was edited by Anthony Owen. Circle in London, but occasionally one hour mix a little with other YMC members.
When time constraints prevented Anthony from workshops take place at other events such as
continuing in the editor’s chair, the baton was the annual Bristol Day Of Magic in May and the
passed to Peter McCahon who developed the British Ring Convention in September. It is
magazine into a 24 pager with coloured great to be able to note that some of magic’s The Future Is Here
covers. Following Peter’s untimely death in true luminaries such as David Williamson, Max There are those in magic who worry about
December 2004, Mandy Davis took over Maven, Scott Penrose, Michael Vincent, John ventures such as the YMC. These detractors feel
stewardship and is now at the helm of an Calvert and Joshua Jay amongst others have that it is wrong to give young people access to
attractive full colour glossy magazine. With freely given of their time to talk to and inspire magical secrets at an age when they will often
member profiles, news of YMC events, articles the lucky attendees of these events. With only be interested for a while and then move on
by leading magicians, tricks to learn and information of this calibre on offer, YMC to other things. Well, of course, there will be
adverts from selected supporting dealers, this members really do get the best from the best. many who start magic and who decide ultimately
magazine does a great job of providing a link that it is not for them - it’s no different from those
between all the members spread around the of us who have given up piano playing or some
UK, Europe, the US and Australia. sport or other as more seemingly attractive
pastimes come into view - but we would be
foolish not to provide proper guidance and
information for young people at the time when
J-Day they first show signs of interest. Magic needs
Secondly, there is the annual J-Day young blood coming through for it to survive, and
convention. Held in late October/early organisations such as the YMC are a vital link
November at the Magic Circle HQ in London between the burgeoning interest of a teenager
each year, this gathering was originally run for
many years by the Home Counties Magical
The YMC is and the magic world that he or she may one day
come to be fully involved in. I really wish that I
Society in Reading under the careful guidance always happy had been able to benefit from such a club when I
of Keith Churcher and other members of the
HCMS committee. The centre pieces of the
to consider new was young, and I see nothing but advantages in
making it available to youngsters today.
day are the Home Counties Stage competition members and would
and The Mark Leveridge Close Up competition,
which each year attract a line up of talented
like to encourage as
and enthusiastic competitors keen to prove many youngsters as Contact
that they are the best amongst their peers.
possible to The YMC team consists of President Jack
Delvin, chairperson Mandy Davis, Workshop
As a way of focussing the endeavours of get involved. deputy Kevin Doig, Secretary Clive Hyams,
young people, these competitions are highly Treasurer Stephen Kennard and workshop
important, and the standard reached by many organisers Steve Dela, Belinda Stewart and

The Ali Bongo

of them is satisfyingly high. For some it has Katherine Rhodes.
provided a springboard to go on to compete in
the Magic Circle’s own Young Magician Of The
Year competition, a bi-annual event which has
Saturday Show There is a joining fee of £10, plus annual dues
of £30, which entitles members to receive
seen the early endeavours of some of magic’s The YMC is always happy to consider new Secrets six times a year and free entry to all
finest performers, including recently Steve members and would like to encourage as workshops.
Dela, who progressed from the YMC to win the many youngsters as possible to get involved.
award and who is now part of the YMC For a taster, people are invited to attend the Ali The YMC is open to boys and girls aged
organising team. Apart from the competitions, Bongo Saturday Show which takes place at between 10 and 18. Those who go on to
the day also includes a couple of lectures, a the Magic Circle once a month in the early successfully apply at 18 for membership to the
mini gala show, a couple of magic dealers to evening after one of the workshop sessions. main Magic Circle, will receive a discount.
browse, plus the all important chance to meet It’s an ideal time for all the family to come
and socialise with fellow young magicians. It’s together to watch an entertaining show put on For more information or to join go to
a vibrant and exciting day that for many must by members of the Magic Circle and the YMC www.youngmagiciansclub.com.
be the highlight of their magical calendar. itself. There’s close up magic, four stage

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MARC OBERON

Marc Oberon
GOING FOR GOLD!
The last couple of years have been amazing for Marc Oberon, he has won more-or-less
every competition he entered - and that included FISM in China and SAM/IBM in the
USA. OK, we know he’s a brilliant magician, but what do we really know about this
reserved and laid-back performer? magicseen has spent quite a bit of time with him,
and we’ve found out one or two very surprising things….

Graham Hey asks the questions.

Y
ou can see Marc Oberon at the top Surprisingly, given Marc’s studious approach to Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Taiwan.”
conventions where he often has a magic, at school he failed to live up to But for Marc, winning at FISM wasn’t the most
dealer stand - he’s the one who looks expectations, but puts the blame squarely on recent highlight. “Whilst being a FISM winner is
pretty cool dressed in all black, looking like the himself. “At school I was lazy and did not pay something to be pleased about I am much
fifth Beatle with his polo-neck jumper and much attention. I remember thinking my being more proud of my SAM/IBM in America, and
leather jacket. But is he approachable? Does there was a waste of time: I will be a magician!” the reason is that the audience voted for the
he give freely of his time? Is he a man of the winner. To me this is much more validating than
people? So many questions! But was that really what you believed? “Well, the decision of a panel of judges.”
people say ‘you need to have something to fall
Perhaps looking at him, it would be a fair bet to back on’, but I believe that if you have But what is the motivation for entering
guess that he went to a private school and something to fall back on, then you inevitably competitions - it sounds like a lot of stress!
excelled as a choirboy - or something like that. will do so. I have always been a magician
However, Marc had a much less privileged because I never had anything to fall He thinks for a few seconds before answering,
childhood. “I was raised in a single parent back on, and don't know anything else!” “The reason I entered competitions was to
family by my mother, Patricia, along with my motivate myself to improve, you know you
two brothers,” he says, “we were not well off, Fortunately, Marc has made the most of his have a deadline to work to, your credibility is at
and lived on a council estate, but my mother magic skills, and this led to him winning at stake, it’s a pressure which I need to refine my
has always been very supportive and would FISM last year, in China. For most of us, the act. What I have noticed is that at times I forget
drive me to magic conventions.” achievement is but a dream, but what does the real reason I actually entered a competition
actually winning it mean these days? Is it just a and start to obsess about needing to win. This
The magic bug struck Marc very early, credibility thing, or does it catapult you in to the can be quite negative.”
and he remembers seeing several of the heady world of superstardom? (yes, this is a
magic greats. “I remember seeing Fred Kaps, tongue in cheek question!). I ask him how he thinks he is perceived by
Al Goshman and Richard Ross perform others, after all, he is sensitive, and the type of
live at Ron McMillan’s International Day of “The biggest impact is the invitations to person who cares about how he comes
Magic. At the time I was 12 years of perform and lecture at magic conventions all across. “I really don’t know - we all see
age, and in complete awe of these over the world,” laughs Marc, “In the next few something different, and then the act of
magicians.” months I will be in America, Canada, Russia, agreeing solidifies a perception! Somebody

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MARC OBERON

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MARC OBERON

once posted on a forum that my head was so

far up my a**e that I wouldn’t talk to Performing on cruise ships is just
anybody…” says Marc, obviously still taken
aback by the thought of it. “I don’t look on wonderful, it is a performing situation where
forums any more,” he adds dryly.
I strive to improve as the other acts are of a
One thing we know for definite about Marc is
that he is obsessive about his performances - if very high standard, the technical team are
there is one magician who is constantly striving
for perfection, it’s him. It takes a strong will and top notch and the audience are
a certain character to be so focussed - and yet
Marc never comes across as confident about sophisticated, intelligent people.
his act or the effect it has on others. He’s
constantly questioning the quality of it,
seemingly oblivious to the fact that what he
does is world class. Maybe this is what makes
him so good. I actually received a call from Life on the Ocean waves seems to suit Marc always an amount of background noise, or one
Marc as we began to think about this interview, though, and, though 2009 was a great year for of two people talking, the audiences Marc has
and he was on one of the world’s finest luxury him professionally, he suffered an upheaval in his experienced are perfect for him. He says: “It is
cruise ships, heading for Hawaii. He was due to private life, so maybe some time away will be the so satisfying to have the total attention of the
perform within the hour for the first time - and yet tonic he needs. “Performing on cruise ships is audience.”
even then, there was concern about how he just wonderful, it is a performing situation where I
was going to be received. I asked him what he strive to improve as the other acts are of a very Cliff Richard and Daniel O’Donnell were guests
was going to perform. “I’m doing a 45 minute high standard, the technical team are top notch on the ship (The Odyssey) and Marc was
spot, opening with my FISM act,” and the audience are sophisticated, intelligent delighted to be asked to perform a show for
he replied. people.” Unlike corporate events where there is them and their party of twelve.

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MARC OBERON
O’Connor (top guy at Objective Productions),
When I board a and second place went to ace stand-up,
Noel Britten.
new ship I spend a
Early in his career, Marc took inspiration from
while choosing the Fred Kaps, Richard Ross, David Charles and
Bobby Bernard. And later, from Simon Drake,
material for each theatre Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Tommy Wonder,
Derren Brown, and more recently, Raymond
as the audience, Crow. As you can see - his influences come
from all areas of magic, so perhaps it is no
shape, size and surprise that Marc has a varied repertoire. His
UV show is a really brilliant spectacle, and is
proximity vary from ship just one area where he has been aided by his
friend Nik Hull, who is a designer of movie
to ship special effects. “Nik makes my wonderful
props and he is a master craftsman! We have
worked together for over 15 years now.

Marc is firmly established as a close up star, And, while I mostly wear the hats of Visionary,
and his stunning UV cabaret show has Conceptual Design and Choreographer, Nik
received acclaim around the world. Add to this specialises as Technical Designer and
his stand-up FISM act, and you have a truly Assembler.
versatile performer. “This has certainly been
essential for me to survive,” he says. “When I This partnership has proved to be invaluable to
board a new ship I spend a while choosing the me and has contributed greatly to my
material for each theatre as the audience, success.” Marc’s two children, (Torin,10, and
shape, size and proximity vary from ship Xavier,11) both have a keen eye for magic, too
to ship.” - although he says they both have their own
paths to take. “However, they know what
After 2009, what are his hopes for 2010? “I do works and they give very helpful feedback to
not presently have a clearly defined goal for my performances. Sometimes we get together
2010, it is more of a nebulous... get through it, be with UV masks, props and costumes, put on a
creative, save some money,” he says honestly. UV light, some atmospheric music and have
lots of fun playing magic. Often I find new
Another area in which Marc has built a solid visions and moves arrive in the spirit of play.”
reputation is in the effects he markets. Where
many magicians seem to release things on a Despite a slightly serious exterior, we found
weekly basis, Marc is more considered in his that over a few drinks, Marc possess a good
approach - only releasing tried and tested sense of humour - even though he denies it! I
material which he has performed hundreds of ask him if he has any secret ambition to do
times. “Two effects I will release are the ‘name comedy. “I have absolutely no desire to be a
deck’ which is a method of a named card comedy magician,” he laughs uncomfortably at
having the actual name of the person who the very thought of it, “but I think a bit more
named the card on the back. I perform this a humour would benefit my act.”
lot and it is one of the best effects I have ever
created. The second effect is called ‘Ring Fling’ So, what have we learnt about Marc Oberon?
which is a visible penetration of a ring onto a Well, he’s quite a complex character - perhaps
piece of cord, this is another effect which I naturally an introvert and certainly modest about
really enjoy performing.” his achievements. Above all though, he is one of
the most genuine and honest magicians around
Marc has certainly come a long way since - and all those big, shiny trophies certainly
gaining his first award at the age of sixteen. haven’t gone to his head. He likes to focus on
how he can improve, how he can keep up with
“I came 3rd in the Young Magician of the Year the rest - how he can justify his place on cruise
with a manipulation act, I was trying to be ships alongside other talented performers. One
Richard Ross!” To show the quality of that day, he’ll look back at his achievements and
competition, 1st place went to Andrew realise that he was OK, after all. ms

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MARC OBERON

I have absolutely no desire to

be a comedy magician.....but I
think a bit more humour would
benefit my act.

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MAGICNEWS.TV

CARRY ON SCREENING!
Through the decades, news, or more So how did it all come about? Well, I’ll tell you The requirements are small… (albeit you need
relevantly MAGIC news, has been a story. to be creative), in that you need a video
disseminated through a variety of forms. camera, a computer, an editing suite (program)
Last April I attended a ‘free’ seminar on a dedicated website (depending on how
From posters of travelling magicians, to internet marketing, held by the author of “Earn professional you want it to appear) a script and
whispers in magical societies, to in house Money Whilst You Sleep’. A great title, I’m sure most certainly the tenacity of a bulldog
(MUM, LINKING RING etc) magazines, to you’ll agree, and as it turned out a massive chomping at a bone to get at the marrow
quality magazines, such as the one you have light bulb moment for me. I say ‘free’ as there inside. Can anyone do it? Well if you were to
in your hands now (as well as ‘Magic’ and was valuable information given out, but its real meet even some of the above criteria, you
‘Genii’ etc), through the internet and Duncan purpose was to sell a programme. I bought in could be on the way to creating your
Trillo’s Magic Week as well as downloadable and haven’t looked back since. own show…
information. Now there is a new WEB based
TV show MAGNEWS.TV Being the procrastinator that I am, I think, I sat I was to have launched it in December (as the
on the course materials for a long time, not promo shows) but due to unforseen
Creator James James tells us all about it. knowing what markets I wanted to go circumstances it was put back to January
into…then I came across other internet 2010, and at the time of writing I am about to
marketers who in turn provided me with the get the first episode ‘up’ in the next week.
electricity and switch for that light bulb. Hence Excited, well err um…YES!
As a street performing magician and entertainer MAGICNEWS.TV being created.
for many years I’ve come to feel that the market Unlike regular television shows the costs
was missing something…and I think that this The internet has become so much more than it involved are not as much, there aren’t as many
new web-based show will fill a big gap… was even just a few years ago…for a great staff, cameramen, lighting or sound engineers
number of people it’s become faster involved…and it’s down to me to become the
MAGIC NEWS TV is a weekly web-based TV (broadband). It’s become the ‘norm’ for the producer, editor, director and presenter…On
show, that will be delving into the world of younger generation… watching programmes the face of it one would think that it takes an
magic and magicians, stripping away its (advertisers are turning onto it in their droves) . enormous amount of time to pull all the
underbelly, like the layers of an onion. Well Video is so much easier to upload and has disparate elements together. Yes, that’s true,
that’s the sales plug anyway! better quality, and that’s not just YouTube …AND but once one gets systemised and copasetic
it’s worldwide, without the restrictions of national around it all, it becomes just a days
It has features that will entertain, educate and terrestrial TV and its incumbent adverts etc… work…although after having said that, it does
inform (wouldn’t it be ‘nice’ if regular TV did take over my life. Always looking for ‘news’
that, instead of gorging on reality shows and I must admit, it is not a totally altruistic path on elements and such. But let’s face it. If you have
text phone ins… I digress!) These features will my part…through increased viewer ship I hope a passion and the ability, it’s a life built around
include ‘The Interview’ ‘Trick of the Week’, to be able to turn my business around, BUT all what you enjoy doing…nuff said!
‘News’ ‘Ask James’ (the interactive element of the while, present a good quality product that
the show) and a host of other features that will will do as the label says…Entertain, Educate, Some may know of the name James James,
drop in and out as the weeks roll on. and Inform. Must be my old school ways . but for those who don’t …here is a wee bio!

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MAGICNEWS.TV

Unlike regular Television shows

the costs involved are not as much,
there aren’t as many staff, cameramen,
After many years travelling and living in various
countries, I settled back in London, where I lighting or sound engineers
started busking. A small show with not much
clout or understanding of what it took to busk, involved…and it’s down to me to
entertain on the streets, and make a decent
living from it. become the producer, editor, director
Prior to all of that though, I happened upon a and presenter
street performer and magician by the name of
Nick Nicolas…during the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival in ‘97. I was bitten by the bug to get
out there and ply my trade. A sideways step to
Tenerife for 4 years, saw me work many bars,
clubs and some corporate work, but after a
time of not going anywhere I came back to
London, and as the saying goes…‘went for it’

Shortly after starting-up I attended a lecture on

how to work the cups and that’s where my
show really took off.

I applied the teachings and worked hard to put

it all together. With help from some good folks I
managed to start carving out a life, based on
my street income.

In travelling to Australia for the winter over a

few years I met and fell in love with a beautiful
woman…got married and fully emigrated here
to Adelaide. As I haven’t looked back from that
seminar I attended last April, I haven’t given
living in the UK a second thought. Some say
that Australia can be a land of opportunity and
they are most certainly right. It is! I don’t have
any claims to fame, but I do remember working
the cups alongside such luminaries as Charlie
Caper, Pete Wardell and Nick Nicolas…
halcyon days indeed.

And, whilst magic News TV is not a splurge

towards fame (what is it good for!!!) I’m sure in
time I will be able to book a table in a
salubrious restaurant at short notice…My
whole raison dettre for sure.

So sign in, register, log on and make sure you

don’t miss an episode…
WWW.MAGICNEWS.TV

Live life and love it…Love life and live it! ms

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STATE OF PLAY

State Of Play
A look at the current state of kid show entertainment in the UK
By Mark Leveridge

A
fter a year or so of predicting that the Children's entertainers are, generally speaking, general public to spend on their parties.
country would slide into recession, 2009 the most likely to be affected by a tightening of Surprisingly, perhaps, most of the guys had felt
finally saw it arrive. As we head off into financial belts, because virtually nobody puts confident enough to keep their fees the same,
2010 with hopes that the corner has been turned together any sort of children's show unless and in a couple of cases even to put them up
and that things will start to improve, we thought it they intend to go out and use it to make some slightly.
would be a good time to contact a number of busy money. Unlike close uppers, who can spend
children's entertainers to find out whether their many an hour buying and practising material Jack Stephens had felt obliged to keep his
business has been affected during the downturn, often to perform for few outside of their own fees the same for the past 3 years, and had
and if so, in what ways. home and perhaps workplace, kid show finally decided recently to put them up a little.
workers do not buy props as collectables or for "Only last week, I finally decided to raise my
their own amusement, they buy them because fees and I don't know if I have done the right
they want to earn fees performing at children's thing, as I have noticed already that I am
parties. For at least 50 years, the number of getting more 'no' replies from potential clients
children's entertainers has been steadily (new ones, not old ones). I will stick to my new
increasing as the popularity of magic and prices though, or I will NEVER be able to put
associated entertainments (balloon them up and I do think I need to raise my fees.
modelling, face painting, games, After all, motoring, insurance, props, clothing
Punch and Judy, discos etc) has etc have all gone up and so why should our
grown and the opportunities to make prices stay the same?"
money relatively easily have been
Gary James recognised. Gary James has maintained his fees for
weekend bookings but is now offering a
So, in 2009 did the bubble finally burst? discount and free giveaways for 'midweek
We approached Jack Stephens, special' bookings. Paul Megram has put his
Gary James, Pat Fallon, Paul fees up a little but has felt that he has been
Megram, David Oakley and under priced for quite a while in any case.
David Tomkins to try and David Oakley's fees have stayed the same and
get an idea of any changes he says he has only occasionally been asked
that the recession has for a better price, while David Tomkins thinks
caused, and it produced that if you sell yourself well and deliver what
one or two perhaps you promise, the fee becomes less of an issue.
surprising answers.
Pat Fallon lives and works in Ireland and the
financial situation there is worse perhaps than
Bottom it is in the rest of the UK. He says fees have
Dollar taken a noticeable tumble: "Magicians
themselves are to blame for the sudden drop in
The most obvious question fees as many of them reacted very badly at the
has to be about fees. We onset of the recession. The pros who have
wondered whether the been around for a long time have seen it all
performers had felt obliged to before so knew from previous experience how
reduce their fees or compensate in to deal with a recession. However the new
other ways for the fact that there would breed who arrived during the boom years went
probably be less money available for the into a state of shock when the telephone

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STATE OF PLAY

David Oakley Pat Fallon David Tomkins

An established reputation can create So, if shows are harder to come by, has this
caused a reduction in the number of performers

a buffer to protect a performer from the offering themselves for work? Apparently not.
Given that advertising is often set up for

worse ravages of a recession... directories etc a long way in advance, it may

well be that the true affects of the recession will
not be seen for a while as adverts taken out in
better times are still running. But all of the guys
stopped ringing and immediately began events. David Tomkins thinks there has been a report that things have basically remained
offering all sorts of cut price deals. The bottom downturn, but that it is not a recent constant - some performers have disappeared,
fell right out of the market virtually overnight phenomenon but is something that has been but others have arrived to take their place. Of
which had a knock-on effect for everyone. The gradually happening for the last decade. "The course, a recession can actually increase the
established professionals have for the most drop in work generally I feel is due to children number of entertainers, as some people lose
part maintained their fee levels by combating these days having a lot more options to their regular job and turn to magic to try to
the recession in other ways but it is unlikely choose from for their parties (other than an maintain their income.
that fees can be increased in the coming year. entertainer). The computer age has no doubt
We have long since realised that if the first made a big difference too." We also wondered whether there was still the
question from the booker is “How much?” we demand for magic at traditional children's
are never going to get the gig as there are An established reputation can create a buffer parties, or whether the world had moved on.
those who are quoting prices that are half what to protect a performer from the worse ravages Here are the thoughts of Gary James on the
the market place can sustain." of a recession, certainly according to Jack subject: "We face a lot of competition from a
Stephens, who feels that repeat business variety of sources. Some venues are now
and recommendations can really help to offering limos and in-house entertainment, so
The Numbers Game maintain a flow of work. David Oakley has we do need to be on our toes and maybe go
found little change and even reports that extra mile to secure the booking. However,
So, if fees have generally not gone up, how that December 2009 was his 2nd best the interest in magic shows for children seems
about the number of shows, has that remained December ever! to be holding up fairly well at the moment."
constant or has that seen a drop? Surprisingly
again, perhaps, Paul Megram reports a slight The same cannot be said for Pat Fallon in David Tomkins agrees. He thinks that parents
increase in 2009 in the number of shows, Ireland who has seen a sharp drop right across are still interested in having magic for their
although he does admit that this is probably the board for entertainment, children's work children's parties because it is the most
due to the type of show he has been doing included. Gary James has noticed a reduction personal and memorable way to mark the
more recently where a larger number of private in midweek bookings and because of a lack of occasion, but not necessarily every year, as
parties have replaced a fewer number of large funding, school work is also down. there are now so many alternatives such as

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STATE OF PLAY

adventure parks, swimming parties, Although there is

McDonald's etc. Jack Stephens believes that
the key to getting the bookings is to provide no legal requirement for kid
plenty of variety yourself by offering balloon
modelling, puppets, origami, games and so on.
show workers to go
Pat Fallon thinks that when magic is high through the checking
profile on television, bookings go up. But
currently there is not a regular magic show on process, some
our screens, unfortunately.
organisations booking a
children's magician may
Checked, Mate?
ask to see a current CRB
The world of children's entertainment has also
been slightly hamstrung by other factors too,
certificate, and even very
such as the spectre of the CRB check. occasionally you may get a
Originally brought in to satisfy the paranoia Jack Stephens
over possible paedophiles being involved in private booker ask if you
children's education or care establishments,
gradually this has expanded to include an ever have one.
increasing range of people and places,
including children's entertainers. Although
there is no legal requirement for kid show
workers to go through the checking process, the question, it is rare that anyone actually your equipment, even if it is not your fault, and
some organisations booking a children's asks to see the certificate. David Oakley says the case goes to court, the cost of
magician may ask to see a current CRB some members of the public ask if he has one damages/expenses could be very high.
certificate, and even very occasionally you may even though they don't really seem to
get a private booker ask if you have one. understand exactly what it is! If this rings alarm bells with any of our readers
who realise that this is something they should
It's a subject which makes the hackles rise of As if being looked at as a possible child have, the easiest and best way to get suitable
many people who object to the principle that molestor was not enough for the poor old kids cover is to join Equity as one of the many
you are guilty until proved innocent, a complete entertainer to worry about, he also now has to benefits of your membership is that you are
reversal of normal legal practice. Here are Jack contend with the possibility that if a child was automatically provided with PLI and of course
Stephens views on the subject: "The whole to hurt themself in some way during the show, you have Equity themselves behind you to
CRB issue is nonsense. Nothing less than a a litigious parent might try to sue for damages. back you in the event of any problems You can
farce. I do have a CRB certificate but at all of Hence the perceived need today for Public contact Equity on www.equity.org.uk.
the shows I do I am surrounded by adults in Liability Insurance (PLI). Surely you don't need
the room. I am NEVER left alone with children to pay out for insuarnce in order to perform
and so I cannot fathom out what the fuss is your Run Rabbit Run, do you? Apparently Yellow Pages - Dark
about having to have a CRB. And the bigger you do! Ages?
organisations certainly do fuss about it. Some
of them will not book you without you having a "I have £5,000,000 PLI as many event bookers So, what else is changing in the world of
CRB certificate. A ludicrous scenario methinks. and hotels need this in place before employing kiddies’ entertainment? Yellow Pages - still
I can understand a child minder or teacher my services," says Paul Megram. Pat Fallon 'good old' or just simply old? One recent
requiring a CRB certificate, but why does a thinks that everybody who is in business and innovation came when YP decided to split up
magician need one, if he/she is never left on dealing with the general public should have PLI, their entertainment sections so that children's
their own with a single child?" although he suspects that many part time adverts were separated off from ads for adult
magicians never even consider the issue. David events. Whether this was to prevent Mrs.
Gary James thinks that even though it is quite Oakley also offers the opinion that, "Schools Bloggs from being offended by adverts for
a controversial subject, having a CRB check is and children's groups, scouts, swimming Strip-O-Grams while browsing for Uncle Wizzo
becoming ever more important as an groups etc, certainly won't book you unless the Children's Favourite, or whether it was a
increasing number of bookers are asking you have both CRB and Public Liability. Some cynical ploy on behalf of the directory to get
whether you have one. David Tomkins feels it is people are now asking for risk assesments." two lots of money out of those of us who
important to have one in order to prove your entertain both adults and children, I will leave
'street cred', but he says that although some Jack Stephens says that PLI is, sadly, essential you to decide, but in the internet age, do our
customers, including occasionally schools, while David Tomkins says that if any child experts think it's worth having any presence at
nurseries or other similar establishments ask should happen to injure themselves on any of all in the rather old fashioned doorstop tome?

46 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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STATE OF PLAY

Gary James is sceptical about the long term your website. The phone book can save time this is a good way to earn extra pocket money.
future for YP. "I would certainly say that the searching through the internet, especially if a The result is that some - though not all - of
Yellow Pages days are numbered and I am booker is not looking for any particular these performers are doing the business more
being very vigilant in where my bookings have entertainer." harm than good, which may put clients off
been coming from. I can confidently say that booking a children's entertainer in the future."
the bulk of my future advertising will be on the Jack Stephens has cut back on the size of his Gary James
internet as more and more people are ads since the directory split the classifications,
contacting me this way, However, I do still think partly in protest at what he sees as exploitation "Although we are in a luxury industry, parents
it is important to have a presence in the Yellow and profiteering, and while he used to will still want to celebrate their child's birthday
Pages book for reference purposes only." advertise in several different regions, he now in style. So booking quality on such occasions
concentrates only on a couple of local books. should give us all continued income."
Paul Megram finds YP a "total waste of time", Paul Megram
although he does accept that many others say
it still works for them. Pat Fallon says its impact Moans and Groans Hmmmm. Some of that's a bit depressing
is greatly reduced thanks to the far more perhaps. OK, let's finish on a more positive
convenient, powerful and cost effective Well, there you have it, a somewhat mixed note with a final comment from Pat Fallon:
medium that is the internet, but he intends to picture which leaves you wondering quite what "However I also feel that for some magicians
keep some sort of presence in the directory to make of it all. Although work has not dried the future is bright as dedicated entertainers
because he is not sure that all those who may up as much as one might have feared, there with a good business head performing quality
wish to contact him are sufficiently web savvy. are clearly a number of problems and issues shows will ensure they are always busy. No
David Oakley also has seen the demise of YP, which our pros are having to grapple with. So, doubt just like every other recession in the past
and points to the fact that some people he as a sort of cathartic process, let's give our six those who survive it will be all the stronger for it
knows in their 20s and 30s actually throw the experts one last chance to be Grumpy Old and will continue to keep magic shows to the
directory away without even looking at it! Men before we finish. forefront of children’s entertainment."

David Tomkins, however, still has some faith in "Children seem to grow up much quicker Ah, that's a bit better. ms
the old monster and he feels that many nowadays and in general 6 seems to be the
bookers still find it quicker to flick open the cut off point for the large party. Having spoken Thanks to all our six contributors - if you are a
directory than they do to power up the to parents, after that age they tend to do children's entertainer and want to agree or
computer and go online. He does feel though something with just a few friends." disagree with what they have said, send your
that you have to use the directory in the right David Oakley thoughts to markleveridge@magicseen.co.uk.
way. "It's important to have a good eye
catching ad and it must include your website "There is a glut of children's entertainers
address. A YP ad is another way to promote working the circuit. So many of them are not
even child friendly and not suited to performing
for children. The current econmic state has
created this scenario and there is nothing one
can do about it."
Jack Stephens

There is a glut of "The mixed reports I hear on this subject (the

children's entertainers state of kids work) is confusing. I've spoken to

established performers who say their work is
Paul Megram
working the circuit. So very slow. An established Hertfordshire
performer told me a few months back that

many of them are not work had virtually dried up. Other entertainers
have said that they are doing quite well, whilst

even child friendly and others are just ticking over. If you go by what
people are saying there doesn't seem to be

not suited to any real consistency."

David Tomkins

performing for "I still remain concerned re the quality of

service offered by many performers in the
children. market today. There is no quality control, and
more and more hobbyists seem to think that

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This is comedy in a astonishing way!

You announce a trick without skill of your fingers or
language confusion. Present a large, wide soup spoon
and claim to turn this spoon over in the mouth only
with your skill of your tongue.
You already suspect for certain the great comedy
potential of this routine.
After you have managed with an apparently big
effort to turn the spoon over in the mouth (it´s easier
than you think ;-) and have accepted your rightful
applause, the actual hammer effect comes. You take

t h e Vid e o -Trailer on the flatware with the sentence from the mouth
Watch again:

h e c k l a u. co m If you like to try it, you should take a fork first...

axel The reaction of the audience will blow you away, when
they realize that you have changed the spoon inside your mouth into a fork.

The routine is full of psychological details and very easy to do. The handmade gimmick is improved
and allows you an absolut carefree work. The english DVD will teach everything in detail.
You and your audience will have so much fun.

Available exclusive from the creator Axel Hecklau only, go to:

MS Issue 31 BU3 FIN:Layout 1 03/02/2010 11:44 Page 50

REVIEWS H - poor

RATINGS
HH - OK, but could be better

reviews
HHH - reasonable middle of the road value
HHHH - good product
HHHHH - outstanding/exceptional

woven around the main magic of attention because it is quirky and one that is rather akin to the doctor
the effect. unusual. The re-set, such as it is, pushing that flat stick to the back
could easily be done between of your mouth in order to look at
A large spoon is shown openly tables and the angles are good your tonsils. So, something to bear
and placed into the mouth. The enough to work at a table side. All in mind, perhaps.
idea is that you are going to try to you have to carry is the spoon
turn the spoon over in your gimmick and a playing card. Oh, You receive the well thought out
SPOONAROUND mouth without using either of and it is very easy to do. spoon gimmick, which has a
Axel Hecklau your hands. A playing card is clever design to make it practical
Available from: attached to the end of the spoon OK, there is a downside to this and surefire, plus written
www.axelhecklau.com so the rotation of the spoon is effect. The spoon you are supplied instructions and a DVD which
Price: $59.50 (approx. £35.00) very visual as it moves round. with has a big bowl, and I simply makes everything clear. It’s
However, the turning over of the did not have enough room to turn particularly useful to see Axel
Axel Hecklau probably first spoon is simply lulling the it over in my mouth! Maybe I have perform his routine not only to
caught your attention with his audience into a false sense of a small mouth, but I found it camera in a studio but also in a
widely publicised and reviewed security from which they are impossible to turn the spoon over live cabaret spot. It makes you
torn and restored newspaper suddenly jolted when the spoon unless I was to cut out my tongue realise that what may read as a
effect called News Flash, and is removed and is discovered to and remove my teeth! So, I guess fairly uninspiring plot can be
Axel is now back again with this have changed into a fork. you could leave out the part where turned into a funny and
quirky close up / stand up effect you really turn the spoon over and captivating entertainment piece by
using a large spoon. Essentially I think this would make a great restrict the actual turn over to just following Axel‘s presentation. ML
the plot is extremely simple and item for table hopping. It’s quick, it when the fork is in your mouth.
direct. A large bowl spoon uses an item which is totally in Mind you, even this is not quite as WHAT’S HOT: Axel’s funny
unexpectedly changes into a fork. keeping with magic at a table straightforward as it may appear, presentation
That’s it. Well, there have been where there are countless pieces because the length of the fork is WHAT’S NOT: The size of the
similar effects before, but what of cutlery anyway, and because such that for all of it to be hidden, it spoon could be a problem, as
makes Axel’s different, and in my everything takes place at your has to go quite a way towards the might shoving a sharp object to
opinion, more of a feature item, is face level, it is highly visible across back of your mouth which I found the back of your mouth!
the presentation which he has a table. I’m sure it would also get rather an unpleasant sensation, Star Rating: HHHH

You ask a spectator, “Is it the card. The spectator chooses your wallet nicked that is! This is
possible to influence the thoughts a culprit and, of course, is correct something you’ll carry around
of another?” Unsure of the everytime, yes EVERYTIME! with you at all times. There is a bit
answer, you offer to try a of scripting you’ll need to learn to
demonstration of subliminal Convinced it was a lucky guess pull this off convincingly, but once
messaging. you explain how you were able to learnt you’ve got a great piece of
influence them. You confess that pocket mentalism for life.
From your wallet you remove a the card is not really from a board
SLEUTH credit card sized game card and game but one you created just for Inspired by Paul Brooks’ effect
Michael Murray hand it to the spectator. You this effect, and contained within ‘You Know Who’ Michael has
Available from: explain that it is taken from a the design of the card are cleverly put his own spin on Paul’s
www.magicbox.uk.com murder mystery board game hidden messages that they have excellent effect and in doing so
Price: £9.99 called ‘Sleuth’. subconsciously picked up on. All has created a great lead up
the clues were right there, hidden effect to any mentalism set. PS
Following on from his effects The spectator is asked to read in plain sight!
‘Beyond ESP’ and ‘Between the out aloud what is written on the WHAT’S HOT: Quality product at
Lines’ is Michael Murray set for back of the card and then to try The card is excellently designed a great price.
a hat trick of successes with his and choose the murderer from and made and should last a WHAT’S NOT: Nothing really.
latest offering, ‘Sleuth’? a list of names on the front of lifetime, providing you don’t have Star Rating: HHHHH

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REVIEWS

and very magical. As the first item possibilities for patter and humour if you didn’t find several things of
in the book it also sets the tone depending on which word was interest here as this book should
for the rest of the contents - you’ll written by the spectator. be a very worthy addition to
find magic that is unusual, anyone’s magical library. ML
commercial and very entertaining. Next we are invited to learn some
of Jon’s stand-up magic. A bottle WHAT’S HOT: the range of magic
Having revealed his competition production, a routine with mobile offered and the commercial
act, Jon then sets about offering phones, a version of Bank Night nature of that magic
a wide range of other individual using a borrowed credit card and WHAT’S NOT: some work required
effects. In the Close Up and a newspaper headline prediction to do many of these items, so not
Walkaround Magic section you’ll are all fully explained and all are for the beginner
discover tricks with rings, coins, extremely workable. Star Rating: HHHHH
sugar packets, bank notes,
spoons, rope and rubber bands, Most of the magic explained in
every single one of which has the this book, while certainly not for
EXPERIENCE stamp of someone who performs the beginner, is probably within UNDERHANDED
The Magic Of Jon Allen for people rather than just sits at the capabilities of most Paul Brook
Available from: home devising esoteric yet clever performers who are prepared to Ebook available from
www.vanishingincmagic.com magic. He explains his versions of work a little on their magic. Jon www.paulbrook.co.uk
Price: £40.45 some classic effects such as The does not use a lot of knuckle Price: £15.00
Professor’s Nightmare, The Crazy busting moves to achieve his
This large size hard back book Man’s Handcuffs and the routines, but neither is his Imagine
runs to about 200 pages and is Cigarette Through Coin, and each material self working as a rule. being able to
copiously illustrated with clear handling and presentation reflects However, Jon can get ‘difficult’ if cleanly show
black and white photos and it is a Jon’s commercial style and his he wants! In the next section we a single
celebration of the magic of top attention to detail. His ideas with encounter some of Jon’s moves, piece of
English award winning performer a bill switch handling were including a couple of fancy paper in your
Jon Allen. And it’s great! In a particularly good and could open looking multiple cuts, then he hand, asking a spectator to
marketplace that is replete with the way for all sorts of other offers some shorter more quirky name any drink, and the very
books and e-books that purport presentations and ideas for offerings such as Twins, in which same drink being written on
to contain the miracles that will anyone who decides to learn it. a borrowed lighter is apparently the piece of paper. Well that’s
make you a star, but which in snapped into two identical just one of the possibilities with
reality usually offer little that is The next section concentrates on lighters, and Helicopter Band, Paul Brook’s ‘Underhanded’.
genuinely new or practical, Jon‘s cards. Here Jon offers a range of which is a fun idea in which a
massive book is a breath of fresh practical, engaging card routines rubber band is made to spin You’ll need to spend around a
air, filled as it is with terrific effects which are so much more round your finger. There’s a cups fiver on a standard prop that
and solid magical thinking. interesting than card effects often and balls move, a nice ring off needs adapting, but once it’s
are. Once again Jon has taken string move, a finale for a Coins made you have the power to
Winning the IBM Close Up some classic routines (Out Of Across which happens in a perform miracles!
Competition in Oakland, This World, Anniversary Waltz, the spectator’s hand, and more.
California in 1995 gave Jon a lot ‘Fred’ Trick) and twisted them to Please don’t buy this as I want
of credibility and positive make them far more memorable John Lovick, who has written this to keep it to myself! Just
exposure, and in this book you for the audience than they might book, has done a great job of kidding, this is worth £15 of
will learn full details of the very act otherwise be. His ideas on the explaining not only the mechanics anyone’s money. PS
that brought Jon his success. Ambitious Card are especially of Jon’s magic, but also in
While you might not want to interesting in presentational imparting his sense of humour. WHAT’S HOT: Great new use for
perform the act as is, bearing in terms, since he questions why we There are some great lines in here an old gimmick.
mind that it was created basically always get a spectator to sign which Jon uses and I felt Jon’s WHAT’S NOT: Old news and too
to win a magic competition, it their name on a card when in fact personality came across strongly many plugs for other
does give you a clear idea on the they could put any word at all, as a result of the way it has been publications
way that Jon’s mind works and which would make the card even presented here. If you are Star rating: HHHH
also how it is possible to structure more unique than with a name interested in good commercial
a routine that is funny, surprising and at the same time open up magic, I would be very surprised

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REVIEWS H - poor

RATINGS
HH - OK, but could be better

reviews
HHH - reasonable middle of the road value
HHHH - good product
HHHHH - outstanding/exceptional

magician attempts to make the by the method, of which I think pub or at the magic club. In part of
two cards change places, there are two key ones: the routine the deck has to be
succeeding only partially, as the tabled and because the reset also
magician ends up with a back The gimmicked cards are not involves removing four used
design on both sides while the readily replaceable so it is unlikely stickers, it probably would not be a
spectator gets the two faces. In that you would want to leave the first choice for strolling performers,
an optional ‘kicker ending’, the cards with the spectators, or, for although it might do as an
magician suggests that perhaps the same reason, have the cards occasional effect for small numbers
they were ‘holding the cards too signed. As a unique signature is a in a restaurant or similar setting.
tightly’ and reveals that the key part in selling the effect the
transposition was not quite 100%. method uses signed stickers. With a background in commercial
In the small area beneath his Nothing wrong with that (as our performing my preference is nearly
thumb, a small portion of the card esteemed Editor will confirm), always for material where the effect
face remains. Similarly, beneath the however this routine requires four is clear and the method
spectator’s thumb, a small section stickers to be signed and then uncluttered. For that reason if
of their back design remains. attached to the back and front of asked to dance it would be the
ANNIVERSARY each card. ‘Waltz’ before the ‘Tango’ for me,
TANGO The effect comes with four sides however make your own mind up.
Zane of detailed instructions supported Throughout the routine a number You can compare the two effects
Available from: by a set of very clear coloured of moves are required to hide the on YouTube where you can see
www.zanesmagicshop.com photographs. If you want to special printing on the gimmicked Doc Eason with the original and
Price: £18.99 perform the version without the set. This involved tipping the deck Zane with his Anniversary Tango. SB
kicker ending, Anniversary Tango towards the performer and
In the original Christopher comes complete with a set of folding the left fourth and fifth Doc Eason:
Carter/Doc Eason effect two double face and double backed fingers around the deck in what I http://www.youtube.com/watch?
signed selections turn face up in cards. However, what felt looked a bit contrived. This v=C09mcKsxh24
the pack before fusing together in differentiates this effect from other might all get easier with practice Zane:
the spectator’s hand leaving a transpositions is the ‘kicker’ and and you can judge for yourself by http://www.youtube.com/watch?
double faced card, with the for this you will need to use one watching Zane perform the effect v=f6pCWY33YG0
original signatures on each side. of the two sets of specially on YouTube.
prepared cards. As with many WHAT’S HOT: Well produced fakes
In Zane’s Anniversary Tango the effects, the choice you will have Anniversary Tango is the sort of and good instructions.
two selections are held at to make is whether the kicker is a effect that you could happily use in WHAT’S NOT: Extra moves required
fingertips, one by the magician, strong enough effect for you to a small close up performance or to to perform the kicker.
one by the spectator. The accept the constraints imposed show to friends, family, down the Star Rating: HHH

This is a simple, direct and Your clenched fist is slowly There is not a 100% success rate
extremely powerful effect from the opened. On your hand is a 50p so you will need to be prepared
creative mind of Paul Brook. coin, heads up. She turns the to ad lib a little to conclude the
coin over in your hand to discover effect successfully. However, if
You start off with a clenched fist a large cross on the tails side. you study and perfect the
which is in full view from the start. The coin is fully examinable and scripting that Paul offers, you
A spectator is asked to name a can even be given to the should hit most of the time. Just
coin that she finds interesting to spectator to keep if you are be prepared for the odd occasion
her, and to also decide which feeling flush! when it doesn’t. Well worth a
side of the coin should have a purchase though! PS
ONE IN THE HAND cross marked on it. Within the pages of the ebook
Paul Brook Paul teaches everything you will WHAT’S HOT: Easy to set up in a
Available from: She decides that she wants the need to perform this quickie! Paul moments notice.
www.paulbrook.co.uk 50p, for example, with the cross also explains the handling should WHAT’S NOT: Not 100% hit
Price: £15 on the tails side. you be using a different currency. Star Rating: HHHH

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REVIEWS

That’s not to say that the magic is performer. The news bits are
simplistic. The easiest effect is now however in the past and
probably the first, Dairy Queens, too much space is taken up
which is a Queens assembly with with the constant plugging and
a twist which is based loosely on latest reviews (in some cases in
McDonald’s Aces, but generally full!) of his other publications
speaking each effect has a little throughout the whole book.
something in the handling to keep
the card man happy in front of his On the positive side Oliver has a
practice mirror. Probably the creative mind for quirky tricks
highpoint of the book comes with and original presentations, 13 of
Chris’s two effects based on his which appear throughout the e-
‘holes’ concept. I really enjoyed book. To illustrate the quirkiness
Tainted P.O.D and Whole Warp, they include turning a pizza
not so much for the tricks MISTER delivery into a miracle
A CLOCKWORK themselves but for the clever MEECH’S prediction, the candle on a
APPLE concept that underlies them. The MERGED MAIL drawn birthday cake is blown
Chris Mayhew idea of using cards with large OUTS out, a bad passport of yourself
Available from: holes in their centre has been Oliver Meech changes into good ones a la
www.invisibleincmagic.com used before, of course, but not Available from: Wild Card, revealing a prediction
Price: £12.45 often as intelligently. http://stores.lulu.com/olivermeech on a party blower and a
Price: £9.99 spectator chooses the only card
Here is an unassuming A5 sized I would suggest that this book is that doesn’t have a razor blade
centre stapled book which runs for the intermediate card worker. This downloadable e-book from stuck to it. There is certainly
to 63 pages and which The material is perfect for doing Oliver Meech doesn’t really add plenty from which your own
introduces the card magic of down the magic club because the much in the way of quality to his ideas could spark from. The
Chris Mayhew. It says on the rear methods are challenging enough existing list of publications. descriptions are brief however
cover that Chris has “a wacky to give the performer a bit of That’s a shame because so far so this isn’t entry level material.
sense of humour” and that “his street cred, but not so difficult they have all been well received,
love for cult films and zany that that same performer is well priced and produced a long As a year in the life of a
personality emanate from every guaranteed to mess it up. list of positive comments in all magician, the e-newsletter
page”. Quite a build up, but I the magazines. I know, I’ve read served its purpose as a diary
have to say I laughed out loud I couldn’t honestly say I read them many times in this new e- for his latest ideas alongside
more than once at some of the anything here that jumped out at book! But then this isn’t really a news and reports of how his
asides and little bits of humour me as a commercial trick for book, e or otherwise, more a last gigs went. If you are in the
dropped into the text. It certainly everyday strolling work, but if you boxed set of his last 26 bi- early stages of becoming a full
made reading a book on card do a lot of cards for lay people, monthly newsletters with an time performer Oliver’s
tricks a bit more palatable. you might spot something that index and extra trick thrown in. experiences might also be of
you can try out. With that in mind you will interest. That was all interesting
There are eight routines taught in understand that what you are enough in a fortnightly give
the book and the fact that all bar I think this is more a nice book of getting for your hard earned away but debatable as to
one of the effects have been ideas and clean plots for money is some quickly written whether old news and constant
described in 4 pages or less entertaining magicians or card- jottings, ideas and news that plugging of his other
should tell you that Chris’s savvy lay people. ML Oliver committed himself to publications is now worth
methods are not hugely complex. producing once a fortnight for paying for. PP
In fact, his plots are also WHAT’S HOT: Nice clean plots, well his free mailing list.
reasonably economical, which I thought out handlings. Liked the WHAT’S HOT: Off the wall tricks
like. He seems to understand that humour in the text. Each newsletter contained a and ideas
if you want to entertain any WHAT’S NOT: Nothing particularly trick, performance ideas, some WHAT’S NOT: Old news and too
audience other than a bunch of commercial included, perhaps links to curious websites and an many plugs for other
cardicians, your plots need to be Star Rating: HHH update on his journey from publications
easy to understand and not go amateur magician to regular Star rating: HH
on for ever.

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REVIEWS H - poor

RATINGS
HH - OK, but could be better

reviews
HHH - reasonable middle of the road value
HHHH - good product
HHHHH - outstanding/exceptional

record and produce royalty free provide something for most types further tracks which the
music CDs designed with the of act, and that is a fairly tall producers class as Interludes or
magician in mind! order. On this CD their stated Volunteers Tracks, and these are
aims are to take their musical shorter lasting from 1:43 to 2:27
I have personally bought similar styles from big band to rock, jazz, minutes, and finally there are
music CDs in the past, and hip-hop, atmospheric, r&b, pop, three Magical Moments, which
sometimes they amount to little swing, techno, acid jazz, heavy are sound bites lasting up to a
more than a whole succession of metal and orchestral - so that maximum of 62 seconds which
tracks which appear to have been should be enough variety to are designed to point up a
cobbled together on a Yamaha satisfy almost anyone! magical highlight in a routine such
keyboard. So, it is particularly as a vanish.
MAKE IT MAGIC - pleasing to be able to report that On a slightly less technical level, I
STAGE the music provided on this CD is would say that most of the tracks This CD has a lot going for it in that
Arthur and Leslie Stead far more professional and well here are big production numbers the production and quality of the
Available from rounded as a musical offering - in and upbeat - they reminded me tracks is very good, the producers
www.arthurstead.com fact if you stick the CD on in the often of the sound track from actively encourage you to use their
Price: $30.00 (approx. £18) car it makes for an interesting and movies. In fact, one of the most compositions in your act by
enjoyable listen just as an album notable examples of this is a providing them as royalty free, and
When putting together a stage or in itself. track called Mission Feasible the music itself is catchy and good
cabaret act which requires (great title, by the way) which to listen to. It can never be all
musical accompaniment, one of But the key issue here is whether pays homage to the Mission things to all people, but if your act
the hardest parts is to find the the tracks will be suitable as an Impossible theme tune. needs something with a big
right music. Even if you choose to accompaniment for your act. musical underscore this CD, more
ignore the royalty issues Well, of course, this will depend I think that if you require a big than most, will probably provide
associated with commercially on what you are looking for. You sounding music accompaniment, you with the necessary. ML
available music, just finding a probably have at least a vague you will probably find it here. If, on
track which creates the right idea of what sort of music you the other hand, you are looking WHAT’S HOT: good quality, big
ambience or atmosphere for your would ideally require, and the for something more unobtrusive production music which is royalty
act can prove extremely difficult. relevance of this CD will be tested and chilled, there is little to free
So this is where the musical by whether any of the tracks fit choose from, apart from perhaps WHAT’S NOT: little to choose from if
creations of husband and wife your pre-conceived notions. For Magic Fever. There are 11 main you need a quieter more
team Arthur and Leslie Stead the producers, the headache tracks with music ranging in understated musical
really come into their own, as must be trying to supply enough length from 2:56 minutes up to accompaniment
they compose, arrange, perform, variety of tone and style to 5:04 minutes, then there are three Star Rating: HHHH

REPERTOIRE 1&2 you remove an envelope. Inside is It is clear from reading these
Ben Williams a single playing card from another two ebooks that Ben enjoys
E-books available from: deck you are working with. It is thinking about and creating new
www.magicfromtheunderground.com the spectator's selected card, ideas and concepts. Here he
Price: £10.00 each and on the back of the card there has put together two good
is a name written, the freely volumes of solid magical effects
Repertoire volumes 1 & 2 are thought of name. at an affordable price. There
exactly what you’d expect. In total should be something here for
there are 23 effects from Ben’s My favourite effect is from volume everyone. PS
working repertoire contained two and is ‘Signed and Dated’.
within the two ebooks. This is a torn and restored card plot WHAT’S HOT: 21 solid effects at
where each piece is captured an affordable price.
Top of the list for me from volume invisibly and then dusted back into WHAT’S NOT: Background image
one is ‘I Dub Thee’. A spectator position. A nice demo of this effect on all the pages made it hard to
writes down a name, another can also be seen on Ben’s website read at times.
selects a card. From your wallet and is worth checking out. Star Rating: HHHH

54 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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REVIEWS

lecture notes, and comes Jersey Experiment makes use of again surprises me, as Solari
complete with a number of special two special playing cards and a instructs the reader to visit their
cards required for three of the bit of tape, to create a powerful local coin shop for “coin tubes”
routines. There are eleven items in piece of magical translocation. for one item. Who has a local
all, including eight using playing Marker Marksman is a miniature coin shop? We’re lucky here to
cards. card sword type effect, using an have a local butcher or branch
ordinary pen rather than a sword, of Boots, never mind a local
Solari’s playful and crafty style is although the mess of cards on coin shop. That aside, I like
evident throughout; he enjoys the floor remains the same. As Solari’s sensibility and general
gimmicks, and the bits and well as effects, there is a approach, and therefore found
pieces that populate our magic description of Solari’s bluff force, Anomaly a worthy and
drawers, to construct his and instructions to construct a worthwhile publication. And I’m
routines, rather than anything coin-loading utility device. not just saying that because
other than basic sleights and Solari looks and sounds like
ANOMALY heavy finger work. This makes his Anomaly is a well-produced set of he could be one of the
Bob Solari products and magic commercially notes - though there are at least Sopranos. DL
58pp book, A4 staplebound attractive and, frankly, these three different spellings of the
Available from notes enjoyable and entertaining. word “preparation” - with the WHAT’S HOT: Crowd-pleasing
www.bobsolarimagic.com added bonus of the special magic and some included
Price: $19.95 (approx. £12) Mind Whisper is a bold piece of cards. Some DIY skills will be gimmicks.
spectator synchronicity; I say needed for the making of a WHAT’S NOT: Coin shops.
Anomaly is New Jersey magician bold because it requires an “s” of couple of the gimmicks, and the Star Rating: HHHH
Bob Solari’s current set of the “instant” variety. The New retail landscape of the USA once

In the news... participants around the world via

the internet.
Were the ashes in question the
real remains of the great
magician? Err...no.
Bruce Cervon was not only the

VERNON’S ASHES FOR SALE! essential author of all things Dai

Vernon, he was also an
accomplished magician, FOR SALE
You could have bought Dai performer, actor, and lecturer. Dai Vernon’s “Ashes.”
Vernon’s ashes at auction we After his passing in 2007, his wife Small bottle with cork
have learned from Alan Watson’s published the now famous Castle stopper and colour label
weekly newsletter, Magic New Notebooks, called by some the bearing a silhouette of Dai
Zealand. This once in a lifetime “Holy Grail” of magic texts. Vernon and half-full of what
auction featuring the collections the label describes as,
of Dai Vernon and Bruce Cervon Of particular interest at the “Guaranteed to have
took place on January 30. auction was a small glass bottle possibly come from the
identified as Dai Vernon’s “ashes.” cigars of Dai Vernon, lovingly
In addition to the items from the We know from reading Karl known as ‘The Professor.’”
Professor and Mr. Cervon, Gabe Johnson’s extraordinary
Fajuri has included additional biography, The Magician and the Collected from the
“rare books, apparatus and Cardsharp: The Search for upholstery of the love seats
ephemera.” America’s Greatest Sleight-of- outside the Close Up Gallery
Hand Artist, The Professor was of The Magic Castle between
The live auction was held in cremated and his ashes were 1968 – 1987.” A decided
Chicago but accessible to taken to The Magic Castle. novelty. Good condition.

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WAYNE FOX

WAYNE FOX
THE TABLES ARE TURNED....
We’re constantly hearing just how good Wayne Fox is – and when the rave reviews are coming from quality magicians,
we know we just can’t ignore him any longer!! Wayne has a first-class reputation for both his magic, and the brilliant
way he performs it. So let’s see what this hilarious performer has to say for himself when we turn the tables on him...

What’s going on, Wayne? a stand, that stand will be Keelan Leyser’s Did you know you would be an entertainer?
I launched my new lecture ‘Out Foxed’ at the company MagicTricks.co.uk. He liked the I have always wanted to be centre of attention;
Magic Circle last October and it’s been effects that I have produced and asked to you know the thing, class clown at school. I feel
received very well, as societies have been stock them. I said yes, very exciting. very comfortable in front of people and seem to
booking it throughout this year. I actually really operate better when making them laugh. I have
enjoy lecturing; it’s a great atmosphere when I am also working on three new effects, and a clients who say that I am very quick witted, not
you get a big turn out. Lecture DVD for a summer release. I really only so, I actually keep a log of all things funny or
produce effects that I have been performing, so unexpected that happen at a gig, so that I can
I am also getting ready for Blackpool, this is sometimes it makes them hard to mass- lead it next time and make it seem like an ad
the first year I will be ‘Dem-ing’ my products on produce. But I am extremely pleased with these. lib. I found myself making these logs when I

56 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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WAYNE FOX

I have always
wanted to be centre
of attention; you know
the thing, class clown
at school. I feel very
comfortable in front of
people and seem to
operate better when
making them laugh

was a kid, so I guess yes, there was always Fav comedy prop: Never saw the point of:
something inside of me saying “Go on make I’ve got loads, mainly one-liners but in the way Golf President Days
‘em’ laugh”. I just cant help it, I really love it. of props, a Headcounter, you know those
clicker things they use at concerts to count the Most difficult customer:
Brief history people going in. When someone asks me to At a golf President’s Day, a few years back,
I went pro 17 years ago, as I got hired to “Make their wife disappear”, I take out the 130 guests having dinner and me performing
entertain at a charity function in a restaurant. I clicker, click it, put it back in my pocket and table magic. The very last table was a guy who
loved the event and carefully thought about carry on. Although it’s a bit smug it’s still was very pushy, he was the Alfa Male, very
performing for a living. I quickly learnt that by hilariously funny. I think I saw Noel Quarter loud and pouring the drinks for everyone. While
performing just two restaurants a week it will lecturing it originally, I may be wrong. I was introducing myself I could hear him
bring in clients interested in hiring me, and they saying under his breath to his wife. “Oh no! say
did. I work the ‘usual’ things: corporate, More recently though, Instant Radio, by Shahid no, don’t let him do anything here”. His wife
weddings and the like. Although about four Malik. He has made it so much easier to set was trying to listen to what I was saying and
years ago Nick Einhorn saw me performing, up. I have two, for two different suits. Take a trying to quietly tell him to stop being rude. By
my effect, Neat & Tidy and asked me where I glass from the table turn it mouth down, then this time I was ending my intro and asking
got it from. I said it was my idea and I had lift it slightly and music comes out, push “Can I spend 5 mins with you all”. Everyone
been performing it for a few years. He said buttons on a mobile phone on the table, and said, in unison, yes do some magic, apart from
that I should look into marketing it, so I did. music comes out, you’ve gotta laugh. ‘Alpha’. He looked at me with a nasty
When it sold in the states I really was not expression on his face and said “Look we’ve all
prepared for it to sell like it did and did not Inspirations seen the party tricks before, so get it over
have anywhere near the number Murphy’s Geoff Ray, his stunning lecture is still the best with”. His friends told him to apologise and he
wanted. I resolved it and got them mass made, lecture I have seen so far, and that was 20 just put his head in his hands. So before I had
then started looking at other effects that I had years ago. His thinking behind each piece of even started I said to everyone “perhaps
been performing over the years and started to magic he performs is frankly a work of art. I another time”, and walked away, his friends
show other magicians. From that, I started to have had some very kind people say how good tore him apart as they were the only table not
market the ideas I had. I guess as long as I am at the Goshman Pinch, Geoff taught me it. to see any magic. As I left the client said to me
people like them I will continue to produce Take a look at some of his original material, it’s “He’s always like that”. Yeah, right - thanks for
them. I launched the lecture last year, and quite literally stunning. Genius. the warning. I have performed for the same
that’s keeping me busy to date. I have club every year since.
designed two illusions for a corporate client Bruce Smith from Marvin’s Magic fame, he is
this year and will be performing them later in truly a great friend of mine, and just when you My parents always said:
the year for their summer ball. think you have an idea of what he has been Mind the roads,
teaching you, he comes up with more ideas on
Close up mats: how to perform the same trick 10 different Do you want a proper job?
I only use them when I’m lecturing but never ways. He has been so many Magi’s Mr Meagi This is a proper job, it’s what you make of it,
carry one around at a gig. (Karate Kid). there are many avenues to magic and I enjoy

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WAYNE FOX

Laughter, joy, wonderment……my business

card. Ahem!!

First Magic Book I read:

Don’t know the author, it was a little paperback
book when I was about 7 years old, called The
Art of Close Up Magic.

Sponge Balls:
A neat way of learning some sleights. I would
never perform with them though.

If I wasn’t a magician I would be:

A lollipop man, because they don’t start work
until they are 65. I thank you.

I would love to...

Up until last October, it was to lecture at The
Magic Circle, I’ve done that now. I have always
wanted to have a stand at Blackpool and will
have this year, so keeping goals realistic is the
key, I think.

The gig I will never forget:

There are a few. Performing on a private yacht on
the Thames, certain celebrities who have hired
me, but how about this one…….

We did laugh out loud when one My good friend Adam Keisner and I were working
at a World Cup send off for the players at The

girl said, “So, which one of you wants

Grosvenor House in London. The agent came
over to us and said, “Do you two men mind
sharing a dressing room?”. We said, no, that’s
to show me some magic! fine. She sent us down some stairs and told us to
make ourselves at home and that she’d see you
us in half an hour. We opened the doors to this
room and were greeted by eleven Spearmint
Rhino dancers, most of them naked. We made
walking in all of them. Besides I’m anti be tried and have to have gone the mile in real our apologies, to which one of the girls said, “Are
authority. world situations. That’s what I like about these you the magicians?”, “YES,” we announced. “Oh
creators, they are performers as well and you you are sharing with us,” she said. With
Biggest lesson you’ve learnt as a performer: know what they are selling you is going to do schoolboy charm we entered the room. We did
Unless you are a character actor, to always be what it says on the tin. laugh out loud when one girl said, “So, which one
yourself when performing. The magic is you, of you wants to show me some magic!”
and not the effects you perform. Can being a magic developer make enough money
to be a full time job? Three things we never knew about you:
The biggest lesson from a business point of Like I said earlier, there are many avenues to 1. I represented England at judo.
view is to be a Businessperson first and a explore and if you do so correctly, then yes it is 2. I am a keen carp angler.
Magician second and never, ever mix a full time job. 3. I paint watercolour paintings.
the two.
Most unique effect seen: Favourite type of bread: Sliced loaf/Baguette/Baps
The magic creator I respect: So many. I will say though that I love a bit of I love baps, I’m a sucker for them.
Mark Leveridge’s ideas were very inspirational self promotion, so business card magic always
for me when I was younger, you just somehow seems to hit the button for me. If I see If I could do it all again I would:
know that they have been tried and tested over someone perform some then I always think, Build a Five Star Hotel with 2000 rooms in
and over. Same with Stephen Tucker and Liam good on ’em. It may not be unique, but when Blackpool. ms
Montier just great material from all of them. I they need a magician, Who Ya Gonna Call !!
have many ideas in my head, but they must all I like to leave the audience with: www.waynefoxmagic.co.uk

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MASTERCLASS

magicseen masterclass In the news...

MY SIGNATURE TRICK
IAN ADAIR

EFFECT:
A deck of cards is shown both back and
front. A spectator is handed a permanent
marker pen and is requested to sign his
name over the face of one of the cards. This
card is removed, the faces, and in particular,
the backs of the remainder of the deck being
fanned through slowly. When the spectator
turns over his signed card, there, signed
across the back design, is the performer’s

NMC FINAL LINE-UP

signature. The spectator is presented with
this card as a magical souvenir.

The second deck is only used as

ANNOUNCED!
REQUIREMENTS: replacements for the cards given away from The final line up for this years Northern Magic
Please don’t be put off by the simple method the main first deck. With this second deck, Circle Convention has now been revealed. The
employed. It’s an old classic method after all. I simply rough the backs of all the cards and weekend will pay host to a number of stars
can assure readers that lay people are utterly then sign every one. including: Nathan Kranzo (USA), Chris Priest
amazed when the selected signed card is (UK), John Hotowka (UK), Kostya Kimlat (USA),
turned over to reveal the performer’s Dr Roger Woods (UK), Maurice Howarth (UK),
signature. They are also amazed to see no WORKING: Chris Cross (UK), Stephen Williams (UK), Brian
other back design displays the performer’s Remove the main prepared deck from its Sefton(UK), Paul Joyce(UK), Darren Bonas (UK),
signature. case and display both sides. Approach a John Dixon (UK), Steve Royle (UK), Marc Paul
spectator and hand him the marker pen. (UK), Steve Hewlett (UK), Guy Barrett (UK) and
The method used is the Rough & Smooth Thom Peterson (USA). The weekend will feature
principle. You require two normal matching Fan the deck in an arc in front of the lectures, competitions, masterclass, history of
decks. Only one deck is used during the spectator and ask him to glance through mystery, close-up gala shows, exclusive
routine, the second is for the purpose of the cards and then point to one. Split and masterclass for all Northern Junior Members
replacing the signed card each time it is cut the deck so that his chosen card and finish with a fantastic gala show on the
given away to the spectator. becomes the bottom card of the deck and Sunday evening. The convention takes place
then have him sign the face of his selection. on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th March
Take a deck and shuffle it well. Split the deck 2010 at the Marine Hall, Fleetwood, Lancashire.
into two piles of equal numbers. Apply Peel off his signed card and place it face up
roughing fluid to the backs of all the cards in on the table. You now claim that you knew To download a registration form and for further
one of the piles and then, once the cards are in advance which card he was going to details check www.northernmagic.co.uk or
dry, use a permanent marker pen to write point to because you put your own contact the registration officer Allan Clarke on
your signature on the back of each card in signature on the back of that card. Turn the 01772 685073
that pile. rest of the deck face down and fan the
cards. Because of the roughed pairs, every
You now apply roughing fluid to the faces of card back will be seen to be unsigned.
cards in the second pile. Once these cards Now ask the spectator to turn over his
are dry pair up the roughed signature cards tabled selection. There he finds your
with the roughed face cards so that the signature! He gets to keep the card as a
signed backs will be hidden under the souvenir.
roughed face cards. This now means that the
faces of the deck can be shown to be To re-set, all you need to do it replace the
different, and when fanned the backs will just selection with a card from your second
look normal too. deck and you are ready to go again. ms

60 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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MASTERCLASS

magicseen masterclass

Photo 2 Photo 3

REQUIREMENTS: Put the brown packet in your left

A brown sugar packet, a white trouser pocket and the white
sugar packet, a sharp knife, packet in your right back trouser
some white glue, and a Sharpie pocket. Place the Sharpie in your
marker. Also, there must be a right trouser pocket.
sugar holder on the table where
you are performing with at least
eight to ten sugar packets— PERFORMANCE:
about half of each kind. At the table, pick up the sugar
holder, and pick out a number of
brown packets and drop them in
SETUP: front of someone on your left
Using the knife, take a white (drop them on the table, not in
sugar packet and cut a slit about her lap). Put the holder down and
one-sixteenth of an inch from a ask the person to choose any
short edge. If there is a flattened one of the brown packets. When
Photo 1 border then cut just inside this. she does, take it from her and
The slit does not have to run the explain you want her to sign it.
entire width of the packet. Ensure You will now switch the freely-
you only cut through one side of chosen brown packet for your
CITIZEN CANE the packet by shaking the sugar prepared packet using Juan
BY JON ALLEN down to one end and cutting at Tamariz’s double crossing the
that end. Pour the sugar out onto gaze switch. In short, hold the
Here is a wonderful restaurant effect involving the a sheet of paper. Do the same chosen brown packet flat on your
with the brown sugar packet. right fingers. Put your left hand in
transposition of brown and white sugar inside their
your trouser pocket as if you are
sealed packets. It is easy to do and the magic is Carefully pour the brown sugar looking for the pen, and secretly
incredibly strong. All of the dirty work is carried out into the white packet, and vice obtain your prepared brown
versa. Glue along the edges of packet. Look at your pocket
before the effect apparently begins, which puts you in an
the slits and press them down to throughout these actions (Photo
advantageous position. Also, it is a good example of seal them, ensuring there are no 1). After failing to find the pen,
magic being performed with objects in their natural granules in the way. When the look up (Photo 2) and think “It’s
environment. It requires a bit of preparation but it will be glue has dried, check to make not in there”—there’s no need to
sure there are no gaps through act it, just think it. Now look to
more than worth the effort. which the sugar could escape. your right pocket as you remove

62 magicseen Vol. 6 No. 1

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MASTERCLASS

Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo 7

your left hand from your pocket, table in front of someone on your behind you. Make some magical You can substitute other packets
and apparently place her brown right. Ask for one of the white gesture and ask that the two for the sugar packets: salt and
packet in your left hand by packets to be chosen, and then people now lift their hands. It will pepper, ketchup and mustard,
turning your right hand palm take the chosen packet in your be seen that the two packets chili powder and Parmesan. This
down and touching it to your left left hand (Photo 6). Ask for it to have not switched places, and is a transposition effect, not a
hand (Photo 3). However, you be signed also and, realising the have remained where they were. sugar packet trick.
actually retain the right-hand pen is to your left, apparently take Say that you feel confident that
packet with your thumb. Your the white packet into your right something has happened, so It is important that neither of the
palm-up left hand remains hand. In actual fact, you switch take the white packet and tear it switches looks staged or like a
stationary, with the switched-in the packets under cover of the open along the glued slit, thus move; instead they should look
packet sitting on your fingers holder. Your right hand places the destroying the evidence. Slowly like logically motivated natural
(Photo 4), as you immediately sugar holder into the left hand, tip out the contents onto a actions.
place your right hand in your right and your right hand moves away, napkin, saucer, or other
pocket, again in search of the now holding the switched-in receptacle to reveal the brown This actually started out as a card
pen. The entire move depends on white packet (Photo 7, sugar sugar. Likewise, tear open the trick, but while playing around in
you doing this naturally and not packet exposed for clarity). brown packet to reveal the white a restaurant after a job, it evolved
overacting. sugar. The transposition is into this. As Jon says, “If I can
Put the sugar holder back down complete. save the world from another card
Leave the packet in your pocket, on top of the pile of white trick by turning it into a sugar
and remove the pen (Photo 5). packets, secretly dumping the packet trick, I feel I have done a
Ask the participant to sign her hidden packet on top of them. NOTES: great service.”
name on the brown packet. While Pick up the pen and hand it and There are four reasons why Jon
attention is on the signing of the the white packet over, so the likes this routine, and why he
brown packet, secretly get the packet can be signed. When it thinks it is a strong effect. CREDITS:
prepared white packet into your has been signed, ask that the 1. It uses items found in the Juan Tamariz’s double crossing
right hand. When the participant signer cover it with his hand. Pick restaurant. the gaze appeared in his book,
has finished signing the brown up the holder and put all the 2. All the dirty work is done The Five Points in Magic (1988).
packet, ask her to cover it with sugar packets back into it. Put before anyone knows what
her hand. the pen away and state that you the effect will be. This routine has been extracted
will attempt to make the two 3. Once you say what the effect with permission from Jon Allen’s
Pick up the sugar holder with packets of sugar switch places. will be, the packets are out of new book Experience – The
your left hand and place it in your your control. Magic Of Jon Allen (see review in
right hand on top of the white From here, it is nothing but 4. The magic happens in (or this issue)
packet. Take several white presentation as the hard work, rather under) the participants’
packets and drop them onto the indeed the entire method, is now hands.

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GAFF COINS

THE WORLD OF
FAKE COINS

PART 4
By Craig Petty

COPPER SILVER
A copper coin and a silver coin are examined by the audience and found to
be normal. The coins are then made to change places under test conditions
with each phase becoming more and more impossible with the coins finally
changing places in the spectator's hand to end the effect.

REQUIREMENTS METHOD
1 x Cooper English Penny OPENING PROCEDURE
1 x Silver Half Dollar Take out the purse making sure the audience
1 x Copper / Silver half and half coin cannot see the extra coin, which is hidden
1 x Real Man’s Coin Purse underneath. Open the purse, take out the two
coins inside and hand them to the audience to
be examined.
SET UP
The Real Man’s Coin Purse is available from As they are doing this close up the purse and
most magic dealers. It is a wallet shaped coin using your left thumb pull the hidden gimmick
purse which has a secret compartment in the into left hand finger palm (Fig 1). The gimmick
back that can hold a coin and enables you to should automatically be orientated so that the FIG 2
steal it whenever you require. (Ed: if you can’t copper side is facing away from the fingers.
get one of these, simply hold the coin with your Place the purse down in the centre of your compartment in the purse (or simply leaves it
hand under the purse you do have). Put the table space or mat. loose underneath if you have a standard purse).
Copper / Silver coin (hereafter this will be
referred to as the gimmick) in the secret Take back the copper coin holding it in an open Drop the coins on the table and show your
compartment of the coin purse so the copper finger palm in the right hand. Take the silver hands empty. Pick up the gimmick (which is
side is facing out. Have the regular copper coin back and place this in the right hand more showing copper) and place it into an open finger
and silver coins in the purse. Place the purse towards the palm. Display the two coins to the palm in the right hand. Tell the audience that
into your pocket and you are set to begin. spectators on the right and apparently throw the copper coin will always be in the right hand.
them into the left hand so the spectators on the Close your ring, middle and little fingers around
left can see. In reality instead of throwing the the coin apparently taking it into your fist.
two coins the copper coin is finger palmed and
the silver coin is thrown on its own where it The right hand thumb and forefinger are free
ends up with the gimmick coin. which allows you to pick up the silver coin and
display it (make sure the other fingers remain
closed around the apparent copper coin. Fig 2)
PHASE 1 – THE COINS SWITCH
While displaying the coins in the left hand the You will now perform a modified Bobo switch
right hand reaches down to the table and picks to apparently throw the silver coin into the left
up the purse and places it away further to one hand whilst in reality switching it for the
side on your mat. As this is done the right hand gimmick. Open your left hand palm up and
slides the palmed copper coin into the secret bring your right hand over to it. In one motion
FIG 1

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GAFF COINS

PHASE 2 – A VISIBLE CHANGE

Display the coins in both hands being careful
not to flash the nature of the gimmick. Stack
the coins and hold them in the right hand so
that the gimmick (which is showing copper) is
on top of the regular silver coin.

Open the left hand so it is flat and palm up and

drop the stack of coins into the centre of the
palm ensuring that the copper side of the
gimmick stays in view on top. Close your hand FIG 5
around the coins and rotate it palm down.
FIG 3
As this coin comes out it will look like the silver
With your right hand reach in through your coin although in reality it is actually the silver side
thumbhole and pull out the bottom coin of the of the gimmick. The silver coin is still in the
the right forefinger and thumb pull the silver stack. This will look like the silver coin, spectator’s hand although they will be
coin into a thumb palm (Fig 3). At the same however it is actually the silver side of the convinced that they are holding the copper coin.
time the right ring, middle and little fingers gimmick and the silver coin is still in your
open for a fraction of a second allowing the closed left hand. Put the apparent silver coin into your left hand
gimmick inside your right hand to be thrown (Fig 5) on the fingertips and close it into a fist
into the left hand. Bring the apparent silver coin up to your eye therefore turning the coin over. Ask the
level and display it to the audience. All you spectator to squeeze their coin tightly to
The gimmick will automatically turn over as it is have to do to change this coin is turn it over. prevent you from getting to it.
being thrown and therefore land silver side up However if you do this openly the audience will
on the left palm (Fig 4). As the gimmick is see so you need to disguise the motion. Pick up the purse with the right hand (gimmick
being thrown across the right hand allows the Shake the right hand up and down whilst at side away from the audience) making sure that
thumb palmed silver coin to fall into the right the same time blowing on the coin. The larger your thumb rests on the copper coin in the
fist, which closes around it. The illusion is action of the shaking combined with the secret compartment. Tell the audience that all
created that the silver coin is thrown across. blowing means you can use your forefinger you have to do is wave the purse over your
Due to the gimmick landing silver side up this and thumb to flip the coin round. It will look hand to make the magic happen.
move is very deceptive. like a silver coin is shaken and then when
you stop it has changed into a copper coin. Wave the purse over your hand and then place
The gimmick should land towards the tips of As soon as the change occurs open your it on the table stealing the copper coin into
the left fingers. This means that when the left left hand and show that the silver coin is right hand finger palm at the same time. Open
hand closes into a fist the coin will now there. your left hand to show there is apparently a
automatically turn over. Ask the audience to copper coin inside (actually the copper side of
watch both hands and then open them. the gimmick).
The left hand will now have a copper coin
showing and the right hand will now have the PHASE 3 – IN THE SPECTATOR’S HAND Tell the spectator to open their hand, which will
silver coin. Place the coins down on the table in full view. show that they have the silver coin. As they do
Tell the spectator that for this phase you will this carry out a shuttle pass apparently
make the coins change places in the purse. dumping the copper coin from the left hand
into the right hand. In reality the left hand
Have the spectator hold out their left hand and finger palms its gimmick and the right hand
place the silver coin in the centre of their palm turns palm up at the same time showing the
followed by the gimmick so that the copper regular copper coin.
side is showing. Tell the spectator to close their
hand around the coins and turn their hand over. As soon as the spectator’s hand is opened
showing a silver coin, throw the now regular
Make sure that the spectator has their copper coin into their hand as well so they can
hand in a loose fist as you are going to be examine everything. Hold out the gimmick in a
reaching into it in a moment. Tell the spectator finger palm and as you are putting the props
you will take a coin out of their hand. away load it back into the secret compartment
of the purse. Place the regular coins into the
Reach in through their thumbhole and take the purse as well and put everything away in your
FIG 4 bottom coin of the stack, pulling it out of their fist. pocket. You are instantly reset. ms

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