Shell Game A Monthly Newsletter for the London Magic Community April 2006 Volume 1, Issue 7 March Meeting Wij’s misdirection and We were pleased to present technique were exceptional and a lecture in March by “Wij the baffled even the most seasoned Magician: - a former member of the magicians in the crowd. His routines London Magicians Guild, who has were very funny and entertaining. made quite a name for himself in the He thoroughly impressed all those Toronto area. And he certainly didn’t who attended – it was a most disappoint! enjoyable night of magic! Thank you, Wij! Wij started the lecture with his famous “It’s in your hands/It’s on - Mark Hogan the table”, which he presented at the Next Meeting: CAM convention several years ago. It’s an incredible routine where the Wed. April 12, 7:00 pm spectator helps produce 2 of the Beal Secondary School, aces, and the performer produces Room 225 the last two – with the final ace 525 Dundas St., London appearing right on the spectator’s Topic: Auction palm! Next was his outstanding “Only four, nothing more” reverse coin matrix – using only 4 coins and April’s Meeting 4 cards. He followed that with a Wed. April 12, 2006 thimble manipulation called “Johnny April is our annual magic Ace Stands Up” was next, which auction! All members are welcome to ended with the production of an bring in any magic props, books, eight-ball! videos, magazines and collector’s items that you want to sell. These He demonstrated two items will be auctioned off to the marketed effects – a knot-jumping highest bidder. rope effect, and a great routine for a steel ball & tube called the “Jumping There are always some great Ball of Pakistan”. An impromptu deals at these auctions and some mental effect called ”WijCraft” had unusual items. Make sure you come Wij predict the chosen invisible coin prepared with cash. & how it landed after being flipped. He finished the night with the “World For those of you who want to Famous Red Card Trick”, where the sell something, remember items can red cards individually turned black, be sold individually or several items with the red back turning blue! can be packaged together into a lot. old. I did my first performance at 6 You can also set a minimum bid on years of age (for my whole school!) items if you prefer. Come prepared and I was known around Byron with a description of the items you Northview as the magical kid from wish to sell that can be displayed that day on. with the item. Even better, come I started out ready to perform what you are performing card & close up magic. selling! Everyone is welcome to Since I joined the London Magicians perform any item that is being sold. Guild, I've been fascinated by mentalism and mathematical magic. The club gets 10% of all I also enjoy making my own props selling prices. based on my interests - some of my favourite show pieces are the ones Attending the auction is free I've created myself. But for the last for members, $5 for guests. All few years, I've been developing items must be paid for in cash at the myself as a children's entertainer, end of the evening. To get a copy of because you can't get hired to do the auction sheet for items being math and mentalism for kids' sold, visit: parties. ("Alright, Billy, think of a http://www.geocities.com/magic_lon number between 1 and 20. Now don/auction.html multiply it by pi and subtract your age. Stop crying!") Hope to see you there! The first magician I ever saw live was Doug Word from the Henning. What a Sergeant At night! He put on a fantastic show, AND I Arms got to meet him I'm glad to afterwards for a picture and have this opportunity to debunk the autograph! I still have the picture - myths and mystery of my highly and I'll never forget the words of publicized and largely misquoted wisdom he shared with me: "Excuse private life. Ladies and me, I have to go meditate." More gentlemen, brace yourselves as recently, I saw David Copperfield I peel back the layers and expose at Alumni Hall, and two outstanding myself in what I like to call... - yet completely different - Las Vegas shows (Sigfried and Roy in Sargeant at Arms - 1999, and Mac King in 2003). secrets revealed! This is my 6th year as a Hi. I'm Andy. I like member of the London Magicians magic. Unlike every magician I've Guild, and I've held executive read about, I don't remember when positions for the last 5. I'm proud to I was first bitten by the magic bug. say I'm a member of Ring #265 - But I can remember my dad and I I've made friends of all ages, learned learning and building magic so much about our art, and tricks way back when I was 5 years developed as a performer. We have great talent within our club, and cards to potential clients during the some keen minds with great ideas day. for our future. I would like to thank all the In other magical news, I'm members of the London Magician's happy to announce Angie and I are Guild who so kindly came out and expecting a child! We are adopting gave their time to raise funds for the a baby girl from China within the London Make a Wish foundation. The next year. We're both very excited grand total raised came to an about being parents - but if anyone incredible $283.00!! The London would like to tip some secrets on Make a wish foundation also extends raising a child, I'm willing to learn! their thanks and hopes that we consider doing this again next year! - Andy Parr I must say that I am really proud to be part of a club that so London energetically responds to charitable events. When I first brought these Magicians’ Guild events to the executive, I was Makes a Wish unsure as to how the club would respond. Thank you for showing On Saturday, March 25, London that we are a very caring several members of the London and giving club. Magician's Guild volunteered at the Covant Garden Market to raise funds - Mike Fisher for the Make a Wish foundation. Our members took a central location in the Market and busked for the We Want Your Reviews! Please patrons. We all had a ton of fun, send any reviews of magic tricks, enjoyed the day and each other’s books and videos to: company, improved our [email protected] performances and raise a lot of money! There were two shifts, one in the morning and then the afternoon. Each shift routinely gathered large crowds and made quite an impression. Our new club banner was used as a backdrop to promote our club. I routinely heard people state how impressed, and surprised they were. Another routine comment throughout the day was that many people were unaware that we existed. A sort of added bonus to our day was the many contacts we made. Besides receiving many inquiries about our club ~ many of our members handed out business the USA and France and the whole project will culminate in a major three-hour TV special David News Of Interest Copperfield: Destination Moon in 2008. Branson, a magic fan for many years, said: "We hope to David Copperfield: Destination create thousands of astronauts over Moon. the next few years and bring alive their dream of seeing the majestic Illusionist David Copperfield is beauty of our planet from above, the to team up with Sir Richard stars in all their glory, and the Branson www.virgingalactic.com on amazing sensations of the inaugural flight of Branson's weightlessness and space flight. The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipOne in development will also allow every 2008, the world’s first country in the world to have their affordable space own astronauts rather than the tourist flight. David privileged few. What a wonderful Copperfield will be way to launch my dream." One small aboard the inaugural step for man - one large step for flight in his own "egg David Copperfield. pod" that will leave the mother ship and head towards the dark Channing Pollock Passes side of the moon. At this time, during a live Channing transmission that will Pollock, age 79 be seen by many millions across the died of cancer. He globe, David will make the moon was one of the most disappear. Viewers will influential magicians simultaneously be invited to watch of our time. When the moon's disappearance using he walked out on normal telescopes directed at it, stage his charisma from their homes - ruling out once electrified the audience. Handsome and for all the "it's all done with and with his technical camera tricks" line that has plagued perfection, he began the trend of magicians since the early days of dove magic as we know it today. televised magic in the 50's. "We still He became a movie star in Europe have a few small technical issues to and later retired in California where overcome, but we're nearly there he mentored some of our best and it's all very exciting; I'm thrilled magicians, like Shimada and James to have been Dimmare. He was a strong invited 'on board' influence on Johnny Thompson, by Sir Richard Lance Burton and so many Branson." others.