The Salt City Club

May 2020

It seems like EVERY Magician is on ZOOM these days! ZOOM After a “practice run” amongst the officers, we took our first try at a ZOOM virtual meeting for the club in April. Despite a few hiccups getting everyone up and running, it was a success! I still look forward to again sitting in the same room someday, in the mean time this is a workable solution. Thanks to Jimmy C for his mini lecture, and to all who joined in and attended. It was a novel experience, and kind of fun! We will be doing it again for our May meeting on Thursday, 21st May. Please join us for another neat experience. Steve Tichy and Harris Solomon Alex Silver are will hopefully be doing their initiation performances, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Ring. For others that A monthly newsletter of the would like to perform, the theme will be: “Magic for our Challenging Times… Videos, Zoom, Phone, effects without touching or using spec- Harris A. Solomon Ring #74 tators hands.” International Brotherhood of Magicians Thursday 21st 2020 (the Salt City Magic Club) Sign In: 6:50 PM. Meeting Start: 7:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81650854631?pwd=N2hRQ1R3M3FFS President: Ken Frehm 2RoZ3NRd3dra3BpQT09 Vice President: David Jackman Secretary: David Hanselman The Ithaca club (FLMC - Finger Lakes Magic Club) will also Treasurer: Bruce Purdy be holding their meeting via ZOOM, and feature a lecture by Keith Sgt. At Arms: Art Prest Fields! Their meeting will be held on Thursday, 14th May at 7:15pm. Meeting ID: 869 1982 0115 IBM Ring #74 meets at 7:30pm Password: 010351 the Third Thursday of every month (Usually) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86919820115?pwd=T2VVeGJKR 1NYV1h6UFZYSHBBMnBpUT09 Please submit material for publication in the Wandogram to: [email protected] Many Magicians are presenting shows over ZOOM as well. or by Snail Mail: Library shows and Corporate work appeared to have all dried up due Bruce Purdy to the Pandemic lockdowns, but some Magicians have been successful P.O.Box 213 in still performing those shows via ZOOM. Many children are still Cayuga NY 13034-0213 having Birthday parties, but doing it virtually. They use ZOOM every Questions? Call (315) 256-9095 day anyway for distance learning classes to continue their schoolwork, Submission deadline: so they are comfortable with the platform. Innovative Magicians are st getting hired to entertain on-line for those parties. 1 Thursday of the month If you search on GOOGLE for “zoom magic shows”, you’ll find many examples of what is being offered. Certainly it’s a new market www.saltcitymagicclub.com and not as well established as traditional “Live” shows, but until those become possible, it’s worth learning how to do it, and trying to innovate. 3 audience and then riffing with the -Leaves the audience amazed. answer. The “Improvisational Jazz -Leaves the audience amused Learn & Grow of comedy.” and happy even if they are not He talked about the “haters” in amazed. Bruce Purdy the comedy world. Some comedians -Lets the audience know and (insecure ones, are says) are judge- like YOU, be vulnerable. As most of you know, I listen out of business and not survive the mental of other styles of comedy, -Leaves the audience impressed to a lot of podcasts. Many are about shutdown, just as I’ve heard concerns claiming that someone else’s style by your skill and dexterity Magic and Magicians, the majority for the recent wave of small Magic “Isn’t ‘real’ comedy!” Some believe are not - and yet they all contribute Theatres that had been springing up that a ‘real’ comedian should As used to say, to my “Magic thinking.” Some are around the country recently. (choose one): “The house of Magic has many about Marketing, advertising and When will audiences feel SAFE -Challenge assumptions rooms.” There is no one “right” client relationships; Some are about going to shows? How will the post- -Speak out about a political or way to be a Magician, there is no Theatre and producing shows; many pandemic “New Normal” affect social issue one “right” way to be a comedian, involve storytelling and some on their choice of material? -Challenge the status quo and there is no one type of music philosophy. -“speak truth to power” that is best. On another episode, come- -Be “edgy” and make people A musician might perform Recently I’ve listened to a dian Chelsea Peretti is releasing uncomfortable Country, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal, few episodes of the “Good One” an “album” of songs about coffee. -be comfortable and just give Jazz or Classical (or any other style) podcast. Each week, a comedian She has a Spotify playlist of songs the audience a good time / escape and they are all valid. will play one of their jokes and then that mean something to her - lyr- from their daily problems. breaks it down with Vulture.com ics or music which serves as an as -Use only well written and well What is important is to un- Senior Editor Jesse David Fox. “Inspiration list” / “Clip file”. Not crafted jokes in a coherent act. derstand what YOUR style is and Understanding humour, and things she would copy or steal, but -Ad lib and improvise so every work within your specialty. Find the the thinking that various comedians as a notebook of sorts of things she show is unique and special. audience for what you have to offer, put in to it does also influence my likes, which inspire her original ideas. etc. and don’t try to be all things to all own performances. Most graphic artists use this tool, and people. And DON’T think your way it would serve us as well in creating In much the same way, is the only acceptable path. I don’t know that this will go Magic material. many Magicians claim that you are into my regular rotation, but I have collect notes and ideas of only a “real” Magician and should There is much to be learned found some good thinking, and also premises, costuming, props (Not just only be taken seriously if you from non-Magic sources which helps some striking similarities to what I “Magic props”), stroies books and (choose one): you become a better Magician. hear on Magic podcasts. movies, music and colours that you -Able to perform knuckle- For example, in the episode are attracted to and and help define busting card moves Never stop learning! “Comedy Under Quarantine who you are and your unique style. -Believe that a simple self with Roy Wood Junior and Reviewing these notes in the future working trick that the audience loves Maria Bamford”. I found Simi- may well inspire original routines. is more important than technical skill larities to what I’ve been hearing on -A close-up performer Magician podcasts about the lack of “Moshe Kasher’s Crowd -An Illusionist work, no venues open. Concern that Work” Moshe is best known for his -Makes a living from perform- many comedy clubs may be going crowd work (Asking a question of the ing 4 5 inventive and create new solutions get everyone squared away. Our two to these challenges. I’ve already new members, Alex Silver and Steve seen some magicians and musicians Tichy will be doing their initiation giving shows and lessons using the performances. Please attend and awesome Zoom tool. Put on your welcome them to our magic ring. thinking caps.. surely you now have Please prepare one or two tricks that the time. can done either over the phone or We will be having our 2nd from the Zoom App. Zoom meeting on Thursday 21st – We’ll start at 7 P.M. So please sign Abracadabra In my seventy-eight + living in five distant states and cities. on about ten minutes early so we can Ken Frehm, President years of living on this planet, I’ve We get together with them every been witness to a lot of important Saturday evening for a family chat. and historical world-changing Seeing them and hearing their voic- events. However, I’m sure you all es, their activities and how they are will agree that the last couple of coping is a real plus. I have phoned months have been nothing short old friends who I haven’t conversed of cataclysmic! Who would of with and others have called me. I The Magician opens up our eyes ‘thunk’? Our entire planet will know, that many folks will be learn- to the wonders all around us, never be the same! When will we ing to do more cooking at home, ever get back to ‘normal’? Surely, it perhaps even reading books and using coins, cards, rings and silks will be completely different ‘normal’ newspapers? I know that we need to inspire and astound us. than the one we once knew. How we to reach into our past achievements will be living our lives in the years and talents, re-kindle and pursue Now, some may say “It's just a trick” ahead? hobbies and interests that may have I am a believer in the Yin fallen by the wayside. More folks are but I suggested this strong appeal. and Yang philosophy, which states taking the time to go out for walks, The effects may I be illusion one of Newton’s Laws; that for and conversing with neighbors. We every action, there is an equal and are all facing the same challenges. but the experience is real. opposite one. Every positive has a Not until we get the bulk of these balancing negative. Now we are terrible times behind us will we be Jay Scott Berry deep in the negative. Yes, these able to gain some objectivity. Then, are challenging times for all of us. and only then, can we try to develop Seeing past the darkness and into some reasonable perspective. the coming light is difficult for all As magicians, this situation “The hardest job is to deepen the mystery” of us to do now. Many of us are is very, very difficult. Most “gig” facing real problems of lost income, workers have lost their entire income Francis Bacon loneliness, and trying to stay healthy. stream with no end in sight. Half However, I can think of a few new of my repertoire of magic tricks good developments. We have family are done in or from the spectators hands. We all will have to become 6 7 Learning as you wait for is a fantastic archive of Magical about the history, variations, great performances of the past. For performances and more.) The next “New Normal. many of us, they bring back fond memories, or grant a chance to Under the “News” head- By Bruce Purdy see great Magicians we had heard ing, look for “Take Two.” This is of, but never had the chance to a collection of essays by Jamy Ian Last month I looked to the future and what the “New Normal” might look like. see. For some younger folks, the Swiss about practically all aspects Now is the time to start preparing for that. In the mean time, it’s also a good time to watch performances may seem “dated” of Magic. The index lists a huge Magic and learn new ideas. or “old”, but watch - good Magic number go names, as well as sev- Are you stuck at home and content is more than worth your really does stand the test of time, eral effects, which he writes about trying to find something to do? time! even if the hairstyles or perfor- at length, and also includes many Watching Magic, Learning Magic It’s all free, but you mance style might not. video clips so you can see the sub- and doing things that can improve do need a password to ac- The “Videos” section fea- ject in action. A rare opportunity to your ‘Magical thinking” abound! cess them. Get yours for free tures tons of video clips. Some are see many of these masters at work. There is much on Facebook and by signing up at Jeff’s website: filmed at convention shows (“Do- Magiciana is extremely Youtube that are good and useful, http://www.hobsonschoicemagic. vino” Bob Little dressed as a giant valuable to Magicians studying but there is far more there that is com dove, producing miniature people the art, but it is also aimed at negative, useless or time wasters. If is one of my favourites.), some at “Muggles” (Normal people) and you can find and stick to the good IBM members have access to other live performances and some aims to show the artistry of Magic stuff, that’s great. the “IBM JAM” (Just About Magic) are from TV shows. and increase the appreciation for Here are a few places you library. During the pandemic Under the “Exhibitions” what we do. can go that are more focused and lockdown, many great magicians heading there is “Chan-tatachán” I highly recommend that useful. have been presenting lectures from - ’ TV show that ran you get lost in their homes. If you haven’t been in from 1992 to 1993. Much https://www.magicana.com Jeff Hobson has a col- watching them live, you can watch is in Spanish, but fun to watch, but lection of videos you may be them from the IBM Website at: some are silent acts. there are eigh- If you want to spend some interested in. “Hobson’s Choice https://www.magician.org/re- teen hours worth available here. money in pursuit of knowledge, Magic Theater” contains around sources/jam-videos Also under Exhibitions” there are lots of great lectures 40 videos - many are over an hour are “Movie Magic Exhibition” from Penguin Magic https:// and Nani Dar- long including a couple of feature (Home movies of rateable per- www.penguinmagic.com/s/ nell were the stars of a popular films and documentaries, some formers between 1976 & 1991), penguin+live+lectures TV show “ The Magical Land of old TV specials, many lectures, “The Magic Palace” (broad sam- or you can subscribe to Mas- Allakazam. Each week a different interviews and performances by pling of magic acts from North terClass episode of that classic TV show such luminaries as Walter Blaney, America and Europe from the https://www.masterclass. is available for free viewing on . Denny Haney, 1970s and 1980s), “The Devil’s com/classes/ where you can learn line. For more information, visit Tom Mullica and Playthings” (An original short Magic from Penn & Teller, Com- https://allakazamarchives.com many more. film) and “The Cups and Balls” edy from Steve Martin, “The art I will say that the video (A virtual On-line exhibition of of performance” from Usher and lots more. quality is not the clearest, but the https://www.magicana.com “The oldest trick in Magic”. All 8 9 Are you between the ages of 13-19 and an IBM member? (Or have a family member that is 13-19 and YOU are a member) Next meeting: then read this!

Thursday, 21st May, 2020 ON LINE Virtual meeting.

We have some GREAT NEWS! Although the 2020 I.B.M. Convention Theme: has been postponed, we will still hold the two-day Teen “Magic for our Challenging Times… Videos, Zoom, Seminar online, using the Zoom platform. Here is some information: Phone, effects without touching or using spectators hands.” DATE: JULY 7th and 8th, 2020

TIME: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (PDT) Save the Date! WHERE: ZOOM (Link will be sent out 2-3 days beforehand)

WHO: Lance Burton, Jeff McBride, Larry Hass and surprise guests Thu.14th May Ithaca’s ZOOM meeting This event will be open to all I.B.M. members and family who Featuring a lecture by Keith Fields! are between the ages of 13-19. However, as space is limited, you need to sign up quickly! For more information and to sign up, Go to Thu.21st May Our ZOOM meeting https://www.magician.org/convention/lance-burton-teen-seminar and download the application form on that page, complete it, and email it back to me at [email protected] ASAP. 4th & 5th JULY ?? Comic Con ?? We are so excited to still be able to offer you this incredibly opportunity this summer, and hope to hear from you soon.

h th Sincerely, 7 & 8 JULY Lance Burtun TEEN Seminar Simone Marron Postponed IBM Convention Pittsburgh, PA Lance Burton Teen Seminar Administrator International Brotherhood of Magicians 13 Point West Blvd St. Charles, MO 63301, United States

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www.saltcitymagicclub.com

Cayuga NY 13034 - 0213 - 13034 NY Cayuga

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IBM Ring #74 Ring IBM Harris Solomon Ring Solomon Harris