Matthew David Stanley at Dayton Funny Bone – June 1

Posted on May 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

Matthew David Stanley writes:

Saturday, June 1st, 1pm at The Dayton Funny Bone I will be doing a FAMILY COMEDY & MAGIC SHOW. Tickets are only $5 and doors open at 12:30pm.

Matthew David Stanley - June 1st at the Dayton Funny Bone

Matthew David Stanley – June 1st at the Dayton Funny Bone

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Posted in News

Barry Mitchell Lecture May 24: Simply Entertaining!

Posted on May 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

Barry MitchellBarry Mitchell’s family and children’s magic is known for being creative and simple. And the entertainment value is known for being unforgettable. You’ll learn simple skills and techniques with silk magic, sponge magic, storytelling magic, and stage presentations that just might change the way you think about performing magic, It will certainly show you how much simpler your show can be with greater entertainment value.

You need to know that this isn’t a card or packet trick workshop. There are only two card tricks. There will be no complicated slieght of hand. The lecture is a study in simply and successfully “entertaining” a family audience. Magicians and clowns will equally love it. Even if you are a dedicated “card trick only” hobbyist, you’ll still learn, laugh, and be entertained.

Join us at Haines House of Cards at 7:00 PM May 24th for Barry Mitchell’s lecture!

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Posted in News

Why Magicians Are a Scientist’s Best Friend

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

James Randi wrote an excellent article in Wired about the intersection of magic and science:

For most of my life I’ve pecked away at a certain type of swindler: faith-healers, mystics, mind-readers. Those of a certain age may remember my appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — a skilled amateur magician himself who introduced my exposure of flummery to a huge television audience.

Mine was a lonely voice back then, but I’m not alone anymore. The immensely talented and popular Penn & Teller long ago joined me as foes of harmful deception, along with other magicians; the president of my foundation, D.J. Grothe, has a background in magic, and many of our associates are professional magicians, as well. They all agree with me that the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians should re-establish their once very active investigations of the fakers who claim supernatural powers.

It’s not something that is generally done, or maybe at all – I’d love to see one funding grant that has a line item for the services of a magician, if somebody out there has one. But it is long overdue that my peers in the conjuring profession try to take a more active role in the elimination of nonsense science by joining forces with scientists, and that scientists be open to the proposition.

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Posted in Essays & Opinion

Louisville Magic Festival June 14-16

Posted on April 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

Brahm Corstanje of SAM Assembly 11 has forwarded this message from Mac King:

Mac KingAs many of you know, Bill Herz (President of a company called Magicorp, and the fellow who books all my shows outside of Harrah’s) and I are producing a festival of magic in Louisville this June 14-16. We’re mighty excited.

This festival is not like a magic convention that is designed exclusively for us magicians. This is a festival to promote the art of magic to the general public. So we want this to be a smashing success. A festival of this size and scope has never been attempted in the US. Bill and I are putting up our own money for this, and there is considerable risk. But we believe in Louisville. We believe in the concept. And, as corny as this may sound, we believe in magic. With that in mind, I’d like to enlist your help.

Please tell your friends about the festival. Please tell your friends to tell their friends about the festival. Send them to www.LouisvilleMagicFestival.com. Ask them to like us on Facebook. Louisville is a great city, and the shows will be worth the short drive from Cincinnati.

As a small thank you, I am attaching a code that you can use when you buy tickets to any of the shows we’re bringing in. Just enter LMC-001 when you purchase your tickets and you’ll receive 10% off your order (excluding the magician’s only lecture package — that’s already discounted — read the “Magicians Only” page for details to see the amazing line-up of “magicians only” lectures we’ve got lined up for Saturday and Sunday afternoons). For our bookkeeping purposes this code will expire on May 24th, so use it soon! I hope you’ll come see a bunch of shows and support what we’re trying to do.

Again, Thanks for all you’ve done for me, and for magic over the years.

Your pal,

Mac

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Posted in News

Video

Interview with Wes Iseli: “Charitable Magician”

I racked my brain for about a year wanting to do something big at Christmas time as a way to inspire others and give back. I set up a booth in front of a local Walmart performing close up magic while asking for donations for the charity. I do it outside in the cold on the sidewalk, which sounds crazy but if I were inside and warm it wouldn’t be as much of a news story.

I advertise “24 hours of magic” or “72 shows in 24 hours.” I guarantee ten minutes on and ten minutes off for the entire 24 hours but work more than that during busy times and in the middle of the night I try to keep an audience as long as I can because at that point they are entertaining me and keeping me busy. The best part is I always get newspaper coverage and TV news to cover me as well.

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Posted on April 30, 2013 in Video

Reasons Not to Date a Magician: #87 After Dinner Delight

Posted on April 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

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Posted in Video

Annual Ring 71 Auction this Saturday April 27!

Posted on April 25, 2013 | 2 Comments

DON’T FORGET: The annual Ring 71 Auction will be held this Saturday, April 27, at Haines House of Cards. More details can be found in this month’s Zig Zag.

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Posted in News