Posts
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/18/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Rope Magic
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
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Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
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GET PUBLISHED!
Got an idea for an article to add to the next FAMULUS? Put it in the body of an email or in a Word document attached to an email. Send it to Famulus@illusioneer.com, and we will get you in print.
Please, please, please, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
2010-08 From the Editor
WE are into the last part of summer, and the heat continues. Hopefully for our working members it means that people are glad to be watching entertainment inside in the air conditioning. For the professionals it is almost time to start preparations for the holiday season, contacting prospective customers, polishing up acts, buying new effects.
We have some interesting lectures coming up, thanks again to Craig's tireless efforts to bring us top quality lecturers, see below.
Your editor
Stefan
We have some interesting lectures coming up, thanks again to Craig's tireless efforts to bring us top quality lecturers, see below.
Your editor
Stefan
2010-08 Award to Dave Koenig
THIS FRIDAY. August 13th… IBM Ring 170 member Dave Koenig is receiving the Merlin Award! …and you are all invited to attend. Come and support one of your members. Details below….
Dave Koenig, The Professor Slim King, will be receiving the MERLIN AWARD this Friday Aug. 13th from Tony Hassini , President and CEO of the International Magicians Society.
The award is for RADIO MAGIC. It's kind of like a magical Oscar
LOCATION:
The presentation will be at The International Palms Hotel on I-Drive at 8PM.
The Presentation and Parking are Free.
There will be a dinner show at The Laughing Tiki following the presentation (Around 8:30) .
There will be a reduced ticket fee if you'd like to stay for the show and buffet. I will be performing an effect or two for the guests during the show. It is a family friendly comedy show. Salad, Pizza, and Desert is on the menu. Everyone can come to the Presentation and meet Tony Hassini and several other movers and shakers in Orlando (Brad Lineweaver and Rozzie Franco). There's no obligation to attend the dinner show although it is a great deal.
There will also be the usual crew hanging around the lounge area after the show.
NOTE:
Dave will be beginning a weekly magic and mind reading show .... MAGICAL MIND GAMES on Thursday evenings starting on August 19th.
Dave Koenig, The Professor Slim King, will be receiving the MERLIN AWARD this Friday Aug. 13th from Tony Hassini , President and CEO of the International Magicians Society.
The award is for RADIO MAGIC. It's kind of like a magical Oscar
LOCATION:
The presentation will be at The International Palms Hotel on I-Drive at 8PM.
The Presentation and Parking are Free.
There will be a dinner show at The Laughing Tiki following the presentation (Around 8:30) .
There will be a reduced ticket fee if you'd like to stay for the show and buffet. I will be performing an effect or two for the guests during the show. It is a family friendly comedy show. Salad, Pizza, and Desert is on the menu. Everyone can come to the Presentation and meet Tony Hassini and several other movers and shakers in Orlando (Brad Lineweaver and Rozzie Franco). There's no obligation to attend the dinner show although it is a great deal.
There will also be the usual crew hanging around the lounge area after the show.
NOTE:
Dave will be beginning a weekly magic and mind reading show .... MAGICAL MIND GAMES on Thursday evenings starting on August 19th.
Monday, August 09, 2010
2010-08 Trevor Duffy Lecture
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando IBM Ring 170
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:30 pm
Trevor Duffy is a professional magician and innovator of magic, who has performed in the United States, England, Australia, parts of Africa and now resides in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has received Gold medal awards in South African National championships. In 2002, he won a Gold medal in the category of invention, and placed 2nd in the Australian I.B.M Close-up competition.This lecture has been fifteen years in the making, experiences gleaned from his many travels, meeting with world class performers as well as his own experiences as a working magician.
This is an extremely interesting and thought provoking lecture, entitled 'Crossing the Fine Line'. The crux of the topic is, 'When you have finished your performance, do people go away saying, "That was a nice show!" or do they say, "Wow, that was unbelievable, what an experience... I'll never forget it!" There is a Fine Line between those two responses and Trevor shares valuable insights and ideas, in the form of seven principles, on how to cross over that fine line.
Trevor has also added a number of personalized magic routines and effects, to this part of the lecture. They assist in illustrating what he is sharing and he explains how they are done. Trevor has produced an exclusive range of magician's products and is known for his innovations with 'thin cards'. He discusses them, and they are available for purchase. Think the “PHIL” deck.
BONUS!!! Trevor will be including in our Ring 170 lecture some additional material not presented at his other Florida lecture stops!
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $ FREE $
NON-MEMBERS: $10.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:30 pm
Trevor Duffy is a professional magician and innovator of magic, who has performed in the United States, England, Australia, parts of Africa and now resides in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has received Gold medal awards in South African National championships. In 2002, he won a Gold medal in the category of invention, and placed 2nd in the Australian I.B.M Close-up competition.This lecture has been fifteen years in the making, experiences gleaned from his many travels, meeting with world class performers as well as his own experiences as a working magician.
This is an extremely interesting and thought provoking lecture, entitled 'Crossing the Fine Line'. The crux of the topic is, 'When you have finished your performance, do people go away saying, "That was a nice show!" or do they say, "Wow, that was unbelievable, what an experience... I'll never forget it!" There is a Fine Line between those two responses and Trevor shares valuable insights and ideas, in the form of seven principles, on how to cross over that fine line.
Trevor has also added a number of personalized magic routines and effects, to this part of the lecture. They assist in illustrating what he is sharing and he explains how they are done. Trevor has produced an exclusive range of magician's products and is known for his innovations with 'thin cards'. He discusses them, and they are available for purchase. Think the “PHIL” deck.
BONUS!!! Trevor will be including in our Ring 170 lecture some additional material not presented at his other Florida lecture stops!
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $ FREE $
NON-MEMBERS: $10.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
2010-08 Banacheck Lecture
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando IBM Ring 170
Monday, August 30, 2010 - 7:30pm
BANACHEK
Described as the "Cream of the Crop" when it comes to entertainers, Banachek is the world's leading Mentalist. His talents are so incredible that he is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed 'Psychic powers' but to later reveal he was fooling them.
Performers around the world such as the colorful Penn & Teller, "The Amazing" James Randi and television's unique street magician David Blaine seek his performing expertise. Companies and theaters seek him for his outstanding performing abilities.
As a tribute to his expert performing abilities Banachek has been awarded the Campus Performer of the year two years in a row, from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and the Year 2000 Campus Novelty Act, beating out all other comedians, bands and other novelty acts. He has also received the coveted Psychic Entertainers Creativity award for his outstanding original contributions and inventions in the world of Mental entertainment.
You do not want to miss….
"The mind of the Man Who Fooled the Scientists, Banachek."
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $15.00
NON-MEMBERS: $20.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
Monday, August 30, 2010 - 7:30pm
BANACHEK
Described as the "Cream of the Crop" when it comes to entertainers, Banachek is the world's leading Mentalist. His talents are so incredible that he is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed 'Psychic powers' but to later reveal he was fooling them.
Performers around the world such as the colorful Penn & Teller, "The Amazing" James Randi and television's unique street magician David Blaine seek his performing expertise. Companies and theaters seek him for his outstanding performing abilities.
As a tribute to his expert performing abilities Banachek has been awarded the Campus Performer of the year two years in a row, from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and the Year 2000 Campus Novelty Act, beating out all other comedians, bands and other novelty acts. He has also received the coveted Psychic Entertainers Creativity award for his outstanding original contributions and inventions in the world of Mental entertainment.
You do not want to miss….
"The mind of the Man Who Fooled the Scientists, Banachek."
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $15.00
NON-MEMBERS: $20.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
2010-08 Dennis' Deliberations
You have to laugh at me and Cindy. This past year in Harrisonburg, Virginia has produced the coldest winter and most snow in the past 40 years. This summer has been the hottest and driest in 40 years. Most of Virginia is drought stricken but we were saved here in the Shenandoah Valley by the higher water table due to the heavy snowfall last winter. Our family here in town believes that we jinxed this place. I don’t believe in jinxes. I would rather believe we are all dealt a hand and we must make the best of it. I never moved here believing the weather would be perfect or even average. Remember the story about the statistics professor that drowned in the lake with an average depth of 2 feet.
I never enjoyed being disillusioned by extraordinary examples such as people that won the Lottery got very lucky by being in the right place at the right time. My mind often recalls the disillusioned magic wanna-bees that I have known or the hobbyists that always dreamed of making it big but never did.
I was thinking about the tens of thousands of starry-eyed kids around the world to believe that "making it" in magic -- even with exclusively close-up magic, isn't very difficult. This impression is further buttressed by the "con artists" who hustle get rich quick schemes for magicians; and the magic magazines that month-after-month feature a seemingly endless parade of young illusionists successfully playing their trade in "Vegas-like" venues and such. The rags-to-riches stories, the flashy colored photos of the artist working expensive-looking illusions, and surrounded by gorgeous, scantily-clad babes and all.... What incredibly naive teenager, deeply in love with conjuring, could resist this kind of hype?
And no one in magic seems to see any advantage, either for themselves, their profession, or for all the future potential "victims" -- in blowing the lid off this scam. There are no whistle-blowers in magic!! And there never will be. In fact, they all hate like heck to even admit when magic falls into the doldrums, saying instead, "Just wait -- this is all very temporary, very cyclical, in a few years, in a few decades, whatever -- MAGIC is gonna come roaring back!" ...When in fact, it may be all over for this generation... but the whining.
In the end, 99 percent of us turn out to be losers ... statistically speaking. But that makes lousy copy. The truth is not what most people want to hear or know.
The last Monday of the month is when Ring #320 here in the Valley holds their monthly meetings at the Woodrow Wilson rehabilitation center in Fishersville. President Eddy Toby suggested that the ring members do a stage show for the center patients as a “thank you” for letting us use a room each month for our meetings and lectures.
The last Monday of July we did the show.
Here is the “thank you” note I wrote to Eddy and it has a recap of my act which closed the show:
Eddy,
Thank you for being the spark plug on the WWRC show. In the final analysis you did a great job, both as Emcee and as performer. It was successful and enjoyed by the audience and that is what counts. I mean when a guy even gives his wife to the cause… that’s commitment! Seriously, Yvonne did a great job. She had big shoes to fill and she did!
I need to explain this to everyone else in the ring! It is a private joke between Eddie, Yvonne and me.
A week or so ago Eddie volunteered me to close the show with “a couple of illusions”. I explained that I had the props and costumes but I needed a female assistant and a couple of male assistants. We had the guys covered with Eddie and Dave , but we needed a “tah-dah” girl. Eddie picked up a cute nurse who worked at the center during the Sunday rehearsal and got her to agree to help us on Monday Night.
On Sunday afternoon, Eddie and Dave and the nurse and I went over the routine, the moves, how to walk, how to stand and I took measurements for her wardrobe to pull from my costumes to bring on Monday. She was 5 feet 7 inches and a dress size 8 and size 7 shoes.
Followed the rehearsal, Eddie and Yvonne came by my house in Harrisonburg to help me figure out why my computer was not cooperating with my I-Tunes program so I could burn the music track we needed. It took Yvonne’s son on the cell phone to figure out why we were having so much trouble with my computer.
Monday, I did my last newscast of the day at WSVA Radio at 6PM and went by my house for my rabbit and doves and headed to Fishersville. Lucky! No wrecks to block I-81. I get to the auditorium and guess what? No nurse. They got short-handed at the center and forced her to work in another area of the place!
In steps Yvonne! What a good sport! Of course, she now had to fit her dress size 4 into a size 8 dress and her size 4 shoes into size 7. Lots of stuffing in the toes with toilet paper! We had just enough time to walk her through the sequences and it was curtain time.
Music! I came out with the dancing cane and then did my signature trick, "cane to botania"
I place my rabbit into my Indian Basket illusion and 5 Swords are thrust through and removed. The rabbit comes out unharmed! Not much of a mystery until out of the same basket comes Yvonne dressed as Dorothy from the Land of Oz. A choral version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played as Yvonne was placed on a board and levitated (Super X Suspension)
Finally, I used a Crystal Silk Cylinder and transformed red, white and blue silks into an American flag as I told the story of how Betsy Ross made the American Flag. We concluded with the music of Lee Greenwood singing his classic hit, “God Bless the USA” as Eddie and Dave were showing and rotating a Bryce’s Screen. It was shown empty and then from it produced Yvonne dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
It all worked!
Thanks for making me look good…
I hope everyone now realizes just how complicated it is to even do a short illusion act with any production values, but we did it!
Anyone in their right mind will stick with close-up!
You guys (and girl) were great…Pat yourself on the back!
Keep the magic in your heart!
Dennis Phillips
I never enjoyed being disillusioned by extraordinary examples such as people that won the Lottery got very lucky by being in the right place at the right time. My mind often recalls the disillusioned magic wanna-bees that I have known or the hobbyists that always dreamed of making it big but never did.
I was thinking about the tens of thousands of starry-eyed kids around the world to believe that "making it" in magic -- even with exclusively close-up magic, isn't very difficult. This impression is further buttressed by the "con artists" who hustle get rich quick schemes for magicians; and the magic magazines that month-after-month feature a seemingly endless parade of young illusionists successfully playing their trade in "Vegas-like" venues and such. The rags-to-riches stories, the flashy colored photos of the artist working expensive-looking illusions, and surrounded by gorgeous, scantily-clad babes and all.... What incredibly naive teenager, deeply in love with conjuring, could resist this kind of hype?
And no one in magic seems to see any advantage, either for themselves, their profession, or for all the future potential "victims" -- in blowing the lid off this scam. There are no whistle-blowers in magic!! And there never will be. In fact, they all hate like heck to even admit when magic falls into the doldrums, saying instead, "Just wait -- this is all very temporary, very cyclical, in a few years, in a few decades, whatever -- MAGIC is gonna come roaring back!" ...When in fact, it may be all over for this generation... but the whining.
In the end, 99 percent of us turn out to be losers ... statistically speaking. But that makes lousy copy. The truth is not what most people want to hear or know.
The last Monday of the month is when Ring #320 here in the Valley holds their monthly meetings at the Woodrow Wilson rehabilitation center in Fishersville. President Eddy Toby suggested that the ring members do a stage show for the center patients as a “thank you” for letting us use a room each month for our meetings and lectures.
The last Monday of July we did the show.
Here is the “thank you” note I wrote to Eddy and it has a recap of my act which closed the show:
Eddy,
Thank you for being the spark plug on the WWRC show. In the final analysis you did a great job, both as Emcee and as performer. It was successful and enjoyed by the audience and that is what counts. I mean when a guy even gives his wife to the cause… that’s commitment! Seriously, Yvonne did a great job. She had big shoes to fill and she did!
I need to explain this to everyone else in the ring! It is a private joke between Eddie, Yvonne and me.
A week or so ago Eddie volunteered me to close the show with “a couple of illusions”. I explained that I had the props and costumes but I needed a female assistant and a couple of male assistants. We had the guys covered with Eddie and Dave , but we needed a “tah-dah” girl. Eddie picked up a cute nurse who worked at the center during the Sunday rehearsal and got her to agree to help us on Monday Night.
On Sunday afternoon, Eddie and Dave and the nurse and I went over the routine, the moves, how to walk, how to stand and I took measurements for her wardrobe to pull from my costumes to bring on Monday. She was 5 feet 7 inches and a dress size 8 and size 7 shoes.
Followed the rehearsal, Eddie and Yvonne came by my house in Harrisonburg to help me figure out why my computer was not cooperating with my I-Tunes program so I could burn the music track we needed. It took Yvonne’s son on the cell phone to figure out why we were having so much trouble with my computer.
Monday, I did my last newscast of the day at WSVA Radio at 6PM and went by my house for my rabbit and doves and headed to Fishersville. Lucky! No wrecks to block I-81. I get to the auditorium and guess what? No nurse. They got short-handed at the center and forced her to work in another area of the place!
In steps Yvonne! What a good sport! Of course, she now had to fit her dress size 4 into a size 8 dress and her size 4 shoes into size 7. Lots of stuffing in the toes with toilet paper! We had just enough time to walk her through the sequences and it was curtain time.
Music! I came out with the dancing cane and then did my signature trick, "cane to botania"
I place my rabbit into my Indian Basket illusion and 5 Swords are thrust through and removed. The rabbit comes out unharmed! Not much of a mystery until out of the same basket comes Yvonne dressed as Dorothy from the Land of Oz. A choral version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played as Yvonne was placed on a board and levitated (Super X Suspension)
Finally, I used a Crystal Silk Cylinder and transformed red, white and blue silks into an American flag as I told the story of how Betsy Ross made the American Flag. We concluded with the music of Lee Greenwood singing his classic hit, “God Bless the USA” as Eddie and Dave were showing and rotating a Bryce’s Screen. It was shown empty and then from it produced Yvonne dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
It all worked!
Thanks for making me look good…
I hope everyone now realizes just how complicated it is to even do a short illusion act with any production values, but we did it!
Anyone in their right mind will stick with close-up!
You guys (and girl) were great…Pat yourself on the back!
Keep the magic in your heart!
Dennis Phillips
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