Famulus newsletter

Yet again the progressives racialize something when a conservative addresses the ISSUES

2012-02-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hey DINGY HARRY, did anyone ever tell you it is about the ISSUES not the color of someone's skin or their racial background

"You have to vote for Obama because you are black.....

You have to support this judge or ambassador because you are Latino...."

How about:

You have to support Dingy Harry because you are an IDIOT!

Conservative Hispanic Group Defends Rubio Over Reid Remark | Fox News

2012-02 Ring newsletter

2012-02-14T00:26:00.002-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 2/15/2012 at 7:30 PM SHARP

I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Meeting Theme: Fresh Tricks

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Sheldon Brook- Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
Treasurer - Bev Bergeron & Joe Zimmer -
Mark Fitzgerald- Director at Large -
Dan Knapp- Sgt at Arms -
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************

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.

2012-02 From the Editor

2012-02-14T00:18:00.002-05:00

A happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Your editor is back at work, traveling again, so greetings from the snowy city of Calgary.

Don't forget that the Annual Flea Market and Auction is coming up with great lectures and workshops.

Thanks to Dennis for continuing to provide us with his insights

Your editor

2012-02 Ring Report

2012-02-14T00:07:00.003-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on January 18th with 26 members
present and introduced the elected Officers of the Ring for 2012 to them. Under Good
and Welfare he reported that Dennis Phillips was in Orlando to attend the funeral of
a family member. Dennis was a past Secretary of our Ring and long time member.
Craig went on to say that Jack Kodell and Charlie Pfrogner were both recuperating from
recent illnesses at local rehab centers. George Bernard was in attendance at the meeting.
George makes his home in New England but is very active in our Ring during the Winter
season. Craig concluded his comments by announcing that our Annual Flea Market and
Auction will be held on Saturday, March 10th, at the same location it has been for the
past several years.
Dan Stapleton announced that Circus Fans of America will be meeting in Tampa on
April 19th: he will do a lecture as well as perform at the event. Joe Zimmer, in addition
to his magical pursuits, is very busy at Titanic, on International Drive where more
than 200 artifacts related to that historical tragedy, are now on display. Craig F. and
Mark Fitzgerald can be seen performing Friday nights at the Hard Rock Cafe. Another
member, Ravelli, broke away from his busy schedule of appearances, at the Marriott
Courtyard, the Columbia Restaurant in Celebration and the Royal Plaza Hotel in Lake
Buena Vista, to attend our monthly meeting.
Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #36, a brief treatise on the work of Carl
Owens, a master woodworker, and inventor of many magic illusions, was the head of
Owens Magic Supreme. Two of his most noted illusions were the Trunk Mystery and
the Packing Box.
After a brief intermission, there were only 3 performances by members, Chuck Smithand Dan Stapleton tried, very successfully, their powers of mentalism while Ravelli
demonstrated a new card effect.
Sheldon Brook

2012-02 Dennis' Deliberations

2012-02-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

It was the dead of winter here and I was out of school, so I decided to get back on my project of converting the rest of my VHS tapes to DVDs. This is so they will last and be playable for as long as I am alive. I have a collection on David Ginn videos, some given to me and some I bought from him at lectures. I expected to just start the recording and walk away but to my surprise, they all were incredibly fun to watch. Maybe I am in my second childhood? I also went a looked at my collection of David Ginn books. They give me a new respect for Ginn. He has long been a kind of magic joke to many magicians as “the guy who gets kids screaming” and someone who magicians typecast as a low-brow kid’s performer and book huckster. I am certain that the mantle of “King of Korn” in some way passed from Karroll Fox to Ginn. But, of course, everyone has copied something from him.

As I watched the tapes, I got to thinking that if you ignored his thick Georgia accent (“ doin’ good in skee ooool”) and his complete lack of parsimony in his patter, he is a very lovable and entertaining performer. Ginn is very likable and instantly interesting! That is a quality of real merit. I know that he copies and refines other people’s work but his pacing and unified presentation is great. In fact, in an earlier age of magic, he would have been a lot more main stream.   Bobo had the same kind of act and market but probably, in his day, a bit more respect. Ginn is a big guy and has a physically clumsy image on stage. He is also geeky elfish looking and I think that this visual persona adds to his appeal. Audiences like to laugh at funny looking people. In Ginn’s case, he talks like an excited Southern Baptist preacher which makes the physical comedy and gags even more funny. I am actually complimenting him because his image and actions match his target market and act. Ginn is on the chunky side whereas Bobo was emaciated looking. They both just look and move funny.   Ginn has the guts to do every trick in the catalog. It is probably because he has to have a different show every year since he plays to the same Georgia market and audience.   This necessity caused him to develop different presentations and a wealth of material. He found another outlet and revenue source in selling the information and creations to other magicians.

After 3 hours of Ginn on tape, I began to think the way he thinks. I was going through a Dollar Store and saw a large wooden cooking spoon. I thought, “Hey, I can take this and paint the handle like a magic wand and leave the spoon part plain wood. I can hand it to the kid with the spoon part hidden in my hand and when he takes the other end; I can release my hand so everyone can see it is just a wooden spoon. Then I will say, “Here take my magic wand and don’t stir anything up! Okay, give me that back before you cook up any mischief!”    You get the idea! You can borrow the idea. It cost me $1.00 to make.     I love how Ginn took stuff that I passed over at magic flea markets for a dollar and made it a funny bit of business.

I have known David since the early 70s and always appreciated what he did. Every time we meet now we share our old story of how we met back in the days when indoor malls regularly had magic stage shows. I was doing Whistlestop, my local kid’s show on WBTV (about 1973) and I heard that “David Ginn” was doing his Magic Mall show at SouthPark Mall. I finished taping my show on TV in the late afternoon and headed over to the Mall. I was still in my baggage boy costume from the show.   I got to the mall and Ginn was just going on so I slithered up on the side and joined the standing crowd.   He needed a volunteer for the Sub Trunk. I guess I looked like a good volunteer because he called on me. He said, “Let’s give him a round of applause and the crowd broke into loud applause and cheers. They recognized me from Whistlestop. I got on stage and a few kids screamed out my name, “Dennis!”   Ginn was a bit shaken and asked, “Am I supposed to know you? They do.” I just said, “Yep, they know me”. He asked after hearing them scream my name, “Your name must be Dennis?” I said “yes” another big cheer went up.   He was puzzled but went on with the routine...especially the part about me stepping inside when the girl is inside. Every once in a while I would mumble softly in a stage whisper, “Nice Abbotts box”, “Faster than Richiardi”... He would giggle and kept on. He knew that I was “in the know” and relaxed. After the show, a crowd gathered around me, due to my fame from TV, and when they were gone, I went over to him and explained the story. We exchanged a few Atlanta stories. Duke Stern had worked for a hardware store, which had a magic counter and back then Abe Dickson was touring with his big show, Presto. That SouthPark Mall show was my introduction to Ginn. A tip of my hat to Ginn... he has been around for a long and successful career and vastly under-rated as a performer.

Christmas themed tricks in your Holiday shows... A friend in Charlotte, North Carolina used: Santa Cookies and milk.    “Wizzy Dizzy Milk”. It was an early 60s Supreme trick and sold here back then by Abbotts. I do not think it is in production by Abbotts any more. It was a box with a lid on the top and on the bottom. You started out pouring milk in the top and then rotating the box end for end and opening up the bottom and pouring milk in that and then back to the top and finally pulling out a full ungimmicked glass of milk which you either drink or pour out. Nothing was ever spilled!   The secret was the glass inside was in a wire ring and it would swivel by the two pins on the side that went into holes in the side of the box. The act of turning over the box still kept it upright because of gravity! You were just swiveling the box while the glass inside stayed upright!   Some other Christmas themed tricks and routines: -A Thumb Tip Holiday colors streamer is produced and vanished-Fire pan to a Foam Christmas tree-A Santa Hat Tear with a kid, then a Sponge Star routine--(like sponge balls) then from the Santa hat they have been wearing a Holiday Color Mouth coil is produced--they get to pull it out.... Of course, you can always spend money on something like “Hippity-Hop Santas” or a Christmas Stocking Egg Bag. My only Christmas themed prop is a 36 inch Santa Silk. I don’t like spending money on props that only get used once a year. I put the money into a good Reindeer Mascot costume that I offer as part of the package. They provide the volunteer to wear it.

I hope you have worked up a few “love” routines for your Valentines Day shows! Anything with flowers and a story of love works. I do an effect like Paul Romhany’s Dream Prediction where I have predicted what happened on a married couple’s first date! A middle age couple works fine with this. I end by giving a rose to the husband to give to his wife. This is a one-man routine and I am sure that most of you can figure out the method. Let me know your ideas on any Holiday themed effect as well as posting it right here.

Dennis

2012-01 Ring 170 Newsletter

2012-01-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 1/18/2012 at 7:30 PM SHARP

I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Meeting Theme: Fresh Tricks

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Sheldon Brook- Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
Treasurer - Bev Bergeron & Joe Zimmer -
Mark Fitzgerald- Director at Large -
Dan Knapp- Sgt at Arms -
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************

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.

2012-01 From The Editor

2012-01-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Firstly, all the best for 2012 to all ring members and readers of this newsletter. Hopefully this year will be better for most than the last couple of years.

I would like to thank Dennis and Sheldon for their regular contributions, and Dan for his treatise on 'old jokes'.

Hopefully some of you took my suggestion from the previous newsletter to heart and will be sending me contributions to the newsletter soon.

Your Editor

2012-01 Ring Report

2012-01-16T21:44:00.001-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order with approximately 25 members
and guests present. He sadly announced the illnesses of Gary Adams and Charlie
Pfrogner. Charlie is recovering at the Conway Lakes Rehabilitation Center and can see
well wishers at this time. Craig also mentioned that the 75th Anniversary Meeting of
Genii Magazine will be held in Orlando the first week in October. Our Ring's annual Flea
Market and Auction will be held either the 2d or 3d Saturday in March. The date to be
selected will depend on the availability of guest performers.
Nominations and an election of Ring Officers took place with the following results:
President - Craig Fennessey,
Vice-President - Chris Dunn,
Secretary - Sheldon Brook,
Treasurer - Bev Bergeron and Joe Zimmer,
Sgt. of Arms - Dan Knapp,
Director at Large - Mark Fitzgerald,
Editor - Stefan Bartelski

A gift exchange followed the business meeting with Jacki Manna presiding and
refreshments served. After a short break, the performance portion of the meeting took
place with Doug Kalcik leading off doing spoon bending and a mystifying card selection
trick. Jacki Manna returned to the dais and performed a comedy routine assisted by a
not so dummy 'Chester Field '. Dan Stapleton next entertained with a prediction routine
that he can perform with either cards or dissimilar objects called "Hearts and Diamonds".
Bev Bergeron demonstrated his Pencil through a Quarter illusion. Scott Pepper, a
visitor from the United Kingdom, had an audience participant demonstrate their poor
marksmanship with a ray gun and a 3-ballon illusion set-up. Bob Swadling tried his luck
with a signed card-one dollar bill routine. Next, J. C. Hiatt performed a very entertaining
dice routine that left the membership amazed. Mark Fitzgerald, the final performer,
ended the meeting by determining a card selected by the audience and turned it into
an 'ambitious card '.

2012-01 No such things as old stale jokes!

2012-01-16T21:39:00.001-05:00

In my lecture notes, "Magic for the Working Magician" I blog about using "old jokes" in magic. The title of my lecture notes means that any magician who does shows, knows what I mean when I say, "There is no such thing as (old-stale) jokes'. Those magicians who work, those who perform, understand exactly what I am talking about. Yes there are jokes that are old, that have been around for many years. But I'll bet that every time you use the line in your head chopper routine, "One-Two-Three days ago I did this trick..." will ALWAYS get a laugh. Maybe not from everyone, but the proof of its worth is in the fact that SOMEBODY will laugh. Same thing with the gag, "Place this object in your hand, no..the clean hand". It will get a few chuckles, even though the gag has been around for many years.

At Wizardz, in Kissimmee, it's obvious where the magicians sit from the laymen. Just listen and watch the reaction. At Abbott's Magic get-Together, this summer, all the magicians sat in the center of the auditorium and the laymen, in the school bleachers on the sides. Guess where the best reaction came from? Not the center. Many blogs in magazines, or reviews of acts that the reporter critiques, often mentions "the same old/stale jokes". Trust me, after performing aboard cruise ships for 23 years, I think I have some authority to (hear) what works and what doesn't. Do the old jokes ALWAYS get laughs? Well, no. But then again the best entertainers won't ALWAYS have good shows either. Ask any of them, they'll tell you.

Onboard one of my ships was a comedian who got standing ovations many times. And much of his material I found in Milton Berles Joke book. And Milton Berle probably got them from other comics from years before him. Of course, this ship comedian did update the material to make it sound refreshing and topical. Now comes the most important part. It's the right audience and the TIMING of a joke that makes it funny. Some people don't have the "timing" a joke needs.

I took the "old/stale" vaudeville comedy routine, now a marketed magic trick, the Vanishing Banana/Bandana, rewrote the script, hired a professional voice-over actor to narrate, then, because I don't look like a funny guy, dressed differently. Sometimes the routine gets some of the biggest laughs in my show. On some weeks aboard the cruise ships, I would perform illusions, along with other, smaller effects, and I would get angry for the huge reaction that "stupid" banana routine got. Because the big bucks and back-breaking work was in the illusions, yet that old/stale banana gag got the better reaction...are you kidding me? Is it no wonder that many "working" magicians advertise (comedy) in their show title, even when the show is mainly magic? Too many times, after my show I hear, "I don't usually like magic but...." And guess what, my "comedy" is filled with "old/stale" jokes. Do I use those jokes when magicians are in the audience? Sometimes. Do I use those jokes in all shows? No. Again, it depends on the audience.

Aboard ships I often did a fifteen minute monolog of old cruise ship jokes. Back in the 1980's there were always more older than younger audiences. And often I would hear from an old timer, "I heard that joke years ago..." Yet, the audience usually howled at the routine because they could identify with what I was saying. It was topical humor...and "themed"...old age jokes and cruise ships...couldn't miss. Oh yes, sometimes a comment card would say "comedian needs new jokes"...but that comment would come from the guy who, in fact, heard the joke(s) before, but not the majority of the audience. Believe me, if there were no or few laughs, I would keep trying different material until the jokes "hit". And that's what I did, so much so, that I put them on tape ("Comedy Live-From Ship to Shore") and sold the souvenir tapes after my show...and lots of them.

Here's my point, unless you only perform for fellow magicians, try some of those old-stale jokes. Update them but know the timing of the joke and I guarantee you laughs, not from everyone but enough to get an idea which jokes or gags you will keep and which are not for you. A few weeks ago I used the (very old) black hand gag. Yes, it got laughs. Not "howls" but enough to use it again, once in a while. Why? Because it's such an old gag-prop that most people have not seen it. Like the Zig-Zag illusion, when in the 1970's every person on the block had one. Not many magicians perform it today. I do....most laymen have never seen a Zig-Zag illusion or even a Sub Trunk or Zombie Ball. I know because I use all three all the time and they never...NEVER...get less than an enthusiastic response. Same thing with jokes....BUT...don't expect "old-stale" jokes OR NEW jokes to get the big laughs all the time. There is a place for all jokes. It's just the delivery, the timing, the audience...and by the way, whom ever said, "There is no such thing as bad audiences, just bad actors/entertainers" never really did shows himself. Don't let him fool you...it's only an old/stale saying.
-Dan Stapleton

2012-01 Charity Magic Show 1/28

2012-01-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

2012-01 Dennis' Deliberations

2012-01-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

I have a confession. Marco Tempest leaves me cold. I have no appreciation of what he does. I do not consider it very mysterious or in the category of “stage magic”. It is electronic gimmicky. But, I respect what he does and recognize that he is on the cutting edge of what magic will be in the 21st century. So even though Marco does not entertain me, I am going to heap praise on him.

FIRST: He entertains the public.
SECOND: Whether the “old guard” of magic finds him an electronic “sell-out” or not, he’s GETTING WORK. That is a positive and envious position to be in during this economic mess.
THIRD: I personally find his manner and voice and accent, and even looks, a turn-off, none of which is his fault. Many people like him. He does wear well while performing and is not obnoxious.
FOURTH: Check the history of Marco Tempest. He grew up doing “our” conventional conjuring, entering contests and what not, but then said he got “bored with it all.” Having a geek’s interest in media technologies, he put on his thinking cap and merged the two.
FIFTH: In the process, he was able to create a novel form of “magic”, with a bit of a rainbows-and-butterflies Doug Henning slant, and it struck a chord with corporate hacks and audiences. More power to him — considering so many very talented conventional magicians can’t get a decent toe-hold in show business these days.
SIXTH: I and all us old guys have every right to say, in effect, his shtick of merging video special effects to “our” magic, is not our cup of tea, but we have to admit (through a gnashing of teeth?) that he’s hit on a successful ANGLE and is running with it. You have to admire that much.Thinking outside the magic box…. is what it’s all about. The world is full of magic clones all doing essentially the same stock stuff. Now watch a few other guys come out of the woodwork trying to copy him. I don’t think his technological bent can be FAKED, it has to come naturally. Lucky for him he had two sincere interests and was able to combine them, and (most important!) made them commercial.The world has always thrived on NOVELTY, but inherent in the very definition of “novelty” (I think) is something that cannot have “legs.” If it lasts it’s not novel, and if it is novel, it can’t last. When it is accepted as mainstream, it is no longer novel! David Copperfield hasn’t a thing to worry about.

Speaking of Marco Tempest, how can Europe have at least 5 big touring illusion shows and we have almost nothing? (They have Dani Lary, Peter Marvey, Luis DeMatos etc. etc.) I helped Paul Osborne on some of his design work and consultation is in Europe. How can Dani Lary afford this?

This is very odd because I have been told that Europe is a socialist basket case; I have also been told Europeans are dying because their socialized medicine is failing. I have been told that their tax rates are confiscatory so they have no discretionary money. I have been told that most Europeans are crushed economically and have no freedom. That is what I keep hearing on the most watched news network on cable TV. They say that few people their own cars and homes in Europe much less a Super X in the attic and Temple of Benares in the basement. I don’t know if the news channel is exaggerating for political purposes. All I know is that Europeans have access to and they see lots of magic!

I have heard from some that big show business is not “controlled” by big mega media corporations in Europe as it is here. It is a lot more diversified and in some cases government supported. This may be because each country operates politically separate even though they share a common currency. I don’t think that money alone assure success otherwise Steve Wyrick would be at the top. Europe has a lot more respect for variety arts… Over here in the United States, variety arts do not have the same respect. It took Canada to create the very artsy Cirque du Soleil. Does America lack a sufficiently sophisticated population to enjoy magic?

Since I moved here in rural Virginia, I have been forced to drop “magic” from my advertising. The Religious Fundamentalists here believe all magicians are in league with the devil. When I lived up here in the 1960s, I do not remember such superstition as a magician. What changed? I would say that we have gone downhill intellectually, religiously and economically since then.The feeling by some on the International show-business scene is that America is become a 3rd world poverty- stricken place filled with ignorant people. A fair number of magicians have become ex-patriots in order to keep working. Jonathan David Bass relocated to Prague in the Czech Republic. Joe Conrad is in Thailand. Japan has several ex-patriot Americans. Cyril, from San Francisco, is a big star. Robert Gallup made it big in Australia. Hank Lee was on a tour in China when he died. How many road tours like that are there here?

I am mentioning this because I care about my country. Yes, I am also a bit jealous of all the touring large magic shows and sophisticated magic in Europe.

I hope this New Year in a good one for you.

2011-12 Ring 170 newsletter

2011-12-19T23:57:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 12/20/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Meeting Theme: Club Annual Holiday Party

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-12 From the Editor

2011-12-19T23:54:00.002-05:00

So 2011 draws to a close, and I am sure many of us are glad to see the rear end of this year, hoping for a better time in 2012. Remember the last meeting of the year is the traditional Ring 170 Holiday Party. Bring a gift of value at least $15 and have some fun. Even if you do not bring a gift, there will be plenty of fun to go around.

Please consider submitting your name for some of the board positions that will be coming available soon. Let Craig Fennessey know if you are interested, before the December meeting. We will be voting for the 2012 board at that meeting. These positions do not involve a huge amount of work but some new blood and ideas would be very helpful.

Especial thanks to Dennis and Sheldon for the consistency in their contributions throughout the year. As we go into 2012, can I ask the members to please add "submitting an article to the Famulus newsletter" as one of their New Year resolutions.

I would like to wish all members a merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah or Happy Holidays, whichever is appropriate. Of course, a happy and prosperous New Year to each and everyone.

Your editor

2011-12 Ring Report

2011-12-19T23:47:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting on November 16th with 19 members and guests present at the opening: more were to come as the meeting progressed. Paige Sessions introduced himself, as a guest and told of his interest in magic and a desire to join the Ring.

Annual dues have come around again and all those members who are paid up by the January 4th lecture, by Joshua Jay, would be admitted without charge.

At our next meeting there will be a Christmas gift exchange and participants are asked to bring a gift,
which will be opened when selected and available for the picking. A gift of $15 or more was suggested. Members were solicited to consider Board Membership for the upcoming year of 2012. This subject will be considered more thoroughly at our next meeting.

Several members told of their current bookings: Ravelli is keeping busy with appearances at the Columbia Restaurant in Celebration on weekends as well as the Marriot Courtyard and Royal Plaza Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. Joe Zimmer endorsed the Titanic, The Experience, attraction on International Drive which is expanding to include a Dinner Show. Mark Fitzgerald and Craig Fennessey are busy at the Hard Rock Cafe and are
joined on occasion by Wallace Murphy, who will also be travelling to Naples to fulfill a Corporate gig. Dan Stapleton is performing at numerous locations on International Drive during this busy Holiday Season. Dan Knapp will be part of the monthly show at Give Kids The World.

Bev Bergeron continued with his series of impromptu magic with a dollar bill production routine. He was followed by Phil Schwartz with Magic History Moment #35. Phil, accompanied by Jeff Pierce, attended a three-day Magic Convention at Brookledge, in Studio City, California, the home, between 1928 and 1942, of Jennie and Floyd Thayer. The Thayers built a Studio-Theater, behind the house, which opened in 1933. The home was purchased by the Larson Family in 1942 who still reside at the property today. Brookledge is a property with a great amount of historical Magic significance. As a result of his interest, Phil recently published a high quality booklet entitled The Story of Brookledge.

After a brief intermission the performances were initiated by Bev Bergeron who did a comical card effect. Richard Hewitt continued in the same vein with a variation of the Invisible Deck. Charlie Pfrogner, with help from an audience participant, illustrated his physic powers of prediction. Dan Stapleton followed with a demonstration of his Poker Prowess with three audience volunteers going against him with little success. Ravelli
closed the evening with a very entertaining performance utilizing coins, rope and cards. It was easy to see why he is a sought after performer.

Sheldon Brook

2011-12 Annual Holiday Party

2011-12-19T23:45:00.002-05:00

REMEMBER…the December monthly meeting is our IBM RING 170 HOLIDAY PARTY !!!…come early (6:00pm) and join us for dinner.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 7:30pm

You may bring snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic) to share….

I-Hop is providing the cake!

This year we are doing our traditional Holiday gift exchange…..

To participate in the gift exchange you need to bring a new magic related gift…wrapped….gift value needs to be $15.00 or more.

When you arrive, turn in your gift, you will be given a lottery holiday name….during the gift exchange when your holiday name is chosen…you may select the gift of your choice. Jacki Manna will be the host for the evening…and will go over the gift exchange rules.

Please….no old magazines or broken flea market buys. Bring something you would be delighted to receive yourself.

Please note… If you choose not to participate in the gift exchange…that’s fine…you will have plenty of fun just watching…and you can also enjoy the free snack food, drink and magic performances after the gift exchange.

2011-12 Update on Charlie Pfrogner

2011-12-19T23:43:00.002-05:00

Update to the Charlie Pfrogner Update

Charlie Pfrogner – is being released from the Florida SouthHospital today at 5:30pm today…..Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

You may now see/contact Charlie at:

Conway Lake Health Rehabilitation Center

5201 Curry Ford Road

Rm# 203B

Orlando, Florida 32812

407-384-8838

Thanks for all the support!

2011-12 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-12-19T23:33:00.000-05:00

Equivoque is the word that most magicians recognize as “A Magician’s Force”. This is the technique of making the spectator think that they have a free choice while you know what you want them to choose and manipulate them to take what you want. I was recently talking to a couple of professional magicians and we were talking about the technique. I told them that I always explain it to magicians as the same thing as asking someone to choose which current author of mentalism books they prefer, Phil Goldstein or Max Maven.

The PATEO Force is usually credited to Roy Baker. It stands for (P)ick (A)ny (T)wo - (E)liminate (O)ne. One of the great examples of this technique was when the deep voice of Eugene Burger combined with a Robert Neal story. Eugene laid many cards face down on the table and said that people were dying in the small medieval town and people began to accuse others of being responsible for the deaths. Eugene had a spectator pick two cards and he turned over one. It was the Queen of Diamonds, the town’s seamstress. Was she a witch? No, soon she died. All the cards had a profession in the village. The Jack of Spades was the Gravedigger. He was selected and died. It got down to the only card that was not dead and Burger turned it over and it was the one who brought the plague, the ace of spades. I thought that this was a great example of story telling and the PATEO Force.
One suggestion on Equivoque: If you are doing it multiple times, break up the way you ask them to choose so your method is not obvious. Like Max Maven’s B-Wave, the application of Equivoque can be simple and yet powerful.

MELINDA is BACK.......uhhh. But I prefer her front.....

Actually, I liked Melinda’s illusions. Perhaps there was not enough room at the top for her. I mean, uhhh, at the top of show business there was not enough room.

She complains in Magic Magazine (November issue) that they used to always want her to dress skimpier. Well, golly gee, that's all most men remember her for.

She had a lot of “bump and grind” and was properly instructed in that style of dancing by her mother, Bonnie, a former Vegas dancer. But, she could move rather well when choreographed.

Her first and only solo TV special, the Disney produced one taped here in Orlando, was a train wreck but I could see some great routines and concepts in it. Her magic got lost in needless scenes with fairytales; unicorns, cartoon characters and even an Indianapolis racecar vanish. The Melinda personality got lost in a massive Disney promotion show.

I really hope she can make a comeback.

Some guys are just crazy for magic. They think, eat and have it on their mind all the time. It dominates their life! I wonder if the following letter could actually ever happen.

Dear Abby,I am a professional magician with a deep concern. I have never written to you before, but I really need your advice. I keep strange hours with my career, and I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me.The usual signs; phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. When I'm about to leave for a gig, I learn, for the umpteenth time, my wife is about to go out with "the girls", although when I ask their names she always says, just some friends from work, you don't know them. When I finally get home and discover she's not there, I try to stay awake and watch for her when she comes in, but I usually fall asleep.Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just did not want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to finally check on her. Around midnight when I got home from another show, and again she wasn't home yet, I hid in the garage behind some illusion props so I could get a good view of the whole street when she arrived home after night out with "the girls."When she got out of the car she was buttoning up her blouse, her hair and makeup were all messed up and a guy kissed her good-by and I really need your advice!It was at that moment, crouching inside my Zig Zag, that I noticed a hairline crack along the door at the hinges. Is this something I can fix myself, or should I take it back to Abbotts for repairs?Signed...Puzzled Magician

I hope that gave you a Holiday laugh and keep your life balanced in the New Year! Show attention to the ones you love this holiday season.

Peace and Happiness to all in 2012!

Dennis Phillips, in the heart of the Great Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg, Virginia

2011-11 Ring 170 Newsletter

2011-11-13T17:04:00.001-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 11/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Meeting Theme: Christmas Effects

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-11 From the Editor

2011-11-13T16:56:00.001-05:00

As we draw close to the end of 2011, I have to thank, yet again, Dennis and Sheldon for their regular contributions. And add my regular request to Ring members to contribute to the newsletter. If you are worried about your writing skills, just do what you can and then put a note in your contribution that you would like me to wordsmith the piece. I will be happy to help. By the way, without such a request, I restrict myself to spelling, formatting and minor grammatical corrections.

Remember, at the November meeting we would love to receive the names of some new blood for the board. While we know that the board does a great job, the addition of new recruits with fresh ideas will help ensure that we keep the Ring active.

Your editor

2011-11 Ring Report

2011-11-13T16:52:00.001-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on October 19th with 27 members and guests in attendance. He announced that the reception to Jon Racherbaumer's lecture the previous week was very positive and that the lectures will continue with Johua Jay on January 4th and others to follow. Ring 258 in Leesburg will hold its annual flea market and auction on November12th and the Daytona Beach Magic Convention will be the weekend of November 5th: the membership was encouraged to attend both events.

A good many members of our Ring indicated they are performing in the area: Mark Fitzgerald seemed to be the busiest with gigs at the Hard Rock Cafe, Mitchell's, and Church Street. Jacki Manna can be seen at the Florida Mall and Mike Martin will be entertaining at Give Kids The World. Dan Stapleton volunteered to perform for the school kids involved in a "Drug Awareness Program" sponsored by Elk's Lodge #1079 and the local Law Enforcement Agency. William Hicks, on behalf of the Elks, appealed to the Ring for its participation in the program. Phil Schwartz announced his plans to attend the upcoming Potter & Potter Auction in Chicago. The catalog, which he had in hand, includes, in part, the Ken Klosterman Collection. He then entered into Magic History No. 34 and his subject was none other than the most famous name in Magic from any era, "Harry Houdini", nee, Erich Weiss. His presentation was all inclusive from Houdini's birth in 1874 to 'beyond' his untimely death in 1926. Phil closed his talk by sharing from his collection, a framed broadside and window card of a Houdini performance.

Following an intermission, no fewer than 11 members signed up to perform for an eager audience. Bob Swaddling kicked it off with a card prediction effect followed by Mike Martin's comedy routine. With Halloween closing in on us, Wallace Murphy, turned Silk to Candy Corn. Charlie Pfrogner produced Bugs and other Critters from his empty box. Ed McGowan brought a deck of cards out to entertain with a card prediction routine, He was followed by Chris Dunn with a collection of Halloween "spooky stuff" that included a "zombie pumpkin", silks, and magic books. Mark Fitzgerald performed with both cards and coins a very entertaining matrix routine. William Zaballero demonstrated, once again, his card handling with a close-up effect. Jacki Manna brought her green friend, Jo-Jo Bean, on stage with her and proceeded with a comedy routine that left the membership clamoring for more. Craig Fennessey demonstrated his very entertaining and mystifying Light Board act with a crowd pleasing presentation. Dan Stapleton capped off the evening with a delightful and professional performance of "Ectoplasm".

A fine time was had by all.

Sheldon Brook

2011-11 Magician looking for doves

2011-11-13T16:48:00.001-05:00

Mike Berlant is looking for a source of white doves, can anyone help him? Please direct your replies to him (not via the newsletter). he can be reached at mike@mikeberlant.com or 407-592-5763.

2011-11 New magic movies: Walking through Fires & Burt Wonderstone

2011-11-13T16:38:00.001-05:00

Mark O'Brien was the closing act at our Famulus yearly banquet a few years ago

Mark O’Brien’s film, Walking Through Fires centers on Mark’s true life story. It is as real as you can get. No Hollywood smoke and mirrors, no re-writes and big name production army and no “A” list cast. It is a micro-budget film although it looks like a much bigger budget film. Mark’s film centers on his loss of a half-million dollars worth of illusions burned in his Orlando warehouse in two suspicious fires five days apart. Classified to this day as arson by the insurance investigator, many believe the fires were set to thwart Mark’s attempt to open his magic attraction in Orlando. But the real story and “relevance” is that his film sheds light on the way things really are in show business. His very personal film depicts the events before during and after the fires and the damage to his career, family, friends and mental health. The film is enlightening, educational, moving, disturbing and inspiring and covers so much of what life is all about. Justice, corruption, family, career, friendship and magic are all examined within the film’s complex structure.

In spite of this tragedy, Mark remains a World Class Illusionist and has developed into a very good film producer-director. This is one micro-budget that every magician should see as it will beg them to ask not only why they perform magic but what they find important in their own lives outside of their crazy profession, hobby or obsession. And they may even ask themselves why Mark O’Brien would spend five years and a great deal of his own money to tell his story in a film. I wonder if Hollywood could have told Mark’s story any better?

So who the heck is Burt Wonderstone? He is a fictitious character and you can expect to see Steve Carell star as “Wonderstone” in the magician comedy film, titled Burt Wonderstone. That big budget movie is centered on the world of Las Vegas magicians, with Carell playing a traditional performer who gets a rival in the form of “a hip younger illusionist,” which leads to him having to “find a way to rediscover his love for magic.” According to some press articles, Wonderstone accidentally kills his partner and must regain his “hocus-pocus focus” while simultaneously competing with a rival. New Line is planning to shoot this month.

According to IMDB, the film script was purchased in 2006. This is the same year that production began on Mark O’Brien’s micro-budget indie. Thus you may have two films about illusionists coming out at the same time again. Dejavu – like when The Prestige and The Illusionist came out at the same time. Those films were very similar but these films are very different in many ways.

To see clips from the film and check on the release information you can visit the official site:

http://www.walkingthroughfires.com

Aside from purchasing the DVD or renting it when it becomes available, please support Mark and the real world of independent film making by visiting the film’s facebook fan page and clicking the “like” button.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Walking-Through-Fires/150988531636061

You Tube is also filled with classic clips of some of Mark’s television and live show appearances. You will love the creative illusions on many of Mark’s Nickelodeon network TV shows! Some of those were taped in Orlando when Nickelodeon had a strong presence at Universal Studios.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WalkingThroughFires

If you are searching for relevance in a magic film or even in your life, you may find it in Walking Through Fires. If you are looking for comedy then let’s hope Wonderstone delivers as much bang as Walking Through Fires does for the buck!

Dennis Phillips

2011-11 Tablecloth Trick

2011-11-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

here is something that might make you laugh (unless you are the boy's parents)

tablecloth trick

2011-11 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-11-13T16:29:00.001-05:00

I got an E-mail and later a phone call from a magic friend, who said,

“Dennis, here is an amazing jumbo card routine that sells for $199 being sold by the Hocus Pocus magic company. I just ordered it!” :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=13BV8VdPba4

The effect is called, The Alchemist by Jansenson. In checking the You Tube site, I see that Jensenson is a very talented and powerful performer. He has many fine effects posted. The routine is puzzling but in any other hands than Jansenson, I do not see it as compelling.

First of all, it moves way too slow for American audiences. The whole effect can be boiled down to the fact that he always appears to know where every card is located. That is the only continuous effect in the whole routine. Audiences don’t care or find that terribly mysterious as the only effect. They assume he has a stacked or marked deck or is doing phony shuffles. For $199, he could even have an RFI chip in every card and a ring reader to prompt him. This basic effect is not that strong.

Take the same effect , every card is in its place, and add a story like, “Sam the Bellhop” and you have real entertainment. Try Kerry Pollack’s “Kate and Edith” for socko entertainment.

For a real mysterious crowd pleaser, Billy McComb’s McComical Deck is far better entertainment with a jumbo deck.

This is just my opinion. I have been around magic long enough to know that magicians get thrilled over a clever method and forget the entertainment value. Sure, I could come up with a clever way of doing, “The Color Changing Plate of Spaghetti”. It would go from bright red to bright blue and the Mozzarella cheese can appear and disappear. I could use clever chemical reactions and color changing LEDs in the plate and fiber optics. In the end, I want to say, “so what?” We have to keep focused on the main thing, entertainment. (By the way if you go ahead with the color changing plate of spaghetti, it was my idea and I demand a cut of whatever you make from any magic sucker who buys it)

**********

I think a lesson to all performers in the twilight of their careers is to always keep working, even if it is for almost nothing.

Dai Vernon, Blackstone Sr. extended their lives long after their careers were over by working for probably peanuts at the Magic Castle. Calvert at 100 lives on the energy of his stage work.

In old age, survival depends on community friends, purpose and something to keep you going. It also depends on an internal sense of who you are and being at peace with yourself.

The “artistic” personality can be self destructive. Ernest Hemingway shot himself. Bill Neff and many other magicians drank themselves to death.

It is important to never get yourself and your identity totally wrapped up in your stage work. If you can write, lecture, or create, you can keep your life forces flowing. When you get too old to do the physical stuff, or your act is dated, a person most often mentally falls apart, without other things to keep them going.

I recently got an insight into the demise of The Pendragons. I got a chance to see the 4 Pendragon videos. They really are excellent resource material for any illusionist to have in their library. They were made shortly before they broke up. Jon really bared his soul about his mental issues. Two events almost did him in. The tiger attack in Reno in 1992 cause him to lose half of his left bicep muscles and he was forced to re- choreograph all of his moves due to weakness on his left side. Then the arrow through the heart caused heart damage and weakness. He seems to huff and puff a bit from the cardiac damage.

In the video he and Charlotte were really showing their years. On tape two they had excellent explanations and video of their famous sub trunk. It was amazing to have them go through every move, the construction of the trunk and well as the evolution of the handling of the cloth from the first “hourglass” move to how the break away cloth is made. They also showed the entire sequence from the back! She tosses up the cloth and he literally stands up and swats apart the cloth (it is Velcro with strategic tabs).

I believe that their careers stalled and that led to a resurfacing of Jon’s old demons. He admits to having barely controllable OCD.

Also on the tapes, an excellent insight into his Sands of Egypt, a look at Charlotte broom harness, impaled and most of the classics such as the basket.

**********

I am intensely fascinated by why people laugh and why and what sort of humor works. (So was Aristotle and that is why he wrote Poetics II! Sadly we only have a few bits of that work)

What becomes politically incorrect humor? No magician in their right mind today would do the Bra trick on a female. On a male it will either get a big laugh or you will get slugged!

Here is a clip of Spike Jones on early TV! All this is funny stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJG8x1OJubU&feature=related

Notice how that dressing in drag in comedy sketches carried no stigma then! (Milton Berle, Red Skelton, etc)

Spike Jones’ humor is right out of vaudeville, which was the only format that early TV had. Something shifted in the social psycho-sexual mindset in the 60s and 70s so that it no longer was funny.

Our humor also shifted. Bob Orben lines mostly don’t work today. People have no appreciation of linguistic cleverness. Today’s humor is all “put down humor” with lots of profanity and anger.

In contract here is some old style humor: (Borrowed from Harry Allen) “Before I was a magician I worked in a factory making alphabet soup. They fired me, I was making only 100 Gs a year...Then I worked as a taste tester in a prune factory. It was great job but a lousy schedule. One day on two days off.”

These lines only work with a crowd over 55! I have tried them a few times in a high school class and the kids just don’t grasp the language...More examples:

“You think this is a tough school? You should have been at the school I substituted at last week! The yearbook had two pictures of each senior, front and side!”

No response...”Really, Mr. Phillips? What school was it?” The routine continues:

“I took one of the students down to the Guidance Councilor and asked the councilor how long it was until the student graduated. The councilor said, "I donno know, maybe ten to twenty with good behavior"! It was a tough school. The Principal told me that I would have all honor students. He was right. All they knew was, "Yes, your Honor. Sorry, your Honor"! It was a tough school.

When the students were in elementary school they played Hop Scotch with real Scotch! I asked one of the students what he was taking in school. He said, "Anything that ain't nailed down"!

I asked, “How do you like school?” He said, “CLOSED!” That school was so tough the Student Newspaper had an Obituary column! The student news on the School TV channel used the slogan, “If you have the time, we have the crime!”

No response... “Wow that was really a bad place, Mr. Phillips. What school was it?”

I repeated the same routine in the Faculty Lounge at lunch and the older teachers were rolling in the floor with laughter...

I also have tested the theory outside of school. I was in Lowes checking out and the cashier was a young woman working with an older woman showing her the cash register. As I walked up they were talking about how the young woman met her husband. “I met Bill at a party”. The older woman said, “I have known Jack since high school”. I walked up with my plywood and said, “I will tell you how I met my wife. She was working at a Travel Agency and I was her last resort.” The older woman laughed, the younger woman looked puzzled.

I guess I am old school in everything. Loved Blackstone, detest Criss Angel. My tastes reflect generational change.

**********

We got our first snow of the year before Halloween October 29^th! Four inches! Few can remember that much snow so early. The local wisdom is that you can tell how much snow that you are going to get for the winter by how high the hornets build their nests. I found one just under the roof line near the peak where the chimney is!

I will keep you posted!

Dennis Phillips

Harrisonburg, Virginia

2011-10 Ring 170 Newsletter

2011-10-13T14:06:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 10/19/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-10 From the Editor

2011-10-13T14:04:00.001-05:00

Winter, at least as much as we get down here, is coming so break out those new tricks, get practiced and ready. We have some great lectures coming up, so be sure to put them in your diary, especially Jon Rauchenbaumer on Friday 10/14.

Thanks to Dennis for his contribution, we do miss him down here.

Your editor

Stefan

2011-10 Ring Report

2011-10-13T13:58:00.001-05:00

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting on September 21st with 25 members
and guests present. He announced that several lectures have been booked including Jon
Racherbaumer in October and Joshua Jay on January 4th. Several members, including
Bob Swadling and Jim McNiff attended the Magic Live Convention in Las Vegas and
reported that it was one of the best magic affairs they ever had the pleasure to attend and
were looking forward to the next one. They were complimentary of the excellent quality
of lectures as well as the Dealer's Hall.

Bev Bergeron participated in the IBM Convention in San Antonio and reported on his
experience as well as his continuation on to Las Vegas and a writing assignment with
Penn and Teller.

Dan Stapleton rounded out the reports of our traveling magicians with his experience in
Colon, Michigan at the Abbott's event where he also performed. John Calvert was also
an honored guest as he celebrated his 100th birthday.

After a brief intermission the remainder of the meeting was devoted to a lecture by Devin
Knight. His presentation and magic were well received by the membership who stayed
later than usual to take it all in.

A fine time was had by all.

2011-10 Bev at the Red Fox Lounge - Oct 13th

2011-10-13T13:54:00.001-05:00

Bev Bergeron and Friends (both of them)

appearing at the Red Fox Lounge (Best Western Motel)

110 S. Orlando – Winter Park

Join the fun and if you can perform for a minute (that is all) be prepared to do so.

No Cover Charge – No Drink Requirement

Bev may sing “Benny’s From Heaven.”

Come Celebrate 20 Years of Performing by Mark Wayne & Lorna at the Red Fox Lounge

2011-10 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-10-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

“A magician auditioned for an agent. He produced 100 cards, one at a time, then did the 3 rope trick then wrapped himself in his cape and disappeared. The agent said,” Good but that cape trick... can you open with that?"

The future of illusionists and magic is evolving and You Tube and free-market capitalism (“everything is for sale”) has changed it all. Now more than ever, EVERYTHING is about marketing and clawing your way through the economic wasteland. Some people like the constant thrill of competition. You have to be sharp, on target, capitalized and superior just to survive. I forgot. You also have to be connected. You can have everything hut if you are not connected, forget it!

Who’s Got Talent in 2011?
When a huge hoard of kids are jumping around frantically on the stage in some simulacrum of "dancing" and beat out one lone talent who can play the piano well and sing sensationally, something's dreadfully wrong. Likewise with this American television show that can't find anyone out of over 300 million of its citizens to judge the talent, and must rely instead on a snotty British Murdoch-journalist, the wife of a burnt-out druggy British rock star, and an unfunny bald comedian from Canada. Something is wrong! Something is wrong with show business! Sometimes I hate walk-around magicians. Sure I give kudos to real professional magicians, but I just want to beat the tar out of street magicians because they are often floating on top in the ‘Porta Potty’ of life. Okay okay, here’s the scenario… A non magician friend related to me that his entourage and was getting all crazy at the “in-spot” club in the downtown of a nearby city. He said , “We danced, talked, we got tipsy and closed the club. They were outside trying to get a cab to go back to my place for some after hours partying but then *BAM!* -- out of nowhere this grunge magician starts harassing the ladies. He was doing card tricks, he’s doing several ancient hackneyed tricks, but the thing that angered them the most was that he was not dressed to impress. He was wearing a worn out surfing shirt, raggedy old blue jeans, and had messy hair. He was one step above homeless bum. What the heck is he doing out at 2 am anyway? Trying to make time with the women? Oh pleeeeeeease.So I approached this dirt bag and told him to back up and leave my ladies alone. He then goes "C’mon man, I’m working my magic." To which I replied, "Hey buddy, I’m not looking for any trouble, just leave the girls alone." Now you’re probably wondering, why am I interfering with this situation? Why can’t he just stay out of it and let the girls take care of them selves? The answer is simple my friends: The girls were pretty drunk and the ‘magic dirtbag’ was trying to lure them away from the group, he kept backing up and they were following. The ladies just wanted to see some magic; they didn’t realize what was going on. And me, I take care of my friends. Back to the verbalization: The grunge magician says, "Go have another drink, you lush," where I respond, "Open your mouth again you psycho, and I'll shove a fist down your throat". And right when I said that, three other guys from my entourage magically appeared behind me. He looked angry, looked at me, the ladies giggled, and then he just walked away. These grunge magicians are morons. ...The story ends with me and my entourage having some drinks at my place until the sun came up.”Morons like that trashes our art. The general public does not know the difference. I am considering carrying a heavy magic wand ( the size of a Night Stick) and if I ever come across one of these jerks, I may rearrange his face.

Regardless, just what IS the motivation of most so-called "street magicians"? Where is the "cash transition" in this kind of magic?I'm reminded of a story with regards to the hype of show business. The famous escape-artist Harry Houdini used to do an escape from a large, towering safe. It was supposedly "donated" by large locksmith firm, as a "challenge escape". It would serve as fantastic publicity for the company, should the escape artist fail to extricate himself. At first, Houdini made it look EASY, and partly because it WAS easy (safes are designed to keep people from getting INTO them, not out!) But he didn't get the kind of audience reaction he was hoping for. So one day he hit upon a plan, or maybe it was suggested to him by some other showbiz crony. Audiences were much more patient back at the turn of the twentieth century. Since music was a rarity and the phonographic records of that day were horrible in quality they'd listen to any live orchestra for a while, while watching to see if the guy could make good his escape from an examined, securely nailed packing box, tank of water, or whatever. So once Houdini was locked into the safe, it was pointed out to the expectant crowd how dangerously little air there was in the safe ("If I'm not out in FIVE MINUTES it means CERTAIN DEATH!! ") -- Thus primed, the audience saw Houdini get locked into the safe, and a giant three-fold screen would be placed in front of the "door" of the safe. This, of course, was to preserve the mystery as to how the magician made his escape. And to add to the drama, a couple of burly men would stand on either side of the screen holding large, grotesquely ominous-looking AXES in their hands. (Not that they could hack their way into a heavy metal safe!) Houdini, trapped in the safe, would then calmly take the "tumbler plate" off the inside of the door with his hidden tools, and... well, "pick the lock" and open the door. He opened the door very carefully and quietly, just wide enough to squeeze out, and then he'd sit on a small folding stool and calmly read a magazine for a while. A glass of water was on the floor beside him (or maybe it was situated in a secret pocket in the inside back of the screen; or perhaps water, magazine and stool had been hidden in the safe itself.). The MUSIC played on. ....TICK, TICK, TICK went the time, up to, and way BEYOND the allotted danger-point. The audience gradually changed from idly restless, to deeply concerned. And within a few minutes after that, panic began to set in. "GET HIM OUT! HE'S SUFFOCATING IN THERE!!!" At the height of the swelling hysteria, just when the audience was reaching the breaking-point and seemed about to RIOT -- Houdini would throw the glass of water on his head, mess-up his hair, hyper-ventilate, and STAGGER TRIUMPHANTLY OUT FROM BEHIND THE SCREEN, looking thoroughly exhausted and seemingly "sweating profusely" from head to toe! --By this point, a stunned but deliriously-happy and excited mob, out front, (no longer the polite and reserved audience) would BURST INTO WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE! Sometimes they even rushed the stage in their delirium, and carried the "desperately worn-out" STAR of the evening -- mosh-pit fashion -- up the centre isle of the theatre and out onto the street. The Master of Deception had once again proven his mettle against impossible odds. He had, at the DIRE RISK of LIFE AND LIMB, escaped dramatically from the potential TOMB of a locksmith's safe -- and in the process, climbed another notch up the "ladder" of legendary fame. Is that the end of our lesson for today? Pretty much.

Just remember, it does not matter what you do; what counts is are you entertaining them.
I hope all of you have a great Halloween Season!
Thrill your audiences.
Dennis Phillips

2011-09 Ring 170 Newsletter

2011-09-20T08:58:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 09/21/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-09 From the Editor

2011-09-20T08:56:00.001-05:00

Fall is upon us and our professional, and semi-prof, members will be making plans for the holiday season, hopefully. Craig has arranged plenty of great lectures to keep us informed and entertained in the next few months. And talking of entertainment, do not forget the famous and soon-to-be famous acts appearing at Wizardz every Monday.

Thanks to Dennis and Sheldon for their contributions to this newsletter, and to the rest of the ring, surely you have some interesting story about something magic in your life. Just email it to me, and you too will be famous.

Your editor
Stefan

2011-09 Ring Report

2011-09-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting on August 17th with 27 members and guests
present. He announced that in the Fall several lectures have been arranged starting off with
Steve Reynolds, the exact date to be announced. Chris Dunn will host a 4-hour Doc Eason
Workshop on the afternoon of September 15th. Reservations were required.

Member performances include Bev Bergeron , weekly, at the Red Fox Lounge and a one
week gig early in September at a convention in San Antonio and an additional writing
assignment in Las Vegas. Our President Craig and Mark Fitzgerald appear several times
a week at the Hard Rock Cafe. Doug Kalcik will be at the Ronald McDonald House and
Jim Songster and Joe Vecciarelli are doing a bang-up job with their "Bunnies in Peril" act at
WonderWorld on International Drive.

Craig and his wife recently returned from a U.K. vacation and he gave an interesting
account of his experience and especially his visit to the exclusive Magic Circle Club. Bev
Bergeron demonstrated several effects in his Magic Teach-In using simple props, which he
emphasized.

Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment # 33: his subject was Vonetta; born Etta
Ion in the United Kingdom sometime around 1895. She was billed as the world's only
lady illusionist and was best known for her "Flying Box" illusion where she would enter a
large box on stage which was raised in the air as she danced within. The box was lowered
as Vonetta appeared at the rear of the theater and the box opened on stage to reveal a small
girl dressed as a butterfly.. Phil concluded his presentation by sharing two window cards of
Vonetta from his collection which he had purchased years ago at a Magic Collector's Association
Meeting.

Doug Kalcik, with volunteers selected from the audience, performed a perplexing effect
of predicting the outcome of three apparently unrelated incidents utilizing three paperback
novels. Jennifer Herrington, dressed in Dance Hall garb performed a trio of card tricks with
help from several members of her audience. Veteran Chuck Smith entertained the Ring
with Orson Welles "Fruit Cup" where 1/2 of a signed one dollar bill is found in the smallest
of three (3) nested fruits and an egg; a treat to watch - no pun included. William Zabalerro
followed Chuck demonstrating his card handling ability with several card tricks. Richard
Hewitt was up next with a card effect that this writer calls a truly invisible deck and was
enjoyed by all.

Mark Fitzgerald closed out the evening's meeting by presenting his Aces, Cards and Coin
Matrix, a Card Transposition and a array of Rubber Band Magic effects.

2011-09 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-09-20T08:46:00.000-05:00

Good authors too who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose, Anything Goes.

The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,

From the song “Anything Goes” -Cole Porter

I heard about the filthy stuff out of Ed Alonzo on stage at the Dallas IBM Convention. I just can’t relate to modern magic with its bizarre cravings, grunge look and grunge words. Alonzo was always a creepy, ego maniac with an annoying stage presence. Yes, he has a few cute things but he does not wear well on stage. He seems insulting to people’s intelligence and very smart-mouthed. Not caustic, just a snotty wise-guy. Who needs that? I don’t need any of these so-called modern magicians. It is a shame that Lance Burton, Rick Thomas, David Seebach, Dan Stapleton, Bev Bergeron and performers with that approach are not the faces of modern magic. Even Copperfield drifted into cheese (sniffing girl’s panties on stage-remember that bizarre trick?). That was after he parted ways with the classy Don Wayne and linked with the un-classy Chris Kenner. Copperfield may have seen the light and reformed. The details are below!

The last major magic series on TV here in the USA was the Masked Creep with his 6 trashy women exposing illusions. (Uhhh... Thank you FOX-TV and the never classy Rupert Murdoch) We are one messed up culture when it comes to business and the arts! Maybe that will change for the magic business...

I just got word from one of Copperfield’s insiders that he is planning a touring “comeback” ina year or two and it will include a new TV special. So far, I was told that it will be flavored as a kind of a nostalgic return to his old fans and the creation of new fans. He may have a new hairstyle, mellow and lite approach and lots of interactive stuff. This seems a bit poetic now that the 54 year old David has revealed that he has a 10 month old daughter by model girlfriend Chloe Gosselin, 26 years old. One of the new Copperfield illusions could be to magically rearrange cars in the parking lot of the show..(Based on an idea from Luis DeMatos) Copperfield will use TV screens. Will the Golden Age return?

For the past 75 years on a few days around the first of August, a bucolic village in southwest Michigan holds a magic celebration. It is sponsored by the Abbott Magic Company and the town in Colon, Michigan. Almost all magicians know about Abbotts. Colon was the summer home of Harry Blackstone Sr. and he went into business with Australian immigrant Percy Abbott and created a company to produce magic and illusions. Harry and Percy dissolved their partnership in a low-key personality clash and the business was not enough for Harry to quit touring.

Recil Bordner bought into Percy's operation and after Percy died in 1960, the Bordner Family became the sole owners. Recil's son, Greg, is the owner today. Abbotts always was a small family business that employed a number of people in Colon. In the early 50s one of their flash pots was improperly used at a dance recital and a young girl was burned. They were almost sued into bankruptcy. They have had fires and thin times and a few good years. Greg is living with a transplanted heart and may beat the disease that killed his father. Greg's brother became a Geology Professor at a university in nearby Kalamazoo.

This year there were about 300 that attended the event. They have had triple that in the past. But it is always like a family reunion. My first Get Together was in 1969 and I met up with a yet-to-be famous Doug Henning and talked with Jack Gwynne. I sat next to Jay and Francis Marshall on the Friday Night Show. I again visited in 1989.I sat next to Paul Daniels and Debbie MacGee and had a long chat with Harry Blackstone Jr. who I knew from his days in Florida working for Tupperware.

Colon is a town were time almost stands still but changes I saw in the town were a metaphor of the industrial decline of our country and the changing form of show business. Abbotts is an American Classic and I was happy that Dan Stapleton, my long time Orlando friend, was able to perform in the show and do his fabulous blindfold stunt. I hope that future generations of magicians will have an Abbotts catalog and Get Together. It always was the stuff of dreams.

Larry Thornton and I shared similar experiences at summer family reunions this summer: While on a family re-union on my wife's side, I was asked to do some magic. You know, the relatives believe that as a magician and therefore one of the true "freaks" of the clan, you must feel privileged to become their "performing monkey" whenever you all get together. I reluctantly packed my cards, ropes, silks and Hippity Hop Rabbits and a few other bits of stuff. The wife insisted! -- "Dolly will be SO-O-O disappointed if you don't do some magic!" I had the faint hope that they'd eventually forget about asking me to "dance for my supper", but I was wrong. The odd thing is, they kept asking me at the re-union if I'd do some magic later "before it gets dark out", and I agreed to do some, but the host got busy on the appointed evening and forgot to introduce me. So I thought, gee, I'd better do something, so I went around to the folks and showed them some impromptu table magic.

An observation (1 of 3):

Have you noticed, when you're busy doing your very best card tricks, stuff you spent half-a-lifetime to collect and to master, that one of the attention-deprived uncles soon decides to show YOU his one-and-only card trick, and he has to use your cards for it! ...He is not a magician, he doesn't know diddly-squat about magic, and he doesn't seem to notice in the least that everyone has just been royally flabbergasted by some of your greatest card miracles.

Metaphorically speaking, you know that you’ve just knocked yourself out *curing leprosy, walking on water, and multiplying fishes and loaves for the multitudes *. BUT NO MATTER!! Mr. Congeniality, voted in his high school Yearbook as the guy most-likely to wear a lampshade at a party -- now has your deck in his grubby tight-fisted hands. Having no other deck of cards with you, you feel as if you just handed him your only bouquet of roses that immediately withered and died. The dude's "big shining moment" is at hand. He now commands the stage and is about to "wow" everybody with the "Now-Tell-Me-Which-of-These Three-Rows-It's In", Wonder Card Trick of the Ages. He even adds, “Let me put the row that you card is in here in the middle of the other two”.

Observation (2 of 3):

While performing surrounded, in order to do some of your stronger effects you elect to "sacrifice" those one or two people behind you (to some small degree) by concentrating mainly on wowing the bulk of the crowd in front of you. Now you KNOW you're not going to exposed anything to anybody, no matter where they're standing. But then the guy behind or off to the side of you (hey, its the same dude as before!)suddenly thinks he's seen something "fishy" with your jog-shuffle or your double lift, or your oh-so-tiny "finger break", and he just CAN'T WAIT to blab it out to everyone else! But he can't communicate exactly what he THINKS he saw. Even so, he feels compelled jump-up-and-down excitedly over "what he saw" in the misguided attempt to make a "fool" out of the professional fooler! You can change direction abruptly, by steering your routine in "mid flight" adroitly over to some other effect intended to KILL the very guy bent on killing YOU. -- Or you can simply offer the cards to the rube and ask him to "finish the trick"; or "show us what you mean." But of course, this causes him to back off, to the merriment of all; which then frees you to recover from this interruption.

Final observation:

Then there's the situation of having repeated some of your tricks earlier for a smaller crowd (like, two or three people on the porch). But these folks are with the second larger audience later, and like or not, they've now elected themselves as your "cheering section." They mean well, in telling everyone how great you are (in so doing, some of the "stardust" falls back on them), but the moment you start a routine that they've seen before, they get all excited and reveal the punch line to the trick! Or its, "Hey do that one where all the aces magically appear." Ah.... right. ...Will do. ...About five or six tricks from now when everyone's forgot what was just said!

Or the distant relative who says, “Do the story of Jim, or was it Joe, no, Steve the Bellhop where all the cards tell the story!” Oh don’t you just love it when they have seen what you do for years? “Can do you that one where I pick a card and sign it and you rip it up and my corner matches it when you have made it all go back to whole?”

Just then the 7 year old nephew tugs on the arm and says, “Can you make a quarter come out of my ear?” I say, “What do you think; I can really pull money out of thin air?” He looks up with a big smile and an affirmative, “Uh-Huh!” Family summer reunions, don’t you love them?

Dennis

2011-08 Newslatter

2011-08-16T20:48:00.001-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/17/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com

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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-08 From The Editor

2011-08-16T20:38:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the eighth edition of 2011. Summer is almost over, and the next edition will come out after Labor Day the traditional end of summer. This means the start of the holiday season, hopefully a more busy time for our professional and semi-pro performers.

Many thanks the MJ Emigh for the IBM convention review. See folks, it is not that difficult, and it is very much appreciated by myself, as well as the members. Of course, Dennis and Sheldon are also thanked for their regular contributions. For those that liked Joe's gizmo at the July meeting he sent us information about that, so thanks to him too.

Apologies to members from me, it seems in July a program I use to post to another blog that I manage was cross posting to the Ring newsletter blog, items of a non-magical nature. They are now removed, and hopefully the glitch corrected. However, this has happened before, so if it happens again, feel free to flame me with an email or two, I will clear it up immediately.

Your editor

2011-08 Ring Report

2011-08-16T20:29:00.002-05:00

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting on July 20th with 37 members and guests
in attendance. He reported that the Ring could expect numerous lectures scheduled for
the coming months. He introduced Paul Stone, a visitor here from the United Kingdom.
Paul is presently producing a Magic Extravaganza at the legendary Palladium in London
commemorating its Centennial Anniversary. He initiated a raffle to benefit his charitable
work. Richard Hewitt was the subsequent winner of the drawing.

Craig acknowledged the Broken Wand ceremonies for Sidney Radnor, Hank Morehouse
and Lou Marion. Dan Stapleton reported on the progress of magical entertainers in
our local media. Craig and Mark Fitzgerald are appearing at the Hard Rock Cafe here
in Orlando. Jacki Manna is doing a show at MacDonald's on International Drive and
performing at numerous libraries in the area encouraging children to utilize the facilities
open to them.

Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #32 relating a brief history of two
stalwarts from our magical past. Herbert Richard Himber was not only known for his
contributions to magic but for his work in the popular music field during the Roaring
Twenties and into the 30's. Born at the turn of the century Dick Himber not only
performed magic and music in vaudeville and private clubs but also performed on
television. He died in 1066. Phil's next subject was first a writer, having penned more
than 10,000 articles and numerous books relating to magic and second a performer
where his act was seen in vaudeville and clubs as well as 1000's of troops during WWII.
He was born Milbourne Christopher in Baltimore in 1914. In addition to his other
accomplishments, as a past president of SAM, performer, prolific writer, at the time of
his death, in 1984, he owned one of the world's largest magic collections. Last month,
our own Phil Schwartz was presented with the Milbourne Christopher Literary Award
by the Milbourne Christopher Foundation for his work in co-authoring The Ultimate
Thayer .

Jeff Pierce introduced Mary Naylor Kodell who spoke briefly of her life with her
husband, Jack Kodell, who recently completed his autobiograhy and hosted a book
signing at the meeting. Jack, who has a long time relationship with our Ring was the first
magician of note to work in Las Vegas. His act was not only limited to our continent but
he also took it to Europe as well as the U.K. (where he met and married Mary).

After an intermission the members performed with Richard Hewitt doing a card effect.
Joe Vecciarelli followed with an innovative demonstration of "One Track" (ed: see below for more information). Guest William Zaballero showed the audience how well he could handle a deck of cards with several effects. Dan Stapleton performed Sixth Sense, an exercise in mentalism. Jacki Manna pulled out all the stops when she danced and sang her Library Promo to the membership, who if they didn't have a library card would have one in the morning. Doug Kalcik performed the illusion Candle to Salt to everyone's delight. Another guest, Greg Gibson, demonstrated a 4-card trick and finished with a Rocky Racoon Routine that was a classic.

Sheldon Brook

2011-08 Show electronics

2011-08-16T20:27:00.000-05:00

Here is info about the app and the bluetooth receiver that I showed at the last meeting.

http://seanbergin.com/OneTrack/OneTrack.html

OneTrack

Sean Bergin

Category: Music

Updated: Mar 19, 2011

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onetrack/id425807868?mt=8

Belkin Bluetooth Wireless Audio Receiver

http://bit.ly/puowkG

Joe Vecciarelli

Magic & Mayhem Show

347-MUTE-JOE
347-688-3563
Web : http://www.magicandmayhemshow.com

2011-08 IBM Convention Review

2011-08-16T20:18:00.003-05:00

David and Roger put together one of the best IBM conventions on record! These
two are ol' buddies from KC, but that won't influence my opinions. Anyone who
was there KNOWS what a great job they did!

The opening show on Tuesday was like none we have seen before. A fantastic
drum corps entered from the rear and brought the audience to frenzy. It was a great
set-up for T. Texas Tyler who amazed with his rope trickery and incredible whip
stunts. The usual welcome meeting is pretty dry. Not this time. It was a lot of fun.
But then, when aren’t whips, ropes, rear entry and frenzy?

That was followed by, in my opinion, the only bad show of the week. The dealer
show. By the end of the convention, we had all heard enough of the dealers
whining about poor sales. Well, there's an easy solution to this problem. Have
something that people want to buy!

The dealers brought out the same old tired junk with the same old tired jokes.
Some didn't even bother to demo. The effects were either beyond their capabilities
or just too embarrassingly stupid to show. I guess I could go into a long
dissertation on the demise of B&M magic shops and why it's not a great tragedy,
but we'll save that for another time.

If these guys can't provide what we want at a reasonable price, perhaps it's time to
skip the dealer room aspect of these conventions. To everything there is a season
and I think the magic shop season has come to an end.

The dealer’s room did have something positive, however. Sessions. Rather than
people meeting up in the bars and lobbies, folks could jazz at tables set up in the
center of the dealer room. A very, VERY cool idea!

I must point out that the Dallas State Fair theme of the dealer room was a nice
touch. It just didn’t make up for the lack of interesting stuff at the dealer tables.

Wednesday started with the annual biz meeting. Sheeeesh. I had to go, since I was
being inducted into the Order of Merlin. Wasn’t worth it. I know, I know, this isn’t
starting well…..it gets better, I promise.

The meeting was the usual bickering over the silliest stuff. It’s the perfect example
of what to avoid in magic meetings. If we were seeking a cure for cancer it would
be one thing, but we’re just a bunch of guys who know some interesting (or
boring) card tricks. Get real!

Ah, stage contest time! Great stuff! Only six max could be in the finals. Although
several truly sucked, there were more than six that were wonderful! I gotta give a
big “hats off” to Michael Trixx who has been in every contest I’ve seen over the
past few years. Always a bridesmaid; never a bride, but this guy gets better every
time. I think the Big Time is right around the corner for him.

Many of the acts were stuck in “card manipulation” gear. Although somewhat
repetitious, most of them were absolutely incredible! Like the Zombie a decade
or so ago, stage card work seems to be the thing to do, now. Probably the biggest
positive in this is that it looks like magic, rather than in years past when it seemed
more like juggling. Even if it’s not your idea of a good time (and I’d have to
include myself in that group), you can’t help but marvel at the artistry and skill of
these kids.

Oscar Munoz and Michael Ammar both did lectures. I missed them both. Can’t
review what I didn’t see. I heard nothing about Oscar’s lecture, but he’s a cool
dude and I’ll assume it was fun. Of Ammar, I twice heard something like, “The
guy is a hell of a good teacher, but with a group that size, teaching how to turn
over a card takes for-****ing-ever.” Apparently there was a style (not really
a “move”) of turning a card over that went on for a while. Well, as I said, I missed
it, so these comments may have been exaggerated.

Max Maven did a fine small show. As someone said, “he gets a million bucks out
of a nickel’s worth of magic.” It’s true. More than half his show was based on
a very simple Annemann effect, but BOY did he make the routine entertaining!
Personally, I think he milked it a bit too much, but I suspect that a lay audience
wouldn’t see it that way. I have nothing but admiration for him, as I’ve had since
the old days of Tony Andruzzi’s Invos in Chicago. Pure entertainment genius.

The stage show this and two other nights were held at a small Vaudeville house
in downtown Dallas. Those of you who were at the SAM convention a few years
ago know the place. It is rich in magic history. It’s sort of a miniature version of a
Proctor’s theater. There are so few of them left that it’s a joy to see one, even this
small.

The show was incredible for a first show. Michael Finney served as MC. As was
the case a year or so ago, he had a young girl on stage with him. Fortunately, he
picked up on that fact early. Remember last time? Uncomfortable, right? Not this
time.

Even before Finney took the stage, there was a very pro intro talking about theatre
and magic. Then came the “Peter Gunn” theme, and we knew we were in for
Rudy Coby’s four legged bit, coming out of the darkness. The intro made this true
theatre, and Coby got cheers before he was even seen. And the act? It was as good
and as funny as it was two decades ago!

Finney introduced us to Timo Marc, Gustavo Riley, Chipper Lowell, and Ayela &
Tanya. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more dynamic opening show to a convention
on either side of the IBM/SAM fence.

The late-night lecture was provided by Danny Garcia. There is no one better with
cards and there is no better personality in magic today. This kid is the pride of our
oddball love. I learned some wonderful stuff that I’ll never use. Well, maybe I can
use the smile and the laugh.

Hey, I do need to interject here, though. As good as Garcia is with cards and as
good as Garrett Thomas is with coins (a shining light in the otherwise dismal
dealers’ room, by the way), where are the Don Alans and Eugene Burgers of the
next generation? There’s more to close-up magic than cards and coins, and there’s
room for a few stars to blossom. Let’s hope.

After a few meager hours of sleep, we were on to the Thursday events. The day
started with a choice of two out of eight special classes. I attended Jon Armstrong’s
self-working card session. Other than the fact that the little rat didn’t remember
me, it was an excellent program. Not what you think. None of those goddamn
counting or spelling tricks. This was seriously good stuff, and I forgive him for
drawing a blank on me. After all, my hair was naturally red back then.

I also attended Rod Sipe’s program on busking. If you’ve even had the
uncontrollable desire to eat fire or walk barefoot on broken glass, this is the guy
to talk to. Once he removes the nail from his skull, he’s ready to share some
fascinating secrets of collecting cash that is well-earned.

Other class options were with Ammar, Gene Anderson, Gary Katzman, Brad Ross,
Sammy Smith, and Gay Blackstone. A great programming idea brought to you by
those wizards from Bonner Springs and St. Joe. Let’s hope future conventions pick
up on this.

Next up was Rudy Coby’s lecture, which was loved by all. It was fun, informative,
innovative, and not a single trick was taught. And that’s a good thing in this
case! Rudy is a storehouse of valuable information and real-world success. This
audience would have been willing captives for many hours if time allowed.

Next up was the Dana Daniels show. Apparently, there are those who find his act
funny, and the show was a great hit.

So, it’s on to the dinner show! The food was the usual chicken dinner, but with
a Mexican twist this time. Pretty good. Beter than usual, actually. It took a while
to get underway. My dinner companions by invitation were considered VIP, so
they had to be introduced on stage before being seated at the table. That always
takes longer than it should, but whataya gonna do? Old habits don’t die hard;
they just don’t die. Well, I kept busy explaining to a few hundred folks why we
had “reserved” signs on our table and that, no, I’m not a VIP myself (except maybe
to my wife and kids). It kept me off the streets.

The after dinner entertainment was as good as any I’ve ever seen. Jason Andrews,
Rey Ben & Quique Marduck (“One and a Half”), Oscar Munoz, and Gustavo Riley
(with his can act) provided a wonderful evening of magic and hearty laughter. Oh,
and let’s not forget the Mariachi band!

Next came the strolling Olympics. Also known as “The Good, The Bad, And The
Ugly,” this proved (in most cases) very nice and provided a fine opportunity to
connect with like-minded magicians in their element. There were several winning
categories and everyone who performed got some donated dealer stuff to take
home and try to sell on eBay.

As if it were not enough for one night, we wrapped the night with a late Max
Maven lecture. I didn’t stay for the whole thing, but what I saw was good. It
followed the usual magic lecture format of a.) show a trick and b.) teach the
trick. Personally, I was hoping for something more philosophical, but I pegged
the audience early on. Max pegged them before he even got to the gig, I believe.
Everyone but me got what they wanted from a master of the craft.

Friday morning the alarm woke me from a well-earned sleep so that I could make
the Merlin breakfast. Along with some pretty awful food and some week-old (or
weak & old) coffee, we got to see and hear a presentation on Del Ray. Very few
people in attendance knew Del personally. Many of us wish we had. He was one
fine entertainer. Unfortunately, I don’t have the name of the presenter. You would
recognize the name, but I’m drawing a blank. He did a great job, though!

Next up was the Gold Cup close-up contest. Everyone was excellent, but I’m not
sure there was anything unusual or original enough to deserve the gold. I never
did hear the results. I didn’t see every act, but I did see most. And what did I see?
Cards and coins.

After the Gold Cups finals, we were treated to a comprehensive Jeff McBride
lecture. He is another of our great magic teachers, and he certainly left this
convention with his rep intact.

That lecture wrapped just in time for the YMX (Young Magicians’ Experience).
Oh, man….WHY didn’t I start younger? These kids are just amazing. I found
myself thinking about the time and discipline they put into this talent. Wow! I’m
sure that we’ll be hearing more about these seven brilliant performers in the years
to come.

The session area of the dealer room was temporarily taken over as an autograph
area. Basically, anyone with name recognition hung out at a rectangle of tables to
sign whatever you’ve got. I stopped in to take a look, but it seemed that the idea
didn’t really go over. Everyone at the convention was so accessible that this was
a little pointless. It looked to me like a bunch of magic “stars” chatting amongst
themselves. Hey, not every new idea can be a winner.

So, it’s back to the Majestic for the next really big show. Hosted by Rich Bloch,
these were the six stage contest finalists followed by Ed Alonzo’s show. As
always, the show was too long but not as always, excellent in content. I have no
idea who won what, but I voted for the kid with the shirts. Somebody, please let
me know how it came out, and tell me about the act, not the name. Five if the six
are Asian. Those names aren’t easy for an old single-language guy like me.

Now would be the time to bring up that old racist joke about the guy named On
Too Long. Jeez, this show went on far longer than most human bladders can
endure. It’s not the fault on the contestants. Those kids had acts timed to the
second. This is, however, an ongoing problem with magic club magic shows.

It’s not really an insurmountable problem. I see two easy solutions. Limit the
finalists to four, rather than six, or simply have an intermission after the contest
and before the feature act. Either way, problem solved.

So, Ed Alonzo did his show once the contest wrapped up. He was funny as hell,
as you might expect. Oh, and he did, as a quick aside, mention that the show
is “too long as it is.” The casual remark got laughs and a smattering of applause.
Fortunately, his is a very strong act. That, along with his aside, kept butts in the
seats. In effect, he had to be better than promised. Mr. Alonzo delivered!

The late lecture was by Asi Wind. I’d had enough for the day and I didn’t run into
anyone the following day who attended. Hopefully, he had a decent crowd. I’ve
seen him before and would like to have seen him that night, but enough is enough.

Saturday started with more classes. I attended one by Brad Ross and another by
Jeff Crilley. I didn’t personally learn much, but I wasn’t aware at the time of
registration that these sessions were exclusive of those on Thursday. Perhaps there
was a communication issue or perhaps I wasn’t paying attention.

The fact that I took nothing away from these classes has absolutely nothing to do
with the quality of the presentations. They were, in fact, excellent. If anyone came
in not knowing much about the subjects covered, they certainly walked out with
tremendous knowledge.

Other sessions that day were conducted by Rich Bloch, Scott Wells, Shawn
Farquhar, Jon Armstrong, Timo Mark and “The Balloon Guys,” Daniel & Tom.
The rumors were that they were all worth attending, and that this should be a
significant (possibly expanded) part of future IBM conventions.

After lunch, the team of One and a Half did a lecture. I missed it. Believe it or not,
I was out looking at real estate. Yes, the talk of a move to Texas is back on the
agenda. McKinney, here we come…..maybe.

Next up was the close-up show. This was set up beautifully, with only about 30
seats per room. The seats were tiered so that there was no such thing as a bad seat.
The show featured the best of the best, including Jeff McBride, Oscar Munoz, Asi
Wind, Daniel Garcia, Ben Jackson, Michael Ammar and Jon Armstrong. I can’t
imagine a better lineup of talent, and they certainly did not disappoint.

The final stage show of the convention was as good as it gets. There was no emcee,
but rather a running narrative on the legendary magic of the ages. This was so
well thought-out and executed that with a few tweaks it could easily play a major
theater for a very, very long run.

Featured in the show were Jeff McBride as himself, Walter & Becky Blaney with
a nice take on the ladder suspension, Gay Blackstone introducing Derren Romeo
and the floating light bulb, Max Maven with the coolest inside joke imaginable,
Frances Willard presenting the spirit cabinet as performed by Michael & Hannah
Ammar, Tom Mullica as Red, and The Great Tomsoni & Company with exactly
what you expect from them. One hell of a show. A new bar has been set, folks.

This convention was billed as the reinvention of the IBM convention. In many
ways it succeeded. It took guts on the parts of David and Roger to pull it together,
and they deserve some serious thanks for what they did. As in anything this
divergent from the norm, there are bound to be a few dud ideas. We survived those
and lavished in the things that worked like a charm. Hopefully, this is just the

beginning!

-MJ Emigh

2011-08 a joke from Dennis

2011-08-16T20:16:00.001-05:00

Did I ever tell you my father was also a magician?

He disappeared the day I was born.

2011-08 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-08-16T20:10:00.002-05:00

The Great Recession or “The Great Depression Part II ” continues on. Jobs are not being generated. Both Political parties continue to blame each other. Magicians are struggling.

A long time dear friend from Ring #170 told me that he had a tough time reading my deliberations because of I have been “getting too dismal”. He is correct. I am a bit grim about the magic business and magicians... Not only are we in the same type of era in magic as 1950-1975 (when magic was basically OUT or mostly a kid’s thing) but we have a rotten business climate which is in stark contrast to that era! Not only are most people jaded and not interested in stage magic, there is no money around. Moreover, today’s magic is flavored with mostly back alley, unshaven, unwashed, grungy, punk-type street magic. The big names in the public eye, Blaine and Angel, look like hobos or dirty metal-heads. I love the talented and creative Danny Garcia but I would run from him on a city street. We just have a tough row to hoe. That is why I seldom to never call myself a magician and I never sell what I do as a “magic show”.

Actually, about the time I moved to Florida, in 1975, magicians and illusionists could make a fair living with a mediocre act. That was pretty much true until the early 90s. There was a fairly vibrant “Telephone promotion market” which still exists today in Canada. A charity sponsor would being in a show and contract out the ticket sales to a phone promotion agency who set up boiler rooms and would call all the businesses and many homes in a small town selling tickets. Amateurs mostly knew and appreciated that they were amateurs and stayed in their place.

As the American economy tumbled with global competition and the 70s oil shock, family incomes flattened out. In the early 80s the Reagan formula for deregulation and a far more competitive business environment developed. Amateurs were scrambling for magic show income to supplement or replace their lost wage income. I knew a machinist and steel worker who lost their trade jobs and went to work as “Magicians”.

Then TV technology got cheap and had two effects: First, satellite and cable brought in hundred of media signals and second, the rank amateurs would produce great promo tapes that were on par with any professional promotion reel. Editing can make a person look really good even though they stink on stage live. This all happened while actual performing venues declined. Telephone promotions were made illegal and small town shows dried up when Wal-Mart came in a demolished every downtown and drove the small business owners out of business. They were the ones that supported the shows! One more element of community cohesiveness vanished with the development of Big Box retailers.

Lots of barely competent performers got into the competitive unregulated - out of control- business environment. As you can guess, the strongest crushed the weakest in a form of Economic Darwinism. I think that may have been the plan with Reaganomics.

Once I was told, “Sorry, Pal, you may be great, but the last kid’s entertainer I hired had a great video promo also. Within two minutes into his show he acted like he pulled my wife’s bra off of her. Now management says no more chances, we are playing it safe and running video cartoons!”

After the dot com bubble popped in 2000 and 9-11, the convention business stumbled, so that venue was less prosperous. It was already sucking fumes from the 89-91 S&L crash. That was the end of the big convention businesses in Orlando and many went bust. Vegas crashed in 2008 and even cruise ships faltered.

Today, the American economy is in the trash can. The only consistent stage-magic gigs I can get are through schools where my credentials are that I am a Certified-Licensed teacher (working part time for 2 school districts) and have had FBI background checks and State Child Services clearances. Sad, what has happened to small-time show business!

Today, almost everyone is cynical, fearful and living in the shark pool of massive competition. Whatever crumbs fall into the water stir up a feeding frenzy. I was in a School Principal’s office two weeks ago firming up a booking for my show. He dug out a 2 inch file of “Magicians” who wanted to book a show. I was selected because my program is not a “magic show” but an educational presentation. All this chaos and competition leads to fatigue and overload and retreat into the “safe”. I don’t see much changing anytime soon. I am sure that until the political mindset changes and we, as a nation, decide to work together for a better country, chaos will continue. ONLY the Big, Strong and Vicious will survive.

When hard economic times hit, one of the first things to go is expensive diversions. In the Great Depression, Hollywood and the film business was booming. It may have been due to the cheap entertainment movies offered and that the film business and radio were highly regulated and controlled business. The studio system offered a “sure return” on money invested. It is not that way today for the small operator. Even News Corp, the FOX mother company, was losing money before the Murdoch scandal.

"Show business" is what people avail themselves of for a few minutes or hours of entertaining diversion, after the important (survival) bills have been paid. And the so-called talented people were paid (and often very little) to amuse the folks with juggling, jokes, and plays and the like.

If we go back to medieval times, when the peasants flocked down to the town square with a bit of partially-decaying "picnic basket" morsels, to watch the local hangings and decapitations. Now THAT was cheap entertainment! Hey! Maybe that explains the current situation in political and news reporting!

“Too dismal”? I report, you decide!

Dennis Phillips

2011-07 Newsletter

2011-07-13T22:36:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 07/20/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - Free hoice
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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com

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
*************************************************************

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.

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2011-07 From the Editor

2011-07-13T22:28:00.003-05:00

Thin pickings this month, what happened to the reports from the IBM convention attendees? Come on folks, send me something please.

Thanks as usual to Dennis and Sheldon for their regular contributions

Your editor

2011-07 Ring Report

2011-07-13T20:56:00.002-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on June 15th with
32 members and guests in attendance. He then went on to inform us that
upcoming lecturers were to include Steve Reynolds and John Racherbaumer.
Dan Stapleton commented on the magic acts appearing on the latest season
of America Has Talent and the upcoming Abbott's convention.

The membership was queried as to whether any of them knew of any space
that would be available to store our Ring's props, equipment and other
paraphernalia that has been collected over the years. It should be climate
controlled.

Jack Kodell, one of our esteemed members, had his autobiography published
and released this month. Mark Fitzgerald is doing close-up at several clubs
in the Orlando area, including the Hard Rock Cafe. Mike Martin and others
are appearing at Give Kids The World on a monthly basis. Jackie Manna is
performing her ventriloquism-magic at area libraries.

Bev Bergeron continued his monthly Teach-In with an impromptu business
card handling routine and was followed by Phil Schwartz and Magic History
Moment No. 32. Phil's subject was "Alexander, The Man Who Knows".
Born, Claude Conlon, in Skagway, Alaska, in 1880, he developed into a
top performer, appearing at the Pantages Theater in California and other
venues drawing top dollar for his performances as a crystal gazer of the 20th
Century as well as a master magician. During the period of 1915 to 1920
he worked with Floyd Thayer developing The Dr. Q series of magic effects
including the Rapping Hand, Talking Vase, Slates, and several others. He
passed away in 1954 after a very successful career.

This meeting brought out many performing members starting out with

Mike Martin doing a comedy magic lecture routine assisted by Ben Mason.
Charlie Pfrogner followed with a variation of the Invisible Card Deck. Kerry
Pierce was up next with a variation of Ed Joseph's Magic & Mischief Box
as presented by Rachel Colombini. Mark Fitzgerald presented two effects:
the first was a multiplying bill routine with changing denominations and the
finish was having a playing card selected, placed back in the deck, expertly
manipulating the deck and finally producing the selected card.

Valerie and Bob Swadling performed several card effects including Fred
Kapps' Card Changing Colors. Bob finished with a very memorable Chinese
Linking Ring routine which few in the audience had ever seen before.

The Swadlings were followed by our youngest member, Sebastian
Midtvaage, who is preparing to participate in the next FISM competition of
North America. He gave us a preview of his performance with a beautiful
Coin and Card Matrix.

Joe Zimmer performed a comedy card effect with the help of Cuda Clux, a
chicken dummy.

Dan Stapleton performed "Plates", a card effect performed with the help of 4
volunteers who handled the cards and eventually selected cards and marked
their selected cards on paper plates. Dan successfully named their selections,
to the delight of the membership.

A fine time was had by all!

2011-07 Jack & Mary Kodell Benefit

2011-07-13T20:41:00.001-05:00

Erick and Kim Olsen of Wizardz theater organized a very special show last weekend, to benefit Jack and Mary Kodell who have been invited to London to attend an anniversary (100yr, 150yr?) of the famed London Palladium theatre, where both have performed in the past. Some excellent magic was shown, as well as it being a great opportunity to meet and congratulate Jack and Mary.

Thanks to Erick and Kim, and any others, for working so hard on this event

2011-07 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-07-13T20:34:00.002-05:00

Many people die with their music still in them.Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live.Before they know it, time runs out.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes-

The word “Music” comes from“The Muses”, the mythological goddesses of the arts such as poetry,dance, music and others. We should all appreciate the fact that all true art comes from within and touches the viewer’s and listener’s within. To the ancients it seemed like the person was processed by some delightful spirit or force that erupted outward in delightful artistic expression. Today we would try to explain it psychologically.

Did you ever watch a wonderful magic act and get a feeling that propelled you beyond simple appreciation of the cleverness and mystery? It is like something from the magician touched your soul. Something “connected”. If that is the case, then the magician was able to bring the music within them outside. Some very clever and talented magicians never quite get their internal music outside of themselves. You watch and say to yourself, “He or she is great but there just isn’t the real emotional connection”. Sometimes, the magician is just showing you someone else’s music. They either haven’t found theirs or they lack any. Worse, when some began they had great music but they kept playing the same song and they turned into a mechanical jukebox.

As I approach the Hayflick Limit of biologic life, I get to thinking about time running out. How many people spend their whole lives getting prepared to bring out their music and then time runs out. I have known at least 6 incredibly talented magicians who were always preparing and never brought out their inside music.They always wanted “one more move” or “the prop I really need to get going”. The truth is that they needed to worry about their routines and props later. The first two skills they need are communication (speaking and its related technology) as well as stage movement. All successful stage performers have these two basic skills. Before you pull out one prop, can you entertain an audience for 10 minutes by speaking or making faces or telling jokes or doing impressions? Do you walk on like you belong on stage? Do people feel comfortable and relaxed watching you? They need to like YOU and find YOU entertaining and then the props and all the rest just add to your personality.

I was going to finish this column with a story about the return of the Pendragons. Their return was a romantic myth while it lasted. Oh the poetic joy of knowing that Jon and Charlotte are making magic again with their aging flabby bodies in Trinidad! Doing their fast Subtrunk change in a little under 15 minutes? By now you know that Jon was appearing there and apparently a lazy local newspaper reporter Googled his name and assumed that he and Charlotte were still together and said they were appearing there together. It took less than 45 seconds(much longer than their old Sub Truck exchange) for that Trinidad Newspaper story to appear in a search engine! It set the magic world ablaze and for a few moments I was thumping my chest over the prediction I made, when they broke up, that they would someday get together again.I still hold to that prediction but they both may be busking from a wheel chair on street corners when it happens.

Fantasy dies hard… the story wasn’t true. The positive news is that Jon seems to have satisfied the buyers to whom Charlotte sold of some of their old props and they never received them.

I still think there is more drama in this story, stay tuned. It sounds like the stuff for a major movie?

The big current hype is the “buying opportunity”surrounding the extended end of Creative Magic of Utah. They even made the cover of Magic Magazine!
I hate to be a skeptic, but this smells of a poor deal to me, a stinking poor deal on gullible magicians. I hate to say at a future date, “I told you so!”

First of all, in my theatrical and artistic feeling, I refuse to put anything on my stage from them that looks like an automobile collapsible sun shade! The stuff looks like garbage from my car trunk. The only thing with some use for me could be the Shadow Tent but how many Boy Scout Troops do I perform for a year and especially WHERE do they have a stage to do this trick which can not be done surrounded? PLUS, I am not Mac King. Okay, I admit that I have a bias against his stuff. But the business deal is what really seems fishy.

This guy claims that “we are closing the doors forever”. That is GOING OUT OF BUSINESS or in his case a 24 month slow inventory bleeding-spiral-of-business-death. That makes no sense to me!

I was a businessman for 34 years.

Nobody who has a viable profitable money-making business (as he claims) is going out of business! They sell their business to another business entity! Nobody closing a business takes 24 months to do it and by only selling off the existing inventory!

Let me give you my analysis. This is my opinion and perspective, so don’t anybody sue me for expressing what I think is the issue. Think for yourself and make up your own mind.

This guy probably does not make much of what he sells himself. He probably gets it from Communist Red China or Viet Nam or from any of the 3rd world slave-labor countries that supply Wal*Mart and all the other Big Box retailers today. He has to commit to buying massive orders.

They do not work on credit, you PRE-PAY or at least mortgage your house and assets . So he is probably in debt to someone here for all of his inventory commitments and holdings. HE IS NOT selling the volume that he anticipated. WHO is buying $10,000 worth of magic to use? Almost every magic business making this price of props makes them to order and keeps their inventory low.

So, his business model logically seems to have failed. What do you do with a failed magic prop business?

He would get pennies on the dollar if he tried to sell off this stuff.

SO…he creates a program that will sell off his inventory and fulfill his commitments and most probably provide“written contracts” which he can take to his lenders to stave off bankruptcy or immediate foreclosure! You realize that banks look at purchase contracts as an “asset”.

Here is the danger: You folks, the people that have “committed” , bail on him after 2 or 3 payments and he can not maintain enough income to keep going. He then goes bankrupt. Your shipments end and the rest of his inventory is dumped for peanuts. For years you find the stuff on tables at magic flea-markets for $10bucks and you paid much more.

His Facebook page is too filled with hype and what sounds like over-blown nonsense. In essence, you are become a “shareholder” in his business and yet he offers no company information as to the number of investors, his financial status, etc. But you do get a certificate that you are a part owner! I have an old share of Enron framed and hanging on my office wall. They don’t even tell you what their “final illusions” is! Why pay $750 for something which you have no clue about?

I seriously don’t think his grand plan is going to pan out for the better. The rule of thumb in business and investing is: If it sounds too good to be true then it IS too good to be true.

But I could be wrong. If I am, I apologize.

Creative Magic may have just changed their name to “Creative Financing”? It will be a brilliant scheme if it works.

Dennis Phillips

2011-06 Newsletter

2011-06-02T18:07:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 06/15/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - Ring & String
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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com

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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-06 From the Editor

2011-06-02T17:55:00.000-05:00

Summer is really upon us, so for many of our members it is the down time. Enjoy the weather, before it gets too hot.

Thanks to Dennis and Sheldon for their contributions.

Your editor
Stefan

2011-06 Ring Report

2011-06-02T17:50:00.001-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order with 37 members and guests in
attendance. This meeting was specifically set aside to be a lecture evening featuring the
magic of Danny Garcia. The only comment Craig made before the start of the lecture
was that two of our Ring members, Donna and Tom Salvadore had unfortunately lost
all of their possessions in a house fire. The Ring moved to immediately hold a raffle
with the proceeds going to the Salvadores and Lecturer Danny Garcia donated the Raffle
Prize, a complete set of his available magic. Stefan Bartelski was the winner and $450.00
was raised for the couple's benefit. The lecture proceeded and was well received by the
members present.A fine time was had by all.

Sheldon Brook

2011-06 Magician Provides Update on USDA 'Rabbit Police' | Bob McCarty Writes

2011-06-02T17:45:00.000-05:00

A warning to those of you that use live animals in your act, make sure your USDA paperwork is in order....

Magician Provides Update on USDA 'Rabbit Police' | Bob McCarty Writes

2011-06 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-06-02T17:44:00.001-05:00

Okay, I feel like a magic polygamist! My two “ladies” are not women, but IBM Magician’s Rings. For years I was active with Ring #170, Orlando. I was brought into Ring leadership by Bev Bergeron to help in doing the newsletter (when we used to print and mail it!) as soon as I finished the intensive work on my Masters degree from Rollins College. And then… 2 years ago my wife and I moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and I hooked up, pardon the pun, with Ring #320. Over Mother’s Day weekend, I was back in Orlando to see my youngest daughter graduate from Rollins College and to be with our grown children who still live there. It so happened that a magic name, Tony Clark, was in town for his lecture, so I got a chance to get together again with some of the Orlando Ring members at the IHOP meeting room.

This month’s column will be a double report on recent ring events in both rings:

The first was the May 10^th lecture by Tony Clark at Ring #170 in Orlando. Tony is well known in the magic word and has been seen many times on a number of Gay Blackstone produced TV shows such as, The World’s Greatest Magicians and Masters of Illusion. Tony is known as a consultant for magic in movies and just finished working on Nicolas Cage’s latest movie which features magic. Clark was a student of Slydini and learned well from the master. He stressed the concept of “tension” and “relax” in misdirection.

He opened with a Slydini jumbo coin and silk routine. All the moves were logical and justified in secretly moving and loading the coin. The jumbo coin appeared in an empty silk and kept disappearing and appearing and finally the coin vanished in a shower of silver confetti. Tony followed up with a Slydini Classic, the Knotted Silks. Anyone who has ever witnessed the white silks magically tying and untying knows the power of this simple effect. Clark used two Champaign goblets and made the knots migrate from one set of silks to the other.

Tony then took a seat for some examples of Slydini’s table magic. Most know that Slydini was an expert at “lapping” or secretly dropping items or retrieving them from his lap. The cleverness is in making all the actions undetectable. Tony Clark showed an impromptu knife-swallowing bit that blew away the crowd of magicians. At just the right moment and combined with the “tension and relax” technique and body shifting, he was able to convince the crowd that he actually swallowed a table knife. He then invited up a magican in the audience and immediately taught him the technique. Tony followed up with cigarettes and coins, the same coins he exchanged with Slydini a generation ago. Tony Slydini was New York based and Clark took lesions from him once a week by commuting into Manhattan from his home in Connecticut. He credits Slydini and a love of magic instilled into him with saving his life from steroid abuse. Clark had been a power-lifter and “ripped” at over 225 pounds. He focused on magic and is now a healthy 165 pounds at 45 years old.

Clark wrapped up the lecture with some dealer demos such as his beer bottle-through-the-body or through-the-table. It is a new updating of the old table-magic bit using a salt shaker and a clever gimmick. He did his version of 3 borrowed rings in tissue paper, the classic Slydini migrations done to music. He showed a clever small box without a back that made loading the rings simple. As I watched Tony, I could see the same movements that Slydini used to make. Tony did them naturally and well. The old Chavez Magic School uses to also teach a series of identical body moves and poses so that the look of a Chavez graduate is almost identical.

Tony Clark then demonstrated his handling of the Keller Robe tie and Gypsy Balloon. He had a helium balloon and did the Classic Gypsy Thread routine using the string on the balloon! Eugene Berger would be thrilled. Clark then told about how his young son helped him create the illusion and how he used it as the finale of his Lake Tahoe Casino show followed by a balloon drop over the audience. Both Dan Stapleton and I saw the possibilities of an equally intriguing and emotionally powerful finale for a stage show in the same vein as the Chinese Snowstorm.

Tony Clark is a likable performer and good lecturer with valuable information and products. President Craig Fennessy and the Ring are keeping up the quality and fun of the Ring experience! The next morning it was back in the car for the 14 hour car-ride back home to Virginia.

I had a great time performing with Ring #320 the Saturday before Easter at the annual Waynesboro Theatrical Alliance Festival in Waynesboro, Virginia. They are a local group of boosters and supporters for restoring The Wayne Vaudeville Theater in downtown Waynesboro. The job is almost completed. The theater had been a vaudeville showcase and began to decline, as most downtown theaters did, in the late 1950s as suburban flight gutted many downtowns. This theater did hang on into the 80s. Mark Cline, the owner of several tourist attractions and the Haunted House at Natural Bridge, Virginia told me that as a youngster he sneaked in through a bathroom window , in the Wayne Theater, without paying the admission to see Phil Morris’ Ghost Show. Years later, Mark said he sent Phil the $1.50 admission with an apology! The old theater is still there and will soon be ready for a new generation of shows and art films.

The festival was held in the park by the river that runs through the town. Waynesboro was the old industrial center of the Shenandoah Valley and filled with factories such as DuPont Paints and Mohawk Carpets. Then in the 80s the deindustrialization of American began as factories moved to the third world seeking cheaper labor. The impact on the town, and many towns across America was devastation, depopulation and dilapidation. The collapse of jobs left unemployment and poverty. The simplistic answer from some politicians is that the workers should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and with no help from anyone settle for permanent poverty from odd-jobs and part time work with one-third of their former income. Other politicians grudgingly approved of minimal welfare relief along with calling those displaced by the industrial decline, lazy, stupid and deserving of what happened to them. The blame game has led to the current political war in this country. The fact is that the modern world is built on Industrial power and there is no way to assure world leadership and a large and prosperous middle class and employment without it. The past 30 years has been with the gluttony of financial speculation, market bubbles and personal and government debt all in an attempt to smother over the jobs problems that caused a Waynesboro, Virginia and Luray, Virginia and Detroit, Michigan and Youngstown, Ohio and Camden, New Jersey and thousands of industrial towns across this great land.

Perhaps American can experience a national Easter, a Resurrection. At least in a small way, The Wayne Theater may be a part of the resurrection of Waynesboro.

Our IBM Ring performance area was set up in the open air Pavilion and the wind was strong. Those that have never performed outdoors can not appreciate the effect of wind on silks, ropes, tables on wheels, props on tables and backdrop curtains. Steve Pittella set up a great pipe and drape backdrop and we struggled all afternoon fighting the wind. He braced it well and it did help cut some of the wind. Ring President Eddie Tobey was the magic Master of Ceremonies and opened the show with a cute Trevor Lewis Clap-o-meter where audience clapping moves a thermometer. He introduced Steve Pittella. Steve is an old pro who spent many years in New York City as a children’s performer. He had a colorful routine with lots of audience participation and engagement with the kids. I loved his packing tables all Formica covered and cleverly foldable. He got a lot of mileage out of a three kids in costumes and a comic kazoo version of the Blue Danube Waltz. Eddie was back on with some MC fun.

Richard Gimbert followed with a nice Stratosphere routine, What’s Next and orange silks and oranges and Hippity Hop Rabbits. Eddie kept up the momentum by pulling a gigantic mouth coil out of a marshmallow. John Coleman did a Professor’s Nightmare and the classic comic “Vanishing Bandana”. Eddie then introduced Dennis Phillips who brought up three young volunteers for a comedy version of 20^th century Silks with a Breakaway wand and Fan . The center silk vanished from a change bag which only contained a string of sausages. He then asked for a mother in the audience, who was the best cook. Naturally all the kids volunteered their Moms but one was chosen. Dennis put her hand in the Disecto carrot-chopper, which he called the Kitchen Magician, but all ended well.

Dennis Phillips

L to R: President Tobini, Secretary Dennis Phillips, Richard Gimbert, John Coleman, Steve Pittella

Photo by Yvonne Tobini made at River Park in Waynesboro, Virginia April 23, 2001

2011-05 Newsletter

2011-05-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 05/18/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - Danny Garcia lecture
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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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, if you wish to submit to the newsletter, use the above e-mail address, your messages are in danger of getting lost if you do not do so!

2011-05 From The Editor

2011-05-17T21:08:00.003-05:00

Summer is almost here and the temperatures outside must be heating up, because the stream of submissions for the newsletter is drying up. Come on folks, do send me your thoughts of recent events (Kostya Kimlat's Festival of Magic, anyone?) or recollections of times gone by.
Thanks to our reliable scribe, Sheldon, for the Ring Report. This month's newsletter also has a video which will make you card-throwers want to start practicing ....hard.

Don't forget, this month's ring meeting is a lecture by Danny Garcia, not to be missed.

Your editor

Stefan

2011-05 Ring Report

2011-05-17T21:00:00.004-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order and opened with the sad announcement of a Broken Wand for long time Ring member Chan Alyea who just recently passed away. Craig also noted that our recent lecturer, Steve Marshall, had returned to his home in Japan and was welcomed by yet another 7.0 aftershock. Both he and his wife then decided that it might be in the best interest of their family to leave Japan and relocate back to Florida and hopefully to the Orlando area.

Lecturers, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia have been booked for appearances here in May. Valerie Swadling was very impressed with the performance of our Ring's Jackie Manna at a birthday party she had arranged for her grandson. Mark Fitzgerald will be off, shortly, to the Fechter 4F Convention in Batavia, N. Y. and Doug Kalcik will be entertaining at a charity event at Lake Eola here in Orlando. A discussion by the group and Craig Schwarz concerning the book, Spellbound, which depicts the life of Doug Henning, ended the general meeting.

Bev Bergeron was up next with his monthly teach-in and he stressed the importance and effectiveness of entertaining audiences with simple "magic" props and effects that, if properly performed, can be just as effective as more elaborate illusions and apparatus. Bev and his wife, Alouise, had just come off of a Caribbean cruise and were very happy with the experience.

Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #30. Phil's opening remarks concerned the recent on-line auction of the Collection owned by the late Christopher Milbourne, who had passed away some years ago, in 1984. The items auctioned included not only 20th Century books, photos, letters and other memorabilia but items from the 19th Century. The value of the collection was indicated by the premium prices received by the
auction. Phil's main subject this evening was Edward Maro, The Prince of Magic, nee Walter Truman Best born in Montpelier, Vermont in 1869. Maro was the first Lyceum magician and was very successful at it. He started out in music as an entertainer but through his brief life he learned magic, much of it from A. M Wilson. Maro lived only 39 years succumbing to typhoid fever in 1913. He is buried in St. Charles, Illinois under a 5-1/2 ton rock brought there from Leland , Michigan.

After a brief intermission, Chris Dunn emceed our performing Magi, starting with Jacki Manna, who demonstrated her magic and ventriloquism by predicting which of 3 different roses an audience participant would select as a favorite. She did have help from a 'genie' in the roses' vase who assisted her in the prediction. Dan Stapleton followed with his performance of Equivoque, where he predicts which arbitrary item one of ten volunteers has been selected by an eleventh impartial participant. Dan methodically eliminated each object held by the volunteers until the last when the match between the last volunteer and the eleventh participant is revealed. It made for a very strong effect. Charlie Pfrogner performed next and placed ten coins in his closed hand followed by as many marbles. With the help of a few magic words he opened his hand and to the audiences' amazement the coins had disappeared. Bev Bergeron capped off the evening with a die penetration through a glass tumbler.

A fine time was had by all!
Sheldon Brook

2011-05 Extreme Card Throwing

2011-05-17T20:53:00.000-05:00

To certain magicians of our ring, eat your hearts out....

2011-04 Famulus Newsletter

2011-04-20T14:59:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 04/20/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - April Foolers
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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-04 From the Editor

2011-04-20T14:54:00.000-05:00

Spring is almost sprung and we are getting into the hot season. Things tend to quieten down for our art during the summer, but Craig has livened things up with a couple of sizzling lectures in May. Be sure not to miss them.

Your editor
Stefan

2011-04 Ring Report

2011-04-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on March 16th and introduced the Ring's officers to the 23 members in attendance. He acknowledged the Broken Wand of Dr. Robert Albo; and Phil Schwartz, a member of our Ring and co-author with Dr. Albo of The Ultimate Thayer, expressed his thoughts and sentiments on the Doctor's passing.

Craig announced that lectures by Tony Clark, a student of Slydini, and another lecture by Danny Garcia would be coming in on May 10th and 18th, respectively. He also encouraged the membership to magically participate later this month in the Walk for Wishes, a charity event in downtown Orlando. Those members who participated in the recent Ring Flea Market and Auction as well as the SAM Convention Banquet thought that both events were well attended and are looking forward to our event next year.

Charlie Smith had available copies of MSM (MagicSceneMagazine) a UK publication for those members who were interested in them. Dan Stapleton distributed 3 packet tricks to Rings members who promised to learn and perform them at our next meeting. Dan also announced that he will be performing in Branson, Mo. in the near future. Mark Fitzgerald is appearing Friday nights at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Orlando.

Bev Bergeron presented an entertaining bit of restaurant magic using just a paper napkin for a prop and he was quickly followed by our in-house Historian Phil Schwartz with Magic Moment No. 29. Not surprisingly, his subject that night was our Ring's namesake, Bevely (Bev) Bergeron, a past President(1996-97) of the IBM Born at the start of the Great Depression in Baytown, Texas, Bev started in magic at the age of 10 and had his first professional gig at the age of 14. We are quite fortunate to have Bev with us as he has one of the most experienced and creative minds in magic. At the age of 17, he started doing tent shows with Willard the Wizard. He later graduated from the University of Texas and went to work for a Houston ad agency. After a military stint, during the Korean War, he pursued his entertainment career. In 1957 he portrayed Rebo, the clown, with Mark Wilson and Noni Darnell in Texas that culminated in the 60's with TV's The Magic Land of Alakazam. In addition to Magic, Bev is a prolific writer, an example of which can be found in a monthly article in the Linking Ring. He has done numerous TV shows, portrayed Ronald McDonald and for 16 years he was at Disney' Diamond Horseshoe Revue as a star, writer and director. His other accomplishments are too numerous to enumerate but we are indeed fortunate to have him in our midst.

Chris Dunn emceed our members performance program starting off with George Bernard doing a two-card transposition in plexiglas. Richard Hewitt and Wayne Dowling entertained with a card selection effect. Charlie Pfrogner put down a 12 card spread and also guessed correctly the selected card. Joe Zimmer was excited and enthusiastic in demonstrating Tenyo's 4-D surprise, and Dan Stapleton got twelv big laughs when he listed "Twelve Reasons Why You Know You Hired The Wrong Clown For Your Kid's Birthday Party. Kerry Pierce ended the evening with Patrick Paige's Diary Booklet with Cards.

A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook

2011-04 See, we magicians ARE different!

2011-04-20T14:47:00.001-05:00

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0016568

http://magictony.blogspot.com/2011/03/magical-expertise-kinematics-of.html

2011-04 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-04-20T14:45:00.000-05:00

The calendar showed that we are in the spring season but the snow storms continue. I am referring to real snow and not the classic messy magic effect! I am writing this on March 29th and we are due for 3 inches of snow tonight! It is not really bad. They plow and sand the roads and are prepared. Wes Iseli a local fulltime professional seldom loses shows due to weather. If they do cancel, they reschedule.

David Seebach, the Milwaukee area illusionist and Midwest magic legend, just gave details in the March MUM about the Owen’s Chinese Tea for a Potentate illusion. The column was at the prompting of another Milwaukee legend , our own Dan Stapleton. Of course, in the early 70s Dan left the Milwaukee area to move here to warm and sunny Central Florida and create a career as a theme park and cruise ship entertainer.

Seebach is an old friend and on his tours to Florida he would stop in and visit my illusion warehouse and costume factory and store. The theme of his MUM story was about his love affair with brightly decorated and exotic looking Oriental Props and how he acquired a rare and difficult-to-perform illusion. In typical Seebach style, he themed the illusion with costumes and sets, added music and performance elements and made it an intriguing stage illusion. It was one of those illusions that “was created for the paint job”. In other words, the effect was not that strong but the visual eye-candy made fun to watch. I have a couple of those in my big show, the Color Changing Plumes, my large blooming flower trellis and my rose-petal snowstorm.

When I was a kid, I also loved brightly colored props with strange designs and especially Chinese words painted on them. I think we all did! I also bought lots of magic because of the paint job.

One day, while I was a college student, I was painting a big mirror box and I copied some Chinese Letters (不要在巷子里小便) I saw on a street sign in a Chinese newspaper that I had picked up where my mother worked. She worked as an assistant manager at the Chinese Restaurant in Bowie, Maryland. I was so proud of my artwork and the lettering on my Magic trick, so I showed a Polaroid photo to Mr. Chin, the owner of The Golden Pagoda Restaurant. When Mr. Chin saw the box in the photo he started laughing! Chinese people are very reserved and rarely laugh like he did.

He said in a thick accent as he pointed to my artwork, "Do you know what that says?" I said that I didn't but that I just liked the Chinese letters and that I had found them in one of his Chinese newspapers. Still laughing he said, "This says, 'Do not pee in the alley’! "

That is what I got for not knowing what I was copying!

A year or so later, Mr. Chin had expanded his restaurant to a chain and he hired me to be his event and advertising coordinator. I did several Chinese New Year celebrations for him and I did all his print and radio commercials. I also learned to read some Mandarin characters and speak enough Chinese to get along. I still have a soft spot in my magic thinking for Chinese magic and design.

Locally in Harrisonburg, President Eddie Tobey did a spectacular job on his magic radio debut. Eddie joined Hobart at 7:45 in the morning in the WQPO “Q101” studio and did some magic.

I have been helping Eddie with ideas for magic-on-the-radio. Many of you know that I work for VerStandig Broadcasting which owns Q101 as well as WSVA and “Bob Rocks”. Carson, the morning man at 105 “Bob Rocks” is a magician and visited Ring 320.

Eddie did a trick I gave him and since it is appropriate for this year (2011) I will share it with you. It requires a build up! This is 2011, the year before the Mayan calendar ends and the year that all things come into convergence. The convergence number is 111. Remember that number. Almost everyone is in the convergence! This is the only year in a hundred that has 1/1/11 and 1/11/11 as well as 11/1/11 and 11/11/11! Here is how you can check to see if you are in the cosmic convergence: Take the last two years of the year you were born in. For example if you were born in 1948 take the “48” and add it to the age you will be on the birthday that you have in this year. If you have already had your birthday, use the age you are now. If you are going to have a birthday this year, then use the age you will be. Again, add the two numbers in the year you were born and your age. Hum “111” ! You are a part of the convergence!

In my last year in college in Maryland, I needed a female assistant for my magic gigs and there was a tall thin student who always dressed covered up like a Victorian and she always acted like she was really stuck up. I would smile at her and most of the time she would wryly smile, raise one eyebrow like Max Maven and look away. She was not in any of my classes. Sometimes I would walk with her from the parking lot in the mornings or see her in the student union at lunch time. She was friendly but distant and fearful.

All the guys thought she was hot but would not approach her. One female student said, “Yea, you should have seen how she was in High School! She’s changed”

She used to come to school made up like a model with false eyelashes and would always wear clothes that covered her up. I remember her walking to class with a tight long gray maxi-coat and always a neck scarf and black stiletto heels (out of fashion at that time in the early 70s) with one foot paced in front of the other and walking in a straight line. Her hips would sway and turn every guy’s head. Her face looked very much like Bernadette Peters.

I could tell that she had been to a finishing school because she walked and stood with perfect posture and her fashion and makeup were professional.

I was in desperate need for help with my magic show so I went over to her in the student union where she was sitting alone. Her maxi coat went almost to her ankles and she was wearing high heel black boots as she sat on the couch. I walked over and said, “Pat, you look and walk like you would make a great magic assistant with me. I have some shows coming up. Do you want some work?” She got a real sour look on her face and spit back, “Oh go away!”

Instead of accepting her answer, I plopped down next to her on the brown leather couch and took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”.

Her father was an Air Force Colonel based at Andrews Air Force Base and her mother was a tall stately woman who looked a lot like Grace Kelly. I went over to her house and insisted that I talk to her mother who was very supportive of Patty helping me.

While Patty was upstairs getting into the show costume (borrowed from Chuck and Shirley Windley, illusionists who lived near us), her Mom brought out pictures and explained how Patty had been fat, clumsy and teased in School with no interest in how she looked. Her parents spent a fortune getting her top-notch training and direction in all aspects of female beauty.

Patty came down the stairs with a bathrobe covering the show costume underneath. The costume was a bit like an Esther Williams swimsuit with some rhinestones and bead work and fringe. Her Mom and I stood in the living room as she slipped off the bathrobe. Patty again had a real sour look on her face. “This is ridiculous!” She protested. Mom chimed in, “Now Patty, be kind, listen to him and don’t be embarrassed.” We were pinning her on the sides and got to her middle and it was solid like a sheet of steel. I thought, “she has on a girdle!” It was to firm extra skin from the weight loss. She had a birthmark on the side of her bust just at the line where the costume top ended. So I did the old trick of cutting up a band aid and sticking it on her. In my makeup costume kit, I always carried Band-Aids and other things needed for helping someone look good on stage. If you see Preparation H in my makeup kit, realize that a dab on the face removes crow’s feet and tightens the skin! It is a professional model’s trick.

Her Mother was thrilled, “Oh Patty, you look so good!” She continued to be sour and said, “Please don’t make me do this”.

She blurted out to me, “You may as well know that I used to be a fat slob and now I am all strapped together.” That comment sort of put me in a tough psychological spot. Women often do that with statements. If I said, “Well, you look good now!” she could say something like, “All you care about is my body”. If I said, “I think we can work around it”, she could say, “See, you think I am a slob too!”. If I say, “This is about a job and if you can function in it”, she would get mad at that. Nothing I could say is going to not get me in trouble. So I did what I thought would be the least area of verbal exposure. I just ignored her comment and said, “You have to sit crossed legged in this Doll house illusion so I needed to see your range of movement”. She shot back at me, “You are like all men, and you ignore what any woman says!” So I repeated what worked in the student union. I took her hand, squeezed it and puffed up my chest and got about 6 inches from her face and said, “I need your help, Pat!”. Same response: Her eyes darted wildly from side to side and she pulled back and some sort of look of terror filled her face and her pupils fully dilated and she took a deep breath, her eyes rolled up and she moaned, “YES!”. She fit the illusion fine.

She was a good assistant but a little sour with an effective sneer. It was actually kind of sexy on stage. She would get an aggravated look like Pam Thompson only Patty’s was real. I played off of it with a deadpan and double-take and it got laughs. I never could get her to show a joyous smile. Her ballet and dance training helped a lot. She knew how to walk and stand. Her Mother and I used to talk about her psychological problems. They even sent her for psychological treatment.

In 1971 no one had yet identified Bulimia but she would purge after eating. We would stop to eat on the way back from a show and she would empty her stomach. Her parents spent a fortune on dental work to keep her teeth looking normal from the stomach acids that eat away the teeth enamel.

She was one bundle of psychological problems but still a good assistant. Today medicine has a big tool chest of drugs and techniques to help with psychological problems. Still, in show business you have to learn to deal with all types. We do have strange ones!

Dennis Phillips

2011-03 Famulus Newsletter

2011-03-15T13:38:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 03/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - Pot Luck
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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-03 From the Editor

2011-03-15T13:35:00.001-05:00

Last months meeting was quite shocking, what with a large number of Broken Wand announcements, and the news of Art Thomas' resignation from the club. Art will be sorely missed, I think many people do not realize how much he did for the club. It was especially hard to lose him just before the Flea Market, which has always been one of the events that had his stamp on it. And while the rest of the crew did a great job this year again, Art's absence was felt.

There are a couple of videos in this months edition, both very worthwhile watching.

Thanks to our regular contributors Dennis and Sheldon, without them this would be an empty newsletter. Come on members, how about some input? It could be reviews of (new) magic effects, reviews of a TV program or reminiscences from times gone by. Go on, hit the keyboard and email your submission to famulus@illlusioneer.com.

Your editor

2011-03 Ring Report

2011-03-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on February 16th with 27 members and guests in attendance. He sadly announced that in the past month there were Broken Wand Ceremonies for Pavel, Terry Seabrooke and Tim Conover all of whom had either lectured or appeared in our area. He next reported that Art Thomas, our Ring Treasurer had submitted his letter of resignation which was read by Bev Bergeron. Art did many fine things for the Ring and his absence will be deeply felt. Craig went on to say that any member wishing to replace Art should contact him (Craig) for consideration.

He further announced that we had two lectures scheduled May, Tony Clark and Danny Garcia. We were encouraged to participate in the Make a Wish Foundation's Walk for Wishes which will be held in late March.

Our Annual Flea Market and Auction will be held on Feb 21st with Joe Zimmer and Phil Schwartz handling the Auction. Twenty-four (24) tables have been reserved for the Flea Market.

It was announced that John Calvert would be lecturing at Abbott's Convention in Colon, Michigan on August 5th and several of our members will be attending.

Phil Schwartz was up next with his Magic History Moment #28. The subject was Carl De-voy Williams whom Phil held in high esteem. Born in 1922 and still active today, Williams, raised in Pasadena, California, had an interest in puppets and magic. He spent much of his leisure time watching the lathe workings of Floyd Thayer, a nearby neighbor.

Educated, after a stint in the Navy, at Cal Tech he joined Lockheed as an electrical engineer. After a long professional career, he retired in 1988 and began making magic. He is a skilled craftsman and is known for many creations, including Wands of the Masters, the Houdini Wand, and cages for Lance Burton.

Following a short break, six of our members performed, starting with Chuck Smith, who with the aid of an audience volunteer, predicted the outcome of a random number calculation. Doug Kalcik followed with 2 well performed card effects. Chuck Pfrogner demonstrated an intriguing coin transport. Dan Stapleton, with the assistance of three volunteers and IHOP place settings entertained the group with a seemingly impossible exchange of utensils. Richard Hewitt closed the show with finding a selected card by an audience volunteer.

A fine time was had by all.

2011-03 magician creates a storm of protests

2011-03-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

Based on Dennis' comments about YouTube magic, this posting is perhaps very timely. If you have not yet seen the Chinese fish trick, then be sure to view the video, it is dynamite. Unfortunately no subtitles for the Chinese language soundtrack, but not needed! Babede-babede-ba!

2011-03 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-03-15T13:17:00.000-05:00

There are good reasons why I stay away from using the term magician, especially in any public school shows that I book.

You should hear the nightmare stories that I hear about totally incompetent performers as well as people who book shows and are horrible.

I was at the Hookah Lounge and was using my closing line:

If you liked the show, remember my name is “Dennis Phillips” if you didn’t like the show my name is “Criss Angel”! It gets a laugh… One guy called me over and said, “Whatever happened to that guy who used to vanish the Statue of Liberty? I saw him on TV when I was real young.”

I said, “You mean David Copperfield”. He said, “I think that was his name…Uh I heard somewhere that he is in jail for raping a girl or some famous model. No, he tried to kill his wife!”

It is tough for any “magician” to be seen in a positive light. We are seen by the public as freaks and kinks.

The old Duck and Chicken “Changing Heads” trick is back. Fu Manchu did it, David Copperfield did it 20 years ago on one of his network specials.

Penn and Teller had a magic special on English TV in January and it was called “Fool Me”. The invited magicians from all over to come and “fool them”. One magician did the Duck and Chicken Trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RRSgfBJpw&feature=player_embedded

Penn and Teller acted like they had never seen this effect before. The look of delight on their faces was an indication of how much they appreciated good performance. It wasn't so much the TRICK that amazed them (P&T could do it blindfolded), but from their perspective (and ours) the Ali Cook's gestures were cool. People in the "know" enjoyed the performer as much as the trick! The magician who virtually wrote the book on COOL was Larry Wilson. As the cliché saying goes, "I'd watch that guy eating lunch." ... This short bio tells it all:

Larry Wilson doesn't take magic seriously. But that's no surprise to anyone who's seen him starring in his psychedelic extravaganza, "Wonderland," at Harrah's Hotel & Casino in Reno. The debate over whether Larry Wilson is a comedian or magician leaves him unconcerned. Audiences are laughing so hard they don't even seem to realize that the astounding and freaky visuals taking place all around them are actually magic. "I don't want to fool you," Larry Wilson candidly admits, "I just want to blow your mind a little." His latest creation, "Wonderland," does that in full measure. His high-energy performance combined with a gift for lightning-fast ad-libs makes it all the more impossible to determine what's really planned and what's simply a spontaneous happening. And that's what "Wonderland" is all about. As Larry Wilson explains, "It's not a place; it's a state of mind."

How did Larry Wilson, this self-professed refugee from the Summer of Love wind up producing his own theatrical spectacles? Larry is the first to admit it's been an unusual career. He began his performing career at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, a private club for magicians. He was somewhat apprehensive about presenting his mix of comedy and magic because of the Castle's reputation as a reserved and dignified forum for magicians. Fortunately, his satirical advertising pitch for the "Famous Magicians School" was an immediate success and even the most diehard magicians were delighted with his spoofing of the art.

In no time at all Larry Wilson found himself in places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe performing with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Ann-Margret, and The Pointer Sisters. This, in turn, Ied to a long string of television appearances with his zany assistants, the Flying Cavettis, and it was an appearance with this stage troupe which garnered Larry Wilson his first Emmy nomination as a performer.

Larry Wilson is also quite in demand as a technical consultant for magic and special effects.in movies and T.V. He's taught sleight of hand to a host of famous actors including Patrick Dempsey, Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Brooke Shields. He was hand-chosen to create the now famous comedy-magic sequence that Leslie Nielsen performed in the classic comedy hit "Airplane!" Larry Wilson has displayed his sleight of hand skills on "Hard Copy," as a crooked casino dealer on ABC's "Line of Fire" and on the A&E special, "Stealth Technology," where he demonstrated how the military uses many of the same principles of illusion in modern warfare.

"Eventually Larry Wilson realized that if I broke away from the preconceived ideas of magic and did something that was true to what I am it would be something really unique," Larry says. "So I did a little inventory on myself and decided that the things I have such great fondness for all came from the 60's-the music, the clothes, the lifestyle. All at once, it seemed so clear, the perfect theatrical framework to combine these fantastic cultural influences was just ready and waiting for me-"Alice in Wonderland." It's the trippiest, most surreal, otherworldly tale. And everybody knows all about it. Or, at least, they think they do." That was the jumping off point for "Wonderland." His long history with Harrah's casinos made it a natural choice to launch this ambitious project and the response has been phenomenal right from the opening night performance.

Years and years of working in gambling cities also allowed Larry Wilson plenty of time to hone his card-playing skills and he is well known on the poker tournament circuit. "I got to play with some of the top Hold 'Em players in the world, and, fortunately, some of them took pity on me and were kind enough to point out everything I was doing wrong. Gradually my game began to improve enough until I started winning small tournaments. I may be the only guy whose job actually coincides neatly with his love of playing poker."

Larry Wilson is very pleased about the public's acceptance of his peculiar mix of magic, comedy and theatricality. "Nowadays audiences crave a more intense theatrical experience. When they go out to see a show, they want to be immersed in something, they want to feel something." That's why "Wonderland" has been received so enthusiastically by audiences of such a broad spectrum. "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." Does that make Larry Wilson the next Houdini? "Oh, no," he's quick to say. "That stuff with the handcuffs I leave to the pros... like Paris Hilton."

Now that is a superb quote that all magicians should take to heart, and more -- put into action! : "Magic isn't about the tricks; it's supposed to be about going on a little trip to an alternative reality." How many performers can you say actually fulfill THAT requirement? When you stop looking at the props (the half-naked babes excepted) and find yourself riveted by the magician, then you know you're watching good magic! Do we watch Channing Pollock's act, or do we watch the complete package that includes his ever bodily nuance and suave facial expression? Another point (this could be turned into and essay!) -- when we see a magician, say, an illusionist, do a "standard" routine and think, "That man has turned it into a masterpiece that only HE can do!" -- then, and only then, do we have CLASSIC MAGIC presented in all its glory. Richiardi's Broom Suspension is a case in point, and I'm sure you can think of other examples. (The Blackstone Floating Lightbulb? I dunno: It always seemed to me that a bulb with the screw-end at the TOP screams "hanging" from something but the overall effect is amazing and poetic, especially sending it out over the audience)

One of the true sad things is that YouTube videos are watchable again and again and again. The magically naive can do exactly that, including "freeze frames", and then jump in there with some semi-revealing feedback on the aspects that don't look quite right." Magic seen only once, LIVE, doesn't have that problem. THAT'S WHY -- if I did any magic that relied on being seen only ONCE for best effect (an effect that FOOLS) I sure as heck wouldn't want it to be put on YouTube.

2011-02 Famulus Newsletter

2011-02-07T23:13:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 02/16/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Meeting Performance Theme - Valentine's 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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-02 From the Editor

2011-02-07T22:55:00.002-05:00

February remains colder than normal, what happened to global warming? After spending a few days in a VERY cold Denver I was glad to get back to Central Florida, where recently it has been quite hot. Maybe not in temperatures, but certainly in magic. Wizardz Monday night shows are drawing full houses time after time, especially when the big names come. This week was Jon Armstrong, originally from Orlando, who has made it big on the magic scene of the West Coast. Jon was back in town and joined us for the excellent Jonathon Levitt lecture, as well as performing at Wizardz. If you missed either event, you missed a lot!

In addition, we were treated to Penn & Teller performing at the Hard Rock, and quite a number of members were able to attend and enjoy another evening of magical entertainment.

Coming up soon is another not to be missed event, the Annual Flea Market and Show. Great performers and lectures, do not miss it.

Your editor
Stefan

P.S. Remember, clicking on the Google ads at the top of this newsletter helps support the club!

2011-02 Ring Report

2011-02-07T22:51:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on January 19th and announced that because of a scheduled lecture this evening by Geoffrey Williams that the business meeting would be brief. He announced that our annual Flea Market and Auction would be held on February 19th at the usual location. There will also be a lecture and workshop by Rachel and Aldo Columbini. A second lecturer will be announced. (Kostya Kimlat - Ed)

The membership present enjoyed the lecture and expressed their enthusiasm with Geoffrey's presentation.

Dan Stapleton announced that the S.A.M. National Council will be holding An Evening of Magic and Dinner at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee on Friday, March 11, 2011. Reservations are a must (407-491-3287) and everyone is welcome.
The meeting broke up at about 10:30.

A fine time was had by all.
Sheldon Brook

2011-02 Ring 170 Flea Market & Auction

2011-02-07T22:50:00.001-05:00

*Attention Magicians,*

It’s that time of the year again!

FAME of Greater Orlando

IBM RING 170

PRESENTS

Saturday, February 19, 2011

9:00AM – 5:00PM

Magic Flea Market / Auction

with 2 Free Lectures

GENERAL ADMISSION: Still only $10.00 !!!**
*PLEASE PASS THE WORD ONTO ALL YOUR MAGIC FRIENDS…*

A full day of magic…great deals…two lectures…and still only $10.00 admission

*Great Fun…Great Deals…New & Used Magic*

*- Plenty of ** FREE ** parking –*

*Rent table space and sell your old unused magic*
*For full table $15.00, plus $10.00 per person admission*
E-mail: CraigFennessy@gmail.com to reserve a table. Payment at the door

SCHEDULE:
8:30am- Flea Market Load-in & set-up
9:00am – Flea Market Opens
10:00am – 11:30am – Private workshop, Aldo & Rachael Colombini
(Workshop is limited to 12 people, $25.00 extra. Reservations recommended)
11:45 – 12:45 – Mini FREE lecture with Kostya Kimlat
12:00pm – Flea Market Closes
1:00pm – 2:30pm – Headliner lecture, Aldo Colombini, Free with admission
2:30 – 4:30pm – Auction
5:00pm – Events ends

*Food & Drink available on site*

*LOCATION:*
Christ the King Lutheran Church – Barnabas Hall
4962 Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, Florida 32819
*DIRECTIONS:*
* Take I-4 to Exit74A-Sandlake/International Dr. exit.
* Turn west onto Sandlake Rd. go 1.3 miles to Apopke-Vineland Rd.
* Turn right onto Apopka-Vineland, go north 3 miles (4 traffic lights)
* First left driveway after Woodbreeze Rd. traffic light.
The optional workshop with *Aldo Colombini* is up close and personnel.

Submit in advance your suggestions of what you would like Aldo to teach during the workshop.

E-mail: CraigFennessy@gmail.com for workshop reservations…*LIMITED SEATING*
Go to www.Ring170.com for more info and download a full flyer.

Call: 407-947-1182 for more information

2011-02 Evening of Magic Dinner

2011-02-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

An evening of Magic presented by the SAM National Council, starring:
Bev Bergeron
Dan Stapleton
Phillip Kaiser
Nathan Coe Marsh

6:00pm Mingle & Cocktails
7:30pm 3 course served dinner
8:30pm Dinner show

$25 per person (dinner included)
RSVP a must - 407 491-3287

Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration
2900 Parkway Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747

2011-02 Hardcopy of the Newsletter

2011-02-07T22:46:00.001-05:00

Would you like to print all the Newsletters of one year in a professionally bound book? Then take a look at: http://blogspot.sharedbook.com/serve/blog2go/bridge.html?blog_domain=ring170-famulus.blogspot.com&source_referer=google_blogger

2011-02 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-02-07T22:44:00.000-05:00

I was 12 years old and active with the IBM Ring in Norfolk, Virginia at Earl Edward’s Magic Shop.
One of the things Bob McAllister always insisted was that we write our own introduction for him to read when he was the MC for the monthly Ring Show. He wanted a different one every time. His idea was that the more you tell audiences to expect good things, the more they will start out on your side.

So we all hyped our intros. I ran out of ideas after using, “He was raised by missionaries in the High Himalayas where he learned the secrets of ancient mysteries…” and other utter nonsense. One show I made up another wild tale, “And he is the 3rd generation of wonder workers. His grand-father and father were magicians. Magicians run in his family….” Bob added, with a sarcastic voice, “And as they should!”

A relative emailed me a clip of David Copperfield "flying", and asked me how it's done. He and his wife saw it live in Las Vegas. What do I tell him? He probably wants to know how David Blaine levitates too! (And who IS this guy, Ball Doochy??) (The video clip the relative kindly relayed to me, like we magicians never saw it before.)

Taking on most of the entire alphabet (well, down to the letter "T'") I came up with these answers to his question:
A) I could tell you but then I'd have to shoot you - standard reply no. 1.
B) If I told you I'd be kicked out of the International Magicians' Union and that means they hunt me down, torture me and execute me. - standard reply no. 2.
C) If I told you then David Copperfield would kill me - non-standard reply; no. 3.
D) I don't know.. sort of... but then again... - Cop-out no. 1 (there ain’t no 2 and 3!)
E) It's done with 200 miles of what magicians call, "Invisible Thread". If you use enough, it'll pick up far more than just a floating crunched-up dollar bill.
F) You don't really want to know: Magic's biggest propaganda statement is, "It's FUN to be fooled!"
G) "I think it's a big magnet!" - my wife's conjecture (she's always right...)
H) God gave David (God's partial to names like "David") the Gift of Flying and told him "Ssssh!! Let everyone think it's a conjuring trick and they'll be none the wiser!"
I) An invisible anesthetic gas fills the room and seduces everyone into believing they see a magician flying, when in reality he's out in the wings taking a coffee break.
J) A new technology, not yet commercially available, creates a giant holographic illusion of a real stage and a real magician flying; it'll be in the next giant TV set everyone will be suckered into buying.
K) It's James Cameron's secret trick he developed while making Avatar. And who knows what magic he'll come up with next, now that he's 3 billion dollars richer?
L) Copperfield's actually in a huge tank of blue-stained, bubble-free water and "swims" around in it. And David Blaine taught him to hold his breath for (how long is that video clip?) precisely 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
M) Science has finally learned how to make Jules Verne's "Cavorite" which shields the air above from Earth's gravity, enabling men to go to the moon - and magicians named 'David' to fly.
N) People are put to sleep and given a virtual reality dream that convinces them they actually saw a flying magician. The same dream convinces them they can take more money out of Las Vegas than they put into it.
O) The magician had an extra-big helping of Chili at one of the hotel buffets and it gave him lots of gas.
P) Someone out on the Internet swears he has two tiny helicopters taped to his ankles -- don't believe it!
Q) Some people think it's hilarious to give spoof explanations on video clips -- like helium -- but not me! (see: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/624333/helium_levitation_spoof_parody_new_levitation_for_tv_magic/)
R) Spoiler Alert!! There's an explanation at http://www.bambinidisatana.com/illusionismo/copperfield/fly.html -- but don't go there, as it'll rot your brain and destroy your belief in magic.
S) In fact, the "secret" of David Copperfield's flying (and David Blaine's; and Criss Angel's who changed his name from "David Andgoliath") is all over the Internet. So is the patent!
T) Now that you know "flying tricks" by every magician named David are explained on the Internet -- if you still have to ask a magician friend, you can't be very interested in knowing one of magic's greatest UNkept secrets.

There is six inches of snow outside on the ground as I submit this issue. We are warm, dry and safe here in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and there is always magic going on!

Dennis Phillips

2011-01 Famulus Newsletter

2011-01-18T17:08:00.001-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 01/19/2011 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Geoff Williams Lecture

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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.

2011-01 From the Editor

2011-01-18T17:02:00.000-05:00

A very happy, prosperous and safe New Year to everyone. 2011 is going to be a great year (think positive), as evidenced by the excellent lecture in our first meeting of the year. Don't miss it!

Our professional members must have had a busy holiday season, and the rest taken a good rest, as there were not submissions for the newsletter beyond that from Dennis and Sheldon. My grateful thanks to both of them for that. As for everyone else, come on folks, it is not that difficult and if you are worried about spelling and grammar, my title is "Editor", I will help with that.

Don't forget that the January meeting has a special lecture,

Your editor
Stefan

2011-01 Ring Report

2011-01-18T16:47:00.001-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on December 15th and introduced the Ring's 0fficers to the 33 members and guests in attendance. He opened the floor to nominations for Ring Officers for 2011. There were no names offered on the floor for consideration but the officers presently in office agreed to stay on for another term and the membership unanimously agreed to the slate. There will be a lecture at the next meeting by Geoff Williams and there will be no admission charge to those members whose dues obligation has been met by that time.

Craig named Mike Martin to emcee the Annual Christmas Gift Exchange. Jackie Manna was originally scheduled to do the give away but was unable to attend the event. She did leave a message with Mike and he relayed it to those present with the skill of a gifted ventriloquist.

Following the opening of the gifts and a brief break in the festivities, Chris Dunn emceed the performance segment of the evening. Four members agreed to perform with Bob Swadling leading off. Bob very ably performed three of his
creations; Bob's Box, The King's Shilling, and Bob's Diary. All were very impressive and memorable effects. Doug Kalcik followed Bob with a bit of mentalism and word association. Dan Stapleton entertained with more mentalism
from the Del Ray biography with a result that I'm sure never happened to the late esteemed performer. Mark Fitzgerald closed the show with some excellent card magic and manipulation.

A fine time was had by all.

2011-01 Dennis' Deliberations

2011-01-18T16:43:00.000-05:00

I know that you folks had some cold weather in Orlando. We had the same here, plus a couple of moderate snowfalls. Things warmed up for New Years Day.
I wish everyone a great 2011. I sure I hope that I have a better year that 2010. Probably all of us do!

Holiday Story: It could happen anywhere, Harrisonburg, Virginia, Orlando, Florida, and Calgary, Canada. The gig was a birthday party for a family with the boy turning six. It was held in a downtown restaurant in a larger town a bit away. I'm not fond of working downtown among the crowded buildings. I had to leave way early to 'dry run' the show earlier in the day just to check out the downtown parking, and I discovered it was abysmal: no place to park next to the restaurant, where I could unload my stuff, and then leave my car in that spot. So I had to rely on the good graces of my wife to drive with me to the venue, wait and pick me up again afterwards and on a bitterly cold winter evening.

I set up my show and began to entertain the crowd. The kids were on the floor in front of me, with adults in the back at tables. One quarter of the way into my 45 minute set, the father suddenly comes up to me, and holding four fingers high in the air, asks, "Excuse me, can I make an announcement?" Like I'm going to say no?? "Sure," I said. The father then told everyone to go up and get their first course food, from a buffet that was immediately behind me.

I had to stop for twenty minutes until all 50-or-so guests had filled up their plates with food. Once back at their tables, I resumed my program. It was the first time since I started doing paid gigs (like, four decades) that anything like this has happened.

But ya gotta "go with the flow" as they say, and along with that, there was a buddy of the father who was determined to film my entire gig with a large camera on a tripod, using blindingly bright floodlights. I politely but aggressively wrestled him down verbally, to a draw: I finally told him he could video the highlights, when I had kids up to help. And that I'd inform him when to turn on his camera. None of my explanation as to why the entire show couldn't be caught on video made any sense to this guy. And just as I started the show, up popped two more video cameras in the audience. Telling them that they couldn't capture all of the show as well, was awkward, to say the least, since the first dude was busy capturing my first (opening) "highlight" of a flash production of two doves. Almost no one ever edits their videos.

Then I was coerced into staying after my show, to have supper, and that took another half-hour of waiting. If you try to politely refuse these nice people, by making up some excuse as to why you have to leave right after your show, they take it as a severe insult. I phoned my wife to explain why I was so late, and said she could leave Denny’s when I phoned her again. The food finally arrived, and it consisted of a lot of strange dishes loaded with curry and spices. – Good by it really wasn't my thing! I ended up filling up mostly on salad.

Still, the fifty-dollar tip was nice, and in the final analysis, it was all financially worth the hassle ($550), lousy parking and all. (That works out to $10 a head which is reasonable for a live show. My fee was in the ballpark. The travel was a bit much, however.)

How would YOU have handled the situation? Make a federal case out of being video'd, and telling the host you couldn't stop the show once it had been started? Refused the meal, telling the parents of the birthday child you have a delicate stomach or some such, or an "emergency" appointment to run off to? ... Personally, I think handled the evening perfectly, and I got lots of compliments on the show afterwards. BUT--- as they say... different strokes for different folks. I can imagine some entertainers telling me, no uncertain terms, how I botched the evening by acting very unprofessionally. -- OR MAYBE NOT.

BUT- BUT- BUT! Then comes the “fallout” from another competitive magician, in that town, who had also been contacted about the gig:

He E-mails me after he found my name and the details on the show from another magician, who I know and related the story to ---

Hey Pal,
Let me guess... The show was in a downtown Restaurant, He called late Saturday morning for Sunday evening, you had about 20 kids, and a good number of adults, the Birthday Child of the family was say... about 5 yrs old, but the other children were up to 12 years....
Am I close??

If so... Yes we too, talked!
I counted it as a small "Christmas Party" Show.
First, it was not a house party, but held in a Restaurant.
Secondly, because there were also 60 adults going to attend. That is definitely not a Birthday Party show.
Thirdly, they were serving a full meal, not just lunch.

Now, where some tell-tale give aways as to the direction that client is going...You can tell this when you are talking with him...
The guy is trying to make a "Big Impression" to his staff, or friends, to look like the Big Shot... the Big spender!!
The guy was, CHEAP... get as much as I can for as little as possible and make a Big Impression.

His budget was only $500, which would be pretty good if it was as he was saying, just a Birthday party. But any dummy can tell, it is not that! That is NO BIRTHDAY PARTY!

I had quoted him for a small Christmas Party, then when he says that he has to talk with his wife about the fee, when he's putting on a party of this magnitude, you know very well ... that you will not hear back from him. He's not the Big Shot that he is trying to look like, when he has to go to his wife to make a decision on the extra $150. I quoted him $650 for the show that he was describing, which was NOT a Birthday Party. It was a Banquet Show!

After that I heard what you did... making the extra trip with a dry run ...parking hassles ...get your driver to drop you off and wait ... break the show in half for 20 minutes ... etc., etc. and you tell me it was well worth the hassle for $500 and you are excited about a $50. tip??? That doesn't even cover your GAS man!! You got cheated!! That's my thoughts!

I don't know what your other shows are like, but if you are pleased with this, then so be it!

I got the job, he didn’t. Times are tough.

I hope 2011 shines brighter for you.

Dennis Phillips

2010-12 Famulus Newsletter

2010-12-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 12/15/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Christmas Party with Gift Exchange

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
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – artthomas31@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
*************************************************************

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.

2012-12 From the Editor

2010-12-09T20:08:00.002-05:00

Time flies when you are having fun, and even if you are not, so we have already reached the last newsletter of 2010. I wish all members a Merry Christmas, as also Happy Hanukkah (at least the last of it). For anyone else, not covered by the above Season's Greetings.

This newsletter comes to you from the land of Tenyo, where I am about to get on a plane for the long sit back to the US. It was interesting riding the trains here and watching commercials for a card trick (or show). Not sure exactly what it was for as my Japanese does not extend beyond "hello", "goodbye" and "one beer".

Thanks to Dennis and Sheldon for their contributions this month. All the best to everyone for the coming weeks and have a Happy New Year.

Your editor

Stefan

2010-12 Ring report

2010-12-09T20:01:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on November 17 and introduced the Ring's officers to the 24 members and guests in attendance. He briefly discussed the Christmas gift exchange which will be held at our next meeting in December. Craig noted that a great many Ring Members had attended the Daytona Beach Convention and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Notably, our youngest active member of the Ring, Sebastian Midtvaage, took 1st Place in the close-up competition. Bev Bergeron emceed many of the events and also received a 50th Anniversary Award for his work with Nani Darnell and Mark Wilson on the TV series, The Magic Land of Allakazam (1960).
Phil Schwartz, Bob and Valerie Swadling reported on their experience at the 13th Yankee Event, NEMCA, the New England Magic Collectors Association. They praised everything from the Houdini display, the auction to the many speakers who gave of themselves.

James Songster reported on the continuing participation in performing for the children and families at "Give Kids the World" in Kissimmee. He gave an open invitation to the membership who might wish to entertain the children during the coming year. Dan Knapp has also worked with James as a regular and his contribution is appreciated.

Bev Bergeron continued his monthly demonstration of impromptu magic with 3 large coins presented as a puzzle.

Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #27 a brief history of the magician, Harry Kellar, nee Heinrich Keller. Born in 1849 in Erie, Pa. Phil indicated that Kellar was not especially known for his originality; but he worked hard to develop his performing skills and stage presence and was known for, among other illusions, The Levitation of Princess Karnac. Kellar was a contemporary and friend of Houdini. He passed away in Los Angeles in 1922.

Following a brief break in the meeting, Chris Dunn introduced 3 members, Wallace Murphy, Dan Stapleton, and Charlie Pfrogner who wished to perform for the audience. Wallace went on to show his collection of paddles, hot rods, color changing knives and jumping gems and briefly demonstrated how they were used. Dan showed the audience an interesting and clever prediction effect known as Lubor Fiedler's 5 color chance.

Charlie ended the evening with a 3 card monte and a large clip.

A fine time was had by all.

2010-12 Dennis’ Deliberations

2010-12-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

I did fly back to Orlando for a few days the first of this month but family business, fixing our house and attending a cataract operation for my brother took all my time.

Cindy had already been there for a few weeks with her car so we returned on the road. On the way back, on Saturday, we hit snow on I-77 just north of Charlotte, NC and followed the tracks of snowplows for 3 hours through the mountains and in southwest Virginia. Here in Harrisonburg we only had a light dusting but the temperatures have been in the 20s and strong winds. More snow expected.

The Christmas Holiday Party Season is looking pretty bleak up here for shows as most companies have cut way back again this year but I have my regular shows doing restaurant magic. I do hope that all of you have a happy holiday season and things will be looking up for next year. Many of us have been down for so long we don’t know what “up” looks like. I have a new school show going on the road in January and I will keep you updated. In the meantime, I am still doing radio work and substitute teaching. Ring #320 here elected me their Secretary so you will again read my Ring Reports in the Linking Ring.

There has to be a new paradigm in magic marketing and Jay Sankey seems to understand it well.

Ya gotta hand it to him, Jay Sankey is working the Internet like a violin. And likely, profiting handsomely from it. If so, then if I ever meet him again (his hard luck), I'll say to him "GOOD ON YA!" -- as it's always nice to see magicians giving back as much as they get. ... Or some such.

But!! His magic "Advice for Beginners" gave me a chance to genuinely question some of it. It's not so much that it is "wrong", as that it is often incomplete, and as such, misses a number of essential points and subtleties that ... to be fair ... the intermediate and professional entertainers will understand and appreciate more than the beginner, after each piece of advice given by Jay. With the help of my friend, Canada’s Larry Thornton, I decided to enhance some of Jay’s thinking.

Jay Sankey gives some of his best tips, advice and inspiration for new magicians and says:

Practice Makes Perfect: before you show anyone a trick be sure to practice it at least a few times. Much better chance of performing it well!

Yeah, at least "a few times" -- like three! Then you'll be performing the trick so well, that you'll be ready to print-up some business cards and go out and do paid gigs.

Never repeat a trick: I don't mean, never show a trick more than once to anyone, just to the same audience! If you repeat the trick, they will have a much better chance of figuring out the method.

After you've fooled your mom, dad, the neighbors, and your friends at school, having no more audience to show the trick to, you can get "further mileage" out of the trick by showing them all how it was done! --NO, I’m kidding. Seriously, there are many tricks that, in fact, are designed to be repeated before the same audience, as each showing contains minor variations that make the effect progressively stronger. ("Ah!! I think I saw a few lights go on in the minds of some of you. You think you know how it's done? Then let me show you again..." -- patter I've never used, but maybe someday...).

Be an entertainer, not a trickster: people only like being fooled when you make it FUN. Don't just try to "fool them" (i.e. make fools of them) but try to ENTERTAIN them.

Jay must have matured: The last time I saw him perform (back when the Dead Sea was only sick…) he never made fools of anyone, but rather, treated them from the start as if they were already fools.

Fewer the words the better: most magic can speak for itself so be sure to keep your script or words to a minimum. Then practice those few sentences until you know them by heart.

Never practice to the extent that your patter begins to sound robotically "rote". Most magic, unlike theatre, is primarily an interactive medium that involves direct interplay with your audience. Breaking "the fourth wall" in magic is a rule rather than an exception. Practice a routine until you know it so well, that if you are interrupted, you'll see an opportunity to inject a bit of spontaneous by-play or humor into it (depending on audience response), so go for it! Always remember, you are dealing with real people who don't always react in the same way.

Only show your magic to people who like magic! As wonderful as it is, not everyone likes magic. Also, you want people to be polite and supportive of what you are doing! They will also make for the best audiences!

Good advice, except that the larger the audience, the less you know the degree to which some of them "dislike magic". Your job is to do your very best to awaken in even the most magic-phobic individuals a 'like" -- if not outright love -- for magic. Perhaps such jaded souls had the unfortunate experience of being an unintentional witness to some mediocre magic act in their forgettable past. Only they didn't forget that the magic was mediocre! Many professional magicians 'break through' to these people through the use of humor; so much so, that some have turned themselves primarily into comedians who do magic. Remember: nobody was born disliking magic -- they have to have a legitimate reason to hate it.

Avoid the "the hand is quicker than the eye cliche" and perform your magic SLOWLY. This will take a lot of practice because you might be a little nervous, but you will be able to do it with enough experience. Slower is clearer and much more magical.

"The hand is quicker than the eye", a popular notion of the public, completely misses the psychology of the art. Science tells us that the human eye is, in fact, infinitely faster than any hand. In rare cases it applies, but it is an aphorism more suited to boxing. (Well, you wouldn't have argued the point with Muhammad Ali in his prime!) On the other hand, magic PROPS can be quicker than the eye. Examples include the Vanishing Bird Cage, the vanishing and appearing Walsh Canes, and the vanishing Botania. The Metamorphosis illusion (aka Sub Trunk) as performed by the Pendragons may, or may not apply.

Don't be a pest. As excited as you are about magic, try not to "burn out" your friends or family by showing them a trick every single day. Instead, try to show them magic only once or twice a week and wait for a time that works for them, not just you!

The peculiarity of magic is that it is the only form of entertainment that has the problem of amateurs bungling it and becoming a constant nuisance to others in the process. Do people who decide to take up singing go around doing it for others at the drop of hat? Do dancers, musicians, actors -- I've made my point. In no other branch of the performing arts does any advice-giver have to beg beginners not to become an idiotic nuisance to others.

Learn everything you can about magic. You can find books about magic in your local library and there is lots of information on-line. You can also purchase magic tricks, books and DVDs from your local magic dealer.

Astute advice, but "finding books about magic in your local library" went out with the dinosaurs and eight-track tapes. This is the digital age, where anyone with a sincere interest in magic can find a ton of information online (as Jay does acknowledge); and magic tricks, books and DVDs need no longer come from a local magic dealer. Most smaller cities and towns don't have a magic shop anymore (if they ever did). Street-level magic shops are becoming as rare as an ice cube in the Sahara desert, while hundreds of online "magic shops" can be found very easily at the click of a mouse. And dealer's demos can now be seen via video clips on YouTube, where the "golden rule" of magic is shattered by their endless repeatability. But that's another story...

Don’t reveal the secret to a trick! This is hard not to do because it's fun to show the cool trick behind the magic. Also, friends and family will often push you to tell them, but don't. They will be disappointed and think less of the marvelous magic you do.

These days the "bigger game" is to go on YouTube and tell the entire world how your trick is done. --Even if the trick is a commercially-sold item that you have no business exposing. So Jay's advice here should be expanded to include not only your personal and local "friends and family", but everyone!

Mirror practice: spend time on a regular basis practicing your tricks in front of a mirror so you can see how the tricks will look to your audience. This will teach you a great deal about performing magic.

That may satisfy your narcissistic urges. Today, you will want a video recorder so you can watch every move. You never can get a complete view with a mirror.

Surprise is one of the golden keys. Don't tell the audience what you are going to do before you do it or you increase the chances of getting caught. It also lessens the drama of any story you are telling.

The element of surprise is paramount. But you needn't always be secretive about what you are about to do. I routinely do an effect where I tell the audience "I'm going to attempt to turn these two doves into a rab -- oops! I nearly gave it away!" and after some more by-play of that nature (you had to be there) the doves disappear totally in a break-apart box. There's no expected rabbit to be seen anywhere (at least not until the end of the show). The point here, is that you can tell the audience what you are "going to do" (albeit with tongue-in-cheek) with a very small number of effects; but for beginners, Jay's advice is largely correct. Perhaps I'm splitting "hares" here , pardon the pun.

Every trick should have a magic moment, some moment when you snap your fingers or wave your hand or when the magic is supposed to have JUST happened. That makes for good theatre.

Every trick? Some tricks, like the Six Card Repeat, or the Linking Rings, just to name two of many, have a continuous blending of unfolding "moments". With a lot of magic, the journey can be as much of a reward as the final surprise ending. (If you truly want to call yourself an entertainer, the "journey" should be entertaining even if the trick has only magical moment.)

You don't have to be funny! You can be serious, silly, witty, funny, thoughtful or anything you want when you present your magic! If you don't feel comfortable trying to be funny, don't worry, just be yourself!!!

Show me any young person who, if they were asked, "Just who are you?" could give an answer. Or someone of any age for that matter. If a magician is really an actor playing the part of a magician, then what kind of advice is it to say, "Just be yourself!" ? If I was truly myself, I wouldn't be getting in front of audiences and pretending to do the impossible while I lied through my teeth about it. You should try to reach beyond yourself and practice, practice, practice playing a character who can actually DO the impossible: a magician with the skills to defeat the laws of logic and common sense, starting, say, with that venerable chestnut of a card trick that has the line in it, "And now tell me what row it's in!"

Make the magic yours! Develop your own presentations and even the way you go from one trick to another. Bring your own unique style to your magic.

This assumes that everyone can conjure up a unique style. The popular myth is that by inventing your own unique presentation, you'll be the best performer that you can be. If that were so, then thousands of magicians wouldn't be doing the same tricks in the same way, almost word-for-word. If magicians had to be totally original in order to succeed, most of them would abandon magic.

Get the audiences involved as much as possible. Shuffle the cards, think of a number, examine a prop, etc. The more they get involved, the more they will care about what you do!

The last time I tried to get a bunch of adults involved, I had to tell six of them I wouldn't be able to begin until they pocketed their Blackberries and iPhones. The more they got involved with their addicting toys, the less they cared about what I was about to do. Welcome to the second decade of the 21s century.

Get a magic buddy! Not only can you watch this show together, you can learn a lot by watching each other and rehearsing together!

Maybe this is a hint to come to ring meetings and luncheons and have a lot of magic friends!

By Jay Sankey - Be sure to check out Jay's website: SankeyMagic.com

From our house to yours, Cindy and I wish you the best from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

Dennis

2010-11 Famulus Newsletter

2010-11-18T08:47:00.002-05:00

Newsletter of IBM Ring #170

The Bev Bergeron Ring

Next general meeting Wednesday, 11/17/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP

Performance Theme: Free form
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 – artthomas31@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.

2010-11 From The editor

2010-11-18T08:44:00.001-05:00

The Holiday season is upon us, so there are a couple of important traditions that take place in our Ring at this time of year. Firstly, the annual call for Ring Officers has gone out. If you would like to volunteer your time to help improve the ring, please email Craig (click here). If you are interested in a particular position, mention it in the email.

The second tradition is our annual Christmas Gift Exchange. Craig will be emailing everyone with full instructions, but basically, be prepared to bring a new wrapped magical gift to the December 15th meeting, if you want to participate. We suggest a value of around $15, and it should be something with which you would not mind going home. Also, donations of chips, dips, and nibbles will be gratefully received.

On a technology note, we have decided that our attempt to move to a Google distribution list, instead of the Yahoo list is too complicated and not necessary anymore, as Yahoo's reliability has improved significantly. So you will continue to receive meeting, lecture and newsletter notifications from the Yahoo groups address. Make sure they do not get caught in your SPAM filter. Also, PLEASE do NOT reply to these messages, they do not go anywhere. Make sure you direct your reply at a specific person (email addresses above)

2010-11 Ring Report

2010-11-18T08:36:00.000-05:00

President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on October 22d and introduced the Ring's officers to the 28 members and guests in attendance The meeting was dedicated to the memory of Don Masters, who passed away in May. Don was a founder of our Ring and received a Charter for it on June 1st of 1962. He was owner and operator of numerous magic shops in the Orlando area from the mid 60's into the 80's. Several of our members related stories of how Don had positively influenced them during his professional career. Don was known for performing his wild card routine but confessed that his favorite illusion was "The Zombie". Don's remains were interred in Deland, Florida.

Several members announced that they would be performing later this month or in November. Kerry Pierce will be busy again during Halloween with his annual bash that is always well attended by the public. Dan Stapleton will be doing a lecture for Ring 258 in Leesburg, Florida in mid November. Dave Koenig will perform his mind reading on a local FM radio station in the upcoming weeks. Joe Zimmer travelled to Fresno, California and performed his act at a Fair venue. He had the opportunity to visit Hocus Pocus Magic located in the area and reported his general enthusiastic satisfaction with the experience. Bev Bergeron spent a week in Hollywood, California performing numerous shows at the Magic Castle and celebrated the 50th Anniversary of The Magic Land of Allakazam in which he starred as Rebo, The Clown for many years with Mark Wilson and Nani Darnell . Bev was also present to illustrate a "color changing knife routine" that he has used over the years. The Ring members, present at the meeting, were given a complimentary copy of Merrill's Knife Book by R.D. Merrill from Gary Frank of the Fantastic Magic Company, Inc. Ed McGowan, Dan Stapleton and Luciano de Pazos also took turns demonstrating their takes on handling the knives. Chris Dunn closed the demonstration by displaying his collection of paddles utilized for similar magic illusions.

Phil Schwartz was up next with Magic History Moment #26 in which he told of the attempts of Bill Larsen, owner of the Thayer Magic Company, to publish, in 1947, Thayer Company's Catalog #10 but it never came to pass. In 1950, the Company was sold to Clayton Jacobsen but the catalog although promised, was never published. Through the years and another change in ownership of the Company. the idea of the Catalog was forgotten. In 1979, the original wooden plates for the unpublished Catalog #10 were found in the attic of Jacobsen's foreclosed home and sold on Ebay. Phil was the successful bidder and showed several of the plates to the Ring membership.

Chris Dunn emceed the performances offered by three members of the Ring.

Charlie Pfrogner, Sebastian Midtvaage and Dan Stapleton performed excellent card routines that entertained and mystifyed the audience

2010-11 Kostya Kimlat Dinner Show

2010-11-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

Orlando's Finest, Intimate Dinner Show RETURNS to Del Frisco's Steakhouse on Thursday, November 4th

LEARN ALL ABOUT THE SHOW HERE: http://www.magicshoworlando.com/

This year I have been lucky to perform magic in Argentina, Australia, England, Scotland and my home of Ukraine. But now I'm glad to be home for the rest of the year and excited to present the full evening dinner-show right here in Orlando. Along with the current show dates open to the public, we are doing several private shows for family celebrations and corporate holiday events. If you're looking for something "different" and "magical" this season, it would be my pleasure to delight your group!

Upcoming Show-dates:

November 4, 22, 27 (after thanksgiving!)

December 3, 20, 21, 28, 29 (after the major holidays!)

Contact the Restaurant: http://www.delfriscosorlando.com/
To purchase tickets go directly to: http://www.magicshoworlando.com/

- Become a fan of the show on Facebook!

2010-11 Kostya Kimlat news

2010-11-18T08:27:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Magic Fans,
I'm very proud to share that my company has become the Official Magicians of the Orlando Magic NBA Team!

Starting with tonight's season-opener at the beautiful new center in Downown Orlando, we will be performing at every home game!

Catch us before the game at Fan Fest, right by the entrance or come say hello during the first 2 quarters at the Gentleman Jack Terrace and Budweiser Baseline Bar. At half-time, we'll be at the Mercedes-Benz Lounge, amazing all the season-ticket holders.

This is going to be quite a MAGICAL season!

See you at the games!

2010-11 Dennis' Deliberations

2010-11-18T08:22:00.000-05:00

The Pendragon Drama et al.

We can hope that Jon and Charlotte resolve their financial issues in the dissolution of their illusions. Divorce almost always brings emotional upheaval as well as financial catastrophe. These past months have been tough on the illusion community. The Wyrick bankruptcy, The Franz Harary bankruptcy, the closing of the Lance Burton Show. I am hoping that soon we get brighter news.

With the Pendragon's marital discord, we have the makings of an unfortunate and entirely distasteful story of a pair of human beings stumbling badly in their efforts at being...well, human beings. So what else is new? Has your life gone entirely smoothly up to now? Today's dismal divorce rate among adults in North America is at a whopping thirty to fifty percent, with the high-end of the percentage dominating. Now I don't mean to imply that severe marital discord leading to separation and divorce can be in any way warranted due to solely its apparent commonality; rather, I'm talking about a matter of balance here, as we shall see...

That the Pendragons happened to also be successful professional magicians is beside the point. Divorce rates are every bit as high (if not higher) among people of all branches of the entertainment world. In marriage, two supposedly mature - if somewhat young - adults are expected to be able to find compatible mates (within a society arguably terminally dysfunctional) and come together and deal with an almost limitless variety of life's mundane and important challenges, not the least of them being the interactions between two often disparate and sometimes ego-driven personalities. As if that wasn't difficult enough for most people (like 99%), the surreal way of earning one's living -- as entertainers -- can only add to the strain. There is the constant public scrutiny of character, known under better circumstances as the highly coveted fame that so many people of show business require; in fact their very success depends upon it. But when the private lives of the famous take a turn for the worse, such public scrutiny, exacerbated as it always is by prurient media attention, can quickly degenerate into a nightmare.

The more "mainstream" famous can hardly keep from picking their noses without it being blown up in the tabloids and media, with the newest and most ubiquitous "staring eye" being the Internet. But were the Pendragons mainstream famous? For that matter, are any magicians as famous as most professional film actors, recording artists, or everyone else in show business that depend upon regular exposure both "live" and through technological means? Hardly...

Except for the occasional television special or radio interview or some such (most of which most people miss), the Pendragons and almost every other magician and duo of magic of their former stature, spend their working lives slogging it out in the "backwoods" of show business. By that, I mean, any kind of entertainment that is performed live before hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people without benefit of the hugely vaster audiences they would be exposed to on consistent national television appearences or in the movies.

Consider for a moment, rock and roll bands. It is the difference between those who regularly record and merchandise their music verses those who do not. Everyone knows the Rolling Stones, but can the average person off the street, say, name even one song by the Gaping Thoracic Wounds ? Not a chance! The second band doesn't exist, but my point is simply that the Pendragons, for all their former limited "fame" as magicians (however hard-won though a lot of years of valiant, back-breaking work) were nevertheless perpetually relegated to the "Gaping Thoracic Wounds" of show business. As every intelligent magician (oxymoronic?) should know, that is the nature of magic; or rather, magic's "perception" today by the general public. As the cliché goes, almost no one could name more than three magicians if pressed to do so. And I'd bet my wife if not my life that the names they'd come up with would be Houdini (as ever), David Copperfield, and perhaps David Blaine. And here again, it might take two or more people as a group to think of that many names.

But here's the rub: Many thousands of magicians and magic fanatics around the world have become fixated on the continuing sad story of the fall of two of their most revered heros. Yes, of course, it was initially and understandably a negative shock to magicians. But as for the general public, those relative few who came across the story by purely serendipitous means and then took a few precious minutes out of their humdrum lives to actually read it -- due to their ingrained disdain for magic as little more than an oddball novelty form of entertainment, they promptly forgot about the marital travails of these illusionists three minutes later.

The lack of respect for magic is the very reason why late-night comedians like Jay Leno and David Letterman, et al, were able to get so much comic mileage out of the former alleged romantic dalliances of David Copperfield. To these late-night stars of the idiot box, even the most famous magicians are geeks to be laughed at, and their audiences were seen to share the same contempt with their knee-jerk laughter.

So ... a couple of strangely quixotic illusionists fell into marital discord? The typical person's response: " I never heard of them. Honey, what's the weather going to be like today?"

Perhaps it is time now for magicians everywhere, to move on to brighter thoughts; and leave these two people to work out the rest of their lives ... in peace.
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Now for some much needed humor:

There's an old tale told about a lousy young magician at the Magic Castle who kept screwing up his card tricks. Each time the guy flubbed a sleight, he would mumble apologetically, "I'm sorry, but the cards are a little sticky tonight." ...and... "The cards are bent." ...and... "You'll have to forgive me, I think there's some grit on these cards." Finally, an exasperated old magician watching on the sidelines shouted, "Okay, we've heard your side of the story -- now let's hear it from the cards!"
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A struggling professional magician finally reaches full adulthood...it does happen... and decides to gives up the grind on the road and the endless hassles of being an independent entertainer. He soon settles down to a daytime job and married life. He gets the mortgage and the kid. One day, his teenage son, after hearing endless tales of Dad's youthful adventures, decides that he too, will ignore the usual childhood distractions (like completing his education) and become a professional magician.

After much pleading to dissuade his son but failing to do so, the father finally gives in and says, "Okay, if you insist, but you must do this properly by taking lessons." Dad enrolls him in the Chavez Studio of Magic. Under pressure from the boy's dad to eschew the usual vigorous psychological counseling that is now mandated by the government for all prospective Chavez students, the head of this obscure institution cuts to the chase by asking the boy, "Okay then, what kind of magic do you want to do?"

Junior replies, "I want to be an illusionist!"

"Fine,” says studio head, "but first you have to learn the basics.”

Junior goes home at the end of the day and his Dad asks him how it is going.

"Great!" says the son, "I watched a lot of videos of top illusionists at work, and then I was given all the Paul Osborne plans to study."

"Terrific!" says his dad. "That's a good start."

At the end of the second day, the dad asks how it went again.

"Cool!" says Junior. "I got to go into a workshop and build stuff!"

"Good progress," smiles Dad

The third day Dad comes home early from work to find Junior in the living room wasting time on his iPad.

"Hey, I thought you had a magic class today!" says his father.

Junior looks up and says, "Yeah, but I blew it off. I'm going to quit. I've got a few gigs lined up."
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A magician is looking for a new female assistant for his magic act.

He puts and ad in the local newspaper and gets three applicants for the job.

As a test, he gives each small sum of cash and sends them to a magic shop to buy a suitable trick for his show.

The first girl comes back with the Brainwave Deck. The magician thinks, "Hmmm... she's likes mental effects with strong cognitive impact."

The second one comes back with a Zombie ball. The magician thinks, "Not bad. This girl prefers routines that are showy, elegant, and classic."

The third girl came back with the Vanishing Bird Cage. "Wow," thinks the magician, "This girl understands the importance of family-oriented routines that involve children up on stage, and that gets to the hearts of the parents.

So... who does he hire?
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.
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Answer: The one with the biggest breast size.

I hope all of you have a happy Thanksgiving. I am hoping to be in Orlando the first week of December for a visit.

I was nominated to be the new Secretary for Ring #320 here in Virginia. Sheldon is doing a great job for you and I read his monthly Ring Reports.

Soon you will probably be reading mine from here.

Dennis