Ring 170 - The Bev Bergeron Ring (I.B.M.)'s Fan Box

Sunday, January 14, 2007

2007-01 Letter from "It's Unbelievable Magic"

How Coloring books are made












Joe making Svengali decks













Joe & James with Artie Kidwell















James Displaying His Self-Made Invisible Deck











It has been an Unbelievable Year!

January found "It's Unbelievable Magic" returning to visit and perform with our friends in Ft. Myers, and Gainesville. In February we returned for another season at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. It is always great to revisit with everyone and each year the festivals get better! The new Circus Stage the Mid America team built for us to perform on at BARF was wonderful. We can't wait to get back in '07. The dates this year are weekends from February 17th - April 1st. Please drop by and say hi if you make it to the show!

In March we were invited to be a part of the festivities for the 20 year anniversary of Give Kids the World. Each month we set aside time to go to the Kids Village in Kissimmee and perform a show for the kids and their families. The changes that we have watched happen at the village since first visiting in 1992 are amazing! James and Joe have been a part of the village, both individually and as a team, for 15 years.

For the Kid's Village 20th Anniversary celebration, James and Joe's magic show was once again a featured part of the festivities along with the Characters from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. But perhaps the highlight of the night was getting to hang with John Stamos who played Uncle Jesse on "Full House". It was an exciting night but there was more to come. On April 27th. James and Joe were awarded for their volunteerism by both Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida to the sum of $1,500.00! It was
a pleasure to present that money to the terrific folks at Give Kids the World.

James and Joe were both active individually as well. James undertook the role of Tevye taking center stage in the Celebration Players production of Fiddler On the Roof. Joe continued his work with Cirque du Monde and flew out to Las Vegas for the annual training workshop. While there he was able to see many of the new Cirque du Soleil shows including the brand new production of "Beatles - LOVE". It is now Joe’s favorite of the Cirque du Soleil resident shows.

Summer always means lots of shows and 2006 was not exception. Libraries and programs for the City of Orlando Recreation Department kept things busy during June and July. August allowed for a few quite moments and family vacations.



It's Unbelievable Magic and our show "Bunnies In Peril" hit the road in August and went all the way to Ohio! The Ohio Renaissance Festival has never seen anything like two guys shooting a small bunny out of a cannon before! The boys spent the end of August and all of September living in a 40 foot Prevost motor coach and alternately performing at the festival and exploring the state of Ohio. The audiences at the Ohio Renaissance Festival were some of the best "It's Unbelievable Magic" has ever met. When we weren’t performing we were exploring much of the stateof Ohio! Did you know that they have roller coasters in Ohio? And Cincinnati? And Chili 5 Way? And cornfield mazes? And the U.S. Playing Card Company? And the most awesome magic shop, Haines House of Cards?

And a special shout out to our friends at the Lebanon Ohio Buffalo Wild Wings. Keep 'em blazin’. We'll be back!

One of the highlight of visiting Ohio was getting to meet Past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ken Klosterman and his lovely wife. Ken invited us to visit his Magic Museum "the Salon De Magie" in the Magic Mine. WOW. Thanks for everything Ken! See you again in '07?

October equals Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. Long nights, hoarse voices, creepy people. And that's the audience! In November we always look forward to the Daytona Beach Festival of Magic. This year was no different. Magicians in large numbers and lots of shows. What's not to like? It simply was the must attend event of the year. Unless you aren't a magician. We're not sure what non-magicians do for fun. Attend non-magician conventions? Or order pizza delivery and watch magic exposure specials on cable?
Hmmm?

We ended the year with one of our favorite traditions, performing on Christmas Eve as Santa's opening act at the Give Kids the World Village. "It's Unbelievable Magic" has made it a Holiday tradition to spend Christmas Eve at the Kids Village for many years now. James and Joe perform the magic while our friends, or family depending on relationship, the Harpies provide the harp music for the resident families enjoying the evening in the Castle of Miracles. It makes a perfect end to a very Unbelievable year.

Every indication is that 2007 will be just as Unbelievable and even busier. Stop by at any of the shows and say 'hi" if you are in the neighborhood. Until then, from us to you,

Have a Magical New Year! May it be UNBELIEVABLE!

Joe Vecciarelli

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Just want to make sure that everyone knows that James Songster actually wrote the above It's Unbelievable Magic year in review.