Posts
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
*************************************************************
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.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
2010-11 From The editor
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)
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
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
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
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!
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
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!
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
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.
************************************************
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!"
************************************************
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."
*******************************************************
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?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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
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.
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.
************************************************
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!"
************************************************
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."
*******************************************************
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?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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
Saturday, October 16, 2010
2010-10 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 10/20/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Halloween Magic (what else)
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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 10/20/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Halloween Magic (what else)
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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
2010-10 From The editor
The cooler weather has arrived and reminds us that "Magic Season" starts now with Halloween just about here. Hopefully our professionals already have their calendars filling up for the holiday season.
Don't forget "Theater of the Unexplained" at Wizardz on Monday (863-307-9400 for tickets), Kim says the proceeds are benefiting Rachel Colombini.
Thnaks to Sheldon and Dennis for their contributions, to the rest of you...come on, put the grey matter into "Drive" and write something for the newsletter.
Scary Halloween to all
Stefan
Don't forget "Theater of the Unexplained" at Wizardz on Monday (863-307-9400 for tickets), Kim says the proceeds are benefiting Rachel Colombini.
Thnaks to Sheldon and Dennis for their contributions, to the rest of you...come on, put the grey matter into "Drive" and write something for the newsletter.
Scary Halloween to all
Stefan
2010-10 Ring Report
President Craig Fennessey called the meeting to order on September 15th and introduced the Ring's officers to the 30 members in attendance and guests Jimmy Vee and Eric Kennedy of Boston, Mass.
Billy Scadlock announced that the Sunburst Convention of Tribute Performers would be held this month in Orlando. The annual convention brings together performers from the regional area performing their specialties at two performances during the week as well as a list of other events that are open to the public.
Craig Schwarz, President of the local SAM chapter announced that their meeting night had been changed to the 4th Wednesday of the month and will be held at the IHOP on Hwy 192, just east of I-4. He also mentioned the SAM's National Conference will be held at the Kissimmee Radisson next March. The Florida State Magic Convention is scheduled for November 5th through 7th in Daytona Beach and members were reminded to purchase tickets now for choice seating at the show.
Keith Locke reported that he was initiating a Segway Transporter Experience this month on International Drive and invited the members out to try it. Jackie Manna announced that her Clown Alley would be having a Show in October at a local Lutheran Church. Dan Stapleton reported that America Has Talent will be at the Bob Carr Auditorium on November 7th and there will be a Don Martin Memorial Service in Deland if any one wished to attend. Dan will also be presenting a Ring Lecture in Leesburg on November 14th.
James Songster will be performing at Wizards in Kissimmee on October 18th his production of The Theater of the Unexplained. Kerry Pierce will be hosting a Halloween Party for adults and kids at his property on October 29th and 30th.
Bev Bergeron was up next with his Tic Tac Toe Prediction Teach-in that had some of the members playing with it for the rest of the evening.
Phil Schwartz presented the Ring with Magic History Moment # 25 and addressed the secret that goes back to the year 1902 when the book "The Expert at the Card Table " was written by S. W. Erdnase (E.S. Andrews)? Ed McGowen quickly followed Phil with a demonstration of 3-card Monte the old fashioned way.
Chris Dunn emceed the performance part of the meeting. Doug Kalcik saw through the styrofoam cup and avoided impaling his hand on a spike hidden under one of the four that had been placed on the table. Phil Schwartz returned as a performer with the Thayer made Blue Phantom Disc Illusion invented by Hans Trunk and truly mystified the audience. Chuck Smith opened with a beautiful large butterfly silk and performed a selected card torn and the remainder found in an unopened can. Dan Stapleton came up next with an audience volunteer and demonstrated Reflexology, a humorous by the volunteer to catch his $50 bill that
had been placed in an envelope and dropped between his fingers. After a few attempts he was successful but was chagrined when he removed the bill from the envelope it had mysteriously changed to a $1 denomination. Mark Fitzgerald closed the show with a three coin manipulation and 4-Ace handling effect.
A fine time was had by all.
Billy Scadlock announced that the Sunburst Convention of Tribute Performers would be held this month in Orlando. The annual convention brings together performers from the regional area performing their specialties at two performances during the week as well as a list of other events that are open to the public.
Craig Schwarz, President of the local SAM chapter announced that their meeting night had been changed to the 4th Wednesday of the month and will be held at the IHOP on Hwy 192, just east of I-4. He also mentioned the SAM's National Conference will be held at the Kissimmee Radisson next March. The Florida State Magic Convention is scheduled for November 5th through 7th in Daytona Beach and members were reminded to purchase tickets now for choice seating at the show.
Keith Locke reported that he was initiating a Segway Transporter Experience this month on International Drive and invited the members out to try it. Jackie Manna announced that her Clown Alley would be having a Show in October at a local Lutheran Church. Dan Stapleton reported that America Has Talent will be at the Bob Carr Auditorium on November 7th and there will be a Don Martin Memorial Service in Deland if any one wished to attend. Dan will also be presenting a Ring Lecture in Leesburg on November 14th.
James Songster will be performing at Wizards in Kissimmee on October 18th his production of The Theater of the Unexplained. Kerry Pierce will be hosting a Halloween Party for adults and kids at his property on October 29th and 30th.
Bev Bergeron was up next with his Tic Tac Toe Prediction Teach-in that had some of the members playing with it for the rest of the evening.
Phil Schwartz presented the Ring with Magic History Moment # 25 and addressed the secret that goes back to the year 1902 when the book "The Expert at the Card Table " was written by S. W. Erdnase (E.S. Andrews)? Ed McGowen quickly followed Phil with a demonstration of 3-card Monte the old fashioned way.
Chris Dunn emceed the performance part of the meeting. Doug Kalcik saw through the styrofoam cup and avoided impaling his hand on a spike hidden under one of the four that had been placed on the table. Phil Schwartz returned as a performer with the Thayer made Blue Phantom Disc Illusion invented by Hans Trunk and truly mystified the audience. Chuck Smith opened with a beautiful large butterfly silk and performed a selected card torn and the remainder found in an unopened can. Dan Stapleton came up next with an audience volunteer and demonstrated Reflexology, a humorous by the volunteer to catch his $50 bill that
had been placed in an envelope and dropped between his fingers. After a few attempts he was successful but was chagrined when he removed the bill from the envelope it had mysteriously changed to a $1 denomination. Mark Fitzgerald closed the show with a three coin manipulation and 4-Ace handling effect.
A fine time was had by all.
2010-10 Dennis' Deliberations
The first nip of fall is in the air this year up here in the Shenandoah Valley. It is 49 degrees this morning as I wrap up this month’s contribution. No major changes in my life. I still do a little radio news and voice tracking and lot of substitute teaching and my weekly schedule of restaurant magic in such places as the Hookah Lounge.
After seeing several grandstand magic acts at county fairs around here, I am asking myself about the definition of an “entertainer”. Think of Collector's Workshop and other magic dealers. If a person had a million dollars he could buy a heck of lot of "self-contained" miracles of the deluxe kind....pre-packaged routines, but would any of that make him an entertainer?
Maybe the rule should be this:
Okay, guy you say you want to be magician. Well first we have to find out if you're an entertainer:
Just stand before us with no props, just YOU and your miserable-looking out-of-shape body with a costume that does nothing for it.
NOW: Entertain us! Sing, dance, act, do impressions, tell a story or joke, make us laugh, cry or barf -- what the heck and if you can pull THAT off ---
THEN! Maybe ... just MAYBE you should start learning to do.... some magic.
Start off with mentalism or pseudo hypnosis or ventriloquism (itself a kind of visual magic-illusion). Max Maven used to say that it was very easy to do mentalism, it was very difficult to do it well. Are YOU interesting and compelling to watch? Do people like you? Does no one want to look away ( or sadly ‘walk away’) during your time in the spotlight?
“You only get fancy props when you are ready.”
The result? --- About one in a thousand wanna-be magicians would be working today. Sheeze they’d even make lousy hobbyists. Fit only for Internet chat rooms and driving all their friends away with their whining: "Wanna see a trick?" "NO, creep, get lost and do the world a favor: Disappear! It is an option!"
Be honest: I'll bet the numbers of magicians who actually rose the hair up on the back of your neck, who gave you goose bumps just looking at their STYLE of Presentation --let alone any actual magic that fooled you -- you could count on the digits of one hand... and still have your thumb dangling free, uncounted.
Recently, Joseph Gabriel did it to me. As did James Dimmare. Lance Burton came close with his classic dove-card and-candle act. They have been a few others. There are many European Illusionists on You-Tube that are exciting to watch (Dani Lary, Peter Marvey etc.)
Or as the magic dealers should say about acts such as these, "That guy deserves my props!"
But then, to 99 percent of the dealers, just having money means you deserve their props. Now, in fairness, the song writer rarely has control over what happens to his crafted melody. He sells the sheet music and however it is either butchered into the noise of cat screeching on the sound of angel’s voices is not under his control. But a magic dealer is a little different. All of them are also a form of mentor and instructor. No bartender is legally allowed to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated and will do harm to themselves by using the product. Yep, we all know a lot of wanna-be magicians who are drunk on a dream.
In a truly ethical world: Some dude phones up a magic dealer to buy some stuff for the first time in his life, and he first has to answer a short (very short) questionnaire, if he isn't already on file. In order to GET permanently on a "universal file" for all the world's magic dealers, he's put through the following (I mean, thereafter, the buyer just gives the dealer his "file number", that the dealer can verify instantly via the Internet) :
Here are some ideas for entertaining with no props or just a couple of coins. I often do the “hand twisting” (both hands out, thumbs down-right and over left”) as a gag in a “prop-less show”.
I also do the fingers interlocked and hands clasped with both index fingers extended (they can not keep them from slowly touching!) as an example of mental suggestion. (In a High School classroom I NEVER use the word “hypnotism”. I used the concept of mental suggestion and mental illusions).
Something that I do for some audiences ,that is pure entertainment and hilarious, is the “Dime Penny and Nickel Riddle”. This is an idea that I got from Dan Harlan’s lecture about 5 or 6 years ago at the Orlando Ring. Maybe you remember. It is a great bit.
On your hand lay a penny, a nickel and a dime… Tell the audience to pay attention and that you are giving them all the information they need to solve the riddle:
Say, “Ben’s mother had 3 children; the first was named “Penny” point to the penny. The second child was named “Nickolas” point to the nickel.”
Now point to the dime and say, “If you know the name of the 3rd child, raise you hand, do not blurt it out. Just raise your hand!” A few hands will go up and people will snicker… A majority will be puzzled.
I say, “When the answer hits you it will be like a bolt of lightning! You will say to yourself, “Yes, How simple!”
The repeat the riddle: “Ben’s mother had 3 children; the first was named “Penny” point to the penny. The second child was named “Nickolas” point to the nickel.”
Now point to the dime and say, “If you know the name of the 3rd child, raise you hand, do not blurt it out. Just raise your hand!” This time a few more hand go up and more people start laughing… A few still don’t get it… This goes on another could of times and a few still don’t get it. I go out into the audience and usually pick on an older guy or woman and in a frustrated voice put the coins in their palm and say, “Hokay, lets go over this again and listen to what I am saying! The audience is in stitches as I repeat the riddle… I deliberately have them repeat very world I say!
“Ben’s MOTHER… Ben’s Mother!” The audience is rolling in the floor and the poor guy is repeating it UNTIL he get’s it…and says, “OH! YES!!!! “Ben! Ben!” The audience breaks out into laughter and applause….
This gag can go on for 5 minutes and the audience totally engaged and entertained if you use your voice and a kind of “Paul Daniels” attitude. I have used this gag many times… It is an almost prop-less crowd killer!
Props are becoming meaningless anymore. High school kids with a MP3 player with 10,000 songs are no longer fooled by much…even if they do not understand the electronics. I recently took “The Obedient Block” into my classrooms and did the whole bit with “talking to the block”.
The trick got no real response other than the comment, “It has something electronic in it that recognizes your voice and grabs the string”.
I even have trouble now with drawing duplication because there are pens out that let you draw and instantly download it to a computer! $125 dollars!
Dennis Phillips
“You only get fancy props when you are ready.”
- What magic organizations do you belong to?
- Who can vouch for your skills?
- How long have you been in magic?
- Can we see an unedited DVD of a portion of your act?
- What French magician was described as "The Father of Modern Magic", and what Canadian-born magician was affectionately called "The Professor"?
- Answer ONE of the following questions: (a) What is Rouging Fluid? (b) Fanning Powder? (c) What are Slush Powder and Dental Dam used for outside of magic?
- Are you married (not a requirement) and if so, how the heck did you manage to find woman who likes magic? (Of course the last one is a joke.)
Most people think that the pen or pencil just has funny electronics build into it! Scratch that miracle…
Technology is now so ubiquitous, props have less impact. Learn to entertain without relying on them.
Have a good and prosperous Halloween!
Harrisonburg, Va
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
2010-09 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 09/15/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Cool 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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 09/15/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Cool 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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
2010-09 From the Editor
September already! While many of you are hopefully making plans for your winter holidays peak season, your editor was off traveling around the country on a late vacation. Although we did spend a few days in New York, as we often do, we did unfortunately miss Monday Night Magic.
Thanks to Dennis for his regular contribution, the only one this month (readers...hint, hint).
Looking forward to some more submissions before next month's edition
Your editor
Stefan
Thanks to Dennis for his regular contribution, the only one this month (readers...hint, hint).
Looking forward to some more submissions before next month's edition
Your editor
Stefan
2010-09 Dennis' Deliberations
The summer is rapidly drawing to a close here in the Shenandoah Valley and the leaves should begin turned in a couple of weeks. They expect it to happen a little earlier this year because of a very record breaking hot and dry summer. I spend almost all the summer doing the afternoon news shift at the radio station, gathering, writing and reading the news. Now that public school has started, I am going back to Substitute teaching and then doing fill-is afternoons and evenings and on Saturdays at the radio station.
I am also actively marketing my Middle School Fund-raising show, “The Travels of Marco Polo”. The show has a pre-packaged set of lesson plans based on the Virginia Standards of Learning (The SOLs) related to geography, math, science and social studies. It is not being promoted as a magic show but as a family fantasy show that blends learning with entertainment by “Edu-tainer” Dennis Phillips.
Obviously knowing me, you can guess I would have costumed scenes with music from exotic lands (Arabia, Persia, India, China) and bits between the scenes on the apron telling about what Marco learned and saw in each land. I have smaller costumes so that audience assistants can participate. Running time is 90 minutes with an intermission and my profit center will be concessions, trinkets and pitch items. The school will get a percentage of the ticket sales and they will handle the drinks and food. So far interest has been high and I will keep you posted.
Hoe many of you have heard of the booking agency, Bill and Lenny (obviously my fictitious names) This company is on line magic booking agency. Don't be a sucker... they are pocketing more than you're getting, but if you are willing to sell yourself really cheap , they'll use you.
I have a friend who worked for them years back for a very short while, but always held his guns, because he was informed about them ahead of time... they try varied tactics to get you down in price, and if you move once, they've got you locked in at a low proce forever.
He mutually parted years back, and I know they've been trying other magicians... they always have a sob story of how little they are going to get out as commission, or they are giving up their full commissions just so they can book you. The Best Advice I Can Give You.... Don't Be FOOLED!!
How did he know, what they're getting in price from the client? Sit down and think about it! He always got what he asked for or he would not take the gig and it was never what they originally offered. Even then they kept phoning back with low-ball offers.
His final Gig: ... They called him with an offer... when he got the info and checked details, his quote back was more than double... they haggled about the fee... but he knew that the corporation was spending bigger dollars on their event, and stuck with his fee.
Had he not done so, they would have pocketed a significant percentage that belonged to him. That was it.
They offer the same money to the other local's who will jump at it because they're plain ignorant, and have no idea of entertainment value, and think to themselves "another paid show"... But, B& L because that act was poor, doesn't get a good report back from the client, so they keep jumping around to other Magi until they get another one to bite and they'll keep working them until they see what's going on.
In the mean time, they are socking away chunks of commission that should be going to the performer.
I realize they are not going to do this for nothing; they have to get their share. But when is enough, enough?
I can recall times years ago when I would run around Central Florida getting $200 a show at a Convention and having to pay an assistant out of that and the booking agent was billing and getting $1500 for my act! I found out the billing once and confronted the agent who said to me , “You are a good magician but a lousy business man. You have no idea what it cost me to book a show. You took the $200 bucks and was happy with it, you have no right complaining." Needless to say, just on the principle of the thing and the fact that my time was more valuable than netting $100 a show, I declined any further gigs from that agent.
From my desk… Paul Osborne sent this…He and Michele still stay in touch with Senor Rai. Remember Rai, “The Liberace of Magic” he toured for years as a magic Ringmaster with the Hanniford Circus and even had a brief gig in Las Vegas.
It is sad that he now lives now with his significant other in a haunted trailer in Milton, Florida!
http://www.biography.com/video.do?name=myghoststory&bcpid=104613367001&bclid=586318468001&bctid=586317691001
Ever wonder why a magicians in a magic? What do they get out of it?
Maybe it is the "Ahhhh" (gotta get the right number of h's) which lends further meaning to life. At least the life of an ego-craving magician, who sees the value in magic beyond the need to earn a buck with it.
Now that I think of it, every magician has a tiny "superman complex" inside him. As in: "I can do impossible things that YOU can't figure out!"
The comedian has the same craving: the feeling of power he derives from manipulating an audience into a state of helpless laughter.
The musician gets his jollies by showing off a skill that stretches well beyond the capabilities of the listeners.
The stage actor gets high on the manipulation of the emotions of a willing (i.e. paying) audience. The stock market maven tickles his endorphins on the challenge of the gamble.
The Gospel magician-preacher gets his emotional thrill by interpreting God for his congregation and entertaining them in the process.
It is said that thousands of starry-eyed young people try to get into show business (of whatever kind) to avoid doing a real job, not realizing until it's too late that that, too, is a lot of work; and more often than not, an incredible struggle. Magician Larry Thornton in Calgary, Canada saw the entertainment section of his city's Herald newspaper on a table, and in there was an article (and interview) on former Saturday Night Live comedic actor John Lovitz. He will be in Calgary soon doing his stand-up comedy act. John Lovitz admitted he wasn't doing all that well anymore. He put it more brightly but it amounts to the same thing: "Since movie and TV offers have been drying up, I said to my agent , 'Hey ya gotta find me some more gigs or I'll be broke in five years!' " ... He said he turns almost nothing down -- TV bit parts, voice-over work for cartoons, whatever he can get. Show business can be an extremely insecure life, full of heartbreak, with a public that is extremely fickle. So Lovitz went back to his stated "first love" which he never really did much of, and probably on the advice of his agent: stand-up comedy. And he confessed that it initially scared him silly, having to face an audience all alone and deliver a full hour of material. Working bars, halls, casinos..... whatever he can get.
So here is John Lovitz, popular at one time but now reduced to struggling in the "boondocks" of show business, off in a Canadian city doing standup comedy. He's probably on a circuit, maybe his next stop is Red Deer, or heaven forbid, Edmonton! Next -- it's birthday parties for the kiddies! ... At 53 (born 1957) he is more-or-less "washed up" and has to rely for work for the rest of his career and life on people knowing him from Saturday Night Live, obscure and forgettable sit-com TV shows, cartoon voicing, and the movies.
Maybe I paint a picture grimmer than it is, but I was surprised at how candid John Lovitz was. I think most entertainers on the alleged "downside" of their careers wouldn't be so forthcoming... going around telling every rinky-dink hack journalist in the backwaters of nowhere, that you're losing the game...
There have been a lot of losers lately.
NEWSFLASH--- My ultimatum!
I have decided that unless they move the Magic Castle to Harrisonburg, Virginia, I intend to publically burn my entire magic library. It will go viral on the Internet and inflame thousands of magicians. Maybe I can make it to the TV news or have David Copperfield and Cris Angel call me wanting to work out a deal?
The world has gone insane….
Dennis Phillips
Harrisonburg, VA
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
2010-08 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/18/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Rope Magic
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 08/18/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Rope Magic
I-HOP Kirkman Road
5203 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
Please join us for dinner beforehand
Lunch meetings in the McDonald’s at 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. It’s two blocks WEST of the intersection of Interstate 4 and Sand Lake Road. We meet every Tuesday at noon upstairs.
Website: http://www.ring170.com/
F. A. M. E. is the Florida Association of Magical Entertainers
*************************************************************
Directory
Craig J. Fennessy – President – CraigFennessy@gmail.com
Chris Dunn- Vice President – Youngdunns@yahoo.com
Art Thomas – Treasurer – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
2010-08 From the Editor
WE are into the last part of summer, and the heat continues. Hopefully for our working members it means that people are glad to be watching entertainment inside in the air conditioning. For the professionals it is almost time to start preparations for the holiday season, contacting prospective customers, polishing up acts, buying new effects.
We have some interesting lectures coming up, thanks again to Craig's tireless efforts to bring us top quality lecturers, see below.
Your editor
Stefan
We have some interesting lectures coming up, thanks again to Craig's tireless efforts to bring us top quality lecturers, see below.
Your editor
Stefan
2010-08 Award to Dave Koenig
THIS FRIDAY. August 13th… IBM Ring 170 member Dave Koenig is receiving the Merlin Award! …and you are all invited to attend. Come and support one of your members. Details below….
Dave Koenig, The Professor Slim King, will be receiving the MERLIN AWARD this Friday Aug. 13th from Tony Hassini , President and CEO of the International Magicians Society.
The award is for RADIO MAGIC. It's kind of like a magical Oscar
LOCATION:
The presentation will be at The International Palms Hotel on I-Drive at 8PM.
The Presentation and Parking are Free.
There will be a dinner show at The Laughing Tiki following the presentation (Around 8:30) .
There will be a reduced ticket fee if you'd like to stay for the show and buffet. I will be performing an effect or two for the guests during the show. It is a family friendly comedy show. Salad, Pizza, and Desert is on the menu. Everyone can come to the Presentation and meet Tony Hassini and several other movers and shakers in Orlando (Brad Lineweaver and Rozzie Franco). There's no obligation to attend the dinner show although it is a great deal.
There will also be the usual crew hanging around the lounge area after the show.
NOTE:
Dave will be beginning a weekly magic and mind reading show .... MAGICAL MIND GAMES on Thursday evenings starting on August 19th.
Dave Koenig, The Professor Slim King, will be receiving the MERLIN AWARD this Friday Aug. 13th from Tony Hassini , President and CEO of the International Magicians Society.
The award is for RADIO MAGIC. It's kind of like a magical Oscar
LOCATION:
The presentation will be at The International Palms Hotel on I-Drive at 8PM.
The Presentation and Parking are Free.
There will be a dinner show at The Laughing Tiki following the presentation (Around 8:30) .
There will be a reduced ticket fee if you'd like to stay for the show and buffet. I will be performing an effect or two for the guests during the show. It is a family friendly comedy show. Salad, Pizza, and Desert is on the menu. Everyone can come to the Presentation and meet Tony Hassini and several other movers and shakers in Orlando (Brad Lineweaver and Rozzie Franco). There's no obligation to attend the dinner show although it is a great deal.
There will also be the usual crew hanging around the lounge area after the show.
NOTE:
Dave will be beginning a weekly magic and mind reading show .... MAGICAL MIND GAMES on Thursday evenings starting on August 19th.
Monday, August 09, 2010
2010-08 Trevor Duffy Lecture
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando IBM Ring 170
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:30 pm
Trevor Duffy is a professional magician and innovator of magic, who has performed in the United States, England, Australia, parts of Africa and now resides in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has received Gold medal awards in South African National championships. In 2002, he won a Gold medal in the category of invention, and placed 2nd in the Australian I.B.M Close-up competition.This lecture has been fifteen years in the making, experiences gleaned from his many travels, meeting with world class performers as well as his own experiences as a working magician.
This is an extremely interesting and thought provoking lecture, entitled 'Crossing the Fine Line'. The crux of the topic is, 'When you have finished your performance, do people go away saying, "That was a nice show!" or do they say, "Wow, that was unbelievable, what an experience... I'll never forget it!" There is a Fine Line between those two responses and Trevor shares valuable insights and ideas, in the form of seven principles, on how to cross over that fine line.
Trevor has also added a number of personalized magic routines and effects, to this part of the lecture. They assist in illustrating what he is sharing and he explains how they are done. Trevor has produced an exclusive range of magician's products and is known for his innovations with 'thin cards'. He discusses them, and they are available for purchase. Think the “PHIL” deck.
BONUS!!! Trevor will be including in our Ring 170 lecture some additional material not presented at his other Florida lecture stops!
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $ FREE $
NON-MEMBERS: $10.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:30 pm
Trevor Duffy is a professional magician and innovator of magic, who has performed in the United States, England, Australia, parts of Africa and now resides in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has received Gold medal awards in South African National championships. In 2002, he won a Gold medal in the category of invention, and placed 2nd in the Australian I.B.M Close-up competition.This lecture has been fifteen years in the making, experiences gleaned from his many travels, meeting with world class performers as well as his own experiences as a working magician.
This is an extremely interesting and thought provoking lecture, entitled 'Crossing the Fine Line'. The crux of the topic is, 'When you have finished your performance, do people go away saying, "That was a nice show!" or do they say, "Wow, that was unbelievable, what an experience... I'll never forget it!" There is a Fine Line between those two responses and Trevor shares valuable insights and ideas, in the form of seven principles, on how to cross over that fine line.
Trevor has also added a number of personalized magic routines and effects, to this part of the lecture. They assist in illustrating what he is sharing and he explains how they are done. Trevor has produced an exclusive range of magician's products and is known for his innovations with 'thin cards'. He discusses them, and they are available for purchase. Think the “PHIL” deck.
BONUS!!! Trevor will be including in our Ring 170 lecture some additional material not presented at his other Florida lecture stops!
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $ FREE $
NON-MEMBERS: $10.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
2010-08 Banacheck Lecture
Lecturing for FAME of Greater Orlando IBM Ring 170
Monday, August 30, 2010 - 7:30pm
BANACHEK
Described as the "Cream of the Crop" when it comes to entertainers, Banachek is the world's leading Mentalist. His talents are so incredible that he is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed 'Psychic powers' but to later reveal he was fooling them.
Performers around the world such as the colorful Penn & Teller, "The Amazing" James Randi and television's unique street magician David Blaine seek his performing expertise. Companies and theaters seek him for his outstanding performing abilities.
As a tribute to his expert performing abilities Banachek has been awarded the Campus Performer of the year two years in a row, from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and the Year 2000 Campus Novelty Act, beating out all other comedians, bands and other novelty acts. He has also received the coveted Psychic Entertainers Creativity award for his outstanding original contributions and inventions in the world of Mental entertainment.
You do not want to miss….
"The mind of the Man Who Fooled the Scientists, Banachek."
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $15.00
NON-MEMBERS: $20.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
Monday, August 30, 2010 - 7:30pm
BANACHEK
Described as the "Cream of the Crop" when it comes to entertainers, Banachek is the world's leading Mentalist. His talents are so incredible that he is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed 'Psychic powers' but to later reveal he was fooling them.
Performers around the world such as the colorful Penn & Teller, "The Amazing" James Randi and television's unique street magician David Blaine seek his performing expertise. Companies and theaters seek him for his outstanding performing abilities.
As a tribute to his expert performing abilities Banachek has been awarded the Campus Performer of the year two years in a row, from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and the Year 2000 Campus Novelty Act, beating out all other comedians, bands and other novelty acts. He has also received the coveted Psychic Entertainers Creativity award for his outstanding original contributions and inventions in the world of Mental entertainment.
You do not want to miss….
"The mind of the Man Who Fooled the Scientists, Banachek."
ADMISSION:
PAID MEMBERS: $15.00
NON-MEMBERS: $20.00
LOCATION:
I-HOP restaurant
2010-08 Dennis' Deliberations
You have to laugh at me and Cindy. This past year in Harrisonburg, Virginia has produced the coldest winter and most snow in the past 40 years. This summer has been the hottest and driest in 40 years. Most of Virginia is drought stricken but we were saved here in the Shenandoah Valley by the higher water table due to the heavy snowfall last winter. Our family here in town believes that we jinxed this place. I don’t believe in jinxes. I would rather believe we are all dealt a hand and we must make the best of it. I never moved here believing the weather would be perfect or even average. Remember the story about the statistics professor that drowned in the lake with an average depth of 2 feet.
I never enjoyed being disillusioned by extraordinary examples such as people that won the Lottery got very lucky by being in the right place at the right time. My mind often recalls the disillusioned magic wanna-bees that I have known or the hobbyists that always dreamed of making it big but never did.
I was thinking about the tens of thousands of starry-eyed kids around the world to believe that "making it" in magic -- even with exclusively close-up magic, isn't very difficult. This impression is further buttressed by the "con artists" who hustle get rich quick schemes for magicians; and the magic magazines that month-after-month feature a seemingly endless parade of young illusionists successfully playing their trade in "Vegas-like" venues and such. The rags-to-riches stories, the flashy colored photos of the artist working expensive-looking illusions, and surrounded by gorgeous, scantily-clad babes and all.... What incredibly naive teenager, deeply in love with conjuring, could resist this kind of hype?
And no one in magic seems to see any advantage, either for themselves, their profession, or for all the future potential "victims" -- in blowing the lid off this scam. There are no whistle-blowers in magic!! And there never will be. In fact, they all hate like heck to even admit when magic falls into the doldrums, saying instead, "Just wait -- this is all very temporary, very cyclical, in a few years, in a few decades, whatever -- MAGIC is gonna come roaring back!" ...When in fact, it may be all over for this generation... but the whining.
In the end, 99 percent of us turn out to be losers ... statistically speaking. But that makes lousy copy. The truth is not what most people want to hear or know.
The last Monday of the month is when Ring #320 here in the Valley holds their monthly meetings at the Woodrow Wilson rehabilitation center in Fishersville. President Eddy Toby suggested that the ring members do a stage show for the center patients as a “thank you” for letting us use a room each month for our meetings and lectures.
The last Monday of July we did the show.
Here is the “thank you” note I wrote to Eddy and it has a recap of my act which closed the show:
Eddy,
Thank you for being the spark plug on the WWRC show. In the final analysis you did a great job, both as Emcee and as performer. It was successful and enjoyed by the audience and that is what counts. I mean when a guy even gives his wife to the cause… that’s commitment! Seriously, Yvonne did a great job. She had big shoes to fill and she did!
I need to explain this to everyone else in the ring! It is a private joke between Eddie, Yvonne and me.
A week or so ago Eddie volunteered me to close the show with “a couple of illusions”. I explained that I had the props and costumes but I needed a female assistant and a couple of male assistants. We had the guys covered with Eddie and Dave , but we needed a “tah-dah” girl. Eddie picked up a cute nurse who worked at the center during the Sunday rehearsal and got her to agree to help us on Monday Night.
On Sunday afternoon, Eddie and Dave and the nurse and I went over the routine, the moves, how to walk, how to stand and I took measurements for her wardrobe to pull from my costumes to bring on Monday. She was 5 feet 7 inches and a dress size 8 and size 7 shoes.
Followed the rehearsal, Eddie and Yvonne came by my house in Harrisonburg to help me figure out why my computer was not cooperating with my I-Tunes program so I could burn the music track we needed. It took Yvonne’s son on the cell phone to figure out why we were having so much trouble with my computer.
Monday, I did my last newscast of the day at WSVA Radio at 6PM and went by my house for my rabbit and doves and headed to Fishersville. Lucky! No wrecks to block I-81. I get to the auditorium and guess what? No nurse. They got short-handed at the center and forced her to work in another area of the place!
In steps Yvonne! What a good sport! Of course, she now had to fit her dress size 4 into a size 8 dress and her size 4 shoes into size 7. Lots of stuffing in the toes with toilet paper! We had just enough time to walk her through the sequences and it was curtain time.
Music! I came out with the dancing cane and then did my signature trick, "cane to botania"
I place my rabbit into my Indian Basket illusion and 5 Swords are thrust through and removed. The rabbit comes out unharmed! Not much of a mystery until out of the same basket comes Yvonne dressed as Dorothy from the Land of Oz. A choral version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played as Yvonne was placed on a board and levitated (Super X Suspension)
Finally, I used a Crystal Silk Cylinder and transformed red, white and blue silks into an American flag as I told the story of how Betsy Ross made the American Flag. We concluded with the music of Lee Greenwood singing his classic hit, “God Bless the USA” as Eddie and Dave were showing and rotating a Bryce’s Screen. It was shown empty and then from it produced Yvonne dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
It all worked!
Thanks for making me look good…
I hope everyone now realizes just how complicated it is to even do a short illusion act with any production values, but we did it!
Anyone in their right mind will stick with close-up!
You guys (and girl) were great…Pat yourself on the back!
Keep the magic in your heart!
Dennis Phillips
I never enjoyed being disillusioned by extraordinary examples such as people that won the Lottery got very lucky by being in the right place at the right time. My mind often recalls the disillusioned magic wanna-bees that I have known or the hobbyists that always dreamed of making it big but never did.
I was thinking about the tens of thousands of starry-eyed kids around the world to believe that "making it" in magic -- even with exclusively close-up magic, isn't very difficult. This impression is further buttressed by the "con artists" who hustle get rich quick schemes for magicians; and the magic magazines that month-after-month feature a seemingly endless parade of young illusionists successfully playing their trade in "Vegas-like" venues and such. The rags-to-riches stories, the flashy colored photos of the artist working expensive-looking illusions, and surrounded by gorgeous, scantily-clad babes and all.... What incredibly naive teenager, deeply in love with conjuring, could resist this kind of hype?
And no one in magic seems to see any advantage, either for themselves, their profession, or for all the future potential "victims" -- in blowing the lid off this scam. There are no whistle-blowers in magic!! And there never will be. In fact, they all hate like heck to even admit when magic falls into the doldrums, saying instead, "Just wait -- this is all very temporary, very cyclical, in a few years, in a few decades, whatever -- MAGIC is gonna come roaring back!" ...When in fact, it may be all over for this generation... but the whining.
In the end, 99 percent of us turn out to be losers ... statistically speaking. But that makes lousy copy. The truth is not what most people want to hear or know.
The last Monday of the month is when Ring #320 here in the Valley holds their monthly meetings at the Woodrow Wilson rehabilitation center in Fishersville. President Eddy Toby suggested that the ring members do a stage show for the center patients as a “thank you” for letting us use a room each month for our meetings and lectures.
The last Monday of July we did the show.
Here is the “thank you” note I wrote to Eddy and it has a recap of my act which closed the show:
Eddy,
Thank you for being the spark plug on the WWRC show. In the final analysis you did a great job, both as Emcee and as performer. It was successful and enjoyed by the audience and that is what counts. I mean when a guy even gives his wife to the cause… that’s commitment! Seriously, Yvonne did a great job. She had big shoes to fill and she did!
I need to explain this to everyone else in the ring! It is a private joke between Eddie, Yvonne and me.
A week or so ago Eddie volunteered me to close the show with “a couple of illusions”. I explained that I had the props and costumes but I needed a female assistant and a couple of male assistants. We had the guys covered with Eddie and Dave , but we needed a “tah-dah” girl. Eddie picked up a cute nurse who worked at the center during the Sunday rehearsal and got her to agree to help us on Monday Night.
On Sunday afternoon, Eddie and Dave and the nurse and I went over the routine, the moves, how to walk, how to stand and I took measurements for her wardrobe to pull from my costumes to bring on Monday. She was 5 feet 7 inches and a dress size 8 and size 7 shoes.
Followed the rehearsal, Eddie and Yvonne came by my house in Harrisonburg to help me figure out why my computer was not cooperating with my I-Tunes program so I could burn the music track we needed. It took Yvonne’s son on the cell phone to figure out why we were having so much trouble with my computer.
Monday, I did my last newscast of the day at WSVA Radio at 6PM and went by my house for my rabbit and doves and headed to Fishersville. Lucky! No wrecks to block I-81. I get to the auditorium and guess what? No nurse. They got short-handed at the center and forced her to work in another area of the place!
In steps Yvonne! What a good sport! Of course, she now had to fit her dress size 4 into a size 8 dress and her size 4 shoes into size 7. Lots of stuffing in the toes with toilet paper! We had just enough time to walk her through the sequences and it was curtain time.
Music! I came out with the dancing cane and then did my signature trick, "cane to botania"
I place my rabbit into my Indian Basket illusion and 5 Swords are thrust through and removed. The rabbit comes out unharmed! Not much of a mystery until out of the same basket comes Yvonne dressed as Dorothy from the Land of Oz. A choral version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played as Yvonne was placed on a board and levitated (Super X Suspension)
Finally, I used a Crystal Silk Cylinder and transformed red, white and blue silks into an American flag as I told the story of how Betsy Ross made the American Flag. We concluded with the music of Lee Greenwood singing his classic hit, “God Bless the USA” as Eddie and Dave were showing and rotating a Bryce’s Screen. It was shown empty and then from it produced Yvonne dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
It all worked!
Thanks for making me look good…
I hope everyone now realizes just how complicated it is to even do a short illusion act with any production values, but we did it!
Anyone in their right mind will stick with close-up!
You guys (and girl) were great…Pat yourself on the back!
Keep the magic in your heart!
Dennis Phillips
Sunday, July 18, 2010
2010-07 Famulus Newsletter
Newsletter of IBM Ring #170
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 07/21/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Picture 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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
The Bev Bergeron Ring
Next general meeting Wednesday, 07/21/2010 at 7:30 PM SHARP
Performance Theme: Picture 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 – srjart@earthlink.net
Sheldon Brook- Acting Secretary – mrbrook33@yahoo.com
James Songster- Director at Large, - JjTjMagic@aol.com
Joe Vecciarelli- Sgt at Arms - talkingmute@tampabay.rr.com
Stefan Bartelski – Editor of “Famulus”- Famulus@illusioneer.com
*************************************************************
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.
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