Magic News Network

Anchorage Teen Wows Em in Vegas

The Anchorage Daily News writes with great pride of Eric Giliam in today's edition.  

Mr. Giliam admits he was more than a little nervous as he took the stage to compete in the Lance Burton Teenage Stage Competition.  

"Performing magic requires a certain meditative spirit -- the focus, form and fluidity to make showmanship and illusion look easy despite one's thundering heart.

"In April, West High School senior Eric Giliam of Anchorage proved his cool at the Lance Burton Teenage Stage Competition at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, not only making the finals but also winning the Siegfried and Roy talent award for the most creative and original stage act with a prize of $500."

Mr. Giliam told reporters of his new found technique for keeping the butterflies in their place.

"The morning of the show was crazy because I was so nervous," he said weeks later, "and before I went out onstage my heart was racing so fast, all I was doing was taking deep breaths."

He enjoyed winning but also the chance to hang with some of the big names in our business.  He told the paper it was "the time of his life" to meet with Master Magician Lance Burton and Siegfried and Roy. 

Mr. Giliam is planning for next-year's competition as you read this. 

 

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Magic Shows to Pay for Band Trip to D.C.

The Edmond Sun reports the Edmond North Marching Band will join members of the Oklahoma City Magic Club in a fund-raiser to help the band travel to Washington, D.C.

The Edmond North Band Marching Band has been selected to represent the state of Oklahoma in the 2008 Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and the fundraiser is to help with expenses for the students going on the trip.
"We were nominated by Joe Missal from Oklahoma State University," said Steve Fry, band director.
"It is the uniqueness of this trip that makes it so great," Fry said. "We always march in the Fourth of July parade in Edmond, but to be in our nation's capital on our nation?s birthday, it is going to be pretty incredible."

"We are very proud and honored to have been the only school in the state of Oklahoma chosen to participate in this parade," said Kelli McDoulett, Band Booster parent. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students."

The school estimates the cost per student is approximately $950.

Kevin Brasier, Michael King and other magicians from the Oklahoma Magic Club will perform later this month.  The band will serve as the opening act. 

Check out the band's web site for more information at: www.enhshuskyband.com.

 

Kevin Spencer Walks Thru Walls and More

The Snohomish County News edition of The Seattle Times has a great article about some great folks in our great biz.  

Kevin and Cindy Spencer  bring their Theatre of Illusion show to the beautifully appointed Northshore Performing Arts Center in Bothell, Washington.

Bothell is just a Ring-Flite's length from Seattle.

We are often asked, "How did you get in here?" or "When did you last bathe?"  

Almost as frequently we are asked, "What makes Kevin and Cindy's show so special?"

Kevin Spencer answered the question for all of us in today's article. 

About three years ago, magician Kevin Spencer was asked by his staff of illusion-makers, How would you like to walk through a wall?
"Gosh, how do you turn that down?" said Spencer.
"In 1914, Houdini walked through a brick wall on the stages of Broadway," he said. "He only performed it a few times, and then after closing on Broadway he never did it again."

Many younger magicians may think the Walking Through a Brick Wall trick is just another store-bought item available on the internets or through their local dealer.  Perhaps there is even a knock-off version of the trick also available on the seedier sites in the internets or at the morally challenged dealers.

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But those younger magicians would be wrong.  It turns out, Houdini's Walking Through a Brick Wall illusion is not publicly available.  Its method is secret and the performance requires skill, timing, and bravado. 

Sure, to those who like to learn the secrets to magic by watching YouTube or MetaCafe, this does not seem fair.  Why should the developer of a magic trick have the right to keep it secret?  Why shouldn't everyone be able to buy the secret -- even if they'll never use it -- and then place it on the web to encourage others to support their magic secret buying habit through pennies derived from advertising click-throughs?

Life, like the opposite of a carnival, is un-fair.  

Kevin Spencer described some elements needed to bring to life Walking through a Brick Wall.

"Music, movement, scenery and dramatic lighting wrap around a series of stage illusions. It took almost two years to get from idea to paper to props being built to months of rehearsing to make walking through a wall look easy."

"The couple now mark their 20th year of performing around the world and are on the road 10 months out of the year. 'We have reached a place where we're well-respected and can work with creative minds,' Spencer said. 'Unless you've seen us perform live before, you've probably never seen some of these illusions before.'"

Do take the opportunity to see Kevin and Cindy Spencer when they come near your locale.  Their show, their web site, and their DVDs define quality and originality.  

Check out their web site here: www.spencersmagic.com/

 

 

Clowns Are Scary Say Docs

Breaking news from the UK.  Kid's fear clowns.
We thought there were plenty of children in the world who are not born with the apparently innate fear of clowns but apparently not as many as we thought.
We reported on one unfortunate case in an earlier edition of letters to the editor here at Inside Magic.
Nursing Standard magazine -- a journal we read monthly but only for the pictures -- reports on a University of Sheffield study.
The researchers wanted to improve the "decor of hospital children's wards."  
Of the 250 kids betwixt the ages of four and 16, "we found that clowns are universally disliked by children.  Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."
Indeed.
Apparently part of the problem is that adults (who may or may not like clowns) think kids should like them. 
Our brethren in white face know only too well how some audience members react almost viscerally to them.  Even Ronald McDonald spooks some kids. 
One long-time reader of Inside Magic suggests the study was flawed.

"First, the study was performed on a very small and select sample of children," he writes.  "Sick kids cannot be considered representative of all children.  It makes sense that kids depending on medical professionals for their well-being would react strongly towards anyone or anything that does not seem to be part of the medical community.  If you asked sick kids whether they would want to be cared for by a doctor, a nurse, or an elk, they would likely reject the gangly and often violent forest quadruped in favor of the health care professionals.  That's just plain survival."
Another reader suggests the study was limited in another way.  "Why don't they ask kids at birthday parties whether doctors or nurses scare them?  I bet the last person the birthday girl wants to see is a doctor with a bag full of needles and alcohol wipes."
Indeed.
The University of Sheffield did not respond to our telepathic request for a response.
Check out the Yahoo News rendition of the story here.  

Pfew! Angel Not Bitter With Britney

Criss Angel is apparently the master of the press release.  We receive information about his every move and the starlet he met along the way.

Today was starting to seem like a different kind of day.  There was no Criss Angel news to report.  It was scary but not so scary that we did anything about the situation. We believe it is better to sit in the dark cursing than to light a candle and burn one's self. 

But as sure as acid reflux follows a chimichanga, we received a press release from or on behalf of Mr. Angel.

Press release protocol requires the sender to at least indicate their relationship to the subject; but this one broke protocol.

Illusionist CRISS ANGEL has blamed BRITNEY SPEARS' lack of commitment for canceling their planned performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

The magician was originally responsible for co-ordinating a series of illusions for the singer's live comeback at the ceremony last year (Sep07) but the troubled star rejected his plans in favour of a simple performance that was panned by fans and critics alike.

But Angel insists he isn't bitter about the missed opportunity.

"I also thought of having her levitate over the audience. It was going to be really visual moments that were all... beautiful, artistic, elegant and,most important, unique - things MTV hasn't seen in music.
"Britney is really strong with her own ideas. And what I had planned wasn't an easy thing to do and would have required a lot of rehearsals.

"Ultimately, I told her I needed 100 per cent commitment or I wasn't going to be able to do this. I told her that, 'You have to feel comfortable.' So, we explored it and she decided it wasn't for her, and I completely understand."

Comfort was the reason Britney did not go through with Criss Angel's plan for her "live comeback." 

But recall that the press release was titled ANGEL NOT BITTER ABOUT FAILED SPEARS COLLABORATION. He was not bitter.  That's a good thing, we guess.  To be honest, we do not much worry about whether Criss Angel may still harbor resentment over his lack of involvement in a television show almost six months ago.

We try to care ? we really do ? but it is hard. 

We do not know who penned the press release or why.  We do know Criss Angel's unbroken streak of consecutive press offerings will not end today.

We are also kind of glad that he is not bitter; not that we thought about it until just now.

 

Magic Collecting Equals Big Bucks

Just in case you were thinking of tossing your old props and effects, Ralph and Terry Kovel suggest you reconsider. 

Their column in The Wichita Eagle helps owners of the strange and old determine their value. 

 Magic collectors are willing to shell out big coin for magic collectibles. 

 That sentence makes sense to us but we are not sure it really said anything.  Let us try it this way: Magic collectors have big money and are looking for things to buy.

Last year a poster titled "Houdini, Europe: Eclipsing Sensation," showing Houdini in hand restraints, sold for a record $78,000. It was one of many magic items recently bought by collectors.

The Kovels noted a "renewed interested in anything related to a magician or a magic show, including trick locks, cards, handcuffs, scarves, top hats, photographs of magicians, books about magic and larger props like the box used when sawing a woman in half."

Be on the look out for an item called a "magician's table."

This piece of furniture is often much more than something you would find on stage at a magic show. 

Indeed, the rare magician's table "is built with hidden compartments, sliding shelves, boxes and other special devices that help with the tricks."

They do not tell us the price but apparently Red Baron's Antiques "auctioned a unique magician's table a couple of months back (pictured). It's a conversation piece that sold to a collector or perhaps to an amateur magician."

Alas, our magician's tables would not likely fetch mucho moolah. 

Sure, we have secret shelves, hidden traps, and even a servante.  The value of the table is apparently directly related to the original owner's fame or notoriety.  

Check out the article to read about a very interesting magician's table the authors passed-up and now regret. 

 

Michael Keating Profiled

The Mountain Press profiles the remarkable Michael Keating in its most recent edition. 

Mr. Keating is quick to identify himself as a magician; but his talents range far beyond our discipline.

He's created illusions for and been an onstage aide to magician David Copperfield.

He's acted in and created for music videos and movies. He's worked at Disney World, on the Grammys and as a consultant for a park in South Korea.
Mr. Keating has located in the beautiful Pigeon Forge area and formed two groups whose first meetings are coming up this week. Actors Helping Actors is a support group Keating envisions as a way to bring together professional and would-be performers. He also has established a business networking group that will bring together business people to work on projects and problem-solving.

Mr. Keating created sets and illusions for local shows, but all the while he was a world traveler, connected to shows that performed in many countries. He's on his third passport now - the first two were so marked up with stamps he had to get a new one.
For six years he was a production and onstage assistant to magician David Copperfield.
"I was his right-hand guy," Keating said. "I was with David on the road doing his shows. I was illusion manager of the show, the pyrotechnician and special effects guy."
He moved around a lot as a child. His interest in performing began in junior high when he tried out for and performed in plays and musicals.
"Then I found out there were billions of actors, billions of dancers, but only a million magicians," he laughed.
He turned his attention to magic. In Idaho Falls as a high school student and later in Seattle right out of high school he was a street performer, perfecting his craft and developing illusions. Today he owns what he estimates is $300,000 worth of illusions stored in warehouses all over. That has helped put him in demand as a consultant on TV programs, movies and music videos. He worked on five David Copperfield TV specials, including those from the Great Wall of China and the Bermuda Triangle.
Check out Mr. Keating's web site at http://www.themagicofmichaelkeating.com.

Read the full profile at The Mountain Press here.

 

 

 

FBI Returns Copperfield Property - Investigation Over?

There are signs the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office investigation of David Copperfield for alleged assault is nearing an end; and that there will be no indictment.

Robin Leach reports on his always interesting Vegas Luxe Life the FBI returned "everything to Copperfield's offices and warehouse / museum here -- and privately, David has even kept the FBI seals and stamps on it. He's even 'happily' using the computer with the 'FBI-Evidence Property' tape still on it!"

We were in Vegas two weeks ago for a national chess tournament.  As our cab moved at near light-speed from the airport to our posh hotel, we saw a large sign advertising David Copperfield's show at the MGM Grand.

We certainly hope the grand jury declines to indict Mr. Copperfield if they find there was no crime committed; and were encouraged to see he was still performing despite the media twister in which he now lives.

Mr. Leach continues:

It's well known that David catalogs everything to do with his life -- so this makes one unforgettable souvenir. Since the sexual allegations, and David's complete denial, the Seattle case appears to have gone cold. I'm told that with the Feds returning everything to him that even they believe nothing more is going to come from the wild claims.

There is a sense of injustice in this perversion of the justice system.  As Mr. Leach points out, "Headlines are at the expense of the showbiz stars, even if not word one of it is true. David and his lawyer denied all the claims and then remained completely quiet. Now it seems to have all gone away, and yet not one word of that exoneration gets reported. That?s just so unfair!"

He is not exonerated yet, however.  It is not the policy of the Department of Justice to exonerate anyone. 

The grand jury deliberations are secret precisely to avoid the potentially damaging and certainly unfair rumors in this matter.  If the grand jury, after hearing all of the evidence they need, decide there is not probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed, they either report a "no true bill."  This means they affirmatively found there was not probable cause to believe a crime was committed. 

More often, however, prosecutors will simply drop the matter and close the file rather than asking the grand jury to issue the "no true bill" finding. 

Unfortunately, the target of the investigation (who may or may not already know he or she is a target) does not receive word.  The theory is sound: the grand jury investigation is secret, so there is actually a chance of more harm to the innocent citizen by announcing the existence of the investigation -- even if it resulted in a finding there was not probable cause.

Fortunately, most grand jury matters are kept secret; very secret.  In fact, Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure forbid any mention of matters before the grand jury, the fact that a grand jury is meeting on a specific investigation, or that indictments are sought.  Violation of Rule 6 is backed up by heavy-duty criminal sanctions -- the leaker can be convicted of a felony and jailed. 

There were several leaks in this case and we join with Mr. Copperfield's attorneys asking the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington (state) investigate the source of the leaks. 

 Still, based on our past prosecutorial experience, it is a great sign that the FBI has returned all of Mr. Copperfield's possessions.  The return does not mean he is in the clear, but it certainly portends better things. 

 

WAPO Kids: Love this Magic Book

What is the name of the magic book praised by the kid critics at The Washington Post?

The Name of this Book is Secret.  That's not an excuse for not telling you the name, it is the actual title.  The tome written by Pseudonymous Bosch -- likely not his or her real name -- intrigued the young readers with its mysterious plot and interesting perspective.

Everything having to do with magicians is a bit mysterious. So when one magician dies and two kids go looking for answers about his death, it's not surprising that mysterious things start to happen.

First there is a Symphony of Smells. Then the kids stop at the magician's underground home and have a run-in with a not-so-nice couple. Deciphering coded clues they find along the way leads the kids into more trouble. (The author helpfully includes an appendix filled with useful information, including how to figure out codes and perform magic tricks.)

 

The best part of this book is the narrator. The reader doesn't know who that all-knowing person is, but it seems that he (or she) is an important character, too. Part of the mystery is figuring out what role the narrator plays in the story.

Amazon has the book in stock but probably not for long.  It received great reviews from Amazon customers as well.  View The Name of this Book is Secret at Amazon.

Read the Washington Post Kids' review here.