Time to be Awesome is a new internet TV show from David Corsaro the latest episode is an interview with award winning magician Marc DeSouza and a discussion about magic competitions and what it takes to succeed. Marc was also gracious enough to show them around his collection of magic posters and perform an effect. Upcoming shows include a behind-the-scenes of “Monday Night Magic”, an
interview with NY Coin Magic Seminar producers Michael Rubinstein and David Roth and a discussion with Francis Menotti about theater in magic.
Recently launched Talentainer.com allows entertainers to post videos of their latest and greatest acts in hopes of landing new gigs. Since the site debuted, it has attracted award-winning comedians, magicians and other “event enhancers”.
Talentainer.com is a new video-centric website offering live entertainers an opportunity to showcase a bit of their magic, placing it before legions of event planners who are searching for world-class entertainers to populate corporate events and gatherings, to entertain stadiums filled with fans during half-time shows, to fill cruise ships with masterful entertainment, and to fulfill other venues.
Another story from BoingBoing about a paper just published in Nature Neuroscience about the way that magic tricks illuminate the inner workings of human perception — the paper is co-authored by five magicians, including Teller of Penn and Teller. You can read more in an article from The Boston Globe and the actual article can be found here.
From boingboing gadgets professional psychic Uri Geller and his company Explorologist Ltd., filed a DCMA takedown notice against the creators of a 13 minute YouTube video debunking Geller’s supernatural powers… a video which happened to contain a ten second copyrighted clip of one of his performances. Fair use, in other words.
The EFF representing Brian Sapient made Geller withdraw, and settled their legal battle and also they made him license the clip in question as non-commercial Creative Commons so as to freely aid the efforts of other skeptics.
Tomorrow marks a year ago on the 30th June 2007 that Jack Parker passed away. To celebrate his magic Andi Gladwin is running a week long Jack Parker Video Marathon. Every day he will share a video of Jack’s magic including videos of tricks that Jack only shared with two or three magicians.
Andi’s blog post tells you more and the video’s can be found here, with a great one to start the series:
Foreign BBC correspondent and magician Geoff Harrison has launched what is claimed to be the world’s first magic channel, tvmagicians.com.
The site, part of Global Digital Broadcast’s IPTV network Play TV UK, will feature magicians’ showreels, effects demonstrations, industry secrets and related material.
The site will host sub channels on jazz, independent films, nightclubs and other entertainment. Content will come from Harrison’s company TV World Productions and magic specialists Party PR, Club Chiva and Penguin Magic.
Anyone else here on Friendfeed?
In case you don’t know, Friendfeed is a new social site made by ex-google employees, you can see an introduction and explanation on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendfeed
Recently they have implemented a Rooms function:
http://blog.friendfeed.com/2008/05/get-room.html
I have setup a magicians room here:
http://friendfeed.com/rooms/magicians
If you are into any of the Web2.0 sites like Twitter, Tumblr, Youtube, Google Reader, del.icio.us or any of the other 30+ sites that Friendfeed picks up, sign up for a Friendfeed account, add those services and then you can re-share that information or post it directly using the friendfeed bookmark into the magicians room, and share the magic based content you come across on a daily basis with all the other participants who can then comment and discuss the content in the room, I think its almost like having a huge collaborative blog that anyone with a friendfeed account can post too, pulling in content from these services or starting there own discussions, so you get the best of Youtube (you can watch the clips directly on the site), the best blog posts via google reader or tumblr or del.
Three sets of photos from the recent FFFF convention held April 23-26 2008:
Paul Gordon from his lecture and performance Robin Dawes Flickr Set Antony Gerard's comprehensive day-by-day account
Christiaan Lopez-Miro has a new gallery of photos on his site called Smoke and Mirrors, click on the Images link and then Smoke and Mirrors. In his words: These photographs are suppose to be about the moments between the performance. The moments when the magician is simply alone contemplating his/her own craft. They are meant to be very intimate photographs that confront the viewer.
Another Youtube index has recently emerged at MagicTricks.tv. It is owned and run in direct conjunction with the Magic Tricks Store, www.magictricks.co.uk
It is aimed at anyone with an interest in magic and has been designed to put many magic videos in one place. They have designed the site so the videos are listed in specific categories, to help you find the video you are after even quicker! The majority of videos on MagicTricks.
James Munton has opened a new youtube video site, from his post on The Magic Cafe:
I got frustrated trying to search YouTube for good magic videos. You have to wade through the thousands of bedroom magicians doing awful card tricks.
So I put together a website that allows people to post their favorite YouTube (and Google) magic videos. They are categorized and searchable.
My hope is that magicians will post their favorite YouTube videos and we will build a collection of videos that will be a great resource.
From Ryan Swigert:
Just wanted to let everyone know that I created a new site called Magicology: The Study of Magic. On it, you can learn some of my latest tricks for free, interviews with various magicians, and much more…
For more information, please visit: www.magicology.com
Many thanks,
Ryan Swigert
News just in from Keelan Leyser and Charlotte Marie. They have taken over the running of Magictricks.co.uk from Carl Fraser, from their e-mail:
MagicTricks.co.uk has new owners headed by British Magical Grand Prix Champions, Keelan Leyser and Charlotte Marie. The
transfer from Carl Fraser from Fraser Simpson Associates took place recently and we have been keeping a low profile for the past
few months while we get everything ready for the
A while ago we mentioned that Noel Qualter had launched The Magic Convention guide, which has lay dormant now for a little while. Now its back under the ownership of Andrew Webb, you can see the relaunch post over at his blog, support him with your comments, and if you think you can submit a review or help to cover a convention let him know.
For those of you not keeping track, Ben Harris has been teasing us over his new micro-levitation system over at the Cafe for the last 8 or 9 months:
Well he promised that he would do something revolutionary to the magic process, and release a product specification telling you exactly what the method is behind the trick and what you would recieve for your money so you can make an informed buying decision.
Why another Magic Forum?
Lisa and I have started a new venture - an Internet forum for magicians. There are, of course, several forums out there already. It is my dissatisfaction with these existing forums that prompted the development of this new forum. In the early 1990s, I was one of the people who helped Joe Stevens with the start-up of his Gemini Board. At the time, I was excited by the possibilities that the Internet held for useful, stimulating, and creative discussion.
This just in from Steve Fearson:
I’m working on something right now that I think could spread some major smileage and it doesn’t have to be finished to do it.
Click this with all your might: http://www.downloadmagic.com/video
I know you already know what youtube is, but having an experienced magi-guide is invaluable when it comes to finding the good stuff.
Click on Dai Vernon and watch the cups and balls.
I was looking forward to going to Sofia in November but looks like it has all fallen through, more time to save for China I guess! From the website:
Dear All, Due to unforeseen circumstances, restricted organizational capacity and unexpected financial strains, jeopardizing the initial budget, it is with great regret that the FISM European Executive Board has to inform you that the FISM European Championships of Magic, planned to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 6 to 9 November 2008, have to be cancelled.
The Magic Review: a new review site started by Matt Tarrant from Australia. He hopes to “build a complete and honest, non-biased review styled site” reviewing Effects, Cards, Local Magic Shops, Lectures and Performances. They also have a competition to launch the site, just sign-up to the site and you are entered into a draw to win some Wynn playing cards.
The Cuso I Photography Competition: Alejandro is running a magical card related photography competion over at his blog, details from him as follows:
Today the I Photography Competition begins. If you are a magician, flourisher, cardist, xcmer, poker player, sleight of hand artist, cheater, playing card collector, or you just like taking photos you have a chance to Wynn, ehmm… i mean win these cool prizes:
1st place: 12 Decks of Wynn Playing cards (6 red / 6 Blue)
FISM European Championships of Magic 2008: The 6th Balkan Magic Convention in Sofia, Bulgaria on 6-9 November 2008 will be the host of the first FISM European Championships of Magic. I am certainly hoping to go, it will be a good start to the run up to China in 2009. I believe they will use these championships to send the winners to the world competition in 2009, to try and raise the standard of entry.
The Cull: Tim Ellis recently culled his list of referring magic blogs, and added some new ones, two I would particularly like to mention are:
Fun Incorporated - the new blog of Fun Inc. and the Royal Magic line talking about new products and the latest happenings at the company. Pursuit of Magic - a particular welcome back to Steve Pellegrino who as well as running the Ellusionist blog I mentioned in an earlier post has restarted his own personal magic blog.
iTricks Trick of the Year Tournament: iTricks are holding a traditional trick of the year competition, with a twist, in their own words “We have eight judges that have each independently nominated a product. In each matchup, the judges will cast a vote and the readers will cast one collective vote. All of the judges will vote in all of the rounds. There will be three rounds after which a final winner will be declared.
Been meaning to link to these for a while, some excellent new magic blogs popping up:
Andrew Mayne - as well as itricks, Andrew now has his own homepage/blog giving you the first previews to his latest releases. Nings Magic Diaries - part of the Magic Boutique shop, Miss Ning updates this magic blog with news on upcoming products, and the special projects she
Sanders The Great: You will join me in the Wonder Show of the Universe for I am Sanders the Great: mentalist, magician, mindreader, wizard of the east, wonder of wonders. I will entertain you with the latest news from the World of magic, enlighten you with my words on magical literature and bedazzle you with intriguing glimpses into my vault of magical curiosities.
Magic Fakers: In the world of magic, tricks and effects are very difficult to protect legally and, as a result, many unscrupulous dealers simply copy the creations of others without permission.
In an effort to help those who wish to buy ethically and support the original creators while avoiding the “new” versions of their effects, Magic Fakers was set up.
Stewart James Exhibition: A new online exhibit from Magicana about one of the most influential authors of magic tricks who ever lived. You can explore the rooms of this virtual museum you will be free to navigate through the magician