Latest news from Magicians.co.uk

Magicians.co.uk was drawing crowds at Earls Court recently, well our caricaturist was… the pickpockets were taking it easy and the magicians were appearing there too. We were all there for International Confex where exhibitors included The Magic Circle Headquarters – London’s most magical venue one of our favourite venues where we are proud to be an Approved Supplier.

International Confex is the largest exhibition for events organisers and showcases everything you need to organise any event; from venues to caterers, entertainers to themed props and branded promotional merchandise.

Our Exhibition Magicians have appeared at exhibition centres and trade shows all over the world for a range of clients in virtually every industry. Having a professional exhibition presenter on your stand is a great way to draw people to your stand, to filter the audience and to hold the most likely prospects until your sales staff can deal with them. Of course, we tailor each performance to incorporate your company’s key messages and to convey the features of your product or service.

For more information on exhibition magicians and what we can do for you at your next trade show visit or give us a call.

Pickpocket James Freedman has recently been working on a short film due to be shown on Channel 4 this summer.

The film is part of this year’s ‘Coming Up’ series from Touchpaper TV which offers up and coming writers and directors the chance to shoot a short drama with guaranteed network screening.

‘Dip’ written by Simon Lewis and directed by Lisa Gornick, is a short film about a street pickpocket called Jason played by Robert Sheehan, star of Channel 4’s Misfits, and his interaction with Asad, one of his victims played by Said Mohamed.

James choreographed all the pickpocket sequences and taught Robert the necessary skills for his role as a street thief. “I really enjoyed the script,” says James, “Simon had captured some of the psychology that street pickpockets use to confuse and distract their victims. Lisa was brilliant at explaining her vision and really wanted to convey the pickpocket’s incredible skill in these key scenes.” Check out her blog here and for more information on the ‘Coming Up’ project please click here

Magicians.co.uk has advised on all kinds of magic related effects for Films and TV. Past projects have involved card sharp and poker dealing, casino croupier skills, fairground fiddles, product juggling and manipulation and even bubble wrangling! To find out how we can add authenticity or special effects to your production click here for more information or give us a call.

Magician and show producer Paul Stone is arranging a new magic event with a difference at The Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from October 4 – 7, 2010.

Paul has produced hundreds of major events and shows over the last 30 years and we’re confident that Innovention 2010 will be an amazing experience.

The new show has a world class line up of talent including several of our busiest professional performers.

Award winning magician, director, writer, consultant and actor Andy Nyman will be hopping the pond to share his insight and talents. The co-writer of many Derren Brown TV and stage shows, Andy is in a class of his own when it comes to creating, performing and teaching mentalism.

World Champion magician Richard McDougall (pictured) will be there performing his fantastic cabaret act that blends mime with some expert slight of hand. He will also be demonstrating some of his award winning close up magic at the show.

And Graham P. Jolley one of the UK’s top mind readers, parapsychologists and speakers will be there too. Graham will be making his US debut at Innovention, and with his sharp wit and mind blowing act, we know he’ll be well received.

All of which means that Innovation 2010 is definitely not to be missed. To find out more and reserve your place in Las Vegas click here.

We’re very sad to report that Patrick Page died today. He was a brilliant Scottish magician who spent much of his life immersed in the odd business of magic in one way or another. Pat was a fantastic magic lecturer and teacher, a prolific inventor and a brilliant magical demonstrator & performer of magic, “and there is a difference”.

Pat’s knowledge of virtually every type of magic and all its allied performance arts was encyclopaedic. So too was his memory of every act he had ever seen. Not just the tricks but every move, line and subtlety stayed fresh in his memory and his willingness to share all that knowledge and help others was legendary. Pat was refreshingly blunt, quick-witted and fantastically generous.

Not long ago, Pat dropped into our offices to deliver a small magic trick that he knew would fit in my act. Despite his indefatigable spirit, he looked tired from the medical treatment he’d been receiving. When I thanked him for bringing the trick personally and not just putting it in the post, he told me, “That’s OK, you’re on my way to somewhere more interesting… and besides, I want to make sure you do it properly!” Then he stayed to give me the master class.

Patrick Page was a modest man who knew more magic than the rest of us put together. Countless magicians and others have lost a friend, but he wouldn’t want us to be sad, rather we should celebrate his amazing life.

So I’ll close with his opening, “That was a nice round of applause…can I hear it again?”

Some memorabilia once owned by the great escapologist Harry Houdini is to go on display at the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. The collection was once owned by Randolph Douglas, and includes handcuffs, locks manacles and keys. Randolph was a friend and advisor to Houdini, and himself was a ‘self liberator’ and magician who used the stage name Randini. He met his more famous companion working in The Empire in Sheffield and went on to help him devise some of his famous performances.

The exhibit is being shown as part of the BBC’s ‘History of the World in 100 objects’ project and is only open to the public until April 5^th so if you want to see them, be quick – before they escape! 

Fellow Magician Ian Rowland is arranging a super-duper event to raise funds for much needed aid following the recent Haiti earthquake disaster.

We know that regular readers of our news pages include many big fans of good live magic shows, so please consider supporting the evening and you’ll have a good time too.

‘Magic is Real’ is billed as “a remarkable evening of fun, live entertainment, music, magic, comedy and general wonderfulness”. Acts announced so far include expert magician Michael Vincent (pictured) which should be enough to have your reaching for your wallet… and there’s still more to be added.

The event will be staged at Borough Bar, London Bridge on Wednesday 10 February from 7pm. Tickets are only £10 and ALL of the money is going to The Red Cross to directly benefit victims in Haiti.

We think that’s a bargain and a great cause. To find out more and book your tickets click here

Our team have been busy again in Vienna, filming another 13 episodes of the popular children’s magic show ‘TrickFabrik’ starring Thomas Brezina. The show airs each Saturday morning on ORF, the Austrian national channel and Martyn Rowland and James Freedman have been hard at work creating over 70 illusions, magic tricks and stunts for the programme.

Speaking about the project, James said, “Like many magicians, Thomas has a lifelong interest in magic and used to perform tricks as a boy. His successful primetime show has already sparked that same interest in another generation and I hope that will create some master magicians of the future. We are delighted to be working on another series.”

Magicians.co.uk acts as consultants for all kinds of film, TV, advertising and stage productions that wish to use magic and illusion, working to make the impossible, er…possible.

To discuss a project in complete confidence, contact James Freedman on 0845 00 62442 (MAGIC).

Illusionist David Blaine is working some of his magic to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

Starting last Friday, David has been performing 24 hours a day for three consecutive days in Times Square to raise money for Red Cross earthquake relief.

“People can give me a penny or a hundred dollars, whatever they want,” said Blaine, who‘s performing sleight-of-hand tricks near the Army recruiting station at 43rd St for 24 hours a day.

Blaine’s latest stunt was inspired by the 10 days he spent performing magic in Haiti in 1999. “That trip changed my life, when I heard about the earthquake, I couldn’t understand how it could happen to these people. I feel obliged to do what I can to help.”

In 2000, Blaine stood in a block of ice at Times Square for over 63 hours for a TV special. His latest magic marathon is due to last until today at noon.

“I hope people will help me stay awake,” said David “I’m not going to eat anything, but I will drink tea and juice... and, yes, I will take bathroom breaks.”

Happy New Year and we hope you enjoyed the holidays as much as we did!

It can be pretty gloomy coming back to work in January, especially in this weather. Even our Magic Circle magicians can’t make all this snow disappear although our hustlers are trying to sell some to the Eskimos and the fire jugglers are melting it a bit.

But we can make some of your costs disappear this year. Book any of our entertainers, magical team builders or conference hosts for any event before 24 March (that’s Harry Houdini’s birthday) and we’ll give a whopping 10%* discount.

Whatever your event needs in 2010, we’d love to help. Call us on 0845 00 62442 (MAGIC) for our latest ideas and suggestions.

*This offer is not available in conjunction with any other discounts or offers. You must quote ‘HOUDINI-10’ at time of booking.