New Meeting Place, Day and Time!

I.B.M. Ring 50 is excited to announce our new meeting place, day and time!

Starting with the THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 meeting, we will meet on the first THURSDAY of each month (except July) at the

Bishop Ireton High School
201 CAMBRIDGE ROAD
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314

Our NEW agenda is as follows:

6:15 p.m. Counts of Conjuring (Magic Youth International)
7: 05 p.m. Teach-in
7:30 p.m. Meeting starts
9:30 p.m. Meeting ends



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2012-2013 Ring 50 Meeting Schedule

REMEMBER our NEW meeting location is

Bishop Ireton High School
201 CAMBRIDGE ROAD 
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314.

PLEASE NOTE: Please enter at the doors for the Whaley Auditorium, which face Duke Street and have a bog parking lot. Do NOT enter at the main school entrance facing Cambridge Road.

6:15 p.m.  Counts of Conjuring (Magic Youth International)
7:05 p.m. Teach-in
7:30 p.m.  Meeting starts
9:30 p.m.  Meeting ends

The many fine restaurants nearby Bishop Ireton make it easy to visit with your friends before the meeting!

2012-2013 Schedule

WEDNESDAY, Sept 5 ....... Teach-In by Members
WEDNESDAY, Oct 3 ......... ESP/Mentalism Night
WEDNESDAY, Nov 7 ........ Simon Lovell Lecture
WEDNESDAY, Dec 5 ........ Annual Holiday Children's Magic Show
WEDNESDAY, Jan 2 ......... Houdini Night
WEDNESDAY, Feb 6 ......... Lecture (TBA)
WEDNESDAY, Mar 6 ........ Auction
WEDNESDAY, Apr 3 ..... Dan Lacey Contest, Officer Nominations

**Apr 5-6 .... Magi-Whirl 2013**

WEDNESDAY, May 1 ........ Lecture (TBA)
WEDNESDAY, Jun 5 ........ Winton Carroll Contest “Most Humorous Magician”

**No Ring 50 Meeting In July 2013**
**Jul 17-20, 2013 IBM Convention Phoenix, AZ**

WEDNESDAY, Aug 7 ........ Teach-In by Ring 50 members
WEDNESDAY, Sept 4 ....... Brown Bag Magic
WEDNESDAY, Oct 2 ........ Hocus in Focus Night
WEDNESDAY, Nov 6 ........ Jay Scott Berry Lecture
WEDNESDAY, Dec 4 ........ Annual Children's Holiday Magic Show

New Meeting Place for Ring 50 in Vienna, VA

Beginning with our Wednesday, January 4, 2012 meeting, Ring 50 will meet at 8:00 p.m. in Louis Meyer's

ChildTime Magic Party Place,
312 Dominion Drive NE, Vienna, VA 22180.

While the Vienna Metro is not within walking distance, we hope those members who rely on Metro can team up with other Ring 50 members to and from meetings. And taxi rides are only a phone call away.

In terms of logistics, there is plenty of nearby parking and there are several excellent restaurants nearby. We can easily be find a restaurant that would hold an area for us to dine as a group. (Amphora, anyone?) Louis even mentioned that Ring 50 members could use the dining area of his place and call in for pizza delivery, if that's what some members would like to do.
- Bob Patterson

The Great Zucchini to Lecture Sept. 7

If you ever have preschoolers or Kindergarteners attending your show, you MUST come to the September 7 Ring 50 meeting! The Great Zucchini (Eric Knaus), Washington's funniest and most magical PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN entertainer will give a lecture at I.B.M. Ring 50 on September 7, 2011 at 8:00 PM following a brief Ring meeting.

"In the world of local kid's entertainment, there is no bigger name than The Great Zucchini! You're like a phenomenon ... all the parents know you!"
- Tony Perkins, Fox 5 News

"The Great Zucchini is instantly likeable, and effortlessly charming."
- Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post

The Great Zucchini has been entertaining young children as a magician and preschool teacher. He performs his hands-on, interactive magic shows for more that 400 groups a year. His experience, coupled with his gentle nature and wacky facial expressions, makes kids immediately feel comfortable and ready to laugh. He will have you laughing at the gags he does to entertain toddlers. We each have different styles, but it does come down to keeping the kids attention and keeping control. If you EVER entertain children, this is a lecture you will want to attend. There is a lot to be learned from studying Eric's approach to entertaining young children. The lecture is free to paid-up Ring 50 members, all other magicians $15 at the door.

Past Ring 50 President Featured in Washington Post

Past President Eric Henning is mentioned prominently in Monday's Washington Post. In An article entitled, "‘Magical’ iPhone put to use in actual magic," Post staff writer Michael Rosenwald, along with other DC-area magicians Brian Curry and Josh Norris, as well as GENII Magazine Editor Richard Kaufman. Congrats to all!

July Magi-Gram is here!

Due to the IBM Convention, we do not have a July meeting, and usually, no July newsletter. But despite his enormous duties as Registrar for the IBM Convention, erstwhile Editor Bob Patterson has managed to create a July issue! You can view it online by clicking here, or see the link in the right hand column ---->

Ring 50 Officers 2011-12

Congratulations to our new officers!

President
Danny Selnick
703-347-5540
president@ibmring50.org

Vice President
Kevin McGuire
703-675-5323
vp@ibmring50.org

Secretary
Wayne Spillner
secretary@ibmring50.org

Treasurer
Bob Patterson
(703) 490-1222
treasurer@ibmring50.org

Sergeant-at-Arms
Scott McDonald
703-491-7989
sgtarms@ibmring50.org

Webmaster
Theo Rushin, Jr.
240-988-3441
webmaster@ibmring50.org

Magi-Gram Editor
Bob Patterson
(703) 490-1222
magi-gram@ibmring50.org

Special Magi-Whirl Newsletter is Here!

In addition to the May Magi-Gram, Editor Bob Patterson has put together a special edition of the newsletter, with an extraordinary look at Magi-Whirl 2011, which is rapidly becoming the best little convention in the East. You can also look in the right-hand column for the current links to the Magi-Gram and many other great things!

Wayne Alan Lecture Debut Impressive

I.B.M. Ring 50’s April 6th meeting was opened by President Arnie Fuoco. After a few business details he introduced our lecturer, Wayne Alan, Corporate Illusionist.

Alan opened his lecture with balloon to bouquet and then two more bouquets appeared. After explaining the production and giving a few tips, he had two spectators join him on stage. He did a Two Card Monte with a regular size Ace and a Queen and then he did it with jumbo cards. Finally, removing the table cloth he showed two very large cards (40”x30”) which were set up on the stage. From these two cards a live Queen (Cassandra) was produced! He explained the workings of the effect and how to build it for less than $300. Next was a coin routine with his version of coins across and the coins appearing under a glass.

Alan's lecture was based on his decades of experience and proven show business concepts, covering 1/3 talent, 1/3 marketing, and 1/3 publicity. Wayne Alan says, " Be a showman and act like a star, be mysterious without being hokey, dress like a star, have beautiful assistants, and ride the coattails of the famous."

Other effects that he demonstrated and taught included the famous rabbit from a hat, card shark gags, a card routine ending with his business card, chop cup, a white board card revelation, a comedy mind reading routine using a spectator blindfolded with a Mardi Gras mask.

Alan also did a torn and restored card with the card reappearing in a frame held by a spectator. The card had a corner missing and it matched the one held by another spectator. He ended the evening with a crystal silk cylinder routine. Throughout the lecture he gave credits to contributors of the effects and routines. A great lecture by Wayne Alan! The May meeting is the Dan Lacey contest for Washington DC Magician of the Year.

- Bob Patterson

March Auction Has Something For Everyone

Forty-eight members and guests attended the auction with 37 registered bidders. Auctioneers Dick Christian and Wayne Alan ( photo, right) did a fantastic job demonstrating the live auction items and coaxing out the best dollar. Danny Selnick and Bob Patterson were the accountants, Louis Meyer helped with the bagging the winning bids. Reggie Rice contributed by putting the unsold items in a holding area. The drawback for the evening was there were too many items (142) in the Live Auction and the time ran past 11:00 PM.

Overall the lucky bidders bought some great magic equipment, videos, collectable magic, and publications. In the live auction, Louis Meyer walked away with a great deal on an Abbott’s Botania. Avi Littky was the lucky winner of a Voice Amplifier. Greg Clements acquired a Dancing Cane at a very reasonable price of $30. After some spirited bidding Sylvia Lett was the top winner for a Boy to Rabbit illusion with a bid of $115. Tom Bohacek didn’t go hungry, he won a Peanut Butter and Jelly set. Ed Kaczka was the top bidder and walked off with a Disappearing Cane and Louis Meyer found an appearing cane that he liked. A Deluxe Handle Style Change Bag was another piece of magic that drew a lot of bids but was won by Louis Meyer for only $40.

The Silent Auction had many great deals on magic items. A card effect, a Victorian-styled Box of Destiny, had several bidders with Cassandra Rogers being the winner for $30. A very nice Chick Pan went to Bob Malinchock for $14. Mike Wolfson was the high bidder for a set of cups and balls. Dan Miller was the top silent bidder for a Confusing Crayon with a bid of $13. Karl Keat won a Self-Lighting Light Bulb. Ken Busch was top bidder at $13 for the popular rope effect “Hang ‘em High”. Danny Selnick and Dick Guay battled it out for a Milson-Worth Card Frame, with Dick placing the winning bid of $12. Eric Henning snagged a $40 Shufton's Portal for only $5. Another Silent Auction battle raged on for a 2 inch Crystal Ball with Cassandra Rogers placing the final bid of $13.

Altogether, it was a very busy night with a total of 63 items being sold in the live auction for a total of $1,930 and 101 magic items sold in the silent auction for $676. - Bob Patterson

Photo credit: Eric Henning

March Magi-Gram Newsletter is Here!

Once again, thanks to the nimble cursor of Bob Patterson, we have the Magi-Gram uploaded. To read it, you can click here or visit the link in the right-hand column on this page.

February Magi-Gram Newsletter is Here!

The February Ring 50 Magi-Gram Newsletter is here! You can view it here, or look for the link in the right column.

Panel of Experts Enrich December Meeting

The December 1st meeting hosted fifty members and guests. President Arnie Fuoco introduced former member Homer Lambeth, who was reinstated into Ring 50. After the raffle and 50/50, Treasurer Bob Patterson proposed that the Counts of Conjuring (Magic Youth International) annual prize be a paid membership in the I.B.M. The motion was passed.

President Fuoco facilitated the “Ask the Experts” panel discussion, answering questions submitted by email in advance. The panel consisted of Dick Christian, Hugh Turley, Mike Taggert, Wayne Alan, Buddy Smith and Louis Meyer. While many questions generated in-depth discussion, highlights follow.

One person asked about dealing with anxiety and shaking hands in performance. Some offered humorous lines, such as “I learned this trick in Minnesota,” while others stressed the importance of preparation and rehearsal. One member wanted to rent illusions on an occasional basis. The illusionists on the panel pointed out the difficulties involved and encouraged study of the many books of practical, low-cost illusions.

L to R: Dick Christian, Hugh Turley, Michael Taggert, Wayne Alan, Buddy Smith, Louis Meyer, Arnie Fuoco.

How would one practice the classic palm with coins without palming a coin all day? Coin expert Buddy Smith replied that Fred Kaps practiced with half dollars and held on in classic palm from sunrise to sunset. Buddy then reminded us of the many practical alternatives, such as Finger Palm and Thumb Clip, which could be acquired with less effort.

How to turn professional? This generated a huge discussion, with aspects of showmanship, finance, marketing, and raising fees once one’s calendar fills up. A related question on Internet marketing brought some great answers from Louis Meyer, who recently flew to California for a class at Google HQ.

How to sell an effect one has invented was the net topic, and this time the emphasis was on studying the background and history to ensure that the invention is in fact novel. The experts also discussed arrangements with magic dealers and wholesalers. To refresh old playing cards, try fanning powder, or just buy a new deck. A great card trick for strolling that resets and last under a minute? Turley recommends the old Three Card Monte with the flap card, which can be customized for each event or used as a giveaway. How does Kreskin find his check at the end of each show? The answer: muscle reading, also known as contact mind reading or Hellstromism.

Thinking about entering a contest? Attend other conventions and contests and observe the contests, noting the high level of copying. Then design an act that is novel, visually amazing and entertaining. Make sure to understand thoroughly the grading system and contest rules, especially time limits.

The final question was about working with agents, and again emphasized knowing the agent’s rules before you book through them. Getting things clearly in writing ahead of time saves much trouble.

A big THANK YOU to all our experts who made the discussions lively and very informative!

The final lineup for MAGI-WHIRL 2011 (April 29-30) is LOSANDER, LUNA SHIMADA, KEITH FIELDS and MARK MASON. Get all the info at www.Magi-Whirl.org

TLR Reviewers Perform at November Meeting

The November 3rd meeting had more than 50 in attendance, including new members Cassandra Rogers and Julian Ortiza, who were officially voted in. Magi-Whirl 2011 Chairman Theo Rushin, Jr., announced the full lineup for the April 29-30 event: Losander, Luna Shimada, Keith Fields and Mark Mason. Magi-Whirl will have a truly international flavor this year and you can get details at www.Magi-Whirl.org.

The November showcase featured Ring 50 members performing tricks they had reviewed for The Linking Ring. Since Associate Editor Jason Goldberg is in charge of Hocus in Focus and is also a Ring 50 members, most of the reviewers are from Ring 50. (Because of the sheer number of performers that follow, there is no room for full descriptions, which you can find in the November 2010 Magi-Gram newsletter.)

President Arnie Fuoco introduced the acts, which began with Jason Goldberg doing a charming rendition of Christian Schenk’s “Metamorphosis,” in which caterpillars on cards change to butterflies and one comes off as a souvenir. Treasurer Bob Patterson did Cameron Francis’ “Annihilation Deck,” in which two prediction cards are removed from the deck, and then a helper chooses a card. The prediction cards do not match the selection, but have the value and suit of the selection written on their backs! Bob Continued with “Prohibition” from Blacks Magic, a very clean, nearly impromptu cap-in-bottle effect. Bob concluded with “Double Coincidence,” one of the effects from Jean-Pierre Vallarino’s “Fasten” DVD.

Dick Christian did several mental magic and mentalism items, including “School Daze” by Black’s Magic, Asi Wind’s “Switcher,” and Devin Knight’s “Word Sight.” Kevin McGuire switched gears into children’s magic with a modified version of “Fronkey” from Oliver Meech’s “5 for £5 Kids Magic,” a sort of McCombical Deck routine for children, which was very cute.

With many funny bits of business, Arnie Levin did a four ace trick from the Criss Angel DVD, and then recommended we simply buy McDonald’s Aces. He finished with “Keyruption” by Bob Solari, in which a borrowed, signed, bill vanishes and winds up in a zippered leather key case – a definite recommendation.

Rucj Uffelman performed Devin Knight’s “Inside Thoughts” and “Schezuan Sampler” from Mentalism Unlimited. Bob Carnathan performed Devin Knight’s “Unshop,” and Danny Selnick did Gaeton Bloom’s “The Die.” Geoff Weber astonished all with the signature routine from Steve Spill’s “Confessions of a Needle Swallower” DVD.

Eric Henning had a last-minute change of program, announcing that he had been privileged to perform for President and the First Family at the White House Halloween party. He proceeded to do the routine he had developed for this engagement, which combined Bill Abbott’s “The Thing” with the DaVinci Floating Table. Afterward, Michael Taggert came up and reiterated his reviews of “The Thing” and also Jim Kleefeld’s “Sound Control” utility device, which Henning had used in his act.

TLR Reviewers Perform the Latest Items

The November 3rd meeting will be demonstrations of the latest magic items on the market by our Ring 50 product reviewers for the "Hocus in Focus" section of The Linking Ring. New items arrive at TLR editor’s office for review. He sends them to the Associate Editor, Jason Goldberg, for his reviewers to examine, tear apart, perform, and evaluate. Many are new items, books, DVDs, and some are revisions or modifications to classic magic effects. This will be a good chance to see a demo of an item you have seen advertised and want to know more about.

We appreciate the time the "Hocus in Focus" team spends on their reviews. It is not an easy task to critically examine the hard work of others. Our Ring 50 reviewers are:
Jason Goldberg, Tom Bohacek, Sam Brothers, Dick Christian, Eric Henning, Dick Kahane, Arnie Levin, Larry Lipman, Kevin McGuire, Louis Meyer, Bob Patterson, Tom Paxton, Dwight Redman, Danny Selnick, Dave Shepherd, Ed Spells, Michael Taggert, Geoff Weber, Rucj Uffelman, Bill Wells and Paul White.

October Magi-Gram is Here!

You can read it online or download it and print it out from your own computer if you like. Just click here. Special thanks to Bob Patterson, who in addition to his duties as Treasurer, has been faithfully creating this great newsletter monthly.

You can see the online newsletter archive at http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2674897

Magician's Ghosts Featured in October Meeting

The October meeting began with President Arnie Fuoco introducing prospective new member John Cloninger of Woodbridge, Virginia, who was voted in by the members present. Fuoco also promoted Magi-Whirl, April 29-30, 2011, asking for volunteers to help Convention Chairman Theo Rushin, Jr. You can see more info at www.Magi-Whirl.org.

Our guest lecturer was well-known magic collector Ken Trombly, whose extensive collection of magic ephemera is merely hinted at on his Website at www.MagicPosters.com .

Starting as a magician at the age of ten, Ken’s interest slowly evolved, and he began collecting magic posters and other paper from the “Golden Age” of magic about thirty years ago. Ken is an active member of the Magic Collector’s Association and ran their 2006 conference in Washington, DC. By day, Ken is a trial attorney. He has written articles or been featured in most of the major magic publications, including a recent profile in TLR.

His presentation, “Paper Treasures: Collecting Magic Ephemera,” took us on a tour of the publicity, and sometimes, behind the curtain of the great magicians of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Ken started out with a sampling of his vast collection of magic posters, most in near-mint condition, shown in hi-res photos. Ken has numerous specimens from Robert-Houdin, John Henry Anderson, the Herrmanns (all of them), Kellar, Thurston, Goldin, Chung Ling Soo (and even earlier when he was still William Robinson), Lafayette, LeRoy, Blackstone Sr., Jansen (later Dante), Hardeen and, of course, Houdini.

Among numerous photographs, Houdini provided the highlight of the evening, when Ken showed a receipt for magic apparatus bought by Houdini in 1897, and then showed us a famous promo photo of a young Houdini. Putting the two side by side, Ken demonstrated that all of the apparatus from the receipt was arranged in the photo! This was clearly an attempt by Houdini, then still trying to make it as a magician, to impress the agents. (See below.)

From posters and photographs, Ken moved neatly into promotional giveaways such as throw out cards, hand mirrors, pins, fans, fake money, fake tickets, coupons, even cigars -the band (below) bearing the facsimile signature of "Herrmann" still remains! We saw letters and letterheads, postcards, business cards, cartes de visite, paperback books, sheet music, newspaper stories (real and fake), newspapers (ditto) and even photo montages. Cartoons, both editorial and political, done by legends such as Daumier and Nast, reminded us of the incredible fame these performers enjoyed.

One “accidental” collectible is a hotel postcard. The photographer, snapping the hotel’s great façade on a busy city street, captured a local bus going by. In large letters, the bus’s side banner shouts “HOUDINI.”

All photos in this article courtesy Ken Trombly collection and (c) 2010 Ken Trombly.

September Magi-Gram is here!

Thanks to Bob Patterson for another brilliant job and in-depth coverage of the September New Performers Show. You can read all about it here.
There's also a link in the right column ---->

Alain Nu - The Man Who Knows

August's meeting kicked off with the members approving President Arnie Fuoco's proposal to purchase a portable stage light set and a portable wireless PA.We also voted in two new members. Magi-Whirl Chairman Theo Rushin announced that MAGI-WHIRL 2011 will take place on April 29 & 30 at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He also announced our headliners: Dirk Losander and Luna Shimada, along with legendary UK street magician Keith Fields. We have more surprises, and you can keep up with the news at www.Magi-Whirl.org.

Our lecturer was a longtime friend of Ring 50, international star and local resident Alain Nu, who had done a special intensive mentalism workshop earlier in the evening.

Alain's lecture was quite unusual, not only for his focus on mentalism, but also for his teaching style. He teaches principles which form the basis for numerous tricks and routines, limited only by the performer's imagination. He performed "Nu Wave," his take on "B'Wave;" did an excellent book test; did his version of Any Card at Any Number; divined an audience member's zodiac sign and bent ordinary spoons in the extraordinary fashion for which he is so justly famous.

Nu then spent the next 90 minutes going into great detail on the principals and variations involved in the first three items. This was really a master class in routine construction, teaching how to craft the script and the action to cancel out the method. He spent a brief time on the zodiac divination, which is found in one of his manuscripts, which are available at his lectures. As he had warned us, he did not teach his spoon-bending secrets, although he does a special workshop on just this topic the day before Mindvention each year. You can get more info by contacting Alain at alainnutv@yahoo.com. Alain Nu is a deep thinker who has much of value to teach any magician or mentalist.

Kyle Peron to Lecture at April 7th Meeting

Peron presents “Encore - Creativity in the Art of Magic!” This lecture and workshop is about learning how to be creative, think creatively and how to apply direct exercises and techniques to allow the members creativity to grow with the magic that they perform. Every single person possesses the ability to be creative. This lecture teaches you techniques and exercises that your members can use to unlock the doors to their own creativity. What makes this lecture so different is that it is not just a long speech where people sit, watch and listen. It is much more than that. Kyle believes that the power of learning anything is in the act of doing. That is why “Encore” is both a lecture and hands on workshop experience.

Kyle is both an S.A.M and I.B.M local Stage Contest Winner numerous times, SAM National Contest Judge, and respected Performer. He is an author of over 135 articles (and numerous books) in relation to various aspects of the performance and presentation of magic. He is acclaimed Graphic Designer, Illustrator and an expert on Logotype Design. He is a Mentor, SYM leader and recipient of the Charles Hopkins Award for Magical Excellence. Peron is highly skilled in the areas of Children¹s magic and Open-Air performances.

The lecture is free to paid-up Ring 50 members, all other magicians $10 at the door.

May 5th – Dan Lacey Contest
Sharpen up your skills for the annual Dan Lacey “Washington DC Magician of the Year” contest. The contest is open to all paid up Ring 50 members. If you want to compete in the contest contact Louis Meyer, 703-765-1923 or email: louis@childtimemagic.com. Potential candidates will perform a magic act lasting no longer than eight minutes and will be judged by a panel of four judges. The winner will be awarded a traveling trophy and will perform at the Gala Show for Magi-Whirl 2011.

Ring 50 Treasurer Collecting Dues for 2010
Ring 50 annual dues of $15 for 2010 were due in February. Anyone, wishing to do so, can pay their dues at the April 7th meeting. The Ring 50 Treasurer, Bob Patterson, requests that you pay by check, as this eases the record keeping. Make checks payable to IBM Ring 50. Cash will be accepted providing you have the correct change ($15). If you are unable to make the meetings, you can also send a check to his home address at 3450 Wainscott Place, Lake Ridge, VA 22192-5362. Enjoy your Ring activities throughout 2010 by paying your dues now.

Ring 50 Magic Youth International Meeting
"The Counts of Conjuring"
Don’t forget to encourage a youth to attend the Ring 50 MYI. The youth meeting starts at 6:00 pm at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria. The Youth Ring is open for children ages 7-17. Please let Louis know if you are bringing any youths so that we can be better prepared for them. A Magic Youth International Ring will offer a fun, interactive, and safe environment for the young magicians. We have averaged about 5 kids per meeting but we would love to build that up.

- Bob Patterson