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

Winton Carroll Contest Results in June Magi-Gram!

Congratulations to Past President Louis Meyer, who won the Winton Carroll Most Humorous Magician Contest and was awarded the well-deserved DC Comedy Magician of the Year staff! Read all about it here, or look at the right column for the link.

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.

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.

Houdini Night, February Lecture Slated

Houdini Night at the January 6th Meeting
The January meeting will be Houdini Magic Night. Houdini initially focused on traditional card tricks. At one point, he billed himself as the "King of Cards." But he soon began experimenting with escape acts and became widely known as "The Handcuff King." He would free himself from jails, handcuffs, chains, ropes, and straitjackets, He later exposed séances and spiritualism. If you have magic related to Houdini and would like to perform, please email Ring 50 President Louis Meyer so he can put you on the program.

Bizzaro, The Optical Illusionist slated for February 3rd Meeting
In a world full of reality TV and lackluster entertainment, Bizzaro, The Optical Illusionist strives to open people’s eyes and prove that Different isn’t Bad. Bizzaro has performed from coast to coast and appeared on FOX, NBC, America’s got Talent, and the Travel Channel’s Extreme Conventions. "My lecture has a little bit for everyone. Anyone who has seen me before knows a big part of my lectures is about building creativity and character as well.” All of that and some new products developed and performed in Las Vegas await you so come join the party and bring a friend! The lecture is free to paid-up Ring 50 members, all other magicians $10 at the door.

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.

Ring 50 Treasurer Collecting Dues for 2010
Ring 50 annual dues of $15 for 2010 are due by February. Anyone, wishing to do so, can pay their dues at the January 6th 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.

Eric Henning Appears on FOX 5 TV

Ring 50 Past President Eric Henning appeared on the FOX 5 TV Morning News on Tuesday, October 30. During two "Creepy Cribs" segments, he did some close-up magic with host Holly Morris. The video segments are up on the Fox Web site, and you can see them on your browser by clicking here. During one segment, Henning promoted Ring 50 and our Web site.

Henning appears on live TV

Ring 50 Past President Eric Henning was featured on Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at between 9:15 - 9:25 a.m. on a live cablecast which was seen from Maine to Virginia.

CN8 - The Comcast Network, is featuring port towns from Maine to Virginia this summer as the "Your Morning" show inaugurated its "Waterfront Tour" live from the Annapolis, Maryland City Dock. Henning performed for the crowd from 8 a.m. and did a live interview segment scheduled to air at 9:15 a.m.

Only Comcast Cable TV subscribers from Maine to Virginia saw the program, but Henning will have video at the August meeting for any interested parties.

Comcast CN8 Waterfront Tour link:
http://www.cn8.tv/waterfront/channelhome.asp?lchannelid=649

For more news, visit http://www.HenningMagic.com/news.html

Area Magicians for Hire

GOT MAGIC?

These professional magicians, based in the Washington area,

are listed in alphabetical order.

Please contact them directly to discuss your entertainment needs.

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Wayne Alan

America's only World Champion Stage Illusionist,

as seen on national TV and The White House.

Innovative Illusions Inc.

3103 Newcastle Lane, Riva, MD 21140

Phone 410-956-8132 Fax 410-956-0338

Email: Wayne@WayneAlanMagic.com

Web: WayneAlanMagic.com

Bob Carnathan

Classic Magic for Elegant Events

Bethesda, MD

Phone: 301 469 5030

Email: Bob@BobCarnathanMagic.com

Web: BobCarnathanMagic.com

Stuart Finley

Tel: 703-860-8924

Email: ahome4u1@cox.net

Glenn Gary

The Classical Magic of Glenn Gary

Winner, Clint Reidel Trophy for Best Act of Competition AND
Best Stage Manipulation at Magicians' Alliance of Eastern States

Tel: 703-963-0790

Email: info@GlennGary.com
Web: www.glenngary.com

Eric Henning

Conjuror
Magic for Corporate, Private and Community Events

as seen at the National Christmas Tree Lighting!

Tel: (toll-free) 1-800-485-0029

Email: Eric@HenningMagic.com

Web: www.HenningMagic.com

Larry Lipman

"Lorenzo the Great"

Specializing in Magic for Children

Tel: 703-859-8526

Email: lorenzomagic@cox.net

Web: www.lorenzomagic.com

Noland Montgomery

Magical Entertainment for All Ages

Tel: 301-572-7743

Email: noland@nolandsmagic.com

Web: www.nolandsmagic.com

Eric Redman
As seen on network TV: "Lance Burton's Young Magicians"
& "Showtime at The Apollo"
Tel: 301-927-7717 Email: blaq__majik@hotmail.comWeb: http://magicalexperience.freeservers.com

Reggie Rice
"Super MAGIC Man" - Truly a One-Of-A-Kind Entertainer
Tel: 240-298-6077
Web: www.SuperMAGICMan.com

Michael Taggert

Magician Extraordinaire

"Nominated Best in the 'Burg." Award-winning magic for the whole family, renaissance entertainment, platform and stage performances.

Tel: 540-370-0752

Email Michael@MichaelTaggertMagic.com

Web: www.MichaelTaggertMagic.com

TEO

The Prince of Conjuring

Family and Corporate Entertainer - Voted "The Most Humorous Entertainer of the Year"

Tel: 240-988-3441

Email MAGIC [AT] IAMTEO [DOT] COM

Web: www.IAMTEO.com

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If you are a performing magician and a current Ring 50 member

and would like to be listed in this section,
please email Eric Henning with your information.