www.opusmagazine.co.uk

Soon I will Have To Wean Myself Off This Blog...

2011-07-08T12:06:00.002Z

I will have to move into our website proper soon... But we will keep this "blog" active too until all the content has been transferred...

Last night's EMC2011 Opus talk went ok, the trouble is when some jokes went down better than expected we wandered "off piste" a bit and it got a bit messy... even after Chris and I had spent more time rehearsing this talk than anything we had before...

As it was last year the conference is superb on many different levels... so many interesting people with a real passion for magic... it is excellent...

More Keyboard Bashing

2011-06-16T10:39:00.002Z

Another warm day with the sun about to break through here in Central Portugal.

The Opus Magazine presentation for this year's EMC progresses as slowly but as remorselessly as each of the 60 issues (so far) did way back when...

...no being late with this though!

EMC2011

2011-06-15T15:05:00.003Z

EMC2011 is taking over my life!

Chris sends me thoughts and ideas from London... I do likewise to him from Portugal...

Slowly, oh so slowly, the talk is prepared...

Been at it for hours today...

So many tales to tell... but only 18 minutes.

My head hurts...

2011-06-13T14:23:00.003Z

Have just arrived back in Portugal (long term now)...

After seeing the work being completed on the swimming pool at Estudio 33, it was straight to work on the EMC presentation.

The Wagon cannot enter the LEZ so the mountain had to come to Mohammed and Chris

"trained" it out to Boreham Wood (not many Socialist Worker Party Members noticed wandering around there) for a Wagon meeting lasting hours and hours...

...Here in sun drenched Central Portugal work is already under way preparing the venue for the conference... and staggering number of man hours will be put in to make sure this year's EMC builds on the fantastic success of last year's breakthough event...

www.essentialmagicconference.com

Special EMC Opus offer...

2011-05-23T16:22:00.002Z

I expect you all already know but just in case you don't...

All subscribers to EMC 2011 will be getting a PDF copy of the first volume of Opus Magazine as a thank you for supporting this year's EMC Conference...

Waiting for my son to finish work...

2011-05-23T16:12:00.002Z

Parked up and writing more of the Opus talk whilst waiting for my son to finish work... it is his birthday tomorrow so we are going for a drink before I return to Bath...

Today I wrote of the...

Photo copied issue on Billy McComb's coffee table in Hollywood...

Bill the Printer running off with his next door neighbours wife...

The scandal of the artists' "hotel"rooms at a British Ring IBM convention...

Watching a Scandinavian Star flicking through an issue of Opus containing a highly critical review of his work...

and so on... no doubt much will be edited out by the one who does the pictures!

Cripes... Busy, Busy, Busy...

2011-05-20T12:03:00.002Z

Slaving away over the back issues of Opus noting down stuff that I had forgotten about (just reading an article from the first volume by Eugene Burger)... and making copious notes...

Getting calls from Portugal, phoning London, emailing New York... and fretting over how Chris and I can condense all this material down into the 18 minute talk at the EMC in July... and all this done from the back of a van in a field in middle England!

There will be some extra special news coming out very soon... you could follow it here or, better still, make sure EMC has your details and then you will be kept up to date on all aspects of this year's conference...

www.essentialmagicconference.com

Work on EMC talk continues...

2011-05-19T08:30:00.002Z

Chris and I are thrilled to be presenting a talk on Opus Magazine at EMC 2011 this July.

www.essentialmagicconference.com

We have been talking and talking about it for several months now and are at the stage of writing stuff down...

Going back through the pages of the magazine brings memories flooding back... there is so much stuff in there... so many stories... so little time...

The talk is 18 mins long so a lot will have to be left out!

Up at 8.20am this morning and at the laptop by 9.00am...

This is not normal...

Just remembered the sight of an international star of close up approaching our stand at FISM 88 furious about a review of a book of his we had published...

To know more youwill need to be there!

Just Announced Today...

2011-05-09T15:07:00.006Z

Opus will be at EMC 2011...

http://www.essentialmagicconference.com

Looks like Opus might be going digital...

You have heard it all before but...

2011-03-11T17:11:00.004Z

...there might be life left in the dormant, hibernating entity that was known as Opus Magazine... Who can tell... there are discussions taking place... sorry I can't say more yet... don't want to tempt fate...

...just been spending some time reading the back issues and I had forgotten how much good stuff there is to been found hiding away in the pages of the 60 issues...

But then I would think that wouldn't I?

2010-07-15T11:54:00.003Z

We have two followers... one I believe is you Alan!

I hope you are not going to be reading this...

I hope you are going to be logged onto

www.essentialmagicconference.com

when, at 4pm (UK time) the first ever international online magic conference starts....

It is getting quite tense here...

Follow the Convention Here as well...

2009-11-27T18:38:00.001Z

www.magicconventionguide.com will also give details etc of this convention so if you want a more professional approach you better check them out...

Ready for the Off

2009-11-27T17:13:00.002Z

Everything more or less ready...

Donna look after things from the Venue's point of view...

Georgie "The Boss" McMillan with Richard "The Driver" McDougall.

Another Year, Another "Ron's Day"

2009-11-27T16:44:00.002Z

Another International Magic Weekend is about start in a new venue... The Mermaid Conference and Events Centre.

After all the nonsense last year the organisers have found a new location and as far as I can see so far, the management and staff at the Mermaid have been brilliant and give the impression that they are really glad to have the event held here.

The doors open for the start of the convention at 6.30.

Noel is busy with the rehearsals in the theatre. The dealers are setting up in their dedicated space and the reception area it being prepared for the rush.

Photos and more reports to follow...

JJ proposes to Julie Illusion...

2009-09-26T18:01:00.002Z

Dave (I know how to break into hotels) Jones got JJ into the Ramada last night after the bar in the theatre closed and bought him a beer.

JJ, after asking her father's permission, proposed to Julie.

Stan (her father) responded by pushing a nail into his nose.

Julie politely said nothing.

Jimmy Carlo seethed!

Close Up Results...

2009-09-26T17:59:00.001Z

Steve Della won first place, Rob James came second and Kevin Gallagher got third place and the Rovi award for cards.

(We never get it completely right...)

The Founder of the Fringe...Fay Presto

2009-09-25T19:14:00.003Z

The Fringe Founder and Financier, Fay Presto

British Ring at Southport 2009

2009-09-25T18:22:00.007Z

About time we posted something so as we are at Southport for this year's IBM convention here is some stuff.

The Volvic Award which will be given out during the Fringe Show tonight...

The Star of tonight's Fringe show... John van de Put...

The Fringe Banquet. Phone up your favouirite Southport takeway and get them to deliver it to the Arts Centre.

Mark Shortland... Radio 5 Star...

John Archer... no comvention complete with out him...

Rob James starts to worry about the official award ceremony later tonight...

...

I have enjoyed the convention so farmore than I thought I would.

The Shield Competition was dreadful... but I enjoyed the opening show... Mark Shortland followed his triumphant spot on Radio Five Live's Richard Bacon show with a good performance to start the convention.

The Close Up competition was dreadful until the last three acts... Rob James, Steve Della and Will Gray who surely must be the three money winners...

Eddie Dawes last show was highly enjoyable... Bertie Pearce was my favourite. Eddie got a well deserved standing ovation.

The "Cast" at Lisbon 2009.

2009-08-29T09:12:00.002Z

The following magicians are performing here in Lisbon this year.
Enric Magoo from Spain, Ken from Germany, Peter Wardell from England, Billy Kidd from Canada, Gazzo from England, Luke Wilson from Germany, Ramana from Holland, Civi Civiac from Spain, Jan Van Kammen from Holland, Mario Daniel from Portugal, Richard McDougall from England, David Williamson from the USA, Kayto from Spain Myster Yurgen from France and Silly Billy from the USA.

The Lisbon Street Magic World Festival

2009-08-28T14:02:00.006Z

Ken from Germany gathers a crowd in the blazing mid day sun...

Ramana from Holland floats his table at the end of his piece...

Billy Kidd from Canada working in the heat...

The calm before the storm...

Gazzo from England contemplates life pre show...

The Major UK Magic Event of the Month.

2009-02-28T13:45:00.002Z

No... Not the money making machine that is the Lev... I mean, Blackpool Convention. Anyone with the price of the registration can attend that...

I'm talking about the event which will attended by the highest range of talent and achievement per head anywhere this weekend.

Yes... Chris Power's 50th Birthday Party.

Not only will the cream of international magic attend but also numerous brains bigger than garden sheds from the British Museum. A glittering fiesta of fun held tonight at the world famous celebrity funspot that is the Skinners Arms.

Photos (exclusive to Opus Magazine) to follow...

JJ replies to Novotel...

2008-12-17T17:37:00.002Z

Dear Mr Vocal,

Thank you very much for your reply to my email. I realise you are a busy man and have many more important things to do rather than to deal with my complaint.

Let me say I admire the fact that you fully support your management team and security people. They must be pleased to work under such support.

There are, however, a few points I would like to draw your attention to from the other side of the story. Although I have stayed at your hotel several times in the past I was not a resident on the night in question.

I have attended all the conventions run by the International Magic organisation for over thirty years which include all the recent ones held in your hotel. On every previous occasion we have always been informed when the bar was about to close in order to allow us to buy a last round and after the bar has shut we have been allowed to stay in the bar area discussing the problems of the world and the major events of the magic weekend into the early hours of the morning.

As I am sure you are aware the International Weekend of Magic is one of the most highly regarded events in the Magic World's calendar. This is why so many stars of our world attend the event. After the main, organised events have finished, the informal, more social side of the weekend takes place. This has always happened at the Novotel before.

On that particular Sunday night I was sitting at a table with friends. A barrister, a University professor, the head of a department at the British Museum and a company owner from Stuttgart in Germany. I mention their positions not out of any ego but merely to allow you to realise that these were not a bunch of trouble makers.

The University professor had just purchased a round of drinks and, still being addicted to the evil nicotine, went out of the front door to have a cigarette. The company owner joined him.

After a little while my attention was drawn to the fact that the people outside the door were not being allowed back inside. At first I didn't believe it. No one from the hotel had said anything to any of us that they were emptying the bar area. Nothing had been said to anyone there.

I went up to the reception desk. I knew that the organisers were not in the area at the time, I knew there had been a problem the night before regarding the serving drinks to the convention registrants, and as I have been involved with the International Magic Company for over thirty years and because I knew many of the people there I thought I might be of help.

As I asked to speak to the manager, an irate American magician asked me why his friend was not being allowed back into the hotel. He was very upset but in no way badly behaved. I told him I was working on it.

I was asked to sit down and told the manager would be with me in a minute. As it was only going to be a minute I said I would wait there by the desk.

There were no problems in the reception area of the hotel. The only "trouble" was at the door where people were getting a little frustrated by being denied access to the hotel in which they had drinks and personal belongings including coats. It was pretty cold out there.

The manager did not appear. I was asked again to sit down but felt that if had I done so I would have been ignored for longer. Again I said I would wait. No one came but I could now see more friends being blocked at the door. This was obviously silly especially as the door staff, who were so excellent at preventing entry, were so poor at communicating what was happening.

No one knew why they were being prevented from coming back in. Denied access to a London Hotel? Unbelieveable. The manager was needed here.

I went over to the door area and I did indeed put my foot in open door at one opportune moment preventing it being shut yet again. The people outside were incensed and asking me what was happening.

The doorman told me that unless I removed my foot he would call the management. I said I hope he had better luck than me because that was exactly what I had been trying to do for ages.

Although I am large, I am a life long pacifist and I allowed the door to be closed again at which point I saw the (as I discovered later) manager in what could be called a panic pacing about with her phone to her ear informing every one in earshot she had called the police.

Incredible!

I walked back towards my table after a friend told me he had called the convention organisers and they were on their way and I should leave it to them. Indeed they came into the hotel (they were residents) right then.

I had not at any time been abusive or threatening. I simply wanted to ask the manager to explain to me and my friends what was happening and why. I could then have helped by explaining to the confused people what was going on.

When the police arrived they were pointed in my direction. To the amazement (and amusement) of my friends I was called away from every body by the officer in charge and asked (very nicely) to explain what had happened. I was fully supported by one of the organisers and a few fellow magicians in my recounting of the events. The police instantly realised that there was nothing going on here that required their presence. Indeed when asked by the hotel management if they could go through the bar area and ask all the non residents to leave, the police had to tell your hotel people that this was nothing to do with them.

Further discussions took place as I rejoined my friends but it turned out that your manager wanted the police to escort me out of the hotel.

I was the only person to be treated this way. No one else was pointed out to the police.

Therefore it must have been me. I must have been the "difficult, abusive and threatening" element you refer to in your email.

I strongly protest to this. It is an insult to me (apparently fully supported by you.)

The police actually came over to me and asked "If I would do them a favour." Could I allow them to be seen to escort me from the hotel?

Of course I complied with the police request. Once outside, we then learnt from the police that they had had similar trouble from this particular hotel (your hotel) before and they had been called out unnecessarily to you before more than once. It would, apparently, all be recorded in their police report and referred to at licensing time.

No matter what you choose to believe from your questioning of your staff and the viewing of the tapes, this ridiculous affair was totally mismanaged by your people in front of an international collection of guests who all now have a different perception of your hotel and group than they had before.

No doubt the strength of your corporation will not be affected by this in anyway and therefore be of little concern to you.

It will however bring me childlike pleasure to draw to the attention of the people who support our magazine through pictures, words and video, my views on the reception I and others got from Novotel, St Pancras.

Obviously I won't be booking any more luxury rooms in the Novotel group...

Vive La France and praise be to the internet.

With sadness of times now past when service meant service and custom was appreciated whether it was from vast mutinational organisations or small family businesses…

JJ. Editor, Opus Magazine

Novotel replies to JJ

2008-12-17T17:23:00.002Z

Click on this to enlarge...

My Email to the wonderful Novotel, St Pancras

2008-12-17T17:00:00.001Z

Dear Novotel,

I would like to register my considered complaint regarding the behaviour of you duty manager at the Novotel, St Pancras on Nov 30th who, rather than talking to me about a problem I could have helped with, called the police.

I do not blame her or any of her staff on the night.

I blame the management structure and training system of your company which resulted in giving this manager a position with which she was not able to cope. This resulted in people who had popped outside for a cigarette being refused re-entry to finish their recently purchased drinks or picking up their coats and belongings.

Disgraceful...

A university professor, one of London's leading actors and international celebrities such as Uri Gellar not allowed back into your hotel...

Unbelievable!

What do you think?

"JJ"

Editor, Opus Magazine.

Vanni Bossi. A Great Magician and a Great Human.

2008-12-15T13:22:00.002Z

I learnt with great sadness of the death of Vanni Bossi.
A superb magician who was a great friend to Opus in the early days.
He gave us some fabulous magic to share with our readers and we were really delighted when he agreed to lecture at our Isle of Man Convention.
We won't forget him.

JJ Escorted from Novotel Euston by Police

2008-12-03T13:00:00.006Z

Around 11.30ish on Sunday after the Gala Show of the International Magic Weekend, just as everyone is settling down for the relaxing discussions that always follow a major convention, Chris draws my attention to the fact that people who have popped outside for a cigarette are not being allowed back into the hotel.

They are being stopped by hotel staff.

No matter that five minutes earlier they have just bought expensive drinks which are sitting on the table untouched.

No matter that their coats and bags are still there by the table (and it was very cold outside.)

Unless they were residents they were stuck outside.

No warning had been given.

No explanation... Nothing.

It was the worst display of incompentance at a hotel I have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Georgie and Martin from International were out of the building for a well deserved meal and a bit of a rest so I went up to the reception desk to ask to speak to the manager.

"Sit down and she will be down to see you in a minute."

"Well, if it is just a minute I will wait here..."

Time passes, no manager and I walk the ten yards to the door where people are trying to get in. At one point the doorman opens the door to tell people they can't enter and I put my foot in the door to prevent it from closing...

"Take your foot away or I will call the management" he says.

"Good, that's who I am trying to talk to..." I reply.

A stressed and almost hysterical woman rushes around with a phone to her ear... it is the manager.

"I've called the police," she announces.

Noel Britten, the show producer and compere tells me he has contacted Georgie and Martin, they are on their way and that I should leave it to them. He is quite right. They have to deal with this hotel each year and they will sort it out and as they enter the hotel I go and sit down.

The Police arrive, lots of them.

They must have been surprised to see, not a riot, but loads of people hunched over tables doing card tricks!

The Police talk to the hotel manager, they talk to Georgie and Martin and the senior officier at the scene wanders over to me and asks for the story. I tell him what has been happening... not that much except that people who the hotel had been happy to sell drinks to could not get back into the place to finish them.

Apparently the hotel manager wants the police to go through the hotel asking all the non-residents to leave. Georgie says that I am a resident because she has paid for many rooms that are not being used and I can use one of them... she has the key cards in her bag upstairs.

I go back and sit down. The policeman goes back to manager to explain that it is not the police's job to ask the non-residents to leave, it is the job of the hotel staff.

More discussions and the nice policeman comes over to me and asks me if I can do him a favour. The manager, who has not exchanged one single word with me, wants me escorted out of the hotel. Would I mind leaving?

Anything to help the boys in blue I announce but would they mind if I have some photos taken of this "happening"? Apparently he wasn't too keen on the idea... but Alan Hudson kindly supplied the two photos shown here.

(If anyone else has some more I would love them to send them to us...)

maybe... more later

Rene Frotscher from Germany...

2008-11-29T13:18:00.003Z

Very insulting to the Germans opening that went down reasonably well and follows with some "comedy" lines... then pen through note... vanishing ketchup bottle... a card trick... one or two nearly funny gags but not a winner on my score card... (I am having a Dale Carnegie morning)

Kiko Pastur from Spain..

2008-11-29T13:09:00.003Z

Nice four ace production to music at start... then some nice, skillful card effects performed in a gentle manner. Didn't set the audience alight though... warm reaction at the end

Giacomo De Carlo from Italy...

2008-11-29T12:53:00.003Z

For emotional involvement watch this man! Giacomo brought some football into his card magic!!

Yes really... a card act based around the world cup final between Italy and France which Italy won on penalties after Zidane was sent off...

Original and for a football nut like me entertaining...

Special award territory?

Johan Stahl from Sweden

2008-11-29T12:47:00.001Z

Pen, Ball and Cup routines where things happen... to the pen and the ball and of course eventually the cup... but where is the emotional engagement?

Toto from Japan...

2008-11-29T12:29:00.002Z

Great "bending" routine... then goes and does rubber band tricks just as I was getting to like him!

Fooled many of us with "open loading" style effects. Believe it or not he even vanished a thumb tip which reappeared (suction) stuck on his cheek...

Very visual five chosen cards springing out of the standing up against the glass on the table remotely effect.

Original and a prize winner despite a touch of "I fooled you dummies" presentation style...

Dynamo from England...

2008-11-29T12:23:00.002Z

Lottery trick... a knock out wallet effect... his usual, seemingly hesistant and unrehearsed presentation style... a very popular young man.... he must win something surely?

Gary Charm from Hong Kong...

2008-11-29T12:06:00.003Z

I don't think it is his real name...

Definitly has charm though...

Bit bitty, bottle production, roses, card tricks, bits with his mobile etc... even a moth production.

Could be in the reckoning....

Matthew Wright from England...

2008-11-29T11:49:00.003Z

I hadn't seen this guy before but he has all the elements that I reckon you need for a successful magic competition act except, maybe, for the big, not seen before, surprise effect.

But his "Witches" script T and R card was well thought out and the effect smoothly performed and I liked it.

His standard cups and balls routine had good "in jokes" with magicians names and his overall character based set did it for me.

If I was the only judge he would be my winner so far...

Shawn Farquhar from Canada...

2008-11-29T11:38:00.001Z

Purple suit as seen, act (with two strong effects) as seen...

He'll probably win...

Tatsuya Mishimagi from Japan...

2008-11-29T11:16:00.002Z

His seated lady volunteer was asked to wear a "Princess" tiara and wave a fairy wand around a bit. Somewhat uncomfortable stuff.

Diminishing card case followed by diminishing cards... haven't seen that for sometime... then a one coin routine to music. Finished (and it's true) by diminishing himself to the size of a puppet. Not necessarily magically strong but brave and pretty funny!

Igor De Ruitz from Italy...

2008-11-29T11:07:00.002Z

Acting/Character based performance of coins (with an Okito box).

Carefully scripted delivered in a rapid fire style... I found it hard to follow...

Kolos from Hungary...

2008-11-29T10:58:00.003Z

Another competitor back from last year's competition.

No language problem as he performs to taped music.

Included linking jumbo cards and a two cup and ball routine.

Not bad and maybe, based on what has been on so far, in the running...

Woody Aragon from Spain...

2008-11-29T10:44:00.002Z

Woody starts with a joke about his bad English... he learnt it from Lennart Green's dvds!

Card stuff follows based around dealing...

Nice personality...

Performing in a foregn language hampers the impact...

Not on my prize winning list (yet)...

Vittorio Belloni from Italy

2008-11-29T10:33:00.002Z

Second on, coins and cards. Yep that means matrix.

Sitting down and doing matrix means a big coin production.

Now where can that have come from?

Not one of my winners....

Troy opens this year's competition...

2008-11-29T10:19:00.003Z

Troy was a huge hit for me last year with his fresh approach , Michael Jackson impressions and his delighful personality.

This year he did "magic" behind a table including Cannibal Cards and a Teddy Bear production.

Not the impact he made last year...

Another Ron's Day Begins...

2008-11-28T17:57:00.006Z

Early Arrivals...

The Magi start to gather at the Novotel in Euston for Ron's Day (actually a weekend these days but it will always be Ron's Day to me).

Edinburgh Contrasts...

2008-08-19T21:33:00.002Z

The day of two shows, Guy Hollingworth's "Expert At The Card Table" and Kevin McMahon and Alan Hudson's Magic To Get Girls By."

Both shows attract "magicians" based on the fact that both have "tricks" performed in them and therefore I have, in some ways unfairly, compared them here given that I am a lover of magic attending the Festival for a few days and trying to see as many magic related shows as possible.

These two shows come from very different places...

Guy has been thinking about and, indeed performing variations of, his one man show for years whilst Alan and Kevin came up with their show based on the fact that the space was going to be available for nine performances. For some reason Ian Kendall (see below) didn't use the space for the full duration of the Festival and offered the last period to Kevin (or Alan, I'm not sure which way around) and they got together and came up with this show.

Guy's show is backed by a sponsor (The Chocolate Factory), is on in a major Festival venue, (The Assembly Rooms), has been directed by a top director ( )and features one of the world's best card magicians. The result is here for all to see (if you are quick.) Absorbing, amusing, baffling and gripping... the core of the show has remained constant... the fascinating story of S.W. Erdnase and his book but this latest variation of it is greatly improved, even on the version we saw at the International Magic Weekend last Christmas, and I thought that one was fabulous (see earlier in this blog.) Faster paced, more dramatic changes in mood together with lighting and video improvements make for a truly great show that, I predict, will have legs and run and run in various locations for years to come. Catch it if you can.

"Magic to get Girls By" is a far more modest production and seems to me, understandably under the circumstances, to be based on material that the two performers already had in their lockers. The initial premise is an amusingly interesting one... can doing "magic" help you with your attempts to attract girls?

To test this possibility three people, two girls and, in this PC world of ours, one guy are asked to rate Alan and Kevin's attractiveness out of ten. The scores are recorded on a display board. Each magician performs some routines and then the same "judges" are asked to reassess their scores.

I didn't feel that there were enough links to this theme in the chosen routines. The guys went off on a bit of a tangent and performed some tricks, only a couple of which had some obvious connection with romance (the flash production of a flower.)

The rest were tricks non related to any romantic theme in any way that I could see...(swallowing razor blades and a thimble manipulation routine.)

At the end, the new scores were added up and there follows the punch finish which should totally blow away any non-magicians in the audience who would be unaware of the devious devices of the Mentalist.

I dare say that if the latter show has the love and lavish attention poured over it that the former one has had, it too would be greatly improved, but I doubt that "Magic to get Girls By" will survive much after next Monday... it isn't that kind of show.

I must record for completeness that both show did "great business"... both were nearly sold out but of course one had more people in it.

To come (if tickets are available) Ali Cook, Pete Firman and Barry and Stuart.

Opus Goes To The Edinburgh Fringe

2008-08-18T16:15:00.003Z

Monday August 18 2008.

The holiday Wagon (A Hymer 660) has pulled into the Mortonhall Campsite, plugged into the electricity and is now the Opus Headquarters at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Two shows have already been booked and paid for... Guy Hollingworth's "Expert At The Card Table" and "Magic To Get Girls By" with Kevin McMahon and Alan Hudson. I also hope to see Ali Cook's "A Touch of Vegas", "All Star Magic and Comedy" and Pete Firman's show.

I am toying with the idea of seeing Ian Kendall bearing in mind that this Edinburgh regular got such a damning review from Opus many, many years ago and it would be interesting to see how Ian has progressed.

Got to go to the airport now to pick up Amy who is flying in from Birmingham...

Photos from the Alcobaca Album...

2008-07-06T10:34:00.008Z

An old, fat bloke hugs "hoodie" Cyril...

Darkness brings the opportunity of working on the lighting.

Danial, Luis, Paul, Jane and her husband Cyril past the time of day and solve the problems of the Universe...

Power, Give Me Power.

2008-07-06T10:34:00.002Z

The Guests Start To Arrive...

2008-07-06T10:20:00.003Z

Paul Stone comes over from Las Vegas (via Liverpool) but continues to work on the Palladium Show dedicated to Siegfried and Roy on September 28th.

Daniel Strombeck (from Sweden via Madrid) and Cyril from Japan are here...

Daniel is directing the new Luis de Matos television series which starts taping in Estudio 33 on Tuesday.

Cyril, after a hectic few months working all over the Far East (including hosting the Japanese MTV Awards) takes time out for a bit of a holiday.

Where the Hell is it?

2008-07-05T11:30:00.008Z

Logistics Supremo "Mosca" da Silva hunts down that vital bit...

The Planning Goes On...

2008-07-05T11:30:00.005Z

Luis de Matos, Fatima Oliveira and "Furby" Ribeiro continue the plans to take over the world...

Major Action at Alcobaca

2008-07-05T11:18:00.005Z

Big trucks arrive in historic town of Alcobaca in Portugal. In front of the famous monastery, theatrical equipment is unloaded. Staging, towers, lights, sound equipment and of course the generators to power them.

What is it all about?

At exactly 10.13pm on July 6th 2008 Luis de Matos will present a show featuring the World's Biggest Metamorphosis.

Prominent VIPs from many different fields will gather on Sunday evening to witness the spectacle

Advice to International Magicians...

2008-06-19T02:33:00.002Z

Opus Magazine strongly recommends that when flying out to an engagement overseas, having booked the tickets online, you should make every effort to go to the airport on the correct day.

If, like JJ, you find yourself sitting in the laundrette in Bath when the person sent to meet you phones you from Madrid airport to ask where you are, you will simply embarass yourself!

Thanks to the modern technology in the Wagon, he was able to book another (much more expensive) flight and after travelling all night should make it on time for his first performance at the Soria Festival of Magic later today...

What A Feast...

2007-12-25T22:40:00.000Z

A golden browned steak (marinaded in ale) pie on a bed of steamed Portuguese long grained rice with French petit pois and enhanced with a glass of chilled, original John Smiths...

After this vital news is posted (via the new wifi in the Bar Da Rio) I will return to the feast with desert of sundrenched pineapple in a lake of Birds's custard and a Carte Noire coffee (kindly supplied and delivered by Mick and Julie from Leicester.)

Watch out tomorrow for more relevant stuff about magic in general and, if all goes as planned, an article about the most over priced magic effect I have ever encountered which has already paid for itself twice over in the right hands...

Happy Christmas Everyone

2007-12-25T12:53:00.000Z

After a mad few days which included driving two and a half thousand kilometres, helping with a couple of Luis de Matos Enigma Shows in different theatres in Barcelona, meeting Rodney Piper (the owner) and Lacey (the manageress) of House of Illusion and hanging out with friends for a few hours in Almeria on the Southern Meditarrean coast, I have arrived in the Algarve for a couple of days rest and football watching at Nuno's Sports Bar.

Being Christmas Day I thought I would skip the photo of breakfast and move straight to the proposed Christmas Dinner!

Obviously this is the "before cooking" shot of the feast...

With luck an "after shot" follows

Quite Clearly Heard at the International Weekend..

2007-12-02T16:18:00.002Z

John Archer, "I'm working with you next Tuesday aren't I?"

Martin Cox, "Yes."

John Archer, "I can't wait..."

Runner Up Quote of the Convention...

2007-12-02T16:18:00.001Z

"Magic is about having balls and confidence..."

Anthony Owen in his lecture.

Quote of the Convention...

2007-12-02T16:18:00.000Z

When asked what to do if the thread snaps Dynamo answered,

"Improvise...or don't be a magician."

Opus Stansted Office...

2007-11-26T16:25:00.000Z

More expense on wi-fi access but the wait at the airport can be put to good use by tweeking the site a bit.

Opus is delighted with the International Weekend Judges (indeed we shall name them in due course) given that they almost (I said almost) agreed with us rather than your more usual set of Judges' results...

Whoops... how did pictures of JJ's planned new house get on here?

2007-11-26T15:51:00.000Z

More Atmosphere from 36th International Magic Weekend...

2007-11-26T15:27:00.002Z

Ali Bongo and Magicweek's Duncan Trillo (www.magicweek.co.uk)

More Atmosphere...

2007-11-26T15:27:00.001Z

The Nyman Family...

Macie, Sophie and Preston.

The First Berglas International Magic Award...

2007-11-26T15:27:00.000Z

...presented by David Berglas...goes to

the MacMillan Family.

When the audience heard of this award they gave Martin, Georgie and Teresa the only standing ovation of the weekend...

One of the most deserved award winners ever.

Satoru Triumphs!

2007-11-25T17:00:00.000Z

The Winner...

carried off stage by Mahka Tendo

The Official Results...

2007-11-25T16:49:00.000Z

1st. Satoru (Japan)

2nd. Pattrick Przysiecki (USA)

3rd. Gainfranco Preverino (Italy)

awards to Francis Menotti, John van der Put and Troy Von Scheibner.

Opus Predicts The Winners...

2007-11-25T10:58:00.001Z

Opus Predicts the judges awards will be as follows.

1st. Patrick Previno.
2nd. Satoru
3rd. Jerome Bourgeon

Awards to Lior Manor, Gianfranco Preverino and Francis Menotti.

The Opus Winners...

2007-11-25T10:44:00.000Z

If Opus was the sole judge the winners would be as follows...

1st. Satoru
2nd. John van der Put
3rd. Gianfranco Preverino
Awards to Jerome Bourgeon, Troy Von Scheibner and Francis Menotti with a special award to Patrick Prysiecki as the act most likely to win a magic competition

The COMPETITION (Acts below in reverse order...)

2007-11-24T13:55:00.001Z

Jon Gordon from the UK...

2007-11-24T13:55:00.000Z

Standing... no table... coin in glass... a trick with a piece of cord and spectator's ring. A gentle manner and style but I doubt he will be a prize winner.

Francis Menotti from the USA...

2007-11-24T13:41:00.000Z

Smoothly and confidently explains why he is so casually dressed... his luggage has been lost by the airline... as he shuffles the cards his words get (fluently) out of order. Brilliantly done. It's half way through his act and I feel a prize winner coming up.

He moves on to coin magic, again great patter re "nothing" of various sizes. Well mannered and good audience handling. I feel Francis and this act deserve a livelier audience... I would give him something...

Troy Von Scheibner from England...

2007-11-24T13:25:00.000Z

Young (18), cool, black, funny and talented.
A coin trick in the style of Michael Jackson...
A rope trick in the style of a Bolloywood star...
A Gung Foo fighter piece...
A card trick with charm and humour...

Unhoned but with huge prospects.

Remember the name....

Gianfranco Preverino from Italy...

2007-11-24T13:05:00.001Z

Smooth, Italian accent...cool...
Printed faces and backs on a blank pack and changed the deck colour and the box colour too.
Wins loads of Brownie points by doing one of JJ's favourite rountines "Roll Over Aces." Doesn't use JJ's clumsy style, chooses very smooth handling style instead! Great dealing dem... a touch theatrical but hey... he's Italian. Should win something in my opinion.

Patrick Przysiecki from the USA...

2007-11-24T13:05:00.000Z

Confident, professional, sharp competition act with gags and a globe "theme." Another act to lose Opus "Brownie" points, this one by doing the shell game to rhyming (can't spelt it) patter but judges without my prejudices will give this act an award...

Lior Manor from Israel...

2007-11-24T12:35:00.000Z

Very good start with an hilarious explanation for his "poor" English. Several "in" magician jokes which always go down well at these sort of events. He did a Nap Hand type routine with giant cards and even a mentalist routine with a laptop which included the first "Knob Gag" of the convention! Patchy but I've seen acts like this come away with something...

Alex Moffat...another from the Southport contest...

2007-11-24T12:11:00.001Z

I liked this guy's style at Southport and in my room he missed his toppit with a pack and still continued... quiet and easy going he snuck in a broken and restored pair of (spectators) glasses in between card work (including flashiness.) Sadly he lost quite a few Brownie points with me when he used the "I usually get a round of applause here" line as he did some Lennert Green style dealing... this audience didn't fall for that one. But, despite quite a lot of "fiddling about" not all bad.

Shorty from Switzerland...

2007-11-24T12:11:00.000Z

I can save having to write anything harsh here by saying that this street style clown act with a dustbin on stage simply isn't a close-up and therefore shouldn't win anything.

Peter McLanachan from Scotland does card tricks...

2007-11-24T11:59:00.000Z

When Peter competed in Southport he had a misfortune in the room I saw him in but no such trouble here. Card magic at a technical level beyond me with no flashiness. He is a friend so I would love him to be a prize winner but I fear he might not be...

Satoru...simply sensational...

2007-11-24T11:29:00.000Z

I love it when there is an embarrassed and uncomfortable silence in an audience while a totally unknown artist starts work and the people aren't sure whether it's going to be good or awful and then they slowly realise it going to be great.

Satoru from Japan warmed and then lit up this audience with his delightful personality, his fresh approach and some very funny and entertaining magic. My current winner...

John van der Put...

2007-11-24T10:58:00.002Z

Slowly becoming an Opus favourite.

He has cut his hair. He did a sponge rabbit routine. He did a card restoration (to taped music). He did a multi card selection with a variety of revelations and a great bit with a video screen. It doesn't read much but every thing was done with gags and "impromptu" asides that just appeal to my sense of humour. He would win something if I was the only judge...

Kolos Tarkanyi from Poland maintains the standard...

2007-11-24T10:58:00.001Z

Kolos did good card magic, spoke good English and had a pleasant personality. He too used taped music to add production value to a solid act. Sticking my neck out I predict he is'nt a prize winner though...

Jerome Bourgeon from France opens the competition...

2007-11-24T10:58:00.000Z

Jerome from France opened the contest with a character based performance of the cups and balls using a taped commentary (with music at one point). I think it will be a good level this year. It's hard to get much response from this audience at this time of day with the cups and balls but Jerome got strong applause at the end. He has put in a lot of work.

Editor's Meeting...

2007-11-24T09:09:00.003Z

Editor of Abra, the World's Only Magic Weekly, Walt Less joins the Opus Team in discussing the bloody suscribers!

Atmosphere...

2007-11-24T09:09:00.002Z

John Lenahan and Andy "Diamond Geezer" Nyman sort out some troubles of the world.

The Boys (Group One)

Anthony Owen proves it wasn't luck..

2007-11-24T09:09:00.001Z

Anthony Owen repeated his success at the Magic Live convention here at the International Magic Weekend.

Tilted towards the mentalist, but including material for the close up people, Anthony professionally and entertainly demonstated how to give a lecture to magicians. If, like me, you enjoy watching an experienced performer who knows exactly what he is doing and why, you got it with this lecture. If you want to learn strong effects that are not too difficult to do, you got it here and if you wanted to buy tricks, dvds or books you could do it here too. Excellent stuff...

Nothing Unexpected From Guy Hollingworth

2007-11-24T08:27:00.000Z

Friend of Opus, the learned one, Guy Hollingworth opened the 36th International Magic Weekend with his unique, one man show "Expert at the Card Table."

No surprises for me in this performance.

Over the years I have seen Guy perform many times so I expected him to be calmly and assuredly brilliant and he was. More than that there were moments of comedy, dramatic tension and release which not only drew you into the tale he told but also demonstrated just how much work he had put into the production of this play.

Using the enthralling tale of SW Erdnase and ES Andrews Guy performed a series of routines and demonstrations of cheating techniques with a pack of cards. Any layperson (for whom this play is designed), and, I suspect a considerable percentage of magicians, will be completed stunned by the effects and techniques on display in this excellent production.

As they say "Extremely Highly Recommended."

I believe Guy will be performing this play at The Chocolate Factory. Details to follow...

It All Starts This Evening

2007-11-23T13:34:00.002Z

The International Magic weekend starts this evening in the Novhotel at 7.30.

My day started at the Cally Cafe.

Brothers in Leather Lane

2007-11-23T13:34:00.001Z

If you want a quick bite while visiting the International Magic Studio Opus recommends Brothers Restaurant.

Smooth Trip Part Two

2007-11-23T13:34:00.000Z

The smoothness of my trip continued at Stansted. The plane touched down twenty minutes early at 11.20am. I was first off the aircraft having sat in the front row and been able to stretch out my legs fully.

Just as I got to the crowd of people queuing up at passport control they opened a new line and waved me forward and straight to the window! Then my bag was sixth or seventh on the carousel.

I tell you all I double checked my watch and I was on the Stansted Express to London at five minutes to twelve. Magic!

I dropped in at the International Magic Studio to say hello and then went for lunch.

International Weekend Starts Here

2007-11-22T08:49:00.000Z

What a superb start to the weekend.

I arrive at the ultra modern Porto airport to check in almost instantly, travel smoothly through security with really pleasant staff (unlike Gatwick), get to the gate and find free internet access.

Strangely this is by cable and the one cable I don't have with me is that one.

Never mind, I have my own connection (as long as I am in Portugal...)

I am really excited at the prospect of a great convention...

JJ Confesses...

2007-11-15T18:38:00.000Z

Having just spent a couple of weeks putting large piles of magic magazines in order and listing both the missing ones and the duplicates, I feel a little depressed at discovering how little I know about the history of magic.

Of course my excuse has always been (and still is) that I am only really interested in the performance of magic but I do realise that is a bit of a cop out.

Working through the first hundred volumes of Abracadabra magazine I found myself dipping into various issues really to see if there is anything in there about me or my friends but often finding myself drawn into the discussions and arguments of the day.

I was amused to find Ali Bongo referring to a young John Fisher as a “magical leech” at the height of an “exposure” argument and reading all the letters from magicians condemning Mr Fisher for his programme(s). I don’t recall any of the letter writers appearing on the Paul Daniels Magic Show many years later!

It is also pretty embarrassing to discover my ignorance runs into my opinion of performers as well.
While at Magic Live this July I had the great pleasure of watching Antony Owen present a lecture.

Now up until then, apart from meeting Antony many times socially, I had always judged his performance of magic on the short bits I had seen him do many years ago. Keen and competent but young and a little loud. I mean, he was a demonstrator at Hamleys toy shop for goodness sake…

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since those days and at Las Vegas, after his ingenious and excellently presented lecture/performance, it gave me great pleasure to apologise to him for my ignorant, inappropriate opinion of his performing ability formed so many years ago. (Even though I am not aware of him knowing anything about it.)

Bearing this in mind, when I saw an article about him in the Magic Circular, I took time out to read it.
I was/am impressed (and not just because of the sale of Objective Productions!!!)

Now I will check him out again as he lectures at the up and coming International Weekend. I will be watching through a different set of spectacles.

Of course I also realise that, having been forced to review my opinion of Antony, there must be a whole load of other people I must check out again…

Incidentally, once I have got permission from Opus partner and art director Chris Power, I will be posting up all the magazines we are looking for to complete the collection and also a list of our duplicates in case they are of use to you…

A Corporate Day Out (from the library)

2007-11-07T14:33:00.001Z

Up at eight am for a nine o’clock start to Lisbon for a corporate show tonight. Four of us travel down by people carrier, two have gone ahead in the truck which carries the props while the stage and lighting guys travel in another truck. At first I thought it was going to be a small scale show but things have changed and actually it is going to include several of the many illusions in Luis’s repertoire. One of these is the Smoke Chamber Production and this is one of the few props that I know how to assemble. That is what I do when we arrive.

We are working with a major corporate catering company, one that we have worked for many times before. I always prefer it when we know the people (and in this case the venue) we are working with (and in.)

It is great watching the Team go about their business. It has all been done many times before and each member gets on with his or her own bit of the set up. The longest time of all is spent setting the lights.

By half past four most of the preparation has been done. There are odds and ends to complete but everyone is pretty relaxed.

Our part in the evening is due to start at ten o’clock so it comes as a little shock when at twenty past eight we learn that everything has been moved forward an hour, especially as three of us are in a restaurant in the Vasco da Gama shopping centre a little walk away from the venue. No problem. I don’t have anything to do in this show so the other two (younger and fitter) guys rush back and I eventually join them in plenty of time for the off.

In then end, the dinner takes so long to serve that the show actually starts half an hour later than the original start time…such is the way of the corporate world.

Once underway, everything went according to plan. I was a little surprised to find that Luis was working in English and wasn’t getting the response I was used to in some of his patter pieces and I started to speculate that maybe the audience were mostly foreign and thus Luis didn’t have the “star” appeal that is normal in Portugal. Wrong (as usual)! He was asked to present the show in English by one of the bosses who wanted to show consideration to a visiting (and I guess, bigger) boss who spoke English. The fact that the vast majority of the audience didn’t fully understand what was being said didn’t seem to be of concern to the decision taker. Such is the way of the corporate world…

Anyhow the whole thing went well and a smooth strip down and packing of all the props saw us all back in the (very nice) hotel by 3.30am.
Using a small video camera and a big screen card manipulations are visible to large audiences and surely one of the best ever versions of sawing through...

The International Magic Weekend approaches...

2007-10-23T18:04:00.000Z

JJ thanks Ryan Air who have agreed to fly him from the library project he is working on in Portugal to London and back for the International Magic weekend starting on Nov 25. For this trip they have charged him ony two euros more for his ticket than for the one for his bag.

The convention looks to be even more star studded than usual and will give him a chance of having an English breakfast with Mahka Tendo rather than a continental one he suffered last time.

Guy Hollingworth will present his one man show as seen at Edinburgh a few years ago, Dynamo will strutt his stuff and Antony Owen (last seen at MagicLive in Vegas) will do his lecture. These events all come highly recommended by Opus Magazine.

With new found technology Opus hopes to post up stuff almost as it happens but then you have all heard that one before haven't you.

Just watch this space...

The Sico Festival of Street Magic.

2007-10-02T12:36:00.000Z

In early September, in the north central region of Portugal, the cultural office of a collection of local authorities put on a festival of street magic. This group of councils is known as Sico.

The Festival itself was organised by LMP Lda, the same production company that puts on shows and events all over Portugal and Spain and also produces television shows involving the celebrity magician Luis de Matos.

It was an ambitious programme that involved performances in sixty four different locations around the area. This meant that the performers had to do five shows a day for three days, each show in a different place!

Each of the local councils were offered a number of performances and they then decided where each performance would be located. This led to some very interesting locations including the side of an stunningly beautiful outdoor swimming pool and the steps of a church miles from anywhere.

I (JJ) was one of the five performers. I have already done many performances in other street festivals in Portugal and Spain but this one was different. The other performances have all been in sizeable cities such as Salamanca, Coimbra, Sintra, Lisbon and Zamora but here you were performing in much smaller towns and, in some cases, villages. While in the cities the passers by who stop and watch take it in their stride as another event in their area, in the villages of the Sico Festival it was often a unique event and, in many cases, the whole population turned up to see what was happening.

Couple this with the fact that at Sico you were the only performer in a show whereas in the other Festivals you shared the show with other magicians and only had a limited time to perform and you ended up with some very special experiences as a street performer.

Despite having to do five shows a day I ended up doing around forty to fifty minutes a show. The gasps of surprise at effects from people who have probably never ever seen anything like it before live was uplifting. None of the off hand comments such as "That's no bad" that I have experienced when churning out my close up efforts at another corporate do at the Brewery. Oh no. Here I got powerful reactions of surprise, laughter and happiness! I had a great (but exhausting) time.

Each of the artists had their own dedicated driver and assistant who, armed with the artist's own sat. nav. system with their show locations logged in, drove the performers from location to location. No one missed a single show (although there were some near misses!)

When planning the festival the politicians and local sponsors made estimates of the number of people who watch the events. They estimated wrong! Each show was photographed and records kept of the number of spectators. In the final report of the organisers to the bookers it will be recorded that over ten thousand people watched the shows. Not bad for a first time Festival and word is that the people who booked it are so delighted with the response that they want to extend the Festival past the two years that are already in the diary and increase the number of performers and shows in the future.

A Thought for the Day...

2007-09-29T11:10:00.000Z

It is not the fact that you have been on national television that counts.

What counts is who saw you...

Brick Upon Brick The Wall is Being Built...

2007-09-28T12:40:00.000Z

Some of our esteemed readers might have noticed that the frequency of the posts to the Opus site rather depends on the internet access that the editor and co-owner JJ has at the time.

Opus is now delighted to announce that following a series of festivals for which he was paid more than he is worth JJ has finally decided to invest some cash in his internet access.

As from today and for at least a year he has direct broadband access to the internet in the back (or front) of his Wagon (or anywhere else in Portugal he might be at the time...)

Anyone who knows him well will realise that this technological breakthrough has made him as happy as a dog with three tails and a lot of sausages to eat...

More soon but a celebratory drink is called for...

Will They Let Him Out?

2007-09-23T01:26:00.000Z

A rare performing venue... JJ in Coimbra's high security prison....

A very appreciative audience...

(photos by Paulo Abrantes and published with permission of Luis de Matos Productions LDA.)

Get Out of Jail Free...

2007-09-21T18:02:00.000Z

Well, I was involved in three shows today. Two were on the street but one was in the high security prison here in Coimbra.

It was a strange feeling entering the prison, being searched by the guards and having all those doors locked behind you after you have passed through them.

It is all part of the Festival that is partially sponsored by the City and in return, the Festival organisers make sure that the entertainment reaches as many of the locals as possible. Hence the street shows, the hospital shows and the one in the prison. On Sunday all the street acts do their stuff in the final show on a grassed area on the edge of town when people of all ages gather from all the apartments nearby.

The prison show went really well (indeed the audience gave us a standing ovation) and you definitely felt that the reponse was much stronger than usual. In order to qualify to watch the show the inmates had to put in a sustained period of good behaviour otherwise they were banned from watching.

Mago Dabo from Argentina had a very funny spot of bother as he went into the watch steal with two volunteers! One knew nothing and his watch was duly placed secretly in the top hat on Dabo's table but when he went for the second one the "victim" felt something was up and let it be known. This brought a huge laugh from the audience, some of whom might well have been caught stealing watches themselves in their younger days!

A warm response from the audience didn't actually ease my reaction when, after the show, I learnt that one of my helpers was in there for pouring petrol over his former girlfriend and setting fire to her... scary stuff. (She survived...)

I hope there will be pictures to follow...

Day Four of this Year's Encontros Magicos Festival...

2007-09-21T11:26:00.000Z

Things are settling down now and Day Four starts, obviously, with breakfast...

...not every day that I dine with such stars as Antonio, Kevin James and Mahka Tendo.

The back stage preparation area for the early morning (10.30am!) show...

...with Malin Nilsson...

...and Jean Phillippe...

...and Nick Nickolas...

...with Lennert Green watching on.

...and Jean Phillippe gathers the crowd.

At three o'clock this afternoon we go to the high security prison and do as show for the inmates.

The Stars of Encontros Magicos 2007...

2007-09-19T23:19:00.000Z

The participants in the six day Festival of Magic this year are...

Kevin James from the USA, Brando and Silvana from Argentina, JJ from Europe, Marka Tendo from Japan, Mago Daba from Argentina, Malin Nilsson from Sweden, Jean Philippe Atchoum from France, Lennert Green from Sweden, Bob Sheets from the USA and Nick Nickolas from Australia.

The Festival includes street shows, hospital shows, a show in the local prison and two grand Gala shows in the Teatro Academico Gil Vincente on Friday and Saturday night.

Encontros Magicos (Magical Gathering) in Coimbra, Portugal.

2007-09-19T23:00:00.000Z

Lunch not breakfast...

Nick Nickolas from Australia via New Zealand via Woolwich strutts his stuff...

Jean Phillippe from France via Spain gathers a crowd...

The stars of magic gather for the six day Festival... Opus's favourite manipulator Mahka Tendo with "Japanese Technology"...

Sonia and Patricia check JJ into his favourite hotel... Hotel Astoria in Coimbra where he has his "usual room" 209...

Shiv Duggal brings the sunglasses JJ left in his car on the way back from Southport to the cab he is in on the way back to Portugal...

The Boys (Chris and Bill the Cab) deliver JJ to Victoria Station for the Gatwick Express...

The World Champion in a Different Mode...

2007-09-19T14:11:00.000Z

Lennert Green is in Coimbra taking part in the Encontros Magicos Festival of Magic.

Opus caught him playing with an interesting box...

Some of the Summing Up of Southport

2007-09-18T22:03:00.000Z

High Spots…

Johnny Thompson’s lecture with anecdotes.

Johnny Thompson’s performance with anecdotes in the Late Night Magic spot.

Bill Malone’s lecture and performances.

Paul Zenon’s spot on the Gala Show.

David Williamson’s Lecture.

The two juggling barmen despite being rather too long.

Everything done by Lennert Green.

Low Points

Gaeton Bloom wasting six minutes of a man's life by having him stand on stage winding a handle of a "thing" for no reason what so ever during his "Salad" card trick.

Ben Stone knocking JJ out of the IBM Poker Championship by pure luck!