Sad Contrast for Season

The Pittsburgh Post-Dispatch
is reporting this morning that amateur magician James Miller was beaten
to death by two men after watching a football game at a local
restaurant.


Miller had finished watching the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to the news reports, the two men bragged that they had ?finished the fight.?


Our prayers are with Mr. Miller?s family and friends on this day.

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Funny Tummy Time

Nervous, Not Much

I promised myself a couple of weeks back that I was going to attend the SCAM this year. I’ve heard such great things about it in the past and am very impressed by the folks they have performing and lecturing this year. Fukai will be there as will Trixie Bond and Tom Craven. So far, no problems.

The butterflies come from also promising my self I would enter the Stage/Platform contest. I hope I’m not too late to get on the roster. I’ve been working on a new act and have tried it out a couple of times but I am always anxious about performing in a contest setting. I don’t have much of a problem performing for money or for charity but when I can win or lose, it makes me anxious.

I don’t know if that is a good sign or a bad sign. Maybe I should be more concerned about working for pay or for charity. After all, in those situations, I’m being judged and paid. I’ll know the results of the judging by the shows or lack of shows I receive by word of mouth.

But there is something more nerve-wracking when you are sitting back stage with your fellow magicians — everyone ready after hours of practice — ready to compete.

Who knows, maybe I missed the deadline. I don’t know if that would be a good or bad thing.

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Bill Panoff Performs to Help

Bill Panoff Pulls Cards From Mouth

Bill Panoff brought good cheer and some great tricks to those in attendance at the Caring Kitchen’s annual holiday celebration and even moved the show outside after a power failure within the Kitchen’s building.

The Caring Kitchen provides food, hygiene products, clothing and other necessities to disadvantaged and indigent people in southern Palm BeachCounty, Florida.

Bill’s work in support of the charity is even more important this year; with the economic downturn.

According to the Boca News, “April Hazamy, coordinator for the Caring Kitchen, said donations were down this year, while the need for items was up. Due to the sluggish economy, Hazamy said 20 percent to 25 percent more people sought help from the organization and its parent group, Christians Reaching Out to Society, this year.”

We commend Bill for his time and effort to help others. He exemplifies the best spirit of magic. We’re lucky to have him in our fold.

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Magician Floors his Clients

“Rob the Magician” with his “other” job.

The Budapest Sun
reports today that Rob Fleming – formerly of Canada, Poland and Japan,
has developed a method of advertising that allows images or clients’
messages to be attached to the floor on which they walk.

He has had many jobs in his short 35 year life, but when asked by the
reporter what he considers his occupation to be, he says “Magician.”

The Sun reports, “Fleming still appears regularly at children?s
parties, embassy functions and corporate events, and is constantly
recognized by younger members of the expat community as “Rob the
Magician” – something of which he is very proud.”

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Do Kevin James or Copperfield Know About This?

Found in The Business Journal of Phoenix is a story about a company using a well-loved illusion to bring snow to client sites.

“Originally performed by famed magician David Copperfield, we employ a
stage illusion using a state-of-the-art theatrical technology to
magically produce a realistic snowstorm anywhere,” said Ross Horwitz,
Magic Crafters’ chief executive.” The article claimsthe company has
performed its magic to make it snow over the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Continue reading Do Kevin James or Copperfield Know About This?