Roy Visits Las Vegas and Havana. Roy Horn made a rare public appearance on the Las Vegas Strip on Tuesday night, signaling thumbs-up from his wheelchair at a Cuban revue he and partner Siegfried Fischbacher are co-producing. “He stayed for the whole show and loved it,” Dave Kirvin, a spokesman for Siegfried & Roy said Wednesday, adding that Horn met with “Havana Night Club” cast members after the Tuesday night performance.
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Siegfried & Roy Refuse to Give Up Tape. Despite two subpoenas from federal authorities, the company behind the Siegfried & Roy Las Vegas magic show has refused to turn over video of last year’s tiger attack on illusionist Roy Horn.
In an investigation into the incident, where Horn was mauled by a 300-pound tiger during an Oct. 3 live performance at The Mirage hotel-casino, the U.S. Department of Agriculture attempted to obtain video of the show under the federal Animal Welfare Act to see if there were possible violations of the act.
Feld Entertainment, however, would not hand over the footage, a USDA source familiar with the case told AP. USDA spokesman Jim Rogers said Tuesday from Washington D.C. that the probe into the tiger attack remains open and if violations did occur, the USDA can take action against violators, imposing fines and suspending or revoking licenses.
The Magic Live Seminar continues to amaze and intrigue.I have sheets and sheets of notes to relate to the computerized version of publication to share with you.I want to tell you about Chase and Shelly Wolf and their incredible success here in the real world of retail magic marketing.I want to make sure you know how amazing I find Meir Yedid.It is important, nay, significant, to show you what I have seen in the Sterlini Magic booth.
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Silly Billy: One Funny Guy
It is ironic that just a week ago I was writing about David Kaye, A/K/A, Silly Billy and how he has to shake loose of the perception and prejudice that may associate with the horrible convictions against his family, and now I write about him again with tremendous praise.
Mr. Kaye took on the task as emcee the morning session on Tuesday at the Magic Live seminar.I have often imagined that he was far better than his lectures would indicate.If you have seen him lecture, he seems so business like and almost nervous in his incredible adherence to the lecture notes and structure.When you get him in a relaxed situation ? such as a kid?s show or a break-out group ? he becomes a different person: gone is the stiff lecturer and found is the easy going man with incredible training in making a real living at performing for kids.
He provided tremendous insight on how to manage kids in shows for kids.He had some great lines for that awkward moment when you… Continue reading Magic Live Update No. 6
I am an incredibly insecure performer.When I am on stage, I am very secure, but when I a see other magicians, I do not want to admit that they are better or funnier than I am.I suck ? I admit it.But I suck less than others do ? that?s my sad solace.
I had no desire to see Chris Kenner because I am so vain and so egocentric that I knew it would only bother me to see someone more creative and more funny than I could ever hope to be.I went to see his lecture, however, only because I liked the title: How to Be Creative.I have not been creative since I did my taxes last year.I have not a creative bone in my body ? even when eating chicken or fish.I needed this lecture.
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Mr. Kenner began with a performance of his show as he would normally perform it for audiences.I was blown away.This man, this mere mortal, was truly creative and truly funny.He was in control while seeming to be out of control.He was funny when his act would require him to be funny and magical throughout.He is as good as you and I have heard.
Damn.
His act was great.He did three effects and each was new and entertaining.The secret behind each of the three incredibly original effects was that he was using a principle or trick previously done but interpreted in a different manner.
Shelly and Chance Wolf have been two of my favorite people in magic for years and yet I never met them or spoke with them.I had read a notice on some bulletin board back a few years ago saying that Wolf Productions was going to break from Collector?s Workshop to distribute its innovative magic through Hocus-Pocus magic.
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I didn?t understand why someone would want to move from either of the two companies to the other.I wrote to Chance Wolf and asked him about the story.As I tried to learn more about his business and his approach to the marketing of magic, I learned he and his partner Shelly were unique in our business.
Purely by chance, I had lucked upon a connection with genius.Shelly provided the marketing and business side and Chance offered the creative genius we come to expect from some one involved in graphic arts and comics.But they were a small company with big hopes.So many of their ilk had failed in the past and not for lack of trying.There didn?t seem to be much reason to believe their dreams would come true when others had their dreams dashed on the rocks of economic reality.
It was such a great treat, then, to see Wolf Productions fully engaged in the dealers? room at the Magic Live headquarters.They had a great crowd ? so great, in fact, that I came by a couple of times just to find my window in the crowds to see them.
Day One of the Magic Live is in the books. It would have to be a big series of books because this was one jam-packed day.
First, let me tell you that it is about 212 degrees Fahrenheit (a 12 degrees Centigrade (I think you just drop the first number to convert from Fahrenheit to Centigrade)) here in Las Vegas.I am carrying my mobile satellite hook-up so I can update the web when possible and it gets heavy in the mid-day sun. So, I may seem delirious in my reporting and I hope you will understand. In an effort to be environmentally aware, I have refused to take any cars or taxis on the 12 mile trek from my hotel on the strip to the home of Magic Live, the Orleans hotel.
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My delirium hit an all-time high as I stumbled into the Orleans hotel and made my way up to the conference center and almost ran into Penn Jillette. I apparently did not expect to see anyone standing directly in front of me and certainly not the seven foot something Penn. I was shocked into reality and narrowly missed smacking my sweaty head into his stomach. I am so thankful that I did not have my perspiring skull slap up against his tummy ? I think I would need therapy to stop the screaming during my sleep.
Mac King interviewed Penn & Teller during the 2:30 to 4:30 session and it was an incredible event.There had been a warning issued that the material might be spicy or could be offensive ? which only brought more folks into the meeting area ? and Penn said he thought the warning was unnecessary, after all, ?it?s not like I am going to say ?F?K!? in my first sentence.? So that was how it started: salty language, great stories and straight talk.
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