Archive for April, 2005

Spartan Students Swear Secrecy for Shakespeare Show

Scot Author Liz Lochhead – Keeps Magic Secret

The Grand Rapids Press reports this morning even children know how to keep magic secrets secret.

The Sparta Middle School spring play, Magic Island, featured several magic tricks and illusions borrowed or made with the assistance of magicians.

They were sworn to secrecy and for the most part, they kept their promise. Even under threat of causing severe mental distress to friends and loved-ones:

“I had friends come up to me in school telling me that they were going to have nightmares if I didn’t tell them how some of the tricks were done,” said Chelsea McKinley, 14, who got stuck in the box used to saw a lady in half when she first started rehearsals.

Ms. McKinley was close to blowing the cover — after all, no one wants to be the cause of another’s nightmare. “I even got a little scared — but I still wouldn’t tell them.”

The tricks were so secret even the directors were initially in the dark. The school ordered the script to Magic Island but learned the publisher did not include the secrets for the effects the script required.

The directors were forced to buy the instructions and building plans from a magic supply company. The parents helped to build the illusions in time for rehearsal. Still, all admitted it was unnerving to push a sword into a box holding a fellow student.

The parents deviated from the plans only to make the props sturdier and “save for the kids.” But in a call for authenticity, the students rejected using fake swords or saws. The directors petitioned the School Superintendent to use real swords and real saws.

What can they do with the effects, the very sturdy and safe effects, now that the show is complete? The cast and crew are willing to sell the illusions and invites magicians to call if interested. If you’re interested, call (616) 877-8211 and ask for David Oudbier.

Remember, though, there is no chance you will receive the instructions prior to payment and delivery.
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Doc Eason Honored at Castle Awards

Doc Eason

The 37th Annual Magic Castle awards show celebrates the incredible talent performing within the clubhouse of The Academy of Magical Arts. Uniformly, those who have appeared at the Magic Castle note the honor is inversely correlated with the pay; but no one is doing it for the money.

Performing among the world’s best in our art, not only hones skills and encourages innovation, it also brings notice and job opportunities.

The Academy’s yearly awards show, then, features the best of the best in our business for their performances in a venue known for demanding perfect skills, new effects, cutting-edge execution, and the polish expected from the top acts of any performing arts.

Doc Eason’s win in the category of Best Bar Magician (a new category) put him up against several significant competitors who perform in the historic WC Fields Magic Bar downstairs at the Magic Castle.

Mr. Eason was instrumental in establishing the WC Fields bar located in the Inner Circle of the Magic Castle as a performing venue, mostly on the strength of his formidable credential of being the resident magician at the Tower Magic Bar in Snowmass Village, CO since 1977.

[Check out the very neat article from the Aspen Times about Mr. Eason, his history at the famous Tower Bar in Snowmass, and his award].

Even the presentation of the award to Mr. Eason was special. WC Fields’ grandson, Everett is a retired local judge and representative of his grandfather’s considerable impact on the performing arts. Mr. Eason joins the select rank of magicians recognized as the best of the best and the first person in history to receive this particular award.

Mr. Eason was surprised and humbled by the significance of the award. He told the audience of his peers,

“I am humbled by this award from my fellow magicians. When I first watched magic at the Tower 28 years ago and was ‘bitten by the magic bug’, receiving such an award was not even on my radar screen. In a way I feel this award is as much recognition of all these years at the Tower as for my appearances at the Magic Castle.”

Mr. Eason’s website is one of our favorites.  You will lose much time out of your day if you start to look around.  He has great jokes, fantastic products, and of course his innovative insights.  This man knows what he is doing and we are lucky to have someone of his stature and experience so accessible. 

Congratulations Doc.

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Bryan Lizotte Bucks Trend – Sets Up Brick & Mortar Store

Michele & Bryan with Mayor Mark lauretti

Some would start with Bryan Lizotte’s observation and act in a completely opposite manner. Mr. Lizotte was recently featured in The Connecticut Post Online because his reaction was so contrary to the current trend. The veteran professional magician noted there were no magic shops in his region — Shelton, CT.

Of course not, the savvy but cynical amongst us would grumble. That’s why you shouldn’t open one either. The argument makes sense. Brick and Mortar magic stores are often associated with “going out of business” banners and over-due high-interest loans. Anyone with common sense knows the Internet has stolen the market from fixed operations and their accompanying fixed costs and overhead.

Mr. Lizotte told the reporter his observation logically led him to the conclusion he should open a magic store and thus corner the market.

So, last Saturday, Mr. Lizotte celebrated the grand opening for his shop, Lizotte’s Magic and Toy Shop at 165 Center St. in Shelton.

His act is not a blithe plunge towards bankruptcy. He knows what he is doing. Five years ago, Mr. Lizotte co-owned the See-More Magic Shop. The store closed because he and his partner were unable to spend enough time on location. But the magic store concept remained alive — it was in the business equivalent of a drug-induced coma to sustain life but little more.

Mr. Lizotte brought the inventory to his home, his garage, and continued in his position of magic store owner. He serviced his friends in the magic community looking for the latest effect or essential supplies. By doing so, he had a chance to keep current with the ever-changing trends in our art; as well as maintain relationships with his future customers.

As his new store’s name suggests, Mr. Lizotte will hedge his bet by selling toys along side of magic paraphernalia. Only magic shop owners could think toys would provide a stable revenue stream to support magic sales. Most toy shops are facing inglorious closure on pace with magic shops. It is instructive to see Toys ‘R Us enter bankruptcy when all agreed it had the best business model (and economies of scale) in the toy business.

Mr. Lizotte will continue to perform to supplement his income and knowledge of “what appeals to people.” His experience as a performer and sales person give him confidence he will choose the right inventory to both encourage and profit from budding magicians.

Mr. and Mrs. Lizotte are expecting their first child this October and so the stakes are raised even more. “The Lizottes rent their store with their savings, a little credit and keep up with their other jobs. Michele Lizotte works at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury; Bryan Lizotte works as a magician and a real estate agent.”

The shop is designed to foster an atmosphere of fun and teaching. The front half houses the toys and games. The back half of the store is a place…
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