This week I performed my Murder By Magic Show again. The concept was designed by Cris Johnson, and without a doubt the best investment I've ever made regards a 'business' type package. I'm not sure if Cris is still selling these (check out www.hocus-pocus.com), but I do know if you can get a copy either from the team at Hocus-Pocus or Cris himself then it is well worth it. It is a really great concept for corporate shows and certainly something very different. You could perform it exactly as Cris has done, and as it is in the script - or you could easily adapt it. The concept itself if genius and the corporate clients love it. I can't wait for Cris to release another one.

I also had fun designing a few new posters this week. Some of them are 'arty' and some are pretty simple - but still it was fun. I'm busy working on a few new concepts for shows and needed some promo material. Thank goodness for Photoshop.

I've also teamed up with a well known UK mentalist and together we are going to re-lease a brand new series of effects from his professional career. I've seen all of them re video and each one is extremely strong. We have several we are planing on releasing at this stage and I'm really excited. He is an actor/mentalist in the UK and his work is very original. While his style is comedy the effects will play well for all types of performers. The series we will call the Pro-Mentalism Stand-Up series. One of the main concerns of releasing things on DVD these days is pirating. I get asked so many times if my books are out as PDFs, and again because people pirate things I have not released them as PDFs. The same with DVDs. Too many people making copies. So - we are releasing each effect as a book with performances only on DVD, plus in some cases props if needed. it's the only way to combat those who want to cheat and steal. I actually also feel it make it a little more exclusive if it's a book, as everybody won't own it.  What I love about this series is that the material has been in his professional act for many many years and gone through stages of getting it to where it's 100% commercial. 

NZ MAGIC CONVENTION

Don't forget if you find yourself with a spare weekend in October and feel like a trip to New Zealand, the 31st International magic Convention is taking place in Christchurch. One of the nice things about a NZ convention is that they aren't too big. There are usually between 125-150 people which is a really nice size, where you can meet and hang out with everybody. I don't have anything to do with it myself, other than they have asked me to design the program and tickets for the shows. 

There is a real variety of performers coming from Spain, USA, Canada and the UK. Many magician from Australia make the trip over so it's always a fun time.

For more information you can contact Alan Watson at alan@watson.co.nz

HOT PICKS FROM www.Hocus-Pocus.com

Peter Lougrhan presents Fenced In Illusion by James Wiggs & Scott Emo *

I really like this. It's a very different kind of 'walking through' style illusion that I think is much stronger than a lot of other methods out there. This doesn't use the over-used third hand gimmick. It's well built and will really fool your audience.  it fits in to my 'pack small and play big' category that I like so much because of the travel that I do. 

Peter Lougrhan is proud to present a brand new illusion from the creative minds of James Wiggs and Scott Emo called Fenced In! There have been many 'Walkthrough" illusions in the history of magic, but never one as baffling and impossible as this! You won't believe your eyes.

Effect: The performer introduces 2 assistants that are each holding a solid staff with a series of bungee cords fastened between them. When pulled apart they make a fence or barrier that would be impossible for the performer to pass through. The performer stands behind this barrier, pulls up a cloth in front of him briefly and then lowers it showing he has melted from one side of the bungee cords to the other, giving new meaning to phrase 'Bungee Jumper'! You have to see it to believe it!

This can be done in a living room or on the biggest stage, and uses NO FAKE HANDS, or third hand gimmicks! This method is so clever it fools magicians too! It can be learned in minutes, and while your assistants will know how the secret of this baffling illusion works, if you don't use assistants then you can easily show any two people, at any show, in just a few minutes to help you with the illusion. It packs small, yet plays like a large stage illusion at a fraction of the price. It is built to last you forever and will baffle any audience guaranteed!

Features:
Packs small
Plays big
New original method
Easy to do
learn it in minutes
Very affordable
Impossible and Baffling
James Wiggs and Scott Emo's Fenced In Illusion comes complete with everything ready to go out of the package including the Fenced In barrier shafts with bungee cords, professionally made illusion drape with rod, and instructions.

Please note, there may be limited stock on this product at any given time, so in some cases please allow up to 7 - 10 business days for us to ship your order in these instances.

Antique Haunted Timber by Dave Powell - IN STOCK

Dave Powell is known for producing really good looking wooden props, and this Haunted Block really is a great looking prop. It has the feel of an old style block of wood, which really lends itself well to story ideas and presentations around the age of the block and where it came from. I love this type of magic as it's kind of spooky but very visual. There is an anticipation as the block falls over.

Add Robert Harbin's classic telekinetic Tippler to your act with the beautiful Antique Haunted Timber!

The magician displays a beautiful old block of wood. He tells a story about how years ago, a wealthy developer cut down the world's oldest oak tree. But first, a witch cursed the ground where the tree grew and all of the wood taken from the forest.

The townspeople claimed spirits inhabited the wood, causing it to shake, rattle, and move on its own. It was impossible to build anything out of the timber, as it would just crumble to the ground. They were eager to destroy the cursed wood, yet by an incredible twist of fate, this block survived.

The story sounds unbelievable, but some legends are easy to prove. The magician balances the block on top of a bottle and calls to the witch. Bam! The block leaps off the bottle and falls loudly onto the table. The magician leans the block against the bottle at a steep angle. Suddenly, the block stands up on its own! Then SLAMS against the table with a loud bang! The spirits have arrived... or perhaps they never left.

* Self-working! Self-contained!

* No wires, threads, or magnets!

* Made of fine oak for years of magic!

* Hand-distressed for a realistic aged look!

Based on Robert Harbin's original routine and prop, the Antique Haunted Timber is a block of fine oak hardwood, 9 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches. The block is hand-distressed, aged through a series of seven re-working procedures for an authentic-looking "cursed block."

There are very few magic tricks available today with such deep impact as this frightening demonstration. Your audience will be scared and amazed in a way only the Antique Haunted Timber can deliver. Play it light if you want, performing it with the story of your choice, or incite the cursed imagery of ancient magic