Life is Healthy

Just for giggles, I need a laugh.
I know I shouldn't laugh at a fellow magician but this is classic!

If you recall, I did a recent post about a Magic Convention in Blackpool (HERE)
well this is the feedback of that event as posted on Magicweek as I couldn't attend, but thought you too may be interested in how it went.

Wow! This year's Blackpool Convention was really special.
There were just so many talented magicians, in all departments, that many convention goers were rating it as the best Blackpool Convention ever. Highlights for me included the Saturday night $10,000 Intercontinental Stage Magic Championships, which featured outstanding performances from Kyoko (chic and charismatic), Dirk Losander (superb technique), Marc Oberon (stunning UV concepts), and eventual winner Han Seol-Hee whose speed, skill, dexterity and magical showmanship took CD manips to new heights. He possessed fantastic control, captivated the entire audience and was rewarded with a standing ovation and the first prize of $10,000.

In Sunday's International Gala Show Jerome Murat's magical Living Statue act, Tony Chapek's playful interactive television routine and Jeff McBride's superb Miser's Dream, Water Bowls and Card work, totally did it for me... and that was just in the first half!
Korea's An Ha-Lim (cards) and France's Tony Frebourg (diabolos) respectively took the art of card manipulation, and the skills of the diaboloist on to a whole new level. It was a brilliant gala show.

125 magic dealers from all over the world exhibited!

An added pleasure this year was seeing David Blaine, taking some time out from a busy schedule to enjoy the convention too. Despite being virtually mobbed on occasion by groups of camera-wielding magicians he took it all with humour and in his stride. David Blaine gave magic a much needed kick-start into the 21st Century some ten years ago, and 'street magic' (as we now know it) was born.

So it sounds like I missed yet another wonderful event, I do so much miss the Magic scene, but I dont think I will return - just dabble now and then and watch with admiration.

This weekend a wonderful 3 day event is taking place in Blackpool - a MAGIC convention.

Basically this is an opportunity for magicians from all over the world to get together to witness their peers perform and share secrets; which is unusual because as you know the Magic Circle is a very secretive organisation.

Usually when I attend these gatherings there is around 3,000+ members and about 100+ stalls selling all kinds of magic; from actual tricks, props, costumes to memorabilia.

They also have some wonderful workshops where top professionals share their ideas or even their tricks with fellow magicians. (This is also where I fell out with Joe Pasquale over an offhand remark he made to me - but we made up and he's forgiven).

This year performing at the convention is:
Daryl
Eugene Burger
Michael Ammar
Etienne Pradier
Jeff McBride
along with many, many others.

For me it is always a pleasure to perform magic and to watch other performing too, especially the high calibre of magicians they have at this convention. I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing performers and individuals at these events.
My magic highlight would be watching Derren Brown perform twice (not at Blackpool) and later meeting up with him for a chat, which was nice.

This weeks group was very small on 21 people. The weather is starting to turn here in Spain now but this group I must say was a breathe of fresh air!

Very professional on both sides, engaged at every opportunity and really had fun.

It was also nice to see so many familiar faces back to join us - of course this meant for yours truly some extra work to ensure they got to see something new and hopefully interesting and I know they did, so mission accomplished!

I also did a presentation on 'Magic' that seemed to be enjoyed by all, which was nice.
As for the Quemada & karaoke, well the Quemada was actually drinkable - as ALL the alcohol was burnt off (oops; note to self 2 bottles ALWAYS!) Not having the alcohol normally left in the Quemada may of stunted the karaoke, but it didn't, people still found the courage to sing which was great.

For the remainder of the week we had a very focused group which made things move along very nicely, even thought they had repeated early on they still found things to talk about, sadly we were not able to venture to the castle as lack of cars.
The party even though a small affair was enjoyable and photos speak for themselves.
It was a pleasure to met such wonderful people and I look forward to seeing you in the future, you know you will return ;)

Phrase of the week: Is very curious!

Just as normal the photos of the week can be accessed by clicking the photo below

Vaughan Town - Monfrague - Program 129

I may have a new act?

Currently I am learning a few past, present and future telling techniques.
This a new skill I'm currently working on and uses alot of psychology.

I have decided to combine several different ways to offer readings for fun rather than business; draw me a tree, graphology, palm reading, cartology and tarot.

should you be interest too simply click the link below for the BEST resource I have found
http://www.learnpalmistry.biz/

As many of you know and China especially - I was a professional magician for 4 years in the UK and performed all over the place - since then I have mainly been performing here in Spain at Vaughan Town.

The reason I got into magic was David Blaine - not because I wanted to be him, just because I thought "I can do that", and I could.
The person that REALLY inspire me was Derren Brown. I like his genius and cunning (shout out to Andy Nyman; like he's reading this) - so I pursued this avenue and got into magic properly.
However lets not rule out Blaine - now don't get me wrong I am not an avid fan in fact his "stunts" I really don't like or get to be honest - but the personal challenges I do!

So perhaps with this in the back of my mind -

his latest effort, encouraged me to think about my personal challenges, or maybe it is the fact I am yet another year older and not happy with things as they are, mainly my body - 10 years ago I was a capable martial artist who won a bronze medal in the British Open Martial Arts Tournament and now, well lets just say that was 10 years ago!


I have a thing for balance as you will know if you know me, so everything in life should be balanced, good and bad, sweet and sour.
So this is the challenge --> for 30 days I am going to go without - ALCOHOL (of any description), RED MEAT, COFFEE and SWEETS & TREATS; basically I will ONLY drink WATER and eat a more "healthy" diet for the next 30 days and I'll let you know how I'm doing.

Then for the following 30 days this is my opportunity to do something which is new to me - yet to be decided. On my trip back to Madrid Sandra and I had a lot of laughs thinking of some very unusual and funny things I could do.

If you have any challenges I could try let me know and don't forget the balance - 30 days without or not doing something, then 30 days trying or doing something completely different.

Start thinking could your life benefit from change? I'm sure it could ;)

Okay yet another program under my belt, working with Rob has been the usual fun and laughs and again I have thoroughly enjoyed the time and gotten to know (if only briefly) some amazing people. Having said that this week had been especially trying what with personal issues and a few issues with participants; however it all worked out in the end, fortunately.

The weeks seem to go by very quickly, its like Carrie only left a few days ago when it been a week already. Shes now back in the UK planning when to leave and see the rest of the world - London seems to suck you in and refuse to let you go if you let it. Break free and show the world who and what you are.

I on the other hand am here (and loving it) with somewhere to live as of next week; Yeah!

Highlights of the week:
Rob rocking on his guitar,
Participants bonding so quickly made our lives so much easier (well done guys),
Karaoke night; boy that night hurt, but its all practise!
I did some magic never performed live before (scary biscuits!!) but it worked out, yea me!
Party night rocked - I'm still recovering!
The surprise birthday bash for Rob - dude you rock!

After such a varied week I realise there is far more to this job than as an Anglo you appreciate (I say that as having been one), no complaints here just observations. I sincerely hope that yet again the friends we met will make the effort to keep in touch

As usual all photos are posted HERE

and please upload and share the photos that you have so we can all enjoy them too ;)

So this week I'm in Gredos (Avila), shadowing a Master of Ceremonies called ROB. It has been good to see someone elses input into what Vaughan has to offer, I only hope I can live up to it.
It will be interesting because I know we will push each other and hopefully learn so much from each other.

Rob is extremely talented from painting to music and even doing some magic!

He kindly said to me that Tuesday was my day to shine - and boy did I try. First off we had a simple psychological game then a treasure hunt, and what fun it turned out to be. In the evening we had been preparing sketches for the night, and they were so funny!!!!

The Anglos and Spaniards did me proud. I also did something new, I painting a picture, that's all I'll say but the I was very happy with the results and so was the audience and the lady (Giovanni) who posed for me; she kept the painting.

At night I read the Quemada, and drunk plenty too. Then on with the karaoke which was so funny, I sang; well I say sang! Like a Virgin (and why not), I got very merry and had a very good night, although the mornings a bit of a struggle, if you know what I mean, lol!

Arrived to Richard giving his Oscar winning performance of stories that inspire and excite both the Anglos (that’s us) and the Spaniards (that’s them, you with me so far?).

After the chat we were given lunch and a welcome sight it was. We all sat at tables of four, each person sat checking out all those around; the room was full of around 30 strangers and a mix of English and broken English was being spoken.

After lunch was a 1 to 1 with Jose Maria – we walked outside to the town and chatted about this and that – he smiled intently, at which point I said he had no idea what I was talking about and he agreed saying I speak too fast! (its true, but the purpose is to be real English not a watered down version, so a slowed a little and made my choices of words more clear).

After the 1 to 1, I had another meeting where we explored the grounds of the Monastery, it is extremely old (well parts are, it appears to be slowly being rebuilt) a real nice place with a very peaceful atmosphere. Whilst sitting there drinking our cafe con leche (coffee) I start to hear the haunting chanting of monks!!!
The hotel plays the sound of the monks through a speaker system throughout the hotel; at first quite unnerving!

The main thing I love about these programs is you meet all sorts of wonderful people, from all walks of life; professionals, managers, chemists, photographers, authors and media professionals from all different countries; we had Kiwis, Americans, Aussies, Brits, Dutch & Spaniards.

With a mix such as this you always have something to talk about, as for myself, I decided this time I didn’t want to go as a ‘magician’ so left that side of me behind, and I applied other skills and abilities; to be revealed later.

Below are a few pictures from the last Vaughan Town we done in Gredos and the friends we made there. (including where I met Carrie)

Spain - Vaughan Town Dec 06