Homemade calling cards are business cards but contain more excitement than your name and phone number. Gary gave us a history of his development with his calling cards, how he made them, he passed out examples, and gave further ideas. One example was a card which popped out to a 3 Dimensional one which included a bunny appearing out of a top hat. Another was the person had to tip the card a certain way to make the print readable, called projected angle printing. Other examples were to have your business cards as part of a nudist deck and produce your card visibly.

He showed us examples of business cards which have many sayings and slogans to give a bit of cheer and laughs . . . even wonder. These sayings are hilarious. A few of his friends had these as their “retirement cards.” Having the cards with playing card backs, set up as a prediction of a company’s logo, cartoon captions, and two sided for one’s business were other examples.

So what can these cards do? Well, they made him meet fine magi such as Karrell Fox, Jay Marshall, and Phil Goldstein, and to go with them to a magicians gathering at Tannen’s in New York. Also, from a social gathering in a local restaurant to a newscaster to meeting Dick Richards (Bozo the Clown in Grand Rapids) to doing fifteen episodes on the Bozo’s Big Top Circus Show to other TV and radio spots. Gary made his name well known not by winning the top prizes of contests (even though he was the 1988 close-up contest winner of Michigan Magic Day) or boasting here and there. He just went out and promoted a simple aspect. He did it perhaps the way Fred would have done it. And it worked! Thanks Gary.

Tonight was “Full of Hot Air” (ballooning) with chairperson Dave Bogdan.

Rose Peters was our first illustrator. She showed us many of the balloon creations she makes which included a: hummingbird, bumble bee, turtle, lady bug, mouse, rose, fishing pole, jack-o-latern, and an apple (use a penny to make it stand upright). For those children that may be allergic to the latex, use beads to make a poodle. David Storms had placed a bucket of balloons and pumps on each table so we could learn by doing. He showed us the many books, magazines, booklets, and DVDs on ballooning which are available. He displayed a poster which shows all the balloon creations he makes as a helpful guide at events. He had all of us make an apple, a fishing pole and a fish. We even made a bow and arrow which could shoot around the room.

Dave Bogdan told us a story of the first balloon animal he made, a poodle. In his early days he hung around Magic Inc. in Chicago. One time Jay Marshall had a balloon gig, “Hey, kid . . . you’re coming with us . . . want to do balloon animals at this party? . . . you can learn how on the train ride over.” Dave also shared some history of ballooning including having four of us get up and use this slimy stuff from a cup and blow it up and form bubbles and twists. The stuff, an early form of ballooning, was animal intestines. Dave also shared with us many one-liner gags we can find off the web.

P. J. Weber showed us his mini fishing pole, a monkey attached to a heart, a heart, a horse, and how to “lock” your twists. P. J. also reminded us to look at ways you can improve how you want your creation to be: bigger ears, longer neck, etc. Make these changes progressively in practice to master.

Jim and Michele Parkes (Hippity Hop Magic Shop) shared with us many tricks and illusions involving balloons that they have available and what is available off the web: Inflated Odds (Darryl Rose), Gypsy Balloon (Tony Clark), Coin Balloonacy (Ian Garrison), Airtight (Jay Sankey), Mental Balloon (Vincenzo Di Fatta), Balloonatrick (Paul Richards), Balloonofish (Arthur Tivoli), Thought of Card in Balloon (Luca Volpe), Candle Through Balloon (Academy of Magic), Balloon To Dove Tray (David Powell), Balloon Buster (Daytona Magic), Animated Card Thru Balloon Of Death (Kevin James), and Aerostatic Card (Bazar de Magia). They finished their part with a balloon contest. I had the balloon that magically deflated while shooting backwards.

Cassandra Heimbeck showed us her “Renaissance Flower Hat” she made popular at the Ye Olde Juiceball event in January. Jerry Herdegen, the Ring 211 King of Ballooning, closed the show. He showed us his invisible coin into balloon, told us his experiences of being a judge at balloon competitions, and then used both 260s and 350s to create a giant rain deer, octopus, teddy bear, floral basketweave arrangement, and a monkey inside a heart. Then another competition was held of who could shoot a balloon and hit one of the creations on display to take home.

Yes, tonight was sure full of hot air. Thanks to program chair Peter Stobie, Dave Bogdan, and all our balloon creationists.

Tom Craven organized part of the tour and informed magi that, “Tony Montana will be doing part of his award winning FISM lecture which included great mentalism and Henry Evans has some new surprises for everyone. As you must be aware, Henry has fooled magicians everywhere since he burst on the magic scene. Both of them killed at the FFFF convention last year!”

Highlights of Tony Montana:

• a free fall drop magazine prediction — an ad for a watch (larger version) was unfolded from a watch box and matched the selected page
• Six envelop and picture prediction routine in which the chosen pictures matched each of his socks
• Telekinetic Lock — five key lock prediction of which key will open the lock by the spectator
• Suits Control — four suit prediction from mixing deck
• Deck appearing from box but cannot be placed back because the box has another deck inside
• Bagged Card — Chosen card appears within a thin plastic bag as the cards are fanned tossed towards the bag
• 14, My Lucky Number — a card routine employing one’s fate

Highlights of Henry Evans:

• Risky Bet — card effect betting money of which position the chosen card is, but in another deck, with a color change. “Hand Is Faster Than The Eye” gimmick used.
• Deck That Shuffles Itself — A card chosen from one deck . . . this other deck can be mixed, shown regular, mixed backs and faces, and then as all the chosen card
• Impossible Advination — a prediction using three cards placed inside a bag and the magi pulls out the correct one
• 3 D Advertising — a deck appears from a folded paper sheet among pictures of different designed backs
• Cutting Ten — Magi cuts deck in tens and the spectator then cuts in tens of each suit, with Royal Flushes too, and the rest of the cards show the currency of many countries using a fifty-five card deck
• 2000 Three Card Monte — using the principle of black art
• 10 Exact Cuts — a cut to a suit numerically, then that suit isolated and rest of deck shuffled, and each suit is cut to with three exact cuts

The club enjoyed both Henry and Tony. Each had lecture notes for sale as well as their items in the lecture including a music for magic shows DVD. We recommend them to any club. Visit each of them at their web site: http://www.henryevansmagic.com and http://www.tonymagic.com.ar .

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His plan was simple. Supply information that would encourage us, inspire us, and help to take our magic to the next dimension. He combined all his previous lectures into one super one and he taught the following: The Asher Twist, Witness, Thunderbird, Three Stylin (3 Fly with colored poker chips), The Ripper (one to four of a kind), Ambitious Card sequences (card into middle, a smack, and card is on top — and place near bottom and visually see card rise upward to top), Diving Board Double Lift (acrobatic and non-acrobatic versions), Losing Control (control card to top), Finger Box of Death, and the difference between the Fournier and Bicycle cards.

He discussed showmanship when performing (reveal magic near one’s face, be surprised with one’s audience, and show by facial expressions). He randomly talked about personal magic inspirations and aspirations, including small discussions about marketing oneself as a professional magician. We learned techniques, moves, and powerful magic. Not just for the close-up performer, but even for the stage performer, he covered all facets of the art we all passionately share.

He had for sale the magic he demonstrated and Panic by Aaron Fisher along with lecture notes on CD. Many of his items can be downloaded from his web site. We enjoyed his lecture and recommend him to any club. Contact Lee through his website, http://www.leeasher.com

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Tonight’s workshop was presented by MagicBob Zoerman. He and SuZie had again toured India on a mission trip for Crusade for Christ. Last month he told of the trip. This month he talked about a magic convention he and his wife happened upon during that trip. What was to be a small intimate dinner invite with one of his friends of India turned into a weekend magic convention. A one sentence, less than ten word ad brought in 7,500 magi having a $3.00 registration fee. He learned that he was a headline act. This was also broadcast via satellite to thousands more. But the many dealers unbeknownst to MagicBob gave him magic tricks or other props as a gift. He brought and showed us each. Many of these were ornate and handmade. Here is a list: two coin box trinkets, a spider reel, a Boss reel, a sponge ice cream cone, a ball and vase, a paper dragon fan, a production box, a wooden heart and egg each with a bag (items change places), an Okito box, a Hot Rod, brass cups and balls, a clip card trick with flap, image changing cards, color changing wreaths, a holographic eye, a pip penetration, and a coin through glass penetration. He titled this workshop, “Tricks of India.” Impressive. Thanks MagicBob.

Tonight was a comedy night and titled, “Now That’s Funny.” Our MC was Peter Stobie. Charles Bennett was head of this program but had to attend to his family as his father had passed. We have thoughts and prayers to Chuck and Cindy Bennett.

Ron Carnell opened the show. Something was up when Ron handed a few wet wipes out to one audience member. Another person assisting him drew a puppy on a blank playing card. This card was placed in the middle of a blank deck. An Ambitious Card routine followed. Also the deck was placed in the spectators hand, the card rose to the top, and leaving a few Tootsie Roll candies from beneath. Thus the need for the wet wipes. Then the puppy card was signed and the the deck was taped up with Ron having to wear large gloves to take away any “sleight of hand”. The card was slid in the middle by the spectator. By amazement, the puppy card rose to the top.

Wayne Ramsdell was our next performer. Look out . . . his some say “obnoxious,” some say “uncanny” wit sure was enjoyed by all. He wore two funny hats during the routine which involved much by play with audience members. For his first routine he had three spectators join in on a mathematical mind reading card selection escapade. It involved nine cards. The revelation matched the mathematical outcome. The next routine involved naming a chosen card using the Monge Shuffle. Both tricks were from “Mathematical Games” by C lukacs and e. Tarjan, 1963.

Gary Laundre introduced us to “Monte the Mouse.” He more than amused us with a chop cup routine involving Monte. The climax was a piece of cheese and a disco ball production.

Rick Merrill — oh boy, look out, more uncanny, but add “home schooled” wit to what we were about to see. Rick had Karl Beals’ son Caleb select a card. It happened to be the King of Hearts. Rick revealed the card but Caleb was not impressed.

Hence, Rick produced the card from his pocket, showed that it had a red back and came from an all blue deck. Caleb still not impressed, Rick produced a large King of Hearts card from his jacket, took him to one of the diner tables and showed him that it was revealed in Ketchup, and on a napkin, and even inside Wayne’s hat was a King of Hearts silk. I think Caleb was finally impressed. Perhaps he was astonished earlier with Rick eating his ice cream during the shuffling of the cards.

Dr. Back Bone, a zoologist (played by Peter Stobie) closed the show. A washer and dryer gag with a production of a lollipop happened prior to the rope routine. The routine involved a ruby red rope (a cobra snake) and a white rope (an albino snake) each inside a lunch bag. They magically switched places with the climax being each a red and white “twist” rope. He concluded with “plucking his eye out” which ejected fluid upon the floor. He produced an appearing mop from his carry-on bag.

What a another night of fun. A thanks to Peter and all the performers.

Tonight, President Michele Parkes also presented the 2011 award recognition certificates to the following: Jesse Shira with Excellence in Close-Up; Peter Stobie with Excellence in Stage; Mike McNee with Workshop of the Year; Randy Vander Wal, Dave Bogdan, Jerry and Kathy Herdegen, and Ron Carnell all with Most Service to the Club; and Rachel and Aldo Colombini with the Ring 211 Lecturer of the Year.

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Originally from London, Fields now resides in Troy, Michigan with his wife and two children. He has been described as “Delightfully Wacky and bordering on the Manic” by the Edinburgh Evening News and “different dramatic and very funny” by the Magic Circle, UK’s most elite magic club. Plus, there is a story behind him receiving a visa to work and live in America. The United States Homeland Security asked Keith to prove that he was an “alien with extraordinary ability,” their words not his. Well, it was either that or marry an American but his wife objected!

His lecture to Ring 211 on March 6, consisted of a little street magic, close-up, parlor and cabaret type magic, including examples of performing for children. Throughout his lecture we saw he was able to direct and control the audience and even its individual members. He is a master at this. He wrote the book, How To Handle Hecklers and shared a few ideas. And all this was delivered with a full dose of English style and sophistication that hit our funny bone.

Highlights of his lecture were:

• a gag using a spectator’s camera
• his Triangle of Terror
• gag involving his nose flute and inhaling a balloon up his nose
• top hat tricks
• his chop cup routine involving the production of two lemons, a coconut, and a pineapple. He talked heavily on time misdirection on the loads from his pockets and his portable table.
• Psychic Hangman, a book test
• No Way One Way, a card selection involving a gag by revealing a large card and then a surprise spin on the one way deck.
• a menu prediction using a Chinese menu
• R.T.N. (Running The Numbers), another fine book test
• a paddle routine using a knife and the production of spots (refrigerator magnets)
• Automatic Page Force, use of a plastic tab
• an ambitious card routine involving a blank deck and signed card which revolved into a card to wallet with a color change to a printed deck
• and his Spot Paddles

He had for sale along with the above routines, lecture notes, If Ever A Wiz There Was (book), An Alien with Extraordinary Ability (CD), How To Handle Hecklers (book), and The Human Xylophone (effect). This lecture was an encore presentation for us as he had lectured to us two years ago.

We enjoyed his lecture and highly recommend him to any club. Visit his web site at http://www.keithfields.com.

Birthday wishes go out, too, to Vince Rosso and P.J. Weber, whose birthdays everyone celebrated at the lecture.

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He shared with us a “providence” story in which what was to be a dinner and magic invite from a friend of India (meeting each other between two towns) turned into that magician gathering numerous magi together for a mini-conference of about one hundred and fifty magi and twenty-one dealers. At the conference was a public show for about seven thousand five hundred people and viewed on live satellite to one hundred thousand more. To his surprise, he was asked to be one of the headliners.

MagicBob told us that learning to do humor in another language is challenging. They also viewed the oldest painting of the Madonna. They had on display many handmade crafts and the like which were gifts to them. One was a carpet which changed color by looking at it from different angles. Another was a work of carved wood which went from a two-dimensional object to three like that of the flat top hat that snaps into a full top hat.

Meeting Program

Tonight’s program was “Ring 211 Gets Lecturefied” with chairperson Mike McNee. The club hosted twelve lectures so the idea was to have members perform a routine learned from one of the lectures.

Mike McNee opened with the cups and balls routine by Rachel Colombini. Here the balls are of three colored tissues. Mike added salt and fire as the tissue would penetrate through the cup, then two through two, and the third . . . the tissue was unfolded to reveal all three colored tissues.

Ron Carnell amazed us with a spin off of Wayne Houchin’s Distortion card routine. The rising card was not the chosen card, only to magically be revealed by a rub upon his elbow.

Dr. Jack Vander Wal performed Card-Shark’s “Triple Coincidence” in which a chosen card is revealed to have a number assigned to it by the spectator. The next two times, Jack called out the card value and each spectator called out the number. Each time the number was on the back of the card.

Wayne Ramsdell impressed us with Colombini’s 1-2-3 card prediction. Cards were mixed and then matched with numbers chosen while the remaining cards were all blank. He then magically had a nut spin and remove itself from a bolt he called Spirit Nut.

Gary Oisten astonished us with Signed, Sealed, and Delivered. This was a sign torn and restored card routine from the Colombinis.

Karl Beals vanished a quarter inside of a one dollar bill and then had it also reappear from the bill.

Dr. Gary Laundre’ performed an impressive card and find routine which involved a “cat scan” with a fluffy toy cat which was hooked to a processor and the result was a picture of the spectator’s brain with a insert picture of the card chosen. He concluded the show with an excellent coal to diamond routine which involved vanishes and productions with the climax being a larger diamond.

Once again we thank MagicBob for the workshop and all the performers for the show. And happy birthday, too, to Tina Weber, whose birthday everyone celebrated at this month’s meeting with a beautiful cake and much cheer. Many happy returns, Tina.

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Click to see 2012 flyer

On Sunday, February 12, Ring 211 (The June Horowitz/John deVries Magic Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan) hosted its 4th Annual Abracadabra Close-Up Magic Show. Club members sold tickets ($10.00) to family members and friends. News of this was also on local TV web site calendars, Facebook, and Twitter. The club rented five rooms on the upper floor of Celebration Cinema North (for $250 dollars). Two shows were seen which could have capacity of 70 people per show. By the math, this can be quite profitable to have future lecturers and is quite simple for any club to do. This year was not a sellout, but still enough to bring a few more lectures to town. Each room held up to fifteen people for perfect close-up viewing.

Six performers performed in the rooms provided. Our performers this year were Krag Ryal, Tom Coverly, Ron Carnell, John Dudley, Brad Lancaster, and Randy Vander Wal who stepped in for Jim Parkes.

Krag Ryal amused us with the Growing Head Illusion, a sponge ball routine, a 20th Century Silk routine, the invisible deck, and two original card presentations called “Can Your Wife Read Your Mind?” and “Why You NEVER Play Cards With a Magician!” Tom Coverly astonished us with a “self tying” shoe lace, having a chosen card being revealed on a soda bottle, Insignia, and an Invisible Deck routine using one’s cell phone. Ron Carnell enlightened us with a rope production and a cut and restored rope routine (based in part on the classic George Sands routines). John Dudley dazzled us with the production of a large eye contact lens (gag), a few card manipulations, cuts, and shuffles, a one dollar bill to a hundred dollar bill and back, a card selection and find in which the chosen card finally appeared on the feet of his pet bird, Tweet, and a card “premonition” reveal on his cell phone. Brad Lancaster amazed us with Knots Off Silk, What’s Next, a linking rope routine, his version of Silk to Egg, the Prayer Stick (pom poms), and his version of Find The Lady. Randy Vander Wal delighted the crowd with Jokers Are Wild, Ball to Jumbo Square, The Mark (John Murray — Elmwood Magic), and On The Mark 2 (Mark Elsdon — Elmwood Magic).

Once again a big thanks to all who sold tickets, Jim & Michele Parkes for managing the ticket sales, Dr. Jack Vander Wal, Tina Weber, and Jim & Michele Parkes for taking photos, MagicBob Zoerman for originally obtaining the venue, and our performers.

Photo Album for Abracadabra 2012 (Thanks go to Michele for clicking the pictures in the hallways, and to Jack for taking nearly 60 pictures in the close-up rooms.)

Alain was the star of the 2005 TLC four part hour-long series, “The Mysterious World of Alain Nu.” Alain Nu is also the author of Amazon number one hot new release, “Picture Your ESP!” Nu is a true working mentalist and his practical and creative ideas have been time tested over his illustrious career. He is known for his prolific background in creative methods for mentalism effects. His underground works have been published numerous times in countless publications and books, including MAGIC, Genii, The Linking Ring (Best Parade 1997), MUM (front cover December 1999), Syzygy, The Trap Door, Labyrinth (one man issue), Dear Mr. Fantasy, The Mystery School Book and among others, not to mention his own private releases both in print and no longer in print, many of his ideas have now become well-buried in rare and hard-to-find periodicals.

We learned some killer effects, but also his insights about this subject matter and saw mentalism from a most unusual, yet practical perspective. Reputation-making mentalism routines that he has put a considerable amount of work into, and hand-picked, mostly from his books Word Work I, Word Work II, Any Card, Astrologic, and Nu Wave Reloaded were performed and demonstrated.

A powerful arsenal was revealed, everything from clever to even impromptu book and magazine tests which included:

• mentally calling out a selected word from that of many randomly words from a newspaper
• What’s My Sign, mentally revealing one’s zodiac sign and also calling out one’s day of birth exactly to within three days and other zodiac divination principles
• Nu Wave, an enhanced Bee Wave with use of equivoque and other subtleties regarding this process
• his famous ACAAN (any card at any number) techniques using multiple people both with a memorized deck and also a normal deck
• an amazing glimpse of his metal bending routine
• Banachek’s Psycho-Kinetic, mentally changing a spectator’s watch time forward and under the right situation his own Psycho-Chronetic in which the time moves backwards
• Peek To Peek book test even using a borrowed book
• the Winston-Freer Puzzle by John Rogers

All his manuscripts and products were available at the lecture. Those can be viewed online at http://www.shopofsecrets.com/. Other manuscripts were Serial Thrillers, Nu Ways, XXX, and Psycho-Chronetic. He also had his DVD The Mysterious World of Alain Nu. Also check out http://www.themanwhoknows.tv/. This lecture was through Nathan Kranzo.

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, February 8: Alain Nu Lecture
• Sunday, February 12: Abracadabra Close-up Show
• Monday, February 13: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Monday, Februrary 27: Ring 211 Meeting

• Tuesday, March 6: Keith Fields Lecture
• Friday, Saturday, March 9-10: Abbott’s Close-up Convention
• Monday, March 12: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Monday, March 26: Ring 211 Meeting

• Monday, April 9: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Wednesday, April 11: Lee Asher Lecture
• Friday, Saturday, April 20-21: Michigan Magic Day See Daryl Lecture!
• Sunday, April 22: Henry Evans and Tony Montana Lecture
• Monday, April 23: Ring 211 Meeting

• Saturday, May 12: Abbott’s Annual Flea Market
• Monday, May 14: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Monday, May 21: Ring 211 Meeting Change of Meeting

• Monday, June 11: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Tuesday, June 19: Nathan Kranzo Lecture
• Monday, June 25: Ring 211 Meeting

• Monday, July 9: Ring 211 Board Meeting
• Sunday, July 15: Fred Apel Lecture
• Monday, July 23: Ring 211 Meeting

• Sunday, August 12: Ring 211 Summer Picnic

Wednesday, February 8: Alain Nu Lecture

Alain Nu will lecture on Wednesday, February 8, at Brann’s Sizzling Steaks & Sports Grille, 4157 S. Division Avenue, Wyoming, MI 49548. The lecture will start at 7:30 pm, with optional dinner and fellowship at 6pm.

A headlining performer at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for four straight years, Nu was also the international star of the 2005 TLC four-part hour-long television specials entitled “The Mysterious World of Alain Nu.” You can check out some of his TV clips on YouTube. On January 20th, 2009, Alain was asked to appear before many of the living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor at the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball which celebrated President Obama’s inauguration into the White House. Alain Nu is also the author of “Picture Your ESP,” available at Amazon books. Nu is a true working mentalist.

Ring 211 members: free. Other magicians: $15.00.

Alain Nu is also offering his workshop for this same night, starting at 5 p.m. Cost would be $60 per person, and each person would get a free copy of any of Alain’s $50 manuscripts. This is an excellent deal and opportunity for this hands on attention and secret work. This will happen if five people sign up for the workshop, which will run from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Please contact Dave Bogdan if interested.

Visit Alain Nu’s Web site: The Mysterious World of Alain Nu

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Sunday, February 12: Abracadabra Close-up Show

Click to see flyer

The annual Abracadabra Close-up Show will be held Sunday, February 12, from 1:30pm – 5:30pm. It will be on the Upper Floor of Celebration Cinema North, 2121 Celebration Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

There will be two separate shows, one at 2 p.m., then another at 4 pm. All tickets are $10.00 and can be obtained through Hippity Hop Magic (Jim and Michele Parkes) at 616-742-3898 or 616-550-5406. Tickets are limited to 70 per show. Buy early! Six acclaimed performers will amuse and amaze. Each performer will travel to each of five rooms. The rooms only hold fifteen people, so we’re talking serious close-up viewing.

Scheduled performers include Ron Carnell, Tom Coverly, Krag Ryal, John Dudley, Brad Lancaster, and Jim Parkes.

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Monday, February 13: Ring 211 Board Meeting

The regularly scheduled Ring 211 Board Meeting will be held Monday, February 13. All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Monday, February 27: Ring 211 Meeting

The regularly scheduled Ring 211 Meeting on Monday, February 27.

Attending Ring Members will be voting for the Best-of-the-Year awards for 2011. Please review the nominations and be prepared to cast your ballot.

The Workshop by Bob Zoerman will be titled “Tour of India.”

Performance Program Theme: Get LECTUREFIED!

From Program Chair, Pete Stobie: “Present an effect you have learned from one of our past lectures during January 2011 through December 2011. We had twelve amazing lectures for you to glean from. All you need to do is perform one effect from one of these excellent events sponsored by Ring 211.

“2011 Lectures included Jonathan Levit, Aaron Fisher, Dick Oslund, William Houston, Bill Wisch, Jay Sankey, Richard Osterlind, Aldo & Rachel Colombini, Duane Laflin x 2, David Kaplan and Wayne Houchin.

“We will vote on the best performance. If interested contact Pete Stobie Program Chair or sign up the night of our February meeting. We will have as many magicians as we can perform within the 1 hour limit. Remember this is a performance, please do not lecture or sell anything at this time. MC – Mike McNee”

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Tuesday, March 6: Keith Fields Lecture

Keith Fields is an outstanding, award winning entertainer with over 30 years of experience. He has performed in London’s West End, New York’s Broadway and the Las Vegas Strip. He is a regular headline act on cruise ships working for Celebrity, Princess, Dysney Cruise Lines, Crystal, and many more.

Originally from London, Fields now resides in Michigan with his wife and two children. He has been described as ‘Delightfully Wacky and bordering on the Manic’ by the Edinburgh evening news and ‘different dramatic and very funny’ by the Magic Circle, the UK’s most elite magic club.

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Friday, Saturday, March 9-10: Abbott’s Close-up Convention

The 33rd Annual Abbott Closeup Convention will be held March 9 and 10 in Colon. Featured performers this year are Bill Abbott and Richard Sanders. Tickets are $85. Last year the two-day convention sold out a week early, so Ring 211ers shouldn’t wait too long to order their tickets.

A few Ring 211 Members at Abbott's 2011 Close-up Convention

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Monday, March 12: Ring 211 Board Meeting

All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Monday, March 26: Ring 211 Meeting

The Workshop by Bob Zoerman will be titled “Tricks of India.”

Performance Program Theme: Now That’s Funny!
Comedy and Magic combine with humorous performances presented by Ring 211 Members.  Performers to be announced as confirmations come in. This will be one hour of performance.   Join us for some laughs and Magic! MC: Charles Bennett.

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Monday, April 9: Ring 211 Board Meeting

All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Wednesday, April 11: Lee Asher Lecture

Lee Asher will lecture on Wednesday, April 11, at Brann’s Sizzling Steaks & Sports Grille, 4157 S. Division Avenue, Wyoming, MI 49548. The lecture will start at 7:30 pm, with optional dinner and fellowship at 6pm.

Lee Asher, a good friend of recent lecturer Wayne Houchin, was born in Florida, 1976, to semi-professional magician, Mark Horowitz. Horowitz learned his magic from the likes of Al Flosso and Lou Tannen in New York City during the Sixties. Lee knew, very early on, what he wanted to do with his life.

At fifteen, Asher invented an effect he called “The Asher Twist,” a card trick that quickly made an international name for him. In 1991 and 1992 he won 1st place, two years in a row, at the IBM Junior Close-up Championships. He was hired to work at Caesars Magical Empire in Caesars Palace performing card magic under the name “Cardius Sharkus,” from 1996 to 1997, often working with internationally known magicians like Jeff McBride, Chappy Brazil, Joey Burton, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Jonathan Pendragon and many more. In 2004 Asher set up the “X-elent Lecture Series” to bring the best magic lectures from around the world to his community (Pacific Northwest.) Since then, it’s grown into an eight city lecture tour spanning across Canada. Asher was also a featured lecturer at the inaugural Session Convention, a British convention for close-up magicians held in 2006.

Visit Lee Asher’s Web site: Lee Asher – CardStar Pro Magician

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Sunday, April 22: Henry Evans and Tony Montana Lecture

Tony Montana was the third place finalist at the FISM Magic World Championships in 2009. Henry Evans is the 2000 FISM World Champion in Card Magic. Both of these world class magicians hail from Argentina.

From Tom Craven: “Ron, Tony Montana will be doing part of his award winning FISM lecture, and Henry Evans has some new surprises for everyone. As you must be aware, Henry has fooled magicians everywhere since he burst on the magic scene. Both of them killed at the FFFF convention last year!”

The lecture will be held at Brann’s, as usual, and will start at 2 p.m.

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Monday, April 23: Ring 211 Meeting

The Workshop by Gary Oisten will be on “Home-made Calling Cards.”

Performance Program Theme: Full of Hot Air!
Ring 211 performers (to be announced) will sculpt an evening of magical entertainment through balloons! This will be one hour of performance. Watch these Ring 211 balloon artists rise to the occasion! MC: Dave Bogdan.

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Saturday, May 12: Abbott’s Annual Flea Market

Abbott’s annual Magic Flea Market and Auction will take place May 12 in the Colon Elementary School. Remember this event is completely free unless you wish to sell something, then you need to purchase a Dealers Table for $30 (which entitles you to place 3 items in the auction).

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Monday, May 14: Ring 211 Board Meeting

All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Monday, May 21: Ring 211 Meeting

IMPORTANT: Because Memorial Day falls on our normal Fourth Monday meeting day, the Ring Meeting has been moved to May 21.

Workshop: Gary Laundre.

Longtime Grand Rapids magi has something “up his sleeves” to share. Gary is just not “Gary.” He is Doctor Gary. The doctor has ordered ” creating entertainment value” as the prescription (theme of his workshop).

Performance Program Theme: Ring 211 Round Robin (Updated May 15)

A magical evening of Rope, Cards, Coins, Balls, and Silk comes to your table! Five Magicians will visit five tables for a round robin of fun and expertise. Each Magician will have their specialty and entertain you for about eight minutes and then they will rotate until you have had the magical experience of all five Magicians. Featuring the talents of Randy Baker, Gary Laundre, Leo Peters, David Storms, and P.J. Weber. This will be one hour of performance. A nice evening of intimate magic all under one roof! MC – Peter J.F. Stobie

The presentations will be:

•  At the End of his Rope — Dave Storms
• How did your Card get in there? — Randy Baker
• A Change in Currency — P. J. Weber
• All things Spherical — Garry Laundre
• Smooth as Silk — Leo Peters

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Monday, June 11: Ring 211 Board Meeting

All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Tuesday, June 19: Nathan Kranzo Lecture

Nathan Kranzo was born and raised in Michigan and honed his entertainment skills in the resorts of northern Michigan.

His magic creations have been published in Magic Magazine, Genii Magazine, The Penumbra, Antinomy, Channel One, and The Linking Ring. Nathan has performed and lectured all over the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, France, England, Holland, and Japan.

In 2004 Nathan was a consultant for the series The Virtual Magician which aired in over forty Countries. Most recently Nathan was a consultant on Penn and Teller’s NBC special “Off The Deep End”.

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Monday, June 25: Ring 211 Meeting

Workshop: Mike McNee

Look for an impressive and informative workshop from the 2011 Workshop of the Year recipient.

Performance Program Theme: At a Moments Notice!
P.J. Weber leads this all star cast of impromptu Magic. Enjoy yourselves as the ordinary becomes extraordinary as Ring 211 Members entertain us at the spur of the moment. This will be one hour of performance. An evening of the unbelievable, unexpected and the unpredictable! MC; P.J. Weber

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Monday, July 9: Ring 211 Board Meeting

All members are invited to attend the Ring’s monthly Board Meeting. If you want to have dinner with a few friends, show up about six o’clock; the meeting will start at 7:30. We’ll meet in the back room at Denny’s Restaurant, 715 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 (44th Street @ US 131)

Sunday, July 15: Fred Apel Lecture

Fred Apel has been professionally performing magic for sophisticated audiences over thirty years. He has achieved the title of Wizard from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Author of two books on magical effects, he mentors professional magicians and has been elected into membership at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. His experience includes company sales meetings, corporate events, trade shows, private parties, radio and television commercials, and appearances.

Fred’s lecture is a true education, not just a dealer show. No gimmicks to sell! He wants you to understand the theory behind the effect, not just learn to do another trick.

Fred’s current lecture encompasses:

• A NEW WAY to set up a Si Stebbins stack, including an explanation of stacked and memorized decks, a complete treatise on the Si Stebbins’ stack and its history, and an innovated way to set it up and use it as a memorized deck (without memorization), providing instant access for finding a card at any number (CAAN). This groundbreaking method expands unlimited possibilities for magicians who have never undertaken to learn a memorized deck.
• Card at Any Number: One spectator selects a card, another selects a number representing a position in the deck. The card is replaced in the pack and the deck shuffled. The card appears at the location selected in a different deck.
• Predictions are revealed before the event occurs not after the event happens.
• Book Test: A spectator has a free choice of three cards. Two cards represent a page and the last card a word on the page. Sight unseen, the magician reveals the word, its location on the line and the page number.
• Discovery Behind the Back: A spectator selects a card and the magician places the deck behind his back. When the deck is brought forward, there are two cards reversed in the deck. One represents the value and the other the suit of the selected card.
• The Gilbreath Principal: An amazing discovery of mathematician and magician Norman Gilbreath.
• Discovery by Mentalism: A freely selected card from a shuffled deck is found with the cards face down.
• The marvel of the Breather Crimp.

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Monday, July 23: Ring 211 Meeting

Workshop: Gil Scott

What You Want To Know About Card Magic (Sleights) But May Be Too Afraid To Ask! Gil shares with us a hands on workshop of card techniques. These concepts outlined in the Royal Road To Card Magic (book and DVD available from Hippity Hop Magic). Bring a deck of cards. Upon this workshop’s response, the workshops in September and October will be indepth spin-offs.

Performance Program Theme: Young Magicians’ Showcase!
Enjoy an hour of entertainment with the Youth of 211! Grand Rapids Stars of tomorrow will feature Jesse Shira, Kellan Bogdan and others interested in showcasing their talents. If you know of a youth interested in performing or the youth would like a mentor for his/her performance contact Pete Stobie. The future of Magic is in their hands; The future looks good! MC: To be announced

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Sunday, August 12, 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. : Summer Picnic

No board meeting and no regular meeting in August because of our all out food, magic, and fun annual picnic! Fish in Crystal Lake adjacent to Happy Jack’s backyard. Beat Gary Oisten’s record! Mingle with fellow magi and family. Show tricks at the socializing tables. Share summer stories. Bring family and friends. Members are requested to bring a dish to pass such as a salad or desert. The club will provide the tableware, hot dogs, and burgers. Grilling begins around 3 or 3:30 PM. P. J. usually brings the watermelon. Impromptu show follows the dinner. Magi bring a favorite trick or so to perform. Tickets will be available for the Annual Hocus Pocus Party.

Where: Dr. Jack Vander Wal’s Backyard, 946 Miede Street, Jenison, MI 49428

Nominations for Workshop of the Year

• Dr. Jack Vander Wal, January: A ring and rope penetration and a John Born card routine.
• Gil Scott, February: Finesse points on card magic including Chicago Card, Chicago Opener, the Jog, and variation on the John Born card routine from previous meeting.
• Sonny Tgiros, March: Costuming the table and the assistant.
• MagicBob Zoerman, April: Powerpoint presentation of his and SuZie’s Africa mission trip.
• Michele Parkes, May: Birthday party magic with Sonny Tgiros, Dave Bogdan, and Brad Lancaster.
• Dave Bogden, June: Ethics in magic with a questioning panel.
• Ron Jaxon, July: Invisible thread work, ITR, lighting, clothing, and Haunted Deck.
• Mike McNee, September: Create Creativity.
• Dennis Favreau, October: Powerpoint presentation on the history of gambling and games of chance.

Nominations for Excellence in Close-up

• Roger Bus
• Bill Rasmussen
• Dr. Jack Vander Wal
• Dennis Favreau
• Charles Bennett
• P. J. Weber
• Ron Carnell
• Gil Scott
• June Horowitz
• Bob Panlener
• Sonny Tgiros
• Gary Oisten
• Jesse Shira
• Jim Parkes
• Krag Ryal
• Wayne Ramsdell
• Randy Vander Wal

Nominations for Excellence in Stage

• Tom Coverly
• Randy Vander Wal
• Jesse Shira
• Dave Bogdan
• June Horowitz
• P. J. Weber
• Gil Scott
• Dr. Jack Vander Wal
• MagicBob Zoerman
• Charles Bennett
• Peter Stobie
• Randy Baker
• Dennis Favreau
• Jerry Herdegen
• Brad Lancaster
• Mike McNee

Nominations for Most Service to Club

• Jim and Michelle Parkes
• Jerry and Kathy Herdegen
• Dr. Jack Vander Wal
• MagicBob and SuZie Zoerman
• Krag and Carole Ryal
• Dave Bogdan
• Ron Carnell

Nominations for Lecturer of the Year

• Jonathan Levit
• Aaron Fisher
• Dick Oslund
• Will Houstoun
• Bill Wisch
• Jay Sankey
• Richard Osterlind
• Rachel and Aldo Columbini
• Duane and Mary Laflin (1)
• Duane and Mary Laflin (2)
• Dave Kaplan
• Wayne Houchin