KIDabra International also known to all of us as The
Association of Kidshow and Family Performers is growing so quickly.  Like
the children for whom these gifted performers work, the organization has
matured.  In fact, it is in its teens.

This August (August 16th – 19th), KIDabra will celebrate its
15th birthday – its quinceanera – with the help of friends and family in
beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee's
Music Road Hotel.

Our favorite performer and certainly America's
Favorite Kidshow Performer, the lovely Trixie Bond will be attending, teaching,
performing, helping, encouraging, and enjoying the event.  That, by itself, is sufficient reason to
attend.

But wait, there's more.

Check out the line-up of stars you'll meet this August:

Trevor Lewis, Terry Evanswood, Steve Axtell, BJ Hickman, Jim
Snack, Ken Scott, Greg McMahan, Jozo Bozo, Mike Bent, Eddy Wade, Tim Sonefelt ,
Gary Shelton, Julian Franklin,  Marty and Brenda Hahne, Scott Francis,
Steve Kissell, Carol Collins, Rick Hubbard, and Steve Snyder.

Continue reading “The 15th Anniversary KIDabra Conference” →

We just performed a show and saw a magician in the audience.  We got tense, dry-mouthed, and unsure.

We've come a long way though.  It used to be we became tense, dry-mouthed, unsure, sweaty, and incontinent.  

Yes, we've come a long way but we still give our testimony at the Depends User Group.  

Imagine how any of us would feel to see David Copperfield in the audience.  We're not saying it would have a profound effect on us but we might be able to recreate the Blaine Fish Bowl Stunt.

Mr. Copperfield made a surprise visit to Branson, MO last Friday.  Whilst in town, he decided to check out the widely-praised show, Siegfried & Roy present Darren Romeo, the Voice of Magic.

Mr. Copperfield considers himself a friend, colleague and fan of Quinlan's Inside Magic Fave Darren Romeo.  We understand Mr. Copperfield enthusiastically started a standing ovation.

Continue reading “Copperfield Gives Romeo Standing O” →

We heard from Scott Crews on behalf of the incredible Brock Gill. He was kind
enough to bring us the very latest news on the Freedom Experience tour.

We are looking forward to seeing the show as it works its way through the
South. Mr. Gill's cutting-edge and death-defying performances not only
entertained audiences but also provided the perfect opportunity to bring
audiences the Good News.

This is not your father's Gospel Magician but most assuredly Our Father's
Ambassador.

If you are anywhere near the tour locations, make plans to attend.

Freedom Experience kicked off the year with its first stop in New
Castle, KY. New Castle, with a population of 930, is one of the smaller towns
we've stopped in throughout the years.

Continue reading “Brock Gill: Tearing It Up!” →

The Pensacola News-Journal (Florida) columnist Chemarryn Thornton made us laugh loudly this morning as we read his take on those who lack talent but not fame.

His column is titled "Even K-Fed has to shout: Baby got hack!" 

(K-Fed is his endearing term for Kevin Federline – the unworthy hubby of Quinlan's Inside Magic fave Britney Spears).

We agree with Mr. Thornton's insightful analysis. 

There are many true hacks in the biz that push out the truly talented.

His theory is proven and hits home with his discussion of David Blaine:

There's no doubt magician David Blaine has
his followers, but so did the Spice Girls, and now they're all begging
for loose change on the cold London streets.

Continue reading “Columnist: Blaine Should be Homeless” →

The Associate
Press reports Cole Ford plead guilty to shooting at Siegfried & Roy's
home. 

Mr. Ford is a former kicker for the NFL Oakland Raiders who
had fallen into difficult struggles with mental illness and homelessness.

Groomed and polite, a former NFL
kicker who has been hospitalized for mental illness pleaded guilty Thursday to
shooting at the home of entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn in
2004. 

Cole Ford, who last kicked for the
Oakland Raiders in 1997, agreed to a felony plea that could result in a
suspended sentence of one to six years in a Nevada
prison if he continues mental health treatment at a center near his family's
home in Tucson, Ariz. 

"We've come a long way with
Mr. Ford, and he's doing terrific," Clark County District Judge Jackie
Glass said as she addressed Ford's mother, Amy Ford, in the courtroom gallery.

Continue reading “Siegfried & Roy Shooter Pleas” →

Norm Nielsen informs us of a special memorial set for the great Channing Pollock this weekend in Las Vegas.

Event: CHANNING POLLOCK MEMORIAL

Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006

Time: 1:00 pmPlace: Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV – East Ballroom.

EVERYONE IS INVITED.

It is meant be a celebration of Channing's life.

We want to make a joyful day in remembrance of Channing. Please bring
good cheer and great memories, as it will be an unforgettable event.

Continue reading “Memorial for Channing Pollock Planned” →

Media
Week tells us TiVo enlisted the non-commercial duo Penn & Teller to
encourage its subscribers to watch commercials.

Check this out:

First announced in November 2005, TiVo Product Watch offers
subs commercials on-demand from a roster of some 70 advertisers, in five
categories ranging from automotive (Ford, General Motors) to packaged goods
(Kraft).

The on-demand spots will clock in anywhere between one
minute to an hour, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the advertisers’
products and services.

Kraft, for example, will serve up a number of instructional
cooking videos, while Ford pitches its Escape model with a clip featuring
magicians Penn & Teller performing a bit of sleight-of-hand on a golf green
with duffer Johnny Miller.

Continue reading “Penn & Teller Helps TiVo Commericals” →

Don't get us wrong.  

We think David Blaine's abilities are outstanding.  

Although we're not really focusing about his magic abilities but that's
okay, he isn't either. 

We're amazed at the publicity he can produce by remaining in one place for
long periods of time: frozen in a block of ice; standing on top of a pillar;
living inside a glass box; buried in a glass coffin beneath New York's streets; and now floating (sort
of) inside a glass bubble.  

When compared with the stunts of other magicians, his passive approach
stands in stark contrast.  

Consider Houdini writhing and straining against the constraints of a
straight-jacket, ropes, or irons.  Or
perhaps a more recent contrast would be Criss Angel's very kinetic stunts and illusions. 

Continue reading “From “Bubble Boy” to “Non-Magician” — Takes on Blaine” →