It has been a long-time tradition that the January issue of The Linking Ring features the International Brotherhood of Magicians’s largest ring -- Ring 25, The British Ring. The cover story features John “Sly” Smith, the new Ring 25 president. And inside the Hocus Pocus Parade features contributions from Ring 25 members. The British influence is seen elsewhere, too. Read on for highlights of the January issue, which you can download or read here before your hard copy arrives in the next couple of weeks. Let’s flip through the issue, page-by-page.
Don’t overlook the full-page ad on page three -- it can save you $100! It reports that registration for the IBM/SAM combined convention in 2014 in St. Louis, will open February 1, 2013 for 28 days only. The special rate will be only $295 for the month of February. After that it will jump to $395. Early registrants will also get the best show seats, as another incentive. So circle February 1 right now.
Editor Sammy Smith leads off his monthly column with, “Do something. Say something. Be something,” and then explains his advice, nudging all of us gently into the new year. I might suggest that you read his column, mull it over a bit, and then read it again. Thanks for the sage advice, Sammy.
John Pye leads his President’s Page with a wish to everyone for a happy and prosperous New Year. He continues his leadership of the I.B.M., including attending the mid-year meeting of the I.B.M. Board in Phoenix, where they will look back at 2012 and make plans for 2013, like all of us are doing this time of year.
Past I.B.M. president Vanni Pule’ wrote the cover story on John Smith. helping us get to know him better. The five-page article includes nine photos, giving us a personal look at some of the highlights of his life, including meeting his wife, June.
RING EVENTS this month bring reports from Ring 17 (Toronto, Canada), Ring 20 (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), Ring 197 (Marietta, Ohio), Ring 202 (Malta), Ring 211 (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Ring 216 ( San Jose, California), Ring 257 (Las Vegas, Nevada), Ring 258 (Leesburg, Florida), and Ring 266 (Tyler, Texas), So how do YOU get YOUR ring featured in this section? Write it and SEND IT IN (with one or more photos), of course! Thanks to all the people who actually DID this to share with the rest of us. Read them all and take notes for your own ring to consider.
Past I.B.M. President Mike Stratman continues his promotion of the 2013 I.B.M. Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, July 17-20, with an article on how to get from the airport to the convention hotel downtown, the Hyatt. Good information, Mike. Thanks. He also reminds all of us to SAVE MONEY by registering before February 1. The registration fee goes up by $25 that day.
Two more articles with a British flavor continue the theme of the January issue. Read a report by Geoffrey Newton about the British Ring Convention in Great Yarmouth, and you will think you were actually there. Eleven photos enhance the coverage. And that report is followed immediately with a story on The Magic Circle Awards Ceremony.
The report of the Yankee Gathering XIV by Mike Rose is a fun read. This is a special, invitation-only convention which is held only on even-numbered years, making it even more special. This is not the normal magic convention. It is all about magic history, and is a combination show-and-tell, museum, auction, and special performances. Read and see all about it.
Last month the fascinating story behind “The Magic House on Meadow Way” began. This month is part two. And it is such an interesting and complicated story, it will continue to a part three. These are the kinds of articles which The Linking Ring is well-known for. Thanks to Max Howard for sharing this great piece of magic history, and his first-person experiences.
Most I.B.M. members and rings know that The Linking Ring celebrated its ninetieth year of publication in September. But Ring 165 in Collingswood, New Jersey, went one step further -- they had their own celebration. Read about it and see a couple of photos.
And speaking of that ninetieth anniversary, “The Story of The Linking Ring” continues in Part Five. Editor Sammy Smith has gone back to past issues, and combined the story within the magazine, with information from other sources. It is fun to look at the covers of those past issues, too, as well as photos of some of the people who have helped make magic and the I.B.M. what it is today.
In his column POLISHING THE RINGS, Skip Way discusses “The Seven Rules for Successful Magicians” this month. He points out that these rules should be modified tofit each ring, and also to fit both youth and adults. Good advice here; read it at least twice, and make sure ALL your ring members read it.
Marty Hahne advises in THE KID-SHOW CIRCUIT this month, “You can never be too careful.” And one of the pull-out subheadlines says, “My first rule when performing for children is to always have at least one other adult in the room where I am entertaining the children.” Good advice, Marty. Read and heed all his rules.
Scott Humston gives lots of good advice about “tooting your own horn” in his column BUSINESS OF THE SHOW. He lists a number of “rules” which he brings from his personal experiences over the years.
Adding to the “British Theme” of the January issue, is the monthly report by Peter Scarlett of THE LONDON EYES. He continues his observations about the British Ring Convention.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Bev Bergeron’s column, CUTTING UP JACKPOTS, is getting to meet people we’ve never heard of. Thus this month we get to meet Professor Pearl Reynolds, one of those colorful characters who help make up the history of the wonderful world of magic. And the article also includes six photos of the late professor’s collection of magic apparatus and memorabilia.
The January 2013 issue of The Linking Ring includes a valuable tool for all members -- an I.B.M. Ring Meeting Directory. When you are in another city, check and see if they have a ring, and visit them. A list of rings in states is published from time to time, as well as is available on the I.B.M. Web Portal.
The always-popular HOCUS POCUS PARADE this month is by Ring 25, The British Ring, and is compiled -- as it has been for over three decades -- by Ian Adair. It is illustrated by Tony Dunn, as usual, making the moves more understandable. Included are sixteen pieces for your enjoyment.
THE CARD CORNER by Mike Powers is devoted to “Sudden Impact,” by Darwin Ortiz This is an effect which Darwin taught in his lecture at the Motor City Close-up Convention in November.
Joe Turner turns over his WAYS AND MEANS column this month to Henry Holava, who brings us “Fortune Telling Prediction,” a good walk-around trick.
In his SHOWTIME column, Peter Marucci brings us his own “Assault & Battery,” the first trick which he ever marketed. Thanks for sharing this with us, Peter.
Ed Solomon brings us “Ghosts, Goblins, and Gully Gaggers” in his column STORYTELLING MAGIC this month.
HOCUS IN FOCUS is the monthly collection of reviews about new magic products in the marketplace. This month there are eleven tricks, DVDs and books reviewed. A big thanks to the team of volunteer reviewers who take their time to share their expertise in their reviews.
The BROKEN WAND for January pays tribute to eleven magicians whose deaths we learned about since last month. Also in this issue is a summary of the twelve Broken Wands published in 2012.
RING REPORTS is the monthly report from individual rings, mostly telling what their ring did the previous (or recent) month. This month we are proud to publish seventy-three ring reports.
FINALLY, please look at each of the advertisements at the beginning and end of the magazine. And please go to their Websites and look around. If you can and do buy something from any of them, please tell then you saw their ad in The Linking Ring. This publication has the LOWEST COST PER READER of any magic magazine. The revenue from these advertisers helps keep the cost of producing this magazine at such a low cost.
ENJOY! See you next month.
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