Korean magicians
immersed in art
at 2010 seminar

Well it is already March and February has come and gone here in Korea but not without some very special things happing over the last two weeks of the month.

First there was the news that came to us from England about the winners of the Blackpool Convention. I would like to congratulate all of the winners at this year’s Blackpool Convention, but I would especially like to tip my hat to the three Korean winners: Kim Hyung Jun, Lee Jung Min, and Kim Min Hyung. Hyung Jun and Jung Min took first and second place in the stage competition, and Min Hyung took first place in the close-up competition.

Then from February 27th to March 1st was the DongPusan College International Magic Seminar 2010. This seminar is a yearly event that is sponsored by DongPusan College, which is one of the two colleges in the south of the country that have degree programs in magic.

(Read More; See Photos & Video)

P.C. Sorcar remembered
with issuance of stamp

The late Protul Chandra Sorcar, a magician from India better known as P.C. Sorcar Sr., once said, "When asleep I breathe magic; when awake I work magic." Even in death, the acclaimed magician who brought the magic of India to the rest of the world, is still reaching audiences -- this time through the issuance of a stamp bearing his likeness.

The Department of Posts in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, issued the commemorative Sorcar stamp on Feb. 23, 2010, the 98th anniversary of the legendary performer's birth.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was present on the occasion, said, “I have come to pay my respects to the memory of such a person who was not just popular amongst the people of our country, but also had earned great admiration and regard in the international arena,” according to a report on the Daily News & Analysis-India Web site. (Read More)

Osterlind answers your questions each month on I.B.M. Web Portal

Richard Osterlind, one of the top mentalists and magicians (and Order of Merlin), will be answering questions each month from members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in a new feature, Osterlind Q&A.

With his 40-plus years of performing and amazing audiences around the globe, feel free to ask him any question that relates to magic, mentalism, hypnotism, performing, routining or handling the business side. Or, ask him yourself at his four-day Mind Mysteries Seminar (details here).

The I.B.M. Portal staff is anticipating a great response to this new monthly feature, so we have set up a special e-mail address for questions to be considered. Questions will be gathered by the Portal staff and forwarded onto Osterlind for consideration.
(Read Osterlind Q&A)

Did you know I.B.M. offers members free Web pages?

The I.B.M. Web Portal received an e-mail from someone asking for instructions on how to set up the free Web pages offered to members of the I.B.M.

As the instructions were sent, we realized if there is one person wondering how to go about this, then there are probably more with the same question. After all, we are continually adding new members.

So, let us share with you a few links that will help you get on your way to establishing a Web presence for your magical services.

To learn about your benefits, click here.

To read Mike Durant's instructions from 2008 on how to build your Web pages, click here.

To jump right to the page where you can build those pages, click here.

Bracco enjoys friends, looks to add more I.B.M. Rings in Asia

We are into 2010, and the past year has seemed to fly by so fast. It was just last Christmas that my wife and I were in America celebrating the holidays with my family. It was a very special time for us and the first time I have been able to make it home for Christmas in eight years. But this holiday season was very special, too. It was a magical holiday season for us here in Korea.

The week before Christmas I got a call from some friends living in Busan, a major city in the south of the country, inviting us to meet them in Seoul to go and see some magic shows. We went up on the 26th of December and got to see the evening performance of Charming Choi’s Magic Concert called Tarot-By Destiny. (Read More)