Have You Heard...
February 16, 2009
by Maria Ibâñez 

Greetings, what a wondrous and marvelous thing mother nature is! Since my last post, Jay and I have become the proud grandparents of E.J. (Elijah Jason) and I am happy to report both mother and baby are doing well, albeit after 24 hours of very hard labor both for the mother, the baby, and the rest of the family who waited at the hospital, but, that is for another part of this newsletter. A synopsis of the visit to Cuba by Jania Taylor is published separately this week, forthcoming events and conventions, results are in for the winners of FLASOMA and the competitions, good and welfare, and more. Do send any news, word of coming events, and anything you wish to share to Maria  (read more) (lea en Español).

A week which has seen the birth of our grandchild, the loss of a friend in Millie Seaton; the loss of Mel as Managing Web Portal Editor, results that have come in from FLASOMA, countless e-mails and phone calls in response to the article on Jania's visit to Cuba, and all of this working from either my Blackberry phone or at very sloooooow dial up speed in Palatka; phooey, I'm tired just thinking about it. I would, however, be very sorely remiss if I didn't thank you for your support and for staying in touch.

Please do continue to send me any information you would like to share. As always, please do keep a dream in the making for you create your tomorrows by what you dream today.

Maria Ibáñez

IN THIS ISSUE

Mel Kientz Steps Down
Lupe Nielsen -- Norm Nielsen being honored, program ads
Word from Colleagues
     Luis Rodriguez
     Carlos Millan del Campo
     Circe Martinez
     Opie Houston
     Bev Bergeron
     Michael Bairefoot
     Craig Dickson
     Windy Douton
     Rosarina
     Greg Phillips
     Americo Lorenzo
A Special Anniversary -- Le Grand David
E. J. Ibáñez -- A Baby is Born
Good and Welfare
     Ali Bongo
     Millie Seaton
Upcoming Conventions
     International Brotherhood of Magicians
    Society of American Magicians
FLASOMA -- Competition results
Birthdays for the week
     John Apperson (13)
     Walter Blaney (11)
     Sterling Dietz (15)
     John Kline (14)
     Loren Lind (22)
     Leilani Mahi (15)
     Mike Miller (14)
     E. Rafael Ortiz (21)
     Greg Phillips (21)
     Pepe Ramirez (17)
     Neils Sayers (16)
Anniversaries

MEL KIENTZ Stepping down as Managing Web Portal Editor

This month's newsletter from the I.B.M. Portal Staff brought the following opening paragraph from Mel Kientz. Having worked with him for the past several months on a close basis, I've seen his dedication and love for the project that the Portal is. I wish him the best as he steps down as Managing Web Portal Editor and thank him for agreeing to stay on to assist as needed. Thank you Mel for your help all these months.

Happy Valentine's Day from the entire staff of The Linking Ring and the I.B.M. Web Portal. This is not an obit -as we say in the trades. I took this job for a 12 month period to see if I could get the overall project working as a viable benefit to the Members of IBM... The concept was to work out any glitches with the electronic wizards at Micro.com in making all of their computer codes and individual processes work in a seamless and elegant manner.There is only so much you can do with internal testing of single modules when it comes to this complicated Web Portal backend. Putting all of the wants and desires intosystem that worked together meant that we had to actually put it up on the World Wide Web and then tackle each individuala! s they appeared. I am confident that the IBM has created a substantial and workable member benefit inwww.magician.org. So, the time has come for me to exit stage left from my position as Managing Web Portal Editor. I did however promise Mr. Smith, our Executive Editor,I would still keep myself available to assist... just not 24/7! Many thanks to all of the contributors!-Mel Kientz, OM

LUPE NIELSEN - Norm Nielsen to be honored, program ads

As you may have seen in the various magical publications, this year's Society of American Magicians' Annual Convention will be held in Buffalo, New York. We can proudly say that this year's Convention will be dedicated to Norm Nielsen. :-D

David Goodsell is designing the program for this event, which will be a very special memento of the occasion.

He has asked us to let all our friends and colleagues know that he is offering black and white ads in the Convention Program. Perhaps you might want to advertise your business or service, or want to send greetings to Norm.

The ads come in three sizes:
Full page - (7x10 inches) $175
1/2 page - (7 x 4-7/8 inches) $90
1/4 page - (3-3/8 x 4-7/8 inches) $50

You can submit your ad as a jpeg or pdf or send David a hard copy so that he can scan it.

The deadline for the ads and payment is April 10. However, please notify David of your intentions as soon as it is convenient so that he can plan the program accordingly.

Payments are to be made by check only to: "The Society of American Magicians"
Please mail your check to:
David Goodsell
329 W. 1750 N.
Orem, UT 84057

You can contact David directly at the above address or at his email: superg13@comcast.net

Thank you so much for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to seeing you in Buffalo!

Best regards,

Lupe
Nielsen Magic

WORD FROM COLLEAGUES

After the blog titled Cuban Connections which appeared last week, the responses received were overwhelming; so much so, that I decided to share some of those e-mails here with you. Thank you for your support and comments!

LUIS RODRIGUEZ - Spain

First of all thank you very much once more for the commendable work you do for the art of magic.

I have just read the article written with regards to a visit by Jania Taylor as she describes her visit to Cuba and her meeting with Willard the Magician.

Seeing the photo of Willard with Jania brought me tremendous happiness.I was very happy to see a picture of my friend and colleague, Willard the Magician, who I haven't seen since 1999 when I left Cuba.This brought me great happiness as for over 10 years he and I worked together and shared stages in Cuba, both in the theater, night clubs, TV and much more.Willard and I met as young men and have known each other for over 30 years.

Please give my regards to your friend Jania and please ask her to extend my regards to Willard when she visits Cuba once more as she has said in her article.

Once again, thank you for the happiness you bring through the news you share.

CARLOS MILLAN DEL CAMPO - Argentina

Thank you for sharing the very beautiful and emotional chronicles of this beautiful magician who traveling to Cuba and making the concerns of magicians in Cuba known to others of us.

Her actions should be recognized and I envy your friend the magical journalist, Jania, the beauty and ability to make that visit.

Congratulations on the article and thank you for sharing it.

CIRCE MARTINEZ - Las Vegas

I am a personal friend of Willard's and so was moved by this article;also I know first hand of the reality of Cubans and Cuban magicians and their needs, Willard was super happy of this I am sure.He is as good as gold, I can tell you she must have had fun with him as Willard is very comical and fun.Thank you for sharing.

OPIE HOUSTON - Austin, Texas

thank you for that beautiful blog and story......Also, although I do not know Jania, please tell her that I love her

BEV BERGERON - Orlando, Florida

Thank you for the Cuban Connection story. Very interesting.

MICHAEL BAIREFOOT - South Carolina

What a great story! Thank you for sharing it.

CRAIG DICKSON - New York

...it did conjure up rememberances of Buena Vista Social Club.I have always wanted to visit.

WINDY DOUTON - Tampa

Thanks and keep up the good work we all love hearing from you.

ROSARINA - Argentina

Congratulations! The Argentinian magicians thank you for your visit and magical assistance to magicians in Cuba!

GREG PHILIPS - Florida

Thanks for the updates in your newsletter. It is always fun to see what is going on with who and where!

AMERICO LORENZO - Miami

Maria, my respect and a big embrace toand all magicians. It makes me happy that Magicians from other countries visit Cuba, I will be always grateful to have met well know Magicians that visited while I lived there, such as Fernando Keops from Mexico, Xevi from Spain and Domenico Dante from Italy and for the new effects they brought which enriched our art ( new for us). They would leave us spellbound , needless to say we also admired their profesional presentations, my respect also goes to them it is obvious that the majority of Magicians in Cuba have no idea about magic in the rest of the world unless they had the fortune to have able to have visited other countries.

It was only then thatrealized that what they had seenbeen around for many years ( as they say in Cuba older than The Morro Castle). Those that knew the art never shared with younger magicians that wanted to get started in the art; for me and and other friends it was very hard , I can tell you thousands of stories that are hard to believe of what we went through to be able to learn a few effects. You had to be a "real Magician "to be able to make effects, the real magic was to be able to find some paint, some wood some cloth etc.

As time passed, I gained experience in Magic, I thank all those magicians that one way or another helped us sothat Magic in our small islandwould advance but let us not confuse our magic with the "Magic "of the regime which is to make everything disappear, without people noticing, or at least looking the other way.

The jist of the whole thing and hoping not to offend anyone is that there is not a single magician that has visited Cuba that has not noticed the conditions there, since more than one has entertained the children and given them something to smile about.

In cuba there were Magic Schools, I say were because at least the School in Camagueydoes not exist anymore; as many other things in the country, things have a way of disappearing and not by magicians. Out of these schools came out many a good magician and I hope many more will someday come out.

I do not want to tire you out, but I pray there will always be someone that helps and will keep helping those who live in the island where all have to be "magicians" to survive. I thank thosewho one way or another helped me by teaching me a magic effect or two .

 

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED
"Le Grand David" Celebrates 32nd Anniversary Performance

Beverly, Mass. - On Sunday, February 22, the Le Grand David Spectacular Magic Company will give its 32nd anniversary performance since its premiere on February 20, 1977. The performance of "Le Grand David and his own Spectacular Magic Company" will take place at the Cabot St. Cinema Theatre (286 Cabot Street). Curtain time is 3:00 p.m.

Between February 8 and March 1, there will be a performance every Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Cabot St. Cinema Theatre.

And during school vacation week, at the historic Larcom Theatre (13 Wallis Street), there will be performances of "An Anthology of Stage Magic" on Thursday, February 19th. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m.

Now in its fourth decade
Two Different Shows - Two Vintage Theatres
Nothing quite like it may ever happen again.

Ticket prices for either show are $24 for adults and $14 for children 11-years-old and under. For complete information on all "Le Grand David" performances call the box office at (978) 927-3677 or go online to www.legranddavid.com

Performance Schedule - February 2009

Sun, Feb 8 Cabot3:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 15 Cabot3:00 p.m.
Thu, Feb 19 Larcom7:30 p.m.Sun, Feb 22Cabot3:00 p.m.
Sun, Mar 1 Cabot3:00 p.m.

E.J. Ibáñez  -- A baby is born  

 Our cup is full,
our hearts are glad
thanks to the beautiful baby
our son and wife just had.

Elijah Jason
                                       Born, February 11, 2009
                                       5:14 AM, 7 Lbs. 9.8 oz, 20 1/2 inches long

GOOD AND WELFARE

ALI BONGO - Update from Jack Delvin

Ali is now in a recovery ward of a London hospital. Peace and quiet are the order of the day. Cards and E-Mails will be relayed to Ali.

Cards: - Ali Bongo,
              8 Poynders Court,
              Poynders Road,
                                                     London, SW4 8NL

E-Mails: - ALI BONGO

MILLIE SEATON - Broken wand

It is with a very sad and heavy heart that I tell you of the passing of one of the most gracious and lovely ladies I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting. Millie Seaton, wife of almost six decades to "Doc" Seaton, embodied everything that was gentleness and kindness. All who were fortunate to meet her will agree that we have indeed lost a great friend and a gentle soul. May she rest in peace and may the good Lord watch over and give strength to Doc and the rest of the Seaton family as they deal with what is an immeasurable loss.

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

International Brotherhood of Magicians
June 30-July 4, 2009

Why attend Nashville and the I.B.M. Convention which will convene from June 30th to July 4th in Nashville?

First, there's the international line up of top notch performers which have been booked by Dale Salwak, not just a legendary magician, but a man with a keen eye for talent. Second, there's the tradition of the I.B.M. providing the "World's Greatest Annual Magic Convention on Earth". Third, there's the outstanding facility that has been selected by the convention committee, where everything takes place under one roof in the world renowned Gaylord Opryland.

Could there be more? You bet! This is your opportunity to come, enjoy a terrific convention, see great international performers, attend lectures by some of the leading minds in the magic world, attend a banquet which is always a gastronomical delight, spend time in a dealer's room which is laid out and planned with the conventioneers in mind, and, you will have an opportunity to thank International President Joan Caesar for all the work she has so diligently done this year on behalf both of magic and of the I.B.M. and to be among the first to welcome the new International President of the I.B.M., a gentleman in every sense of the word, incoming President, Jack White.

Here is what Mr. Jack White has to say about this year's coming convention: "More new names added to an already star studded list of performers for those attending what is fast becoming a sensational magic convention. Nashville and Opryland makes this destination a true family vacation experience with lots to do both before, during and after The Greatest Annual Magic Convention on Earth.This is a location you can take the entire family and enjoy a great vacation." Jack White, President Elect, International Brotherhood of Magicians. www.magician.org

Society of American Magicians
July 15-18, 2009

This was just received from S.A.M. Dean, George Schindler, PNP, Publicity Chair

How to stimulate the magic economy
Save $40.00: Register for the SAM convention before March 1
The great convention in Buffalo convenes July 15-16-17-18
Register early at the pre registration price ofonly $ 210.10
Create new jobs: creates work for more than 15 magic acts in both close-upstage...
not including contest acts employees,restaurant employees, bartenders, magic dealers,stage hands, theater employees....and the bus driver-and The Greg Frewin Show - (helps Canada's economy as well)
Enjoy your vacation time with old and new friends. Join in honoring Norm Nielsen
Register on line at http://www.magicsam.com/

FLASOMA - Results of Contests

Grand Prix in Close-up: Tarnecci - Perú

Close-up magic:   1. Diego Bolloqui - Argentina
                            2. Gino Taranto - Argentina
                            3. César Tapia - Chile
Card magic:          1. Alex Linian - Perú
                             2. Daniel Giandoni - Venezuela
                             3. Plopper - Chile
General magic:       1. (Not Awarded)
                             2. Henry Vargas - Brasil
                             3. Kania - Colombia/ Fabio Malagón - Colombia (TIE)
Manipulation:         1. Caio Ferreira - Brasil
                             2. Farfani - Chile
                             3. Naúl Restrepo - Colombia
Parlour magic:       1. Harakirini - Japón (UPI)
                             2. Claire - Chile / Nino - Argentina (TIE)
                             3. Larry - Argentina / Duo Hitman (Uruguay)
Mentalism:             1. (not awarded)
                             2. Ferpa - Spain
                             3. Skorpio - Chile
Theme magic:        1. (not awarded)
                             2. Duo Germano - Argentina
                             3. (not awarded)
Comedy magic:      1. (not awarded)
                             2. Bruno Edgardo - Argentina
                             3. (not awarded)
Youth magic:         1. Ignacio Luna - Argentina
                             2. Black Tin - Argentina
                             3. Agustín Silva - Chile
Children's:             1. Nino - Argentina
                             2. Ariel Jr.- Uruguay
                             3. Floppy - Venezuela / Issac - Ecuador (TIE)
Inventions & improvements:
                             1. Rafael Baltresca - Brasil / Ernesto Melero- Venezuela (TIE)
                             2. (not awarded)
                             3. George Iglesias - Perú

BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 9 THROUGH FEBRUARY 22

John Apperson (13) - Walter Blaney (11) - Sterling Dietz (15) - John Kline (14)
Loren Lind (22) - Leilani Mahi (15) - Mike Miller (14) - E. Rafael Ortiz (21)
Greg Phillips (21) - Pepe Ramirez (17) - Neils Sayers (16)

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear friends,
Happy birthday to you!

ANNIVERSARIES

Jay and Maria Ibáñez 36th Anniverary (Feb. 17th)