749: Champions of Magic with Hollie England and Alex McAleer

Since opening in the U.K. in 2013, the Champions of Magic show has entertained nearly a half million people with their live performances. From London to New York City to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, this troupe of performers continues to pack theaters and make the news. Although some of the acts have changed as they have evolved over the years, the troupe has essentially remained as five outstanding performers and currently features Young & Strange (Richard Young and Sam Strange), Fernando Velasco, Hollie England and Alex McAleer.

This week we sit down with two of the Champions, Hollie England and Alex McAleer who talk about their own experience on the road plus fill in details about the “missing cast” who couldn’t be with us for this podcast. There are some pretty amazing stories including the one from Hollie about being hit in the face with an arrow that went amiss during a crossbow act.

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316: The End of MAGIC Magazine? Plus: Thommy Ten & Amelie Van Tass - Joined at the Mind

First place winners for Mentalism at the 2015 FISM Championships, Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass have "wowed" crowds all over the world with their two-person clairvoyant act. Currently starring in "The Illusionists 1903" touring magic show, they were finalists in the 11th season of America's Got Talent (sic) television show.

But topping this podcast, we have a chat with Stan Allen who brings us up to date with the latest "bombshell" announcement. With the August 2016 issue, MAGIC Magazine marked the end of an era with its "last" MAGIC Magazine after publishing 300 issues over the past 25 years. But rather than going out "cold turkey", Stan Allen has a plan to reinvent the magic magazine and publish just 25 more issues over the next 20 months with a new publication: MAGIC Legacy. These will not be available digitally, but only by hard copy and it will be a limited run. So if you don't subscribe, then you may miss out entirely if you think you will "jump in" later.

Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass on their first outing on 2016 "America's Got Talent" (sic)

With perfect lightness the Austrian and German Champions of Magic make you discover a fabulous world by their art of mindreading and unique illusions. Smart, bright and charming! Get in contact with Thommy Ten & Amélie today! www.thommyten.com +436766213176

00:01:41- Stan Allen brings us up to date with the latest news and all the details on his new venture: MAGIC Legacy. This limited run publication was announced during MAGIC Live! last week. Many people signed up for the new magazine at the convention, but others will be given the chance to subscribe and to pply the balance of their subscription payment towards a limited time price for MAGIC Legacy.

00:18:17 - Later in this podcast, Thommy and Amelie talk about their experience on "America's Got Talent" TV show and what it's like backstage. They also talk about meeting and starting to work together in Austria. This is a couple who practically finish each others' sentences...but what else would you expect?

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293: Fay Presto - From the Distaff Side of Magic

Fay Presto is one of Great Britain's foremost magician having earned plaudits from her peers and public alike including Sit Paul McCartney...yes, that Sir Paul McCartney and former Beatle. She has won The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year among so many other awards and is currently touring with the Champions of Magic throughout the U.K. and abroad. This ensemble group of magician predates "The Illusionists" and all other touring magic shows that feature several magicians.

I had a chance to chat with Fay during the recent F.F.F.F. convention while we were in the "doughnut room" which means that there is a lot of ambient background noise. It's not too distracting but adds to the ambiance as she discusses working with the Champions of Magic, performing for Sr Paul McCarrney, Paul Daniels, restaurant magic in England, being a woman in a "man's world" of magic, the importance of tailoring costumes to have adequate pockets (most women's pockets are not made for actually using, but more for fashion), advice for girls/women getting into magic, and much more.

Time stamps for the product reviews (all are video downloads this week):

00:45:53 - "Mind Journey" by Luca Volpe is a Mental Epic effect using a stack of business cards and utilizing several subtleties that takes this classic in a new direction. Don't be put off by the simplicity of this. Try it as I did and convince yourself how powerful it is. RHighest recommendation of products reviewed this week..

00:49:35 - :INKSIDE: by Rizki Nanda is a cute little walk-around trick using a matchbox. A quick shake of the box and the writing on the matchbox sleeve changes. Fun, clever, but a bit "angley". Second highest recommendation of tricks this week.

00:52:00 - "Riperation" by Andrew Salas is another variation on the classic Torn & Restored Card. This is a nice variation with the card being signed and fully restored. The gimmick you make can be put in an ordinary deck then removed after you have performed it.

00:53:29 - "Sweet 360" by Michael Scanzello is a transposition of sugar into a "ball of sugar: then back to sugar granules. It's not my "cup of tea" nor do I think it is something that I will perform, but you can be the judge. This is a FREE download so you can get excited about Michael's other available effects: Pi Ring and Insidious.