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In a previous post I mentioned that my Dad is a Kelowna Shrine Klown known as “Rusty”. Last Saturday the Kelowna Shrine Klowns were doing a hot dog sale outside the IGA in Rutland to raise money for charities. Between two shows I had that day I took a minute to stop by and see what was going on. It isn’t often that my dad and I get pictures of us together in our costumes so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In the background there you can see the Shriner “Stage Van”. During parades and things like that the clowns ride around in it and play different instruments while music plays.

Thats me playing around Both of us are kind of squinting in the photo’s because the sun was right in our eyes.

When people book me for a birthday party magic show, I send them a PDF that they can print off, fill in the information and send out. Its great because everybody needs invitations, and printing them off yourself at home is so fast, so easy, so cheep, and can be fun too.

I’ve decided to share that joy with the entire world by putting my birthday party invitation online. Just click the download link to open up the PDF. I hope to design more and when I do I’ll post them up on that website.

Actually, the invitations aren’t even on my Birthday Guide right now, but once I make a few more I’m going to include a link there as well. My guide is a work in progress! I did a birthday party just a few days ago for an 11 year old girl and at the start of the party the girls were making crafts with beads. It was the perfect activity for a birthday party so in a future edit of my guide I’m going to include that as well.

Yesterday I was invited to perform at a Volunteer Appreciation dinner in Penticton. I knew from when I took the booking that the venue was going to be difficult because:
A) It was in a long room with tables down the sides
B) I was going to be surrounded.

Thankfully I knew about these potential issues before the show so I was able to plan for them. My sound system and wireless microphone made sure that even if at points they weren’t able to see what was going on (since I’d be performing surrounded) at least everyone would be able to hear what was going on. I was able to perform most of my standard act, but I made a few minor tweaks since I’d be surrounded. I changed a few routines to things that were a bit more visual with longer “magic moments” so everyone could see.

I felt really great about the show. The audience was simply amazing, and lots of people came up to me after the show to tell me how much they enjoyed it.

Here’s what the event coordinator had to say:

“Thank you so very much such a professional performance, I have been flooded with phone calls from volunteers thanking me and commenting on how well everything was ~ especially your act! We all felt we were on a cruise ship! I will be recommending you to 5 other facilities!”

Last weekend was busy with shows. I had two shows on Saturday in Kelowna, and a show on Sunday in Kamloops. Two of the three shows were birthday parties and they both got Magic Goodie Bags with the show. I love when people get the goodie bags because the kids always get so excited. Its fun teaching the kids the magic trick inside. They love playing around with it and figuring out how it works. After I finished one of the birthdays this weekend, one of the girls said “This was the best birthday party I’ve ever been to!”

After the show in Kamloops I met up with another magician Clinton W. Gray. We just sat around talking magic and showing each other tricks back and forth. I’ve been working on a new routine for my birthday party show and Clinton gave me some suggestions and jokes that really add to the routine. I’m excited to work out the routine and get it into my show. We ended up going out for dinner as well, and if you’ve never been to dinner with a couple magicians at your table you’re really missing out on a unique experience. By the end of dinner we had done tricks with milk creamers, drinking straws, coins, pens, napkins, sugar packets- just about everything on the table! We actually made a pretty big mess, but we’re good customers so we cleaned it all up before we left. After dinner it was getting pretty late but we started working on some rubber band magic. My girlfriend Melissa snapped a few photo’s as we showed each other different effects.

We finally called it quits just a little after 9:00pm for our two and a half hour drive back home to Westbank.

All in all it was a great weekend, and I’m looking forward to more magic sessions with Clinton W. Gray.

This summer I’ll be performing at Trepanier Manor for a wedding. I’ll be entertaining the kids at the party after the reception. Today I went up to the site to sign the contract for the show and to see where the wedding will be held.

Right now the site is just a parking lot and everything else is tree’s. They just started building this week. None of the buildings will be ready before the wedding though. You can see a 360 view panoramic photo of the wedding site overlooking Okanagan Lake and Peachland. The view is just amazing. For the wedding they’re setting up a tent, installing grass, and even a deck for everyone to dance! Now thats a cool wedding.

I love performing at weddings and I’m sure this show will be no exception.

Ever since my sister began working at the Kelowna Food Bank and I’ve learned lots about the issues they deal with. More than just food assistance they also help bring awareness to healthy eating and lifestyle among other things.

In fact, April is Dental Health Month. The Kelowna Food Bank and Success by 6 put together a newsletter each month, you can download and print the April Dental Health Newsletter by clicking here.

Okay, so why do I bring any of this up on a magic blog? A magician by the name of Steve Trash put together 10 videos on making healthy choices. I’m going to post 1 video over the next 10 days.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I found this video on Boing boing awhile ago with a man creating balloon hats for people in a nursing home.

A few years ago, on Christmas day my dad and I used to go down to the Hospital and perform. My dad is a professional clown and has been performing since before I was born. Shriner clowns go out to help raise money for Children’s Hospitals and things like that. Anyways, So on Christmas day the hospital tries and sends as many of the people home as they can. So, those that are in the hospital are usually in pretty rough shape. Sometimes you’d get people who really didn’t want to see anything, sometimes you’d end up with people who didn’t care otherwise, but it was the last group that I found so interesting- those people who let you in and you made their day a little brighter with a bit of clowning around or some magic.

Today I decided to see if anybody in kelowna uses craigslist or kijiji for local entertainment. I put up a listing for myself up on craigslist (kelowna services) and up on Kijiji (again under kelowna services). *crosses fingers*

Check it out, and feel free to pass my website onto anybody who has an event coming up that might be able to use my services. Thanks

“To experience the mysterious is the source of all true art and science” – Albert Einstein

Today I sent out my March Magical Moments Newsletter. If you aren’t on my list and would like to join send me a quick email.

In this months newsletter I talked about a neat “body trick”, some birthday party decoration tips, a free giveaway contest, and some magic news with what I’ve been up to. I include contests and special offers that you wont find here on my blog, so don’t forget to sign up.

In the weekend edition of The Daily Courier known as “The Okanagan Sunday” Dorothy Brotherton included me in an article about young entrepreneurs! I’ve scanned the article, just click here to read the whole thing.

The resemblance is uncanny.

Here’s a picture that Luke drew for me when I performed at his 6th birthday party. This show was excellent, the family had seen me several times before, and they had some awesome decorations (all three pictures are from this party!).

I figured out the nail puzzle! Only took me another minute or so haha. I feel accomplished.