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I’ve always loved the stars and sky ever since I was young. I’ve always liked to just lay down during the summer and watch the stars while letting my mind drift away. I can remember when Hale-bopp was flying through the sky. From our second story balcony on our house you could see the comet just above the mountain line. It’s probably the most amazing thing I’ll ever see happen in the skies above me.

I bring it up, because unless you’re living under a rock (or not in North America), then you must have seen the Lunar Eclipse tonight. I was driving downtown to pick up my mom from the airport and so I got a pretty good view of the moon as it reached the eclipse. Apparently the next one will be in 2010. Which is also the year of the Olympics in Vancouver- so that should be extra special. I had a link to a bunch of images of the eclipse tonight on a facebook group, but I seem to have lost it. If you’re interested I’m sure pictures will be easy to find on google though.

I can’t wait for the summer. It’s finally starting to warm up a bit, and I’m looking forward to doing some shows outdoors! I’ve already been in contact with a few people for some festival shows this summer. I can’t wait!!

I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to update and I’m sorry. Last week I met up with another local magician Landon who’s just scored himself a job doing some table magic at a local restaurant. We met up for dinner and together we worked on his material and went over a bunch of tips for working the tables. I had a blast and I can’t wait for him to get out there and perform.

I also had 4 shows last weekend, and another 2 next weekend as well.

Even though I’ve been busy the past few days, I’ve also been diligently working on a new backup system for my records. That way, if my harddrive crashes, house burns down, etc, etc, I still have a copy of all the shows I have to do I may not have my house anymore, but I’ll still have my show dates.

Also, I’m looking forward to tomorrow night. I get to get see somebody else’s magic show, Ted and Marion Outerbridge will be performing at the Rotary Center for the Arts. During the intermission for the show, look out for the invitation letter to join the Kelowna Magic Club! It was written by your’s truly

Again, I love magic. I just have to shout it out to the world. This weekend I had a show in Maple Ridge BC. I’ll talk about the show itself in my next though.

Today I got a chance to visit Clownin Around Magic Store in Grandville Island. I’ve only ever been to just a few magic shops. We got lost on our way though and we made it there just before they closed. I was able to pick up a couple things I didn’t want to order online because of the size. There wasn’t really anything too special but Joe who was running the counter stayed a few minutes after closing and helped me with a couple questions. It’s sad that physical magic stores are a dying breed, I never got the chance to hang out in a magic shop like lots of the stories i hear about from the old timers It’s all web stores, newsletters, and hyped up media clips. Oh, don’t worry Aaron, I’ve still got an order for you too.

I don’t really get a chance to see other performers very often. It reminds me of the PCAM convention. They had 2 big screens so everybody in the room could see fine. Even though sometimes I couldn’t tell what was going on, or my visability was limited, I chose to watch the people live instead of the screens. I can watch magicians at home on DVD or on my computer, but I dont get to see them live. Often the routines were things I had already seen on Tv/DVD before, and I didn’t go all the way to Calgary to watch it again on a screen, even if it was “live footage” heh.

Anyways, thats all for now. I’m posting from the hotel room right now, but once I get back home I have some photo’s I”ll show of my show and some other stuff that happened on my trip.

Hey guys, If you’re new to my site you’ll notice a new script that puts little box above the posts asking if you’d like to sign up for my RSS feed. Please sign up, and I’ll post often, and I promise you lots of delicious magic news. Yummy!

To show you I’m serious, here’s a picture of a cake…

As we all know it’s hard to distinguish the good from the bad when buying magic. I’ve put together a list of recent purchases that I enjoyed and thought to be worthwhile. Although these won’t suit everybody, I certainly enjoyed them. You can find more information about all of these by doing a quick search on the magic café.

• Exploring Magical Presentations by Eugene Burger (“Fading Coin” is much better live!) [review] [ Buy ]
• Bill Malone – Here I go again. Vol 1-3 [ Buy ] (Great card magic for any level)
• Paul Potassy – World Renowned Magic [ Buy ] (A living legend!)

I’ve also been going back and practicing some things that I had once started to learn but then forgot about. Its nice to pick a slight back up and start practicing again because you aren’t fumbling quite as much as before, its a good feeling! I’m trying to put down my cards more often and practice other stuff, but cards just have this magical allure about them, I can’t seem to put them down for any length of time. Between handling cards and the weather my hands are super dry too, arg.

I’m constantly trying to updates my websites and provide the best information I can. Today I did just that, I updated my birthday party tips page after an experience today. The new tip reads:

Try to avoid inviting children who are sick. A coughing or sniffling child could easily pass it onto your entire family and the rest of the kids. Also, a sick child will take the attention away from your child’s birthday party and distract from the magic show.

That comes from direct experience! Today at a show a little girl wasn’t feeling too good and she sneezed all over the place. It became distracting when the host was helping her clean up. The girl looked flush and almost looked like she was going to puke. She was insistent though that she wasn’t going to. The show went on without a hitch at all, but I can just imagine it now. A child becomes sick and vomits all over the living room during a show! So here’s the tip, Don’t invite kids to your childs birthday party if they’re sick.

Here’s another tip for the older people reading this blog. Don’t goto school if you’re sick. You’ll get everybody else sick and the teacher. At my college in my program it was so bad. People would come to school sick all the time because if you missed class you’d be so far behind it was impossible to catch up.

I love performing magic because it lets me do things that ordinary people don’t get to do. Two nights ago I had an amazing opportunity to help someone PROPOSE to his girlfriend! Lets call him David and Jessica. David and Jessica had seen me at a Christmas party back in December and they both loved my performance. He thought it would be the perfect way to do something unique and to pop the question.

Quite honestly, I was really nervous about it all. What was I going to perform? How was it all going to work? We talked back and forth by email and phone and arranged all the details in about 2 days.

The plan was he was going to propose over dinner at “The Fixx Cafe” just after they received their drinks. I would be at the bar having a drink until the right moment when he was to signal me over.

I arrived super early and brought my girlfriend along as well. We sat around playing with cards and showing some of the wait staff and the bartender some tricks.

They arrived, ordered drinks, and he motioned me over just as planned. I was really nervous- I never get that nervous anymore. I knew what was a stake though- they were going to remember this performance for the rest of their lives! I went up and pretended I didn’t quite remember which show they were from and I asked if they wanted to see some magic. They both eagerly agreed and I showed them some of my classic performance items. It felt great to perform. As soon as I went into my material I was calm, collected, a zen moment. Cards jumping around to impossible locations, flash mathematical calculations, and metal softening and melting between my fingertips- I was born to do this.

During my performance he made lots of comments and asked lots of questions, He was clearly nervous, nobody ever makes that many comments. But I was in the zen mastering the situation, nothing could shake me now. I finished my last regular item and prepared to launch into the big trick! I asked if they would like to see one more trick before I left, something new.

This was the big moment. I could see David reaching into his pocket and pulling out the ring box, not that Jessica noticed. She was busy listening to me set-up the trick. David knew exactly how the trick was going to work, we had discussed it at length that morning. I adapted a trick that I’ve only performed a few times especially for this occasion. She would win an envelope that “contained a description of a prize that she could take home and keep forever and ever”. She joked “Maybe it’s you inside” while looking to me, “That wouldn’t be a very good prize” I said as I laughed. I completed the routine and she won the correct envelope. I then excused myself from the table and instructed them to open the envelope together.

She had no idea what was in store!

Inside the envelope was, of course, a description of her boyfriend and how they are perfect for each other. She opened it up, and read it out. He pulled out the ring box, set it on the table and pushed it towards her. He then got down on one knee beside the table.

At this point I was back over at the bar with my girlfriend, the bartender, and the entire waitstaff. We all watched on. We were too far away to hear, but she suddenly through her arms around him and began to kiss. And kiss. And kiss. Another table in the back corner began to clap. He then went back to his chair, and that’s when she got up and went over and sat on his lap.

She said yes.

I’m just glad she won the right prize!

Just by searching “magic” or “magic tricks” into google and you’ll find lots of websites, and nearly all of the suck! But, never fear! With a bit of digging you can find lots of information on magic, weather you’re looking for magic news, new magic tricks, or even the latest magician gossip. Here is my list of the top magic websites online:

1. Without a doubt the top magic website online is www.iTricks.com. They cover basically everything going in the magic community at large. In fact, they cover so much, that sometimes you can hardly tell where the magic part comes in Dispite this, I check their website everyday and I never miss a post.
2. Coming in at number two is the highly controversial www.themagiccafe.com. Easily the best resource when looking for specific information on something magical when you don’t have something better in your own collection. Lots of the time they’ll mention sources that you might even already own, or can borrow from somebody, or get from the library, etc etc. I use this site all the time when I’m researching something new, or before I make a purchase.
3. I’m going to give #3 to www.Magic.org. This is where I buy almost all of my magic from. Their customer support is helpful, and I think the site was even designed by my Internet friend Ryan Philling. Go Ryan! Also, if you sign up for their newsletter, every couple of weeks they run a special where you can get 25% off everything, or other specials. (But shhh, it’s a secret!)
4. Here’s another blog that I read everyday. It’s Magic Unlimited run by Tim Ellis and Sue-Ann Webber alllll the way from the land down under. Although not _every_ post is magic related, he always dishes up some good stuff. He also runs the “magic fakers” page that everybody links to online. He manages a list of all the copy-cat tricks out there so that you stay away and give your money to the inventor. I mentioned Tim in my last post too, I posted the same movie he did
5. Love em, or hate him, Ellusionist has made a splash in the community. Although I think most of their stuff is overpriced, watching their magic trailers is entertaining. For the beginner magician, there’s better things to spend your money on rather than a $25 one trick DVD, but the production value on them is great, and if nothing else, again, it’s entertainment for an hour.
6. I’m giving slot six to MYSELF! It’s my blog, so I can rank things however I like. Check out www.alikzam.com and you can see all the different types of shows I offer, past clients, and all of that sort of stuff. I also have an interview clip on that page, hopefully soon though that website is going to be changed. I’ve got something in the works and I’m not going to reveal what it is just yet. Hopefully it’ll happen within the next month or two. But, in part that website will be changed, and the current interview thats on that page will be edited down into something else along with other footage.
7. Some people are going to disagree with me on this one- well- half agree/half disagree. YouTube is without a doubt a place where you can find some of the worlds best magic, some good magic, and some awful awful magic (sadly it took me like 2 seconds to find that). Please please please, don’t use youtube as a place to learn magic! And, don’t use youtube as a place to get feedback. thanks
8. Although not magic related, Seth Godin inspires me to work harder on my business, my magic, and on life in general. More often than not he challenges you to excel at what you do and become great while doing it.

That rounds up my list for now, If I think of any more I may come back later and edit this post. I hope you found something of use! Cheers.

Ted and Marion Outerbridge are coming back to Kelowna again this year in February at the Rotary Center for the Arts. There will be two shows, one on February 12th that’s a school matinee. The second show will be on February 13th in the evening. Tickets are available from the Rotary Center for the Arts. I don’t know how much tickets cost, but, I saw their show last year and it’s worth whatever the ticket cost is. Also, I heard a secret that they are going to levitate somebody during their show this year! I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I guess we’ll find out together.

Also, if you’re a beginner magician Ted is going to hold a 1 hour magic class. Here is more information:

ATTN: GRADE 7-12 ASPIRING MAGICIANS! VERY SPECIAL OFFER

The Rotary Centre for the Arts is proud to offer a special free magic class for middle and high school students with an interest in magic. Hosted by master magician/ illusionist Ted Outerbridge, this workshop is a one-hour, hands-on clinic that develops skills and increases the magician’s repertoire. It will be held in the boardroom of the RCA from 10 am to 11 am on February 12^th, 2008.

We ask that if you know of students who would be interested in this event, to please pass this information on to them. Registration can be made with the contact person below. In the case of wide appeal, a select few will be chosen from each school. Media will be at the workshop, and may want to interview one or two of the participants on their experience.

The workshop is free; Ted has offered his time before the school matinee at the RCA for no charge. Only thirty students maximum will be admitted, so act quickly.

To register, please contact:

Margaret Gobie

Community Program Coordinator

Rotary Centre for the Arts

421 Cawston Avenue

V1Y 6Z1

Phone: (250) 717-5304 x 111

Also, Each month a bunch of us local magicians get together and talk magic. Anybody who has a serious interest in magic is welcome. For more information on the Okanagan Society of Magician please email me at alikzamnews@gmail.com.

I’m sure most of you are familiar have heard of Cirque de Soleil before, but never Cirque Sublime. Well, they’ve both have circus type stunts and tricks, along with rhythmic music and dramatic theatrical elements. I don’t think they’re related at all, but they are kind of similar. Maybe in a big city you could find a run of Cirque de Soleil, but not here in the Okanagan Vally. But you WILL find Cirque Sublime! I got myself two tickets for the show in Vernon last Friday and it was great!

All of the tricks were mesmerizing and the whole show was just so well done. I was shocked and surprised by so many of the stunts. I have seen many of them online on youtube and things like that, but its another whole thing to watch it live. If you ever get the chance, go and see it you wont be disappointed.

The pictures weren’t taken by me, but were found online by a fellow who was at the show in Toronto.

The official website for Cirque Sublime has more pictures and more information as well.

Hey guys and gals,

Well, Sadly summer is over but I have to say that was one of the best summers ever! Between magic shows I went out and soaked up as much sun as I could.

I think Fall is my favorite season though. It reminds me of Halloween, Magic, and My Birthday! Possibly the greatest things ever. Finding interesting things to do on your birthday is always a challenge when its cold out. I’m looking forward to performing at lots of birthdays!

I’m sorry I haven’t updated this site as much as I would like, I’ve just been so busy with lots of other projects. I did manage to add one more optical illusion. Check it out.

I’m also in the midst of updating www.alikzam.com right now too. So that should be online in the next couple weeks.

Keep checking back for updates! Soon I’ll have a newsletter too so we can stay in touch even easier.

Till then. Stay Magical.
Ali K. Zam

Hey guys,

I’ve been working really hard and I’m busier than ever performing. In fact, this summer I’ve got a bunch of public performances. Just check out my public shows page and see where I’m going to be performing in your area.

“Public Show: Ali K. Zam will be performing at the Kelowna Blood Clinic (103-1865 Dilworth Drive) for the Canadian Blood Donor Week event on June 13th. To donate blood call Tammi at (250)448-4022. More information…

Public Show: Ali K. Zam will be performing at Westside Daze on the main stage in the Johnson Bently Park on [update] June 29th at 9:00. Come down and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.More information…

“

There’s also some other shows that I’m performing at later in the summer, so check back for updates as the details are confirmed.

To the magic club I’ve added a whole bunch of fun optical illusions to try. I’m also looking at finally password protecting this site and adding a bunch of new magic tricks. Those updates will be coming in the future though.

I almost forgot, soon I’ll even have a newsletter that will come directly into your email! So look for that soon too.

Until next time,
Ali K. Zam