Below is some footage I recorded for my monthly Magical Moments newsletter (You can sign up for it here).

Kelowna Magician Leif David from Ali K. Zam Productions performs Magic on the Streets.

Many people are afraid to use a microphone. Somehow the sound of their own voice amplified terrifies them to their core. You’ll hear excuses like “I know how to project” or “I’ll just talk louder” but inevitably either end up shouting, or they speak loudly for the first few minutes but eventually tone fall back to a conversational level and nobody can hear them anymore losing the attention of the audience. Both are terrible situations and its especially sinful when there’s a microphone available. Here’s a few rules to using a microphone:

Rule #1: If you haven’t taken vocal training then you don’t know how to project your voice properly. If you have taken vocal training, then you already know to use a microphone. If there’s a microphone available, USE IT. You should be able to speak in a normal conversational tone and have the audience hear you.

Rule #2: Do a sound check. Remember that your sound check won’t be perfect because the acoustics will change once the room is filled with people. You’ll need to do a second sound check moments before the presentation begins to make sure that the levels are correct.

Rule #3: Know how to turn the microphone on , off, muted, and un-muted before you go on stage. Turn your microphone ON and to the Un-Muted position before you get on stage so you can start your presentation swiftly without fumbling.

Rule #4: When using a handheld microphone don’t hold it so close to your mouth like it’s an ice cream cone. Your voice should project towards the microphone but not directly into it.

Rule #5: When walking around with a microphone avoid going directly in front of the speakers. Walking directly in front of speakers is likely to cause annoying feedback.

Rule #6: Remember, a microphone is going to make your voice LOUD. Embrace it, love it, and use it to your advantage to create powerful presentations. If they can’t hear you, they aren’t paying attention and then you’re wasting everybody’s time.

And please… don’t go upon stage and tap the microphone and say “Is this thing on?” I hate that.

By following these few simple rules you’ll look like a pro the next time you have to stay a few words… or a lot of words!

In this months issue of “MAGIC Preview” from MAGIC Magazine it looks like David Copperfield is going to be featured in the next issue based on the cover. (Click “more” to read the snippet):

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I originally posted this years Westside Daze Photo’s on my Facebook account, but from my stats it looks like lots of you want more Westside Daze stuff! Here’s some photo’s taken at my performance at the Okanagan Business Excellence booth and my stage show sponsored by TD Canada Trust.

I had a great time performing at Westside Daze 2009. The weather was perfect for all the guests, but honestly it was too hot for my stage show! It was quite uncomfortable, but I made it through the show just fine. Those 30 minutes on stage usually go by so fast, but in really hot heat it felt like an hour! Its shows like that where I’m glad I have solid material that I know inside out. The audience was great with a nice mixture of adults and kids.

Here’s a few photo’s taken from my performance yesterday at Peachland’s Canada Day Celebration down at Heritage Park on the beach. The weather was fantastic and the audience was even fantastic-er!! (I know that isn’t a word, but they were awesome).

Next year I’m going to set myself up so that behind me is the lake instead of the gazebo. Those photo’s will be killer. Plus it will give the audience a nice view too

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Below is an article that I included in my last Magical Moments eNewsletter. For more articles like this please subscribe.

As an event planner you and your group will come up with many ideas on activities and events for your guests to partake including Raffles to Contests. But not knowing the difference between a contest and a raffle is a game you DON’T want to play…

In BC promotional contests are not considered ‘gaming’ — the difference being in gaming you ‘pay to play’ whereas contests are free.

If you plan to host ticket raffles including 50/50 draws, sports players drafts, rubber duck races, and cake walks and other similar activities your group will need to acquire a gaming license. Depending on how much money you plan to raise, and how your organization is structured.

For more information on which license you need, as well as how to apply, visit the Gaming and Information Services website.

My friend Jack who’s a fellow member of the Okanagan Society of Magicians sent me this cool video clip the other day.

I hadn’t seen it before, but I guess its slowly making its rounds through emails at the moment.

Magically turning a small square of aluminum foil into a diamond ring.
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On Sunday I was invited to perform at the Parkinson Rec Centre Family Fun Day 2009. There were a ton of activities at the event… they really went all out! For any family its one of the must-attend activities of the year. They had stations all around the entire building, a stage with entertainment, and they even kept the parking under control with officers at intersections around the building.

Before the show I was concerned that it was going to be way too hot. I ended up bringing a big fan that I setup on the stage behind me, but the weather actually turned out to be perfect! I didn’t even need the fan. The stage/tent was pretty far away from the audience, so I left the “stage” and got right up close with the audience. It was a little hotter right out in the sunlight, but as you can tell by the pictures below, the audience had a blast and so did I.

This past weekend I performed at the Love of Wildlife Children’s Annual Art Show. This show was so much fun! It was a great mix of kids and adults, and everybody there was ready to have a great time.

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