Coming Feb. 12: Jason Ladanye Free Lecture

On Feb. 12, Jason Ladanye will be lecturing at Ring 216. He’ll be performing all new, never before seen material from his new book, Game Changer. He’ll be teaching a few classics from his first book, Confident Deceptions as well as a few unpublished effects that will be part of his third book! Here’s a chance to see the material before it appears in print.

Jason has appeared on ABC’s 20/20 and Inside Edition exposing crooked gambling scams. He’s performed at Turning Stone, Mohegan Sun, and Foxwoods Casinos and consulted for the Broadway show Cheers Live on Stage. He’s currently touring with his new two-man show: Mind Games. Jason will share some of the material from the show that’s selling out theaters!

In this lecture, Jason will be teaching mostly self-working effects, or tricks that use a few very common sleights. Jason proves that you can still achieve mind-blowing miracles without relying on knuckle busting sleights.

In addition to teaching hard-hitting and powerful card effects from his latest set of lecture notes, Jason will be sharing insights on misdirection, sleights, spectator management, character development, scripting, practicing, rehearsing, performing, dealing with hecklers, effect construction, booking gigs, marketing, and much much more.

DVDs, books, lecture notes, close-up mats and practice mirrors will all be available after the lecture. Don’t miss it!

Date: Feb. 12, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Yu-Ai Kai Senior Community Center

THIS LECTURE IS A FREE GIFT FOR PAID MEMBERS OF IBM RING 216. Non-members can join the Ring at the meeting for $25.

Meeting Report: January 8, 2020 - Carisa Hendrix Lecture

Say you have a three-month residency at the Chicago Magic Lounge—you do walkaround with only three minutes at each table—by trial and error you work up an act that not only wows the folks but gets them to like you as a person, with the associated large tips. What do you do with everything you have learned? If you are CARISA HENDRIX you tell all in a fast-paced, experience-filled lecture that leaves the magicians gasping, as she did at the heavily-attended January 2020 meeting of IBM Ring 216. With her boundless energy and never-ending openness, she detailed not only every moment of her successful three-minute routine, but also the deep thinking on the principles of social interaction that guided her performances.

Carisa stressed the principle of social currency when first approaching a table. Immediately give value: the audience doesn’t owe you anything. So she starts off right away with strong earring magic (with tips for adapting the routine for those magicians who do not wear long earrings). She explained the three essentials for quickly establishing an identity the audience can relate to and the value of calling back to that identity at key moments in the routine. The goal of efficiency of audience management was demonstrated in a swift pickpocket routine. Loud environment? She can do her act without words: it’s all in the eyes and the checking-in with the spectators. With an Okito box routine and a Tommy Wonder prediction trick she not only could fool them in three minutes, but she was prepared to use the same props to go on longer if the audience insisted. As a bonus, she revealed all the details of the book production she performed (as Lucy Darling) on Penn and Teller’s fool us.

Above all, Carisa stressed the importance of empathy. The best thing you can give the audience is everything: your story, your smile, your attention. Make them feel seen. Really listen. Talk to them like a person. This ability to form a one to one connection is the highest achievement of the unique art of close up magic. Carisa made everyone in the room feel like this just might be within their grasp, too.

Coming Jan. 8, 2020: Carisa Hendrix Workshop and Lecture

Join us on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, for the first Ring event of the new year: A workshop and lecture by a rising star in magic, Carisa Hendrix.

About Carisa Hendrix

Magician and variety artist Carisa Hendrix is an 8-time award-winning entertainer featured in the Guinness Book of World Records (2014), Ripley’s Believe it or Not (2015) and the star of the Super Channel documentary Carisa Hendrix: Girl on Fire, which tells the true story behind her 2016 Las Vegas magic show.

Recipient of the prestigious Allan Slaight Award and recently nominated for Stage Magician of the Year at the Magic Castle, Hendrix is best known for her beloved comedy magic character Lucy Darling. With Lucy and a host of her other characters, Hendrix has been delighting audiences internationally for the past 16 years with her signature blend of classy, sassy comedy entertainment.

"I've seen her delight and I’ve seen her amaze. When Carisa is performing as Lucy Darling, anything can happen" - Rob Zabrecky

"Lucy Darling is one of the most exciting, hilarious magicians to come along in the last ten years. And some of the smartest

things I’ve heard a magician say are in Carisa Hendrix’s lecture." - John Lovick

"Lucy Darling has figured out that rare technique of of being in the moment. Her magic is good, plus she is funny and cute. All of that makes her a force to be reckoned with." - Max Maven

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: Performance Critique
In this small-group workshop, Carisa will provide expert feedback on your short routine, character, script, or act. We will limit this to no more than 8 participants so that she can spend enough time with everyone.

TIME: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
PRICE: $30 for Ring 216 members, $45 for non-members

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE! You must sign up ahead of time by sending email to president@ring216.org. No exceptions!

Sign up for the workshop

ABOUT THE LECTURE We'll be covering using the language of clothing to convey aspects of your character, the science of comedy and how to write better magic. She will also showcase a few new routines and some twists on a few classics. There will be very little crossover with Carisa's recent Penguin Live Act lecture. TIME: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. PRICE: $15 for members, $30 for non-members No need to RSVP... just show up! ABOUT MEMBERSHIP Because this is our first meeting of the year, you can sign up for Ring 216 membership at the same time as you sign up for the lecture/workshop. Membership is $25 per year. It entitles you to the following benefits: Members-only pricing on lectures, workshops, and flea market tables Eligibility to perform in our three annual competitions Eligibility for raffles and other members-only events Knowledge that you are supporting the local magic community