Michael O'Brien Lecture: September 10, 2025

Join us for a rare, wide-ranging evening with Michael O'Brien. Michael is known for his unique approach which is designed to invoke a sense of wonder, fun, nostalgia, and excitement like no other!  He has been creating and teaching magic since 2014, was a performer on "Penn and Teller Fool Us", and has lectured for Penguin Magic and Blackpool Magic Convention.  When Michael is not performing at these venues, he spends his time teaching as a Professor of Magic at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.  

Michael O'Brien's Magic Lecture Content (7:30PM-9:45pm):
Lecture fee for paid members of RING216: Free
Lecture fee for nonmembers: $30/person

Have You Seen My Purse? - Michael's spongeball opener he performs at every gig!

Triple Bottle Production - A fun way to produce multiple bottles and even gift one out to a guest without breaking the bank!

Progressive Oil & Water - An oil and water routine that gets progressively more impossible by adding more and more cards into the mix. At the same time, the magician handles the cards less and less ending with a final phase that is done completely by the spectators.

Final Destination - A travel themed confabulation type effect that works right on your phone or Tablet!

Toxic-Less - An iOS18 friendly solution to the TOXIC calculator force plot. Predict any number you want using your iPhone calculator.

PokéMonte - A modern twist on the classic “Color Monte” type routine using Pokémon cards.

Ninja+ by Matthew Garrett - The act I performed on Fool Us. A high energy linking ring routine that allows you to join multiple different objects and allow the spectators to carefully examine impossible objects as closely as they like! 

Special Pre-Meeting Workshop (5pm-7pm)
Workshop fee for members/nonmembers: $40/person

A Lesson In Misdirection - A wild ride of a card effect that is extremely modular and always leaves you 1 step ahead of your spectators. We will focus on card controls, misdirection, and  modular routine structuring.

Unique Card Techniques - Michael will teach his personal sleight-of hand card techniques that have been fine-tuned over the years including the "Point and Shoot" control and a fun pocket utility switch.

Uisce Beatha Coins to Glass - A 4 coins to glass routine where everything gets more and more fair with each passing coin! Will work on coin techniques and learn about method cancellation.

Strolling Chop Cup - A 3 phase in the hands chop cup routine that allows the spectator to control the action. No table? No problem! Learn audience management as well as how to structure an act that flows seamlessly from phase to phase.

Meeting August 13, 2025: David Gerard Lecture

David Gerard Returns to the IBM Ring216 — One Night Only

   Join us for a rare, wide-ranging evening with David Gerard, one of the top corporate entertainers and magicians in the world. David has performed for clients like Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page, consulted on four seasons of America’s Got Talent, and recently directed Colin Cloud’s Mastermind at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Before all that, he got his start right here — at the IBM Ring in San Jose and The Magic Garage in Sunnyvale. His past lectures for the club have been met with rave reviews and this will be no different. Having left his job in tech three years ago to perform full time, David returns with a refined perspective on our craft.

 

    This won’t be a canned set or a dealer demo. David has studied under some of the most respected minds in magic — including Eric Mead, Ken Weber, Jamy Ian Swiss, and many more — and will be weaving insights from these legends into a one-of-a-kind lecture. David wants to customize the evening to serve the real questions, needs, and curiosities of the Ring. Whether you're interested in the basics of strolling magic, deep theory around audience management, or advanced material for the stage, nothing is off-limits. Please comment or email your questions and requests ahead of time so he can tailor the night to the group. 

 

   This will be an evening of magic, mentalism, business, and community — and one you won’t want to miss.

Cost: $20 for RING216 Members / $30 for nonmembers

Time: August 13th, 2025, 7:30PM 

Meeting Report, July 9, 2025: Open Performances

 Ring 216 President Cal Tong opened the July meeting by welcoming some members who had not been here in a while and some returning visitors and some new faces. There were twenty-some people in attendance, who were each given a raffle ticket. In between the evening’s performances, the people whose raffle numbers were called chose a magic item from among those generously donated by members. By the end of the evening, everyone had won a prize.

 

Fourteen performers had volunteered this evening. Yitian Liang started it off by solving a Rubik’s cube without touching it. Mike Bailes performed the cups and balls. David Martinez tried out a new time travel routine in which a card is found even before it is selected. Alex Wu performed a series of difficult card effects done with one hand, including a production of a selected card from a zippered wallet that fooled many of those present. Tom* drew a six by six magic square using a spectator’s numbers. Gary Goldberg demonstrated how to find three needles in a haystack, using a deck of cards.

 

Fred Rasmussen slyly showed his Houdini side with taped and chained thumbs doing inexplicable things. Jim Blaishek gave a treat to magic collectors with his routine employing a card fan to top hat transformation and a Mel Babcock die box. Harold workshopped a new effect that combined mind reading of a card by a spectator with a cash prediction of a selected number. Michael Nguyen visiting from the Oakland Magic Circle closed out the night with his manipulation act of Miser’s dream, silks, billiard balls and card fan productions.   

 

After the performances and the raffle there was free socializing and sessioning.

Ring 216 Meeting on Wednesday, July 9

We can't wait to see you at our next meeting!

Agenda Highlights

Raffle: Don't miss out on another chance to win some fantastic prizes donated by club members. It's always a highlight of our gatherings. The raffle is for members who have paid their dues for 2025.

Open Performance: Bring your latest tricks and share your magic with fellow members. Whether it's a classic routine or something new, this is your chance to shine. Club members are encouraged to perform at least once each year. This is a perfect low-stress environment to test out your new magic routines!

This meeting promises to be engaging and full of learning opportunities. Let's continue to support each other and share the magic that brings us together.

On June 11, 2025: The Ring 216 Auction and Flea Market

Mark your calendars! Reserve your flea market table!

Got magic stuff you want to get rid of? Is there anything you have your eye on? Bring your magical friends and join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, June 11, beginning at 7:00 PM to shop the collections of your fellow magicians — and/or sell the stuff you don't use anymore. Flea Market A few tables are still available to reserve, so don't miss out! Reserve your table today using our easy online form. The costs are: Full table: $15 for members, $20 for non-members Half table: $10 for members, $15 for non-members You can view a layout of the tables when you reserve, and you can make a request for a particular table (although requests are not guaranteed). The earlier you reserve, the more likely you will be to get your preferred location.

Reserve Table

Auction There will also be an auction of magical goods. If you're interested in the auction, just show up. Anybody can sell at auction. The club takes a 10% fee for auction sales, but no fee for table sales. Make a Donation If you have some unwanted stuff, consider donating it to the club. We'll auction it off that night, and the proceeds will go to Ring 216. Evening Agenda 6:30 PM: Sellers may arrive to set up their tables for the flea market. 7:00 PM: The doors open to buyers. 8:15 PM: The auction begins. 9:30 PM (approximately): All sales end and it's time to pack up. Want more details about the auction? Read our FAQ. So bring your friends and your stuff — and your cash.

Meeting Report - April 2025: Phil Ackerly Lecture

 

On April 9, 2025, Ring 216 had the pleasure of welcoming celebrated Bay Area magician and the Ring's good friend Phil Ackerly for his new lecture, “Phil-osophy of Success.” Most of the members knew well Phil’s cheerfulness and skill in performing for all ages. In this lecture, drawing on his decades of experience, Phil presented lessons he has learned on how to have a successful magical career, as well as sharing some favorite routines.

  

The personalization of effects to the situation is a feature of his approach, both giving the audience a unique experience for that time and place and encouraging word-of-mouth buzz and achieving repeat engagements. For example, for a birthday party Phil would have a card selected that would be revealed to have on it a picture of the birthday child. At the lecture, he gave detailed instructions on how to create personalized cards of this type.

 

An aspect of Phil’s performing method that the members appreciated was his preparation for questions and remarks that he knew would come at certain moments in the show or even in after the show when chatting casually with audience members – in that situation he might ask, “What’s your favorite trick that you saw?” And then proceed from there with another effect; if the child responds, as they often will, “I don’t know”, Phil has a routine all lined up in response!

 

The Ring members appreciated experiencing the warm humor and the expert insights of this true professional.

Phil Ackerly Lecture - April 9, 2025

Join us on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. for a magic lecture by the Northern California magic legend (now living in Nevada) Phil Ackerly!

 

Date: April 9, 2025 Time: 7:30pm Cost: $20 for members of Ring 216, $30 for non-members Phil Ackerly presents his new lecture, "Phil-osophy of Success." Phil offers practical advice, insights from his experiences, theater techniques, marketing and sales strategies, along with a variety of creative ideas. He’ll also share some of his personalized routines and effects tailored for both kids and adults, as well as for corporate events.   Phil has studied with some of the best in the business from Jeff McBride, Larry Hass, and Tobias Beckwith to Peter Samelson, Bruce Gold, and Broadway legend Bob Fitch. He has worked with music writers and scriptwriters to hone his craft and make him the most sought after family performing in the Northern California and Nevada areas.  Whether you're a family entertainer, corporate performer, or a strolling close-up magician, there’s something valuable here for everyone. Lecture notes will be available as well as many of the Phil's products. Visit www.ackerly-entertainment.com/shop  No need to RSVP for the lecture... just show up!

Michael Feldman Lecture - March 12, 2025

Join us on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. for a magic lecture by the Bay Area's own Michael Feldman — sleight-of-hand artist and international man of mystery.

Date: March 12, 2025 Time: 7:30pm Cost: $20 for members of Ring 216, $30 for non-members Michael's magic is not just about tricks; it's about creating unforgettable experiences. He understands the power of storytelling and uses it to weave narratives that captivate and engage his audience. Whether performing on stage or up close and personal, his charisma and infectious enthusiasm leave a lasting impression on all who witness his magic. Michael is local and started coming to Ring 216 way back in 2007. He has published 3 best-selling magic books, and has been on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Monday Night Magic in New York, The Chicago Magic Lounge, and the Magic Castle in LA. At the lecture, Michael is planning to cover a variety of topics for all skill levels, including a sneak peak at a new deck switching device he invented.  In addition, he's interested to hear what people want to see or have him talk about. He can tailor the lecture to discuss what people would like to hear.    Sign up for Membership At the lecture, you can sign up for another year of Ring 216 membership and enjoy all the benefits: Enjoy this professional lecture at the member price. Get discount pricing on this and other lectures and workshops Be eligible to perform in our annual competitions. Save on Flea Market tables. Take part in raffles and other special members-only events. Feel good about supporting a community of magic in the Bay Area. Membership costs just $25 per year and renews every January. You can renew your membership at any Ring 216 meeting.