August meeting: Walk-Around Magic Competition

Join us on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, for the IBM Ring 216 Annual Walk-Around Magic Competition.

If you are interested in competing, please send an email to Cal Tong (calvin.tong@ring216.org). In addition to the standard division, we will also have our Masters Division if there are enough competitors. So if you have won first place in one of the competition events in previous years, then you qualify for the master's division and can sign up for this event!

Bring your friends or family with you to enjoy an evening of great magic. The more people we have, the better the magic.

Read the competition rules.

Upcoming Meeting: Mystery Bag Magic

This month, at our regular meeting on Wednesday, July 10, we have something special planned for all of you! That's right, back by popular demand, our:

"Mystery Bag Magic Spectacular!"

If you missed this last year, you owe it to yourself to be there for the fun this year. And if you were there last year, you will remember what a blast it was! Our Treasurer, Will Chandler, is putting together bags containing magic apparatus, comedy props, and a few surprises. Like last year, we will divide up into teams, and each team will receive a "Mystery Bag of Magic". Then each team will prepare a "mini-magic show" for the club members using the props in the bag. And after we've had some time to prepare and rehearse, we will perform for each other. There won't be any pressure - this isn't a competition. It's just an opportunity to enjoy the creativity and magical skill of your fellow IBM members, and to showcase your own.

Last year the level of performances was outstanding. Many of us did things we didn't think we could do, and all of us enjoyed watching our friends display their magic. If you love magic as a performing art, as I'm sure we all do, you won't want to miss this opportunity to have fun with "Mystery Bag Magic".

Our meeting begins at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, July 10, at the Yu Ai Kai center in downtown San Jose. We meet on the third floor.

Coming June 12: Magic Auction and Flea Market

Got magic stuff you want to get rid of? Is there anything you have your eye on? Join us at our next meeting on June 12 to shop the collections of your fellow magicians — and/or sell the stuff you don't use anymore.

Tables are available now. You must contact Ring 216 treasurer Will Chandler (will_chandler@comcast.net) to reserves your table today. The cost for members is $15 for a large table, $10 for a small table; non-members pay $20 and $15.

View a layout of the tables

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.

The fun kicks off at 7:00 p.m. with the flea market, and the auction will start about an hour later. Bring your friends and your stuff — and your cash.

Want more details about the auction? Read our FAQ.

IBM Ring 216 Presents a Magic Lecture by Chris “Scandal” Randall

When: May 8th, 2013, 7:30pm

Where: 558 North 4th  Street, SJ, CA 95112

How much: $15 – Club Members/ $25 – Non-Members

Contact: Cal Tong (president@ring216.org)

About the lecture:
Direct from Las Vegas Chris "Scandal" Randall will be covering his original approach to street magic including his critically acclaimed bill in lemon routine, The Inception, as well as Ashes, Chris' visual approach to the ace assembly.

Do you want to work restaurants? Chris is a seasoned veteran of the restaurant magic scene and will be sharing his hard-earned secrets of the trade in this rare lecture appearance.

About Chris:
Chris Randall was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, the entertainment capital of the world.  His impressive upbringing lead him to be one of the top sleight of hand artists in the world today. He spent his childhood on the back stages of the Las Vegas Strip, developing a love of this craft from the masters of Las Vegas entertainment. While most kids were playing sports and video games, Chris was learning about Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and the History of the legends of Las Vegas entertainment.  As a teen he attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts, majoring in Theater, Dance, and Technical Theatre.  He studied during the day, but at night he became the house magician of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, or was hired for private parties or corporate events on the Strip.  After graduation he began traveling the world with his unique brand of magic, introducing Las Vegas History with cutting edge magic technique.

Over the next 15 years Chris brought his magic to the world.  He toured Lebanon, Egypt, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Athens, Cypress, and across the United States appearing in review shows, on cruise ships, and television.  He is also the creator of over 50 magic effects which have been published in Magic Magazine, MUM, the Penumbra, and released on the DVDs; Sweet, Live at the Magic Castle, Sugar High, and Magic at the Bar.  Chris presents many lectures across the globe and has been featured at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood.  He has also acted as a consultant to top magicians and shows including The World’s Greatest Magic show in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Illusion in Tokyo, Japan, The Art and Illusion Magic Festival in Athens, Greece, and The Masters of Illusion television series on the My Network.   Chris’s creative and original sleight of hand magic has gained him the reputation as one of magic’s rising stars.

A Message from Cal Tong, President, Ring 216

Magi's,

I want to thank everyone for attending last nights event, "Celebrating the Magical Life of Mysterious Stan, Jr."

I was touched by the large number of Stan's family members who attended "The Tribute."  Similarly, I believe Stan's loved ones were also touched by our dedicated night to Mysterious Stan Jr.

This was the first IBM Ring 216 Broken Wand ceremony and I was honored to play a part in this important service.  It is my hope that our organization continues this tradition with the compassion that it deserves.

A big thank you to broken wand manufacturer Craig Ousterling and all of you who helped set up, tear down, and bring food/drinks (you know who you are).

A special thanks to our nine OUTSTANDING entertainers for the magical performances: Doug Eakin, John Jones, Ken King, Alan Leeds, Byron Walker, Fred Rasmussen, Patrick Reed, Scott Emo, and Will Chandler.    I took over 100 pictures last night and will be posting the highlights soon.

Niki came on stage (as the representative for Mysterious Stan's family) to accept our small gift, "a framed picture of the flyer for the event with Ring216 member signatures." Niki spoke of Stan from the perspective of their family and thanked us for the tribute and celebration. Out of the entire evening, it was Niki's speech that touched me the most.

Thank you again.

Cal Tong
President
IBM Ring 216
San Jose, CA