The Blackstoneian 
The official newsletter of I.B.M. Ring 200
Volume 4, No. 2, February, 2008 Editor, Eugene Raymond Soucek
GENE SOUCEK NAMED MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR FOR 2007, JUMPS OFF BUILDING;
LARGE TURNOUT FOR JANUARY MEETING;
PAPER MAGIC THEME FOR FEBRUARY; NORMAN ROSEN TO DO WORKSHOP;
MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR
At the December Ring 200 meeting, Gene Soucek, IBM Ring 200 Secretary and editor of the monthly newsletter The Blackstoneian, was proclaimed “The Magician of the Year for 2007.“ He was so awed by this honor that it made him a bit crazy, and about two weeks later he flipped his lid completely and jumped off the famed Sky Tower building in Auckland, New Zealand. Lucky for him he landed on a piece of two inch thick foam rubber after falling 630 feet, and was not injured. Where is Bob Ripley when you need him?
THE JANUARY MEETING ATTENDANCE
Was gratifyingly large. The Ring 200 membership has been continually growing and this was very evident by the turnout for last month’s meeting. We are particularly proud of our youth group and how it has been attracting such talented and dedicated young magicians. Who knows, we might already be nurturing another David Copperfield.
FEBRUARY IS PAPER MAGIC NIGHT
Our theme for this month’s meeting is Paper Magic. It will be spearheaded by non-other than Norman Rosen, who will do a workshop on Paper Magic. But, this is not a lecture so, bring your favorite Paper Magic and show us what you can do.
The following article has been reprinted with permission from Denny Haney. Denny has a magic shop in Baltimore, MD; and also in Las Vegas, NV.
Welcome to the DENNY & LEE MAGIC eNEWSLETTER
SO WHERE HAS THE DENNY AND LEE NEWSLETTER BEEN???
Some of you have been wondering why I haven't sent out a newsletter in about two weeks. Well, let's be honest. I have never seen so much "NEW JUNK" before. The magic industry seems to be full of reworked "classics", knock-offs, or single trick DVDs from inexperienced magicians who should not even be releasing items to the magical fraternity. It seems that some of the so called "creators" in magic today are making their income NOT by performing but by selling magic products to other magicians. This is becoming a problem and our cabinets and drawers are becoming full of impractical magic that we simply cannot or choose not to use. We buy these items because of the "hype" in advertising. I sincerely hope that most of those items in your drawers have been bought from other magic companies rather than from us here at Denny and Lee. I really try my best to offer items with which I personally find merit. Having been in this business for over fifty years, I have always learned my best magic from the more experienced magician. I have always bought books depending on the author and effects depending on whether this performer uses and performs the effect professionally.
The internet has created a mass of over hyped ads, downloads, and video demos that are edited to make the effect more than what it really is. In business it is called "high powered marketing" but I find it "misleading." It is strictly "sales." Sure, I know that there may be an item or two that you bought from Denny and Lee that perhaps doesn't suit your style or skill level but the quality has always been high. I'm sure that if you look through your drawers and compare, you will find that most of what you have bought from us has been "right on." Look at the items that you don't like or don't use and I think you will find that most of those have come from some other source. How many knock-offs" have you bought that are simply poorly made? How long will we continue to support these magic shops or internet sites that carry cheap knock-offs of another magicians' work?
Internet sites are now carrying a special section called "Phenomenon Magic." First it was "Street Magic" and now it's "Phenomenon Magic." How about a section called "Good magic that is practical to perform??"
This is the "buying season." We buy gifts for other magicians or we ask our friends and relatives to buy magic for us off of the internet. This is the time to be a bit more "selective." Let's stop wasting our money on magic only because it is the latest hyped up thing that has been done on television. Remember, television is NOT REAL LIFE. Most of us are real life performers and our magic needs to reflect that venue. There is really a "correct" way to learn magic. If you have followed my guidance throughout the years, I think that most of you will find that we already have ENOUGH!! The Holy Grail of Magic is NOT out there. Let's work on what we already have and learn to do it well. Study the classics, learn the foundation, and we will be rewarded by applause, appreciation from our friends, and extra bookings.
SO THAT IS WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT NEWSLETTER. I HATE TO KEEP SENDING OUT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SAME ITEMS OVER AND OVER BUT...I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE IT IS THE "RIGHT" THING TO DO.
About five years ago, I was speaking with another dealer about how these "internet shops" have affected our sales and he had this to say to me.."Denny, stop selling your customers what you know they NEED. Just sell them what they WANT." I told him that's not my style.
DENNY & LEE MAGIC STUDIO EAST COAST
9004 Yellow Brick Road, Suite H, Rosedale, MD 21237
Order Line 410-686-3914
DENNY & LEE MAGIC STUDIO-LAS VEGAS
5115 Dean Martin Drive, #907, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Phone-702-740-3500
MAIL: dennymagic@aol.com
WEB: http://www.dennymagic.com
MEETING INFORMATION:
When:
Ring 200 meetings are held on the THIRD Tuesday of every month;
Where:
The Stelton Community Center, 328 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ;
Time:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. – Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Meeting ends at 9:45 p.m.
You are invited to join us at the local diner for coffee after the meeting.
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"A great many open minds should be closed
for repairs." -- Toledo Blade
The mind is like a TV set. When it goes blank, it's a good idea to turn the sound off.
"To you taxpayers out there, let me say this: Make sure you file your tax return on time! And remember that, even though income taxes can be a 'pain in the neck,' the folks at the IRS are regular people just like you, except
that they can destroy your life." -- Dave Barry
