George's Grumbles

 

January 11th Elliot Bibby Lecture

First Lecture of 2024 was presented by professional award-winning magician Elliot Bibby yeah….

28 magicians including 5 visitors were in attendance.

Elliott kicked off by explaining how he got into magic which was a dynamic coin effect he saw at Hamleys when he was about 7… so blame Hamleys..

EB first effect involved a 3 leaf boomerang a humorous beginning to find a card sitting in his shirt pocket but you had to be there to appreciate the full effect which included a word prediction perfume in case anyone forgot… then a bill switch with the bill reappearing inside a Kinder Egg good effect well done if a bit long in the explanation….

Next a knife stab effect using tins of beans and a tin of custard instead of knives, I’m sure you can work it out yourselves….

Next, think 6 pay envelopes one containing a bank card 5 cut using scissors and the remaining envelope empty with the bank card appearing from a wallet in EBs pocket, you get it ok..

Break time where Billy D collected a grand total of £87 with the Jim Kelly key raffle standing at £125 ….

The reason I call it the JK key raffle is because Jim when president spent about 3 months browbeating the EC persuading them of the merits of a key raffle and the raffle success is testament to his belief, so there…

Tonight’s winner and loser was my good friend John Brownlee so £130 next time….

EB began the second part with some of his close up effects, starting with his demo of the classic force, an ambitious card routine the selected card going through hoops and bells and ending up in a Kennedy Box which was sitting on the card table in full view all the time, nicely done top marks from me…then a walkabout sponge hearts routine nothing new but nice to see other people’s handling and good for less experienced members to see…

With time running out he had to rush a bit, he dem’d a gimmicked card with a sliding window a beer cap paddle type thing then a trick featuring jokers that ended up between invisible cards or something like that….I thought it was a very good lecture well presented by a good personable magician…

All reactions:

3Mike Archibald, George Welsh and 1 other

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January 3rd 2024 Informal night and EC meeting

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

I didn’t have time or didn’t think about a report on last week’s first club meeting of 2024 until today, only 8 members were present so only 8 books were dished out for the “Tricks from a Library Book” night on 24th January, books will still be available this Wednesday if any member wants to chance their hand……

I think only 4 EC members were present for an EC meeting which makes one wonder why a meeting was arranged for a couple of nights after New Year’s day…

There was a short exchange with the EC regarding a couple of points raised mainly by me, one of these points was the SCA public forum which has been in the charge of Past Pres Denis who has his hands full with many things including working, holidays and many many other things, Denis who wasn’t present has I think, agreed with my points and has stepped back from the job with David G and myself taking over the Facebook operation in the meantime, the Website is another kettle of fish as DG and myself have zero IT qualifications...

To me The SCA public Facebook page is our link to the general public which I think we need to utilise and where we may recruit new members…

I think we all vacated the Club around the 9 o’clock mark…

Details of next meeting on the SCA Facebook forum…

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December 6th 2023 Christmas Children’s Party

I didn’t do an audience count but I got Brendan to take a picture of the audience so you can do your own count…

Billy Diamond host for the event did grand Em Ceeing job, there was a minor hiccup at the beginning of the show when yours truly Me was announced as the first performer or the opening act when at that particular time I was in the cafeteria seeing Sarah about something when I was being announced….Doh.

The other day I checked the list of performers lined up to perform and my name wasn’t included no big deal unfortunately, Billy D had different list that included my name so no doubt heads will roll for this cock-up probably 6 of the belt at least…

After the excitement of the audience hearing my name as the first turn it was hard to disappoint them so like the true pro I am I cobbled a few things together starting with a Modelling Balloon carry-on with a young fun loving 9 year old girl called Rowan then I performed The Professors Nightmare rope routine and I ended with a Cards Across routine all mediocre stuff but why change a lifetime of mediocrity now….most of the above recollection done with my tongue planted in my cheek…..

Next act was Jim Kelly who dragged himself away from polishing his newly won Close-up comp trophy, JK began with a Cards Across Trick, I can hear what you’re thinking “another cards across effect “ he ended his set with another card /numeric trick no one could see because the TV doesn’t get used for stage kids’ stuff… another Doh

Next up we had George Welsh who began by showing an empty bag from which he produced Santa, next George did a nice Gozinta Die Box routine with a sweet giveaway ending, then onto a prize gameshow questionnaire act went very well….. But you should have been there for that and the rest of GWs other sweet giveaways…

Surprise mystery guest was none other than musician/magician John Brownleemaking a good impression of a Xmas tree as you can see in Brendan’s excellent pictures JBs current instrument of choice is a moothie and a mini moothie at that, after some entertaining mini moothie stuff JB had the audience singing, clapping stamping and rattling their jewellery thankfully not dancing to the evergreen Jinglebells while playing a proper sizeMoothie…nice one John B..

After the break it was raffle time Billy D drew in £85 all good for the club funds, a lady visitor’s ticket was first out of the hat and with the prize money standing at £125 and Christmas just around the corner a handy help for a Xmas dinner, unfortunately her selected key didn’t open the lock so onwards and upwards to £130 for the next draw.,,

David Gallacher got the second half under way with a miss made skeleton effect but with a Santa Claus figure assisted by my grandson Jude who certainly added to the spot, next DG did a couple of magic colouring-in books effects then a massive Rainbow silk from an apparent empty box…

Final performer up was John Rossi who did what JR does a very entertaining triad of effects which most of us have seen before but never get tired of seeing again, well once a year is ok, the yellow and red silks changing places aka Tommy Cooper only JR had a twist using a Candy Cane and Santa plus his mental Rabbit carryon stuff including water gun aimed at audience the kids just what the kids love especially when the adults get wet JR finished with his now famous bin and balloon magical thing which some are still trying to work out how it’s done… all in all a great night of kids entertainment…………

Nearly forgot there was a big selection of balloon models that the kids took away with them at no extra cost….

AS THE ABOVE WAS A RUSHED OUT JOB APOLOGIES IF THERE ARE MORE ERRORS THAN USUAL…

A very Merry Christmas and a Good New Year to all at the SCA ..

 

 

November 22nd 2023 SCA Close-up Competition

23 members and 7 guests filled the room to witness the cream of the SCA battle it out for the 2023 Close-up title.

President Mike Nowak was unavailable for tonight’s meeting but VP David Gallacher and comp organiser did an excellent job standing in for Mike ….

With the close-up table situated in the corner area just in front of the stage and the television up and ready it was time for the 6 competitors to be introduced by David.

Marco Galasso was first to the table and with the assistance of Gerry McK they got the program under way with a Just Chance purse effect This That and the Other …. Next a monetary card effect Marco calls Impossible not the correct name but well executed with Gerry winning Hee Haw.

Marco concluded his spot featuring his Stickman friend Bob and a firing cannon to successfully find the selected card all nicely done….

Patrick Ashe was the second competitor, he began with Flash Cash a Pat Page folded monetary trick then an Anniversary style card effect. Next Patrick had a card selected, corner torn off vanished then some magic moves later the card was found in a Crunchy bar which had been on the table in full view all the time.

PA continued with an Out of World effect before moving onto yet another complicated card trick but you had to be there to see it and save me the bother of trying to describe it but as expected excellent stuff from Patrick very professional ….. He is what one might call a contender …

Robert O’Neil a magic comp newbie performed a double card prediction trick with the aid of a couple of poker chips, next Robert performed an Alan Duncan food can with the label missing routine, considering it was Roberts first magic Comp he did well… good job.

Comp organiser David G filled in a spot, I had to go and see Sarah about something but I have been informed he produced sweets from a Dove Panand a Tommy Cooper’s multiplying bottles effect using Coke Cans the applause told one he must have done a good job…

After a slight discussion about whether another competitor should go on before the tea break was resolve with Billy Diamond bringing the first halve to a conclusion…

Billy wearing a snazzy jacket as seen in one of Brendan’s pictures performed 3 card tricks very competently but too much for me to detail here, if BD or anyone else fancies reporting on some of the card tricks Billy or anyone else did you’re more than welcome to add to the bottom of this post Billy performance was faultless….

After the break the excitement of the Key Raffle was the next highlight, I believe tonight’s prize money was announced as £115 a couple of weeks ago it was £120 … so George Welsh who’s ticket was first out of the hat will be relieved his key which didn’t unlock the padlock and only missed £115 instead of the £120 it should have been… ….I’ll stop there..

It was noted that hard working Billy drew in a whacking £87 for the SCA funds you might have thought they would have given him the Close-up trophy…

Opening the second half was resident mental magic person Graeme Matters the one from Burnley, one wonders if he gets the out of the area subs discount, anyway Graeme did what GM dids with great aplomb a usual again you had to be there it seems my brain if I’ve got one tends to digress as the evening wears on anyway GM did his usual pro performance……another contender in my opinion….

To finish the show we had the ageless Jim Kelly I think this was Jim’s 50th appearance in this comp, JK did a couple of card effects including Red Hot Mamma, also Ring on Rope/ Wand, Coins across and his Miss-matched T / R Bill also ageless……another contender …

After the Comp Organiser DG and the judges retired to fix the result David returned to announce that Patrick Ashe came second just 4 points behind tonight’s winner the ageless JIM KELLY who graciously threatened to continue for another 50 years…… all in all it was a decent competition and as DG stated quite close only a few points between the top 3, though they say that every year but they might just mean it this year…

Just to finish huge congratulations to 2023 Close-up Champion Jim Kelly thanks also to organiser David and all his little helpers…

As usual apologies to all performers and if I missed anything that you spent a good week perfecting…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 8th 2023 SCA Fireworks Night

A fairly smallish 17 members were in attendance to see Host Ewan Callison opened the night performing a wallet and flash paper effect, methinks he’s just testing the fire alarm system which thankfully remained silent for the duration of our show..,

EW introduced David Gallacher who informed all Christmas was just around the corner, who knew, David then performed a small de-lightful Xmas tree effect using a Brown paper bag with a Xmas tree drawn on the bag then a dozen De-lights individually, one at a time, lit up very magically… quite nice effect

Next David displayed what appeared to be an empty box (sometimes called a production box) then he proceeded to remove a largish multi-coloured silk from the box….. Continuing David fed a mini bag with mini coloured silks and lo and behold when he removed the silks they were all joined together, (I’m starting to lose the will to live)…….

Marco Galasso performed an exploding pen, a burst balloon I think, that’s what I’ve noted down but can’t remember what it was then a card trick featuring Stickman Bob and a misfiring cannon I think there was a fire-wallet in there somewhere, Marco puts a lot of work into his magic and it shows… well done..

President Mike Nowak drew an outline of his left hand on a sheet of paper burned part of the drawings finger with a match and unbelievable a blister was seen on his actual ring finger, looked sore!!!!

Tea and Coffee time..

With the Key Raffle standing at 120 smackaroonies John Rossi looked excited as he rushed up to the stage to get his hands on the a key and who wouldn’t at £120.. Unfortunately JR returned to his seat disappointed but happy that someone next week might win £125…

Mike N continued the second part performing Paul Harris’s Phoenix Ashes coin effect and Smoking Mirrors ….both nicely done..

Birthday Boy David G had a balloon stuck in his hand by Ewan C who took a picture of him the picture was so unique that I couldn’t make the effect out , I’m sure if you ask DG he’ll fill you in…

Nearly forgot Billy Diamond contribution until he reminded me, BD did 3 card tricks one featuring a heated 7 of Diamonds… excellent stuff

Jim Kelly concluded the show with a well performed Coin Matrix using real one pound coins.. Then Gemini twins and ended with another card trick.

I find most card tricks difficult to write down in detail so I just leave it to your imagination…sorry my bad…

To all performers apologies if I missed anything that you spent a good week perfecting…

 

1st November2023 Alan Rorrison Lecture

By Any Means Necessary

Who is...Alan Rorrison?

Alan is quite the creative fellow. He has been a creative consultant for both Dynamo and TROY, and has released many hit effects into the magical universe. He thinks outside of the box and his many creations reflect that mind-set….

I borrowed the above blurb from somewhere on the internet and will return it when done...

About 25 members and 5 visitors were in attendance for tonight’s lecture, AR covered a variety of magic effects like the McDonald Aces utilising an underground Emsley Count (new to me but I’m not a card man)

Next Linking a Finger Ring to a House Key both items borrowed a real close up effect.

Next a card trick, a selected card was replaced into the deck AR tossed 2 jokers into the deck and when the jokers were removed the chosen card was sandwiched between the Jokers, very nice and doable…

Break Time

Billy Diamond’s turn to shine with another successful raffle £82 raised and zero paid out because Patrick Ashe unfortunately, was unsuccessful with the key raffle which was standing at £110 I’m sure everyone was gutted for Patrick, better luck next time..

AR kicked off the second half with a Card at Number not an ACAAN but similar, then some Elastic Band magic including Houdini handcuffs refined…

Next an effect with Paper Clips then to finish a Mobile phone prediction quite involved with some added affects you could do with a mobile beside making phone calls, most of it ….way over my and most of the senior…

Not a bad lecture I'm sure most members would have got something from it..

Next meeting

Remember remember the 5th November…

Bring your own BF

 

 

27th Sept 2023

You should have been there

Even though the theme was mentalism some members braved Storm Agnes and football traffic to get to the club hoping to be entertained by some of the SCA’s superstars (maybe a wee bit over the top there).

Notable absentee was mental nut Ewen Wilsonand if my memory serves me correctly the last time we had a mental night Ewen was a no show then, methinks maybe EW doesn’t really like the stuff….

Just read in the forum Ewen wasn’t feeling too well so hope you recover to be back in the saddle to enjoy some card stuff next week you will need all your strength, don’t forget to bring a deck of cards with you….

Host Graeme Matters got the mental show up and running with an ESP effect using Marco as a newly qualified psycho spy …

Jim Kelly performed some card stuff with a hint of mentalism, I suppose …

New Psycho Spy Marco did an excellent job setting up the TV equipment performed calculator act demonstrating excellent use of the afore mentioned TV…

Next up John Rossi who magically turned a deck of cards into a moothie which he played though I didn’t recognise the tune, JR then invited Kenny H on stage KH selected a card placed it face down on his chair as instructed then covered it with his posterior JR then introduced Frances his pet Rabbit, after a bit of mental business Frances was blindfolded and duly named the card KH was sitting on, someone was heard saying “how does he do it?”….

Next up was the evergreen yours truly Moi, I performed an excellent one ahead effect with a stunning surprise ending which I had thought up myself, I won’t be surprised if it ends up a classic.

Mike Archibald was the next turn he did a metamorphosis effect at least I think that’s called and very amusing assisted by David Gallacher…

Break time

3 prospective members were interviewed at the break they were Golden oldies George Welsh who was a member 30 odd years ago, Billy Baxter who turned up tonight all the way from Motherwell Billy was a member over 40 years ago and Lorenzo who I think has a surname but I’m not privy to it unless he just uses a single name like.. Dynamo.. I believe they all passed a strenuous grilling from the President and some EC personnel…

Raffle convener Billy D netted a grand total of £50 from the 21 members present and gave away Hee Haw because KH selected the wrong key and was unable to open the padlock in fact I don’t think the key even fitted the lock, on the plus side the Key raffle hits £100 next week a life changing sum for a few of us, I overheard someone say he remembers when you could go to Blackpool for 2 weeks full board for £100…

The second half began with George Welsh aided by Billy D and a calculator GW converted random numbers into random letters and with the countdown theme playing the jumbled letters conundrum was solved….. GW then sharpied a dozen or so numbers on a white board tossed a crumpled paper ball into the audience the recipient called out a number which GW erased from the board until one number 42 remained when the crumpled ball was uncrumpled the number 42 was shown applause all round, but you were probably away ahead of me there…

Stephen Maley performed the 4 columns number addition effect which myself or Stephen couldn’t put a name too, I like a few others have the small in your hand version of this effect but SM as per usual did his homemade jumbo version of it entertaining as usual…

Head raffle honcho Billy Diamond did a one ahead effect similar to mine but totally different he then invited 5 punters to join him on stage it went something like this…. BD dealt 5 piles onto the table punters were each given each slip of paper with a card sharpied on it, the cards were mixed up and somehow a card from each pile matched the slip of paper something like that… because I sit at the back of the class I struggle to hear what a magician says to his helper and vice-versa some forget there in an audience watching and trying to hear what is being said and if I struggle with this some other members struggle too and I know it’s partly an age thing but most of us are not getting any younger as I’ve done a poll which confirms this…..

Last performer was new member Lorenzo who did a repeat of the same Tarot effect he did last week because he wasn’t pleased with last week’s performance so how do you improve on it, do it again I can’t jot down all he said and did because I don’t want to miss Saturdays game…

Mega thanks to Ewen Callison for his organisation, energy and enthusiasm….

Next week we have the pleasure of David Gallacherhosting …. Hear’s one I made earlier/created

I have promised to do something but don’t be put off by that as Steph Maley and others will doing the good stuff…

Apologies for errors and any shortcomings as I’m a war baby when things were rationed especially prime numbers and letters ….

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13th Sept 2023

You should have been there

Apologies for a no report last week I just wasn’t in the mood but talked myself around today …

From memory which is one of my many problems our new season kicked off last week with President Mike Nowak wishing all a happy return I don’t think we lost anyone during the break though some looked like they just made it…

The new season kicked off with a lecture by Mark Gordon a pleasant entertaining guy who let us know he was a former pro boxer so no back chat from the back chatters, the attendance was just around 30ish including a couple of paying visitor who are always welcome.

Mark in my opinion didn’t do anything really earth shattering he demonstrated his take on a lot of standard effects some good points some less so a lot of it down to one’s particular style, overall Mark a nice guy with some nice ideas which I’m sure a lot enjoyed…

Last Night 13thSeptember

You should have been there….

21 members in attendance for the What You Got Up Too during the summer break, well something like that organised and presented by President Mike N.

After I showed my disappointment that our much heralded TV system wasn’t in operation Marco Galasso was immediately appointed head honcho in charge of setting the TV system up but because of a height a deficiency Marco will need to get George Welsh to switch it on for him…

Pres Mike N introduced the performers with a few jokes at least I think they were (hurry back Gerry), performers are from memory as I wasn’t taking notes John Rossiperformed a Rubic cube effect, Marco G a padlocked card effect, newbie Lorenzoa mental effect plus, Me a fantastic Buddha Paper effect, Billy D a Card effect, Kenny H his new modern Grannies Necklace effect one of the highs of the night, Jim Kelly card stuff but well done….. Key raffle 90 smackaroonies wasn’t won by Me…big disappointment all round…

Next meeting 27th Sept Mental / Mentalism, but don’t be put off by that GM (Graham Matters) in charge, I Me will be doing something…..

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Wednesday 10th May Presidents Night.

Lecture Presented by Rodd Hogg

Rodd Hogg a magician/pickpocket from Belfast entertained an audience of 33 persons including 8 very welcomed visitors. Some members were a bit uneasy when they heard the lecture would consist mainly in the art of pickpocketing but I think the doubters were won over by the end of the lecture.

Mike Archibald stated he wasn’t interesting in seeing a pickpocket lecture but went to the lecture out of loyalty to the SCA and President Mike Nowak, the first thing MA did when he got home was to stick a post on Facebook apologising for his scepticism but by the end of the night Rodd had won him over with his skill and personality, Mike like the rest of us was thoroughly entertained ….

Rodd got a punter Charlie up on stage to assist him, after a wee chat with Charlie which was designed to relax him, Rodd did a few poker chip vanishes and stuff ending with the Chip disappearing only to be found under Charlies watch…. Good stuff…

Rodd proceeded to explain how all was done and mentioned that a good subject to test/ practice it on was people with a drink. An Octogenarian sitting close by told me he has a problem getting his own watch off even the one with a Velcro strap….there was some wallet stealing and other pickpocketing stuff but you had to be there to appreciate it..

To conclude the first half the theatre lights were turned off and a surprise birthday cake with dozens and dozens of lighted candles made its way to the stage to be presented to birthday boy our President Mike Nowak…Happy Birthday Mike from all our readers..

After the Interval the Raffle took place, an amazing £123 was taken in by head raffleer Ewan Callison.. The Key raffle prize now £80 was attempted by Alan Maskell alas he was unsuccessful on this occasion…

After the raffle excitement died down it was back to Rodd who did a spot of PK touching then a spot of magic, starting a ring vanish routine using a special ring box emphasis on special then a card corner tear routine with the aid of a Himber wallet these routines tied in with his pickpocket theme, we then had a couple of nice stories about some of his experiences on the road.

All in all a nice evenings lecture with a lot of happy looking punters …. But you had to be there..

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Wednesday 26th April Inter Club Night..

Tonight we were honoured by visitors from Paisley MC the 3 Musketeers or to some the 3 Stooges namely Tommy Templeton, Brian Jeffrey’s and Dave Innes plus one of Forth Valley MC finest Peter Kinney… after President Mike mentioned the SAMs Convention happening this coming weekend the show got started…

First performer up was the evergreen Gerry McKendry who performed a few Paul Gordon card effects accompanied by his usual amusing jokes, as per usual Gerry never fails to entertain.

All the card magic was shown on the TV screen which is a big plus….

Next performer was Brian Jeffrey, Brian did a geographical mental effect where a prediction took us through different countries ending up in TIELAND, very funny just as one expects from Brian….

SCAs Billy Diamond up next with a set of card effects performed in his usual competent style…

Tommy Templeton was next up performing a set of entertaining card effects some I believe from his recent well received lecture at the SCA which I, unfortunately, missed I think…

Break and Raffle time, a total of £60 was made by stand-in raffle seller David G .

The key raffle is standing at £75 and strange as it seems first 2 tickets out of the hat were DGs...as luck would have it DG s luck didn’t extend to the key opening the padlock so £80 to look forward to next week….

Marco Galosso got the second half up and running with a telephone lottery effect using the TV screen to great effect I think MG ended his set with a blank card effect not a lot to add to that except you had to be there…

Dave Innes was up next he performed an innovative entertaining 3 card selection then using a pair of scissors and a newspaper to display the selected cards…

President Mike told a joke (I think) then introduced Jim Kelly, Jim did what Jim does, a couple of entertaining cards tricks performed with aplomb…

Gerry was invited up again to do a requested card effect…

Mike Nowak closed the show with a card trick,,, oh no he didn’t as surprise surprise TT always ready to perform was then invited to do yet another card trick much to the appreciation of his adoring fans….

Observations ... only 19 SCA members in attendance and 5 of them were recent recruits, also I think about 90% of magic performed was card tricks ….just an observation…

You should have been there..

 

 

Wednesday 12th April  SCA Competition night

President Mike Nowak welcomed an audience of 22 members and 8 visitors including 3 judges for the SCA Stand-up and Close-up competition which is the first time I’ve seen both comps on the same night in over 30 years at the club, I think the reason probably being there wasn’t enough competitors for each event to fill a single evening……

It was good to see the close up table in full view on the 40” TV screen in operation for the first time since it was installed yonks ago….

President Mike introduced the 2 lay judges unfortunately, I didn’t catch their names but anyone interested can contact the SCA publicity dept, the magic judge was none other than Ian Black from Forth Valley MC so a big thank you to Ian …

The close-up kick off with Marco Galasso who did a few card effects and a couple of other things which I don’t have the time or expertise to describe all the performers acts I did enjoy Marco’s Tiny Plunger routine, well played Marco.

Second to perform was relative newbie Billy Diamond who admitted to me he was a bit nervously entering his first close up competition and who wouldn’t be, Billy made a good fist of a card effect which, unfortunately, didn’t end exactly as expected but as we know performing magic can be learning curve, someone once told me the man/person who never made a mistake never made anything …

Third competitor was another newbie Bob O’Neil, Bob also a bit of a card specialist performed a card effect and a good job he made of it ..Bob like the afore mentioned Billy needs weaned off the cards..

Next to perform was Jim Kelly who performed a variety of close up magic effects with his usual confident aplomb proving he’s been round the block before, well done JK.

Last close up performer was Sam Gendy who did his Harry Potter tribute act close up set, what’s not to like…good job..

Interval

Raffle time, a grand total of £70 was raise by Ewan Callison, well done Ewan.

First ticket out of the hat was Michael Gordon’s who tried his luck with the Key raffle which was standing at £65, unfortunately, Michael was a loser so we look forward to £70 next time…

The stand-up competition began with comp organiser Mike Nowakwho proceeded to change from a flamboyant presenter to a French Benny Hill, (see Brendan’s pics) Benny proceeded to perform a European capital prediction which ended with him displaying the winning capital Hull upside down and this probably cost him 3 or 4 places...

Sam Gendy repeated his Harry Potter stand-up with a few effects finishing with his very funny Handcuff routine…

Ewan Callison or Graham Matters to his Burnley friends took on a head masters roll to do a mental addition prediction and also a neat card effect, very funny act as usual…..

Final stand up performer Jim Kelly performed among other things a celebrity prediction with one of my favourites Julia Roberts being the star prediction…faultless performance…

After canvassing for years for a close-up visual display for years it was good to see it in action, so a big thanks to all involve in achieving it.

You had to be there..

The next club night is an Inter-Club event on 26thApril

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 22/3/23 Fletcher Memorial lecture by

Irish Magician Quentin Reynold’s

Introduced by Moira Fletcher Quentin kicked off by performing his well-known Five Minutes with a Pocket Hanky Routine very entertaining even if you first saw it nearly 20 years ago.

His lecture started proper with an updated version of Joe Ridings 3 Card Monte with 4 Cards using jumbo cards, very good and doable it was too…

Next it was the Robert Harbin’s Torn and Restored Tissue Paper...nicely routine.

Next a Slydini routine using a couple white silk hankies tightly knotted a couple of times by Quentin and a spectator then released with ease, just like a hot knife through butter…

Next Kerrygold Linking Rings, 4 gold 4/5” rings link and unlink in a nice magical and entertaining way…

Next a couple of card effects, Roy Walton’s Card Warp and Card Portal, Warp didn’t do anything for me but Card Port was quite good…

Next a washing line rope routine using a couple of ropes and half a dozen different coloured silks ….. Entertaining

Quentin ended the first half with a couple of Gypsy Thread routines …

Quentin kept the tutorials for the second half..

The Second half started with the usual exciting raffle £50 was raised by ticket-miester Ewan C from 30 odd punters including 4 visitors...

Regular prize winner David Gallaher’s ticket was first out of the hat again, maybe something to do with the amount tickets he buys, unfair in my opinion ..lol

Anyway David went for the key raffle his head probably turned by the £50 prize pot but as luck would have it David wasn’t so lucky when it mattered because his key selection was unsuccessful…..

Opening the second half with an effect he forgot about Quentin performed Troublewit an origami-style pleated sheet or sheets of colored paper and like everything else very entertaining…

Quentin then went onto explain all the effects he performed helped no doubt by a couple of Leprechauns and a Banshee.

But you had to be there ….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 1/3/23 An Audience with Alex R Proctor

Alex P was introduced by past President Denis Shields who stated Alex was the best president he had experienced at the SCA, I believe a small sum of money change hands about this time. …

Octogenarian Alex P or Young Alex to his friends is currently an SCA Hon Vice President i.e. a special person like Mike A, Jim K, Gerry Mac, Brendan K and oh yours truly GF nearly forgot..

Alex kicked off with his introduction to magic which began at school when he was aged about ten and a half involving puppeteering…..well you’ve got to start somewhere…

Alex continued in his self-deprecating style through his magic and musical journey, he had started to play bass guitar which has 2 strings less than an acoustic guitar so cheaper to restring I thought a tea chest was a bass in those days, he mentioned his Latin American dancing involvement, unfortunately or fortunately because of health reasons it preventing him from deming his Pasa Doble… “ole”…

Alex said he joined the SCA about 1975/76 he then treated us to a couple of hours (normally I would say it seemed longer) of tips, anecdotes and memories even his red shoes got a mention so too did tons of charity works, methinks there might be a knighthood in the post.

I’m sure those trying to stay awake would have perked up when he mentioned doing a magic close-up spot for USA President Jimmy Carter and his grandkids when Jimmy visited Scotland I’m sure Jimmy C couldn’t wait to get home and tell the rest of the White Hoose about AP…

Alex always very generously offered some magic artefacts for sale with proceeds going towards the SCA 100th anniversary fund…

An excellent evening enjoyed by one of the largest audiences seen at the club for a long time 38 in total including some half dozen visitors…

One visitors a past member retired journalist George Welsh who had to leave the club many years ago because of work commitments has decided to re-join and very welcome he is too…

 

 

 

 

 

 

You had to be there...Wednesday 11th Jan

Magic of the Mind or Mental Magic got under way with President Mike Novak introducing …

Host for the night Sami Allam.

Sami’s first performer was himself, he did a mobile phone prediction via an App, I’m guessing because it’s difficult to see and hear from the back of the room where I reside though a little bird tells me that this might be getting resolved after all these years…..

Mike Archibald opened with an effect using a small Jewel box containing assorted Gem Stones, new prospective member Robert O'Neil was invited to secretly or stealthily remove one of the Jewels and close the box lid while MA looking away. Mike then tenderly slide out a drawer at the bottom of the box and low and behold a replica Jewel matching the selected one appeared, a round of applause followed…Mike continued with another couple of effects.

George F up next performed an ESP prediction effect which also earned some applause though this was probably because he didn’t cock it up…

Newbie Robert O'Neil performed a prediction card effect successfully good for his first performance…. well-earned applause…

Jim Kelly next up did a predictable prediction with the help of David G and a deck of cards to polite applause, I think…

Kenny HURREN up on stage with a fantastic prediction of a selected word from a dictionary with over 200 pages and got it right for a change...

Break and Raffle ticket time…

Attendance only 17 but £46 worth of tickets sold, the Key raffle was £65 and JK unluckily picked the wrong key, awe, more polite applause so key worth £70 next meet…

Denis S next, he performed a comedy Identity effect and a card effect/ trick...take it for granted all performers received polite applause.

Marco‘s turn … a phone numeric effect with the aid of a white marker board to display the numbers which I think was a significant date…

David G next with a Picture Prediction…

Billy Diamond ....A couple of card effects…

Newbie Robert up again … card effect…

A visitor/prospective member called Patrick popped in just after the magic, sorry mentalism was underway so we didn’t get a chance for a proper introduction, he offered to do something which was a numeric effect using a borrowed mobile phone …

Pres Mike closed the show with a prediction which I can’t remember, sorry Mike my bad….

It’s worth mentioning that Ewan ‘mental’ Wilson was conspicuous because of his absence.

NEXT MEETING NOT TO BE MISSED TOMMY TEMPLETON LECTURE….

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4th January You Had To Be There....

An attendance of just 14 members unanimously voted Vice-President Mike Novak to be the next President of the Scottish Conjurers’ Association, congratulations Mike, I’m confident he’ll do an excellent job...

Pres Mike’s first job was to inform us that during the Christmas show a visitor innocently filmed and posted the film on the internet unaware that filming performances without permission from the performers and posting on the internet was an infringement of club rules.

In future a statement will be made at the beginning of shows when members of the public are present also members should be vigilant if they see such happenings…

A suggestion by George F at the start of the season regarding a tutorial class was brought up and Jim Kelly volunteered to take the project on.

Tea/coffee break time and raffle ticket sales time.

The second half began with the usual raffle draw which raised £35 not bad considering the low attendance and cost of living situation in fact Kenny and George were heard enquiring if there was an easy payment option for a ticket…

Jim K got the first magic show of 2023 going with surprise surprise, a couple of card effects, plus a Goldfish joke about 2 goldfish one named one the other named two, I’m sure I’ve heard it at the club before but can’t place it !!!

Next up Alan Maskell (Dave) who carried on with a Goldfish tank commander joke, Alan performed a couple of effects or tricks concluding with a Doctor Who mental effect.

New Pres Mike N performed a kid’s type effect he claimed he won in a raffle…

Sami next, using about half a dozen different coloured wallets (I think) he invited 4 members to select a wallet which included a bland note in each wallet except the final wallet which predicted who would pick what wallet i.e. the Specky baldy guy JK would pick the yellow wallet, the Lady (scampi) Moira the blue wallet, can’t remember who got 3rd wallet, the trick went down quite well….

George F performed the Easy Magicians Card Trick without any cock-ups for a change, to wild applause…..

Mike N again with a twin wine glass transposition of cards as once seen on a Paul Daniel show…

David G close the show with a Jumbo 6 card trick the cards glued together and a card deck strike vanish ….

President Mike informed us that a few hours after our Christmas show in December there was an incident in the club rooms when sometime after midnight a rogue stray helium balloon activated the alarm system the culprit is believed to be one of the puppets playing a prank on custodian Malcolm who I’m sure saw the funny side when he got the call from the police got out of bed shouting …..

Ho Ho bloody Ho..

You had to be there….

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Christmas party night 7th Dec 22

You had to be there......

Acting President Mike Novak opened the Christmas party show with a few club notices first being Magic Den was unable to take part in tonight’s show because he was not feeling too well though I don’t think we got a sick note from his mum, I hope he recovers and is able cover his Christmas party shows as there’s nothing worse for a performer than letting a customer down….

Pres Mike reminded all of Past President Harry Gallagher’s passing, a one minute applause followed by a one minute silence was held…

Host David Gallacher got the show going by introducing John Rossi, John who is like a Tommy Cooper tribute act though not loud and in your face did one of his excellent comedy magic routines he did about half a dozen different effects though it would be pointless if they weren’t different, he concluding with his now famous Cups and Balls using 3 full size waste bins and a 12in round balloon just as well he doesn’t travel by bus…

Next up we had George F who some off beat stuff got a few laughs and ended with a bill switch, changing an old Scottish one pound note to a new £50 note..

Jim Kelly then took to the stage and with the help of a volunteer entertained with a Sponge Ball routine.

Jim then invited Geo F to join him and the volunteer on stage JK then did his annual moan for a few minutes about the time 10 something years ago he volunteered a £10 note (although through the passage of time it’s now risen to a £20 note) for a Just Chance effect which used a shredder and 6 envelopes as luck would have it or bad luck in this case his £10 was well and truly shredded, you had to laugh as many did after they got over the shock or it might have been the other way round …..

Back to the show, Jim proceeded to perform a Poly Water filled cups routine which is usually performed by a magician and a vulnerable volunteer this time Jim added his good friend Geo F to the line-up, the trick ended with Jim turning a water filled cup onto his baldly napper and he stayed dry!!! The Volunteer did likewise and to the amazement of the audience he stayed dry!!! Cocky GF then with a water cup on his head inverted it and to the howls of laughter he got soaked by a full cup of cold water…Ho Ho Ho bloody ho…. JK then held up a notice which read PAY BACK TIME…..

Interval next with lots of party eats and a bit of table magic by Gerry Mac and Josh Tevendale...

Second half kicked off with the raffle which made a grand total of £71 this should help the treasurer with his energy bill, the key raffle £85 was not won DG being the loser couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…ho ho…

Back to the magic which restarted with relative newbie Billy Diamond (wonder what his fav suit is), dressed for a Xmas occasion Billy did 3 table top card effects which went down very well the problem with table magic is without a camera and screen some in the audience can’t see what is going on but Billy performed it well…

Alan Maskell who some refer to as Dave (don’t know why) got a couple of kids up on stage and did some nice magic stuff with a bit of comedy Alan could probably do with being miked up as the back of the class were struggling to hear some of the dialogue and lost out on his soft style humour…

Sam Allam, I don’t know whether to call him Sam or Sami no doubt he’ll put me right on that entertained with 3 effects culminating in a very very funny handcuff release …

Lastly just time to cram in a spot by pro magician Josh Tevendale who did some magic using a couple of un-faked Rubic cubes and Mario Gs’ son Dario…

It’s worth mentioning couple of kids Rowan who really looked like she was up for some fun and Mario’s son Dario him with the nice smile (got to keep in with Mario you never know when you need a train in a hurry) were nice additions to the night’s entertainment…. All in all I think most of the audience went home to their cold houses with a warm smile on their faces…

You had to be there….

6Alex Proctor, Mark Junnor and 4 others

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Highland fling Night 11th Nov 22

 

 

Highland Fling Night

For those who missed the Highland Fling night here’s a wee taste of what you missed or didn’t miss, there wasn’t a mass display of tartan, no one was wearing a kilt one simpleton was wearing tartan trues..

The program was excellently hosted by an English person Alan Maskell or Dave to his friends there were 15 members present and a new 14 year old junior member Kai McCullough, Kai to friends..

First up to perform was Marco an Italian person who claims to have Scottish blood but we’ve yet to see it.., Marco did a card effect with the aid of a cannon an Italian copy of Mons Meg the One o’clock Gun….. you had to be there to see it …

Next up was the first Scottish person I think David G who struggled with the Pat Page Jam Jar coins routine but brownie points for trying I think it was a Chinese copy without the Jam Jar … you had to there to see it …

I’m winging this a bit but I think next up was Kilsyth’s Scottish entertainer and bingo caller Kenny Hurren, Kenny performed the Glass of whisky from a Tartan Egg Bag … you had to there to see it …

Up next I think was Drumchapel’s own Scottish Barber who told me he was wearing tartan underpants so proof he’s Scottish, he proceeded to murder a Robert Burn’s mentalist book effect but fair play he returned later and cracked it after he found the instructions…..you had to be there to see it …

Finally President Magic Den did something unforgettable that I can’t remember but if you ask him I’m sure he’ll tell you how good he was…but you had to be there to see it …

Host Alan/Dave did some neat Scottish effects in-between introducing the acts including a faultless presentation of the Tartan Jam Jar coin effect I think DG was in the toilets being sick at that time… you didn’t want to be there !!

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Mentoring night  17th Nov 22

SCA mentoring night…..

SCA mentoring night….. I would like to say you missed a great night of magic, unfortunately, an ok night would be a fair description….

I believe Sami was scheduled to host but for whatever reason he wasn’t in attendance…

President Denis deputised for Sami and if it was a card game you could say Denis did his best with a poor Haun…. the fact that Jim and George were the stars of the night says it all…

A total of 19 members and 1 visitor saw Denis open the program with an elastic band effect called Stargazer well ltz haw….. Den then did a packet card trick which was again a struggle for members see, if it was a very small room it would’ve been great ..

Den then mentioned a card effect called the Anniversary Waltz Trick ideally performed for a couple/partners, Jim Kelly mentioned to Den that he has his way of performing it both discussed their differences forgetting that there was an audience waiting to be entertained until someone suggested that they should both perform the bloody thing, Moira and Billy then played the happy couple.. I still don’t think the body of the hall learned anything, which unless I’m mistaken was the purpose of the mentoring night.

About this time Jim Kelly demonstrated a card move which regular members will have been familiar with and pleased to see it explained…

Eventually it was the afore mentioned stars of the show Jim and George formally known as the cock-up twins and for good reason which I won’t go into here although Jim did describe one of our famous Faux pas I’d sooner forget even though I wasn’t at fault….

To lift the spirit of the room Jim and George performed a version of what is popularly known as the Holy Grail of Card Magic the ACAAN (Any card at any number) they did a CAAN version or something like that….

The effect went something like this….

A spec was handed 5 cards numbering 1 to 5 on one side and 6 to 10 on the other side the spec mixes the cards any way they want and when totalled in this case the number arrived at was 20, nae forcing nae nothing ….

Two Decks of playing cards had been placed on the performer’s table before the number was known, one deck stacked with a playing card at a number only George and a Fairy knew this deck had been secured in a reinforced metal box. The other deck a mini jumbo deck was shuffled by JK placed on the table and fairly cut…

Billy Drummond was invited to come to the table and assist, he cut the Jumbo deck then when the sealed deck was opened Billy counted down to the 20th card turning each card face up to show each card was different which disarmed some of the cynics who would be suggesting a forcing deck.. the 20th card was then placed face down, JK took the jumbo deck fanned the cards face out towards the audience to show one card was reversed this card was removed and placed face down on the table, after an enthusiastic foot drum roll you could sense the excitement in the room George displayed his card the 10 of Diamonds….Jim turned over the Jumbo card and the look on his wee sonsie face told us all was not right, his card the 9 of diamonds was as near an exact match as is possible, good if you like near matches some members clocked the twist others thought it was a Jim and George bog standard cock-up, after some great acting by both a nearby envelope was notice and opened by JK, 6 sheets with a William Topaz McGonagall type poem was read out by Jim clearly stating that the trick was meant to show that the cards would be OOT BY WAN ….

Members were on their feet punching the air with joy and relief or maybe it was just polite applause …..You had to be there to see it…

When George calmed down he proceeded to perform and explain his no Thumb Tip bill switch, he changed an old pound note into a US dollar bill… great stuff worth the cost of admission someone was heard to say..

I think Mike Novak was scheduled to go on next but Mike always keen to perform reneged,...maybe the stars weren’t in the correct position with the moon….

Gerry McKendry then informed members that he would be available in the tearoom if anyone would like to learn any card sleights that he excels at, unfortunately no one took up the offer…

Moira then updated members about the Xmas party at the Drum and Monkey, members were sorry to hear that the cost of meals had increased from £21 to £28 due to inflation, energy cost and staff wages no surprise there..

Half time, members retire to the tearoom and remained there where a bit of mentoring and chat lots of chat took place also a successful raffle was completed…..

NEWS FLASH

CLOSE UP COMPETITION POSTPONED!!

We have decided to change the date of the close up competition and next week will be Sucker punch night.

Tricks with gags, sucker effects and comedy.

We will hold the close up comp at a later date.

Members are more than welcome to comment or correct anything I got wrong, English especially commas are not my forte so make allowances plz…

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Sucker punch night   23rd Nov 22

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Sucker Punch night 23/11/22

Sucker Punch night opened with 15 members present later to be joined 4 others….same attendance as last week…

President Denis open the evening with the sad news that he will be standing down as President siting various personal and private business reasons…

I have be a member of the SCA for well over 30 years and in that time there have been many Presidents and I have to say Denis is up there with the best of them and I, like every member is sorry to see him stand down and wish him well in the future…

After being proposed by Mike Archibald vice-president Mike Nowak was elected our new President…

New President Mike’s first job was to deputise for Ewan Callisson who had to call off siting…. I haven’t a clue they tell me nothing.

Scotland’s own barber to the stars Jim K got Cons and Scams going with a measuring /observation challenge using a pint beer glass, he then performed a nice 3 card monte routine I’ve seen him do many times and I still find it entertaining…

Host Mike N filling in between the stars did a couple of things including the beer glass a twisted hand/arm illusion.

Motherwell’s own Mike Archibald was on next, Mike explained how during the covid pandemic he occupied his time building a flea circus, as he had run out of fleas or maybe the fleas had run out on him he went on to talk about the enjoyment and fulfilment he got working out and building the circus. The tricks a common-or-garden flea might like to perform in the circus included a Tightrope, Trapeze, Roundabout/Carousel and probably other things I never picked up, the whole constructing looked the part and it was an enjoyable presentation by Mike, looking forward to seeing it in operation with the fleas taking an active part….

Sam Allam took to the stage with the intention of performing a card effect but a crucial white dot he needed appeared to have vanished, he proceeded with an effect using a Yale type key Batman and a phone app…nice

The one and only thank god Gerry Mac performed 3 yes only 3 packet tricks his first trick called Imagine is a particular favourite of mine, Gerry was excellent as usual with a nice touch of humour as usual….

Host Mike filled in with a coin glass balance challenge

John Rossi, Tommy Cooper’s Italian son he didn’t know much about, think it was a wartime romance say no more, continued the family tradition with a cod type 3 Aces routine then the Shawn Farquhar book test both excellent…

Host Mike next fill in was a balloon over a lit candle challenge… methinks he’s just showing off….

Rosalind’s dad Stuart Chalmers with one of his too rare performances did a card sandwich type effect….nice

Comment of the night for me was JKs… SuperSex

You had to be there to see it…