Next Meeting...
Our next meeting will be held May 19, 2008, the third Monday in May. It will start at 7:00pm and run until about 9:00pm. The meeting will be in the conference room on the second floor of Bergner's at Sheridan Village in Peoria. After we take care of our regular business and any current issues, the topic for discussion will be...
Not Magic
Comedy, juggling, fire-eating, sword swallowing, ventriloquism, chalk talks, geek stunts, there are so many things that aren't usually thought of as magic, but come under the category of allied arts. We have a long history of spicing up our magic performances by adding some of these other types of entertainment to our shows. So come to the meeting and teach us how to juggle. Show us your vent routine. Do a chalk talk. Leave the tricks aside and tell a couple jokes. Or maybe demonstrate some entertaining paper folding. Whatever it is, if it's not magic, we want to see it.
And here's how to get there...
Directions...
Bergner's is in the Sheridan Village Shopping Center at the corner of W. Lake St. and N. Sheridan Rd. in Peoria. There is a parking lot at the rear of Sheridan Village. The entrance to this parking lot is at a traffic signal intersection on W. Lake St., about half way between N. Sheridan Rd. and N. University St. From this parking lot you will easily find the rear entrance to Bergner's. Park somewhere near there and go into Bergner's through that back entrance.
When you enter the store you will be in the Men's Clothing Department. There will be a sign above you pointing to the left towards the "Up Escalator". Go to the escalator and take it to the second floor. When you get off the escalator you will be in the Children's Clothing Department.
Turn immediately to your right and walk towards the far wall. Just beyond the Service Counter you will see a white double door with a small sign on it which says, "Bergner's Associates Only". There should also be a sign posted at that door which indicates this is the location for the PMA meeting. Go in that door. Our meeting will be in that area which doubles as an employee lounge and a public conference room.
If you have any questions about these directions, email Greg McNeil or phone 309-691-1513.
Hope to see you there!
Future Meeting Topics...
The following is a list of the topics we will explore at upcoming meetings. These are posted in advance to give you a chance to select tricks or effects to perform or discuss at each meeting. This is your club and we want to encourage active participation in the meetings and events. So don't just leave the fun to everyone else. Come join us at the meetings and show us some magic!
Monday, June 16, 2008...
On the Table
Close-up magic is perhaps the favorite style of performing for most magicians. It's easy to carry the smaller props like coins, cups and balls, rings, strings, rubber bands, sponge balls, thimbles, and cards. The tricks we do close up, on the table or in the spectator's own hands, can be some of the most amazing effects to perform. Even the most notable stage magicians have been known to show an occasional pocket trick or close-up effect when they're off duty. And some magicians have made close-up magic their specialty. So put a cool trick or two in your pockets, come to the meeting, and let is see what you've got.
Monday, July 21, 2008...
etc.
This is your chance to share any trick or routine, even if it doesn't seem to fit into any of the other themes. Maybe you've looked over the list and your favorite trick just can't be put into any of these categories. But, this also means you don't have any excuses. This absence of a topic allows you to perform anything, regardless of whether it is or is not described in any other topic. Everyone should come to the meeting prepared to perform one type of effect or another. Yes, no matter who you are or what kind of magic you like, it's your turn and everything.
Monday, August 18, 2008...
Just for Kids
Entertaining children, and doing it well, can require some expertise beyond the simple ability to perform a few tricks. Kids present particular challenges to the performer, challenges like the child with a short attention span, the timid child, the obnoxious child, the overly helpful child, and the list goes on. Let us know how you handle these very special situations. Bring in some of your kid-show material. Explain why this stuff works for kids, and maybe tell us about what you've found that doesn't work. This should prove to be a valuable meeting. And I'm not kidding.
Monday, September 15, 2008...
In Black and White or Living Color
Do you perform the black and white Metamorpho Spots, a brightly colored Blendo, maybe What's Next in black and white, or a colorful Sands of the Desert? How about a combination of the two, like the Magic Coloring Book? Does your favorite card trick use the drab, colorless Three of Clubs or does it use the flashy Queen of Hearts? Come to the meeting and show us something where the color, or lack of color, is an important element of the effect or presentation. Because what we do is visual by its nature, there is a lot of material that fits this category. Now it's all here in black and white, so let's see how you paint it.
Monday, October 20, 2008...
Very Scary
It's getting near Halloween, one of the popular holidays among magicians. How about you think of spiders and snakes and ghosts and such, and bring in your scariest trick. Can you make a big hairy bug suddenly appear in someone's hand? Is the old Can of Peanuts gag more your style? How about an envelope full of Rattlesnake Eggs? Maybe chop off a finger or toe, or even another limb? Or did you cut off someone's finger yesterday and today you keep it still alive in a box? Blood, surprises, gross things? Certainly some scary ideas are just for fun, but some are a little more startling. Come to the next meeting and don't be scared to show us your favorites.
Monday, November 17, 2008...
I Can Read Your Mind
Yes, I knew you wanted to discuss the topic of Mentalism. Some magicians specialize in this type of magic, but even those who don't usually have a couple routines based on mind reading. Some examples would be predicting a word found in a book, knowing in advance which card will be selected, seeing through a steel blindfold, matching a chosen color, or finding a hidden item. And if you don't do anything like that, how about showing some other paranormal tricks like spoon bending, levitating, or a spirit bell. I foresee a fun meeting.
Monday, December 15, 2008...
Let's See You Get Out of This!
Here's one for you guys who get all tied up in your magic. Escapes have been a mainstay of our art for generations. So come show us your favorite escape from handcuffs, ropes, chains, or a straitjacket. And even if you don't do the usual escape tricks, you're still locked in. Have a trick where an Ace vanishes from between two Jacks, a block drops free from a metal rod, a sponge ball is magically released from the clutches of a spectator's hand? You get the idea. Anything that escapes some sort of confinement will fit the topic. So there's no getting away this time.