So it’s 2012 and there are so many things happening this year that it’s almost too much to list. However, maybe it’s time to begin making plans for the summer!

We’re proud to announce that Ellusionist is a sponsor of this year’s Sorcerers Safari in Canada!

I recently had the pleasure of talking to the founder of the Sorcerers Safari, Mike Segal. The first thing I will say is that he is VERY passionate about doing this for the youth in the magic community. Throughout the years he’s rounded up some of the biggest names in magic for an experience unlike anything you’ve experienced before. For one week in the summer (August 27-September 2) campers will be immersed in all things magic and fun.

Having a line up like they do it makes me wish I was a kid again just to be able to experience what it’s like to be surrounded by my heroes who are there to help ME in what I’m trying to accomplish!

I’m going to run through some of the things that go on at the camp but for more information please head to their website at www.Sorcerers-Safari.com.

This camp is packed with topics ranging from simple sleight of hand all the way to magic as a business and even magic theory!

This struck a real chord with me as you just can’t get that type of access to people of this calibre at a convention. Let me give you a few of the names that are part of the Sorcerers Safari;

• Aaron Fisher
• Lee Asher
• Shawn Farquhar
• Greg Frewin
• Wayne Houchin
• Eric Leclerc
• Ben Train

And the list goes on and on….

This year the FISM Champion SOMA will be on the list of guests. Keep in mind that the guests may change but will definitely grow, as time gets closer.

So what does that mean for campers? Well it means an unheard of opportunity to actually spend an entire week not only learning from but also hanging out and just jamming with everyone! Man, I really wish I was a kid again. They even go as far as to assist the parents of campers find accommodations nearby if they’re worried about their little Houdini being too far away!

The point is that this is a WONDERFUL opportunity for you or your children who are aspiring magicians to have access to something that very few people do. If it weren’t for Mike Segal and his dedicated staff, none of this would come to pass.

Registration is easy and more than affordable for the week of unforgettable experiences and life long friendships made. We here at Ellusionist are proud to sponsor and honored to assist someone doing something truly amazing for the magic community!

Later this week I’ll be interviewing Mike Segal and he’ll be talking about the Camp and more. If you have any questions, we would like to help get them answered, leave your questions submitted below and we’ll get the info. Also as more information comes up about the camp we’ll be sure to update you as well. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter. Secrets come from everywhere

-Xavior Spade

For more information please visit the Sorcerers Safari website:

www.Sorcerers-Safari.com

Also Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellusionist

And on Facebook : http://facebook.com/Ellusionist

There will be some amazing things happening this year and some opportunities for all of you to get some cool shizzle!

Your voice matters…Let it be heard!

Above everything else we do at Ellusionist, the one thing we push above all else is inspiring our customers to perform with the stuff they buy. And there’s one performance venue that is very close to our hearts: Performing for kids at hospitals. E VP Jason Brumbalow talked about it in this podcast, and more recently, put out a call to action.

One guy answered the call, and wrote us back with the best e-mail we’ve read in a while. This is from Don Boyer, of New York City:

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So far, a majority of people who get to see Dynamo’s magic are A-list celebrities and YouTube fans. That’s about to change.

“Dynamo: Mission Impossible” is set to debut July 7 in the U.K. To stir up attention, the self-styled hip-hop magician took a walk across the Thames River in London with no bridge.

The photos in reports from British newspapers, including the Daily Mail, demonstrate the impact. In one photo, a crowd has gathered on a bridge above him just to watch. According to the report, he made it about half way across the stretch in front of the Houses of Parliament before a River police boat — allegedly — picked him up.

Give props to a magician who is pushing ahead, despite fighting a life-threatening illness and losing a leg.

Gary Darwin is a magician based in Las Vegas. About eight weeks ago, he stepped on a screw; because he’s diabetic, things got worse. First a water blister formed, then a blood blister, then the news that things were much worse — doctors eventually amputated his leg. But he endured it all and was back performing last week, against doctor’s orders.

“I was in pain, and I was supposed to stay in bed,” Darwin said to the Las Vegas Weekly. “But I just had to come. Hopefully the nurse will give me permission to come back next week.”

Dude has some great support, as well: According to the report, Lance Burton stayed with him the night before his surgery, slept on the floor of his room and followed him to the operating room. When Darwin woke up, there were 20 magicians in the room to distract him from the pain.

Not everyone gets to have an entire career dedicated to magic. Most magicians have their day jobs as well as their performance careers. And that’s a good thing, because some career fields mesh PERFECTLY with magic.

Of course, we’d argue that learning sleight of hand makes someone a better all-around person, and that applies to whatever career they’ve chosen. But it’s almost spooky how perfectly aligned some fields are with magic.

Maybe you’re still in school and haven’t picked a career path yet. Or maybe you’re ready for a new field. Whatever the case may be, check out our top five careers that match magic to a T: (more…)