Lectures

Periodically we schedule lectures from prominent professional magicians. These lectures are intended to advance our personal skills as well as to expose us to polished professional performances. Lectures are open to members of the magic fraternity and interested amateurs. Space is limited, so to insure your place, please call us at 603-938-5158 to reserve a seat.

In the past years we have sponsored many lecturers including: Jay Sankey, Jarle Leirpoll, Daryl, Simon Lovell, David Ginn, Lee Earle, Dan Tong, Jim Sisti, Jerry Mentzer, Eric DeCamps, Brian Geer, Bob Bengel and many more. We are currently looking for feedback for more lecturers. We need your help, so please let us know the names of lecturers you would be interested in and we'll try to get them!

Our Next Lecturer on November 1, 1998 is . . .

MICHAEL CLOSE--The Farewell Lecture Tour
Very, Very Close

November 1, 1998 (Sunday); Bradford, NH; 4:00pm; Special Workshop at 1:30pm

Michael Close has an international reputation as a performer, creator, lecturer, raconteur, and author. His five volume Workers series has been highly acclaimed by professionals and hobbyists worldwide. His product reviews in MAGIC magazine have been applauded for their honesty and integrity. He has performed and lectured at every major magic convention in the United States, and has appeared at conventions in Japan, Sweden, England, France, Italy, and Argentina.

Michael Close is about to take a sabbatical from the world of magic conventions and magic clubs. This is his Farewell Lecture Tour. The material in the lecture will be drawn from the routines in the Workers series, but will not contain routines which have been explained in any of Michael's previous lectures. There will be a mixture of close-up and stand-up routines, and the skill level will range from tricks which require very little technical ability, to those which will require a bit of practice. All the routines are commercial, diabolical in their construction, suited for real world performance, and designed to bamboozle and entertain the most discriminating audience.

The lecture will be in two parts. The first part will cover the new material; all the routines will be thoroughly explained, and lecture notes will be available. The second part will be a potpourri of effects from the Workers series, and effects may or may not be explained, depending on time constraints. The goal is to cover as much material as possible, and for the attendees to experience as many of the routines from the Workers series as
possible.

In addition to the standard lecture, a workshop with Michael Close may be scheduled for either before the lecture. This workshop will focus on techniques which will aid in the mastery of card sleights (such as palming, culling, and the faro shuffle), suggestions for creating effective routines, and techniques for audience management. In addition, Michael will gladly discuss any topics which are of interest to members of the group. This is a fabulous opportunity for a select group to benefit from the instruction of one of magic's finest teachers. The workshop is designed for 8-15 people. Because of the very limited seating, people interested in the workshop are required to RSVP ASAP. SEATS ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED BASIS. LESS THAN EIGHT SPOTS REMAIN.

The Workers books will be available for sale, as well as a few of the props which some of the effects require. Many of these props (such as the paper punches for The Pothole Trick date books for The Birthday Book the pens for You Hue, and the little hands for The Unbelievably Useful Comedy Prop) are extremely difficult to find. In addition, Michael will be premiering his new series of video tapes, Very, Very, Close: The Magical Masterpieces of Michael Close. The initial release will consist of three close-up videos and a stand-up video. They are produced by L&L Publishing, and the performances, explanations, video work and production values are of the highest caliber. Because the routines have been grouped into performance sets, these tapes can be enjoyed by magicians and their non-magician friends.

"It took an incredible performance to climb the mountain of talent booked for this convention, but I saw what I consider to be one of-if not the-best single close-up performance of my life... Michael Close. He reduced me to tears. That single act, for me, was worth many times the price of admission." A review of the Convention at the Capitol by Chuck Fayne, writing in MAGIC magazine.

"Brilliantly well done! Some of the best, most inspiring magic I've ever seen." Teller, (the quiet one) of Penn and Teller

"The hour or so of Michael Close's lecture was undoubtedly the highlight of the convention for me. The effects were wonderful and the presentation was enthralling." A review from a 1994 Australian convention.

"Thank you so much for wonderful lectures that you gave in Ferndale and Ann Arbor... The last lecture that fired me up as much was the Tamariz lecture at Fechter's a few years back... The material is excellent. Everything you did is pure gold." Michael McGivern.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cost for the lecture is $15 pre-paid (before October 15) or $18 at the door, and cost for the workshop is $25 pre-paid (before October 1) or $30 at the door (reservations required). DON'T MISS THIS EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM ONE OF MAGIC'S GREATEST WORKERS!

For more information or to pre-pay, contact Andrew J. Pinard by mail at 12 Church Street, Bradford, NH 03221, by phone at 603-938-5158 or by e-mail at ajpinard@conknet.com. All checks should be made out to Absolutely Magic.

Be sure to check the New Hampshire magic page for links to the assembly and ring pages as well as a calendar of local events!

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E-mail Andrew J. Pinard at ajpinard@conknet.com