On the Cover By Karl Rabe

Magic Messenger August 2024

Members Karl & Bill Rabe win Second Place in Abbott's 86th Get Together Stage Show Competition (Photo by Jeff Boyer)

President's Corner By Dan Jones

Greetings AAMC Members & Friends,

As I look around our club I feel very blessed to know all of the members. Some of you I may know a little bit better than others. We have a great group of talented people in our midst. We are a magic club, yes but we are so many things. We perform, we teach, we learn, we share and we are more than just members....we are friends. I care about all of the group and I enjoy talking magic (as well as other things) with you.

While talking with some about magic effects ideas pop into my head. Some good and some not so good. Bob Goodwin and zi often bounce ideas back and forth and preview routines with each other. A senior member of aamc (who passed several years ago) shared an idea in the handling of the "Scotch & Soda" effect w/ me. I'd been doing it my way for years. His way was better. Another friend, former member and multi-talented performer (Russ Kennedy) and I developed many routines while sharing ideas. And I believe I mentioned this before but a newer member and I were talking and I asked how her magic effects were coming along and she asked me what I was working on in my magical journey? That inspired me to get off my behind and finish two tricks that I have. One new and one old. Stay tuned.

I am blessed and have been blessed to be a member, a performer, a leader and a friend in the Ann Arbor Magic Club.

Dan Jones, President.
Ann Arbor Magic Club

Secretary's Report By Karl Rabe

July Meeting

Our meeting started off with a bang as the featured performer, Mike Thornton, amazed and entertained us with his close-up act. For Mike's finale, he literally "cut the cards" in the card box, so the chosen card was the only one not cut to shreds.

Then it was on to a few business items.

• Kay Janiczek introduced a guest, her friend Noah Royak from Florida. As we were soon to find out, Noah is, among other things, a juggler and sword swallower.
• Our Treasurer Rob Krozal gave us a quick financial update.
• Our President Dan Jones delivered his 2nd of 6 member addresses as a future outgoing president. This month Dan talked about the "humble magician" and the opportunities for all of us for self improvement.

Then it was time for Rob's Corner. Our Treasurer Rob Krozal shared a prop from his collection, a very nice and large Square-Circle (maker unknown). Rob performed a bit culminating in the production of silks from the tubes.

Next, our educational section was an open discussion on performing Kids Magic. Kay Janiczek shared her persona's, some discussion on costumes, venues, music and selection of volunteers. Kay Suggested that kids performers check out Kids Bop each year to see what is popular in music. Mike Thornton added additional tips for scouting events and other banquet type performances for large groups of kids. Mike had success insisting that children sit with their parents, rather than in a big kids group. He also enlists in advance helpers who will intervene and take action if a child gets out of hand. Dan Jones, Kay, Brian Campbell and April Barrett shared tips on line work such as balloon twisting, how to end the line, and handling persistent parents.

Then it was time for member performances.

• Mike Bogdas performed an Attaboy routine using a prop customized for Bob Goodwin with the Attaboy head being a cutout of Bob's head in his mind reading persona.
• Mike Doyle performed a routine with a signed card appearing in an Altoids tin. He then did a casino stack of die routine with a predicted sum.
• Our guest Noah Royal then performed some juggling including plate spinning and then for what could have been the coup de grâce he performed some sword swallowing.
• Mike Reuter performed a strong any-card-at-any-number card prediction routine with kind of a Cardiographic twist.
• Alex Heath performed a card routine with Kay volunteering.
• Finally Karl Rabe wrapped up with a travel prediction based on the Binary Principle.

With the little time left, members jammed and socialized until they kicked us out of the building.

Around the Town By Karl Rabe

Remember this Month's Detroit Magic Club Meeting is on a Thursday - not a Tuesday. Ring 22 CLUB MEETING & MAGIC GARAGE SALE, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024, 7:15 PM, at the Spirit of Christ Lutheran Church, 749 W. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson, MI 48017

Other Calendars

• Check out John Luka's Magic page and his well maintained list of Michigan Events
• All AAMC Events and details can be viewed on the website calendar.

Past Events

The Annual Club Picnic was held at the home of President Dan Jones this past Saturday. The weather was great and good food and magic was had by all. When Dan told members they were welcome to bring "the old ball and chain" to the picnic, little did he know that Phil Mann would take him literally.

"The Magic Mann" channels his inner Houdini to perform his death defying ball-and-chain underwater escape.

Phil Man prepares for his underwater escape as Dan Jones stands by with the hook, incase Phil runs to long... oops, I mean incase he needs to be rescued. Jim Molnar captures the action incase something America's Funniest Videos worthy occurs.

Several members attended Cameron Zvaro's  Magic Show in Canton. Pictured below are April, John, Cameron and Dan.

A number of members made the trip to Colon last week for Abbott's 86th Get Together. Sean Howell was one of the scheduled street performers and performed a number of times throughout the week. Karl and Bill Rabe competed in Abbott's Stage Competition, performing their Multiplying Bottles routine, which took Second Place. Both Patty Rabe and Sean Howell got selected by different magicians to come up on stage and assist during one of the Evening Shows.

Other Members Spotted

• Charlie and Mike Palko
• Karl, Patty and Bill Rabe
• Frank Machniak and Jackie Clark
• Dave and Jackie Saunders
• Donald Oesterwind Jr.
• MIke Thornton
• Sean Howell
• Jeff Boyer
• Phil Mann
• Tad Dickerson
• Johnny NY

Funny Business By Karl Rabe

This month's challenge… How many members can you name?

Click here for the answers….