The ever successful South Tyneside International Magic Convention  will take place on Friday 8th to Sunday 10th March 2013 thanks to the main sponsors Magicbox, Customs House and South Tyneside Council. Two more name have been announced for next years convention:

Dani DaOrtiz combines superb technique with crazy humour. At only 30 years of age he is another of the great card workers that Spain has given the world, magicians like Arturo de Ascanio, Pepe Carroll and Juan Tamariz.

Daniel Ortiz was born in Malaga in a town called Estepona. Like most magicians he began his own marathon of magic at 4 years of age thanks to a box of tricks given to him by his father. When he was 12, he visited the magic circle in Seville and experienced the magic of Mario the Magician who would later become his mentor. Later still he would associate with first class artists such as Juan Escolano, Mago Migue, Juan Tamariz, and even today Lennart Green. All played their part in influencing his approach to magic.

If there is something that Dani DaOrtiz does not avoid it is taking risks to achieve the desired effect. His magic is sometimes characterised as being unconventional and making much use of improvisation. It allows him to create incredibly dynamic routines that cater to those particular audiences in the specific environment in which he is working.

He edits a magazine called ElManuscrito which he hopes will create a lasting legacy of interesting articles, studies, theories and of course techniques and tricks. His goal is to create in-depth studies of figures like J N Hofzinser, Robert-Houdin, Fred Kaps, Larry Jennings and many others. In doing this he considers himself fortunate in having the cooperation of many magicians from around the world: Paul Wilson, Roberto Giobbi, Juan Tamariz, Rafael Benatar, Helder Guimaraes and Lennart Green among others.

He has authored four books on magic and edited three DVDs including Fat Brothers I and II.

The third name is a 1st to the UK  - Scott Land

Scott Land is a puppeteer at the top of his game. His seasoned performing skills are on display in nearly every scene of Paramount Pictures’ Team America: World Police. Other screen credits include Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2, for which he created and performed a Julie Andrews look-alike marionette, seen on the Special Features section of the DVD. His other TV and film credits include Pee Wee’s Playhouse, The Ben Stiller Show, Still Breathing, Shakes the Clown and Rodney Dangerfield’s Birthday Bash.

Land has performed some 10,000 shows worldwide at theatres, convention centres, theme parks, corporate events and on cruise lines. Scott has entertained at more celebrity private parties than any other puppeteer.

His clientele reads like a “Who’s-Who” list of Hollywood: Sylvester Stallone, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Pee Wee Herman, Tom Hanks, Rod Stewart, Meg Ryan and many more. And he is one of a few marionette artists to be invited to perform at the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood. In 2006, he travelled to Tibet and gave a special performance for the Dalai Lama, delighting his Holiness with a “mini-me” marionette version of himself.

Read more about Scott in the Genii magazine here
Scott will be bringing over, among others, the Amazing Ballantine and Michael Jackson

You can also join the South Tyneside International Magic Convention Facebook Page