Today started off with the Dealers room opening up at 9:00 AM. It was a great room filled with lots of very diverse items. Unlike many convention where you can find more of the same, this one had mainly dealers offering their own creations.

J.C. Wagner was the first lecture of the day and it was packed with usable commercial magic. After sixty years of presenting magic this man really understands what it takes to entertain. Perhaps I have become jaded seeing so many lectures at so many conventions. Most of the lectures I see have great ideas but lack the performance time necessary to validate the material. J.C. Has nothing but killer material validated by years of performance!

The Awards luncheon was next on the agenda and it is always well attended. The meal was actually very good this year and the guests were all seated at tables that were hosted by the performers. This was a nice touch for those that did not get a chance to meet their favourite magic star. Awards were announced for the Stage and Close Up contests. First place Stage was awarded to Neil Croswell and Second Place to Michael Dardant. In Close Up the First prize winner was Nicholas Wallace and the Second Place was also to Michael Dardant. Normally only a First and Second Place award are presented but this year the scores were very close and a Third Place prize was given to Neil Croswell.

The Sid Lorraine Achievement Award was presented to Sandy Hobson for all his efforts in support of the Canadian Association of Magicians. His work on the website alone has helped to build our organizations communications and membership growth. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Roman Sydlowski who has been a member of the Board of Directors since the CAM’s inception and who’s dedication to art is unbelievable. The final award is the Canadian Magician of the Year. This is the highest honour a Canadian magician can dream to be given. Past recipients include Greg Frewin, David Acer, James Dimmare, Murray Hatfield and myself. This year I was surprised and thrilled to hear I (Shawn Farquhar)was to be the Honouree once again. This is an honour I do not take lightly and I hope to do my best to represent Canada, Canadian magicians and magic in general in the best light possible.

Ventriloquist, Mike Robinson was the entertainment for the luncheon and he was spectacular! He and Terrance do a show filled with laughs and jabs. I seemed to be the brunt of most of the jokes Terrance made. In the past Obie O’Brien has always been the target and I used to laugh hard. Not so funny when you’re the guy Terrance plans to kick in the a##. In truth I have not laughed so hard in a long time. Kudos to Mike and his jerk of a partner!

The next lecture of the day was FISM World Champion of Parlour, Marc Oberon. His lecture was pushed forward a bit due to the loss of Lennart Green who could not make it as a result of the volcano. Marc’s lecture was packed with useful magic. He offered a little of something for everyone. I personally love his effect “Bang On”. It is clean direct magic at it’s best. (more…)

Day two of the Canadian Association of Magicians CAMaraderie convention began with the lecture of Mark Mason. Mark is an amazing magic demonstrator who has a really world knowledge of magic. In his lecture he shared a lot of valuable information that is certain to benefit anyone who listened,

Shawn Farquhar‘s lecture was next. That’s me. I did a ninety minute presentation called Bread and Butter. Basically I perform and explain many of the effects I have used to make my living for the past two decades.

The next event was strictly for the youth and was sponsored by Sorcerer’s Safari Magic Camp. I’d like to tell you what went on, but I’m not that young! I am sure Mike and Jen Segal had lots of fun things planned. I can tell you I am fortunate to be invited each year to the Camp and it is an experience that in unlike anything I have experienced anywhere else in the world.

After lunch everyone headed to the Kitchener Public library for the Stage competition. The contest is a people choice event and everyone is required to bring the ballot supplied in their convention package to even enter the theatre. Why do I mention this? Well I wasn’t fully aware of this rule and I neglected to bring my ballot and was denied entrance. I made the journey back to the hotel, found my ballot and returned just in time to miss the final act. For this reason I can’t tell you what happened. I do know that Scott Brandson, Ekaterina Dobrokhotova, Chris Pilsworth, Michael Dardant and Neil Croswell performed and it was hosted by Dick Joiner.

Following a dinner break we all gathered in the main showroom at the Delta hotel for the Dealers show. I must say I am not a huge fan of dealer shows but this one had a few great moments. I applaud Jeff of Browsers Den for his very funny presentation using a half a dozen milk pitchers and a lot of creativity.

The next event of the day was the gala Close Up show and I have to say this years line up was unbelievably talented. If you had registered for the convention and could only attend one event this one would have been worth the entire registration. The organizers went all out in regards to the production by using three Sony PD-150 broadcast quality cameras and a professional switching unit to capture all the fun on a huge ten foot by fourteen foot rear projection screen. (more…)

Ryan Joyce has supplied some wonderful photos from Camaraderie 2010, which will be updated below.

Shawn Farquhar is reporting from Camaraderie 2010 you can read all the updates right here

The Canadian Association of Magicians annual magic convention got off to a great start here in Kitchener, Ontario with a stellar lecture from FISM World Champion of Cards, Henry Evans.  Anyone who has seen this man work knows his ideas are as solid and his magic.  He demonstrated a huge number of effects including the New Chinese Miser’s Dream , Matching couples and the Card Expert.  This final routine is unbelievable for a lay audience and was a great way to close a lecture.  Moments after the lecture ended, Henry was swamped by hundreds of magicians wanting to buy his magic.

Right after the dust had settled Bill Abbott took to the same lecture lecture stage to share some of his outstanding ideas too.  Most people will know Bill for his commercially successful effect The Thing, but he has also created some other wonderful effects like Blockbuster, Five Card Opener and Smart-Ass.  I have to mention that the lecture facilities are really top notch.  Although the room is large there is a huge rear projection screen and three cameras to capture all the action.  This is a really nice touch not often found at magic conventions.

We all took a short break for dinner and the fun resumed at 7:30PM with the close up contest.  This year there were 11 contestants.  Not all were of the highest quality, but I must say everyone was having a great time and I think that is most important!  The audience was divided into three rooms which were named the Hatfield Room in honor of Canadian Magician of the Year, Murray Hatfield; the Obie room after the Godfather of close up magic, Obie O’Brien; and the Farquhar Room for yours truly.  I, of course, watched in the contest in the Farquhar room and was surprised to see Obie was also in the room! (more…)

CAMaraderie Convention, Canada takes place April 28-May 1 2010, in Kitchener, Ontario just north of Buffalo, NY.

News just in is that legend  J.C. Wagner will be joining the line up of Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, Henry Evans, Shawn Farquhar, Lennart Green, Marc Oberon, Bill Abbott, Tim Drake, Charlie Frye, Dick Joiner, Ryan Joyce, Mark Mason,  Mike Robinson, Bob Sheets, Stoil and Ekaterina, and Steve Walker

J.C. Wagner is considered one of the best bar magicians in the world, and this will, we believe be his first ever Canadian appearance. With such a great name added to such an amazing line up, there really is no reason not to book yourself in to see what could be one of the strongest CAM line ups ever!

For full details see the website www.CanadianAssociationOfMagicians.com or e-mail JCaesar@sentex.ca for more information.

FISM winner Pilou from France has been added to the strong line up for the 2010 CAMaraderie Convention, which takes place April 28-May 1 2010, in Kitchener, Ontario just north of Buffalo, NY.

Pilou is the World Champion of Stage Magic – Grand Prix 2006 and will join a host of other FISM winners including: Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster, FISM winners from Australia, Henry Evans FISM winner from Argentina, Shawn Farquhar, the only Canadian Grand Prix FISM winner, Lennart Green, FISM winner from Sweden, and Marc Oberon FISM winner from England.

For full details see the website www.CanadianAssociationOfMagicians.com or e-mail JCaesar@sentex.ca for more information. You can also check out our updates as well in the run up to the convention.