I.B.M. Ring 41's next meeting will be "Packet Trick Night" on Wednesday April 24th.

"I put Nick Trost's kids though college with all the packet tricks I've bought since 1975!"
- David Swoboda

Packet Trick Night and a Tribute to Sneaky Pete

At our next meeting we will be exploring the wonderful, magical world of "packet tricks." A staple of many magicians, packet tricks have been a favorite of magicians and laymen alike. If you know the names of Emerson & West, Nick Trost, Jim Temple, Ron Frost, or Phil Goldstein then you know what I mean.

Bring your favorite Packet Trick

Brush up on your "Counts, Cuts, Moves and Subtlety" and show the membership your finest packet work.

As a special bonus, Jon Hughett and David Swoboda will show two of Sneaky Pete's favorite packet tricks. David will perform the Emerson & West classic, Color Monte, using Pete's cards from the Safe House. And Jon will show us "Larry West's" Eight Ball! Pete performed these two tricks nightly and always got great reactions.

You have your mission. Practice up for the next meeting on the 24th. If you don't have a packet trick, bring your favorite trick to perform. Or, stop out at Big Guy's and pick a new packet trick for your act!

"The collected works of Nick Trost should be in every magicians library!"
—David Swoboda

Wednesday April 24th., 7:00pm at the Tripoli Shrine Center, 3000 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, 53208

Jon Hughett — Vice-President

I.B.M. Ring 41 will host it's Annual Magic Auction on Sunday April 28th.

"Every year I get at least one super magical deal at the Ring 41 Auction!"
- Satisfied Auction Patron

Don't miss the action at the Auction. . . Deals galore!

Ring 41's once a year celebration of magic and mayhem.

April 28th. 2013

Time: 11am check-in, 12pm noon auction starts.
Price: $5.00 for bidding paddle (req 1/bidder)
Where: Fire Ridge Golf Club, 2241 CR-W, Grafton, WI 53024

Food and beverages available on site.
Dealer's tables are available for $25 flat fee
10% of all proceeds (except dealers) are donated to Ring 41.

For Silent Auction information contact Bob Rath This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

eMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"I bought a whole new act by selling all my old magic tricks!"
—A happy Seller at the Auction

Sunday April 28th., 11:00am at the Fire Ridge Colf Club, 2241 CR-W, Grafton, WI 53024
$5 bidders paddles. Open to the Public.

Jon Hughett — Vice-President

March Lecture - Sean Masterson

We had a very good turnout with over half the membership attending.

The business meeting was short and sweet. The most important items on the agenda were the Auction details and the upcoming elections. We are actively seeking to fill the positions of VP and Treasurer. Jon has indicated he would be willing to run for Pres. David has indicated he will continue as Secretary/Webmaster. Maria has indicated she is willing to continue as Sgt at Arms. Contact any board member if you are willing to step up and help your club grow.

Speaking of growing, here are some quick club stats supplied by the Secretary. Since Aug of 2008 when this Secretary joined the Ring, we have added 17 new members, and lost 4.The current membership is listed at 39 members.

New Members this month include: Jimmy "Big Bopper" Prince, Todd Krohn and Brian LeBoeuf. Please welcome them to the club when you see them. Jimmy just promoted the heck out of the Blast of Magic Show. Attendence was over-the-top at nearly 300 people. Wow! Shake Jimmy' s hand when you see him.

And then there is the Auction on April 28. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS. Please contact the secretary if you're willing to help behind the scenes.

Let the Lecture Begin

Sean Masterson visited us from the windy city. Sean is currently performing his show "Magic Matinee" at Theater Wit in Chicago. He has been performing professionally since 1992.

Sean's magic is a powerful mix of magic and theater. Many magicians skimp on the aspect of theater, but not Sean. His work is a skillful blend, in the tradition of Robert Houdin and his famous quote that a magician is an actor playing the part of a magician.

Selecting young Quintin Townsend from the audience, Sean performed a comedy card counting routine that ended with a card raise from the held deck. With a nod to Derick Dingle the routine was simple, direct and played well to the audience.

In his appearing wine glass routine he has three very subtle but important improvements to a classic trick. Stage workers take note. I'll mention two. He uses a plastic glass and he adds some reflective tape to the top edge to give the stage lights a better target for highlights.

Speaking of simple and direct, Sean showed us a very elegant and simple coin in silk vanish that I really liked.

He also has some really nice handling with the old cling rings. Well worth pursuing if you have that classic prop.

For me, the highlight of Sean's lecture was his book test routine with his puppet Phineas Finch. I overhead Jon Hughett tell Sean that the routine was so good he wanted to steal it, but knew he'd never get away with the theft. The magic is almost secondary to the theater in this act. The magic is not complex. But the act is fascinating and a pure joy to watch. Sean has been doing this act for over 15 years, and the performance showed years of polish.

Sean performed many more items for us in his lecture and if he stops in your town, I recommend you catch his lecture. Thank you Sean!

Enjoying the evening were: Gerald Michels, Mike & Heather Miller, Bill Crowley, Jon Hughett, Andy & Angie Pugens, Paul Beilke, Ron Fable, Robert Guillaume, Big Guy, John & Maria Kurtz, John Lewitske, Mark Martinez, Richard Mossey, Bruce Nelson, Scott Obermann, Bob Rath, Raime Townsend, Quintin Townsend, Todd Krohn, Jimmy Prince, Brian LeBoeuf, Andy Luka, and David Swoboda. Photos from the evening, taken by Gerald Michels, are now on our Facebook photo page. Many new photos from other meetings were also recently posted there.