The January meeting, our annual magic auction, was very well attended with more than 25 magicians and a few guests all looking for great deals on tricks, props, cards and kits that others no longer wanted. Assembly #12 benefited by receiving 10 per cent of all purchases and by encouraging that the member’s dues was current. Guests paid $5 to participate. We had 23 buyers and sellers who generated sales of almost $650. Many popular items sold for as little as $1. The most expensive trick sold for just over $40. There were even some surprise free give aways (instructions not included-figure it out yourself). I’m sure every one took something new home and are practicing right now. I hope they’re getting ready to perform an the next SAM #12 meeting.

Special thanks to Adam Moore who was responsible for coordinating the financials of the auction and to former Minnesotan Geoff Williams for creating the computer program that tracks all of the sales.

Monthly refreshments were thoughtfully provided by Paul Ladig (sandwiches); Tom O’Lenick (popcorn) and, of course, hostess Jennifer Kahlow (soda, brownies and cookies). Please remember that members are encouraged to bring a snack to share with the group at each meeting.

Also, as a reminder, The Assembly #12 February meeting date has been moved back one week to Friday, February 23 at 7pm because of a travel conflict with our hosts, Jennifer and Larry Kahlow of Eagle Magic and Joke Store who will be on an anniversary cruise at the time of our regular meeting. Be sure to put the new date in your calendar and be sure to attend. The theme will be “Paper Money and Coin Magic Tricks.” There will be a drawing for magic provided by our magic dealer friends ( MagicbyGosh.com, PaulRichardsMagic.com and Hocus-Pocus.com ) if you perform for the group!

Pictured: (clockwise from upper left) – Tom O’Lenick, Larry Kahlow,

Paul Cook, Kevin Smith and Paul Black; (center) Jerry Martin.

A June meeting was added to our regular meeting schedule (Sept to May). To make it special, we started off with a social hour and picnic/bbq prior to the magic. Thanks to President Tom O’Lenick who provided brats/dogs and buns which we grilled outside our Eagle Magic Store meeting location. Other members brought various chips, soda, water, adult beverages, deserts and ice cream that were graciously shared.

Following a brief business meeting, we debriefed about recent local lectures (Ken Dyne and Eugene Burger) and the regional AbraCORNdabra convention that many attended. The group also was reminded of the upcoming free lecture by Max Krause sponsored jointly by the SAM and IBM groups.

The theme for the month was “Newspaper Magic.” The performers included:
Paul Cook and Steve Peer who each did clever variations of a newspaper clip line effect. Kevin Smith (with the help of Paul Black) identified the selected card by ultimately snipping four diamond shapes from a small piece of newspaper. Using a folded sheet of newspaper, Larry Kahlow was able to tear silhouettes of three chosen cards from the paper. Greg Broder shared a paper tear that created a Christian message using the word “Hell” and formed a “Cross.” Finally, Paul Ladig showed a comic newspaper headline that he uses when he performs the Wrist Chopper.

For “Teach-a-Trick,” Tom O’Lenick demonstrated another Newspaper Test (clip line type effect). First, the newspaper column was cut at the point chosen by Jerry Martin. He then picked a word from a few lines near the “cut point.” That thought of word was revealed by O’Lenick, as well as the sentence that contained the word. Historical reference: The original idea of a “Newspaper Test” was first published in 1964 by Albert Spackman in the British magic magazine “The Gen.”

Now a message from our sponsors! Greg Broder won the drawing for a performance prize donated by Steve Goshman of MagicbyGosh.com; Jerry Martin won the attendance prize donated by Paul Gross of Hocus-Pocus.com.

SAM Assembly #12 will be on hiatus through the summer months. Our next meeting will be on Friday, September 22. If your travel brings you to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, please attend the meeting. Until soon, best magical wishes, TomOL

Following the SAM business (committee reports, upcoming conventions, lectures, Good and Welfare updates); during the Teach-a-Trick portion of the meeting President Tom O’Lenick showed a drawing pad effect appropriate for children’s shows. The assistant selects an image from a small note pad containing about 50 images of easily recognized colored designs. When the prediction was opened it contained a duplicate of the chosen design. A utility prop know as a “Sven Pad” was used and the method is variation on the well know Svengali Principle.

Tonight performers each showed tricks related to the theme “ESP, Mentalism and Mindreading.” Paul Ladig demonstrated “Future Mental” where one of three chosen colored balls vanished from a closed wooden box and end up in his pocket. Larry Kahlow used a Color Vision Cube in a different way that fooled many. Adam Moore chose a volunteer that somehow knew exactly what he had on his mind. Then, Drew Hansen demonstrated how he could find the card a person was thinking of.

Sandwiches that were provided by Paul Ladig and snacks, soda, water and coffee by others were prepared by Jennifer Kahlow and enjoyed while everybody talked about magic with each other for the rest of the evening.

Before everyone left, we conducted the drawing for this month’s attendance prizes. The “give-aways” were donated by Max Krause of InnovativeDeceptions.com; And, Andi Gladwin of VanishingIncMagic.com. Congratulations to the winners, Kevin Smith, Paul Ladig and Drew Hansen.

The group also voted to hold an additional monthly meeting on June 16th (third Friday of the month). We will get together earlier than usual (6 o’clock) and grill brats outside the store for supper. Join us when the theme will be: Your favorite trick with a Newspaper. I wonder who will perform Gene Anderson’s Newspaper Tear?

Upper Left: Drew Hansen. Upper Right: Larry Kahlow
Center: SAM members (left to right): Tom O’Lenick, Steve Peer, Paul Black, Drew Hansen, Kevin Smith, Brad Gudim, Larry Kahlow, Paul Ladig, Paul Cook, Jerry Martin, Adam Moore. Bottom: Kevin Smith and Adam Moore.