Author: ReneC

For the second year in a row, on June 5^th, 2026 member volunteers of the Doug Henning Magic Wand IBM Ring 49 club performed shows for the clients of St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas ON (a neighboring hamlet to Hamilton ON).  Like last year, we performed separate shows for the Day Program clients and for the residents at the facility.

Shows like these are worth doing simply based on the charitable benefits they provide, but the rewards far exceed that. These were ‘stage shows’ format which not all magicians do regularly so this event offers exposure to them. Many of our members are strictly amateur/hobbyist,  and we make an extra effort to include them as performers to allow them to gain some experience. Also it’s an opportunity to learn more about sound systems, stage lighting, staging (where to put props and organize the scene from the spectator’s perspective), and in quick stage ‘changes’ (i.e. swapping props for each performer).

Peter Wiltshire handled our backstage requirements again this year and provided the sound system for us. Technically he also handled the stage lighting, but the venue does not use the stage much and the lighting was still set up the way Peter had left them last year.

Our MC duties where skillfully handled by our own Rick Rossini, a well-known local performer and highly respected member of the ring. Rick covered our stage changes with some up-front effects and then introduced each of the four acts. Our show opened with Victor Staniewski performing an intricate effect based around (but with many other props) a D-Lite routine, followed by a Passe Passe bottles routine.

I followed Victor with a travel themed levitating suitcase and flying model plane routine, and then a routine I developed around a Gibson Box (a bit of a throwback to the past). Barry O, who combines magic with ventriloquism and puppetry, performed a couple of effect involving interactions with some of his co-performers, and Joseph Akhtar brought the shows home with some clever effects finishing with taking multiple boxes of flowers out of a seemingly empty bag. Congratulations to all performers, both shows went off very professionally and to great applause.

Submitted by Rene Chouinard

Well, we made it to June, so this is our last Ring Report for our 2025/2026 Season. We started the year off big with a great lecture from Ryan Edwards (see our September Ring Report printed in the November 2025 Linking ring) and finished strong with a special Members Night where we shared effects and performance tips among members.

But first, our club recently performed a Second Annual Charity Show for St. Joseph’s Villa, a local senior care facility, so this meeting started with a review of how that show went and some of the feedback we received. Our President, Doug Hunt, who has a close family member in a similar facility, spoke of how important a show like this is to the residents and thanked the performance group for having undertaken this endeavour. Doug then surprised the participants with a special Service Award for the individuals involved: MC Rick Rossini, Performers Victor Staniewski, Rene Chouinard, Barry O’Neil, and Joseph Akhtar, and our sound/backstage person Peter Wiltshire.

For any readers involved in other rings, having your club perform a show like this has many benefits beyond just the charity aspect – not to downplay that at all. But, perhaps some more selfish motivations would include: allowing members who do other styles of performances (i.e. one-on-one walk-around or table hopping) to get some experience in a more formal ‘stage’ type setting; allowing amateur/hobbyist members some ‘stage time’ experience; exposure to use of lighting and sound equipment; practice ‘staging’; building group/club cohesion; and building club pride for having included the charitable project.

Doug, as President, recently created an annual President’s Award to recognize a member each year who made a special effort to contribute to the club, and this year your humble scribe (Rene Chouinard) was selected. Thank you Doug.

That done, several members brought items to present and discuss. Peter Wiltshire began with a pocket version of the zig-zag lady effect which he found on a 3D model site, and performed a great ‘needles through a coin’ effect.

Joseph Akhtar card effect (and found the selected card), and a prediction effect with 5 dice. Corey O’Shaughnessy presented a creative ‘paddle Stick’ effect and a fun ‘Coins Across’ routine. Rick Rossini did a couple of card effects, one using a gimmicked deck.

Doug Hunt spoke about theming our performances to the client’s event, and to demonstrate did a variety of effects using toothbrushes that he developed for a show hosted by a dentist. I closed out the night with another trick-deck card effect (similar to an invisible deck) and with a levitation effect I performed at the SJV show mentioned above.

A great night and a great close to the season. See everyone in September for the start of another great season.

Rene Chouinard

Ring exchanges are great events for a club – well actually two clubs, I guess. Basically, your members go do a free show for their club, and then they come and do one for you. What are the benefits? First, an opportunity to practice (and show off) for your club members. This is especially helpful for your amateur members who do not have as many performance opportunities.

They are a great opportunity to network with performers who aren’t too far away but whom you might not run into very often and exchange ideas. It certainly helps fill out the meeting list for a club with a very enjoyable night, and it exposes members to material that might be new to them.

In April, our club visited Ring 265 (the London Magicians Guild of London Ontario) so our May meeting was their turn to entertain us. Their MC was Peter Mennie who performed short bits between acts including a paper tear and restore, a prediction of selected performance order and of a color prediction of some colored word cards.

Andrew Olmstead did a great job with an older effect of cutting a piece of paper and having it heal itself, a card prediction effect, and rope cut and restore followed by a variation of Professor’s Nightmare. Great Stuff.

Sam General found a selected card reversed in the deck, One found by two jokers (joker cards, not our members), and effect were two circles drawn a card magically link, and a bit on shrinkflation (very topical).

Mark ‘the Remarkable’ Hogan predicted the winning numbers on a lottery ticket – and then gave me the ticket! How could it lose, he already predicted the number (it didn’t BTW, but thanks anyway). Mark then performed a great effect with four aces themed around wine.

Peter Skells, as a short notice fill-in, performed some more card effects with a prediction of a named card at a specific location in the deck, and another ‘found card’ effect, as well as a fun reversing card while being held by an assistant. Fantastic Peter.

We finished the night with a previous lecturer and friend of the ring Christopher Campbell (aka FenyxFyre). Chris is an escape artist who got out of handcuffs faster without a key than a volunteer could with the key. He opened a lock with a random key, the last of six after the helper failed five times, performed a very nice ‘flipper’ effect and ended with what only can be described as a ‘shocking’ effect – I’ll just say it included a ‘block-head effect with a large hook and an electric cattle prod. I helped him with this; I still feel woozy.

Great Night, Great Fun, and a great bunch of guys visiting from Ring 265.

Rene Chouinard

Hey, want to hear a joke?

I don’t actually have a joke to tell you, but did I get your attention? If I did, then that was an effective icebreaker, just something to start an interaction.

This is what our April 2026 meeting was all about – breaking the ice in order to initiate and interaction with your client’s guests to begin performing for them.

For stage performers this is not required, the MC introduces you, everyone there is expecting your performance and has come intentionally to see it, and all you need to worry about is not tripping and falling on your face walking out. But several venues are much more challenging. Table hopping for a restaurant, working a fair or event opening, or working a lounge at an executive event are all scenarios where approaching people “cold” and initiating an interaction is required.

This is such an intriguing topic that we had a significant turn-out for a brainstorming session with members to exchange ideas and techniques. Many ideas and experiences were shared and discussed. We talked about dressing professionally to telegraph that you are there to entertain. Props should be bright and colorful as many environments, often restaurants, have low lighting. Approaching with a gift can open doors – a popular ‘bit of business’ is to create a little dog similar to twisting ballons but with dollar-store beads (or use balloons I suppose).

Ken talked about doing an effect with money (always an eye catcher) or relating to something very current (without getting political) to get people’s attention. Rick noted that by leading with a question can break people’s defensiveness and open them to interact. And Derrek (at my prompting) demonstrated the effectiveness of having a good ‘opening line’. Barry suggests starting with something very familiar to people (like a slinky) that you can then incorporate, and something thing very colorful and attention getting – he used a ‘rocket balloon’ to illustrate.

The importance of picking a good first table or group to approach was brought up. Once people see you performing in the room and the reactions of your first customers, your set for the night. Vito also stressed the importance of good body language and eye contact. Rick spoke about what we are really selling – not our magic trick, but our personalities and abilities to entertain. It’s not about being able to fool people, it’s about entertaining them and making them happy your client employed you. On that topic, we also spent a bit of time discussing what to charge for various types of events. Don’t underprice yourself; it gives the impression that you are not very valuable and cheapens the whole industry.

Another great night, thanks everyone for participating!

Rene Chouinard

On April 8^th, 2026, IBM Ring 49, The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club travelled down highway 401 to London Ontario to perform for IBM Ring 265, the London Magicians Guild, as our side of a club exchange (they will perform for us in Hamilton Ontario on May 12^th, 2026). These events are great because although they tend to be for a forgiving audience who ‘have been there’, you are also keenly aware of the fact that the audience both knows how most effects are done, and how they are supposed to look – yikes!

This year, Rick Rossinni took the lead role, acting as our MC and a Keynote performer. As well as doing a great job introducing each performer, Rick performed several short routines between acts including a paper tear routine, Silk and Candle, a version of Professor’s Nightmare, a color changing silk with a Silk Tube, Billard Balls, Chinese Sticks, Teach a Trick with silk and an Egg, and a fantastic 3 Ring Linking Rings routine. Rick’s range is truly impressive, and his personality and patter were the adhesives that united the other performer’s presentations.

Rick first introduced Peter Wiltshire, who astounded the assembly with several Wand themed effects. First, Peter showed his new wand and the box he built for it. This is an effect where the wand passes through either of two slots for it, at first, but then the wand enters one slot but stick out the other/wrong one. Next a wand showed off some impressive (impossible) electronics, followed by a Rising Card box assisted by a supporting wand. Peter next took a Die with a hole through it, passed a ribbon through the hole, and then the die escaped. Peter finished with a fantastic “REVERSE” routine using lettered tiles. Most of Peter’s props are handmade wooden items of his own construction.

Victor Staniewski performed an incredible effect which combined a D-Lite, Zombie Ball, a candle and white flower in a fantasy filled presentation. The light floated around, passing from item to item and through his body in a magical and fascinating way. Next Vic performed a very humorous Multiplying bottles routine and then ended with a two card (Jumbo) effect that was as fun as it was captivating.

Next it was my turn (Rene chouinard), and I opened with a short story about life involving a strong script and a little bit of fire. One of my children works in the airlines industry so a short effect with a flying plane was a bit of fun, followed with a short bit about Sailor Sam (a Production Tube effect). A Floating Ball (Invisible Thread) followed, and then I closed with a Gibson Box effect.

Our finally was a mentalism effect called Gladiator performed by one of our newest members Jonny Gracia. Jonny is making a return to magic after having had a successful professional career in Brazil. Gladiator involved four members of the audience in role-playing a game based on Rock, Paper, Scissors which ended with a fulfilled prediction. Fun for the audience and completely mystifying.

Okay Ring 265 – ball is fully in your court. Can’t wait to see what you bring to our May 12^th meeting.

rene chouinard

This month (Feb 2026) IBM Ring 49 featured a lecture from Shelley Summers AKA Dotsy the Clown. Shelley’s business, which obviously includes being a clown, extends far beyond her personal appearances into hiring other performers, party supplies and rentals, and selling supplies for performers.

As usual the meeting opened with President Doug “the Great” Hunt welcoming guests and new members and making the usual housekeeping announcements. He then introduced Peter Wiltshire, one of our most active members, who demonstrated a new effect he had made. The effect was sort of a rising card effect, except the card never rose!! (I never said he was a good trick developer.) Then he pulled away a wand that the deck was resting on and all the cards EXCEPT the chosen card dropped into the box. (On second thought – he is pretty good.) Great fun – and a great effect.

Our teaching table was hosted by one of our newer members, Ted Chisholm. Ted performed an old effect called Micawber which was published in the October 1952 issue of The Linking Ring. First, this was a very good effect; someone simply selected a random card, and then a deck was taken out which had one reversed card in it. That card indicated where the selected card would be. Ted moved to the appropriate face down card, turned it over, et Voila – success!

But in my mind, Ted’s selection of an older effect speaks to a second point – too often we are obsessed with the ‘latest and greatest’, always looking for something ‘new’. There is nothing wrong with older ideas and methods. Often the pater needs sprucing up, but the effects can still be very strong. (Now how do I get off this soapbox?)

But Shelley was the highlight of the evening. Her personal story was riveting – started making money on the side in high school clowning, supplemented her income in university (what you American’s call college) and by the time she graduated she had a full-blown business going. Years later Covid hit and like most performers her business suffered but she found a new product (lawn signs) she could pivot into, and she rolled with life’s proverbial punches. Maintaining the flexibility to ‘pivot’ was a keynote of her talk

Shelley spoke about her retail offerings, her staffing of talent to become a known supplier of clowns and other performers (including Santa’s), equipment supply, lawn sign business and her ‘power of three’ philosophy, that is the third time you get a request for something – start providing it!

Shelley spoke of the importance of keeping up to date with interest of your audience. So, if you’re a children’s performer, that means things like K-pop demon hunters and Minecraft. That’s hard for us older people, but you have to meet your audience where they are at.

Shelley wound up with probably her strongest points, all relating to the importance of using social media and how marketing our services has changed (what, no yellow pages??). This was a killer night – we learned so much from this star speaker. Highly recommended.

Rene Chouinard

January 2026 and we’re off to a great start! I usually think of January as a slow month with people still getting over the Christmas season, but this month’s meeting was one of our best turn-out in quite a while. We had to put out extra seats.

After some basic announcements, including President Doug Hunt discussing his charity project and some assistance Scott Hood has been providing for a past member’s widow, we started as usual with our Teaching Table – this month lead by our own IBM TVP Scott Hood. Scott demonstrated and then discussed a very effective marketed trick called Prestige (well worth looking up). Scott combined this with an inflating bear prop to create a very effective and entertaining routine.

Then on to the main event. Our theme was loosely a follow-up on our December Christmas meeting with people bringing in holiday effects and table magic, but basically anything they wanted show.

Since the turn-out was so high we had a steady stream of performers. A new visiting member, Joseph, started us out with a couple of card tricks: a one ahead effect with a marked deck, and an effect using the Stebbins stack.

Victor Staniewski did a Christmas themed Temple Screen effect that could be customized for any special event. Calvin Cutts performed with a Merlin puppet (again, that could be event themed) to ‘find a card’ as well as a lollipop effect for children’s parties.

We had a lot of fun (both at the meeting and at the pub later) with a bill thru the rollers prop brought by Barry O. Ken McCreedy demonstrated the Chicago Opener effect.

Peter Wiltshire, who builds great props, demonstrated a couple of versions of an effect where he drops dice, or the other version, a ball bearing through a tube in a magical way (like a Strat-O-Sphere effect).  Rick Rossini finished up with a fabulous ‘invisible purse’ coin effect.

Just listing the effects really doesn’t do justice to the benefit of the member interactions on evenings like this – especially with the turnout of talented performers we had, all adding wisdom and advice to advance follow magi’s skill. Thanks everyone for making this a great night.

Rene Chouinard

Season’s Greetings from Ring 49! Like most clubs, we generally have a special event for our mid-winter meeting to celebrate the season, and this year was no exception. Some of my favorite people showed up and the night was truly magical.

This year we met at one of the nearby restaurants and took turns around the table showing off some of our favorite effects. One of the advantages of having an event in a public space is there is an opportunity to involve non-members/non-magicians in the fun so the performers can show real-life responses from the public to their effects. So often, in closed meetings, simpler effects that are obvious to our trained eyes get dismissed when for a lay audience they often are real miracles – events like this allows for everyone to see how regular people respond.

Case in point, later in the evening when the whole restaurant became aware that there were magicians in the house, one of the server staff brought out the cook to see one of my effects. It was a simple Elmsley Count effect, not very impressive to other magicians, but this guy was so blown away he literally hugged me – never had that happen before. One of the members was able to make a show booking with another organization that happened to also be in the restaurant.

Once things got going, people approached OUR table requesting magic. It certainly makes that initial approach for table hopping a lot easier when the audience is approaching YOUR table.

But more often we were able to interact among the members to share effects and benefit from group input. For example, one member demonstrated a Santa Clause/Christmas Tree effect which led to a robust discussion about performance tips, prop mechanics and related techniques. The club president (Doug ‘The Great’ Hunt) offered some tips on approaching people for ‘strolling magic’ to break the ice on that initial contact. In fact, everyone contributed and I think all in attendance benefited greatly.

The weather was a bit dicey (this is wintertime in Canada after all), but we are a hardy group and the warmth inside more than made up for chill outside. Best of the season to everyone.

Rene Chouinard

Congratulations are due to our own Doug Hunt, Ring 49 Member and current President on the release of his new Book: 55, inspiring journey of chasing down a world record. Doug will be holding a Book Release Bash on Thursday December the 11^th at 6:30 pm held in the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford ON with prizes, pizza and refreshments. The event is free, and the book is only $25 with proceeds going to Participation Support Services in Brantford. Come on out and support on of our own.

This month (Nov 2025) Ring 49 hosted a lecture by Chris Campbell on his FenyxFyre Escapology Thrill Show. This might be a little off the beaten path for many in our guild, but not far off.

Magic has a much older history in the so-called ‘old world’ but in North America some of our earliest performers* were people like the Davenport brothers who would be tied up and closed into a cabinet. Supposedly spirits would then cause thing to happen that a tied man couldn’t do (spoiler alert: an escapologist could). At the turn of the century (1900) many spiritualists and mediums would have themselves tied to their chair before the lights were out – well, I think you see where this might be going.

The most famous magician of this era, Harry Houdini, was just as famous for escapism as for magic, and he spent his later career exposing fake mediums. To be fair, he never exposed any real mediums, but maybe because he never found one.

All that to say, Chris fits right into our community and he gave us an incredible and valuable look into a less common side of our art. I’m hesitant to delve too far into Chris’s personal life as he was quite open, but many years ago he met an old carney, and that chance encounter set him on lifelong path into the wild world of escapism.

His material largely distilled down to his audience (us) trying to restrain him, and he shaking off the shackles like water from a duck’s back. He escaped from ropes, zip ties, straight jackets and even handcuffs. In fact, he once posted a video with just a little too much information about handcuffs and was then contacted by our Provincial Police. Long story short the video was taken down but he now consults with them now helping new recruits learn more about their equipment.

 He opened standard police handcuffs in seconds using a five-dollar bill – honestly! This guy was amazing.

He went over the basics of lock picking, taught a member to escape from a standard straight jacket (successfully first try), and exhibited many of the ‘prop’ (i.e. gimmicked) equipment available on the market (but he usually uses ‘the real things’). Chris also develops and markets a lot of his own equipment. 

The uniqueness of his material, his thorough knowledge of escapology, and his open and approachable demeanor made this a presentation that will stay with us indefinitely.

Rene Chouinard

*Note: this writer does recognize that there where well-developed peoples and cultures in North America prior to European settlers and they may have included magical effects, but unfortunately this has not been well-documented.