Bruce Kalver's Magical Life

October/November Travels Extended

One more date has been added to my lecture tour of England. I have also set up a London telephone number which allows my British friends to call a local London phone number and ring me up here in Rhode Island for free. Thank you Skype! The London hotline number is: 020 8123 8748

Here is the updated schedule:

Bruce Kalver Magic Lecture Tour of England

October 15 - Manchester
October 16 - Watford
October 17 - Zodiac Club - N. London
October 18 - Bristol
October 21 - Magic Circle Young Magicians Club - London
October 22 - The Magic Circle, London
October 23 - Northhampton
October 24  - Wolverhampton
October 25 - Surrey

October 26 - November 3 Beijing, China

Back to England for:

November 5 - Magic Circle, London for a visit.
November 6 - Kent

And then:
November 7 Home!

It will be an honour...

I have traveled a lot. Not as much as some but more than most. My travels usually take me around the United States but this year is different. As you know, I will be lecturing in Great Britain for 2 weeks and now I will be leaving Britain directly to another leg of the trip, Beijing, China.

F.I.S.M. (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) is holding their Olympic style competition in Beijing in July of 2009. Since I will be National President of the Society of American Magicians in 2009, they have invited me to look around and meet the people behind the event.

I am honoured.

UK Update

One more date has been added to my lecture tour of England. I have also set up a London telephone number which allows my British friends to call a local London phone number and ring me up here in Rhode Island for free. Thank you Skype! The London hotline number is: 020 8123 8748

Here is the updated schedule:

Bruce Kalver Magic Lecture Tour of England

October 15 - Manchester
October 16 - Watford
October 17 - Zodiac Club - N. London
October 18 - Bristol
October 21 - Magic Circle Young Magicians Club - London
October 22 - The Magic Circle, London
October 23 - Northhampton
October 24  - Wolverhampton
October 25 - Surrey

Get those Cadbury Chocolates ready!

Is Britain ready for Bruce?

I am thrilled to announce that I will be visiting Great Britain for a Magic Lecture tour!

The last time I was there was in 1983. I wonder if the prices are the same? Is Mrs Lovett still making meat pies? Will I have a chance to visit Cadbury and stock up on my favorite candy bars - Flake and Crunchie Bars? Is Stonehenge still standing?

The schedule will grow as the lectures  are confirmed during the two week visit. Here's the schedule so far:

October 16 - Watford
October 17 - Zodiac Club - N. London
October 18 - Bristol
October 21 - Magic Circle Young Magicians Club - London
October 22 - The Magic Circle, London
October 23 - Northhampton
October 24  - Wolverhampton

October 25 - Surrey

Keep checking back for updated schedule.

Anyone wishing to book a lecture in Great Britain should contact Mandy Davis mandy@themagiccircle.co.uk to arrange a lecture. Thanks Mandy for all your assistance!

Have Magic, Will Travel

I do a lot of traveling. You see, not only do I do magic performances but I am also a lecturer/teacher. Magic clubs around the country book me to lecture on the magic I have created. Here is my tentative schedule for the 2007 lecture tour:

February 21 (Wed) - Nashville, TN
February 25  (Sun) - OPEN
February 26 (Mon) Louisville KY
February 27 (Tues) Cincinnati
February 28 (Wednesday) Indianapolis, IN
March 1 (Thursday) Louisville (Master Class on Restaurant Work)
March 2 (Friday) OPEN
March 3 (Saturday) GO HOME!

Other magic related travels:
March 29 - April 3 - Austin TX
April 2 - 8  - Hollywood, CA
April 7 - Magic Castle Awards
April 10 - Salt Lake City, UT
July 3-8 - Dallas, TX

Don't I wish I had a Magic Carpet!

Why I am a Magician

I love when people say to me, " So you're a magician, what do you do for a living?"

I am a magician. I perform anywhere and everywhere. Parties, stores, companies, restaurants, libraries, parks, tv and even radio.

Why do I like to perform magic? In one word " wonder."

A person only has a few years believing in "wonder." Things like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, etc. Once the secret is revealed, the wonder is gone. During a magic show, a magician brings back that wonder.

I love my job.

Not Just Parties

When people think of magic as a profession, they assume that all you do are birthday parties. Not true. I have been asked to use my magical mind for many purposes. I've been a magic consultant for many theatre companies who need to add magic to their performances. I have also worked for theatres as a special effects person to figure out how to do something that is not necessarily to perform a trick but rather to use magic techniques to accomplish something.

Once in a while, I get calls for commercials or promotional events or even photo shoots.

Fran Paliotta is a photography student who thought it would be interesting to have a magician/balloon artist as a subject.  We did the session at Roger Williams Park around the Carousel and pond. I made it clear that I don't do nudes and she seemed relieved at that :o)

Check a few of the results in the Park Session Photo Album. It's always nice to get out of a studio and shoot in real spots. Nice job Fran! Thanks for the opportunity. I hope you get an A.

Allergic to Rabbits?

It's true! How can a magician be allergic to rabbits? Call it an occupational hazard. I know that my publicity photo has one coming out of a hat but that is Photoshop magic. If I am in the same room with a bunny, I will sneeze and have bloodshot eyes for the next three days.

Once I had to do a commercial for Alpert's Furniture. It was a Magic May Sale and I was hired essentially because I had a top hat, cape and a rabbit. At least I told them I had a rabbit. I borrowed one from a friend. By the time I got to the tv studio to film the spot, I was sneezing and my eyes looked horrible. The wo hour shoot was agony and by the time the taping was over, the rabbit had more time on camera than I did! Never again will a rabbit be within 50 feet of me. I hear they taste like chicken :o)

For years, I would perform with teacup poodles and have them wear bunny ears. At least I didn't sneeze.

RI Comedy Festival

Charlie Hall has drawn another characature of me from memory for the 3rd Annual RI Comedy Festival. I was very surprised to see the drawing in the Providence Journal. The only thing he forgot were my glasses.  I've appeared in all three festivals and love the crowds. They are very enthusiastic and fun to perform for. Always enjoy working in a classic theatre like the Greenwich Odeum. I have a short clip of me doing my own invention - The Growing and Shrinking Head Illusion. You can view the clip from the 1st Comedy Festival at: www.tophatprod.com/edbi