Convention Dates:
September 1-3, 2011
Convention Location:
Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, NJ
Convention Committee:
- General Chairman – Mike Miller
- Talent – Marc DeSouza and Mike Miller
- Registrar – John Beinhaur
- Dealers – Scott Correll
- Site Selection – Beth Sheligo and John Beinhaur
- Publicity – Beth Sheligo
- Contest – David Bowers
- Member at Large – Phil Milstead
- Webmaster – Marc Lederman
Award Winners:
Larry West Memorial Award for Best Close-Up, Junior Junior Stage M.A.E.S. Award of Excellence Pierre Fontaine President’s Award
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Close-Up, Adult Earl Canapp Comedy Award Clint Reidel Best Act of Competition Award Originality
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The Acts:
| Losander ’s name is synonymous with “levitation.” World renowned across three continents, Losander has performed his magic in exclusive venues from Europe to Japan and Australia. He has performed in the internationally famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, and is currently performing in the World’s Greatest Magic Show in Las Vegas. Last year, his lecture was one of the hightlights of MAES. You will not want to miss his all new lecture this year! |
| Arthur Trace is the eighth magician to be awarded The International Brotherhood of Magicians “Gold Medal International Award of Excellence.” In 2006 he became a FISM award winner at the World Championship of Magic in Stockholm. In 2007 millions of television viewers watched as Arthur was awarded the “Best Cabaret Magic” award at The World Magic Awards on My Network TV. And in 2009, Arthur was a featured performer on the hit TV series Masters of Illusion. When not performing abroad, Arthur Trace can be found performing at Hollywood’s world-famous Magic Castle. |
| Jania Taylor is only the third female graduate of the internationally acclaimed Chavez Studio of Magic in Colon, Michigan, a college of manual dexterity and prestidigitation. The college is the only one of its kind. Jania’s magic has been enjoyed by thousands of people throughout the country. Her wit and charm have pleased audiences at many corporation parties, conventions, trade shows, and festivals. She has performed at the prestige Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA as well as such noted resorts as Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, the Mississippi Queen River Boat, and The Greenbrier White, Sulpher Springs WV. |
| Pattrick Przysiecki is First Place Winner of both of the Close Up Magic Competitions at the: International Brotherhood of Magicians International Magic Convention in Kansas City, MO, the Society of American Magicians International Magic Convention in Las Vegas, NV and Runner Up at MacMillan’s International Competition, London, England. Pattrick has performed for companies and magic conventions across the United States, making him a favorite of audiences and fellow magicians alike. He has studied, practiced, and performed for over 30 years and is a regular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. He was the Headline Performer at the 2007 IBM International Convention in Reno NV. |
| David Corsaro ‘s father was a high school science teacher. One year, he decided to take a night-school course in magic to help teach his students science lessons. After completing the course, he took all of his props and notes and put them into a suitcase and stored it in his basement. In 1992, David stumbled across this suitcase in his basement, changing his life. He began studying everything he could relating to the art of magic. Over the next several years, David would attend the Tannens Magic School as well as several magic conventions in Cape Cod and Washington D.C. Today, David performs at children’s birthday parties, corporate cocktail hours, weddings, and in dozens of restaurants around New York and New Jersey. He currently performs in 2 different off-broadway magic shows in NYC (“Monday Night Magic” and “Magical Nights”). |
| Will Fern is a seasoned magician with over 20 years of performing experience. An accomplished entertainer, he is at home whether he is doing close-up magic performed as an icebreaker at affairs, corporate team building workshops, sales meetings, or after dinner banquet programs. Along with such clients as Pfizer, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs, Will has been employed as the resident magician at several top Caribbean resorts and 4-star New York area restaurants. Will is also a regular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. |
| Reuben Moreland became interested in the art of magic at the early age of six, when he saw a magician perform at a birthday party. When he turned ten, Reuben joined his local magic club. This last February, he attended the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, where he became the national teen champion of stage magic. That same week, Reuben received the Magic and Mystery School award for the most promising act in the competition. Ten years since he picked up his first magic book, Reuben now performs professionally all around the Tri-state area with several appearances around the Country. In addition he gives back to his community by performing at benefits. Reuben appears regularly at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City to entertain sick children. |
| Blake Nielsen is associated with the Society of Young Magicians, the Pikes Peak Prestidigitators, and the Mile High Magicians. He has performed in many magic shows at venues such as Magic in the Rockies, and Casa Bonita’s Theater. Sit back while Blake amazes and delights you with his artful presentation! Using his skills in magic, mentalism, acting, martial arts, and lots of creativity, Blake will have you, your family and friends on the edge of your seats. |
| TJ Tana fell in love with magic when he was only 4 years old, after being given video recordings of the late and great masters such Harry Blackstone Jr and Doug Henning. TJ offers a new and unique take on his magic, putting spins onto original effects and coming up with new and original ideas never before seen. In the summer of 2009, TJ was invited to perform in the “Stars of Tomorrow” show during the Society of American Magicians’ convention in Buffalo, NY, performing for hundreds of magicians from across the world. TJ has also earned a plethora of awards, including multiple trophies from the widely respected Tannen’s Magic Competition. When TJ is not performing at private events, he enjoys sharing his magic with the community, donating his time toward notable charities such as the March for Dimes, Relay for Life, and the American Cancer Society. |
| Matt Schick , at only 19 years old, is a rising star of magic known for his intricate sleight of hand skills and witty sense of humor. In addition to winning many awards including the Larry West Memorial Award for Best Junior Close-Up at MAES in 2007, Matt’s accomplishments as a magician and a producer have been featured in both MAGIC Magazine and The Linking Ring. Matt is currently a full-time student at Bentley University in Boston where he plans to pursue a degree in marketing in the coming years. |
| Combining a background of over 30 years in magic and business, Scott Wells has the credentials to perform top quality magic for all business and social gatherings. His corporate performances take him from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Detroit, MI to Amelia Island, FL to Aberdeen, Scotland and everywhere in between. He has performed publicly at such notable locations as the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Monday Night Magic off-Broadway in New York City and the Magic Island in Houston. Recognized by his peers for his expertise, Scott has twice received Houston’s coveted “Magician of the Year” award at the annual banquet of the Society of American Magicians in Houston. Scott is also an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle (A.I.M.C.) with Silver Star a special recognition bestowed by The Magic Circle, a professional society for magicians located in London, England, a prestigious distinction that is held by less than 1,500 magicians worldwide. |
| As a youngster growing up in Manhattan, Al Callus would hang out at magic shops and work on his own magic act as a pitchman selling a bottle of patent medicine, “Dr. Killum’s U-SIC-UM.” Dressed in a colorful vest, black hat and long tie, Callus first tried out his magic act at age 15 in Times Square, and he found that people loved it. He then put together a children’s show, which he performed in local parks for free. But magic took a back seat to his education and career. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and immediately landed a job as the marketing director at City Federal Savings Bank in New Jersey. From there he got a job at the Turchette Advertising Agency in New Jersey and became president of the company in 1978 until he retired about 15 years ago. The Magical Pitchman Medicine Act which he hadn’t performed for some 45 years, has elicited strong interest in the magic community and was a hit at the Metro-Magic Convention in late 2010. We are delighted to bring this fascinating and unique piece of entertainment to you. |
| Francis Menotti presents magic in an undeniably unique way. His original performances combine refreshing interpretations of old classics and genuinely new plots that have captured the attention and respect of the top magical performers and thinkers in the world. |
| Charming and delicate, her elegant performances define the term “poetry in motion”. Yumi has been the recipient of some of magic’s highest awards across the spectrum of her career, including first prize at the 1998 SAM in Japan, first prize at the world magic friend convention in Tokyo, Japan in 1999, second place in General Magic at FISM in Lisbon in 2000, and the Baird/Foster Award for Manipulation in 2008 (at the Abbotts Magic Get Together). You will not want to miss the opportunity to see this gifted performer. |
| In 2006, Sharii Nelson was featured in the S.A.M. National Convention Stars of Tomorrow Show and won MAES Best Newcomer Award for 2006. Before her 16th birthday, she won a scholarship for her performance at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. At age 17 in 2010, she won the General Magic, Award of Excellence and Best Junior Stage Act awards at MAES, making her one of the most honored contestants in MAES history. |
Convention Recap:
- The 2011 MAES was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, September 1st to – 3rd. The convention got underway on Thursday with a lecture by Jania Taylor, on the subject of marketing, followed by a lecture by David Corsaro featuring card magic. The evening entertainment “Special Event” consisted of an hilarious hour of unpredictable magic by the members of the MAES Convention Committee: Jeff Carson (MC), Mike Miller, Scott Correll, Marc DeSouza, John Beinhaur, Joesph Curcillo, The Magic Annoyance, and special guest Jania Taylor performing her manipulation act. The evening concluded with our annual auction with auctioneer Marc DeSouza swinging the gavel.
The first order of business on Friday morning, was the Dealers’ Show, followed by the Close-Up Contest. John Hromada game a demonstration of how to influence people, by finding a randomly chosen card in the deck. Bill Boaz performed an elegant card routine to “Luck Be A Lady,” from Guys and Dolls.
The contest was followed by a very well received lecture by Losander, and an additional lecture by Pattrick Przysiecki. The Close Up Show ensued, with MC duties handled by Marc DeSouza, and the amazing talent of Reuben Moreland, who performed a fantastic matrix routine utilizing dice, Will Fern, who performed a whirlwind of magic utilizing coins, Pattrick Pryzsiecki, who presented his version of the 3 shell game, Yumi, who performed a cup and ball routine utilizing bean bags and teacups, David Corsaro, with a clever card effect and Arthur Trace who demonstrated mind over matter. The William H. Endlich Memorial Show was emceed by Matt Shick, and featured TJ Tana, Al Callus and his medicine show act, Blake Nielsen, Will Fern and Reuben Moreland. The late evening entertainment was an engaging installment of “Talk Show with your host, Scott Wells,” and featured discussion with Jania Taylor.
Saturday was a big day for our contestants. The stage competition got underway at 9:00 a.m. John Hromoda performed a magic squeeze, and Bill Boaz utilized a rope to show us the world on a string.
The afternoon featured lectures by Scott Wells, on restaurant and trade show magic, and Arthur Trace, who shared his philosophy on the psychology of magic along with several effects. Contest awards were presented prior to the start of the evening show.
The evening show featured Scott Wells (MC), Sharii Nelson, David Corsaro, Yumi, Francis Menotti and Arthur Trace.