Thursday, November 29, 2007

Scream Vogue

Catherine Aitken a sort of time-honored traditional classic of cloths which are an redolent of an old-fashioned Scots childhood.

Catherine Aitken's pocketbooks are made using the softest mohair, coarse and smooth Harris tweeds and an array point admired at vintage Scots fabrics. Catherine Of Aragon Aitkens cloths are clearly reflected in her introduction aggregation which is the designer's love of Scots mental images like Highland Cattle and romanticist castles. Catherine Of Aragon Aitkens pocketbooks are then crafted in beautiful designings that convey a voguish manner border to the traditional fabrics. The pocketbooks are all limited edition, and on some occasions, one-off creations - and apart from mental image pocketbooks in the Bliss range, no more than than 10 of each pocketbook is produced. This agency the Catherine Of Aragon Of Aragon Aitken Scotland aggregation is constantly changing and there is no mass production.

However Vogue these bags are hardy in structure, Catherine Aitken pocketbooks are also soft and tactile. Catherine Of Aragon Aikens pocketbooks look and experience as good interior as out, usually lined with vibrantly colored silk or the softest moleskin, and often modest alien trimnesses are added to the pockets.  Each come ups with an aromatic pocket of Scots lavender tucked inside; Catherine Of Aragon Aitkens pocketbooks are delightfully fragrant too. It's all about texture and touch, luxury and chic. www.catherineaitken.com presents to anywhere in the world - an original aggregation that combines conventional tradition with VOGUE.

A delightfully,charmingly handbag that any hippie would desire on her shoulder. These hip pocketbooks men of the world and shouts VOGUE

Senior Head Editor For She Unlimited Magazine
Marie V.K.O.
M.W.J.B.


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Sportsbook

Sportsbook Bettors are eager to happen the right offshore sportbook available in the cyberspace the minute they believe they can win a bet. They anticipate that the result of a game be the 1 they have got predicted.

They will lodge most to the online sportsbook that some friend or relative have recommended him, but still, there are plenty and different sportsbook new betters can happen and place their wagers. Some work on the phone, others in the internet, and others make both ways of communication.

An sportsbook always seeks to pull off the most popular sports. Some sportsbooks focusing on one single athletics and others accepts stakes for many sports.

There are sites that also accept stakes for college competition. It is of import to take a broad attack to betting and seek to have got got as many athletics wagering that the athletics book can handle, since more than than athletics will pull more public.

New betters always like to have a friendly voice on the other side of the phone, a fast answer to their enquiries and inquiries on the website, good and on-time odds by odds-makers and experts. Such good inside information do a sportsbook a favourite between the athletics wagering market. The best athletics betting sites are always listed first on hunt engines as they have got gained a degree of popularity and quality in their service. Still, you should check up on the 1 that tantrums to you the most.


Saturday, November 24, 2007

Gambling in Las Vegas

The two missive noun that completely defines gambling is LAS VEGAS. It have go the dreaming finish of all gamblers and vacation seekers. The 1 place you can run out all the latent hostility and if luckless all the money is VEGAS. Set in the thick of the desert it do an oasis worth reckoning. Offer free drinks and epicurean atmospheres the casinos of Las Vegas are nil short of wonderland. It’s sol easy for a individual to acquire lost in the bunco and hustle of the busy streets or overcrowded casino tables. One must be attention full while in Vegas as you may free more than then you be after to earn.

The gambling sees no rich or poor. All you necessitate is the willingness to pass the money you have, the audacious to travel for the hazardous stakes and you never cognize you can be the crowned king of gambling. This is the doctrine of the gambling paradise on earth. The casinos are full of games to wager on. There are sophisticated games with up-to-the-minute engineering and there can also be the most celebrated card games to play. For example, despite all the advances games like blackjack and poker stay most played.

Although the whole metropolis and places around it are mushroomed with casinos and amusement centres but some places are better then others. And the best Las Vegas have to offer can be establish on the John C. Fremont street. It have been the street where you can happen the most advertised points that Las Vegas has. The Elevation Cortez, the Horseshoe etc. are the major places to travel and seek luck. Gambling major league like Steve Wynn have got brought about a completely antic sphere for the gamblers by the name of Golden Nugget. It have an first-class adjustment and epicurean scenes for the gambling lovers.

Gambling is not the sole sphere of the rich and spendthrift. With the increasing Numbers of non-gambling tourist making it to Vegas every year, it have got go imperative for the metropolis to have places that offering cheap and dabbler gambling. you can do it to the Klondike, one of the most cheap casinos, then you can carry through your dreaming of sitting on an poker table and yet not be robbed of. Most non-gambling tourists look for such as places.

You may also make up one's mind to come up out of Vegas with wealth in both hands. This necessitates a batch of accomplishment and time to spend. One have to appraise the prospects and place the 1 where the likelihood to win are the best and then intelligently with some anterior cognition stake on it. All the time 1 is betting, disposition is one thing you can’t loose. You have got to be cool and play on. Keeping in mid what you have got with you and what are you willing to loose. There is no point wonderment what went incorrect in the last stake that you even lost your shirt in it. The lone counsel for new visitants is that, in a place that offerings free drinks for a individual betting any thing over 25 cents, better safe then sorry.


Thursday, November 22, 2007

Las Vegas - The World's Number One Gambling Destination

Las Vegas certainly dwells up to its name as being the metropolis of dreams. Walk along the many streets and see the parallel bars and casinos, and allow yourself go drunk with the lights, glamor and free drinks. Gambling in Las Vegas is all consuming because the thought is for you to gamble. Most importantly however, it is vitally of import that you have got fun. There are many types of gambling including slot machines and electronic versions of poker, blackjack and roulette that the devouring gambler will thoroughly enjoy.

The casinos in Vegas usually turn in a net income of over a billion in a year, so if you experience lucky there can be extensive amounts of money to be made but also a immense amount of money can be lost. As ever, poker is a immense favourite amongst many of the tourists that are gambling in Las Vegas and there are respective casinos that volition oblige their enthusiasm including Bellagios located on the Vegas strip. This is a metropolis that was created for the serious concern of gambling so much so that in any given street there are always enticements at your feet and if you have got got a batch of money on your person, you have to make up one's mind where you take to duplicate your money or lose it all, in the name of fun.

As well as the new electronic games that are on offer, you will also happen the traditional slot machine games are still a favourite and because they all belong to a web and there are so many, the amount of money to be won is again massive. Megabuck is the chief state-wide web have been known to pay out billions in jackpots over the years. Racing and athletics stakes go on to be a immense favourite amongst the clients so every facet of betting you can believe of is accounted for.

If poker is your favourite gambling pastime, O'Sheas makes not have got got a poker room but they make have plentifulness of blackjack tables. Alternatively, Bellagio stays the hot favourite if you would wish to go a world class poker player and win with consecutive odds.


Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Celine Dion Biography

Celine Dion acclaims from a little town called Charles I in Quebec. Celine is the youngest of 14 children. Celine’s household owned a public house and on weekends the whole household would execute for their customers. Celine started vocalizing at the immature age of five and by twelve, Celine, her mother, and blood brother wrote a song, which changed the course of her destiny.

Rene Angelil, currently, her hubby and manager, heard the song. Celine’s voice captivated Angelil and knew instantly that there was a major endowment here. In 1981, Angelil mortgaged his house to put in her first album.

International acknowledgment came about when Celine was awarded the Gold Decoration at the Yamaha World Song Festival in Tokio and concurrently, the much sought after Musician's Award for Top Performer. As well, in 1983, Dion received a Gold Record in France, the very first Canadian to make so. Moreover, Celine was awarded numerous Felix Awards and had many Pt albums, culminating in 1988 with the eminent Eurovision Song Contest in Irish Capital Ireland. Celine sang unrecorded before a 600 million-television audience throughout Europe.

Celine’s calling escalated to one of a dad icon known worldwide when she recorded the statute title song for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Celine have one of the world’s superlative voices mastering her trade with hit after hit. She is an international superstar.

Celine is currently married to her manager, Rene Angelil and have one son, Prince Charles Rene.


Sunday, November 18, 2007

Asian Gambling Resorts

The continent is studded with the casino destinations. It can be called the Asian gambling or the eastern gambling extravaganza. The most occurrence musca volitans for gamblers can be establish all over the continent of Asia. The legalisation of gambling in most of the Asiatic and specially the South-East Asiatic states had given a jet to the industry in this portion of the world. Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Republic Of India etc. all have got got superb possibilities for gambling and they are coming up with gambling finish along with all the works.

Gambling might have taken up slow on the Asiatic evidence because of its importance as a tourist destination. But the reply too lies in the problem. Tourism-Gambling. The hot finish for national and especially international tourists in Republic Of India is Goa. It offers fabulous excursions and alien beaches to the sun lovers. It is fast coming up with full service casinos and the chief attractive force is the floating casinos that return the gamblers away in to the sea.

Singapore had not given legal sanction to gambling uracil till 2005. But looking at the tendencies in other Asiatic states it decided to. The tourist influx in Capital Of Singapore is very high and as a shopping finish it pulls people from all over the world. The casinos will now be mushrooming all over the place and the tourists as well as the locals can bask the merriment betting. Capital Of Singapore can be called to have got adopted a very competent and unfastened policy towards gambling. They are improvising on the gambling services in order to vie with best in the business.

Although Chinese people are huffy about gambling, but the pattern is completely illegal in china. Having a Communist regimen the greater good was seen in not letting the mediocre into this societal vice. However they are into games of opportunity and they have got made popular these games throughout the world. It stays to be seen whether they are ever going to follow gambling in all its energy and glory.

The influence of the Asian civilization can also be seen on the games that are played in the casinos of Asia. Apart from the usual games like poker, blackjack, bingo etc. there are indigenous games that are played in the casinos of Asia. For illustration there is “PaiGow” which in Yue intends nine. This is a very hard game to play and understand. It is commonly played at the casinos of South East Asia. The usage of tiles instead of cards is very common in Asia. For illustration the traditional gamble of China ‘Maha Jong’ necessitates a player to piece the similar braces of tiles to mark over the other. Instead of the illegality of gambling in China, it is played throughout China.

Then there is ‘Sic Bo’ which is a mixture of roulette and die game. Thus it is simpler and thus followed by more than people. Asians are thus coming up with antic finishes and offerings for the traveling gamblers. It is yet to vie with the Las Vegas baseball clubs but the proprietors of such as constitutions too are heading towards the more than moneymaking and virgin marketplaces of Asia. Soon adequate the Asians will see the gambling industry loom large.


Friday, November 16, 2007

Rattanakosin - the Growth of Old Bangkok and the Dawn of a Era

Rattanakosin came into being when King Rama Iodine ascended the
throne in 1782. He decided to set up the new working capital on the
east depository financial institution of the Chao Phraya River for better security from
Burma. King Rama Iodine was determined to construct a new working capital to
resuscitate the glorification and luster of old Ayutthaya. The new
working capital was proclaimed

Krungthep Mahanakorn Amorn Rattanakosin Mahintra
Yuttaya Mahadilokpop Noparat Burirom Udom Rachnivet
Mahasathan Amornpimarn Avartarnsathit Sakkatiya
Witsanukamprasit

and hence began the Rattanakosin epoch or Capital Of Thailand time period
under the glorious reign of the Chakri Kings.

King Rama Iodine take a site just north of Wat Po, an old temple
from the 17th century. With the Chao Phraya on the West and
the Lod Canal on the east, the new working capital was far more than
defensible.

In conformity with Tai customs, the first undertaking was laying the
foundation pillar for the new city. The City Pillar Shrine or Sao
Lak Muang was established on 21 April 1782. Later King
Rama IV, an devouring astrologer, felt that a more than auspicious
location was required. The shrine was moved to the present
location on 5 December 1852.

Construction of the Grand Palace commenced on 6 May and
King Rama Iodine occupied the royal abode on 13 June. Hundreds of shiploads of debris were shipped from the ruinations
of Ayutthaya to construct the metropolis walls and public edifices of
Rattanakosin.

At the same time, the Temple of the Emerald The Buddha or Wat
Phra Kaeo was constructed and completed in 1784. The
Emerald The Buddha was brought across the river from Wat Arun
and installed in the new temple in the same year.

King Rama Iodine appointed his little blood brother the Uparat or
Prince of the Presence Palace, the equivalent of a 2nd or
deputy sheriff king. Part of the Presence Palace is now the National
Museum and National Theater.

In 1934, the palace evidence south of the National Museum was
taken over by the authorities to start Thammasat University,
one of the prima universities in Thailand. The remaining
Presence Palace wall line the southern border of the university along
Phra Chan Road.

Across Phra Chan Road is Wat Mahathat, another old temple
since the pre-Rattanakosin era. The statue at the entranceway to
the temple is in award of the Uparat or Prince of the Presence
Palace, who played a polar function in establishing the new
capital. Also located here is the Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist
University.

The Silapakorn University of Fine Humanistic Discipline and the Fine Humanistic Discipline
Department were built on the site of three former palaces in
the first reign.

Northeast of the Grand Palace is the Royal Field or Sanam
Luang where royal cremations were held in the past. Today it's
a location for local carnivals and festivities. An of import yearly
event that takes place here is the Royal Plowing Ceremony in
May to tag the start of the agricultural year.

The first canal, Lod Canal, was dug during the reign of King
Taksin. In 1785, the 2nd canal ring called Rob Krung
(literally around the city) turned the metropolis into an island and so
gave rise to the name Rattanakosin Island.

Forts were built along the Chao Phraya River and the Rob
Krung Canal for the defence of Rattanakosin. The 3rd canal
ring, Padung Krung Kasem Canal, was added in 1851-54.

Opposite the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the Ministry of
Defense with old cannon displayed on the presence lawn. This was
built in 1882, during the reign of King Rama V, on the evidence
of three old palaces from the reign of King Rama I.

The Saranrom Palace, opposite the Grand Palace, was built in
1866 during the reign of King IV. In 1960, portion of the palace
evidence became a public park, the Saranrom Park.

It's a commiseration that modern edifices have got replaced some of the old
palaces. The old walls and garrisons protecting the metropolis have got been
demolished; only two garrisons and portion of the old metropolis walls
remain. But the remaining edifices in Rattanakosin give a
glance of old Capital Of Thailand and recapture the glorification of that era.


Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Where to buy a Used Digital Camera

As digital cameras are becoming more and more reliable and the memory the latest lines of new cameras has increases to levels that are becoming more than an average user needs, one has to ask if buying a new digital camera is really the smart move.

Much like a car, a digital camera loses around 30% of its value as soon as it leaves the shop so with Christmas coming up and the fact that soon many people will be trying to get rid of their unwanted gifts, it will shortly be boom time in the used digital camera market.

Finding a used digital camera

Classifieds
Digital camera bargains can be found here if you have the time to dig through the local papers and specialist sales papers such as loot. The main problem with this method is that most of the time you don’t get to see the camera until is arrives in the post and you have to be prepared to make a lot of phone calls. Also if can be hard to find out who you are dealing with.

Ebay
Ebay can be a great place to find a used digital camera. The main reasons for checking out ebay are that the main payment system ‘PayPal’ covers you against loss or damage up to a very reasonable £1000 and the feedback system which allows buyers to leave remarks about sellers means it is in the sellers interest to make sure that the sale completes as smoothly as possible. Most cameras sold on ebay have a photograph with the listing, which allow you to see what you are buying.

Specialist camera shops
Most camera shops have a line of used cameras, which they have taken in as part exchange for a new camera or bought of some poor chap down on his luck.
Buying a camera here is the most expensive way to buy a used digital camera, as the cameras that are on sale in these types of shop are always quite expensive for used cameras but the up side is that you will more than likely get a 3 to 6 month guarantee with your camera.


Sunday, November 11, 2007

How To Skyrocket Your Chances Of Winning The Lottery

If you’re like me then you probably bask playing the lottery but are still waiting for the ‘big win’. You may even be defeated you don’t look to acquire very many of those ‘little wins’ either.

I used to be one of those disappointed every hebdomad too…

Although everyone cognizes that the opportunities of winning the jackpot are astronomically high - many thousands of people still win littler (and not so small) awards on games like the United Kingdom National Lottery every week. I just didn’t look to be one of them.

That was until I started discovering some of the secrets a few choice people in the cognize are using every hebdomad to -

a) massively increase their opportunities of winning the jackpot and
b) win littler awards on a more than regular basis

So, just what are these secrets? I’m glad you asked…

One of the easiest ways of increasing your opportunities of winning is to simply play more than than than times… “Duh, obviously!” Iodine hear you say, “But that agency I have got to pass more money… and the whole point is to win it, not pass it!”

Well you’re correct, but did I state anything about paying to play more?

I simply said… to increase your opportunities of winning… play more times. There are ways of playing multiple times at the fraction of the normal cost… there are even ways you can play entirely for free!

How? Here’s the secret…

To play multiple times for the fraction of the normal cost you necessitate to be portion of a well organised lottery syndicate.

Now I’ve heard all the horror narratives about lottery mobs winning and person running off with the winnings… Oregon one time friends fighting each other through the courts…

Notice, however, I referred to being portion of a well organised lottery syndicate. A well organised lottery mob that usages A proved mathematical formula… a formula that allows you win more than with the same Numbers than you would had you played alone... even on lotteries as highly regarded as the United Kingdom National Lottery.

I cognize what you’re thinking – “How tin that be? If you have got to share your winnings as portion of A lottery mob how can you win more than with the same numbers?”

It’s a good question, allow me explain…

As portion of a lottery mob you can compound your disbursement powerfulness and play smart. This uses to any lottery but for the time being let’s utilize the United Kingdom National Lottery as an example…

To play the United Kingdom National Lottery you take six Numbers from between 1 and 49. Now let’s state that you are portion of a lottery mob with 49 other people. Every hebdomad the lottery mob have the same five Numbers and usages its disbursement powerfulness to purchase 44 tickets.

Why 44? Another good question…

If you necessitate to take six Numbers per entry (and you already have got got got five numbers) then all you necessitate to make is purchase 44 tickets using the 44 Numbers you don’t already have as your 6th number.

The glare behind this attack is you are always guaranteed to have at least one ball every draw – which means, in the lawsuit of the United Kingdom National Lottery, you only necessitate to fit two of your lottery syndicate’s Numbers to win a award rather than lucifer three if you played alone.

And because of the manner the mathematics works out there will be
multiple winning lines within the 44 when you win… which takes to more than money to share within the lottery syndicate.

Your winnings as portion of the lottery mob using this method are actually higher for matching the same Numbers than had you played alone. You also have got more than than opportunities to win more often too…

In fact your opportunities of winning the United Kingdom National Lottery Jackpot are increased by an astonishing 702%!

Now can you see what I intend by playing smart and the powerfulness of playing the lottery as portion of a lottery syndicate?


Friday, November 09, 2007

Feature Slots - Slots with a twist!

For the person who lives to play the slots, the advent of
bonus slots and feature slots online have opened up a
world of exciting gambling opportunity and fun. With
thousands of online sites; you’re sure to find several
feature slots that will become your favorites.

The great thing is that you don’t have to go anywhere
except to your computer to play these exciting feature
slots or bonus slots. You just sit back in your favorite
chair and have fun. There’s plenty of challenges and
exciting moments as the tension rises.

For example, there are feature slots that have a gamble
feature that give you the chance to double or quadruple
your prize after a win. Who could ask for more? Well,
doubling or tripling your wins is not the only feature
slots online. There’s also the second screen feature,
where you get another opportunity to win.

Then there are the feature slots, like the option to hold
the reels. In fact, there is too much of a variety of
feature slots online to list them all here. Investigate
the online casinos and you’ll be blown away at how many
feature slots there are to help you with your winning.

Feature slots closely resemble the slot games you’ll find
in the land casinos, with the difference being that they
offer you even more chances to win. Things like free
spins, reel freezing, and bonus screens. It’s a great
opportunity to quickly grow your winnings.

Just as in playing standard slots, when you’re playing
feature slots the goal is to select a game to play with the
highest payout rate and opportunity for winning. You’ll
find lots of these opportunities on many of the online
gaming sites. Almost every site has feature slots.

Many say that one way to increase your chances of hitting
the bonus slots with a higher payout is to always bet the
max. Of course, there’s tons of strategies to improve your
chances of winning. One thing for sure is that when you’re
playing feature slots, or bonus slots your chances are
already improved. There is simply just more ways to win,
so your chance improves. You’ll feel the excitement rise
as you play your bonus, or hit the feature screen of the
feature slots.

If you’re searching for all the varieties of online feature
slots, there are several sites dedicated to providing you
with the information about which online casino has what
feature slots or bonus slots currently running. It can be
a great time-saver to check out some of these sites.
You’re sure to quickly find a site that takes your
interest. Just play smart and don’t let it take all your
coins. Have fun!


Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Celebrity Big Brother Breakdowns

Celebrity Big Brother is upon us again. And allows face it we love it.

This old age Celebrity Big Brother will be the 4th after it was originally conceived as a monetary fund raiser for Amusing Relief in 2002. The show was won by a rather crabbed and abashed Jack Dee who actually staged a successful flight during the show. He still declines to be interviewed on the topic but it didn’t make his calling any harm! Anyway the existent play came from the bigger than life presenter, Genus Vanessa Feltz. Celebrity Big Brother proved very good at spotting attenuation celebs who are on the brink of imploding and to the eye-balls-glued-to-the-TV horror and delectation of the billions watching, Genus Vanessa allow cipher down and imploded with some style.

This kind of on-screen famous person unravelling was to put the criterion for the 2nd and 3rd Celebrity Big Brother series and male child they haven’t disappointed.

Series two proverb former Take That vocalist and all-round nice guy, Mark Owen, win it but the existent involvement was provided by the matrimonial Angst of not-so-funny-man, Les Dennis. Poor ol’ Les was Celebrity Big Brother Two’s imploding unravelling celebrity. It seemed like he was the lone 1 in the state who didn’t cognize Amanda was about to walk. Cringe!

Last twelvemonth we were coddled for spectacle. Celebrity Big Brother excelled themselves when they managed to acquire the monster show that was Toilet McCririck, Brigitte Nielsen and Jackie Stallone, in the same house. Volition we ever bury the horror of McCririck (in full frame) pulling a juicy bogy from his anterior naris and then greedily lapping it up or his monolithic Moody and being denied diet coke (of all things!) by Big Brother! Or the horror on Brigitte’s face, when ex-mother in-law Jackie Stallone was introduced into the Celebrity Big Brother pit. Fantastic. Baz from the Happy Mondays walked off with the prize, upsetting the bookies front-runner kid rapper, Blazin’ Squads’, Kenzie.

So on to this twelvemonth and Celebrity Big Brother Four and if Celebrity Big Brother were looking for a washed up delicate famous person who could spectacularly unravel, right down to his DNA, before a hungry public, they can only have got had one adult male at the top of their list. Measure forward Mister Michael Barrymore.

Yes folks the former multiple winner of the UK’s Entertainer Of The Year is rumoured to be going in to the Celebrity Big Brother House (for a fee of £150k). Already, the male parent of the male child who drowned in cryptic fortune in Mr. Barrymore’s pool, is asking for him to be broiled on the topic by his housemates. Ouch.

So who are the other housemates likely to be? The listing is eternal but the best supported rumors for Celebrity Big Brother Four are, girly Male Child George, saggy miss Lisa Nicole Smith, Dead or Alive presence girl-man, Pete Burns, male child who looks like a miss Thomas Babington Macaulay Culkin, amusing miss Liza Tarbuck, toothy miss Esther Rantzen, lovely miss Fern Cotton and … well I’m out of girlie prefixes so I’ll leave of absence it there. So that’s it. Thursday January the 5th on C4 will kick-off the madness. Can’t wait.


Monday, November 05, 2007

Hire a Magician ? Definitions and Tips

For a lot of people the last time they wanted a magician at their party was when they were 8 years old but magicians don’t just work for children. Adults have always been a great audience for magic because they have defined critical thinking. They “know” it isn’t “real magic” but if the performer does his job right he can bring about the childlike state of wonder in an adult. A good magician can bring you right back to experience the fuzzy feeling you had as a kid when your grandfather pulled a coin out of your ear.

There are 3 styles of magic that are most often hired for events where adults are in the majority.

Close-up magic (the most popular choice for people hiring magicians)

Cabaret shows

Drawing room shows

Close-up magic is often seen at cocktail parties where the magician mingles amongst the guests performing miracles with borrowed objects and simple objects he has on him. He works without a table and uses people hands when he needs to. This is an excellent choice if all the guests will be standing with drinks and eating finger food.

Another type of close-up magic that is closely related to strolling magic is table magic. Table magic is performed between the courses at dinners, wedding breakfasts, balls and banquets. You are more likely to see a short (between 3 – 8 minutes) mini cabaret act that has a structured feel to it. The magician may use the table but it will be as unobtrusive as possible because at banquets there is a premium on table real estate.

Close-up magicians are being hired more and more for Trade Shows to draw people to the stand with customised magic presentations. Presentations are designed to showcase the features and benefits of the stand they are representing but with amazing magic and not just dry sales pitches.

Cabaret Shows are a great way for a lot of people to see some great magic in a relatively short space of time. Often a close-up magician who has performed strolling/table magic before hand will also do a 20 minute cabaret act after dinner.

There are many different styles of cabaret magician - comedy, traditional manipulation act to music, mind reading etc. The type of event you are organizing will dictate the type of cabaret magician you will require. If you would like lots of audience participation and laughter go for a comedy magician, if there will be lots of non-English speakers present then go for a visual act like the manipulator and if it is a very business orientated environed maybe a mind reader would be more suited.

You also see cabaret magicians at comedy clubs, cruise ships and also occasionally at motivational events where the magic is combined with a motivational speech.

Drawing room shows were almost a dead art for nearly a 100 years. They were immensely popular with the Victorians where the gentry would all gather to watch a conjurer perform magic. In recent years it is coming back into fashion at private parties where a magician may perform after dinner for 30 minutes or so. This is a taste of days gone by and is close enough for apparently no shenanigans to be going on yet far enough away to use larger effects for everyone to see. This kind of show is most related to a cabaret show but the effects are smaller and it is more interactive as the audience in only a few feet away.

When choosing a professional magician it is important to choose wisely as in any industry there are “cowboys”.

Questions you may like to ask any prospective performer you are engaging are...

How long have you been a professional?
Some magicians may seem great on paper but as all know paper doesn’t refuse ink. Experience is the key in this industry so make sure they have cut their teeth.

Can I see you perform?
The answer depends on the type of performer you are considering engaging. If it’s a cabaret magician he may well work at comedy clubs where you can go and see him perform and close-up magicians often work at hotels, restaurants and bars as the resident entertainer several times a week. If it’s open to the public then go and see them work. However if the performer works mainly at corporate events, weddings and/or trade shows you may find it impossible to see him work live as these are closed events.

Have you got a brochure/video I can see?

Most professional performers will have promotional kits including photographs, video and brochure. A good promo kit doesn’t mean they are a good magician, it may just mean they know somebody who works at a printing press. A cheap and tatty looking promo kit doesn’t definitely mean the performer is bad, but it does show a lack of professionalism and that is a warning sign. In this day and age some performers have no hard copy for promotional use as it dates so quickly so there website acts as the brochure. If the website looks like it was made from cut outs of magazines then they are not interested in making a good first impression. Would you trust somebody who didn’t make a good first impression at your event?

Does the price include VAT and any other charges?

When in negotiations don’t forget to clarify if there as any other expense other than fee quoted.

What magic tricks do you do?

You should be able to gain a good idea of the style of the magician from any online or hardcopy brochure but if you want to know what kind of effects he/she performs – go ahead and ask!

Are you a member of any magic societies or performer bodies?

Many magicians will be members of different magic clubs around the world. In the UK the most prestigious is the The Magic Circle where there are only 1500 hundred members world wide and you have to perform in front of experienced peers to gain membership. Again in the UK you will find many magicians are members of Equity the performs union which is another sign of their professionalism.

Have you got any referees I could phone?

This may seem like a reasonable question but a lot of magician’s work mainly in the corporate area and are not permitted to pass out the contact details of their bookers. You should be able to see testimonials and letters from clients on the websites/brochures. Of course the best way is personal recommendation; ask friends if they have ever hired a magician.

Have you got public liability insurance?

This is crucial. The magician will be in close contact to your guests and maybe borrowing objects from them for effects. You don’t want to end up with a magician who isn’t covered!

I hope this all helps to give you a better idea of the different types of magic that are available for you to hire for your next event and what to look out for when hiring.


Friday, November 02, 2007

Collection of Haiku

Spring
Watching the birds fly,
My mind wanders to the sky,
Searching for beauty.

Summer
Practicing under
The shady sycamore tree -
The sun still finds me.

Fall
I read by streetlight -
Solemnly the silent owl
Watches me walking.

Winter
Wintry tree limbs hang
Upside down and touch the clouds -
Wooden icicles.

June
Lightning bugs like stars
Make the summer trees look like
An early Christmas

Mystery
Thick fog creeps from the
Field and is illuminated
By passing cars

Thought
The moon leads my path
To unknown journeys, secret
Pathways between the lines

Untitled
I bought bread for the
Visiting birds, but instead
Fed the lonely cat.

Untitled 1
What is poetry
But our try at creation,
And showing the truth?

Untitled 2
You get out of life
What you put into it.
Work to prevent strife.

Untitled 3
Out of my old door
And towards new paradise
I step with a smile.

Untitled 4
Beholding God's Great
Creation, I shall find fresh
Divine inspiration.

Untitled 5
The sins of this world
Will not hold back God's Gift of
Life never ending.

Untitled 6
This Heaven on Earth
Is beyond my wildest dreams:
I love my life now.

Untitled 7
Spending endless days
In her arms, her love,
My one true rainbow.

Untitled 8
I shall never know
Perfection: I must seek it
Always from my God.

Untitled 9
Paradise Now Found:
Golden Streets, Silken Sheets, God's True Light
Shining Forever.

Untitled 10
The glossary of
Poets start where the common
Dictionary ends.

Haiku to My Rainbow
You are my rainbow,
You are my everything,
We are forever.

You're the one I love:
I love your all, you're my all:
My heart's in your hands.

Your love fills me up:
Your every kiss, laugh, smile;
I sip from your cup.

The waves of woe will
Never upset Our Deep Blue:
Our love will stay true.

You are my best friend;
I pray this will never end;
Love is eternal.


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