Monthly Performance Themes 2019
January
Bar Betchas, Brainteasers, and Bamboozlers: Tricks, swindles, brainteasers, and other stunts that you might use to fool a friend, wrangle a free drink, or simply get an appreciative groan from the gang at the bar.!
Soeren Loeffler - Theme Winner
February
Frankly, My Dear: Perform a magic routine either inspired by or alluding to a film or television couple.
Eric Schuster - Theme Winner
March
793.8: Magic you learned from a book you’d find in a public library.
Ari Slomka - Theme Winner
April
Everyone Please Take a Seat: Magic designed to be performed while seated.
Matt Baker - Theme Winner
May
Photographic Magic: May is National Photo Month - demonstrate a trick that uses a photograph, camera, or is related to photography.
TBD - Theme Winner
June
I’m Just Wild About Harry: Magic tied to any famous magical Harry. Which one? Your choice!
TBD - Theme Winner
July
Extra! Extra!: Magic using paper: newspaper, typing paper, tissue paper, receipts, etc.
TBD - Theme Winner
August
FASDIU: From a Shuffled Deck in Use - non-gaffed, non-gimmicked, non-memorized card magic.
TBD - Theme Winner
September
Mental Mania: Telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis…pick a mentalism phenomenon and show us your extra-sensory prowess!
TBD - Theme Winner
October Annual Auction
November
Tag, You’re It!: Come ready to perform literally anything in your repertoire. The first performer will be chosen at random. When the trick is over, that person tags someone else to perform. Be ready!
TBD - Theme Winner
December
Vintage Props. Perform something using one of the oldest props you own.
TBD - Theme Winner
Monthly Performance Themes 2018
January
I Learned It from The Linking Ring: Any year, any issue, but it needs to have been in The Linking Ring. Don't forget you have access to the linking Ring archive through Magician.org. So discover the Goldmine!
Matt Baker - Theme Winner
February
DIY Magic: Magic using a prop, gaff or gimmick made with your own two hands.
West Evans & Steve Langston (Tie) - Theme Winners
March
Street Magic: Channel your inner David Blaine, Gazzo, Kozmo, Dynamo, (you get the idea) for a little indoor street magic.
Merritt Ambrose - Theme Winner
April
I Learned It from Henry Hay’s Amateur Magician’s Handbook: A book packed with fantastic magic, mentalism and advice. A great excuse to spend time with a classic.
Ken Scott - Theme Winner
May
Mental Mysteries: Time to bust out your office supplies for a night of mentalism miracles, mysteries and mind-blowing marvels
Steve Greenfield - Theme Winner
June
Sponges: Any size, shape or color, just make sure it’s magic with a sponge.
Mike Dunagan - Theme Winner
July
I Learned It from Tarbell (1 – 8): Come on, you have 8 volumes to work with here. Find something new to you and have fun!
Joe M. Turner - Theme Winner
August
Back to School: Magic focused on, or based on, school experiences or topics.
Debbie Leifer - Theme Winner
September
Halloween: Since the Auction is always in October, we’ll start early. From scary to bizarre, tricks that go bump in the night.
Jim Magus - Theme Winner
October Annual Auction
November
I Learned it from Bill Tarr’s Now You See It, Now You Don’t (1 or 2): Another classic with lots of great tricks to choose from.
Howie Slomka - Theme Winner
December
Color Changing…Anything. Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it deals with something changing colors.
Dan Garrett - Theme Winner
Monthly Performance Themes 2017
January
New Year, New Tricks: Perform something you got for the holidays or have never performed before
Mike Dunagan - Theme Winner
February
Your True Love Trick: Perform your all-time favorite, go-to, can’t miss, “I love this trick” routine
Merritt Ambrose - Theme Winner
March
Great Escapes: Channel your inner Houdini (it’s his birthday month) as you entertain with your best rope, chain, handcuff, straight jacket, etc. escape routine
Joe M. Turner - Theme Winner
April
Magic Mayhem: In celebration of April Fool’s Day, perform your favorite sucker trick
Ari Slomka - Theme Winner
May
I Can ACAAN: Show us your favorite version, variation or reinterpretation of this classic of card magic
West Evans - Theme Winner
June
Mental Miracles: From predications to prophecies to paranormal, it’s all fair game as we enjoy a night of mentalism and mysteries
Richard Rubin - Theme Winner
July
Paddle Puzzlers: The paddle move is one of the oldest sleights in magic (some say dating back to the 1580s), now it’s time to amaze us with your favorite paddle performance
Isenberg - Theme Winner
August
Tricks You Can Bet On: Gambling routines, bar bets, scams and cons – if it’s a trick that involves winners and losers, it’s fair game tonight
Steve Langston - Theme Winner
September
Junk Drawer Diving: What better way to get ready for next month’s auction than to dig through your junk magic drawer and learn something that you own but never perform…then pack the rest up for auction!
Howie Marmer - Theme Winner
October
AUCTION
November
Gimmicks and Gaffs: It’s no-sleight night at Ring 9. Perform a routine that requires or is achieved by using a gimmick or gaff of some kind
Joe Morrison - Theme Winner
December
Holiday Magic: You choose the holiday, we’ll enjoy the magic. We don’t care what celebration you use, but your performance must have a “holiday” connection
Ken Scott - Theme Winner