The joint meeting of I.B.M. Ring 115 and the Singapore Association of Magicians (S.A.M.) Singapore Chapter took place on 15 August, at our usual venue at Drama Centre at the National Library Building.  Co-hosts and emcees Joseph Then and Aaron Ang ably led the audience of 45 magicians throughout the evening.  Our President, John Teo formally addressed us, an audience that included members from both magic clubs – affiliated with two of the oldest magic organizations in the world.  He emphasized their enduring camaraderie and proposed that we give S.A.M. members a round of applause.

With Ng Ek Hwang and Daniel Teo (from S.A.M.), John Teo performed “YES” by Astor, based on an idea by Pavel.  The spectator freely selects one of eight cards strung in a column, and his card is the only non-money card.  His second effect was “Technicolour Prediction” by Martin Lewis.

“Mystifying Imran”, President of S.A.M. addressed us and openly thanked his council members.

With a sustained slew of funny one-liners, professional ventriloquist Joseph cleverly introduced Secretary J K Tan, the latter who is an electrical engineering lecturer.  He presented a “lecture” of how personalities would physically twist a nut off a bolt, and on again.  He then demonstrated how these nuts could mysteriously wind and unwind themselves off the bolts by utilizing “mind power”.  We were amused and enthralled by his technical inventiveness, especially when he introduced his original jumbo-sized version that spun at his will.

Thomas Yeo (“Tobi”) performed a jumbo-sized three-card monte effect, with a strong ending.

Our committee member David Fillary, in tandem, performed his jumbo coin and silk routine, ending with a bottle production (inspired by David Stone).  He chipped that we use our “powers for good”.  He followed this up with “Challenge Cards Across by U.F. Grant with a pickpocketing theme.

James Pang presented an inspired silent act of having his mouth sealed with duct tape.  The freely predicted card was found in…guess where?

Member Dr Loke Han Ying performed a “Do as I Do” effect.  Member Wee Kien Meng assisted him, by writing his card on a pad and spreading a deck of cards.  Both Loke and his assistant coincidentally found the same card!

Aman Alhamid, strongly inspired by Derek DelGaudio’s “In & Of Itself” showed us a video trailer of his upcoming one-person show.  He demonstrated with Enrico Varella how the influence of positive energies and thoughts can impact another person’s strength.  He offered members of both magic clubs a special discount on his show.

Harapan Ong shared his upcoming event “Mega Jam!” to be held on 16 November.  A half-day session for magicians and cardists, with Patrick Kun from Thailand as the guest of honour.  He gave members a discount code and QR code to register since our ring is collaborating with him as a sponsor.

Ng Kah King announced that members would be volunteering as walkaround magicians for the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run and Salvation Army.  The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run is an annual charity event that our ring has supported for more than a decade and celebrates giving ex-offenders a “second chance”.  We then adjourned for a small break comprising pastries and flavoured tea.

At 9.50 pm, Joseph chaired a panel discussion with cruise magician Calvin Teo (Daniel’s son), Imran, J K Tan, and “Mr Bottle”(Kien Meng).  Questions fielded by Joseph included their journeys into performing professionally, marketing approach as entertainers, performing for royalty, relating to and interacting with audiences, preparing for contingency, and being flexible.

Goh Ying Xian capped the evening with a dealer’s demonstration.  He changed a white silk into a purple silk inside a water pitcher.  He presented an Egg Bag routine using a denim pocket.  He escaped from thumb-cuffs made with cable-tie.  He then poured water into a cylinder that contained a dice, covered it with a tube, and handed the entire apparatus to a spectator: the dice vanished completely!  He also produced a card from a smartphone.

Our joint meeting ended at 10.27 pm, where members remained to extend their conversations about magic.