Without question, we are living through strange times. Although we may be required to be socially distant, it does not mean we need to be completely isolated. 

The S.A.M. National Council is giving use of Zoom Videoconferencing software to assemblies for virtual meetings. The S.A.M. has been using Zoom for the Virtual Assembly v1.1 meetings for several years now with great results. 

For best results, create a free Zoom account and use a computer with a microphone, camera, and headphones. 

An iPhone or Android smartphone will also work. Members without either can dial-in by phone to participate aurally only. 
 
Meeting Topic: "Magic in One - Routines for the Solo Performer"
Present routines that don't use a volunteer and put the focus on you, your personality, and your technique. 

Click the link below just before the meeting begins.
Time: Apr 6, 2020, 7:30 PM Central Time
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/930475315?pwd=TXEwS3puREpNbmZlWkdUUlRrMXVVUT09
 
Meeting ID: 930 475 315
Password: 052918

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Meeting ID: 930 475 315
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aYYYwmd1n

Monday, January 6, 2020
6:30 - 9:30 PM

Smoke Daddy, 3636 N. Clark Street (across from Wrigley Field)

$20 for Members, $25 for Guests

Join your fellow wand-wavers for a magical buffet dinner complete with BBQ, sides, dessert and drinks. A cash bar will also be available. 

All S.A.M. members who attend will receive a copy of our 1919 charter signed by then-S.A.M. President Harry Houdini.

Contact sam3chicago@gmail.com with any questions. 

Purchase your dinner tickets below:

Argentina's merry magician Henry Evans is a FISM-winning lecturer and creator of innovative card effects. He has amazed magicians and laypersons alike, lectured in over 40 countries, and is a past Guest of Honor at the storied 4F convention.

This lecture is presented by S.A.M. Assembly 3, and is free to Assembly 3 members and CMRT members in good standing. Guests are $25, payable at the door. ​

On March 4, Assembly 3 hosted a lecture that took members all the way “From Here to Here” courtesy of former S.A.M. Chicago President and current Midwest Regional Vice President, John Sturk. 

The lecture drew a large crowd to the 654 Club, all eager to learn from Sturk’s broad-based and diverse performance experience. In addition to his tenure with the S.A.M., where he’s garnered two Presidential Citations, John Sturk is a multi-award winning close-up and comedy stage magician, an experienced busker, classically trained by Gazzo himself, and holds membership in prestigious magic organizations that include the Chicago Magic Roundtable and The Magic Circle in London. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Chicago Magic Lounge, a well-known improviser and musician to boot. “From Here to Here” drew on all of this experience to present a well-rounded and entertaining lecture.​

Beginning in a remote resort town in northern Michigan as a busker, John Sturk has performed magic in nearly every venue imaginable - from restaurants to birthdays, from the sidewalk to the stage. 

John will discuss his magical career and share insights he's learned from 15 years of professional work. He also spent seven years as a project coordinator for Fun, Inc., America's largest magic manufacturer, is a producer for street performance at the Abbott's Get-Together, is past president of Assembly 3, and currently serving S.A.M. Midwest Regional Vice-President. He has won the Abbott's Stage and Close-Up Contests, swept both stage and close-up awards from Michigan Magic Day, and is twice a recipient of the S.A.M. Presidential Citation. 

Things you can learn in this lecture: 

• How to make your own mouth coils
• Perform a rising card effect with a BORROWED deck
• Tear and restore a newspaper (nearly) impromptu
• How to use improvisation to build a bond with your audience
• What makes a Classic of Magic a Classic

Free to Assembly 3 and CMRT members, $25 for guests. 

Tag, You're it! S.A.M. members, be prepared! Our meeting this month will feature a magician performing ONE magic effect of his choice. Upon his completion, he will randomly select a member in attendance that will be the next magician to perform ONE effect. This will continue until all who care to share have had a chance.  "Tag' you're it!"

This is another great meeting idea from Martin Mercy. Martin has literally written the book on running a successful magic club, "Your Magic Club...A Road Map to Success." 

You can find his book at http://mercymemagic.com/Buy_Magic.html

Join us Monday, May 7th for our next S.A.M. meeting which will be a MAGIC SWAP MEET!

Please bring a FEW items that have been collecting dust or some books that you want to let go of. Please limit the number of items to what can fit into a banker's box or equivalently sized cardboard box.

The great thing about clearing off the shelves is it makes room for new stuff!!
​

We were pleased to have Suzanne lecture for the Assembly on April 2. Her high-impact style of close-up magic was incredibly effective, and after adding her touch of personality and humor to the routines, the audience was enchanted with her from the get-go. 

Known for her restaurant work in her home state of Minnesota, Suzanne was pleased to share the benefit of her wisdom through years of work in the trenches. This accumulated talent reached an apex when she was the first woman awarded Close-Up Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts. 

Suzanne's take on many classic routines, particularly her famed Cups and Balls routine, showed first-hand how to take a routine and make it your own. 

The capacity crowd at our meeting included several members of the newly established Chicago Magic Round Table, who joined in the conversation and coaxed some very thoughtful responses from Suzanne on the topics of performing, creativity, and "following your bliss." 

Special thanks to David Linsell for taking the photos during this month's meeting.