Santa Breakfast at the Olympia Country & Golf Club

… isn’t complete without magic!  I first performed for their Santa Breakfast in 1998 and have been back nearly every year since.  It was originally the first Saturday, then the first two Saturdays in December.  A couple of years ago Janice, the Country Club Catering Manager, added the third Saturday as well.  They keep selling out!  

Here’s the secret – it’s a STEAL.  The prices are unbelievably affordable, and the Country Club is decorated beautifully.  They do it more as a service for their members and guests than as a money-maker, but it would be a great value at twice the price. 

Richard Hurley was kind enough to send this photo that he took with kids surrounding me before the Holiday Magic Show officially began.  Thanks, Richard! 

I’ll start the rumor here – Janice is considering adding a Sunday in 2010 for a total of FOUR Santa Breakfasts.  (They were booked solid with 175 reservations this past Saturday.)  A hearty breakfast, funny and amazing magic show, and SANTA?  You can’t get too much of a good thing! 

Save 50% Off Your School Assembly

One of the biggest reasons for fundraising is to bring fun and educational programs to your school. So, why not make your fundraiser do double-duty?  Work with Northwest Fundraising and you can reach your financial goals while getting a great deal on one of my four completely different school assembly magic programs.

Lake Hills Elementary used Northwest Fundraising, made a bunch of money, and saved $262 off my Reading Magic assembly.  You can too!  How much fun was it?  Listen to Cathi with the Lake Hills PTA and decide for yourself. 

Read more details about this special offer on my website, then call David Proctor with Northwest Fundraising at (800) 779-1706 or send e-mail to nwfr@comcast.net to learn about their great money-making programs for schools and organizations.

Holiday Magic

Whew!  It’s the second week in December and I’ve already done ten shows.  Last weekend I was in Corvallis and Salem for company parties.  Susan Adkins with Class Act Event Coordinators did a phenomenal job creating a Charles Dickens-themed event for the Videx company Christmas party. 

The Salem show was for the James W. Fowler Company.  It’s the third time in six years that they’ve invited me to be part of their Christmas party.  And, like Videx, it’s great knowing that there are companies that are not just surviving, but thriving in the challenging economy.  2010 is looking to be a huge year for them.

I picked up a top hat and scarf to fit the Dickens theme.  I liked the look so much it became part of my annual Christmas photo! 

Many thanks to my good friend and business partner Rick Anderson with Bruno Photography for taking all of my promo photos over the years. 

The hat and scarf are functional, too.  Last weekend I performed strolling magic outside for the Dupont Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony where temperatures were well below thirty degrees.  It’s the first time I wore long underwear tops and bottoms beneath my tuxedo, a wool cap under the top hat, the scarf, and was still chilly! 

• Yesterday:  Frank Tobey Jones staff party (Tacoma)
       BizXchange holiday mixer (Seattle)
• Today:  Lionfish Creative holiday party/Seattle
• Saturday:  Olympia Country Club Santa Breakfast
       Tacoma Fire Department
       Microsoft holiday party (Seattle)
• Sunday:  Bellevue Regional Library – open to the public
       Microsoft holiday party (Bellevue)
• Monday:  Bow Lake Elementary Reading Magic (Federal Way)
       Valley View Elementary Reading Magic (Seatac)
       Federal Way 320th Library Holiday Magic – open to the public
• Tuesday:  Lake Hills Elementary Reading Magic (Bellevue)
       Aberdeen Police Officer’s Guild
• Wednesday:  Military Officer’s Association of America (Olympia)

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

I love it when schools include my shows in their reader board.  I send custom posters to schools as a matter of course, but mentioning it on a reader board is a great way to get the message to parents who drive their child to or from school. 

 

Yesterday the King County Library System hosted two of my programs; one at Twin Lakes Elementary in Federal Way and another at the Boulevard Park Library in Seattle.   The school program was for the KCLS “Ready, Set, Read” incentive and performed my Reading Magic program. 

The evening was open to the public and attended by parents with young kids.  They ate it up and were a totally enthusiastic crowd.   It was my first Holiday Magic show for the year.  Time to get tuned up as this is a HUGE weekend with four holiday parties!

 

Today I presented my Science Magic assembly for Waller Road Elementary in Tacoma in the afternoon and returned in the evening with my Family Night Magic Show.  Two years ago I performed my Mission:  Possible respect and bully prevention program along with an evening show. 

I love doing an afternoon and evening program.  It really improves attendance when the kids go home talking about what they’ve just seen.  They can literally drag their parents back to school, and the parents end up having a super time themselves.

New Science Magic demo video

In 1998 I created my first program for the King County Library System.   Their theme was science.  Libraries always have themes, and the closer your program title and description matches the theme, the better your chance for bookings. 

A couple of years earlier I built Reading Magic for the Timberland Regional Library Summer Reading Program and figured I could do the same for KCLS.  So, like any good marketer I chose a short and snappy title (“Science Magic”), made up a program description, and submitted my bid.  And thought nothing else about the whole thing. 

These were the days before e-mail (well, before I was booking shows by e-mail) and the first day librarians could call to schedule programs I was amazed when five ladies called to book programs.  This was repeated the next day, and the day after that. 

Holy smokes!  It was time to put together a program.  Now what did I tell them I was going to do???

Fast forward a dozen years and Science Magic is a perennial favorite with libraries and schools.

“I just wanted to thank you for coming to High Lakes Elementary, and putting on such a great show!  We have received nothing but positive feedback and “kudos” for the assembly, as well as Science & Math night from teachers, parents and most importantly, our students.  Your energy and quick wit captivates the audience in seconds, and the fact you are able to weave science knowledge in with magic is beyond entertaining.  There were times that I laughed so hard I cried from pure amusement!!” 
     -Heather Fleiner, High Lakes PTA

Gregg Campbell with Break Away Video videotaped my assembly at Olympic Elementary in Longview and put together a great demo.  It captures the fun and learning of the show.  Take a look at the video and leave a comment.

Watch one of my Science Magic instructional videos, print out my Class Activity Sheet, or build your own Levitating Magician.

Magic at the Hands-On Children’s Museum

Families are invited to “Magic Tricks and Secrets Live”, a combination magic show, hands-on workshop, and DVD release party on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Hands-On Children’s Museum in downtown Olympia (106 11th Ave SW).  Magician Jeff Evans performs shows at noon and 2:00 pm. Admission is $7.95/person, $4.95 for toddlers, and free for HOCM members.

Kids learn magic with rubber bands, paperclips, playing cards, and more. All props and hands-on instruction are provided and kids go home with a “Mystery Dollar” and “Levitating Magician” cut-out. Magic workshops are recommended for ages 6+. Magic Tricks and Secrets DVDs are available for purchase at the Museum that day.

Explore the DVD trailers at www.magictricksandsecrets.com.

The Magic Tricks and Secrets DVD series is created by Jeff Evans and George Ford. “Living Room Magic volumes 1 and 2” include magic with everyday items you already have around the home; string, playing cards, paper, and more. Some effects are impromptu and can be done anytime, anywhere: others require some practice, but are well within the ability of anyone willing to put in a little bit of practice.

Family Night at East Ridge Elementary in Woodinville

Last week I visited East Ridge Elementary in Woodinville with my Science Magic assembly in the afternoon and my Family Night Magic Show in the evening.  I love doing programs like this because it almost guarantees a full house.  Kids have a blast during the day, go home talking about what they’ve seen, and bring their parents back in the evening. 

“Thank you for a great program and assembly.  I have had very positive feedback from teachers and parents.  The attendance at the evening program was among our best ever and was definitely driven by the assembly.”
     -Trish Cooper, PTA, East Ridge Elementary

 

 Thanks to Nancy Nygren who took some super photos of the evening show. 

 

King County Library System School Visits

The King County Library System features a program called “Ready, Set, Read!” that rewards kids for reading with free books.  (It’s an incredible program, as kids can earn several free books over the course of the school year.)  For many years the Youth Services Librarians have included me and my Reading Magic assembly program on their short list of presenters that they choose from to accompany them to schools. 

Last week I received two wonderful e-mails from school librarians. 

“Thank you, Jeff.  You were perhaps the easiest assembly to ever have!  We thank you & King County Library System for bringing you to us.  I loved the way you integrated reading & library usage into your performance.  I may have been the only one to get your “autobiography” joke though:)  Thanks for a great & energizing performance.”
     -Sharon Turpin, school librarian
     Parkwood Elementary, Shoreline

“Your assembly was terrific. The children are still talking about it–really.  I just had a third grade come in and they were interested in magic books and they even asked me if you had checked books out of my library to get your tricks.  They would like to master some tricks and perform them at an assembly, BUT – they came to the library for their books!”
     -Dewey Sullivan, school librarian
     Westwood Elementary Librarian, Auburn

This week is shaping up to be busy:

• Tuesday:  Science Magic and Family Night Magic Show for East Ridge Elementary in Woodinville 
• Wednesday:  Science Magic for North Bend Elementary
• Thursday:   Pierce College in Tacoma and Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland
• Friday:  Alpine Way Retirement Apartments in Shelton
  Saturday:  Halloween Party (private event), Bellevue

Washington School Assembly Showcase Video

The first annual Washington School Assembly Showcase was Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the LaQuinta Inn in Tacoma. Attendance wasn’t nearly what we had hoped for, but plans are in the works to make next year’s event bigger and better. 

A big thanks to all of the presenters:

• Creative Writing Projects/Buck and Elizabeth
• Science Circus/Rhys Thomas
• The Toymaker/Rick Hartman
• Create Your Own Comedy Show/Rick Huddle
• Mad Science of South Sound
• The Noise Guy/Charlie Williams
• We C.A.R.E. Sports/Mag Hughes & Don Fogle
• Science on Wheels/Pacific Science Center
• EduMazement Productions/Jeff Evans and Rick Anderson

Washington School Assembly Showcase presenters

Next year the tentative plan is to hold the Showcase at the main downtown Seattle Public Library.  Rather than limiting attendees to just elementary schools, parks and recreation staff and youth services librarians will be invited as well.  Moving it to the end of September, 2010 (rather than early in September like this year) will give me more time to get a mailing out to all of the parents and teachers once the school year begins. 

A special thanks to Charlie Williams, aka The Noiseguy, who created a short video highlight of the first annual Assembly Showcase. 

Interested in attending next year?  Visit the link to the website above for updates and send e-mail to info@assemblyshowcase.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.

“Ready, Set, Read” Assembly at Parkwood Elementary

The King County Library System has been one of my best clients since 1998.  In addition to library programs and Summer Reading I also accompany their Youth Services librarians to local schools to promote programs like “Ready, Set, Read.”  Kids read 20+ minutes a day and get their reading coach to sign a form.  They receive a free book after doing this for at least twenty days during the month.  Even better, avid readers can do this again and again during the school year.  Wow! 

Yesterday Laurie Field from the Shoreline Library and I visited Parkwood Elementary in Shoreline, WA.  The students were excellent and we had a good time.  I hope many of them take advantage of the program and earn free books. 

“You were perhaps the easiest assembly to ever have!  We thank you & King County Library System for bringing you to us.  I loved the way you integrated reading & library usage into your performance.  I may have been the only one to get your “autobiography” joke though:)  Thanks for a great & energizing performance.”
     -Sharon Turpin, Parkwood Elementary Librarian

 

Learn more about my Reading Magic assemblies for libraries and schools.