Mike Snyder & Donna Celebrate 30 Magical Years Together

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Donna and me performing together, although I have been performing since I was just a little guy of 5 years old and would not meet Donna until years later in high school.

This has already been a busy year for us and now that summer is here it is only getting busier. Not only have we been busy with shows but I have also been kept very busy working with several different magic organizations. I’m really not quite sure how it all happened but I currently hold the rare distinction of simultaneously holding leadership offices in six different magic clubs including;

• President of the Magicians’ Alliance of Eastern States
• President of The Capital Area Professional Magicians - Harrisburg, PA (3^rd consecutive term)
• President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 20 Harrisburg, PA (3^rd consecutive term)
•  Lifetime Grand Council Member, Treasurer, and Show Producer for the Professional Magicians Club of Lancaster.
• Pennsylvania State Deputy for the Society of American Magicians - (S.A.M.), a post I have held since the summer of 2012.
• President of S.A.M. Assembly 110 Harrisburg, PA (3^rd consecutive term)

This is all in addition to our regular schedule of shows and appearances at a variety of events and venues around the world.

People always ask where they can catch one of our shows. While we have performed in 32 of the 50 states as well as internationally, the majority of our performances are at private and corporate events. You can however see our show at several different locations this summer and fall that are open to the public. If we are coming to a theatre or venue near you please come out, see us and say hello.

Back by popular demand, we will once again be preforming at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA for two full weeks this summer.

Wednesday, July 9^th  – Tuesday, July 15^th

Monday, August 4^th – Sunday, August 10^th

This will be our 21^st consecutive season at America’s Largest Free-Admission Amusement Resort. Parking, Admission, and Entertainment Shows are all free. Knoebels has two of the top rated wooden coasters in the United States and this year the Flying Turns, a one-of-a-kind, state of the art, trackless rollercoaster ride, that was 7 years in the making, is now open and ready to take riders on a thrill of their lifetime. You can even bring your own food/picnic lunch into the park. But why would you when they have a variety of award winning food choices at affordable prices throughout the park? At Knoebels we perform 3 different shows per day, 4 per day on the weekend with the first show starting at 1:00 pm each day.

Aside from our two weeks at Knoebels you can also catch our show at the following venues.

Wednesday, August 20^th  –

Bear Trap Dunes

Village Resort Amphitheatre

Ocean View, DE

7:00 PM  Show Time

Saturday, September 13^th  –

Mountain Heritage High School

333 Mountain Heritage School Rd.

Burnsville, NC 

7:00 PM  Show Time

Sunday, September 14^th –

Spruce Pine

Mitchell High School

416 Ledger School Rd.

Bakersville, NC 

2:00 PM  Show Time   

Saturday, October 25^th – Alexander Central High School

223 School Dr.

Taylorsville, NC

7:00 PM  Show Time

As entertainment veterans, with over three decades of performance experience, we have the unique expertise to create an entertainment package that is a perfect fit for your event, audience and venue. One that will have your audience holding their sides and laughing one minute and then sitting slack-jawed and scratching their heads the next. Give us a call today for more information or to book your date.

Until next time…

Remember, - It’s All About Believing.

- Mike Snyder 

717-293-5115

email: mike.snyder@verizon.net

P.S. Don't forget to “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna

Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna

Magic and Special Effects

I was recently called upon to design and provide special effects for my alma mater, Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS) and their production of “The Wizard of Oz.” We provided everything from the fireballs that the Wicked Witch throws at the Scarecrow to the wizard’s balloon floating off from the Emerald City even though the school’s stage does not have a fly space or fly system.

The Wicked Witch throws a fire ball at the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.

We can’t reveal the magic secrets to you, but one of the effects that I proposed was a “magical looking” way for Glinda, the Good Witch, to move about the stage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time this technology has been used not only onstage at this school but also in the history of the production anywhere. Since this was magical for the audience but not really a magic illusion effect I will let you in on the secret.

We accomplished this effect with the help of our friends at Segway of Hershey. Marc Brandt, the owner of Segway of Hershey made a special, custom designed, knee steering device for a Segway in place of the standard hand bar grip controller that is on a standard Segway. I have used this device many times working as the Segway Magician rolling around performing in place of our regular strolling/walk around magic. I proposed the idea to the show director - Scott Drackley, the director of the school’s Fine Arts Department - Tony Brill and Marc from Segway and they were immediately sold on the idea. The next challenge was teaching the student who would play Glinda, to ride the knee steer Segway and find a way to disguise or hide it beneath her costume. Riding on the device would raise the actress up about 5 inches and we had to make sure her costume would not get caught in the wheels. I designed and built special wheel covers for the machine and attached fabric that would blend with her dress. The costumer also added several inches to Glinda’s dress. The actress playing the part of Glinda was Caroline Zody who turned out to be a natural on the Segway, which made our job much easier. This was just one of the many effects that we provided for the production and performed or operated by the students, all of whom did an amazing job. It was fun going back to my alma mater and working on that stage again. To see pictures from this production please visit our facebook page. (Link below.)

I also recently had the pleasure of interviewing our dear friend Adele Friel Rhindress – Blackstone’s Elusive Moth, an onstage assistant to the legendary Master Magician Harry Blackstone Sr. from 1947 – 1950. Adele is the only person ever to play the part of Blackstone's Elusive Moth in an illusion he created to feature her and her skill as a dancer. The interview/lecture also featured rare color video footage of the show from 1948 as well as many photos from Adele's personal collection. We are pictured here with one of Blackstone's original tour cases that we purchased several years ago from the Blackstone Estate. Adele has a great love for magic and it is always fun to hear her many stories of life on the road with Blackstone and her more recent involvement with magic groups around the world. Look for her book, "MEMOIRS of an ELUSIVE MOTH - Disappearing Nightly - with - HARRY BLACKSTONE & HIS SHOW OF 1001 WONDERS" available at better magic shops or online at www.squashpublications.com

We also recently returned to perform once again for Mini-Thon at LCHS to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund providing support for patients and families facing the battle against pediatric cancer. This is a great fundraising event for a very worthwhile cause. This year the school raised $25,688.50

Are you looking for a fun fundraising event or an entertaining night of magic and comedy? If so, give us a call. As veterans of the entertainment business, we know what it takes to make your event an entertaining success. As entertainment specialists, our main focus is entertaining audiences with our live show. With our vast arsenal of magic, effects, comedy routines, and stage illusions to choose from, we have the flexibility and experience to provide a show that will amaze and mystify your audience, leaving them holding their sides and laughing one minute and then sitting slack jawed and scratching their heads the next.  Give us a call today at 717-293-5115 for more information and find out how to make your event an Entertaining Success.

Until next time…

Remember, - It’s All About Believing.

- Mike Snyder 

P.S. Don't forget to “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna

Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna

Magic & Technology

Do you ever get the feeling that there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that you wish?  Well, the other day Donna and I ran into an old friend of ours, Tomio Garray.  Tomio, and his late father Carl, had an amazing show that took them around the world performing on the biggest stages of the day.  One of Garray and Tomio’s most famous acts was a surprising and laugh filled routine that had Carl simultaneously operating four, elaborately costumed, six foot tall, animal ventriloquist figures that joked, sang and danced.  We worked with them on many dates in the late 80’s and the 90’s and it was always a fun and educational experience.  When we saw him this time, Tomio asked us how the business has changed in the last few years. I commented that it is a full time job and sometimes finding the time to do everything I want and need to do is a challenge. With today’s technology and social media there are so many more things to attend to on a regular basis.  Things like e-mails, websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube, and more, in addition to the regular phone calls, direct marketing, network marketing, and other promotional aspects of the entertainment business. And that does not even include our work with agents, promoters and clients or the time spent actually working on the show itself or the time in front of a live audience.  I guess it is good to be busy.  On the plus side, all of this makes it easier for more people to find us, follow us on Facebook, get information about our entertainment services faster and it opens us up to an even broader audience.

We have lots of great clients that book us on a regular basis. Back in mid December of 2012 we received a call from our friends at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA to discuss our availability for the upcoming 2013 season.  It is my prediction that this will be a record-breaking year for Knoebels.  They have built more cabins in the campground for guest rental.  They have announced a new ride or two in the Park and they are bringing back another ride from storage for the kids.  And, as the saying goes, “It’s not open, until it’s open,” but there has been lots buzz about the long awaited “Flying Turns” coaster.  I personally think this could be the year we see this one of a kind ride in operation. Time will tell.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

This will also be our 20^th consecutive year performing at Knoebels.  We are honored that not only do we get the first call when it comes time to book entertainment for Knoebels Roaring Creek Saloon, but we are also the only Magic act that gets two full weeks in this amazing free admission Amusement Park.  We have found that some people actually plan their vacations to coincide with our appearance there each year.  This year our dates are Monday, July 15 – Sunday, July 21 and Monday, August 12 – Sunday, August 18, 2013.  If you are in the area while we are there, please stop in, see us and say hello. Admission and parking are free. (Mention this Blog to Mike or Donna after one of our shows at Knoebels and receive a free gift while supplies last.)

Recently, one of our agents booked our show for a small corporate group that had not used entertainment at their event for many years.  As we do with most of our shows, we custom designed a show to meet the client’s needs and the venue’s limitations.  Long story, short, the client/audience loved the show and ecstatically said it was the best event they had done in a long time, and it was mainly because of our show.  That is exactly what we like to hear, because entertaining audiences and making people happy is one of the things we do best.  Guaranteed, this client will be contacting the agent again with their future entertainment needs.  We have several agents that use our show when they need to hit a home run with a new or existing client and it is always a WIN-WIN-WIN situation.

As veterans of the entertainment business, we know what it takes to make your event an entertaining success. Technology has given us more ways to connect with our audience and fans, but as entertainment specialists our main focus is still entertaining audiences with our live show. With our vast arsenal of magic, effects, comedy routines, and stage illusions to choose from, we have the flexibility and experience to provide a show that will amaze and mystify your audience, leaving them holding their sides and laughing one minute and then sitting slack jawed and scratching their heads the next.  Give us a call today at 717-293-5115 for more information and find out how to make your event a Entertaining Success.

Until next time…

Remember, - It’s All About Believing.

- Mike Snyder

P.S. Don't forget to “Like” us on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna

Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/MikeSnyderAndDonna