A Quick Update

This is a quick blog to report on my progress in the Divisional heats of the Toastmasters Humorous Speech competition. Well - I did not win, so I will not be going on to the national final on November 14th! Aaah! However, I was pretty pleased to come 3rd particularly as it was the first such contest that I have entered! I enjoy giving such speeches and the Toastmasters International club has certainly helped, and is continuing to help, to improve my technique.

Here's to the next chapter in my speaking 'career'!

Well - Say Something!

Yes - it really is nearly 6 months since I last blogged! I cannot believe I have been so remiss particularly as, due to the credit crunch, work has hardly been easy to find in the entertainment business. So I can hardly claim 'pressure of work' as an excuse.

However, I have been spending more time getting involved with Watford Speakers Club. Recently Watford Speakers gained recognition and were officially affiliated to Toastmasters International (nothing to do with men in red coats) and we had a celebration lunch to receive our official banner.



Here am I accepting my certificate as a 'charter member'.



And here is Watford Speakers' President, Beauty Zindi, who first had the vision for, and is now the inspiration behind, the club. She is delivering a speech (what else?) about the foundation of the club. Beauty recently stood down as President and that position is now held by Valerie Barnes-Lewis.



Last Sunday I represented the club in an area 'Humorous Speech' competition and, much to my surprise and delight, I won it! So I will now be representing the area in the Divisional Heats on 17th October in the wilds of Norfolk. I was so thrilled to win it for Watford Speakers as we were the newest club in our area and I hope it helped show that the new boys (and girls) are here to make their mark! Here I am with my trophy.



Mandy also represented Watford Speakers in the impromptu speech category and came a creditable third. As you may guess from the name, these speeches are not prepared. Each competitor is given the subject and has to speak on it fluently, and with a good structure, immediately without any thinking time. Mandy is very good at this. I am not! Here she is with her certificate for third place.



We are both thoroughly enjoying the speaking experience and it ties in nicely with recent developments at The Magic Circle. But more about that in another blog - hopefully in less than six months time! If you are interested in improving your communication and/or leadership skills, do check out your nearest Toastmasters Group on Google - it really is great fun!

Oh - and if you are wondering about Reading Football Club (see last blog) - don't even ask!!!

Football is a Funny Old Game

Yes - it's squeaky bum time again for Reading Football Club. Last year we went into the last game of the season needing to win and needing Fulham FC not to win to retain our place in the Premier league. We won, but so did Fulham, and we were relegated (See Blog May 2008).

Could history be repeating itself? We now go into the last game of this season on Sunday (May 3rd) needing to win and needing Sheffield United not to win to regain our place in the Premier league by automatic promotion. Last year we were relegated on goal difference. This year we can be promoted on goal difference! There would be a satisfying symmetry about that.

Even if we do not win automatic promotion we still have a chance in the play-offs but our record in these is not good! And if we fail to win promotion this season it is likely that manager (Sir) Steve Coppell will leave Reading. Who could possibly replace the most successful manager of our 138 year history?

Well, together with a bunch of other magicians, I was entertaining at a charity ball last Saturday in the aptly named 'Great Room' at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.



On one of the tables I was designated to entertain was none other than Alan Curbishley - well-respected football manager previously with Charlton Athletic and West Ham United. Now he would be a good choice for us!



Well, he seemed to enjoy my magic and I did let it drop that I was a Reading supporter. No - I didn't suggest he applied for the post. He was out to have a good time, not to talk about work and besides, there is no vacancy at Reading yet!

So - fingers crossed for Sunday! It's going to be a roller-coaster of emotions as the scores change during the afternoon!

Magic Circle for a Round Table

A few blogs ago I reported that I had circulated local Round Table groups offering an expenses-only after-dinner talk. Over a dozen groups took up the offer and, as a result of those talks, I picked up half a dozen 'proper' bookings at Ladies' Nights, etc with the promise of more to come. The picture above shows me with two of the officers of Marlow Round Table. Knowing how they like to wear their gongs (and, indeed, tend to get fined if they turn up without them) I am sporting my red 'Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star' jewel.

I enjoy after-dinner speaking and, although I usually prefer a mixed audience, the all-male Round Table dinners are always good fun. The boisterous banter and high-quality heckling all add to the atmosphere. Mandy is also looking to get onto the speaking circuit with the Women's Institute and she has an audition for them shortly. As one of relatively few female professional magicians she has a fascinating offering particularly for ladies groups.

In fact we have both joined our local 'Toastmasters International' group - and it has nothing whatsoever to do with men in red coats! The group aims to help people improve their public speaking and leadership skills and we are loving it. But more about that in a future blog!

Ali Bongo 1929 - 2009

Ali Bongo, President of The Magic Circle, international performer, author, illustrator, lecturer and adviser to David Nixon and Paul Daniels, died on Sunday 8th March 2009 at 9am.

The world is a sadder place.

Mandy and I were privileged to be able to call him our friend. He came to our wedding and when we asked him if he would design our wedding invitations he was thrilled to be asked. The subsequent result - a magical cartoon (rather more flattering of Mandy than of me I have to say) - was well-received by everyone.

I shared the stage with Ali on many occasions, sat with him on The Magic Circle's ruling Council and we put the world to rights in numerous conversations and phone calls. Although an extrovert character on-stage, Ali was a quiet and shy person off-stage. But he retained a child-like enthusiasm for magic and for life until the very end.



Ali was never happier than when he was sharing his enthusiasm, talent and knowledge with members of The Young Magicians Club (part of The Magic Circle's youth initiative) as shown above. The youngsters adored him - and he adored them.

Ali suffered a stroke just before delivering a lecture in Paris. His condition deteriorated and we were told he had only hours to live. But the stubborn bugger fought back and was eventually returned to the UK by air-ambulance and taken to St Thomas' Hospital. He survived another stroke and seemed to be recovering well until pneumonia set in and took him from us.

I visited him on the Friday before he passed away. He was frail but in good spirits and we had a few laughs together. As I left he squeezed my hand tight and I said I would be in to visit him again in a few days. Sadly that was not to be.

Earlier today Mandy and I listened to a tribute to him on Radio 4's 'Last Word'. Hearing a recording of his voice, with that familiar, innocent laugh, had us both in tears again. We already miss him so much!

Our friend, writer and broadcaster, Brian Sibley (who was part of that Radio 4 programme) has also written the most comprehensive obituary of the great man for the Independent newspaper. You can read it here

There will never be another Ali Bongo.

Here's The Crunch!

It's been a long time since I last blogged. My head is bowed in shame! It should mean I have a lot to catch up with and ... that is correct. But first - the dreaded credit crunch!

How does such a recession affect us entertainers? Well, there are two views. The optimistic view is that in times of hardship people look to escapism, and hence entertainment, to help them forget the financial realities of life. To be honest - I'm not convinced!

The contrary view is that when companies and individuals need to make cuts in their spending, entertainment - the icing on the cake - is the first 'commodity' to suffer. After all, you can't have a wedding without a venue, or food, or music, or flowers, or photos, or ..... But you can do without a magician!



So Mandy and I have tried to be pro-active in seeking work. Mandy has taken a residency at a local restaurant every Sunday lunchtime. She performs table magic for a free meal on the condition that she can give out her publicity to interested diners. It seems to be working - she has gained several bookings from that.

I have contacted local Round Tables and offered them an expenses-only talk in exchange for the opportunity to give out publicity and to promote myself. That too is working as I had a tremendous response to the offer and other bookings are coming in as a result.

It's the old adage - let them see you in action and, if you're any good, they'll want to book you.

Of course - if you're crap .......!!!

Have I Got Old News For You?

Ok! I know! I know! It has been ages since I have blogged! So many of you have missed my blogs and have contacted me to tell me so - thank you - both of you!

But - yes - I am now a married man! And the wedding day - the first to be held at The Magic Circle - went like a dream thanks to so many people who gave of their time and talent to make it such a special day (sorry to blog in cliches!) but one which ran like clockwork! But here we are - shortly after becoming man and wife!


Aren't I the lucky guy?

One of the many highlights of the day was the fact that the ceremony was successfully live-streamed over the Internet across the world. Both my mother and Mandy's son were able to watch the proceedings by computer and dozens of emails of congratulations flooded in from the US and Europe and beyond. If I start mentioning names of those who helped the list will go on forever so - better not to start! But I thank them all and they know who they are.

Of course there were a large number of magicians in attendance and here they all are ...


After the reception a very tired married couple were driven to The Rookery (free plug) for our wedding night. A chilled bottle of champagne was awaiting us but we were so tired that it became part of the following morning's breakfast. Mandy is not a big drinker but proclaimed that she could get used to this!

Four days honeymoon followed in the Lake District at a lovely hotel which overlooked Lake Windermere. The weather was hardly 'summery' but we managed to avoid any rain and had a great time.

And now we are poised to start Christmas bookings which are significantly dented by the current recession! So if I don't get this blog up now it will be 2009 before anything happens. My new year resolution? To blog more frequently!

What else?

Into Single Figures

... by which I mean the number of days until I lose my bachelorhood! And the preparations seem to be going fairly smoothly. Mandy has just returned from 12 days in the USA so we had to finalise most of the arrangements before she left.

But it all seems to be coming together although I am sure there will be some last-minute panics! In particular it looks as if the ceremony will be live-streamed over the Internet for anyone who wants to see it. This is particularly exciting because my mother is unable to travel to the wedding and Mandy's son, Hadleigh, is living in the USA and is unable to get time off to visit us. Both will be able to watch the proceedings live. The photo below shows me and Mandy with Had - albeit a 'few' years ago.



My mother is not (unlike Had) computer-literate but her local library will be opening especially for her and staff will be there to help her get on-line and enjoy the experience so - many, many thanks to Pangbourne Library.

So, for any of you wishing to share our magical day with us, you need to visit my website at www.robcoxmagic.com on Thursday 7th August 2008 and click on the large red 'Wedding' banner. This will take you directly to the video page and you need do no more. The video stream will automatically start and will be operating between 1.40pm and 2.40pm approximately. I really hope as many of you as can will be watching.

You can also send messages to us by emailing cma@TheMagicCircle.co.uk and these will be picked up during the day and the best will be read out towards the end of the proceedings at around 4.30pm. This is not a competition - there will be no prize for the most witty email!

So, the next time I blog will be as a married man! Wish me luck!