The Magic Salon, an open mic for magic, launched May 26 at Holland House a beer garden and restaurant at Fifth Avenue and 30th Street in New York. Nine local magicians performed at the event, which was organized and presented by Herb's Magic. It was created in order to provide magicians an opportunity to develop their material in front of an audience or merely to have fun performing and to connect to a community of magicians with similar interests. 

"I'm working on new material for an adult show," said David Kaye (also known in the magic community as children's performer Silly Billy). "The only way to improve your new material is to perform it as much as possible. You've probably heard Penn's "flight time" theory. But performing material at a magic club meeting will not get you a realistic response as the audience is all magicians. So Herb's open mic was a great chance to practice in front of real people." In addition to Kaye, the magicians who performed were Herb Scher, Archie Wang, Jordi Magomero, Tanya Solomon, George Wells, Steve Weissblum, Kevin Kapinos, and Rene Clement. The Magic Salon will be back soon, most likely at a new location. Please check back to the Magic in New York blog for further details.

Herb's Magic is sponsoring The Magic Salon, a magic open mic, which will be held Tuesday, May 26 at Holland House, 276 Fifth Avenue (at 30th Street). The show provides any magician an opportunity to perform, whether he or she is looking for a chance to try out new material, or refine and hone existing effects, or just have a great time performing for a receptive audience. Magic lovers and other audience members will appreciate the opportunity to see a wide range of magic and also to support magicians who are moving forward with new ideas and approaches in magic. Each magician will have the opportunity to perform for eight minutes. Sign-up will be at 6:45. The Magic Salon will be hosted by Herb Scher, proprietor of Herb's Magic and Editor of the Magic in New York blog.

Holland House is a beer garden and tapas restaurant that features more than 250 beers, including 40 varieties on tap. It opened recently in a historic 19th-century building which was originally the Holland House hotel.

Please contact Herb with any questions at: herb@herbsmagic.com

• John Graham and Jason Bishop Perform
• Jerry Oppenheimer Honored as Magician of the Year

The Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians is presenting the 106th annual Salute to Magic, the oldest continuing magic show in the United State, on June 11 at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street at 7:30 p.m. Magicians John Graham and Jason Bishop are the show's featured performers. Graham performs classic magic with a comic approach and Bishop is know for stylish and contemporary stage illusions.

Magician of the Year
The Salute to Magic is the event at which the Parent Assembly presents its annual Magician of the Year honor. This year's honoree is Jerry Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer has been a member of the Assembly for more than 44 years and has served the New York club in many capacities including President, Secretary and Editor of the Spellbinder newsletter. During his career as a court reporter, he was known as the "Court Magician," performing for judges, attorneys, and felons. At age 93, today Oppenheimer is a regular at the Magic Table lunch gatherings where he keeps his fellow magicians entertained with magic, stories, and quips.

Parent Assembly, Society of American Magicians
Founded in 1902 in Martinka's magic shop in New York City, The Society of American Magicians is the oldest and most prestigious magical society in the world. The Parent Assembly is the chapter for the New York City area and sponsors a wide range of activities to promote magic. More information about the Parent Assembly is at: sampa1.com

Tickets for the Salute are $30 (service charges apply) and may be purchased at: web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10006807 or by calling 866-811-4111.

Magick Balay, who had been a long-time magic demonstrator at Fantasma magic, has begun working a regular schedule at Tannen's magic shop, at 45 West 34th Street. Balay worked at Tannen's previously when the shop was located at 24 West 25th Street, prior to its move to its current location in 2004. According to Balay he will be working at the shop on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule.