Tony Brook In Conversation with Roei

ROEI

Magic at The Red Sea - November 2006

Starting a couple months later than last year, the second MARS will take place once again in Eilat, the splendid resort town at the Red Sea in Israel. Last year I did an in-depth interview with Roei and a review .Click on the LAST MARS link. (www.mars.org.il)

We had a lot of fun last year and this year MARS will take place in November and many of us will be heading back. I am especially delighted to be asked to headline again with some excellent talent and especially alongside my good friend Menny Lindenfeld plus getting back to Israel to hang out with the wonderful friends I made last year.

I had a great conversation with Roei a few weeks ago and we thought it might be interesting to share it as apre-view.

TB: Hello Roei. Ma Nishma?* Here we are again getting ready for MARS . It seems just a short while ago that we had the first one.

RZ: Hello Tony. I am well thank you. How are you? And yes, it does seems a short while ago but as you know it is over a year since the last MARS.

TOP

TB: Just fine, thanks. It sure is over a year. What made you decide to hold it later this year?

RZ: Well, as I told you last year it was my dream to hold an International Magic Convention in Israel and especially in my home town of Eilat. Thanks to the help of many people, I was able to realize that dream and not only that, I was amazed and pleased with the support that I got and so I decided to continue my dream and make MARS an annual event. I am doubly pleased that Isrotel, the major Hotel chain in Israel joined me in making MARS 2006 a reality.

My reason for holding it in November this year was based on two factors. Firstly, it was a matter of logistics to organize things to fit in with my main sponsors, The Isrotel Hotel Chain. Secondly, because FISM was in late July I thought it would be too close to have MARS 2006 in September. I am glad to say that everything worked out including being able to contract all the performers that I wanted to head-line this year.

TB: Also something else has happened which, even you with all your magical powers could not predict………would you care to share it with us?

RZ: I am very happy to share it with you and all my friends. You are of course, referring to the fact that I met the lady of my dreams and we are getting married on October 29th. And yes, you are right I couldn’t predict I would meet the future Mrs. Zaltsman this year but I can tell you that from the moment that I met her I already knew the future instantly and that was the best prediction I ever made in my life.

TB: Mazeltov. Congratulations. I know you won’t mind if I tell everyone that I heard the joy in your voice when you told me the news. I was also privileged to talk to your beautiful bride and she is just great. I am sure that all your friends in the magic world join me in wishing you both a wonderful life.

TOP

RZ: Thank you. 2006 will be most certainly be very meaningful for me.

TB: I am sure it will be and also a very busy year for you. Getting married and producing another MARS, all within less than 30 days. You certainly are going to need all your magical powers of organization.

RZ: Yes Tony, you are right it will be a busy time for me but as you know I am an organized person by nature and although it will a bit of hard work I am looking forward to getting everything done. Most of the major work of location, venue, and booking the headliners has all been done. There just remains some of the actual work a few days prior to the start of MARS 2006. And as you are arriving here a few days before I’m sure I’ll find some tasks for you too!!!! J

TB: Absolutely. Sure. Well, you know I won’t mind and I am always happy to spend time in Israel and besides you already know that I can be easily ‘bribed’ with excellent Israeli food. But seriously, and I’ve written about this before - not only do I love being in Israel and in the company of my good Israeli friends I just love the approach to magic that the Israeli Magicians have. I really do think that if any magician from anywhere else in the world wants to see a true and real passion for magic then they should experience it first-hand at MARS.

TOP

RZ: Thank you. We do love our magic in Israel.

TB: Absolutely, I don’t know how you all do it but there is a very real spirit of magic, a sense of magic that just seems to permeate here. And I don’t mean just the magicians, even lay people love magic. As you know, I’ve been around a while and from my empirical experience I can tell you that you all are very lucky because what you all have here in Israel magically, is very rare these days. I don’t have the slightest problem in blatantly plugging the fact that MARS is a great experience. I sincerely recommend attending.

RZ: Yes Tony, thank you again, you are right. I also personally got some very nice feed-back about the last MARS. While I was at FISM this year I received some favorable comments. I am working hard to make this year just as good or perhaps even better.

TB: Well yes, this year promises to be quite exciting. You have a very good mix of headliners and apart from known International stars, you have, this time, included many Israeli magicians as well.

RZ: Yes I have , because I wanted to show some of the Israeli talent as well and also I am very fortunate because many of the Israeli headliners will compete on Israeli Television, Channel 2 in Hertzelya for the mantle of Uri Geller. One of them will win and is already booked to perform at MARS.

TB: This is exciting news. Tell us some more.

RZ: As I mentioned already, Channel 2 will run a live show entitled, ‘The Heir To Uri Geller’ . Competing for the title will be your pal and mine, Menny Lindenfeld, myself, Lustig, Shimon Nahmani and few others. It will be very exciting. All happening on November 18th, just a few days before MARS 2006. It is very exciting to think that the winner will be a part of the MARS headliners.

TB: Just great news. As you know, I have a personal and professional interest in the outcome of this. I will literally be 30,000 feet in the air when this happens so I will be eagerly looking forward to know the result just as soon as I land in Tel Aviv.

TOP

RZ: I’ll send you a Text Message on your cell.

TB: Yes please. It will be fascinating working alongside the winner.

RZ: And we are looking forward to you being here. Last year your Talk Show with Max Maven was a major highlight and I got just great feedback. This year, we are very much looking forward to you doing some more excellent Talk Shows with Pavel, Quentin Reynolds and Greg Wilson.

TB: Thank you. I’ll do my best. Max was an excellent guest and this year promises to be just as exciting.

RZ: It will be. Just you wait till you see the set we have designed for your Talk Show.

TB: Thank you. I look forward to it. Let’s chat a bit about the Society of American Magicians. I have, as you know, the honor to be an International Deputy and also our Dean and Past President, Mr. George Schindler kindly arranged for MARS 2005 to be featured in the International section of the S.A.M site. Since then, the S.A.M has started to grow in Israel with Mr. Yosi Notkowitz as International Deputy and Assembly 184 linking with ISPAM . This is great news. So, I am very pleased to know that after our various conversations and a gentle nudge from me, you too are now a fellow member of the S.A.M.

RZ: Yes, I am very proud to say that I belong to the The Society of American Magicans . I joined in August this year.

TB: So, all is now set for November, the word about MARS has already been spreading, and registrations are coming in.

TOP

RZ: Yes. There have been adverts in MAGIC and GENII. I chatted to a lot of potential registrants whilst I was at FISM plus I’ve personally emailed over 3,000 interested magicians and many of the major magic sites and e-zines have already carried news about MARS 2006. We are busy putting some of the final touches to the convention and as you know yourself from personal experience, there is a lot of work that needs to be done behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

TB: Yes I know what you mean Roei. Personally, I am very much looking forward to Mars 2006. Last year was a blast and I’m sure this year will be just as much fun. Thanks for chatting. Best wishes. Toda* and Shalom.

RZ: You are welcome. Thanks also for chatting. Shalom.

Previous Tony Brook In Conversation with...

[back to top]

ndr	ROEI Magic at The Red Sea - November 2006 Starting a couple months later than last year, the second MARS will take place once again in Eilat, the splendid resort town at the Red Sea in Israel. Last year I did an in-depth interview with Roei and a review .Click on the LAST MARS link. (www.mars.org.il) We had a lot of fun last year and this year MARS will take place in November and many of us will be heading back. I am especially delighted to be asked to headline again with some excellent talent and especially alongside my good friend Menny Lindenfeld plus getting back to Israel to hang out with the wonderful friends I made last year. I had a great conversation with Roei a few weeks ago and we thought it might be interesting to share it as apre-view. TB: Hello Roei. Ma Nishma?* Here we are again getting ready for MARS . It seems just a short while ago that we had the first one. RZ: Hello Tony. I am well thank you. How are you? And yes, it does seems a short while ago but as you know it is over a year since the last MARS. TOP TB: Just fine, thanks. It sure is over a year. What made you decide to hold it later this year? RZ: Well, as I told you last year it was my dream to hold an International Magic Convention in Israel and especially in my home town of Eilat. Thanks to the help of many people, I was able to realize that dream and not only that, I was amazed and pleased with the support that I got and so I decided to continue my dream and make MARS an annual event. I am doubly pleased that Isrotel, the major Hotel chain in Israel joined me in making MARS 2006 a reality. My reason for holding it in November this year was based on two factors. Firstly, it was a matter of logistics to organize things to fit in with my main sponsors, The Isrotel Hotel Chain. Secondly, because FISM was in late July I thought it would be too close to have MARS 2006 in September. I am glad to say that everything worked out including being able to contract all the performers that I wanted to head-line this year. TB: Also something else has happened which, even you with all your magical powers could not predict………would you care to share it with us? RZ: I am very happy to share it with you and all my friends. You are of course, referring to the fact that I met the lady of my dreams and we are getting married on October 29th. And yes, you are right I couldn’t predict I would meet the future Mrs. Zaltsman this year but I can tell you that from the moment that I met her I already knew the future instantly and that was the best prediction I ever made in my life. TB: Mazeltov. Congratulations. I know you won’t mind if I tell everyone that I heard the joy in your voice when you told me the news. I was also privileged to talk to your beautiful bride and she is just great. I am sure that all your friends in the magic world join me in wishing you both a wonderful life. TOP RZ: Thank you. 2006 will be most certainly be very meaningful for me. TB: I am sure it will be and also a very busy year for you. Getting married and producing another MARS, all within less than 30 days. You certainly are going to need all your magical powers of organization. RZ: Yes Tony, you are right it will be a busy time for me but as you know I am an organized person by nature and although it will a bit of hard work I am looking forward to getting everything done. Most of the major work of location, venue, and booking the headliners has all been done. There just remains some of the actual work a few days prior to the start of MARS 2006. And as you are arriving here a few days before I’m sure I’ll find some tasks for you too!!!! J TB: Absolutely. Sure. Well, you know I won’t mind and I am always happy to spend time in Israel and besides you already know that I can be easily ‘bribed’ with excellent Israeli food. But seriously, and I’ve written about this before - not only do I love being in Israel and in the company of my good Israeli friends I just love the approach to magic that the Israeli Magicians have. I really do think that if any magician from anywhere else in the world wants to see a true and real passion for magic then they should experience it first-hand at MARS. TOP RZ: Thank you. We do love our magic in Israel. TB: Absolutely, I don’t know how you all do it but there is a very real spirit of magic, a sense of magic that just seems to permeate here. And I don’t mean just the magicians, even lay people love magic. As you know, I’ve been around a while and from my empirical experience I can tell you that you all are very lucky because what you all have here in Israel magically, is very rare these days. I don’t have the slightest problem in blatantly plugging the fact that MARS is a great experience. I sincerely recommend attending. RZ: Yes Tony, thank you again, you are right. I also personally got some very nice feed-back about the last MARS. While I was at FISM this year I received some favorable comments. I am working hard to make this year just as good or perhaps even better. TB: Well yes, this year promises to be quite exciting. You have a very good mix of headliners and apart from known International stars, you have, this time, included many Israeli magicians as well. RZ: Yes I have , because I wanted to show some of the Israeli talent as well and also I am very fortunate because many of the Israeli headliners will compete on Israeli Television, Channel 2 in Hertzelya for the mantle of Uri Geller. One of them will win and is already booked to perform at MARS. TB: This is exciting news. Tell us some more. RZ: As I mentioned already, Channel 2 will run a live show entitled, ‘The Heir To Uri Geller’ . Competing for the title will be your pal and mine, Menny Lindenfeld, myself, Lustig, Shimon Nahmani and few others. It will be very exciting. All happening on November 18th, just a few days before MARS 2006. It is very exciting to think that the winner will be a part of the MARS headliners. TB: Just great news. As you know, I have a personal and professional interest in the outcome of this. I will literally be 30,000 feet in the air when this happens so I will be eagerly looking forward to know the result just as soon as I land in Tel Aviv. TOP RZ: I’ll send you a Text Message on your cell. TB: Yes please. It will be fascinating working alongside the winner. RZ: And we are looking forward to you being here. Last year your Talk Show with Max Maven was a major highlight and I got just great feedback. This year, we are very much looking forward to you doing some more excellent Talk Shows with Pavel, Quentin Reynolds and Greg Wilson. TB: Thank you. I’ll do my best. Max was an excellent guest and this year promises to be just as exciting. RZ: It will be. Just you wait till you see the set we have designed for your Talk Show. TB: Thank you. I look forward to it. Let’s chat a bit about the Society of American Magicians. I have, as you know, the honor to be an International Deputy and also our Dean and Past President, Mr. George Schindler kindly arranged for MARS 2005 to be featured in the International section of the S.A.M site. Since then, the S.A.M has started to grow in Israel with Mr. Yosi Notkowitz as International Deputy and Assembly 184 linking with ISPAM . This is great news. So, I am very pleased to know that after our various conversations and a gentle nudge from me, you too are now a fellow member of the S.A.M. RZ: Yes, I am very proud to say that I belong to the The Society of American Magicans . I joined in August this year. TB: So, all is now set for November, the word about MARS has already been spreading, and registrations are coming in. TOP RZ: Yes. There have been adverts in MAGIC and GENII. I chatted to a lot of potential registrants whilst I was at FISM plus I’ve personally emailed over 3,000 interested magicians and many of the major magic sites and e-zines have already carried news about MARS 2006. We are busy putting some of the final touches to the convention and as you know yourself from personal experience, there is a lot of work that needs to be done behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. TB: Yes I know what you mean Roei. Personally, I am very much looking forward to Mars 2006. Last year was a blast and I’m sure this year will be just as much fun. Thanks for chatting. Best wishes. Toda* and Shalom. RZ: You are welcome. Thanks also for chatting. Shalom. Previous Tony Brook In Conversation with... [back to top]
	Disclaimer:The opinions expressed in this or any of our columns represent the opinions of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Magic Web Channel or it's Esteemed Panel of Magic Advisors. (The lawyers made us say that.)


MagicWebGuide.com

FEATURE COLUMNIST

Top finds