Post date: Mar 11, 2013 3:40:35 AM

A nice article about IBM Ring 280 Magic Youth on the front page of today's Signal newspaper.

http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/91124/

Locals have magic touch

International Brotherhood of Magicians members teach children their craft

By Luke Money

Signal Staff Writer

Once a month, local magicians gather at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley in Newhall to teach children how to turn mundane items like playing cards and rubber bands into arcane illusions.

Among their more enthusiastic students is 17-year-old Andrew Grill, who says he has been doing magic since he was 11.

“I went to Disneyland one day and there was a magician there who just blew my mind,” Grill said Saturday during one of the sessions at the club. “It’s just been my addiction ever since.”

And, of course, he says magic is a good way to show off to people.

“Girls dig it,” he said with a laugh.

The sessions are held at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month with members of the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

During the meetings, aspiring youth magicians ages 7 to 17 can come and learn some basic magic tricks.

“Kids don’t need to have any prior knowledge or experience,” said Brian Hoffman, a member and former president of the local chapter. “They just need a love and an interest in magic.”

The International Brotherhood of Magicians has around 15,000 members in more than 80 countries, according to its website.

The local chapter, or “ring,” of the group has about 25 to 30 active members and meets the second Thursday of each month, Hoffman said.

Hoffman said Santa Clarita’s group, Ring 280, is also called the “Mark Wilson” Ring after a famous television magician who lives in the city.

Lmoney@signalscv.com

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