Do you feel like having a go in one of the competitions when they come round in September? Again, there's every chance that there will be a Junior Stage Competition to enter for our younger members. Will there be a Senior Stage Competition though? Last years was called off due to the lack of interest from its members, members who are allegedly magicians! Hopefully there will at least be a Close-up Competition. I have to say, I can't understand why so many don't wish to compete or perform, do they know a better way to gain experience and receive feedback? Is there a misconception that if up against others believed to be more capable of winning competitions there's nothing else to gain from entering. What nonsense! The many times I and others have competed and performed at BMC events, it has been firstly in our own interests and secondly in the Circle's. Admittedly some enter competitions to win, I don't, with the exception last year when we swept the board at Easter Parade, the only time I've ever gone out with the intention of winning. There is of course the possibility that the committee are getting it wrong, flooding the membership with world class lectures that are going to be watched and then discarded to be never put into practice. Seems like a frightful waste of money to me. We could probably put the money 'invested' in the many lectures we've seen to more practical use elsewhere. A bit later in the year, we'll be visiting the Leeds Magical Association to present an evening of magic to their members. I hope we have enough interest from the membership to put together the evening of magic I know we can present. Mark Waddington has jumped on as my first confirmed performer for the show and Ray Roberts may be the second. Will you be the third? Answers on a postcard, please. | 
