Festival of Fools

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything. When I first started this blog I was determined to make sure that I had something worthwhile and interesting to post before actually doing one. I didn't want it to just be there for the sake of it. Now I have some interesting news and something that, hopefully, will be of interest to you (I assume if you are reading this then that is the case)

I have been asked to perform in the International Jester Tournament at Muncaster Castle's Festival of Fools over the Half Term holiday. That means that tomorrow morning I pack up my car and trundle across the country to Ravenglass in the Lake District, stay in the Castle for 2 nights and perform in the show on Thursday.

I am rather excited about the prospect of performing in the show in the former home of Tom Skelton, AKA Tom Foolery the Jester. It should be a very interesting event with lots of colourful characters from all over the place. I am also going to finally meet my magician friend Joel Dickinson who will be there doing a magic workshop. From the Jester's that are taking part, that I have managed to speak to so far, it should be a good time.

I decided that I was going to document my trip up to the North of England. It is over 5 hours away as the crow flies. Ill be making a video diary of my time and posting it on my new BuckinghamFool YouTube account so that people can see it and find out what I have been up to. I may even try and interview some of the other Jesters and performers and see what they feel about the whole event.

I am getting slightly more nervous as I finish this message as it means I have just wasted some more time that I could be using to practice and double check my performance gear. Still, I think everything will go alright. Let's hope the weather stays fine and ill see you on YouTube.

Also, you can follow me on twitter by looking me up @BuckinghamFool. Hope to see some of you there too!

Ali Bongo - A man much missed

Ali Bongo
(1929-2009)

Magician and Magic Circle President

I would like to take the time to be a little bit more serious and talk about the wonderful Ali Bongo. It is with great sadness that I have to say that Ali Bongo passed away on Sunday morning at 9am. Paul Daniels broke the news to the magic world via Twitter.

Ali was a one off, he was a really remarkable man. When I was 12 years old and a member of the young magicians club I remember fondly meeting him at The Magic Circle HQ. He was very friendly, knew more about magic than anyone I had met and was so free and easy with his time and his advice.

Since he has died so many little stories about him have popped up online from magicians all over the country and all over the world. It just shows that he touched the lives of many magicians. Not only that, since I posted my status on Facebook on Sunday morning I received messages from people who were not in the magic fraternity - just regular people - and they loved him too. Watching him on TV in their childhood.

I will always remember the advice that Ali Bongo gave me about my presence on stage, I worked hard on it following that advice and it is because of him that I am a professional magician and entertainer now. He gave me many positive comments after my entrance exam to The Magic Circle and also offered me my first chance to perform at a Saturday Show at The Magic Circle. For all of his time, help and support I am very grateful. I will miss him and The Magic Circle will be a strange place to walk into tonight.

Yesterday I performed at The Magic Cavern in Barons Court. I broke the news to Richard when I arrived and he reacted in the same way as me. Ali had been an inspiration to him as well. I went out there yesterday to perform for Ali. Richard was kind enough to dedicate the show to him and I hope we did him proud. Ali loved magic and the magic world loved him in turn.

It's all for you Ali. All for you.