Society of World Deaf Magicians

by Simon J. Carmel,  Secretary-General,  Society of World Deaf Magicians

The first International Deaf Magicians Festival took place in Leipzig, East Germany in 1986. Horst Bormann of Leipzig, Germany conceived the idea of establishing this festival and had brought deaf magicians from different countries to gather together there for the spirit of camaraderie and competition. Every two years the festivals were held at the following sites: 2nd festival in Leipzig, 1988; 3rd in Leipzig, 1990; 4th in Kiev, Ukraine, 1992; 5th in Leipzig, 1994; 6th in Rochester, New York USA, 1996; 7th in London, England, 1998; 8th in Nagpur, India in January, 2000; 9th in Moscow, Russia, 2002; 10th in Leipzig, Germany, 2004; 11th in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2006; and 12th in Riverside, California, USA, 2008. The 13th World Deaf Magicians Festival will take place in Cattolica, Italy in the spring of 2010 (See the WDMF History to find all editions and winners!). The particular categories of magic competition that are participated by deaf magicians are stage magic, comedy magic, micro-magic; children’s magic; and women in magic.

The Society’s mission is to bring all deaf young and adult magicians—amateur and part-time professional—to participate in the international festivals for many valuable purposes—camaraderie, exchange of ideas and improvements in their performance skills; solving technical problems; participating in competitions; attending magic lectures with interpreters provided to learn new tricks or improve their skills; learning where to purchase magic apparatuses or props; and promoting their magic shows available to other national deaf clubs and associations in different countries. There are at least 300 deaf amateur and semi-professional magicians around the world. They have their lifetime goal of entertaining their magic performances to deaf and hearing children and adults in their hometown, state, province or country.

The new organization of the “Society of World Deaf Magicians” was formed in 1990. The president, secretary-general and board member are elected every two years to help consulting the next international festival organizers; keeping in touch with other magicians; listing the directory of the names and addresses of deaf magicians for future requests by national deaf associations; developing the appropriate festival competition rules; keeping relationships with hearing magicians’ national and international organizations including the International Brotherhood of Magicians; and publicizing the deaf magicians’ achievements in the deaf and hearing worlds.

The following important goals to accomplish in the Society’s programs are:

• 1.Encouraging deaf female magicians and also deaf young magicians to participate in the festival competitions,
• 2. Helping hearing magic clubs and organizations become aware of deaf magicians’ capabilities and needs for better communication and update information on new magic tricks, especially hiring sign language interpreters to magic lectures at local-, national-, and international-level magic gatherings or conventions,
• 3. Promoting regional deaf magicians festivals (for example, European Deaf Magicians Festival, U.S.-Canadian Deaf Magicians Festival, Asian Deaf Magicians Festival, so on),
• 4. Publishing international newsletters for deaf magicians, and
• 5. Installing closed captions on the videocassettes of hearing magicians’ lectures for deaf and hard of hearing magicians in the near future.

All deaf magicians from different countries have their unique magic tricks pertaining to their respective cultural traditions, although some of the tricks are similar, due to the traditional customs such as cups and balls, rope trick, card tricks. In contrast, many of them have their different magic tables, props and attires. In spite of their different national sign languages, they do not need much talk while performing except for using a very small number of international signs and gestures as well.

If anyone needs some further information about the Society of World Deaf Magicians or the future world festivals for deaf magicians, contact Dr. Simon J. Carmel, Secretary-General; Society of World Deaf Magicians; 9339 Bridgeport Drive, West Palm Beach, Florida 33411 USA (Fax: 561.204.5477; E-mail: simoncarmel13@aol.com).

June 2008