TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Given that Blackpool Magicians Convention in February as per – http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/ is the Worlds Largest Magic Convention I thought that the following details may be of interest to you….
NOTE = I personally have loved attending Blackpool Magic Convention in the past and have many friends who are members of The Blackpool Magicians Club, and indeed In No way whatsoever would I ever wish for this event to be cancelled, however I most certainly do believe that DEREK LEVER should stand down and cease any and all association with Blackpool Magicians Club Ltd (a majorly for profit company) with immediate effect so that The Annual Magic Convention (The Biggest in the World) can return to the way it used to be.
THE TRUTH = Blackpool Magic Convention became the Worlds Biggest mainly through the organizational skills of Tom Owen and Bill Lamb (plus help from others no doubt) and NOT because of Derek Lever as many of the younger magicians around today (or the less informed) seem to think. In other-words The Convention most certainly could continue without him and would (as many would agree) most likely be better and return to as it was when these great people had more input into things!
Derek Lever for the record was once a President and committee member of The Order of The Magi in Manchester http://www.orderofthemagi.org.uk/
It should be noted that (as I understand it from what I have heard) due to not paying his yearly membership fees on time, members of the Magi Committee finally had the chance to revoke Derek’s membership knowing that when he was offered the chance to pay his dues his ego would not allow him to and so he became a NON MEMBER of the 3rd oldest magic club in England.
Not only the third oldest magic club in England (founded in 1909) but also for many years one of the clubs with the BIGGEST memberships and attendances, that is until Derek Lever lost his membership, let his ego get in the way and took a personal vendetta against “The Order of The Magi”
That’s when he set up “The Manchester Circle of Magicians” with the sole aim (so I understand) of bringing down the Order of The Magi from which he had lost membership and certain privileges and statuses which he had previously enjoyed and set his aims on poaching all of the “Order of The Magi” members to defect to his new club .
He has unfortunately so far been very successful with lowering the membership of the third oldest magic club in England by setting up his club in competition, where any Tom, Dick and Harry are allowed to join and attend, and where often lecturers perform effects but then won’t explain them as they are aware that people with next to no idea are present.
You only have to look at the joining criteria for Derek Levers “Manchester Circle of Magicians” and then compare it to the criteria for joining the third oldest magic club in England “The Order of the Magi” to see for yourself that Derek’s aim is not to promote magic, but rather to try and shut down the third oldest magic club in England.
DEREK LEVERS CLUB JOINING INFO:
http://www.taurusmagic.net/maninfo.html
ORDER OF THE MAGI JOINING INFO
http://www.orderofthemagi.org.uk/membership.html
Compare the two and decide for yourself…
What is truly ironic is that Derek is allowing any Tom, Dick and Harry to come along and learn Magic Secrets and yet in the past he has tried to have Paul Daniels thrown out of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for revealing secrets (by way of books and magic sets for the public) details of which can be seen at:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=327250&forum=36
Now that’s what I believe they call being a Hypocrite..
More recently lets not forget that Derek Lever managed to produce the worst F.I.S.M in living history, something that Paul Daniels no doubt predicted based on his comments in this newspaper article:
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2009/09/magician-daniels-snubs-tasteless-sad-blackpool/
If you’d like to know how truly awful Derek Levers attempt at putting on FISM was (including his failed attempt at being voted to a FISM position) then check out the link that follows where you will also find tons more evidence of what a vindictive individual this person can be:
http://www.cdrmagic.com/derek%20lever.html
I think Richard Kaufman’s comments in Genii Magazine say it all really..
And lets not forget that if you bother to do a simple Google search that for the past few years now there has been resultant controversy over some of the acts Derek Lever has booked, not just for being crap but also for being racist etc.
Indeed do a simple google search on Derek Lever and Blackpool Magic Convention and any sane individual will soon realise what kind of person we are dealing with here..
NOW HE IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE DEAF
Now to top things he is discriminating against the deaf..
I should point out that on 5th Feb 2013 he, by way of Blackpool Magicians Club released a blog saying this is not the case – http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/blog/?p=240
However when you look at the following two links (and read the postings especially the ones from the Experienced Health and Safety Officer) you will soon realize what complete cobblers that blog by Blackpool Magicians Club is:
http://deafdiscrimination.wordpress.com/
And the comments here reveal far more:
http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=281621
WHAT YOU WILL SEE NEXT IS THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THOSE REPRESENTING THE DEAF MAGICIAN’S
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6th February 2013 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Derek Lever, organizer of Blackpool Magic Convention is actively discriminating against deaf magicians.
Mr Lever has decided to illegally forbid a sign language interpreter from attending his magic convention in February (http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/blackpoolconv.html). Although a private event, tickets are on sale to the general public.
The magic convention is the largest in the world, and thousands of people from many countries attend. Mr Lever has made it impossible for deaf magicians to attend by banning the presence of an interpreter for them.
Within the Equality Act (2010), there is enshrined a concept known as “REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT”. It is this concept, this provision, which means that Derek Lever, and the other organisers, and the venue itself, are all acting unlawfully. A lawyer is being sought to try and force Mr Lever to allowing the interpreter to attend.
Mr John Gapp, president of the Society of World Deaf Magicians said “All we want is for deaf magicians to be allowed the same experience at the convention as those able to hear.”
Putting aside the legal aspect, this is abhorrent and disgusting behaviour and must be stopped. The interpreter is a magician, so no problems about him finding out secrets. Magic conventions worldwide allow interpreters for the deaf, it is a standard procedure and has no impact on other attendees. The interpreter offered their services for free, and even offered to pay for their own ticket to attend so as to put no financial impact onto Mr Lever. Still he forbids it, now citing Health & Safety as the reason.
I spoke with an independent H&S expert who said:
“Signers would not pose any fire risk or danger to life, as suggested by the BMC. In fact having a sign language interpreter at the front of a lecture hall would be a safety advantage rather than a risk. After all they are more in tune with the needs of the disabled than most attending the event, and would reduce the overall risk should there be an incident. In fact, there are far higher fire risks posed by the storage of Pyrotechnics and Flash Products by magical dealers than would ever be created by an able bodied person stood at the front of a room alongside a performer.
In the past there have been over 20 deaf magicians attending the convention, and this has dwindled down to a handful because of Mr Lever forbidding an interpreter for them.
This is 2013. Would Mr Lever also remove wheelchair access? Would he forbid a black or gay person from attending? Of course not, so why an interpreter?
There is no logic or reason for this, apart from disgusting, immoral behaviour.
We call upon you to help promote this ban, and hopefully with enough pressure, Mr Lever will decide to change his mind, and allow the deaf magicians around the world to enjoy the conference the same way as their colleagues with hearing. We also would urge everyone that reads this to email or write to Mr Lever expressing your feelings about this. His contact details are: dereklever@blackpoolmagic.com 01253 810113
ENDS
For more information, please contact me, Damian Jennings, 0771 47 33 94 or damian@damianjennings.com and I urge you to publish http://deafdiscrimination.wordpress.com and http://www.twitter.com/deafmagicians to help spread the word about this immoral action.
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I could carry on for hours pointing you towards evidence of the kind of person Derek Lever really is, however if you can type Derek Lever and Blackpool Magic Convention and/or FISM into google then you can find out for yourself.
IMPORTANT NOTE = Some (mainly friends of Derek) are trying to make out on the internet that I am trying to jump on the “Deaf Bandwagon” – well for the record I am almost entirely deaf in my left ear, it having been ripped off by a Puma from The Circus I was performing on from aged 3 and a bit, I also suffer inferior hearing in my other ear, so bottom line this is very personal to me also.
And before people starting posting (some already are who frankly should know better ) absolute lies on the internet trying to make out I am some kind of criminal I would suggest that you learn the truth which you can do at the web page that follows and also at the video link that follows:
TRUTH ABOUT JONATHAN ROYLE WEB PAGE
TRUTH ABOUT JONATHAN ROYLE VIDEO
WARNING = So Remember if its not mentioned at one of the two above links you can be 100% sure that whatever you see is complete lies and rubbish, and if it is relevant to anything posted above, then having looked at the above ONLY THEN WILL YOU KNOW THE TRUTH so be careful not to also fall into the trap of posting Defamatory Lies and untruths about me on the web.
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Oh and finally before anyone else raises it again, in answer to the question “Do I Have A Personal Issue with Derek Lever?”
The honest answer is = A BIG FAT NO
However for some reason he does with me!
You see for many years he was fine with me, that is until one day I went into his shop in Blackpool with my showbiz dad Les Le Roy aka Tizzy The Clown and then he realized who my dad was.
From that moment forward, Derek refused to sell me anything or have anything to do with me (prior to that I had spent a fortune with him and he was always happy to serve me)
Turns out years ago (in the 60’s so I understand) my dad was booked to be the headline act for a show for The Showman’s Guild of Great Britain and the rest of the show was to be provided by yes you guessed it Derek Lever.
Apparently Derek Lever arrived at the venue, saw my dad and refused to perform or let any of the other acts (booked through him) perform if my dad was allowed to perform.
Well Derek got his wish, however he was somewhat pissed off to witness the President of The Showman’s Guild pay out my dad his full fee in cash, especially given that proportionally it was far, far more than Derek was getting paid.
And yes he was even more pissed off so I gather when my dad was invited by The President of The Showman’s Guild to sit at the main table and stay as their guest for the night, you see my Dad comes from a firm background of Fairground (Gaffs) and Circus and so was immediately accepted as “one of them” in truth that’s why he was booked in the first place!
Childish behavior on Derek’s part I hear you say! Well Yes, but it illustrates how he has been acting like this for years, bear in mind at the time my dad was (and still is) the only specialty act in the world to ever have been booked for three consecutive seasons in a row at The World Famous Belle Vue Circus (these having been filmed and some broadcast on TV)
Or to put it another way, my dad at the time was (still is) world famous in the Circus World for his Yogi Style Fire Eating, Bed of Nails and Glass Walking etc Acts.
Derek at the time was just working, well lets put it this way not the prestige venues my dad was, who at the time was topping bills and making National Newspaper Headlines on a regular basis.
So you see the one who holds a grudge (for no good reason) is Derek Lever and most certainly not me!
I personally wish Blackpool Magicians Club and Blackpool Magic Convention all the best, although I do personally believe they would and will do a lot better when Derek retires and sells his shares in BMC and lets those with more idea of whats happening in the real world take the realm.
HOWEVER THE SOONER DEREK RETIRES THE BETTER
You see today I was sent an email asking me to publish the letter that follows from Collin Richardson who organizes The Southern England Magic Convention – http://www.semagicconvention.com/
This is an event that if you do a Google search on it you will soon find articles such as http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2660174/War-of-the-wizards-as-magicians-form-breakaway-convention.html
As you can see (and I am aware of) he has told Acts and Dealers that if they exhibit/perform at SEMC then they will be barred from Blackpool, and he has also poached people from appearing at SEMC weeks before the event by offering them discounted or free dealer stands or bigger fees etc for Blackpool..
BOTTOM LINE = Yet again he (Derek Lever) is the one who has acted unethically and unprofessionally…
Anyway here is the letter I was sent today that raises issues about Work Permits, Taxes, VAT and other issues that may or may not be (I express no opinion on this) an issue regarding Derek Lever and Blackpool Magic Convention..
Although judging by some peoples comments on Magic Forums today, it would seem that some are scared this will disrupt Blackpool.
My only opinion is simply this, if you choose to break any law (and I am not saying that anyone has) then expect to reap the legal consequences.
Oh and for the record as I understand it they are obliged to reply to Collin within 28 working days which is approx Six Weeks, so he should get a reply to this pretty damn soon, whether it will be acted upon for this years convention or next is absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH ME despite what some are trying to make out on various forums,
Anyway in conclusion here is the letter I was sent today and asked to publish by its author Collin Richardson..
(You may need to click on it to see the bigger image to be able to read it)
Letter from Collin Richardson of Southern England Magic Convention SEMC to Prime Minister About Blackpool Magic Convention and Derek Lever
REMEMBER = I did NOT post, write or have any involvement in this letter and only learnt of its existence today when it was emailed to me by the author who is named on it and asked me to publish it. So don’t believe everything you read on Magic Forums from people who are either Derek Levers Friends and/or are just too scared to TELL THE TRUTH and stand up to the bully who they know will ban them from Blackpool and Manchester Circle of Magicians if they have the balls to speak out and say the truth….
I have nothing to lose given that the moment he found out who my dad is he banned me from his shop, convention and well you get the idea…
Those with the balls to speak out against Derek can add me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alexthehypnotist/
Or email me directly on royle@magicalguru.com
klearthoughtsmentalismhypnosis 