September 2009 Ring 252 Member Spotlight

	NAME: Gary Flegal, Ph.D.
	YEARS IN MAGIC: Over 30 years as a performer. I am currently a member of Ring 252, Ring 37, and S.A.M. Assembly 50. I have also been a member of Rings 212, 70, and 9. I am a member of the Order of Merlin - Shield, having joined the I.B.M. in 1979.
	Most Memorable Performances: Once when I was performing the Miser's Dream at a college campus for Little Sister and Brother's Weekend, I "invisibly" tossed a coin into the air and was standing there waiting for it to land in the bucket. As the wait got longer, a little girl about 8 years old yelled out in her sweet little voice, "I got it!" The audience loved it! I walked over to her and she proceeded to drop her invisible coin into my pail. It was so spontaneous and wonderful and got such a great response that I have wished for years to be able to make it happen on every show.

BIO:
I loved watching "The Magical Land of Alakazam!" with Mark Wilson on Saturday morning television when I was a kid. My first experience with seeing a magic show in person was at a father/son banquet around age 8 or 9. I was asked up onto the stage to help with "Mental Epic" and was amazed when the magician knew what I had been thinking. It is still a favorite effect of mine. Performing was always in my blood, as my grandfather was a performer (musician, not magician) and I loved going to shows with him. As I grew up, I played with magic that I figured out in books from the library and a magic set (we didn't have video or DVD's back in those days - Oh My!). Then we skip to age 23, when for Christmas I was given a book called "113 Card Miracles with an Ordinary Deck." There shortly followed a trip to Paul Diamond's Magic Shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and within six months I was doing paid shows. I was a full time magician for about 2 years back in the middle 80's, but for most of my career I have been a part time pro. Magic has always been something that I love, but I have learned as I have gained more experience that the tricks, or effects, are NOT the magic. Magic is what happens when there is a relationship between the performer and the audience that causes an emotional exchange to take place - things like laughter, smiles, feelings of wonder. When these things occur, magic has happened and that is what I hope to share with people when I perform for them. This is why I call my show, The Magic of Smiles.

Shows/Clients:
I have performed for many Malls, Schools, Churches, & Civic Groups in many parts of the country, some of which include:
     Dow Chemical, U.S.A.
     Special Events Program Board, Central Michigan University
     King County Arts Commission, Seattle, Wash.
     Hair Dressers of America Convention
     Yurika Foods Convention
     7-11 Stores of Michigan
     United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1394, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
     Jacobsons of Mich.
     ARK Retirement Advisors
     Regions Bank
     Nashville Parent Magazine
     Nashville Shores
     Enterprise Rent-A-Car
     Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville
     The Global Cafe, Nashville

Booking Info:
Gary Flegal & The Magic of Smiles: Phone (615) 812-7280 or e-mail Gary at DrGFlegal@aol.com or visit his web site www.themagicofsmiles.com