Cate at the Castle

[Steve Bryant]

Has this been noted? Accepting her Golden Globe last night for Blue Jasmine, Cate Blanchett mentioned that she had taken her children to the Magic Castle just that morning.

Catch the speech here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 56099.html

[Dustin Stinett]

Yes, in my Castle thread. But this would be a fine place to chat about it if people want to. My question was, was the Castle "weird" or was it "weird that she went to the Castle"?

Dana Daniels was performing that week (she was there for brunch). He's wondering (on Facebook) if he should use the quote in his promo materials!

[AJM]

What are the rules for gaining entry to the Castle?
Does anyone ever get turned away (i.e. prevented from making a booking)?
I'm assuming most visitors would want to make the most of their visit by booking dinner and taking in the evening's entertainment.
And, in turn, the Castle will wish to maximise it's income.

I see Genii subscribers are now allowed to book a visit once a year, however I recall also IBM members could also book? And there also used be an occasional post on the Forum asking if a member would be willing to sign them in.

Perhaps Ms Blanchet is a longstanding Genii subscriber making use of her annual booking entitlement, however this thread has just prompted my questions.

Andrew

[Dustin Stinett]

IBM and SAM members can get in (they must have dinner). And of course the Castle has always accommodated celebrities (going back to the day the old joint opened). However, I'm 99% sure that Ms. Blanchett is a member of the LA Drama Club and they hold an annual charity event at the Castle, so she has a double "in." I think that the biggest secret that the Magic Castle has is how few hoops one need jump through to get in. But shhhhh ... we like to maintain the mystique!

[erdnasephile]

AJM:

I have heard there are at least 9 ways to get into the Castle:

1. Get a guest pass (regular or VIP) directly from a member or via less savory routes
2. Be a member of a recognized magic organization
3. Be a Genii subscriber
4. Take magic lessons at the Castle
5. Get booked to perform/lecture at the Castle
6. Be a guest of a booked performer
7. Be a part of a group that is holding an event at the Castle
8. Book at room at the Magic Castle Hotel
9. Become a Castle member yourself

That said, I'm pretty sure that if Cate Blanchett's publicist called the Castle, Cate and her guests would be admitted in a heartbeat, regardless.

[erdnasephile]

While we're on the subject, I think that NPH and the gang have done a really nice job balancing the need for income from the public with the mission to function as a clubhouse for magicians.

[Bill Mullins]

I have heard there are at least 9 ways to get into the Castle:

Add:
10. Show up on a slow night dressed appropriately. Say (politely) "I'm a magician from out of town. I have money for dinner. May I enter?"

It worked for me a couple of times.

[Steve Bryant]

For brunch (at least during 2013) admission was a tad different than for evening. Some lay friends of mine wanted to take their children to brunch for Mother's Day using a VIP card that I had given them. Because it was brunch, it was necessary that I (as a member) make the phone call to set up the reservation. I used my friends' credit card number to secure the appointment. They went and had a fine time.

Of course, everything is probably different if you are Cate Blanchett. I was delighted that she seemed delighted with the visit.

[AJM]

Thanks for the clarification folks.

While I'm here, how does it work for the shows?

Does one pay for these separately or is a cover charge added to the dinner booking?

Might have to convince Mrs AJM to accompany me on a visit...


Andrew

[erdnasephile]

Thanks for the clarification folks.

While I'm here, how does it work for the shows?

Does one pay for these separately or is a cover charge added to the dinner booking?

Might have to convince Mrs AJM to accompany me on a visit...


Andrew

For a regular night, the fees you typically pay are as follows:

1. When you walk in the door, you pay cover (unless you have a VIP pass) and valet parking (if applicable)
2. You pay the server for dinner after you eat
3. You pay for any drinks you consume throughout the night
4. You pay for any last minute souvies at the gift shop when you leave.
5. You tip the valet parking attendant (if applicable)

All shows are included without additional charge

[AJM]

Many thanks - very much appreciated.

Andrew

[R.E.Byrnes]

11. Lurk around the back and slip inside when someone brings food to the Inner Circle.


It's pretty clear she used "weird" to capture the singular, eccentric experience of going to the Castle, and likened that to winning the award. People also say "weird" in a colloquial way that's a more pleasingly perplexed, less effusive variation on "wow," and that might have informed her use, as well. You'd have to be deeply committed to to proclaiming things 'offensive' to conclude this was a categorical statement that "Castle members are weird" (and really pedantic to point out that they are in fact "Academy Members" rather than Castle members).

[Richard Kaufman]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll voluntarily accept the label of "weird."