"Story Circle"
The name Story Circle came from a popular Magic: The Gathering (MTG) card. TSC's early founders, Mamot and Lei, were players of the collectible card game and while the early designs of the website had names like "PhilMagic Network", "Sylvan Library (also an MTG card)" and so on, the whimsical sound of "Story Circle" won over the others.


Magical Beginnings

The Story Circle Network was started in 2003 as an online shop and repository for both magic and occult resources by Lei, a Filipino Wiccan practitioner and semi-professional magician. Shortly afterwards, the Forums was put up for members to be able to discuss their thoughts online. At this time in February 2003, The Story Circle Network Forums is divided into 2 sections – a Wiccan forum and a Magic discussion board. Around 2003 – 2004, the pioneer members started registering in including b2y, tracer and others.

By 2005, the moderators of the Wiccan boards were now busy with work and other mundane activities to maintain the forums so they joined in with the Philippine Wiccan Society (PWS), the largest Wiccan community in the country. During the last quarter of the same year, former co-workers Lei and Mamot started talking about re-developing The Story Circle Network as a site purely dedicated to the art of close-up conjuring.

During January to February of 2006, the re-invention of Story Circle began. Even discussed were new names for the new club. Designs for the website were made and the old design, even though most found it beautiful, was taken apart. The logo was also changed from a pentagram symbol to the 4-spade design TSC has now. By March, The Story Circle Network was known as The Story Circle Philippines.

First Gatherings

An initial gathering of members were set-up. Attendees of this first gathering were to be made committees of the newly refurbished group. This first meet was held on Jollibee, Pantranco and was attended by Mamot, Lei (simplyjessie), Jiggy Tam (brother of magician and entertainer Jeffrey Tam), Rommel and Richard (trycks). The plans were made, the goals were set – TSC was to be among the most aggressive and active group of close-up magicians and mentalists the year will see.

Although the original plans dictated that TSC met every other week, the members immediately found the need to meet on all Saturdays of each month. During every gathering, the number of attendees increased. Thanks to some FSM members who were not contented in meeting once a month, the attendance number on the gatherings of TSC doubled in just over 4 weeks.

During these early gatherings around second quarter of 2006, TSC committees Carlo and Mike (resemble) made their first attendances. Carlo at that time had zero knowledge in the magical arts but was very determined to learn. On the 12th gathering, Nomer made his first appearance at the Starbucks, Megamall.

Crash Time

Carlo used the term “crash” whenever he breaks in his new effects to strangers in Glorietta, Gateway and Greenbelt malls. At about the same time, Nomer started crashing on the café’s customers during TSC gatherings. 2 Months after Carlo made his first attendance; he was taken by the guards at the Gateway Mall in Cubao to the security office after allegedly causing a mass of on-lookers to gather on the mall’s hallway. The security personnel cited that Carlo had no permit to perform publicly. This event only sparked TSC members’ appetite for performing on strangers.

It was slowly becoming TSC tradition to approach strangers in all walks of life – security guards, maids, the wealthy, foreigners, models and so on who happen to be anywhere near TSC’s gathering place. TSC spent around 4 months meeting at the Starbucks, Shangri-la Edsa Plaza until TSC outgrew the capacity of the shop. When, now TSC committee, Drac joined in thanks to a serendipitous incident, he always brought with him his video camera enabling TSC to have video footages of every viable “crash” performance on real live spectators.

The word “crashing” caught on and became synonymous with “performing for strangers” and TSC members. Crashing was now a custom to TSC and the membership requirements was amended to require an applicant to “crash” before being a certified member.

David Elefant, the Philippines’ #1 mentalist joined TSC as well as IMC President Leodini to provide inputs and help on the forums by the 3rd quarter of 2006. Prior to that, renowned magic dealer and magic consultant Ronnie Moraleta, MD has been attending and guiding a lot of TSC members during the gatherings. On February, 2007, Doc Ronnie accepted to become TSC committee.

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To date, if a magician hears the word “crash” they automatically think of The Story Circle and whenever a magician uses the word “crash” that magician is assumed to be associated with TSC.

source: thestorycircle.net