Naquada

The Magic Castle, Hollywood, is the private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, a very special organization devoted to the advancement of the ancient art of magic. It’s purpose is to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic with particular emphasis on preserving its history as an art form, entertainment medium, and hobby.

The Magic Castle began its life as a private home built in 1908 by banker and real estate magnate Rollin B. Lane. Mr. Lane owned much of what is now Hollywood, dreaming of turning his land into orange groves, farms and ranches. Severe drought brought his dreams to an abrupt end and orange blossoms never filled the valley.

The Lane family moved away in the 1940s, and the mansion was divided into a multi-family home, then became a home for the elderly, and was finally transformed into a maze of small apartments. By 1960, the fate of the Mansion was uncertain. Then Milt Larsen met the owner, Thomas O. Glover.

Milt was a writer on the NBC TV show Truth or Consequences. His office was on the ninth floor of a Hollywood office building that overlooked the Lane mansion. Milt’s late father, William W. Larsen, Sr., was a renonwed magician and had long dreamed of building an elegant private club for magicians.

In September of 1961, Milt and a crew of eternally generous friends and volunteers began the extraordinary task of returning this run-down apartment building to its glorious past. After months of scraping and sanding, the rich Victorian elegance began to resurface, and at 5 p.m. on January 2, 1963 The Magic Castle opened its doors.

To gain access to the inner secrets of the Castle you need to whisper the password to the Owl, after which and a short pause the bookcase will slide aside to reveal a dark, low-ceilinged corridor, beyond which is a chintzy bar area where a nude portrait of a boy hang over a piano. Irma, the pianist has been dead for over 72 years, but ask her nicely, and she’ll play any tune are ask for from beyond her ghostly grave.

The Castles recent past though has been more and more uncertain as times gone on, the entire ten-acre Magic Castle site is now again up for sale. The sale has been on and off the table for as long as I can remember, rumors of deals and negotiations flying around the magical fraternity. It now seems though again, according to speculation, that the 11 descendants of the landowner who bought the place for $150,000 in 1948 are said to be considering offers of $70 million. Naturally, apparently promises have been made to preserve the existing structures on the site, including the Castle, but I have a horrible feeling they will go the same way as so much of LA’s instantly disposable history.

Covent Garden has always been the place in London to go if you’ve wanted to see street performers at their best, dating back to the 1600’s covent garden has always had performers, but the current performance areas and agreements still date from the late 1970’s. Covent Garden even has ‘Magicians Corner’ pictured here, frequented by some of the biggest magical names in street performing, including the legendary Bob Read.

However all this could change going forward. Performance has always been a hot potatoes as far as westminster council, and the owners of Covent Garden are concerned. The present owners of the market are Capital and Counties, a member of The Liberty International Group, (http://www.liberty-international.co.uk/). During a key meeting in the Westminster Council Chamber they unsuccessfully opposed the street performers having any involvement in the running of the performance spaces, and are looking to change the way performance is run there. Their main aim is to impose two things that would drastically effect street artistes of all types who work in the market.

1) A 50% reduction in the total time that performers can use the spaces
2) A reduction in the length of each individual show from 40 mins to 30 mins.

The idea of a street show, as veterans like Gazzo and others know, is that the true street performer does not perform to passing trade, they gather an audience, produce a show and collect or ‘hat’ at the end, implementing these changes could cost the performers between 25% and 50% of their total average income, making the venue unviable for performers, which will undoubtedly lead to street performing in Convent Garden to die out.

I feel very strongly about this, and a myspace group has been set up to show support for the performers. You can take a few moments to sign the online petitions, so please sign both the North Hall petition and the South Courtyard petition.

You can also voice your disagreement of this by joining the mass email campaign. Just cut and paste the below sentences and send them to beverley-churchill@capcount.com.

I am writing to express my opposition to the reducing of the street theatre performance times by 50% in The North Hall, and South Hall areas in Covent Garden.I urge you to reconsider this direct attack on the livelihood of the famous Covent Garden Street Performers and Classical Musicians.

Please link to this article, email it on, and spread the word…

photo credit: alextakesphotos

I’m struggling at the moment to get myself kicked into seriously doing some magic.. I’m not sure why.. I have my first effect now in the process of being published, a potential second one in the workings, and even getting close to working of the kinks in possibly the ultimate signed card routine thats currently going under the simple name of ‘Michelle’..

Yet I’ve sat here struggling to work out how to make the next leap.. My now good friend Brendon have been assisting with some Three Fly practice over skype today, but I guess my real issue, as it’s always been.. has been practice..

I remember asking Jeff McBride about ‘Practicing‘ and ‘Playing with new material‘ (I have taken out some aspects of this quote due to description of methods);

As for ‘Playing” with new material. If you use this word “playing” with material, you are not taking your practice or rehearsal sessions seriously. this term is one that slips into our vocabulary when we are afraid to commit to WORK!

If you want to play..no good! If you want to work…here is how I work on new pieces.

I set time aside each morning for mirror practice. Yes I know some things can’t be rehearsed. The camera does not blink. It can see you peek, and is a harsh but loyal helper in refining secret techniques.

Here is what I do to WORK on new pieces.

When I break in mentalism pieces, it is usually for small groups here at my home. I have a camera set up at all times with a fresh tape, ready to go. If I have the pleasure of having guests drop over. .. I will ask them if they worked like to see something new that I am working on. (most often they suffer through the work session with a smile) I sit them down with a cup of tea, and get the camera rolling.

During performance, I can watch their eyes. Over the years I can tell when they are looking where they are directed of NOT!

After I watch the tape back I can script the words spoken, quips from the audience, and add any of my ad-libs or improvisations that may have occurred during the session. Often time the best material comes from the audience during these sessions. I can then start to work on memorizing the script and get ready to refine the piece on the next rehearsal.

Yes, it is a challenge to rehearse some mental effects with no one to help; impossible in some situations. I am presently working on a crystal gazing act and have to continually invite friends over to my home theater to watch my performances. It will take many years of this work to get this piece polished, because it require so much” on the fly” feedback with the answering of the questions. I perform it at every social function and charity event I can do! I have been working 2 years on this act. Only a few weeks ago I placed a small portion of this “loose material .”( the hammock) between two of my strong pieces in my show. This technique is called “hammocking”. You put a new piece of “loose” material between two pillars of strong , solid material.

This “hammocking” process has worked well for me. I suggest you try it!

Video all of your shows!

Last week Eugene and the faculty of THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY SCHOOL where invited by David Copperfield, to visit his museum here in Las Vegas. David showed us his video archive. David has video taped EVERY show he has ever done. Not only that, but he has reviewed EVERY tape and marked it for spontaneous remarks and adlibs that HE made. AND he marks down adlibs that the audience makes during the show. The good stuff he adds to the show. the mistakes he revise so he will know how to handle the situation better the next show.

David shared a real inside secret with us… VIDEO EVERY SHOW! …now we pass this example of his commitment to excellence on to you! Hey, he does over 500 shows a year and videos and reviews all of them, and sells more tickets than any solo performer, including Madonna and Michael Jackson!

My camera is loaded and ready to go! All the best to you Andrew and see you in Cornwall next year! Kenny form Kernow will have the info in a few months about the timing of the classes.

Your friend in the mystery, Jeff McBride

This helps me some, but I really have still a huge problem with the whole idea of HOW to practice and work material…

The Ellusionist Blog has some interesting news about a potential new UK Magic show coming up this year

Magic on UK TV seems to be taking an upturn as of lately with a number of specials and shows having aired. These shows have subsequently spread across the shores to the US; the trend seems to be continuing. We’ve heard of a new magic show will be shooting this summer at bars around the UK.

The show that has yet to be named is being produced for a new UK channel launching this year. The difference—they are working with a little known magician who’ll be performing his own material alongside the cream of effects from the magic community in a ‘new and unique way’.

Having spoken to the magician at the center of the show, we’re sure that UK viewers are in for a treat, and a refreshing change in magic shows. “Everything I’m performing in the show, from my own material to the already released material, will be very unique in its presentation.

As to what the unique slant is and who the mystery newcomer is—stay tuned, and don’t touch that dial—we’ll be right back!

It all sounds very interesting, and a bit cryptic, but I’m hoping to do some more digging to find out what’s going on..

Each year Feed The Children run a variety show in Wokingham at the Bearwood College Theatre. To be honest I’ve always seen it advertised but never actually managed to go, which is a bit pathetic really given the line up each year is particularly excellent. So we managed on Saturday to just get back in time for the show..

This years show was hosted by Ali Bongo, and as he said;

It’s not often you can see this amount of talent in one room – and Feed The Children’s Variety Show has brought some of my most talented friend and colleagues together. I’m delighted to be introducing such a wonderful range of traditional and new feats of magic and illusion, on stage and close-up in the intermission, you’ll be entertained and amazed. Best of all, the price of your ticket is putting food onto hungry children’s plates.

He was certainly right, as the evening started off with David Ball, Michael Carr and Rob Page doing close-up in the foyer before the show. The show started with the Performers Dance Company, a troupe of dance students from the Performers College, which has had many West End names pass through it’s doors, before the evenings host, Ali Bongo took to the stage.

First up was a traditional stage and dove act, Brian Miller and Audrey, their act was a good start to the evening, having performed at the London Palladium and Caesar’s Place in Las Vegas, it was a great mix of magic and dove work, cleanly executed and a good traditional class act.

Next was a bit of a surprise, lan Rowland (the real Ian Rowland and not the guy that looks like him!) took to the stage to present his magic and illusions of the mind. I’ve never seen Ian perform, and he did some wonderful effects around spoon bending, a card in impossible location and finished with a nail in the nose effect, with a lighter funnier side to it than others.

The magic took a break with the next act, Nicola Bentley, a very talented singer, at only 20 she held the stage well, and had a powerful voice. She did a number of songs assisted by the Performers Dance Company .

Jonathan Shotton brought the magic back, assisted by Kayleigh Buckland. Jonathan is only 19 and has just left the Magic Circles Young Magicians club to join the full ranks of the Magic Circle. Jonathan did a great set, ‘Lost in the Snow’ took us through appearing and repeating roses, colour changing roses, linking rings, and Snow Storm in China, again wonderfully presented, ending with the traditional snow filling the theatre.

The second half saw Ali Bongo having a set of his own, unfortunately not doing his ‘The Shriek of Araby’ act, which I miss seeing, before he introduced what turned out to be the funniest parts of the show. Mark Shortland, British magical comedy champion really brought the house down with laughter. He did a great set with two children from the audience, a bill to apple, scissors through jacket and had us all in tears of laughter.

Hans Davis, who I think I saw at FISM, did his shadowgraphy act, a simple but wonderful act, where he used purely his hands to cast shadows on a large screen, human faces, birds, animals, fish, even the devil popped up, and it was hard to imagine he was just using his hands to cast the shadows.

Duncan Trillo closed the show with his expert card manipulations, and his dancing hank. Again like every performer during the evening, providing an excellent and polished performance.

The evening was a fantastic event, and it was definitely worth the very low ticket price, and considering that all the money helps feed, cloth and shelter homeless and abandoned children, it’s nice to have a great evening out, and help a worthwhile charity.

The event was run by Feed The Children, and you can obtain more information about the event, and plans for the future shows directly from them at: info@feedthechildren.org.uk or telephone 0118 932 0095.

I’ll post details on next years show as soon as I get details.

As previously reported, The FISM 2009 venue was changed in February, from the newly constructed National Center for the Performing Arts, to the China National Convention Center.

There wasn’t much information about why the change happened, although it did seem to be linked to hotels, and suitability of the venue for close-up. the FISM 2009 site has now put out a open letter explaining the change of venue (bad english preserved!):

Dear magic friends and magic lovers,

FISM World Championship of Magic 2009, to be held from July 26th to 31st, 2009 in Beijing has been under intense preparation. As part of that preparation we have continued to look for a venue that will offer everything anyone attending would love to have available. We believe we have finally found the best location for YOU. The China National Convention Center. Although the firstly proposed venue National Grand Theater is spectacular and fully integrated with facilities, the theater, dealer’s room and lecture room are separate and far away from each other. It is inconvenient for close supervision during the convention. There is no hotel nearby so that participants have to take bus or subway to the venue. Besides, lack of catering utilities in National Grand Theatre also brings much inconvenience to participants.

With suggestions by experts of magic circle and all-around inspection by the Organizing Committee, we finally chose the China National Convention Center as the venue of FISM WCM2009 Beijing. The sole goal of the Organizing Committee is to ensure all the schedule of the magic convention to be carried out smoothly and guarantee all participants has a comfortable and convenient stay during the convention.

China National Convention Center with the investment of 5 billion RMB is the most advanced convention center in Asia. The center is located at the heart of Olympic Green, which is the fastest-developing district in Beijing and environmentally friendly, right next to the Bird Nest (Olympic main stadium in 2008), the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center)and National Gymnasium. It is just 30 minutes to the airport by car. There is a subway station in front of the center and it only takes 20 minutes by subway to the center of Beijing city. The center is connected with one newly-built 4 star and one 5 star hotel. Within walking distance, there are also many hotels of different star.

China National Convention Center will provide the venues for competition, gala show, dealer fair, lecture and banquet. The more important is that it is favorable for close supervision. Besides, the center, which is also equipped with several restaurant and shopping center underground, brings much convenience to participants.

In the late January of 2008, through on-the-spot inspection, International President of FISM Mr. Eric Eswin and International Vice President Mr. Domenico Dante agreed that all-round circumstance of China National Convention Center can meet the FISM WCM’s requests.

The Organizing Committee of the 24th FISM WCM2009 formally announces here: FISM WCM2009 will be held from July 26th till and included 31st, 2009 at China National Convention Center.

To let magic friends learn more about the new venue, further details about it will be released later on https://www.fism2009.org. If you have any questions or suggestions about the new venue or FISM WCM2009, welcome to contact us! Welcome to register. Early registration guarantees a good seat! Look forward to meeting you in Beijing in 2009.

Also there is an FAQ about the new venue (again bad english preserved):

1.What is true Beijing?

Beijing is a historical and cultural city with modern and fashionable flavors. Welcome to log onto our official website (www.fism2009.org) to skim over written information with photos. As to some unfriendly and untrue reports of China by some media, we believe that a true Beijing will be seen through the reports from countries’ media during the Olympic Games in August, 2008 and Paralympic Games in September, 2008. These reports will surely diminish your negative concerns.

2.With which venue Beijing bid for hosting FISM WCM2009 on the General Assembly in Stockholm?

On the FISM General Assembly in Stockholm, 2006, Beijing bid for FISM WCM2009 with the planned venue Beijing Exhibition Center and its theater which were built in 1958. Before the bid, FISM delegates were invited to visit the Center twice. Although some delegates were worried about its classic style and capability of air conditioning, most of delegates gave their valuable votes to Beijing.

3.Under what circumstance, Organizing Committee showed a preference to National Grand Theater?

After Beijing won the bid for hosting FISM WCM2009, Organizing Committee has been preparing for the convention. In the meantime, the committee got to know the National Grand Theater which was under construction. Since Beijing Exhibition Center and its theater were built in the 1950’s, the circumstance and facilities are not that modern. To keep the promise of making the convention successful and to offer a better condition for participants from all over the world, Organizing Committee proposed National Grand Theater to be new venue. Then, in October, 2007, Organizing Committee invited FISM delegates and famous magicians from different countries to inspect the newly-built National Grand Theater which will be formally open in December, 2007, and asked for their suggestions and advices.

4.Why does Organizing Committee decide the China National Convention Center as the venue of FISM WCM2009 Beijing?

Although the planned venue National Grand Theater is spectacular and fully integrated with advanced facilities, there are some disadvantages to hold a FISM convention. For instance, the theater is inconvenient for close supervision, lack of catering utilities and lack of hotels within walking distance. Therefore, with these professional suggestions by those FISM delegates and famous magicians, Organizing Committee searched for a better venue and finally found that China National Convention Center under construction met nearly all the requirements. To successfully hold FISM WCM2009, the Organizing Committee wants to use a venue which is more suitable for WCM. The committee have paid great efforts and done a great deal of work to reach the goal. The changes are, in fact, to choose ceaselessly newly-built and better conditioned venue with the fast developing of Beijing construction work. The new venue will be better than the previous one and more convenient for registrants. It surely will be accepted by the participants.

5.How is China National Convention Center?

China National Convention Center, with the investment of 5 billion RMB (3 billion by National Grand Theatre), is the most advanced convention center in China and even in Asia. The center is located at the heart of Olympic Green, which is the fastest-developing district in Beijing and environmentally friendly, right next to the Bird Nest (Olympic main stadium in 2008), the Water Cube (Olympic swimming center) and National Gymnasium. It is just 30 minutes drive to the airport. There is subway station at the front of the center gate and it is convenient to get to the downtown and places of great interest by subway. The center is connected with one newly-built 4 star and one 5 star hotel. There are also many hotels within walking distance. For detailed information, please log onto their website:

6.For the registered participants, what can they do if they have any doubts or difficulties concerning the changing of the venue?

Registrants, who still have questions about the venue or need help from Organizing Committee, could contact Organizing Committee Office by email, fax or telephone. To get the detailed contact information, please log onto the FISM official website.

So there you have it… Magic Unlimited and TheCuso also have posts on the news..

FISM Europe in sofa seems to be canceled according to their website;

Dear All,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, restricted organizational capacity and unexpected financial strains, jeopardizing the initial budget, it is with great regret that the FISM European Executive Board has to inform you that the FISM European Championships of Magic, planned to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 6 to 9 November 2008, have to be cancelled.

The first European Championships of Magic are postponed to a later date, to be announced as soon as possible.

Best regards.

FISM
European Executive Board

Andre Ciocca
Interim President

Seems a few others have spotted this as well.. as to what it physically means, and the decisions behind it are unclear…

Well the convention is finally over, 3 days of solid top quality magic arranged and run by the Blackpool Magicians Club. When I looked back yesterday at my live blogging from convention I worked out that I’d written close to 6,284 words (or about 29,650 characters!), a large part of this was done on my iPhone, with other stuff being typed up on my Macbook between getting back from the Ruskin hotel and sleeping each night. The iPhone was a breeze letting me update the blog, and email stories over to iTricks in an instant.

I also worked out that unless you’re a real die hard, it’s unlikely you’re going to read the entire Blackpool 2008 Category, but if you want to and can spot the deliberate mistake on one of the articles then there’s a prize up for grabs… (dont promise it will be a great prize, but it’s free so what do you care?)

For those of you who can’t spare the time: here’s the low down and summary:

The theme of the 2008 Blackpool Magic convention was Close-up Colossus.

The convention started Friday lunch time with the dealers halls opening with about 127 dealers in total. I had a good chat with Richard Kaufman about the April copy of Genii magazine, which will contain an in-depth article about the recent performance of the hooker rising cards. Richard was very excited about the article, stating that “this was the real deal“. The colossal 27 page article in Aprils issue is written and illustrated by Jim Steinmeyer, and from the preview issue that Richard was kind enough to let me look through, it details a lot about the illusive effect, it’s history, and even includes a good number of photos, and drawings of the setup from the recent performance.

The Friday saw lectures from David Sousa, Patrick Przysiekchi, Valerie, Chris Priest, Shawn Faruhar, David Stone and Lennart Green. All the lectures were on the whole excellent (the latter being the excellent ones, and the morning ones being a bit weak.) The program also let us know that Blackpool Magicians Club would be buying their very own theatre club for next year!!

The first lecture of Saturday morning was Martin Sanderson, followed by David Solomon, J.J Sanvert, J.C Wagner, Magic Dave, Lior Manor, and Geoffrey Durham, these all being very strong lectures and very informative. Also during the day were the Children’s Entertainer World Championships, an event won by John Kimmons, and the International Close-Up show, featuring Shoot Ogowa, Kostya Kimlat and others.

The evening show, The UK versus the Rest of The World was good generally, except for the appalling compere Stu Francis, MC’ing truly at it’s worse! Bob Wooding, Danny Hunt, Graham P Jolly and John Archer did Balloons, Escapology, mentalism and comedy mentalism respectively. There were a few glitches with Danny Hunts water torture escape, but generally it was all ok. John Archer stole the show with a volunteer ‘Eric’ who turned out to be completely incapable of following any instruction, simple or otherwise. It turned out Eric was actually Eric Delaney of The Eric Delaney Band, featured in a number of royal variety performances, and still pulling crowds today (although I doubt he’s doing any more magical assistant jobs any time soon).

Sunday started with a lecture by Helder Guimaraes, a past FISM award winner, a lecture by Colonel Custard, a Question and Answers session with Geoffrey Durham and Wayne Dobson, more lectures from Shoot Ogawa, Kosta Kimlat, Michael Close, and Richard Sanders. The evening International Gala Show was very good, with appearances by Mahka Tendo, Rafael, Antje Pode, Scott and Muriel, David Sousa, Valerie, Topas, Ken Dodd OBE, Yamagami Brothers, and Shimada. Geoffrey Durham was awarded the Murray Award for services to magic, and Ken Dodd did less than 30 minutes of material!! Justin Lee Collins and Alan Carr were spotted heading into the show as well, it’s a shame neither of them were available to perform or compere!!!

In all an excellent, and tiring convention. Like my memories from years ago, it’s big, busy and you won’t see everything. It was nice to see old friends, and make some new ones, The dates for The Blackpool Magic Convention 2009 are: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20th, 21st and 22nd February 2009. The registration desk opens on 1st July 2008. Further details directly from The Blackpool Magic Club

Geoffrey Durham was last night award the prestigious Murray Award by the Harry Greenaway, President of The Blackpool Magicians Club.

The Murray Award is presented each year to honor the recipient for outstanding service to Blackpool Magicians Club and for distinguished dedication to the art of magic.

Geoffrey Durhan has performed for clients including members of the Royal Family, cabinet ministers, captains of industry and the aristocracy. He has performed in two Children’s Royal Variety Performances. In thirty years as a cabaret artist his unique presentations have been featured in every hotel on London’s Park Lane, as well as in many of the most prestigious venues in the world. In the corporate field, he has toured Australia for the Ford Motor Company, created over 100 special performances for Seat Cars and worked for a host of organisations from Kellogg’s to IBM. In the West End of London, he has appeared at the London Palladium, Dominion, Duchess and Apollo Victoria theatres and he has performed in over two hundred other playhouses nationwide.

He has hosted two series of Thames Television’s The Best of Magic, and was featured on The Fifty Greatest Magic Tricks of All Time on Channel 4 (where his expert performance of the Newspaper Trick came in at number 31!). In all, he has made over 700 appearances on British television – covering children’s shows, chat, quizzes and variety galas. But he is probably best known for his many years on the cult Channel 4 word game Countdown, where he has performed over 160 close-up tricks as well as displaying unsuspected skills as a wordsmith. He also appears regularly as a panellist and presenter on BBC Radio 4.

He frequently works as an illusion adviser for stage and television. In the West End of London, he has devised effects for Oliver! (London Palladium), Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyceum Theatre), the Reeves and Mortimer/Fast Show double bill (Labatt’s Apollo), The League Of Gentlemen (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Peter Pan (Royal Festival Hall), Privates on Parade (Donmar Warehouse), and The Mystery of Charles Dickens with Simon Callow (Duke of York’s). He was also the Magic Director of the critically acclaimed West End show about Tommy Cooper, Jus’ Like That!, which later toured nationwide. On television, he devised effects for Dr Who in the now classic episode The Greatest Show in the Galaxy starring Sylvester McCoy.

In 1990, the Magic Circle of Great Britain made him a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star; in 2002 he was presented with The Maskelyne, the Magic Circle’s highest award; and in 2003, he received The David Berglas Award for his outstanding contribution to magic. He now joins the ranks of Joe Pasquale, Patrick Page, Hans Moretti, Wayne Dobson, Jay Marshall, Paul Daniels, Ali Bongo, Ken Brooke, Peter Warlock and Murray himself as a recipient of the Murray Award.

It’s physically impossible to attend ALL of the Blackpool convention, firstly because a number of lectures and performances overlap. The second reason is that you’re just too tired and knackered to do everything.

So here’s the best of the rest of show that I missed, or slept through:

Richard Sanders did a number of his visual rope effects along with a very clean and cleaver self working card revelation.

Kostya Kimlat performed a number of card effects and ran through his roadrunner cull.

Andi Gladwin apparently did a miniature deck routine that fooled Matt Parro

J.J Savert did some nice money routines, including silver from bill, pen through bill, bill to Babybel, and finally a bill switch that consisted of 1 £20 note, to £10 notes. Invisible aces to royal flush, signed card to aces and Cannibal cards.

J.C. Wagner did a card printing routine, apparently again according to Matt Parro’s blog it was “very dreary and although I probably would have enjoyed his routines, I could not pay attention for longer that the first 3 minutes.”

Lior Manor’s lecture started with his demonstrations with his computer software, including Knights Tour and Celebrity Prediction. Moving onto his very good ‘Touches’ routine.

The children’s Entertainer World Championship was apparently “average at best”, the favorite, John Kimmons went on to win the title.

Michael Close did two tricks in his lecture, Red Blue Mamma Fooler and his Torn and Restored Card, The second half was jokes and stories and from his new joke book, which according to Rich Morrell was “exactly the laugh I needed after seeing magic all weekend”

Rich also has a great write up of the Close-Up Session:

“Shoot Ogawa was spectacular as ever with coins, thimbles, flip-stick and Ninja Rings. Helder Guimaraes the current FISM card champion showed us a similar routine to that which he did at FISM a Travellers routine with four signed cards that travelled to his pockets, the deck turned blank, and the signed cards too, and then one was found in an envelope on the table, and the entire deck became printed again. Michael Close showed his impossible Salt Shaker, Card, Forehead routine. Finally Richard Sanders showed Interlace, Extreme Burn, Dough, Alpha Deck and Fibre Optics. His Extreme Burn really does look like trick photography“

Sorry to everyone I missed at the convention.. Dr Todd, Edd Withers, Erlandish to name a few… and it was great to finally meet up with Richard Morrell, really nice bloke and hopefully will be doing a guest spot on the upcoming Fismblog!!!

The Dealers, who I didn’t miss, were numerous in number.. two halls FULL of things to buy, here you can see just one of the halls, full to capacity, with dealers on the lower and upper levels, hall two was about the same size, again packed full of stuff to buy. Dealers from round the world were here, and if you ever wanted to loose large amounts of cash on props, DVD’s or other must haves, then this was the place to do it!!

I didn’t see everything being demo’ed or sold. but highlights for me were Big Blind Media, their tour bus trip up to the convention, and our mind reading abilities on Dave Forrest telling him about the trip up and the previous days events… thanks Liam!!.. Alakazam’s Real Ghost, Mark Mason’s Come Fly with me (from the Friday morning trip to JBMagic), seeing Bob Swadling again and having a long chat with him about years gone by.. Catching up with Magic Box, and Kernow Magic (and being quite touched that Angie and Kenny remembered me!!)

For anyone with photos from the convention, please get them onto the Blackpool Magic Convention 2008 group on Flickr, we’re sadly lacking in members and photos on there currently!!! (it’s free!!!)