111: T.A.O.M. 2013 - Day 1

Dateline DALLAS, TX - Aug. 30, 2013 - We make the four and a half hour drive from Houston to Dallas with Jamie Salinas knowing that we will miss the first activity: Allen Okawa (from Hawaii) lecture. I am sorry that we will miss that one. I have used one of Allen's eel skin wallets for decades. I know that Allen was a good friend of the late Roger Klause so I know it will be bittersweet to see Allen at this convention after so many years. Roger was a mainstay at this convention and it was fitting that his death fell on the second day of the T.A.O.M. a few years ago.

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Here are the time codes for this podcast:

00:00:08 - We are driving from Houston to Dallas for the T.A.O.M. convention and Jamie Salinas is along for the ride. We talk about the upcoming convention, but since Jamie is one of the product reviewers for the M.U.M. magazine, he tells us how he receives the material that he reviews and how he goes about making his judgments and recommendations. He also gives us his top three favorite products from the past 12 months that he has reviewed.

00:19:41 - Bill Irwin (President of next year's T.A.O.M. convention in Ft. Worth) tells us what's in store for next year. Diamond Jim Tyler is in on the conversation and tells us about his global exploits, adventures and travels as he has lectured around the world.

00:33:23 - Bruce Walstad took a few moments away from setting up his side show and Old Time Sideshow of Curiosities, Oddities and Urban Legends to tell us a little about "carnival games you can't win."

00:43:43 - Our friend Fielding West was a popular guest when he spoke on The Magic Word during the I.B.M. convention in Phoenix, Arizona. We caught up with him again and this time he shared some valuable information that might save you hundreds of dollars in private lessons.

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110: MAGIC Live! Epilogue + Magic & Martinis Thursday

I arrived early at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas to return to Houston knowing that I would run into others from the convention who were returning home, too. No sooner than I had passed the friendly “pat down” from TSA (at no extra charge unlike other places in Las Vegas where they do charge extra for touching), and before I reached the gate, I ran into Fred King from southern California. Fred is a long time listener, first time caller to The Magic Word. Many times he has offered me a glass of scotch as a “thank you” for me providing this free podcast, but there was never an opportune time; however, now we had nothing but time before our flights. So we retired to the bar and settled into a glass of Glenfiddich (it was the only single malt they had) as we discussed and reviewed the convention with particular emphasis on the Wednesday events.

The YouTube video in this blog of The Great Tomsoni and Company's final performance was captured by Joe Turner on his cell phone. Hence the poor recording quality of this historic event. The second video in this blog was taken and posted by collegeofmagic at the end of Johnny and Pam's final performance. It shows Lance Burton plus Penn and Teller honoring Johnny and Pam Thompson for all their years of friendship and creativity to their own acts plus the magic community in general.

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Magic & Martinis Thursday

You have no doubt followed my posts during this week so you know what I have been up to each day. And as mentioned it was a fabulous convention, unlike other magic events. I read a tweet from one attendee who said something to the effect, “I have never learned so much magic at one convention but I haven’t learned one trick.” Well tweeted, my friend.

As I arrived home to Houston, I was pleased to spend the evening with our Scottish friend and magician (who now resides in Wales), John McGrath. He was over this week on business. He arrived just about the time I left for Las Vegas and will return home on Friday. So Thursday was the only night we could get together. He and his wife, Debs, and their children hosted us for many nights in between my lecture dates whilst I was in the U.K. on tour this past May.

I understand that Banachek’s taping for the Japanese network went well earlier this week here in Houston. We are exchanging locations: as I arrive in Houston, he will be heading to Las Vegas. As you may have heard in my little clip with Criss Angel, they will be shooting an episode with basketball great, Shaquille O’Neil for Criss’ upcoming series on Spike TV.

And this Saturday night, David Rangel will be performing a one man close-up show at the Hilton Americas here in Houston. David is also the main house magician at Tokyohanas Grill and Sushi Bar on Thursdays and Saturdays. Next Saturday night, August 24th, Jamie Salinas will perform and host a magic show in Bay Town, TX called "Champions of Magic" featuring the award winning magic and dancing duet “The Rhythm of Magic”, Michael and Jessica Blanco.

As for me, I don’t know how much I will be able to type next week as I will be having hand surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome on my right hand next Thursday the 22nd. That may keep me off the computer for a while. But I plan to quickly do some rehabilitation on my hand with playing cards. I just hope it won’t affect next week’s Magic & Martini Thursday.

Magic & Martinis Thursday after returning home from MAGIC Live! in time to enjoy the evening with my mate who is visiting from Scotland, John McGrath.

109: MAGIC Live! 2013 - Day 4

Every day and every show and nearly every session was great this year with lots of surprises and spectacles. This final day brought more of the same. And the big surprise for the end of the evening was the last performance of The Great Tomsoni and Company. It was as much of a surprise to us as it was for Johnny as he was joined on stage by good friends Lance Burton and Penn & Teller.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:08 - Noel Britten, from Bath, England, talks about the importance of giving back and the rich rewards magicians are given in the form of love when working at charity events and hospitals.

00:18:15 - S.A.M. International President, Dal Sanders, and the First Lady, Sindie Sanders, talk about conventions and the evolution of how the S.A.M. is keeping up with keeping their conventions new.

00:28:56 - Paul Stone talks about his plans for the Innovention convention in 2015 in Liverpool

00:33:12 - Steve Chezaday talks about the recent Abbott's Get Together. Steve was one of the featured performers of this years Get Together.

00:37:02 - Mark Korhouser gives us an update on his "First Trick" video project.

00:40:52 - Doug Anderson, cruise ship magician, talks about this being his first MAGIC Live! convention and relates his experience with this event.

00:43:43 - Auke Van Dauken, creator of metal products (cups, coins and more), talks about some of his exciting new products especially some created from Tommy Wonder's ideas.

00:49:41 - Doc Eason is another first time registrant at MAGIC Live! and he gives his observations on this event.

00:55:06 - Stan Allen thanks everyone for coming as he introduces Johnny and Pam Thompson presenting his last performance as The Great Tomsoni and Company.

00:57:36 - Lance Burton is the first voice you hear then Penn followed by Teller.

01:04:46 - Stan Allen gives us his quick perspective on this convention now that it is over.

01:08:37 - Milt Larsen, the Godfather of the Magic Castle, talked about the 50 years of the Academy of Magical Arts.

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