238: I.B.M. 2015 Convention - Day One

The I.B.M. convention opened the first day with a bang. The first of two days of stage contests began plus an opening night party that featured Fantasio and Storm Troopers from Star Wars. How often can you see those two things in the same sentence? I.B.M. International Presiden, Shawn Farquhar, was introduced with fanfare and with a local group of Storm Troopers for his processional. I remember in New Orleans, Louisiana when then International President Earl Christenberry had a Creole Jazz Band parade in his processional throwing bead to the registrants as if we were in a Mardi Gras parade. Shawn's parade was quite different.

Fantasio was honored at the evening show as we enjoyed a performance by a troupe of performers from Argentina who delighted the audience with their magic, mind-reading, manipulation and comedy ending with a hand shadow act. Another nice feature at I.B.M. conventions is the "Autograph Party" where the performers are all lined up sitting at a table and signing free posters that feature their photos. Lectures of the day included Boris Wild and Soma.

In the "Night Before" party, those who arrived early enjoyed a double feature of magic films: one by Kevin Spencer on his "Healing of Magic" program and the second with Christian Cagigal called, "Now And At The Hour" which was a documentary about his one man show. The well-attended ate night lecture was with Kozmo.

Christian Cagigal brings an illusion from his show "Now and at the Hour" to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA. The show played in San Francisco June 5th to August 15, 2009 as well in in New York in February 2009.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:05 - Obie O'Brien talks FISM 2015 and IBM conventions he's attended.

00:21:34 - Ken Scott, Talent Chairman, talks about booking the acts for this convention and how he selected the performers.

00:33:09 - Steven Kline talks about how important good sound is for your show.

00:46:39 - Garrett Thomas talks about creativity.

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237: FISM Italy - Day Six

We finally made it through all the competitions and the final night gala show. Max Maven competed the evening contest show. These are the first place winners who competed tonight for the Gran Prix:
Kim Young-Min from Korea - general magic
Shin Lim from Canada - cards
Horret Wu from Taiwan - cards
Thommy Ten & Amélie van Tass from Germany - mentalism
Pierric from Switzerland - parlor
Hector Mancha from Spain - manipulation

Gran Prix winner close-up - Pierric
Gran Prix winner stage - Hector Mancha

Special winners
Creativity and artistic achievement - Derren Brown
History, research and scholarship - Magic Christian
Theory and Philosophy - Roberto Giobi

And the 2018 FISM will be held in South Korea.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:02:12 - Guy Hollingworth, one of the lecturers and performers.

00:10:49 - Rob Zabrecky, another one of the lecturers who also presented his one man show.

00:19:10 - William Watt, from Paris, France, was one of the "pre-selected volunteers" used by many of the competitors

00:26:48 - Christian & Katalina, contestants from the U.S. who competed in the Mentalism category

One of the unique booths at FISM 2015 was selling these puzzles which you can use to engage your audience during walk around magic, particularly in restaurants. Click on the image above to visit their website and view a video.

236: FISM Italy - Day Five

Any FISM Championship is not without its controversies and problems. People will talk about one thing or another that might have gone wrong with this convention, but one thing that was made crystal clear by Juan Mayoral, one of the contestants from Spain. Basically, he stated in so many words that he would not compete until the contest was brought back to the theater and focused on the competitors and away from the "television broadcast" cameras and lights. His pronouncement brought a 15 minute standing ovation. The Reed Sisters from the U.S. had to follow in the competition and might feel that their performance was compromised; however, the curtain was brought down on them early because they did not meet the minimum standards for a FISM quality act. You can hear his statement at the beginning of this podcast and we talk with Craig Mitchell who helped clarify it a bit.

The evening show was delayed again which kept the delegates waiting in the foyer before we we allowed into for the three hour show without air conditioning. Now THAT harkened back to the olden days of theater when there was no A/C. Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee compered the show that featured Yan Yan Ma, Michael Moschen, Otto Wessley, lLee Eun Gyeol, Cyril Takayama, Henry Evans, Marco Tempest, Vito Lup and Franz Harary. Another strong line-up that would have been better appreciated had it started earlier (or at least on time) and not gone on well past midnight and into the late night session with David Berglas.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:02:11 - Curtains open, Juan Mayoral sits on a chair, removes his top hat, puts hie magic wand in the hat, then rises to speak to the audience and say that he did not feel comfortable performing in "this TV show: and he refuses to perform at FISM until :magic and FISM returns to the theater.:

00:04:46- Dal Sanders, past National President for the S.A.M.

00:11:04 - Craig Mitchell and Dal Sanders

00:18:48 - Kate Medvedeva, head judge for close-up at FISM

00:35:17 - Bruce Gold

00:52:29 - Andrew Basso, the "Escapist" from "The illusionists" touring group