307: 2016 Abbott's Get Together - Day One

Day One - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3rd 2016
9:00AM ABBOTT'S COLON GOLF CLASSIC (more info) with Al the Only
9:00AM ABBOTT'S REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant
10:00AM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS (more info) at Elementary School
10:30AM SUPER SHOWROOM SPECIALS (more info) at Elementary
10:30AM SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR DISCOUNT BOOK SALE (more info) at Elementary
11:00AM LECTURE - Clemens ILgner at the High School
12:00PM COLON STREET PERFORMERS - outside M&M Grill featuring Joe Bennett
1:00PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM OPEN TILL 4PM (more info)
1:00PM BALLOON SCULPTING WORKSHOP - at Sterlini's Magic Shop (more info)
1:30PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
3:00PM LECTURE - Martin Cox at the High School
3:00PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott Plant with BJ Mallen or Gordon Miller
3:00PM - 6:00PM FACE PAINTING outside 5 Star Pizza by Carol Hendrix
5:30PM RIVER LAKE INN’S MAGIC SHOW & DINNER with Ron Carnell
8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW at the High School (Preshow Live Organ Music)
Featuring Ice McDonald MC, Sir Patrick, Brenda Hahne, Clemens ILgner, Seebach Illusions
(view seating chart)
10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Grade School after show

00:00:13 - Mike Conklin, son of "The Amazing Conklins" grew up in Colon and reared by a magical family. He tells what it was like growing up in a small village that blossomed into the Magic Capitol every year.

00:07:19 - Al the Only talks about organizing the "Colon Open Golf Classic" for the past 27 years plus his cemetery tours that he conduct every year and his book

00:16:27 - Antony Gerard is one of the "street dealers" that makes the Get Together unique from other conventions.

00:35:32 - Gave Fajuri talks about the recent Potter & Potter Auction that featured the Norm Neilsen poster collection, part one, plus other upcoming auctions and book projects including John Bannon and Handsome Jack's newest books.

00:44:42 - David Linsell celebrates his 50th attendance at Abbott's Get Together with a coffee table book entitled "The Spirit of Magic" which is a beautiful photo gallery of about 150 images of performance images. This is an absolutely phenomenal book and I hope to offer this in the Magic Store soon or through Amazon.

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306: On The Road To Colon 2016

On the way to the 79th Abbott's Get Together in Colon, Michigan, we depart Houston, Texas for Chicago, Illinois. Our first stop is at the new headquarters for Magic, Inc. and a visit with the Manager, Pedro Nieves. He gives a delightful tour of their new space plus a couple magic demos for some customers. From there we're off to the Chicago Magic Lounge, the bi-weekly hot spot for Live magic in Chicago. They have stage and close-up shows each Thursday and Saturday evenings. Be sure to check out both Magic, Inc. and the Chicago Magic Lounge when you are in Chi-Town.

Then after a couple days in Chicago with friends, we travel to Michigan and check into the motel but immediately take a drive to an Amish community in northern Indiana where we meet up with other magicians to have dinner and entertain several Amish families. Then later that night, it's on to Colon for a party with David Seebach and many more friends who arrived early for the Get Together. All of this is prior to getting our registration packet for the Get Together.

Pedro Nieves Bosque demonstrates "Klaus the Mouse", one of the best selling tricks at Magic, Inc. in Chicago.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:10 - After a cup of coffee and a couple Dunkin' Donuts, we take off from Houston, Texas for Chicago.

00:05:36 - First stop: Magic, Inc.'s new store in Chicago which opened last April after having over 50 years at their old location on Lincoln Avenue. We chat with Pedro Nieves Bosque about some of the shop's history.

00:19:36 - Later that night we visit the Chicago Magic Lounge and chat with the Creative Director, John Sturk. The Lounge opened about a year and a half ago and we first posted a podcast just a week before opening. So in this interview, John brings us up to date on how they have progressed and expanded. This is a marvelous venue and a "must visit" destination for magicians and public alike.

00:29:53 - Mike Miller talks about the China tour for close-up and stage magicians and how you can get booked to perform on the tour.

00:39:22 - Michael Mode, creator of the Napkin Rose, tells about the genesis of the "night before" party featuring a chicken dinner and performing for the Amish in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Time stamps for product reviews:

00:43:56 - At The Table Experience (June 2016) with Danny Archer features many commercial ideas for the strolling and restaurant performer.

00:48:48 - Oddylisiou5 - five routines and one bonus effect for "Red Hot Mama" or "Chicago Opener"

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302: Day Four -2016 I.B.M. Convention

The final day of the convention was no less packed than the others starting off with the annual Order of Merlin breakfast. This is for I.B.M. members with 25 years or more of consecutive membership. This year's speaker was Richard "Rick" Heath who spoke about 40 years of artwork in Le Grand David show. The final day of the Triple Treat followed. Then after lunch, the pages of The Linking Ring magazine came alive with lectures by the columnists and editor in several break-out rooms.

Eric Jones gave the final lecture in the banquet hall and the evening show entertained the registrants and public alike with a show hosted by Steve Bargatze and included Joseph Gabriel, Thommy Ten and Amelie, and a special appearance by Johnny Thompson and Shawn Farquhar dressed as doves. The show closed with the illusions of Scott Pepper. We then retreated to the hotel where we had a farewell party/reception for everyone.

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:02:34 - Richard "Rick" Heath was the artist who worked for Le Grand David magic show. Here he gives a talk to the Order of Merlin members at their annual breakfast meeting. He talks about the 40 years of artwork in the show: posters, props, backdrops and portraits. you can download and view the special, full color booklet that Rick gave to attendees by Clicking Here.

00:38:39 - John McLaughlin, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, talks about how he has been enjoying the convention and what he's learned and what magic he's doing in his daily life.

00:53:00 - Joshua Jay talks about his recent lecture during the convention, "Tragic Magic" plus other things that he and Andi Gladwin are working on with Vanishing, Inc. and the MagiFest.

00:55:56 - Former National President of the Texas Association of Magicians, and the Entertainment Director of the former Magic Island in Houston, Scott Hollingsworth, talks about some of his favorite parts of the convention. He also talks about the upcoming T.A.O.M. convention coming in September 2-5 in Corpus Christi, Texas,

01:06:52 - Past National President of the S.A.M. talks about his favorite parts (so far) of this convention, plus a plug for the upcoming S.A.M. convention in Indianapolis and the Magic Compass.

01:14:03 - Steve Bargatze tells about his behind-the-scenes as he prepared topical humor for the convention.

01:25:18 - First International Vise President of the I.B.M., Michael Finney, talks about the changing scene on magic conventions plus his upcoming "Dry Heat Classic" charity golf event.

Thank you everyone who entered the contest to win one of two hard copies of Rick's booklet that accompanied his speech before the "Order of Merlin" members' breakfast. Watch for upcoming opportunities to win prizes from The Magic Word.

307: 2016 Abbott's Get Together - Day One

306: On The Road To Colon 2016

302: Day Four -2016 I.B.M. Convention

The Magic Word