772: S.A.M. 2023 Convention in New Orleans - Day Two Report

Monday, July 24th

9:00 AM Registration Open Vieux Carre Foyer

9:00 AM SAM Event 1 – Youth Protection Training “Thurston Lecture Hall”

9:00 AM SYM Youth Academy “William Andrews Classroom”

10:00 AM EXHIBITORS Open “Kellar Exhibitor Hall”

10:30 AM LECTURE 3: Doug Conn “Thurston Lecture Hall”

1:30 PM SHOW 2: STARS OF TOMORROW Stage Show “Thurston Lecture Hall”

3:30 PM LECTURE 4: Pro close up 1 with R. Paul Wilson & Friends “Thurston Lecture Hall”

3:30 PM Registration Close Vieux Carre Foyer

5:00 PM EXHIBITORS Close “Kellar Exhibitor Hall” S.Y.M. Youth Academy Ends “William Andrews Classroom”

7:00 PM Bus transporation pick up at hotel

8:00 PM SHOW 3: S.A.M. Contest Experience Houdini Theater @ The Jesuit

9:30 PM Bus transportation pick up at Jesuit 10:30 PM PARTY 2: SAM Jam Session or Movie Vieux Carre Foyer

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – during our walk to the Café du Monde, we chat with Jay Ragnu “the Okay” who regales us with a story of him competing at an early Las Vegas Desert Seminar.

00:10:42 – Past National President of the S.A.M, Mike Miller is the Talent Coordinator for the S.A.M. and helped book the acts for this convention.

00:22:50 – Past National President of the S.A.M., Mark Weidhauss, chats about his responsibilities at this convention over the past several years.

00:30:32 – Past winner of many magic convention contests, Ed Ripley, talks about the importance of entering and competing in contests.

00:34:48 – Past President of the T.A.O.M., Jeff Lee, chats about this convention plus what Vito Lupo has been up to over the past few years. Jeff worked and traveled with Vito for years.

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771: S.A.M. 2023 Convention in New Orleans - Day One Report

Sunday, July 23rd

8:00 AM REGISTRATION Open Vieux Carre Foyer

9:00 AM SAM National Council Mtg “Thurston Lecture Hall” SYM Youth Academy “William Andrews Classroom”

11:00 AM Exhibitors Grand Opening “Kellar Exhibitor Hall”

1:00 PM SHOW 1: Exhibitors Showcase Show “Thurston Lecture Hall”

2:15 PM Convention Welcome “Thurston Lecture Hall”

2:30 PM Lecture 1: Bruce Kalver – Tech Tips & Tricks “Thurston Lecture Hall”

4:00 PM Lecture 2: Barry Mitchell Focus on Funny for Kids “Thurston Lecture Hall”

4:00 PM REGISTRATION Closed Vieux Carre Foyer

6:00 PM Exhibitors Close “Kellar Exhibitor Hall” 8:00 PM PARTY 1: Mardi Gras Welcome Party. Join the 2nd line Parade – with the Crecent City Conjourers (Warpo, Doug Conn, Devon Faul, Steve Reynolds, Winston Helling Jr, Michael Dardant) and Variety Talent by Frenchman Street Productions Promenade/Courtyard/Martinkas Backroom and balcony

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – Scott and Dick Olson are traveling by car from Houston to New Orleans and talk about their excitement and anticipation for this upcoming convention.

00:05:10 – National President, Rod Chow, arrived yesterday and tells us a bit about some of the pre-convention activities. He also recaps his year as the National President and what he accomplished over the past year.

00:12:19 – President Elect, John Midgley, tells us a bit about some of the magic caricatures that he has been drawing and posting on Facebook, including one of your humble host, Scott Wells.

00:19:05 – Steve Reynolds is a local New Orleans magician who is also part of the talent on the bill at this convention.

00:25:55 – Cody Clark and Sid Hagarty are young magicians who are excited about this convention.

00:34:49 - Incoming National President of the S.A.M., John Sturk, tells us what he hopes to accomplish during his upcoming year as President.

00:48:14 – at the President’s Party, we have a martini as we chat with Past National President, Dal Sanders and his wife Cinde Sanders who tell us what they love magic conventions.

00:53:04 – Past National President of the S.A.M., Bruce Kalver, tells us about the new S.A.M. history book.

01:03:26 – Editor of the M.U.M., Alan Howard, chats about the S.A.M. journal and his path to this job y working with Stan Allen.

762: Pebblepalooza - Convention Report

Friday, May 26

1:00 p.m. Welcome and Housekeeping Announcements

1:20 p.m. Gary Plants

7:00 p.m. Doug Conn

Saturday, May 27

10:30 a.m. - The Do-It-Yourself, All-Star Debutantes Jamboree Soiree Hootenanny

1:00 p.m. - Jared Kopf

7:00 p.m. - Erik Tait

10:30 p.m. - Gary Plants’ Ultra Secret Video Historical Showcase Exhibit of long-gone time past and magical curiosities

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 - Scott Wells drinks some hot coffee on his drive to Dallas

00:04:50 - Welcome remarks and housekeeping by Lance Pierce

00:06:48 - Erik Tait talks about this convention being his first Pebblepalooza and his anticipation to giving his presentation

00:11:08 - Justin Teeman has attended every Pebblepalooza and tells us some of his favorite moments

00:16:28 - Rolando Santos is a Past International President of the I.B.M. and gives us his initial observation of this being his first Pebblepalooza

00:24:32 - Tony Cabral is one of the people behind the scene who help make this event a success

00:33:38 - Lauren Cohen is the only female attendee who has attended every Pebblepalooza since Year Four.

00:39:22 - Danny Cheng, from California is 28 years old and is apparently the youngest attendee

00:43:53 - Eddie McColl, from Glasgow, Scotland, talks about Roy Walton and his magic shop, Tam Shepherds

00:51:49 - Lance Pierce is the organizer of this event and talks about how and why he put this event together and how it differs from the traditional “convention”

00:03:40 - Mike Powers helps wrap up today’s events