247: Day Three - MAGIC Live! 2015

Another whirlwind day of activities and more surprises. The general session was hosted by David Deeble and included a surprise performance by James Dimare as he performed to new music that was especially composed and arranged for him by one of our speakers, Edward B. Kessel. Jorge Blass talked about his Facebook trick he sold to Copperfield; Wayne Houchin taught a couple tricks from his lecture; and Michael Carbonaro talked about his hit TV show, "The Carbonaro Effect". Another surprise happened when Michael brought a couple on stage and the man proposed to his girlfriend.

The "Focus" Sessions included a wonderful talk by Mike Caveney on "Classic Correspondence" which brought history to life; Martin Lewis teaching something new and something old; and the close-up clinic that featured a grab bag of great close-up pros teaching hands-on card tricks and featured Alan Ackerman, Jason England, Tom Frank, Jared Kopf, Chris Korn, Steve Reynolds and R. Paul Wilson.

The evening show I saw was David and Leeman which was very funny, but before that, we had several groups attend a half hour "experimental" event that had everyone interacting with a projection screen hosted by Richard Wiseman. It was quite entertaining.

A new levitation of a borrowed wine glass, full or empty

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:24 - David Hinkin along with Dick and Diane Olson recap yesterday's event over breakfast.

00:09:14 - Dave Magee talks about why he got off all social media.

00:19:56 - Dirk Losander and Michael Ammar talk about their newest projects and a new levitation trick that will soon be available.

00:29:00 - Peter Nardi, Alakazam Magic, talks about performing at weddings and restaurants in England.

00:45:45 - Paul Draper talks about being the Technical Director of the daily sessions and the challenges of putting it all together.

00:52:28 - Chuck and Jan Jones talk about his creation of various illusions like the MIsMade Girl and lots of stories about his travels and television experience including an interesting story about working with Orson Welles.

01:13:57 - Stan Allen talks about how things are going so far and what all they are doing to keep the surprises secret.

01:28:53 - Bill and Marlene Seagraves talks about this being convention from the perspective of first time attendees.

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246: Day Two - MAGIC Live! 2015

Stan Allen opened the conference with the keynote speech that set the tone for the convention. His one word this year: curiosity. The morning session was a variety of outstanding presentations but the highlight everyone was waiting for was David Copperfield "In His Own Words". He was genuine, humble and charismatic and enjoyed by all. He admitted some of his failures and talked about continuing to work on projects and being forever committed to excellence and tweaking effects to make them perfect. He also discussed his disgust for those who steal from creators.

The afternoon sessions (for my colored badge) included Ian Rowland on mentalism (his third appearance at MAGIC Live!), Joel Bauer talking about trade shows, and Steve Valentine talking about variations of Cards to Pocket.

The evening show was outstanding hosted by Jorge Bass and opened with one of my favorite acts, Charlie Frye & Company. It concluded with not one or two, but three illusionists: Nathan Burton, Mike Michaels and Greg Gleason.

My evening rounded out with the 11:00 close-up show. Not your typical professional close-up show. In fact, this was perhaps for me, one of what will remain asa highlight of this MAGIC Live! Michael Weber hosted an evening of top professionals presenting one trick from the original "Stars of Magic" series. This featured Johnny Thomson, R. Paul Wilson, Paul Vigil, Julie Eng, Eric Mead and David Ben with a special guest appearance by the Professor himself, Dai Venon, perfectly portrayed by Jared Kppf.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:26 - Host Stan Allen explains the theme of this year's convention.

00:07:26 - Jamie D. Grant talks a bit about the show he just finished presenting on the memorized deck

00:08:50 - Michael Chaut, producer of Monday Night Magic talks a bit about his 18 year run at producing the show. We are intermittently joined by several people who are passing through the casino near the entrance of the theater.

00:22:00 - Simon Coronel was the master of ceremonies for the morning session and he talks a bit about not scripting his show.

00:28:55 - Shep Hyken and Seth Kramer talk about MAGIC Live!

00:41:16 - Bill Cook talks about performing on "Penn & Teller Fool Us" and "Wizard Wars".

245: Day One - MAGIC LIve! 2015

For the first day of a four day event that had no scheduled activity until 7:30 p.m., there sure was a lot of meeting and greeting of old friends.

In this first day update, we have some time to chat with many of the friends we ran into. With nearly 1,800 registrants, it's hard to get around to have quality conversations with everyone. But it was great that some people gave me some great quality time albeit short due to the veritable whirlwind of magical luminaries swirling around the casino. Monday will bring us the first full day of activities so I probably should get a little rest. I;m still on Central Time so it is nearly dawn in Texas according to my body clock.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:25 - Charlie Randall of H&R Magic Books joins me at the airport for our flight from Houston to Las Vegas

00:07:17 - Chris Philppott and Steve Valentine, mates of mine from the Magic Castle are the first ones that I got to chat with after I checked into the hotel. Steve talks a bit about his presentation that he will give on Monday and Chris talks about his marketed effect, "French Postcards".

00:11:46 - R. Paul Wilson talks a bit about his movie, "Our Magic"

00:13:25 - "The Evil Twins", Dave Cox and Bruce Gold

00:15:20 - Steve Bryan talks about the Little Egypt Gazette and Randy Wakeman joins us to give us a health report on SIMON Lovell

00:22:44 - Kyle Knight and Mistie talks about their current and future schedule also about their performance on "Wizard Wars" and "Penn & Teller Fool Us".

00:31:35- Jeff and Tessa Evason are joined briefly by Gil Eagles and Ken Weber

00:39:26 - Justin Willman is getting married soon and he talks about that. He is also joined by Sean Popp and Shep Hyken.

00:44:38 - Dustin Stinett talks about the upcoming Genii convention

00:52:26 - Ray Anderson, star of Esther's Follies in Austin, Texas talks about the upcoming Texas Association of Magicians convention and his appearance there.

01:01:47 - Dennis Watkins talks about the return of the Houdini play in Chicago next summer for a 15 week run starting in June 2016.

01:06:52 - Steve Chezaday and Carol talk about Abbott's Get Together that just ended and he flew straight to Las Vegas

01:20:11 - Tom Mullica talks about his late night tales he told by his headstone in the graveyard at Colon, Michigan at Abbott's Get Together last week.

247: Day Three - MAGIC Live! 2015

246: Day Two - MAGIC Live! 2015

245: Day One - MAGIC LIve! 2015

The Magic Word