085: MagiFest 2013 - Day Two

Day Two of the 2013 MagiFest included an afternoon session featuring short 15-20 minute T.E.D. (Technology, Entertainment, Design) like talks from five speakers. First up was Mahdi Gilbert showed us some mad skills that would be difficult for anyone but he doesn't have any hands; Eric Jones talked about Angle of Visibility; John Archer discussed overlapping comedy and magic in your act and finding the perfect blend; Tony Chang continued a talk on the importance of the angle of visibility, but from a "different angle"; and Justin Flom talked about the importance of generating video content on the internet.

Lecturers included Troy Hooser and Justin Flom. The evening shows were again split between two rooms with Simon and Ginny Arronson presenting their two person mind reading routine, "It's the Thought That Counts" with the other room hosting a one hour show by the incredible card genius, Dani DaOrtiz. The late night lecture was Simon Lovell.

I started off the the day by catching Doug Conn and Scott Robinson in the hallway for a short chat about the convention and what they've been up to recently. Then I sat down with Jep Hostetler, who was the Director of the MagiFest for 29 years, and with his successor, Ron Spangler. They talked a bit about the history of the MagiFest and how good they feel that it is now in good hands and going in a new direction after all these years.

I received good feedback from Facebook saying that you wanted to hear and interview with Eric Jones. Well, you asked and you got it. Eric and I found a quiet nook to chat for a while. He gave me a recap of the T.E.D. talk he gave earlier in the day plus he told me what he's up to now and what his long term plans for his career. You might be surprised to hear his ten year plan.

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MagiFest Photos - Day 1 & 2

Opening night at the MagiFest meant a packed house in the small room that was designated as the Dealers' Room. With 24 dealers and a fire department sign indicating the room could only hole 130 people (and that's without the tables), it is hard to fit in 550 registrants at one time. Adding to the feeding frenzy, raffle tickets were given for each $20 you spent with any dealer which gave you a chance to win $1,000 of magic.

Dealers presented a lot of great stuff including some new stuff just  being rolled out. Such was the case at the RFA Products booth. Tony Miller demoed the brand new card to wallet called Speed Loader. Here is a quick demo below.

Of course, what's a trip to Columbus without going to German Town and a dinner at Schmidt's Restaurant? You know I love good food. Below is a picture of Don Wiberg and me just outside the restaurant. Prosit!

We awoke on Day two to a rather heavy snow storm that lasted most of the day. But inside, the registrants were toasty. Perhaps some moreso that the others. :)

The Lecture Hall did double duty for all activities.

The afternoon session was compered by Joshua Jay and opened Magifest partner, Andi Gladwin who stepped inside a balloon. Yes, a balloon, but a BIG one.

If they are planning on selling tickets for the Saturday night show to more than those who are registered, then I don't know where they will put them. It looks pretty sold out to me already.

084: MagiFest 2013 - Day One

The MagiFest in Columbus, Ohio missed the wrecking ball after several  decades of successful conventions and great management. The MagiFest  was always considered the first major convention of the year drawing  well over 500 peoply annually who would brave the traditionally frigid  environs of the Midwest winters. Registrants traveled from around the  region and talent was drawn from across the globe to make the MagiFest  one of the premier conventions on the scene.

But after Jep  Hostetler turned over the reigns of management to Ron Spangler, it  appeared to be more than the new organizers were equipped to handle.  Although last year's convention was a financial success, they kind of  looked around the room and everyone agreed that perhaps they should let  it go.

Joshua Jay was one of the hundreds of magicians who grew up  attending the MagiFest and learned to love and appreciate magic. He saw  some of the best talent in the world and learned from them. He and  business partner, Andi Gladwin from the U.K. teamed up to organize "The  Session", a close-up convention in England. Buoyed from the success of  that convention, they felt that the MagiFest was too important to let  die. Moreover, they thought if the MagiFest is to survive well into the  future, it was time to take it in a new direction with some traditional things for the "regulars" plus have an appeal to the  younger set of "up and comers"...just like Joshua was.

The first day  allowed the registrants to squeeze into the small Dealers' Room for a  chance to get the latest and greatest...and indeed, they had it all. I  have never seen such a feeding frenzy; however, it reminded me of The  Magic Circle Centenary cramped Dealers' Room many years ago that had us  all packed in like sardines. At least this Dealers' Room had air  conditioning, though it wasn't necessary since it was 12 degrees  outside.

The registrants were split into two groups one of which  saw Simon Lovell's one man show "Strange and Unusual Hobbies" that he  has presented off Broadway in New York for eight years while the other  room Scott Robinson hosted the other group with a workshop.

Before  anything started and while the corridor was filled with anxious  shoppers with time on their hands and money in their pockets and  awaiting the opening of the Dealers' Room, I stopped long-time attendee  (and local restaurant magician) Carroll Baker who talked about the  demise of the Red Coats (the former organizers of the MagiFest) and John  Sturk from Chicago and this being his first MagiFest. Steve Bryant  (editor of "The Little Egypt Gazette") also said hello.

For  "Magic and Martini Thursday" (see Facebook to join us each week for a  virtual martini) we went into the bar for a real treat with Jania  Taylor, John Archer and Simon Lovell. This may be one of the best and  most fun (and funniest) interviews I have recorded on The Magic Word at  conventions. I think I was able to bleep out all the potentially  offensive language, but it wasn't easy. :)

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