096: 2013 F.F.F.F. Day Four

The 43rd Annual Fechter's Finger Flicking Frolic is now history and what a year it was. Everyone I talked with seemed to agree that this year was filled with excitement, mystery, energy and creativity unlike some past conventions. It was in no small measure attributable to our Guest of Honor, Steve Bargatze. In this final podcast from Batavia (just outside Buffalo, New York) we start with a nice chat with Stephen who talks about his work in Las Vegas substituting for Mac King plus his family including his professional comedian son, Nate.

00:29:15 - Chris Hannibal talked about his restaurant/bar work and how he turns it into corporate work. He also gave us his viewpoint of the convention as a participant this year rather than having to prepare for being on one of the scheduled performances.

00:38:45 - Enjoy a cigar and a glass of scotch with Jason Juliano and Roland Meister as they gave a rundown of what impressed them at this year's convention.

00:52:00 - Ali Shelley and Katalina Absolon gave us a view of magic from the distaff side with tips and encouragement for your women who want to go into magic.

01:04:45 - More insight from the perspectives of long time attendees George Silverman, Donald Voltz and Steven Duperre.

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Obie O'Brien presents the official award to Stephen Bargatze as the 2013 Guest of Honor.

The final night show always reads like a "Who's Who" of magic. Tonight was no different. The photos below features (in order) those who entertained us for three hours of magic, mystery and mayhem: Michael Dardant (from the U.S.A.) assisted by Ed Ripley, Bebel (from France), Red Tsai (from Taiwan), David Stone (from France), Willy Monroe (from Spain), William Watt (from France), Angel San Martin (from Spain), Shawn Farquhar (from Canada), Dani DaOrtiz (from Spain), Paul Gertner (from the U.S.A.), Woody Aragon (from Spain), and Rick Merrill (from the U.S.A.) assisted by Geoff Williams.

2011 Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, TN

During late winter of 2011 (March 3-5) in the vacation resort community of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, organizers presented the 37th annual edition of The Winter Carnival of Magic to a burgeoning group of nearly 250 magicians. This is not your typical convention. WCM schedules many different programs, shows, parties, and well...just about everything including a final night pizza party. For one thing, this is held in the Country Tonight theatre complete with a full stage and professional sound and light with people who know how to use them. The dealers set up in the lobby so everything is pretty much self-contained. The hosting hotel is just a 100 yard walk down the hill from the theatre. It is kind of like Brigadoon that appears overnight but in a twinkle of the eye, is gone and remains as just a fond memory.

This year seemed to be the Year of the Lectures that included Troy Hooser, Carroll Baker, Aldo & Rachel Colombini, Ricky Boone, TJ Shimeld, Tom Craven, Banachek, Scott Wells, David Acer and Sandy Marshall plus close-up performances by Carroll Baker, David Acer, Rick Merrill and Doc Eason plus a workshop by Kozmo.

Elsewhere here on The Magic Word I posted the last of the "Lost Episodes" that I recorded for (but never aired on) another podcast. Since it is winter, now would be the perfect time to get a nice cup of hot cocoa and listen to the sounds of the Winter Carnival of Magic. I hope it will get you excited about registering for next year's event so you don't miss the fun.

For more information and pictures from the convention plus registration for the 2012 convention, please visit: http://wintercarnivalofmagic.com/

036: Magi-Fest 2011 - Day Two from the file of "Lost Episodes"

January 28th and it's Day Two of the 80th Magi-Fest. Come along with me as we go into the Dealers' Room and enjoy an "off-the-cuff", funny and informative chat with David Williamson and Rick Merrill. The synergistic energy of these two guys is just out of this world. We then have a much more serious conversation with Joanie Spina who talks about directing and choreographing magic acts plus some of her time with David Copperfield. We also have a brief chat with one of her students, David Malachor. She has done so much for helping and improving many of the top acts today. Back in the Dealers' Room I have a chat with Greg Bordner talking about Abbott’s Get Together, the genesis of Abbotts plus Harry Blackstone and more.

We then walk over to the booth where Jim Steinmeyer is signing his new book, The Last Greatest Magician in the World, a biography about Howard Thurston. As with all of Jim's books, it is a most fascinating read. We also chat with Jim about some of his consulting with Broadway theatrical productions.

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