929: Fielding West - Every Breath He Takes

Fielding West has been a fixture of the Las Vegas comedy scene for over 50 years. But time has taken its toll and he now suffers from Emphysema, a form of COPD. But despite having to be strapped with an oxygen tank 24/7, Fielding has found a way to keep on his path of teaching people how to speak better on stage plus being part of the “Lance Burton and Friends” tour. He has even incorporated a way to make his audiences laugh with him at his malady.

Fielding is like the Everyready bunny that just keeps going, and going, and going. He continues to make people laugh with his antics on stage and has even just been recognized by the International Magicians Society (IMS) with yet another Merlin Award. This episode was recorded in May 2025 and long before he knew he was going to be receiving this award.

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827: Raymond Crowe - What a Wonderful Life

From Adelaide, Australia, Raymond Crowe bills himself as the “Unusualist.” An apt title, indeed, as his act is hard to describe and one of a kind. More than a magician and mime, he is a shadow artist as well. His on-stage character can be seen and “felt” by audiences regardless of the size of the theater. He can emote feelings and emotions with a mere gesture, tilt of his head, or movement of his eyes, plus his magic is original and amazing. He has performed around the world including a command performance for the Queen of England! He toured with The Illusionists as they traveled around the world from the Sydney Opera House to Broadway in New York City. He has had appearances on David Letterman’s Late Show, Australia’s Got Talent and even on America’s Got Talent. He has competed at FISM and lectured/performed at MAGIC Live! and Blackpool.

If you are more of a visual person, then you might like watching our interaction via Zoom as we recorded this week’s episode.

This week, Raymond Crowe talks about his beginnings as he learned mime/theater from Madame Zora. He also talks about his humble beginnings as a manipulator and how he learned the art of shadowography.

365: Day One - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2017

This is the first of a five day series of podcasts from Louisville featuring conversations with convention talent, organizers, dealers and registrants. The intent is to bring you the sounds (and sights through the embedded videos and attached photos) of what's happening almost in "real time" so you have the next best experience of actually being there. .

This is not the "official" first day of the convention, but nonetheless, there were several "pre-convention" activities that happened and are worth recording for this episode which I will call "Day One".

IBM-SAM 2017 COMBINED CONVENTION SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, JULY 11
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Lance Burton Teen Magic Seminar - Jones
Ed Thomas Memorial Jr Magic Workshop - Beckham
2:00 PM - S.A.M. Endowment Fund Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - S.A.M. Magic Center Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Registration Opens - Registration Area
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - S.A.M. Caucus Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Registration Opens - Registration Area
6:00 PM - Red Carpet Event - Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
7:00 PM - Louisville Premere: Billy Topit - Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
9:30 PM - Midnight - Dealers Grand Opening / Autograph Session - Exhibit Hall

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:04:20 - David Salwak and Fielding West talk about the talent at this convention, both on the shows and the competition.

00:12:09 - Michael Perovich, from Los Angeles and a member of the Magic Castle, tells why he comes to the combined convention which allows him to see acts that aren't seen at the Magic Castle.

00:25:46 - Oscar Munoz, International President of the I.B.M. tells us about what he has accomplished over the past year as President and some of his highlights of what he has seen and done.

00:28:19 - Dal Sanders, past National President of the S.A.M., tells us what's going on with the S.A.M. Council.

00:33:08 - Richard Turner calls in to remind us of his debut on Penn & Teller Fool Us on July 13, 2017

00:34:57 - Q&A Panel discussion following the debut showing of "Billy Topit"

00:52:03 - Jeff Sikola, National President of the S.A.M., talks about what he feels were the highlights of the past year.

00:57:55 - Jason Andrews talks about the competitions that brought him to where he is today as well as his cruise ship work.

00:02:31 - Tommy Ellison (a Friend of The Magic Word) shares a story as an update from the podcast posted Feb. 27, 2014 and available by Clicking Here.