239: I.B.M. 2015 Convention - Day Two

Day two in Jacksonville had the second day of stage contests plus the beginning of the "Big Three" shows. The "Big Three" shows are when the registrants are broken up into three separate, color-coded groups and see one of the three events each day. On one day a group will see the David & Leeman show. On the second day, that group will see the David Cox show. And on the third day that group will see the close-up show that features Michael Dardant, Dan Garrett, Paul Cummins, Suzanne, Boris Wild and Chad Long. The other groups will see alternate shows each day. I think you get the idea.

The evening show at the Florida Theater had excitement as patrons entered the theater with Kozmo performing in the lobby. The evening stage show, "Shenanigans", featured Eric Buss along with John & Lari Lynn Shyrock, Ivan Pecel and Greg Shibley.

Context Chairman, Oscar Munoz, announced the six stage finalists who will appear in the Friday Night Show:

From New Hampshire: David Chandler

From Japan: Hannah

From Florida: David Hernandez

From Illinois: Trent James

From Michigan: Stuart McDonald

From Nevada: Chris Randall

The late night lecture back at the hotel was the always hilarious, Tom Mullica!

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:01:32 - Ted and Marian Outerbridge, illusionists from Canada, talk about touring with a big illusion show.

00:13:33 - Incoming International President of the I.B.M., Joe Turner, talks about his vision and goals for the organization in the upcoming year.

00:28:03 - David & Leeman talk about their experience on America's Got Talent TV show, their cooperative union on-stage personalities and how they interact with each other.

0043:35: - Lion Fludd talks about his mentalism contest show, preparing for a contest, his one-man show in Las Vegas and his road from magic to mentalism

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238: I.B.M. 2015 Convention - Day One

The I.B.M. convention opened the first day with a bang. The first of two days of stage contests began plus an opening night party that featured Fantasio and Storm Troopers from Star Wars. How often can you see those two things in the same sentence? I.B.M. International Presiden, Shawn Farquhar, was introduced with fanfare and with a local group of Storm Troopers for his processional. I remember in New Orleans, Louisiana when then International President Earl Christenberry had a Creole Jazz Band parade in his processional throwing bead to the registrants as if we were in a Mardi Gras parade. Shawn's parade was quite different.

Fantasio was honored at the evening show as we enjoyed a performance by a troupe of performers from Argentina who delighted the audience with their magic, mind-reading, manipulation and comedy ending with a hand shadow act. Another nice feature at I.B.M. conventions is the "Autograph Party" where the performers are all lined up sitting at a table and signing free posters that feature their photos. Lectures of the day included Boris Wild and Soma.

In the "Night Before" party, those who arrived early enjoyed a double feature of magic films: one by Kevin Spencer on his "Healing of Magic" program and the second with Christian Cagigal called, "Now And At The Hour" which was a documentary about his one man show. The well-attended ate night lecture was with Kozmo.

Christian Cagigal brings an illusion from his show "Now and at the Hour" to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA. The show played in San Francisco June 5th to August 15, 2009 as well in in New York in February 2009.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:05 - Obie O'Brien talks FISM 2015 and IBM conventions he's attended.

00:21:34 - Ken Scott, Talent Chairman, talks about booking the acts for this convention and how he selected the performers.

00:33:09 - Steven Kline talks about how important good sound is for your show.

00:46:39 - Garrett Thomas talks about creativity.

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237: FISM Italy - Day Six

We finally made it through all the competitions and the final night gala show. Max Maven competed the evening contest show. These are the first place winners who competed tonight for the Gran Prix:
Kim Young-Min from Korea - general magic
Shin Lim from Canada - cards
Horret Wu from Taiwan - cards
Thommy Ten & Amélie van Tass from Germany - mentalism
Pierric from Switzerland - parlor
Hector Mancha from Spain - manipulation

Gran Prix winner close-up - Pierric
Gran Prix winner stage - Hector Mancha

Special winners
Creativity and artistic achievement - Derren Brown
History, research and scholarship - Magic Christian
Theory and Philosophy - Roberto Giobi

And the 2018 FISM will be held in South Korea.