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299: Day One - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

San Antonio, the Alamo City, is the host for this year's 88th annual I.B.M. convention. The weather is perfect, the talent is outstanding, the fellowship is fun, the magic is awesome, and the dealers have all the latest, greatest stuff. If you cannot be here in person, then these daily podcasts will be the next best thing.

And thanks to a new feature on Facebook, we can enlarge the experience by going "Live" with our chats where you can ask questions in "real time" via Facebook as I am chatting/recording my conversation. Be sure to "Like" our page at http://facebook.com/themagicwordpodcast to participate in these impromptu, off-the-cuff chats that will happen. They can happen at any time so be vigilant if you want to participate.

First day activities.kicked off with the stage contest. This year there will be two scheduled days to hold all of the contestants, and it looks like there may be a Gold Medal or perhaps a Gold Cup awarded this year. Stiff competition.

The afternoon featured our first lecture with a full house for Joshua Jay. The evening started with an autograph session and each registrant received a free commemorative poster to have signed by the performers. The evening featured the Guests of Honor, The Great Tomsoni & Co. in a one-on-one chat with Paul Vigil as host. Afterwards followed the "Penn & Teller Fool Us" panel discussion featuring some of those who have been on the TV show and this was hosted by Shawn Farquhar that concluded the day's activities.

On July 2, 2016, while attending the 88th I.B.M. conveintion in San Antonio, Texas, Joe M. Turner, the current and outgoing International President of the I.B.M., joined Scott Wells on the microphone to record a podcast for The Magic Word. This was the first time we used Facebook's Live Streaming function.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:14 - Scott gets ready to depart for San Antonio

00:02:28 - Incoming International President, Oscar Munoz, talks about his goals and direction for the coming year as the new head of the organization,

00:11:35 - Joe Tuner talks LIVE on Facebook with Scott about his travels and work this past year as the International President.

00:22:44 - Andi Gladwin talks LIVE on Facebook with Scott about the Session convention in England, his partnership with Joshua Jay, and the MagiFest that he and Josh put together each year.

00:37:34 - Paul Vigil hosts a chat on stage with Johnny Thompson and Pam. This was recorded in the banquet room but pretty good acoustics.

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Today begins the first of our daily reports from San Antonio. If you plan to attend (or even if you would like to keep up with what's happening each day), then download this FREE Guidebook app now to keep everything in the palm of your hand: schedule, maps, performers, dealers and more. Plus you can create your own personalized schedule so you never miss anything you want to be sure to see!

298: Mike Robinson - Just Venting

Mike Robinson is one of the busiest and most successful acts that you have probably never heard of. More than just a ventriloquist, Mike Robinson prefers to be introduced as "The Unique Comedy of Mike Robinson" so his vent act comes as a surprise. He does magic, stand-up comedy, music, juggling, as well as ventriloquism. But his interests include martial arts, playing music, family, and taking advantage of his spare time.

Mike talks about some of his favorite podcasts he listens to; questions he is often asked by his audience; carrying his dummy through TSA and what people ask to see; filling a full show with one vent character versus having several dummies (if the audience doesn't like one character, then they might like the next one); the importance of having additional strong material in reserve either for cruise ships or for corporate shows; his roots in magic, comedy and ventriloquism; his “old school” way of scripting using pen and paper; the importance of mentorship and finding a mentor to help your act; his influences on his career; how he learned ventriloquism; tips and suggestions to those who are interested in learning to be a vent; and much, much more.

Perhaps his best advice for those wanting to learn ventriloquism is to buy a dummy/puppet later, but first learn to be a ventriloquist. Ventriloquism is the skill, the puppet is the act. He suggests the best book for inspiring him and pointing him in the right direction is "Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions" by Albert A, Hopkins. Pages 164-170 is where you will find the info about ventriloquism (thanks, Salvadore Calderon).

Click on the banner above to visit the Magic Store on The Magic Word to see all the products available for sale.00:54:03 - Time stamp for the product review of "Chapswitch" — Click on the banner above to visit the Magic Store on The Magic Word to see all the products available for sale.
00:54:03 - Time stamp for the product review of "Chapswitch"

Click on the graphic above to view a video demonstration of "Chapswitch"

The book that included some of the best advice on ventriloquism that inspired Mike Robinson. Pages 164-170 address ventriloquism.

297: Alain Nu - The Man Who Nu

Who knew? Alain Nu, that's who. Alain Nu has been quietly working as a professional mentalist for many years performing on the college circuit, at corporate events, on his own network television specials, aboard cruise ships, plus he even had time to write and publish one of Amazon.com's best selling books, "State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals His Secrets".

During a recent and rare lecture tour of the U.S., Alain stopped by Houston where we shared the microphone to talk about a variety of topics including his advice for anyone who thinks they want to produce a TV special.

Alain Nu, the Man Who Knows Star of TLC's "The Mysterious World of Alain Nu" Author of Amazon #1 Hot New Release "Picture Your ESP!" Current Guest-Headliner on Norwegian Cruise Line's "The Getaway" www.TheManWhoKnows.TV

Alain Nu demonstrates his mind reading skills through the television screen. This trick and more are included and explained in his book, "State of Mind: The Man Who Knows Reveals His Secrets".

Alain talks about his TLC network television specials, "The Mysterious World of Alain Nu" and how he put together the show and how TV quickly "burn through" material and requires the entertainer to come up with more material including some "tent poles" which would be high points of the show that were dangerous and he had to "get through" without truly injuring himself but keeps people from changing channels during the commercial breaks and stopping the channel surfers. He gives lots of advice for those who want to perform on television.

He also talks about working with a manager to book you for a TV special, cruise ships, corporate events or on the college circuit. The secret: do a variety of things to grow your expertise, branding and experience as your Google ranking increases.

He also talks about how some movies have predicted technology that we now use; performing on the college circuit and who the competitors are today; his metal bending workshop; his philosophy on mentalism; what "powers" he presents in his performances; and, how he wants his audience to perceive him.

Jim Jorgensen is the winner of the prize offered by Alain Nu, "ESP Arcana - Ten Amazing Effects for Ten ESP Cards" by H. Arcana. Be sure to watch and listen to The Magic Word for upcoming contests for free prizes.

Read Alain Nu's book for mind readers, magicians, and lay people on critical thinking.

Order your copy of the Kindle edition of Alain's book here.