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354: Robin Leach - Lifestyles of Magicians

354 banner.jpg

Robin Leach has long been associated with his catch phrase "Champagne Dreams and Caviar Wishes" as he hosted the long running television show, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"  which focused on profiling well-known celebrities and their lavish homes, cars and other materialistic details. But Robin is also a "magic fan" who clearly loves and has a deep respect for magic and he is friends with many of the local magicians. Believe it or not, he is an honorary member of The Magic Circle. He also has a rather impressive collection of magic books in his library.

I saw Robin Leach at last year's MAGIC Live! who was trying to be inconspicuous as he chatted with Stan Allen. I later asked Stan about Robin's association with magic which led to this podcast. As a long time resident of Las Vegas and immersed in the lifestyles of local celebrities, Robin has a unique perspective on the history and evolution of the magic scene. I felt that he would make a perfect guest for the podcast to hear an "outsiders" perspective of magic, magicians, and the role they have played in making Las Vegas what it is today. I was not disappointed.

Today at age 75 his life hasn't slowed down. I was lucky to get an hour and a half of his time during the week I was in Las Vegas because of his tremendously busy schedule including his weekly vlog (video log) on You Tube, LuxeVegas.

View fullsize Recording at home with Robin Leach
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View fullsize Siegfried with Robin Leach
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View fullsize Robin-Leach-Net-Worth.jpg

Our discussion opens with Robin talking about making and enjoying a "proper" cup of tea. He then talks about his passion for magic and how he believes it needs to have a much higher ranking among the performing arts. He then chats about having been a guest of Bob Harbin and becoming an honorary member of The Magic Circle. He then goes on to talk about his favorite magician, Bill Malone. He also enjoyed watching Ricky Jay live in his Broadway performance, "Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants".

He then talks about the evolution of magic on the Las Vegas "Strip" including from Norm Neilsen, Channing Pollock, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, David Copperfield to Penn & Teller, Criss Angel and Amazing Jonathan to the newest show on the Strip, Jarrett & Raja. Although he sings the praises of many magicians, he is not a fan of hypnotists, and he also has advice for Mac King and Xavier Mortimer. Ultimately, he believes there are too many magicians in Las Vegas today though the art of magic still survives. He then shifts to talking about how hard it is to work in New York City but Monday Night Magic has proved to be the exception.

He concludes by giving us his three "D's" of show business: Dedication, Discipline and Diligence.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

For more information on this and the other Nick Trost books in this series, please visit Steve Bryant's  Little Egypt Magic, March 2017 edition.

Tagged with Robin Leach, Las Vegas, Bill Malone, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Robert Harbin, Ricky Jay, Criss Angel, Siegfried and Roy, Norm Neilsen, Tommy Cooper, Mac King, Lance Burton, David Blaine, Jarrett and Raja, David Copperfield, Franz Harary, Michael Chaut, Penn & Teller, Monday Night Magic, Peter Samelson, Jamy Ian Swiss, Todd Robbins.

April 27, 2017 by Scott Wells.
  • April 27, 2017
  • Scott Wells
  • Robin Leach
  • Las Vegas
  • Bill Malone
  • Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
  • Robert Harbin
  • Ricky Jay
  • Criss Angel
  • Siegfried and Roy
  • Norm Neilsen
  • Tommy Cooper
  • Mac King
  • Lance Burton
  • David Blaine
  • Jarrett and Raja
  • David Copperfield
  • Franz Harary
  • Michael Chaut
  • Penn & Teller
  • Monday Night Magic
  • Peter Samelson
  • Jamy Ian Swiss
  • Todd Robbins
  • Post a comment
Comment

312: Day 1 - MAGIC Live! 2016

Day One - Sunday, August 14th

24 hours - The Back Room (hang out cdenter)

10:00 a.m. - Registration and Name Badge photos

7:30 p.m. - Anniversary Party

7:30 - 11:30 - The MAGIC Shop (dealer faire)

7:45 p.m. - Grand Prize Giveaway

View fullsize Photo Name Badge
View fullsize Registration for MAGIC Live!
View fullsize Billy Hsueh - Registration
View fullsize Scott and R. Paul Wilson
View fullsize Bob Festa
View fullsize Rory Johnson
View fullsize Bicycle playing cards vending machine
View fullsize Rick Merrill and Stev Bargatze
View fullsize Rory Johnson chats with Scott
View fullsize cut card.JPG
View fullsize Ian Rowland
View fullsize Mark Jensen and Chip Romero
View fullsize Chloe Crawfor T-Shirt
View fullsize Scott and Stan Allen
View fullsize Gatsby party
View fullsize Puzzle Pieces
View fullsize Dealers' Room
View fullsize Vinny Grosso
View fullsize Paul Draper and Chad Long
View fullsize Terry Ward
View fullsize Shawn McMaster and Lori
View fullsize Chris Collins and Erik Dobell

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:13 - we depart Houston Hobby airport via Southwest Airlines and start off the journey with a couple Dunkin' Donuts and get excited about the upcoming adventure.

00:03:44 - we finally arrived at the Orleans Hotel & Casino and get in line to pick up our registration packet and chat with a variety of people in line: Michael Perovich, Michael Trixx, Kirk DeWeese, Steve Trout, Bob Festa, R. Paul Wilson, Billy Hsueh

00:11:24 - Rory Johnston, one of Stan Allen's "right-hand-men" and co-organizer, chats about some of the organizational challenges, attendance, and the "back room" where registrants are expected to hang out. He talks about the "Art Deco" theme of this year's convention.

00:18:48 - MAGIC Live "custodian", Stan Allen, talks a little about what things he can talk about now without giving away too many "secrets".

00:24:05 - Rick Merrill and Steve Bargatze tell us about their experiences with attending past MAGIC Live! conventions,, plus Rick talks about the first MAGIC Live! inspiring his award winning magic act.

00:32:08 - Ian Rowland presented on the Focus sessions for the past three conventions and this year he will be on the general sessions on stage. He also talks a bit about his "origami cards". He also "confesses" to being the inventor of all of the effects that were in question during the recent Gregory Wilson controversy. LOL

00:42:34 - Chip Romero and Mark Jensen talk about their respective magic collections plus some tips on planning on the disposition of property after one's demise.

00:48:26 - Mark Jensen tells a story of the origination of the Marshall Brodein TV Magic Cards and how Johnny Thompson wrote the instructions.

0051:13 - Nathan Burton talks about his 4:00 p.m. daily show at Planet Hollywood.

00:53:16 - Vinny Grosso is finally able to talk about his recent win on Penn & Teller Fool Us, how he developed the act, all about his experience, when he will appear in the Penn & Teller show at the Rio. He also chats about an update to his book "Exposed and Fearless" which you can hear about in much more detail in our podcast HERE which is also available on Amazon.

00:59:18 - Shawn McMaster celebrates his birthday at MAGIC Live! and talks about his experience of working at some of the past conventions plus working on the magazine.

01:02:48 - Paul Draper has been stage manager of all of the past MAGIC Live! events, but this year he is experiencing this year just as a registrant. During our conversation, we are joined by Chad Long who talks about some of the conventions he has been working.

01:05:40 - Terry Ward talks about the many MAGIC Live! conventions he has attended and some of the memories he enjoyed from previous years.

01:09:14 - Steve Sabo (a Friend of The Magic Word) and his father, Dick Sabo, talks about getting interested in magic thanks to this convention.

01:12:05 - Erik Dobell and Chris Collins talk about how their show "Impossibilites" has been going since we did a podcast with them. HERE. This is Erik's first magic convention ever of any kind and finding it overwhelming.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Click on the banner above to visit the Workshop's Facebook page for more information.

Click on the banner above to visit the Workshop's Facebook page for more information.

Click on the image above to learn more about Mark's fabulous magic collection.

Click on the image above to learn more about Mark's fabulous magic collection.

Posted in Convention Report and tagged with MAGIC Live!, Las Vegas, Rory Johnston, Michael Perovich, Billy Hsueh, R. Paul Wilson, Bob Festa, Kirk DeWeese, Michael Trixx, Stan Allen, Rick Merrill, Steve Bargatze, Ian Rowland, Shawn McMaster, Vinny Grosso, Nathan Burton, Chad Long, Terry Ward, Erik Dobell, Chris Collins, Steve Sabo, Dick Sabo.

August 15, 2016 by Scott Wells.
  • August 15, 2016
  • Scott Wells
  • MAGIC Live!
  • Las Vegas
  • Rory Johnston
  • Michael Perovich
  • Billy Hsueh
  • R. Paul Wilson
  • Bob Festa
  • Kirk DeWeese
  • Michael Trixx
  • Stan Allen
  • Rick Merrill
  • Steve Bargatze
  • Ian Rowland
  • Shawn McMaster
  • Vinny Grosso
  • Nathan Burton
  • Chad Long
  • Terry Ward
  • Erik Dobell
  • Chris Collins
  • Steve Sabo
  • Dick Sabo
  • Convention Report
  • Post a comment
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246: Day Two - MAGIC Live! 2015

Stan Allen opened the conference with the keynote speech that set the tone for the convention. His one word this year: curiosity. The morning session was a variety of outstanding presentations but the highlight everyone was waiting for was David Copperfield "In His Own Words". He was genuine, humble and charismatic and enjoyed by all. He admitted some of his failures and talked about continuing to work on projects and being forever committed to excellence and tweaking effects to make them perfect. He also discussed his disgust for those who steal from creators.

The afternoon sessions (for my colored badge) included Ian Rowland on mentalism (his third appearance at MAGIC Live!), Joel Bauer talking about trade shows, and Steve Valentine talking about variations of Cards to Pocket.

The evening show was outstanding hosted by Jorge Bass and opened with one of my favorite acts, Charlie Frye & Company. It concluded with not one or two, but three illusionists: Nathan Burton, Mike Michaels and Greg Gleason.

My evening rounded out with the 11:00 close-up show. Not your typical professional close-up show. In fact, this was perhaps for me, one of what will remain asa  highlight of this MAGIC Live! Michael Weber hosted an evening of top professionals presenting one trick from the original "Stars of Magic" series. This featured Johnny Thomson, R. Paul Wilson, Paul Vigil, Julie Eng, Eric Mead and David Ben with a special guest appearance by the Professor himself, Dai Venon, perfectly portrayed by Jared Kppf.

View fullsize Stan Allen Opens the Conference
View fullsize One onone : Stan Allen with David Copperfield
View fullsize Jamie D. Grant
View fullsize Michael Chaut
View fullsize Simon Coronel
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View fullsize Bill Cook
View fullsize Jared Kopf as "The Professor" Dai Vernon
View fullsize Paul Vigil, Eric Mead, David Ben, Julie Eng, R. Paul Wilson, Johnny Thompson, Dai Vernon (Jared Hall) and Michael Weber

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:26 - Host Stan Allen explains the theme of this year's convention.

00:07:26 - Jamie D. Grant talks a bit about the show he just finished presenting on the memorized deck

00:08:50 - Michael Chaut, producer of Monday Night Magic talks a bit about his 18 year run at producing the show. We are intermittently joined by several people who are passing through the casino near the entrance of the theater.

00:22:00 - Simon Coronel was the master of ceremonies for the morning session and he talks a bit about not scripting his show.

00:28:55 - Shep Hyken and Seth Kramer talk about MAGIC Live!

00:41:16 - Bill Cook talks about performing on "Penn & Teller Fool Us" and "Wizard Wars".

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Posted in Convention Report and tagged with Stan Allen, MAGIC Live!, Simon Coronel, Jamie D. Grant, Michael Chaut, Monday Night Magic, David Copperfield, Shep Hyken, Seth Kramer, Bill Cook.

August 10, 2015 by Scott Wells.
  • August 10, 2015
  • Scott Wells
  • Stan Allen
  • MAGIC Live!
  • Simon Coronel
  • Jamie D. Grant
  • Michael Chaut
  • Monday Night Magic
  • David Copperfield
  • Shep Hyken
  • Seth Kramer
  • Bill Cook
  • Convention Report
  • Post a comment
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The Magic Word The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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