302: Day Four -2016 I.B.M. Convention

The final day of the convention was no less packed than the others starting off with the annual Order of Merlin breakfast. This is for I.B.M. members with 25 years or more of consecutive membership. This year's speaker was Richard "Rick" Heath who spoke about 40 years of artwork in Le Grand David show. The final day of the Triple Treat followed. Then after lunch, the pages of The Linking Ring magazine came alive with lectures by the columnists and editor in several break-out rooms.

Eric Jones gave the final lecture in the banquet hall and the evening show entertained the registrants and public alike with a show hosted by Steve Bargatze and included Joseph Gabriel, Thommy Ten and Amelie, and a special appearance by Johnny Thompson and Shawn Farquhar dressed as doves. The show closed with the illusions of Scott Pepper. We then retreated to the hotel where we had a farewell party/reception for everyone.

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:02:34 - Richard "Rick" Heath was the artist who worked for Le Grand David magic show. Here he gives a talk to the Order of Merlin members at their annual breakfast meeting. He talks about the 40 years of artwork in the show: posters, props, backdrops and portraits. you can download and view the special, full color booklet that Rick gave to attendees by Clicking Here.

00:38:39 - John McLaughlin, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, talks about how he has been enjoying the convention and what he's learned and what magic he's doing in his daily life.

00:53:00 - Joshua Jay talks about his recent lecture during the convention, "Tragic Magic" plus other things that he and Andi Gladwin are working on with Vanishing, Inc. and the MagiFest.

00:55:56 - Former National President of the Texas Association of Magicians, and the Entertainment Director of the former Magic Island in Houston, Scott Hollingsworth, talks about some of his favorite parts of the convention. He also talks about the upcoming T.A.O.M. convention coming in September 2-5 in Corpus Christi, Texas,

01:06:52 - Past National President of the S.A.M. talks about his favorite parts (so far) of this convention, plus a plug for the upcoming S.A.M. convention in Indianapolis and the Magic Compass.

01:14:03 - Steve Bargatze tells about his behind-the-scenes as he prepared topical humor for the convention.

01:25:18 - First International Vise President of the I.B.M., Michael Finney, talks about the changing scene on magic conventions plus his upcoming "Dry Heat Classic" charity golf event.

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Thank you everyone who entered the contest to win one of two hard copies of Rick's booklet that accompanied his speech before the "Order of Merlin" members' breakfast. Watch for upcoming opportunities to win prizes from The Magic Word.

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301: Day Three - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

Another full day beginning with the second day of the Triple Treat that featured three different magicians repeating their performances and lectures on three different days: Paul Vigil, Richard Turner and Brian Gillis. I saw my friend Paul Vigil today and expected perfection and received it. He was awesome. Be sure to catch our conversations at the Magic Castle in previous podcasts here.

I then served as a judge in the close-up competition in the afternoon. The afternoon "Super Session" featured four magicians teaching four pet effects: John "Handsome Jack" Lovick, Steve Bargatze, Chris Randall and Shawn Farquhar. The evening brought the annual banquet including a special performance by Cody Fisher. The evening show was the "Champions of Magic" show that was the six finalists in the stage competition hosted by Joel Ward and with the final act by Trevor and Lorena Watters.

The late night lecture was a special treat: Joshua Jay giving his lecture on "Tragic Magic". This was a fascinating, if not macabre, lecture on those magicians, some famous and some not, who died tragic deaths.

An award-winning cups and balls routine performed by Doug Gorman and Michael Tallon of San Antonio, Texas.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:13 - Local San Antonio magician, Doug Gorman, talks about how the local magicians helped promote the IBM convention plus Doug gives some tips on working restaurants, how to get booked and problems unique in this area when competing with mariachis in restaurants.

00:17:43 - Talent Chairman, Shawn Farquhar, tells how hi got the talent booked for this convention plus he gets sidetracked into telling lots of stories including one about the time at the Body Shop in Los Angeles when he punched a security guard.

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300: Day Two - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

Today began the first day of the the "Triple Treat" so named because each day the registrants are broken into three groups (by color) and attend an hour and a half of performances and lectures by three different magicians, one in each of three rooms each day: Richard Turner, Paul Vigil, and Brian Gillis. After the General Board Meeting, the second day of stage contests were held (which yielded a few finalists for Monday night's show). The afternoon lecture by Michael Ammar was another outstanding (and packed) event. The evening's "Magic Foolers Show" left something to be desired in that there were audio and visual problems. Plus the show would have been better received in a smaller venue probably back at the hotel ballroom. The final night's activity was a discussion with Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger talking about the 25 years of the Mystery School.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:13 - Dealer Chairman, Terry Richison, talks about some of the cool things in the dealers' room.

00:08:34 - Past International President, Jep Hostetler, talks about attending the Richard Turner experience as part of the "Triple Treat"

00:10:28 - Attendee Greg Lancaster gives us his take on the Paul Vigil performance/lecture in the "Triple Treat".

00:12:08 - Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger talk about the many years they have taught the youth as part of the I.B.M. youth group activities each year.

00:16:55 - Harriet Jacobson and Gay Blackstone chat about their specialized magic jewelry sold through BJW Magical Jewelers which is one of the many dealers in the dealers' room this year.

00:22:24 - Past President of the British Ring, Brian Miller, talks about the upcoming British Ring convention.

00:26:45 - S.A.M. National President, David Bowers, talks about his year as President of that organization and some stories from the road. He is later joined by The Linking Ring Editor, Sammy Patrick Smith, and together they talk about the two organizations' journals, The Linking Ring and M.U.M. and the possible future of the magazines, joint conventions, and organizations.

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302: Day Four -2016 I.B.M. Convention

301: Day Three - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

300: Day Two - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

The Magic Word