560: Chris Randall - From Fremont Street to FISM

Chris Randall has done his time performing on the streets, in the casino showrooms, on television, on touring road shows, winning contests and more. Along the way he was coached by Vito Lupo, Joanie spna and others to finely hone his award winning act. All of this experience, practice and performance led up to his ultimate goal…competing at the triennial championships of magic…the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (F.I.S.M.).

In this episode, Chris talks about his long road from the streets of Las Vegas to the F.I.S.M. stage in Busan, South Korea in 2018. More importantly, he divulges personal and emotional insight into his preparation and disappointment that led to his nervous breakdown.

Chris is a World Champion magician. One of his specialties is manipulation. Chris wanted a new video that showcased his award winning manipulation act. He has taken classic magic tricks and remixed them to give them an updated feel. This video was edited together to garner new work in cabarets throughout Europe as well as variety shows on the Las Vegas Strip.

This episode opens with a one minute replay of our chat eight years ago when Chris shared his dreams and five year plan of where he wanted to be…and not be. During our ensuing discussion this week, Chris doesn’t hold back the details of a story that has never been released. This episode scoops the printed version of Chris’s story with more details than may later see publication.

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494: Danny Orleans - the Omni-Magician

Danny Orleans is well known, well versed and well respected as both a children’s show entertainer and as a trade show worker. And adding to that, he and his wife, Jan Rose, also present an exceptional two-person mind reading act. Usually one would expect a successful professional to specialize in one field or another, but not both. Therefore, he is one of the few whom I refer to as an Omni-Magician who can do it all…and do it well.

"Danny Orleans performs one of the best kids magic shows -- strike that -- one of the best magic shows, I have ever seen." -- Mac King "This project is something special for reasons that transcend the magic show.”

Danny Orleans Trade Show Promotional Video 2015 for further details please visit www.TradeShowMagicGroup.com

In this week’s podcast, Danny talks about his websites where you can go to find additional information including a free download of his secrets to becoming a trade show magician.

AmazeKids.com where you can find tons of professional equipment for children’s entertainers

tradeshowperforersworkshop.com is where you can go to find information on trade show work and get your free download of his trade show book.

And if you are seriously interested in knowing more about trade shows, you can request to join the Trade Show Performers Group on Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tradeshowperformers/

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 or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Congratulations to the winners of the contest. And thank you everyone who entered the contest.

436: Current Events

Lots of has been stuff that has been happening over the past few weeks. This week I try to cover a lot of it including my four week road trip (3,200 miles, eight states, 50 driving hours and visiting hundreds of friends) including a visit to a new brick and mortar magic shop. This past week was also the international competitions of FISM in South Korea. So this week we also chat with Stuart MacDonald who competed in General Magic and paced eighth in the world (first among U.S. competitors).

Penn & Teller Fool Us Stuart MacDonald #PennandTellerFoolUs season 4. More videos on his channel : https://www.youtube.com/user/StuMagic/videos

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:16 - I talk a little about his 3,000 mile road trip from Houston, Texas to Illinois to Michigan to Wisconsin to Oklahoma then back again. I call it my REBIRTH TOUR: over 3,200 miles, eight states, 50 hours on the road, and visits with dozens of family and friends, old and new. Each one helped me through the grieving process after my wife's passing. BTW, Kathy Wells joined me on this trip, too. I carried her ashes in the car with me for the trip.

First I drove straight for 14 hours in one day from Houston to Central Illinois to visit my mother-in-law and my wife's family where I mixed some of Kathy's ashes with her father's. I then drove to nearby Champaign, IL to see Andy Dallas and record a podcast from his magic shop.

Then it was on to Chicago to spend time with Don Wiberg and recorded a podcast about the Chicago Magic Round table members. Of course, a trip to Chicago had to include a trip to Magic, Inc. and saw Pedro Nieves Bosque, Ryan Plunkett and Lion Fludd. Don Wiberg and then over to the new Chicago Magic Lounge where I was given a first class tour by John Sturk and saw my friend, Jeff Bibik work behind the bar. Don and I then saw an entertaining one-man show by David London.

From Chicago I set my car towards Grand Rapids, Michigan with a side trip to Albanese Chocolate Factory in Indiana. Lots of great magic and friends at the IBM Convention in Grand Rapids too numerous to mention. But it was great seeing friends who supported me and gave me a hug, which I sorely needed.

After the convention it was back to Chicago and a visit with my fraternity brother and a groomsmen from my wedding 43 years ago, Jack Petersen and his wife, Linda Geeve Petersen. The following day I drove to the Wisconsin Dells to see a fantastic theater and show by my friend, Rick Wilcox and his wife Susan.

After lovely breakfast with the Wilcoxes (and a scone recipe from Susan), I drove to Oklahoma for a great visit with Doug Anderson and his wife Patti Beth. I then took a morning drive to nearby Tulsa to have lunch with Steve Lancaster. Before leaving Oklahoma, Doug took me to the small village of Locust Grove where Clark B. May operates the Rabbit in Hat Magic Shop and Theater.

From Oklahoma, I traveled to Dallas to visit with my son, Nick Wells, Jamie Wells and my grand daughters. Then after a few days, it was time to return to Houston.

I want to sincerely thank all of my friends and family for opening their doors and hearts to welcome me and help me on this "Rebirth Tour". I feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again. Lots of great stuff coming up for which I am truly thankful for and know it will be nothing but good!

00:06:16 - Clark B. May talks about his new brick and mortar magic shop in Locust Grove, Oklahoma and his plans for opening a theater in the back and a restaurant, too.

00:33:22 - Stuart MacDonald just returned from competing in the world championships (FISM) in Busan, South Korea where he ranked eighth in the world. He talks about preparing for the competition and his experience at FISM.

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 or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here.. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

560: Chris Randall - From Fremont Street to FISM

494: Danny Orleans - the Omni-Magician

436: Current Events

The Magic Word