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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545: Stan Allen - From My Desk: Conventional Wisdom

While in Las Vegas for the 2020 S.A.M. convention, I visited Stan Allen, organizer of MAGIC Live!, in his office. Stan works all year to produce the largest magic convention in the U.S. So, I think what he has to say about magic conventions is important and we can learn a thing or two from him. Producing a successful convention is definitely a team effort but what make a convention successful? Well, he has some advice from his perspective.

In this episode, Stan provides some insight about magic conventions from his perspective (at his desk) providing content on the history of magic conventions, where we are now and perhaps where we are headed. He also suggests to organizers that they should think about the Four “C’s”: City, Content, Cost and Community.

540: 2020 S.A.M. Update Days One and Two

Schedule of Events - Friday, January 17

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM REGISTRATION Conference Center Prefunction

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Magic Endowment Fund Meeting Martinkas Backroom

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM LECTURE: Bruce Kalver Tech Tricks Live Houdini Theater

9:30 PM – 11:00 PM Youth Protection Training & Certification Martinkas Backroom

11:00 PM – 11:30 PM V1.1 Podcast Convention Kickoff Martinkas Backroom

Schedule of Events - Saturday, January 18

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM REGISTRATION Conference Center Prefunction

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM SAM Council Meeting Thurston Lecture Hall

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EXHIBITORS Open Kellar Exhibitor Hall

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM New Conventioneer Orientation Houdini Theater

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Convention Grand Opening / Welcome Houdini Theater

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EXHIBITORS Showcase Houdini Theater

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Conference Conversation & Interview Houdini Theater

Featuring: The Dean of American Magicians: George Schindler

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM GALA SHOW Houdini Theater

“Dedicated to Johnny Thompson Tank You Berry Much!”

Stephen Bargatze, Ice McDonald, Gustavo Raley, Paul Vigil, Yukihiro Katayama

(Open Seating)

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM EXHIBITORS Kellar Exhibitor Hall

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM BUSSES to the LINQ Carson Tower Lobby

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly The LINQ

(Group A Ticket)

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Hi Roller / Brooklyn Bowl (On Your Own) The LINQ

9:30 PM – 11:00 PM Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly The LINQ

(Group B Ticket)

9:30 PM – 12:00 AM BUSSES to Golden Nugget Pickup at The LINQ

Time Stamps for this Podcast:

00:00:15 - leaving Houston and flyiing my Magic Carpet (Southwest Airines) to Las Vegas.

00:03:53 - Alain Nu talks about his new (Nu) show in Las Vegas then Elliott Hitchcock joins us, too.

00:10:03 - Luke Dancy talks about living in Las Vegas and working for Murphy’s Magic Supplies

00:15:36 - Scott Land discusses his puppet workhops in Las Vegas

00:22:12 - James Dimmare in Frankies Tiki Room

00:28:51 - Daisikai with SEO Magic

00:29:11 - Lupe Nielsen talks about her woodworking, posters and Norm

00:34:34 - Guest of Honor for this year’s convention and Dean of the S.A.M. magicians, George Schindler

00:45:53 - Jon Dorenbos talks about his path since America’s Got Talent

00:51:03 - Steve Bargatze, International VP of the I.B.M., talks about the upcoming I.B.M. convention in Pittsburgh, PA

00:55:10 - Stan Allen talks about being a past Guest of Honor at the S.A.M. convention plus what’s happening in Vegas

01:00:36 - Bob Portillo talks about Alain Nu’s new show that was discussed earlier in the podcast.

01:03:19 - Dan Sclare and TOm Vorjohan talk about Life Membership in the S.A.M.

560: Chris Randall - From Fremont Street to FISM

545: Stan Allen - From My Desk: Conventional Wisdom

540: 2020 S.A.M. Update Days One and Two

The Magic Word