490: Shep Hyken - Be Amazing or Go Home

Shep Hyken and I spent a lot of time together during the recent MagiCuba convention and he recently passed through Houston. We spent a delightful evening of dining and conversation and some of it was recorded here for this podcast. Shep has so much to say and you can find much of his content online through newsletters, podcast, tweets, online videos, and more. He is everywhere and al over social media. In this podcast, Shep talks about working at the Playboy Club when he was a teenager, then later moving from magic and trade shows to professional, keynote speaking, content marketing for magicians, and so much more. This is a gem of a podcast chock full of thoughtful material and sure to be a listener favorite.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

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

208: Speaking with Joe Turner

Joe M. Turner brings a world of experience from his teaching and consulting background. He is a speaker, magician, mentalist, MENSA Member, blogger and the International President Elect of the I.B.M. He may not be as well-known to many of you yet, but he will soon leap into the international spotlight when he takes on the leadership of the I.B.M. at the convention later this year in Jacksonville, Florida. He is also one of the regular hosts for an afternoon show at the annual Fechter's Finger Flicking Frolic close-up convention.

Joe was one of the more popular segments in my podcast from the I.B.M. convention in Phoenix in 2013 having given a lot of tips on business and cruising, too.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Many people have asked me how one can become the International President of the I.B.M. In this podcast, Joe talks about how he moved up the line. He also talks about being a corporate speaker, how to get involved, and the pitfalls. He has appeared on television many times and he gives some advice on working with the producer and camera men. Joe has a regular blog on his website and he gives advice on how to blog. He also talks about his passion, the memorized deck, and he gives some great tips on how to go about memorizing the order.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Click on the image above fore more information on the 2015 I.B.M. convention and to see who will be performing. Register now to save money before the rates go up on March 1, 2015

Enjoy another episode of "Meals With Magicians" featuring Gary Plants and Charlie Randall as we dine on hamburgers at Tookies in Seabrook, Texas. Lots of great conversations in here, plus Gary's tips on the memorized deck.

130: Greg Bordner - Las Vegas Comes to Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show aired on TV in the 1960's set in the fictional rural town of Mayberry, South Carolina, a friendly, close-knit community that clung to the 1930's...a time gone by.  Colon, Michigan is not dissimilar in that it has a rich tradition where many come back to relax and to enjoy a simpler time.

With a population of 1,161 people and one flashing traffic light, Colon nearly doubles in size each year for the annual Get Together as magicians from around the world convene to enjoy each others' company and share magic. It is truly a "Brigadoon" type of event that has the entire community turning out to celebrate the craft of magic then disappears afterwards with no trace that anything ever happened.

Greg Bordner wishes everyone a Happy Holiday from the showroom of Abbott's Magic Company.

Greg Bordner gives an after hours tour of the Abbotts Magic Factory. See where the magic begins before making it to the shelf!

Magic is a big house with many rooms. We have a rich history of magic that is filled with many people contributing to give us the texture that makes up the fabric of our craft. Greg Bordner, proprietor of Abbott's Magic Company, is one of dealers who continues the tradition started 80 years ago in the small village of Colon, Michigan.

Greg Bordner joins me on this podcast to talk about the history of Abbott's Magic Company, the transition of a brick-and-mortar magic shop to a successful online store, popular tricks sold through Abbott's, how Colon, Michigan came into being starting with Harry Blackstone, Sr., the many magicians who have moved to Colon, what there is to do in and around the Get Together (i.e. garage sales, Amish dinners, Curly's close-up contest, American Museum of Magic, Colon Museum) and so much more.

This is an interesting chat with some funny stories along the way about Blackstone, Sr. and others. For more information on Abbott's Magic Company, the  annual Get Together or the Close-Up Convention, visit their website at: http://AbbottMagic.com/

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.

As mentioned in the chat, many magicians are buried in the Colon cemetery. Thanks to Al the Only, here is an alphabetical list of those buried there (as of this writing):

Don Alan, Arthur Glen Babbs "Arturo", Bill Baird, Jack Barrows, Harry Blackstone Jr., Harry Blackstone Sr., John Nicholls Booth, Recil Bordner, Peter Bouton, Jerry Conklin, Shirley Conklin, Ted Coppin "Ted Banks", Della Coppin "Sally Banks", Ricki Dunn, Vince Fabek "Quincy the Clown", Karrell Fox, Anne Gwynne, Jack Gwynne, Kenneth Husted "Roy Huston", "Little Johnny" Jones, Skippy Lamore, Elaine Lund, Robert Lund, Fred R. Merrill, Hank Moorehouse, Jack Rench, Duke Stern, Marx Edward Straw, Jesse Thornton, Donald "Monk" Watson. You can learn more about each of these past magicians and see their grave sites by Clicking Here.

Karrell Fox gives a friendly tribute to his old friend Duke Stern in the Colon Cemetery. Also seen in this 1993 video is Bibik and Al the Only..

Magic & Martinis Thursday

Well, 'tis the season and everyone is working and partying hard. Our tree is appropriately festive with the right mix of...well, Magic & Martinis, what else? Cheers!