727: Behind the Camera at Masters of Illusion Season 9 - Part One

A lot goes into the production of a television show, especially where magic is involved. Producing a show with one magician is hard enough, but imagine coordinating the schedules of dozens of magicians from around the world to produce a multi-week series plus a Christmas special! Gay Blackstone is the Executive Producer of “Masters of Illusion” television series which airs in the U.S. on the CS network. This coming season number 9 will kick off with the Christmas Special airing Wednesday December 14th. The actual series won’t begin airing until February 2023. The Magic Word Podcast had exclusive, behind the scenes and behind the camera access to the filming of Season 9. This week and next we will broadcast conversations with some of those that made this show happen.

As we take our “magic carpet” to Burbank, California, we are excited about the unknown adventures that lie ahead for the filming of this year’s “Masters of Illusion” TV show. This week we chat with a variety of people behind the scenes beginning with a few people in the audience. Ever wonder where these audience members and volunteers come from? That is answered this along with our chats with some of the performers back stage, in the hallways and in their dressing rooms.

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608- Jeff Bibik - Bar Magician Extraordinaire

Jeff Bibik is a Chicago comedian and a magician. Originally from the Detroit, Michigan, area, he regularly performed magic in local restaurants and comedy clubs until 1985 when he moved to Chicago where he continued as a comedy magician in close-up and stage for the public and corporate audiences and he also performs a hypnosis act. Over the years he developed a large repertoire of jokes and gags that serves him well today as the house magician at the Chicago Magic Lounge.

Jeff Bibik pulls no punches this week in sharing the secrets behind getting work in restaurants performing magic, plus he tells lots of stories about working in bars and restaurants with a liberal sprinkling of funny gags, jokes and puns. This was recorded using StreamYard with Jeff joining us from the bar in his basement in his Chicago home. A video of our chat was also recorded and posted to YouTube. To view that video, please click on the video link below in this blog.

541: 2020 S.A.M. Update Day Three

Schedule of Events - Sunday, January 19

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM The Magic Circle Reception (TMC members only)

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Registration Conference Center Prefunction

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM LECTURE – Gustavo Raley: Shadowplay Houdini Theater

10:00 AM – 1:30 PM EXHIBITORS Kellar Exhibitor Hall

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM STARS OF TOMORROW Stage Show Houdini Theater

(Open Seating)

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Stars of Tomorrow Close-up Performances Houdini Theater

Grab N Go lunch with Dealers

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM LECTURE: Scott Alexander – Standup Parlor Houdini Theater

2:30 PM – 6:00 PM EXHIBITORS Kellar Exhibitor Hall

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM S.A.M. Special Award Presentation Houdini Theater

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Pro Close-up Show (Open Seating) Houdini Theater

Danny Archer, Daniel Roy, Tony Montana, Sergio Starman, Henry Evans

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM LECTURE: Juliana Chen – World Champion Houdini Theater

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Pro Close-up (Group A Open Seating) Houdini Theater

7:00 PM – 8:15 PM Rudy Coby Show (Group B Ticket) Showroom

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM Pro Close-up (Group B open seating) Houdini Theater

9:00 PM – 10:15 PM Rudy Coby Show Showroom

(Bring Your Ticket)

11:00 PM – 12:00 AM Harrison Greenbaum Late Night Comedy Troy Liquor Bar

(Minimum Age 21 – Open Seating)

Time Stamps for this Podcast:

00:00:17 - Henry Evans talks about the convention and his many travels

00:04:23 - a visit with the nearby Donut Bar restaurant that is a place you should visit!

00:07:43 - Bruce Kalver, Past National President, is also the M.U.M. columnist of the Tech Talk column.talks about his favorite recommendations

00:18:20 - Marc DeSouza gives us an update from yesterday’s activities

00:25:00 - Mark Weidhaas, Past National President, is also the Convention Chairman who tells us what it took to put this convention together.

00:35:47 - International President of the I.B.M. talks about the upcoming I.B.M. convention in Pittsburgh

00:40:14 - Jeff McBride talks about this convention and his Mystery School

00:46:39 - Eric Buss will be on the bill as part of the talent as he has taken some time off from his busy cruising schedule

00:55:42 - Sara Crassan is an attorney who talks about protecting your intellectual property as a magician