772: S.A.M. 2023 Convention in New Orleans - Day Two Report

Monday, July 24th

9:00 AM Registration Open Vieux Carre Foyer

9:00 AM SAM Event 1 – Youth Protection Training “Thurston Lecture Hall”

9:00 AM SYM Youth Academy “William Andrews Classroom”

10:00 AM EXHIBITORS Open “Kellar Exhibitor Hall”

10:30 AM LECTURE 3: Doug Conn “Thurston Lecture Hall”

1:30 PM SHOW 2: STARS OF TOMORROW Stage Show “Thurston Lecture Hall”

3:30 PM LECTURE 4: Pro close up 1 with R. Paul Wilson & Friends “Thurston Lecture Hall”

3:30 PM Registration Close Vieux Carre Foyer

5:00 PM EXHIBITORS Close “Kellar Exhibitor Hall” S.Y.M. Youth Academy Ends “William Andrews Classroom”

7:00 PM Bus transporation pick up at hotel

8:00 PM SHOW 3: S.A.M. Contest Experience Houdini Theater @ The Jesuit

9:30 PM Bus transportation pick up at Jesuit 10:30 PM PARTY 2: SAM Jam Session or Movie Vieux Carre Foyer

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – during our walk to the Café du Monde, we chat with Jay Ragnu “the Okay” who regales us with a story of him competing at an early Las Vegas Desert Seminar.

00:10:42 – Past National President of the S.A.M, Mike Miller is the Talent Coordinator for the S.A.M. and helped book the acts for this convention.

00:22:50 – Past National President of the S.A.M., Mark Weidhauss, chats about his responsibilities at this convention over the past several years.

00:30:32 – Past winner of many magic convention contests, Ed Ripley, talks about the importance of entering and competing in contests.

00:34:48 – Past President of the T.A.O.M., Jeff Lee, chats about this convention plus what Vito Lupo has been up to over the past few years. Jeff worked and traveled with Vito for years.

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771: S.A.M. 2023 Convention in New Orleans - Day One Report

Sunday, July 23rd

8:00 AM REGISTRATION Open Vieux Carre Foyer

9:00 AM SAM National Council Mtg “Thurston Lecture Hall” SYM Youth Academy “William Andrews Classroom”

11:00 AM Exhibitors Grand Opening “Kellar Exhibitor Hall”

1:00 PM SHOW 1: Exhibitors Showcase Show “Thurston Lecture Hall”

2:15 PM Convention Welcome “Thurston Lecture Hall”

2:30 PM Lecture 1: Bruce Kalver – Tech Tips & Tricks “Thurston Lecture Hall”

4:00 PM Lecture 2: Barry Mitchell Focus on Funny for Kids “Thurston Lecture Hall”

4:00 PM REGISTRATION Closed Vieux Carre Foyer

6:00 PM Exhibitors Close “Kellar Exhibitor Hall” 8:00 PM PARTY 1: Mardi Gras Welcome Party. Join the 2nd line Parade – with the Crecent City Conjourers (Warpo, Doug Conn, Devon Faul, Steve Reynolds, Winston Helling Jr, Michael Dardant) and Variety Talent by Frenchman Street Productions Promenade/Courtyard/Martinkas Backroom and balcony

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – Scott and Dick Olson are traveling by car from Houston to New Orleans and talk about their excitement and anticipation for this upcoming convention.

00:05:10 – National President, Rod Chow, arrived yesterday and tells us a bit about some of the pre-convention activities. He also recaps his year as the National President and what he accomplished over the past year.

00:12:19 – President Elect, John Midgley, tells us a bit about some of the magic caricatures that he has been drawing and posting on Facebook, including one of your humble host, Scott Wells.

00:19:05 – Steve Reynolds is a local New Orleans magician who is also part of the talent on the bill at this convention.

00:25:55 – Cody Clark and Sid Hagarty are young magicians who are excited about this convention.

00:34:49 - Incoming National President of the S.A.M., John Sturk, tells us what he hopes to accomplish during his upcoming year as President.

00:48:14 – at the President’s Party, we have a martini as we chat with Past National President, Dal Sanders and his wife Cinde Sanders who tell us what they love magic conventions.

00:53:04 – Past National President of the S.A.M., Bruce Kalver, tells us about the new S.A.M. history book.

01:03:26 – Editor of the M.U.M., Alan Howard, chats about the S.A.M. journal and his path to this job y working with Stan Allen.

680: Kent Cummins - 70+ Years of Experience

After 70 years as a professional magician, there isn’t much that Kent Cummiins hasn’t seen or done. Not just a magician, Kent is also a noted national keynote speaker, a corporate trainer, author, a magic collector, a teacher and a juggler. Starting young with his first Mr. Mysto magic set, he took the moniker from the box for a short time as he forged his career early in life.He performed magic while serving his country in the armed forces, too. Kent is a co-founder of the Fantastic Magic Camp that has successfully trained hundreds of youth in the art of magic for decades.

In this week’s episode, we try to “take a drink from a fire hydrant” as Kent Cummins shares over seven decades of stories and background from his vast experience as a professional magician living in the capitol of Texas, Austin.