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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705: Abbott's Get Together 2022 - Day Three Report

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH 2022

9:30AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant Purchase Registration/Tickets

9:30AM ABBOTT'S TALENT CONTEST (Compete Info, Event Info at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:00AM-12:45PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

11:00AM - 5:00PM COLON ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Craft Show/Vendor Info on Canal street next to the library

12:00PM STREET PERFORMER - BJ Mallen (Granny's Place by American Legion)

1:00PM LECTURE - Joel Hodgson, Bizzaro, Nick Diffatte at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

1:00PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with Brynn Cummings at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

2:00 PM JAY BLACKWELL JUGGLING/FIRE EATING & MORE at Sterlini Magic & Theater

2:30PM ABBOTT'S CLOSEUP SHOW Requires Abbott's Registration
Featuring Mac King, Mike Caveney, Guy Hollingworth, Michael Carbonaro

3:00PM-5PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

3:00PM-5:00PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM is open (Colon Museum Webpage)

3:00PM-6PM FACE PAINTING with Award Winning Artist Carol Hendrix

4:00PM STREET PERFORMER - John Sturk (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

4:30PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with BJ Mallen at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

5:00 PM LIVE AT 5 WITH THE STERLINI'S at Sterlini Magic & Theater $10

5:30PM STREET PERFORMER - Jania Taylor (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

6:00PM-7:45PM DINNER on your own

7:45PM PRESHOW LIVE ORGAN MUSIC - by John Sturk Requires Abbott's Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)

8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW Requires Advance Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)
Featuring John Bundy and Morgan Ghost Show
NOTE: Tickets for the Abbott evening Stage Show must be purchased in advance at the Abbott Plant or online before 5pm that day.
You will be able to pick up tickets at a will call window at the show, but Abbotts will not be able to sell any at the door.

8:00PM GRAND MAGIC CLASSIC SHOW - 8 PM at the Laflin's Grand Magic Theater - $14.95 adult, $6.95 child

10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:15 PM CHUCK KING MAGIC & HYPNOTISM at Sterlini Magic & Theater

10:30PM ABBOTT'S TALENT CONTEST AWARDS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Nick Diffatte is a last minute fill-in since he was “passing through” following FISM and why he replaced.

00:04:14 - Michael Mode is another of the long time attendees at the Get Together and talks about some of the traditions of this convention.

00:13:2 - Michael Goudeau was on the Lance Burton tour bus and also one of the performers at this convention. Michael is also one of the co-hosts with Penn Jillette on “Penn’s Sunday School” and talks a bit about that plus what shows he’s currently doing.

00:20:48 - Dave Cresey, King of the Coils, talks about the history of making his coils and some of the issues of others who have ripped him off.

00:32:00 - John Bundy, aka Dr. Morbius, and his assistant, Morgan, sit down after their full evening spook show and talk about their show and traveling with a large stage show.

00:39:51 - Jania Taylor is another “regular” at the Get Together. She says it is her 39th time attending this event. She is also one of the “buskers” who entertains on the streets of Colon during the convention.

00:48:15 - BJ Mallen traditionally opens the first evening show as emcee following in the steps of Gordon Miller who did it for 45 years.

00:55:09 - We announce the names of the contest winners then chat with the Talent Chairman who talks about dealing with adversities due to passport problems with some acts who planned to be here then had to scramble to fill in with others who were going to be here as registrants.

691: Rocco - A D'Lite-ful Magician

Conceived in Italy and named after a Saint, Rocco is a winner of several awards including the Golden Lion Award from Siegfried and Roy, among others that launched his international career. Performing from China to Guam and Paris to Monaco, his silent act has kept him in constant demand at all of the top nightclubs and casinos in the world. He was also the creator of the D’Lite which has sold six million across the globe. Rocco is also the “master of the sleeve” who has made a career of shooting items up and down in and out of his sleeve making for “enlightenment in the mind.”

In this week’s episode, Rocco shares stories about how he started in magic and the story of how D’Lites were created and stolen. He also chats about some of his highlights so far in his life from his many experiences of performing from the Crazy Horse in Paris to winning the Golden Lion from Siegfried and Roy. He also talks about his inspiration from Bill Wisch and Slydini that made him the magician he is today.