857: Magic Texas - Day Four Report

Monday September 2nd, 2024

Subject to change

8:00 AM – NOON TAOM 2025 and SAM 2025 Registration Opens
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Dealers Room Open
9:30 – 10:30 AM Lecture – Laurent Piron
11:00 AM – NOON Lecture – Franz Harary
12:30 – 1:30 PM Lecture – Lance Burton
1:45 PM – Session # 7 – Virtual Tour of Magic Circle Headquarters in London
2:00 PM BUS OR SELF DRIVE TO UT ARLINGTON - Texas Hall Theater
3:00 PM Brad Jacobs People’s Choice Show of Winners (Special Prize) – Texas Hall on the UTA Campus

Time stamps for this episode: updates will be posted after I get some sleep

00:00:18 –

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 Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly 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.

825 - Mark Weidhaas - Christmas in April

Past National President of the Society of American Magicians, Mark Weidhaas, is a jolly old man. Well, he may not really be “that” old, but he is jolly! A Structural Engineer by day, Mark “moonlights” as “Inspector Magic” for children at birthday parties, family gatherings, libraries and schools. But during the Christmas holidays, he dons his red cap and cape to become Colorado’s Santa Claus. He is also very involved with planning magic conventions for the S.A.M. and in particular, he is one of the co-organizers for MAGIC Texas in Arlington, Texas, later this year.

This week Mark Weidhaas tells us about his first magic convention and the importance of attending these gatherings. One of the topics discussed this week is “magic exposure” and how the national organizations handle it. He also tells us about how he developed his “Inspector Magic” character, but perhaps most importantly, we discuss how to enter into the lucrative field of making appearances as Santa Claus.

Timestamps of some of our topics;

(00:00) The Wonder Bash is coming up in Grand Rapids, Michigan next month

(00:49) Mark Weidhaas talks about becoming a Santa Claus and how to do it

(02:35) Scotty: We're in Colorado Springs following a rather torrential blizzard

(05:57) David Ginn got into magic late in life through volunteer fire department

(11:50) The camaraderie of a magic club can take you places

(16:05) You have different tricks for different ages. Do you have different acts?

(18:12) Are you performing only in the springs or do you go up to Denver or country

(19:18) You've been a Santa Claus for many years now

(22:12) Dal says portraying Santa Claus is rewarding and quite lucrative

(27:50) There are so many things you can do with Santa and different places

(29:40) Scott: We are getting very close to the Wonder bash convention in Michigan

(30:20) The convention is scheduled for April 18 in Grand Rapids, Michigan

(33:40) If you are a youth, you can apply to Wonder Bash for free

(35:18) Mark Weidhaas: Santa Claus asks children what they want for Christmas

(40:25) American magicians now offer training on child safety for youth

(43:00) There's been a lot of discussion recently about the exposure of magic

(48:51) My first national convention was in 2003, in Las Vegas

(52:21) You talk about the importance of attending conventions and making friends

(56:08) Mark Weidhaas of the S.A.M. and Dal Sanders of the T.A.O.M. are co-chairmen for Magic Texas coming up in September

(01:01:10) Scotty: Thanks to Mark Whitehouse for being my guest this week

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.

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

857: Magic Texas - Day Four Report

Monday September 2nd, 2024

825 - Mark Weidhaas - Christmas in April

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

Sunday, July 23rd

The Magic Word