669: Mark Byrne - The Balloon Guy

Twisting balloons is an integral part of many magicians’ repertoires and a topic that has been overlooked far too long on this podcast. We remedy that this week with a conversation with Florida magician, Mark Byrne. In addition to magic and “themed” parties, Mark is a balloon twister/sculptor who has been regularly performing at local restaurants and parties in his area. There is so much more to know about balloons other than the “common” twists that many magicians use in their birthday parties.

An example of a way to make a theatrical presentation for a mathematical magic trick

In this episode, Mark Byrne tells more than I ever knew about balloons including some of the history of balloon twisting, some of the “names” in the balloon world (past and present), balloon conventions, care and feeding of balloons, and so much more. This episode is really a “graduate course” in balloon knowledge.

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473: Tom Vorjohan on Tipping, Tricking and Twisting

Tom Vorjohan has a world of experience and freely shares it with other magicians. Tom currently serves as a Board Member on the Board of Trustees for the I.B.M. But professionally he has worked as a restaurant magician for decades. He works at multiple venues each week that affords him with tons of experience. He knows how to entertain and knows the difference between “doing tricks” and “entertaining”. He really knows how to bring the FUN. In addition to magic, Tom is also an award winning balloon sculptor along with his balloon-atic partner, Daniel Herron who have twisted balloons for hotels, conventions and cruise ships. Tom had an ongoing column in M.U.M. for many years.

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300: Day Two - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

Today began the first day of the the "Triple Treat" so named because each day the registrants are broken into three groups (by color) and attend an hour and a half of performances and lectures by three different magicians, one in each of three rooms each day: Richard Turner, Paul Vigil, and Brian Gillis. After the General Board Meeting, the second day of stage contests were held (which yielded a few finalists for Monday night's show). The afternoon lecture by Michael Ammar was another outstanding (and packed) event. The evening's "Magic Foolers Show" left something to be desired in that there were audio and visual problems. Plus the show would have been better received in a smaller venue probably back at the hotel ballroom. The final night's activity was a discussion with Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger talking about the 25 years of the Mystery School.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:13 - Dealer Chairman, Terry Richison, talks about some of the cool things in the dealers' room.

00:08:34 - Past International President, Jep Hostetler, talks about attending the Richard Turner experience as part of the "Triple Treat"

00:10:28 - Attendee Greg Lancaster gives us his take on the Paul Vigil performance/lecture in the "Triple Treat".

00:12:08 - Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger talk about the many years they have taught the youth as part of the I.B.M. youth group activities each year.

00:16:55 - Harriet Jacobson and Gay Blackstone chat about their specialized magic jewelry sold through BJW Magical Jewelers which is one of the many dealers in the dealers' room this year.

00:22:24 - Past President of the British Ring, Brian Miller, talks about the upcoming British Ring convention.

00:26:45 - S.A.M. National President, David Bowers, talks about his year as President of that organization and some stories from the road. He is later joined by The Linking Ring Editor, Sammy Patrick Smith, and together they talk about the two organizations' journals, The Linking Ring and M.U.M. and the possible future of the magazines, joint conventions, and organizations.

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669: Mark Byrne - The Balloon Guy

473: Tom Vorjohan on Tipping, Tricking and Twisting

300: Day Two - 2016 I.B.M. Convention

The Magic Word