983: MAGIC Live! 2026 - Days One and Two

Schedule

Sunday, August 2nd

24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles

10:00 a.m. Registration, Bienville G (10:00p)

10:00 a.m. Photo Badges, Dauphine F (10:00p)

Live Tonight!

7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The Zombie Ball, Esplanade

7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras

11:00 – 11:30 p.m. - Grand Prize Giveaway & Costume Awards, Esplanade

Monday, August 3rd

24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles

9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk (9:00p)

10:00 a.m. General Sessions, Showroom, (Noon)

10:00 a.m. Focus Sessions (11:00a)

11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras, (6:00p)

11:15 a.m. Focus Sessions (12:15p)

11:30 a.m. Cafe Live!, Esplanade K/L (2:00p)

12:15 p.m. Lunch Break (2:15p)

2:15 p.m. General Session, Showroom (4:15p)

2:15 p.m. Focus Sessions (3:15p)

3:30 p.m. Focus Sessions (4:30p)

Live Tonight!

6:00, 8:00, 10:15 p.m. - Comedy Live!, Showroom

12:30, 5:45, 7:10, 9:00, 10:20 p.m. - The Close-up Experience, Bienville G

6:15, 8:00, 10:00 p.m. - In Concert: Dani Daortiz, French Quarter

7:00 p.m. – Midnight Bicycle Lounge Cash Bar, St. Charles

Time stamps and guest names for this episode:

00:00:26 – At the Austin airport and preparing to depart on the red-eye for Las Vegas. Join us as we have a cup of coffee and get excited about the upcoming convention.

00:05:12 – The first registrants I ran into were Nick and Jason Altieri, brothers from Boston. This was Jason’s first MAGIC Live! convention.

00:09:26 – the opening night party had a zombie theme. Everyone was encouraged to dress as a zombie. To Stan Allen’s surprise, many more dressed appropriately than he expected. The first couple we chatted with was Meadow Perry who was dressed as Glenda the Good Witch from “The Wizard of Oz” and Michael Dardant, who was the Wicked Witch. Okay…maybe not everyone kept the “zombie” theme.

00:15:53 – Harrison Greenbaum has a whole separate agenda when he visits Las Vegas. Many come and see shows. He comes and performs in the shows as a “one off.” Harrison will also be the host of the Tuesday night comedy show for MAGIC Live!

00:21:02 – we get some different convention perspectives over breakfast with Charlie Randall, Bill Flanagan, John McLaughlin, and Bruce Averbook.

00:31:50 – one of the dealers, Jeff Scanlan (Impossible Bottle) tells us how the convention is going from the perspective of a dealer. Spoiler alert: it’s going very well.

00:35:54 – one of the organizers, Rory Johnson, opens the first morning General Session with an overview of what this year’s convention theme. (BTW, this was an authorized recording even though we were not allowed any video nor audio recording of the convention.)

00:40:01 – Jeff Sobell is a regular attendee and tells us why he returns year after year.

00:46:29 – Co-producer of Monday Night Magic in New York City, Michael Chaut is always on the prowl looking for talent to book for his show. We chat about the Focus Session we just attended.

00:54:42 – My friend from St. Louis, Missouri, Karl Grice, has attended every one of the MAGIC Live! conventions and here he shares why he returns year after year plus some of his favorite highlights from previous years.

01:00:28 – From China, Bruce Liu, traveled all the way to the U.S. just to attend this convention then return home immediately afterwards. He tells us what kind of magic he does and what inspires him.

01:05:26 – Paul Gertner was one of the people who appeared on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and was on the panel in the General Session. Paul has some great personal stories about his time on the Tonight Show plus visiting Johnny in his home and teaching him some coin tricks.

01:09:31 – We caught up with Chris Kenner late at night as he and David Copperfield were leaving the building. Chis tells us a bit about what he’s working on with Theory 11.

MAGIC Live Days 1 and 2 Report

Scott Wells with Altieri, Perry, Dardant, Greenbaum, McLaughlin, Averbook, Randall, Flanagan, Scanlan, Johnson, Sobell, Chaut, Grice, Liu, Gertner, and Kenner

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407: Rudy Coby - Around the World on Four Legs

Rudy Coby has made a career out of having an extra pair of legs.. Not only has it taken him around the world, but they have garnered him several major television appearances plus opened doors for him to meet and work with some pretty cool friends.

In this podcast, Rudy talks about some of his performance experiences but also his association with Jeff McBride and rock star, Marilyn Manson. He also chats at length about his appearances for the Academy of Magical Arts, the Magic Castle

Video from Rudy's legendary performance on FOX. For more info visit www.rudycoby.com This video (or channel) is NOT monetized , uploaded to preserve history, no infringement intended. If you like his work like I do, go buy stuff! This is a great inspiring talk for all magicians and performers!

Be sure to use the Promo Code: themagicwordpodcast to save $100 when filling out the convention registration form at http://magicuba.org

278: The Inner Secrets of the Outerbridges

Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel on the road with a large, stage illusion show across snow and ice? And what do you do when a herd of bison blocks your path? In this podcast we go behind the scenes, around the props,on the road and into the performers, the Outerbridges.

Ted and Marion Outerbridge are Canada's premiere theatrical touring magicians. Recognized as one of the greatest magic acts in Canada, the Outerbridges won the 2011 Award of Excellence from Ontario Contact, an organization of theatre presenters. In 2010, they won Touring Artist of the Year in British Columbia’s equivalent BC Touring Council. I first met them when I emceed their show at the 2013 Abbott's Get Together in Colon, Michigan where they were the feature illusion act. They later closed the I.B.M. convention in Jacksonville, Florida in 2015 and just completed a lecture tour of the U.S.

A professionally orchestrated theatrical production with over 20 custom-designed illusions and world-class lighting and set design, OUTERBRIDGE -- Clockwork Mysteries is a high-energy magical adventure for both adult and family audiences. Recognized as one of the most creative and dynamic shows of its kind, critics have hailed Ted and Marion Outerbridge as "the most successful magicians in Canada" and "champions of magic."

Ted and Marion sat down at midnight to enjoy acouple martinis and a chat about how they first met and their paths that followed. The myriad stories they shared revolve around working at performing arts centers, what it's like being on the road, how they book shows, and lots of stories and advice. For example, if you want to select volunteers from the audience by using a beach ball, then fill the ball with helium to keep it floating more.

Congratulations to Richard Tremblay who won the "Outerbridge Lecture Bundle" valued at $135.00. Please check out current blogs for the newest contest.

983: MAGIC Live! 2026 - Days One and Two

Schedule

407: Rudy Coby - Around the World on Four Legs

278: The Inner Secrets of the Outerbridges

The Magic Word