884: Blackpool 2025 - Day Two Report

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:17 – David Kaye, aka Silly Billy, was staying at the same hotel where I was, so we were able to chat about his experience of this event versus others. This is the only magic convention where he is a dealer, so he has a unique perspective. You can learn more about David from our conversation in Episode #567.

00:11:06 - Darryl Rose, from London, often attends this conventions and tells us what he most enjoys this year, like the Jonathan Goodwin lecture. You can hear more about Darryl in our conversation in Episode #558.

00:25:40 - From Charleston, South Caroline, Howard Blackwell, talks about his company that produced silicone manipulation balls. He has a business for sale if someone is willing to put some effort into an already successful product.

00:34:58 - Peter Nardi, with Alakazam, has been coming to Blackpool for about 24 years and gives us his perspective of the changes over the years.

00:45:12 - Jonathan Goodwin was one of the outstanding lectures of this convention. He was inspiring and gave us all a lot to consider for our own shows. We chat in this short chat about some of his philosophy of whether audiences believe the artist is in jeopardy. To hear more about Jonathan (prior to his tragic accident and just before the COVID lockdown), I think you will enjoy listening to our in-depth conversation in Episode #553

00:52:42 - Hannah Ammar is helping her husband, Michael, and tells us why she enjoy magic conventions in general and Blackpool in particular. Michael also joins us towards the end of this chat. You can hear more from Michael in our conversation in Episode #259.

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791: Greg Frewin - Lions and Tigers and Birds, Oh My!

Greg Frewin is an award winning magician who has had a long and successful career, having once teamed up with Jason Byrne when they both had bird acts to currently performing in his own venue, “The Greg Frewin Theatre” in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. He has appeared on dozens of television shows around the world and Las Vegas showrooms, too. He has even given a Royal Command Performance for Prince Rainier of Monte Carlo. He used to perform with big cats in his grand illusion show, which he is slowly turning over to his apprentice, Christian Mascia.

In this episode, Greg talks about his long and storied career that has taken him around the world on cruise ships, casino showrooms and Royal Command Performances that have won him accolades like First Place for the I.B.M., S.A.M. and FISM. He chats about working with birds and why he started working with large cats until he decided to retire that act. And speaking of retiring, he is slowly going into semi-retirement as he is turning over the reins to his theatre to Christian Mascia, whom we also talk to in this episode.

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

790: Steve Valentine - Quiet Confidence

Actor and Magician, Steve Valentine joins us this week to chat about something that is in the news: the actors/screen writers strike. As an actor, it directly affects Steve and he tells us what it is that the union is asking from from the studios. In the meantime, everyone is having to depend upon alternate streams of revenue while the industry is shut down until…well, who knows when. But the stakes are high and not only affect people like Steve, but also the movie and streaming viewing audience. Steve has appeared as a regular on the TV show, “Crossing Jordan” as well as in Robert Zemeckis films such as “The Walk” among other television bit parts over the years. Some of his television appearances include “House,” “Monk,” “Will & Grace,” and “Psych” just to name a few. He is also a regular performer at the Magic Castle and star of his own one-man show, “Life and Other Deceptions.” Steve has been featured on the cover of nearly every English speaking magic magazine in the world.

This is the Snoop Dogg video that Steve Valentine alluded to in this week’s podcast.

Steve talks at length about the importance of what the writers and actors are striking for and how it impacts the viewers, too. Steve talks about his career and how he had to separate his magic life from his acting life in order to succeed in Hollywood. He chats about how his one-man show is all about his life and career. He also discusses his “Magic on the Run” which he started during COVID and now has over 900 videos online that you can subscribe to by Clicking Here.

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

884: Blackpool 2025 - Day Two Report

791: Greg Frewin - Lions and Tigers and Birds, Oh My!

790: Steve Valentine - Quiet Confidence

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