898: Obie's 4F 2025 Close-Up Convention - Day Four Report

Saturday April 26

10:00am: 2026 Registration & 4F Shop Open
10:00am: Dealers’ Room Opens (closed during events)
10:30am: One Man Show
1:30pm: 6th Show: Mini World
3:30pm: ED Talk #2
5:30pm: Banquet (ticket required)
7:30pm: GoH Tribute: Eric DeCamps
8:00pm: 7th Show: Closing Gala
10:30pm: Hospitality Suite Opens
12:00am: Dealers’ Room Closes

Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep.

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885: Blackpool 2025 - Day Three Report

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:17 – Dom Chambers ran into me in the hallway on his way to rehearsal for his show. But he agreed to chat for a bit and tell us about his experience performing here and a quick recap of what he’s up to lately. Dom was the focus of a chat on The Magic Word Podcast on Episode #664 where you can learn more about him.

00:06:12 : Nigel Quinn just arrived for the final day and gives us his perspective of why he came for the day and what he hopes to see and enjoy.

00:12:02 - Ger Godley, from Ireland, talks about this year’s convention compared with last year. He definitely thinks this year’s event is better organized.

00:21:14 - Jamie Allen, formerly known as the iMagician, has an all new show, one of which was directed by Jonathan Goodwin. Jamie was the focus Episode #584 where you can learn more about him.

00:33:48 - Javid with Pelican Stagewear talks about his efforts to take his wares to the U.S., but time and customs prevents his efforts from being profitable.

00:42:35 - Ron Spangler enjoys coming to Blackpool each year. He was one of the organizers of the Magifest before it was turned over to Vanishing, Inc.

00:48:28 - Eric Leclerq was the emcee (compere) of the Friday night gala. His insult comic type of humor is much like that of Mike Hammer, and that is to say that it wasn’t for everyone. He talks a bit about his choices and how he came about to get this engagement and why he chose to stick with what he does best.

00:57:08 - Ian Kendall is another magician who came in for the day from Scotland and watched a lot of lectures and shows. He was the subject of Episode #796 where you can learn more about him.

01:11:15 - we give a quick wrap-up of the convention as I give a quick review of Rick Thomas’ gala finale show. He was the subject of Episode #632 where you can hear a more personal side of him.

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818: Blackpool Magic Convention 2024 - Day Two Report

Saturday 17th February 2024

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Dealers’ Hall Open

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Michael O’Brien Lecture (Arena)

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Paul Richards Lecture (Spanish Hall) and Kyle Purnell Lecture (Foyer Hall)

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Family Entertainment Competition (Opera House)

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. David Regal Lecture (Arena) and David Kaye Lecture (Derham Lounge)

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Montreal Trio Lecture (Spanish Hall) and Bear Pit Close-Up (Foyer Hall)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Axel Adler Lecture (Arena) and Mat O’Neill Parlour Show (Derham Lounge)

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Remy Lasvenes Lecture (Spanish Hall) and Tom Wright Show (Foyer Hall)

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Shoot Ogawa Lecture (Arena) and Jozo Bozo Lecture (Derham Lounge)

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Raymond Crowe Lecture (Spanish Hall) and Steve Faulkner Lecture (Foyer Hall)

6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Gala Show featuring Mac King (Opera House)

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Magical Bones Black Magic (Arena) and Ben Hart Jadoo (Circle Hall)

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Shoot Ogawa Show (Arena)

8:45 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. Gala Show with Mac King (Opera House)

8:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Mike Caveney and Friends Show (Circle Hall)

9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Magical Bones Black Magic (Arena) and Ben Hart Jadoo (Circle Hall)

11:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Jack Gleadow Mr. Saturday Night (Foyer Hall)

11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Harrison Greenbaum Late Night Roast (Arena and limited to audiences of 18+) and Battle Magic Cabaret (Old Victoria Bar and limited to audiences of 18+)

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 - Alain Iannone, from Roma, Italy, tells us why he loves to attend the Blackpool Magic Convention (BMC) plus what he has seen or bought here on the first day of activities.

00:08:52 - Richard Steele, from the U.S., is a dealer for ProMystic, and tells us what it’s like to be a dealer in the huge exhibit hall.

00:14:19 - Before the International Close-Up Show began, we spoke with the father/son team of Lennard and Andy Charlton, from the U.K. who tell us why they come together to BMC year after year.

00:19:35 - Craig Mitchell often reviews big conventions like FISM and BMC. He is known for his “no holds barred” style of journalism and he talks a bit about what he’s seen so far.

00:31:11 - Ian Kendall, from Scotland, took the train over to Blackpool for attending just a couple of days using day passes which means not seeing the evening shows.

00:44:08 - Mandy Davis was manning (womanning?) the Magic Circle stall as she is soliciting membership into the prestigious organization.

00:51:58 - Creator, author, performer and producer, Nick Einhorn, from the U.K., tells us what he’s been up to in the past several years since we last met.

00:59:03 - Richard Young, from the U.K., is half of the Strange & Young team that performs on their own plus with the Champions of Magic. Richard also co-hosts “The Magicians Podcast Network” Here we have a lively discussion about us both hosting a podcast with Murray Sawchuck about exposure in magic.

01:09:54 - Mike Caveney hosted “Mike Caveney and Friends” as one of the alternate shows to the Day One gala. We catch up with him who tells us how he selected this year’s line-up of “friends.”

01:15:00 - Kyle Purnell, from the U.S., is a first time attendee at BMC and was also a performer/lecturer. He tells us about his experience.

01:23:03 - No report from BMC would be complete without a chat with John Archer, one of the funniest guys in Great Britain.

01:29:13 - Rebecca and Allan Taylor, from the U.K., tell us about their escapology club in England and the conventions they sponsor.