418: 2018 Obie's F.F.F.F. Day One

Wednesday, April 25
2:00-5:00 Registration & 4F Shop open
6:00 Dealers’ Room opens (closed during lectures/shows)
8:00 1st Show: Taiwanese Gala (MCs: Anson Lee & Horret Wu)
10:15 4F first timers meeting (Executive Room)
10:30 Hospitality Suite (Crystal Room) opens -- Pizza Party
12:00 Dealers’ Room closes

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:18 - We depart Houston after a stop to Dunkin Donuts

00:05:16 - Charlie Randall talks about the new Johnny Thompson book plus what he's looking forward to seeing/doing at this year's 4F

00:10:26 - From Scotland, Peter McLanachan talks about visiting Canada and the "Browser's Bash" (one day convention) and the U.S. and his some of his passions other than magic

00:14:20 - Marc DeSouza reviewed the evening's Taiwanese gala then he and Steven Brundage exchange stories from touring on the road

00:26:46 - Eric Roumestan (from France) talked about working the streets of New Orleans and Berlin, Germany. I recommend that you go back and listen to our previous podcast about his "second life" by Clicking Here.

00:35:40 - Chris Pilsworth also talked about working the street plus why this convention is so different from all the others and the "mystique" of the 4F. Very well said.

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127: MINDvention 2013 - Day Three

The final day continued with exciting activites beginning with one of the best lectures of the convention by Docc Hilford. Lots of great ideas with sound thinking interspersed with humor. After lunch, Cashetta was attired in traditional garb (sans the cocktail dress and make-up) as he talked about development of his character. Nest, Danny and Robert assembled the "Dream Team" of authorities on the the Q&A (Question and Answer) for a panel discussion: Bob Cassidy, Jon Stetson, Michael Weber and Ross Johnson. Of course there was a lively question and answer period.

The afternoon lecture was another treat by a mentalist, (nee Psychic) who rarely attends conventions let alone lectures or performs. John Riggs gave us some real insightful and commercial ideas and material for "readings" and billet work. The evening show, "Masters of Mentalism" was hosted by the hit performer from the previous evening's show, Cashetta. John Riggs opened with some interesting routines using five volunteers. It was interesting that he seated them all on stage but used each for individual effects rather than all in one effect.

Bob Cassidy read the minds of several volunteers from the audience who were unsuspecting "muggles" from the casino who thoroughly enjoyed the show. Docc Hilford closed the show with some very entertaining mentalism using a book test with two volunteers. Danny and Robert closed the convention by presenting Bob Cassidy the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:08 - Paul Vigil talks about magic and mentalism and whether he considers himself as a magician or a mentalist.

00:07:33 - Michael Chaut and Jon Stetson talk about Monday Night Magic (in New York City) and the Mystery Lounge (in Boston, MA), respectively. To see who is on the performance schedule for Monday Night Magic, then visit their website at: http://magicalnights.com/ You can check out the Mystery Lounge (Boston's Original Cabaret) at: http://mysterylounge.com/Home.html

00:19:24 - Jeff McBride talks about his Masterclasses with MINDvention as well as other Masterclasses he hosts. More info at http://www.magicalwisdom.com/

00:29:30 - Andrew Goldenhersh enjoyed this convention and tells us some of what he's been up to in Japan.

00:40:50 - Danny Archer breathes a little easier as he gives us a recap from his perspective as a co-organizer. He also gives us the dates for next year's event: October 11-13, 2014.

00:46:00 - John Riggs talks about being a psychic in the Bible Belt of America plus a glimpse of some unpublished material from "The Messiah Complex Part 2" which may never see print. Listen to find out why. John make fine handcrafted products for serious mentalists. If you are interested, then contact him at JohnRiggs@comcast.net and request a link to his secret website.

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Thanks to Christopher Rose @MindControlArt who suggested that I have my own Twitter account. So now you can follow The Magic Word at @MagicWordPod

Looking out toward the Bristol Channel during twilight at Weston Super Mare - site of the Bristol Day of Magic

098: 2013 Bristol Day of Magic

I attended the 53rd Bristol Day of Magic on May 12th along with about 400 other magicians from across the U.K.; however, I was one of the few (maybe three) from the U.S. along with Joshua Jay and Arthur Benjamin who were other performers on this outstanding bill. I was brought in as the "compere" or Master of Ceremonies for the evening gala show.

This podcast features some sounds of the convention and chats with some of the organizers, attendees and performers.

00:02:36 - Mandy Farrell, organizer, starts us off by giving us some history of the Bristol Day of Magic and laying out what we can expect over the next 24 hours.

00:11:00 - Eric Roumestan, from France, talks about his upcoming workshop on coin magic and his inspirations for creating his way of loading coins on the volunteer.

00:26:30 - John Billett, winner of the first Bristol Bucket Award, talks about mentalism and his path into the art.

00:34:00 - Danny (somebody) talks about the new book "Frankly Disillusioned" by Dean Metcalfe.

00:41:15 - Dean Metcalfe joined us to talk about some of his life experiences that are in the new book (available from http://FranlyDisillusioned.com/)

00:50:06 - Soma, from Hungary, talked about the importance and use of music in your act. He also talked about his :road to fame: through contests from his first win in the Junior Stage Competition in Hungary to his first place win at the 2009 FISM context in Beijing.

01:12:42 - Arthur Benjamin, the MathMagician, talked about the way he came about to incorporate math into his magic performances and the similarities of logic, puzzles and math. You can check out a sample of his performance that he gave at a T.E.D. talk by Clicking Here.

01:36:47 - Colin McLeod, from Scotland, along Tim Stacy, from Bristol, and Mandy Davis, from London, talked in the bar after the convention about all the fun everyone had during the event.

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