594: Sean Bogunia - Accidentally Creative

During a recent trip from Houston, Texas, to Michigan, I had the opportunity to sit down for an in-depth conversation with one of magic’s creative thinkers, Sean Bogunia. Although he might be best known to you as the creator of the Ultimate Dancing Hank (in a Bottle), he prefers for that not to be his seminal legacy. He has many other creations to his credit that are in the working repertoires of professional magicians and he has even more that he is working on to bring to the magic community. He is a performer and creator who has consulted with many top magicians.

The no assistants need Dancing HankBy Sean Boguniahttps://www.ultimatemagicproductions.net/store/p50/Ultimate_Dancing_Hank.html

In this week’s episode, Sean talks about a pivotal moment in his life that led him to follow magic as a full time professional and never look back. He also tells many “behind the scenes” stories about some of his creations and the people he worked with and some of those whom he showed his ideas. A usually quiet and reserved person, Sean opened his heart and soul in this podcast unlike he had ever done before. In fact, he states that this is only the second interview that he has ever given. This episode contains perhaps more stories than any other that we have broadcast. I am certain that you will get a lot out of this week’s “longer than usual” episode.

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374: Day One - 2017 MAGIC Live!

In this report from the first day of MAGIC Live!, we chat with quite a few people in an effort to get around to as many attendees as possible since there are 1,600 attendees. We also chat with a couple people prior to the start of the convention since we arrived two days early and attended a few shows.

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:00:16 - Departing Houston as we discuss what the next week might hold for us.

00:02:32 - Mike Hammer talks about his show and audiences. We catch up since our last visit this past February.

00:04:58Po-Han Huang, from Taiwan, has been traveling and performing in the U.S. for the past couple months. We met at the Magic Castle when he dropped in to see my show after he had performed there for a week. Also, he gives us a quick review of several of the magic shows currently playing in Las Vegas because he has seen them all.

00:13:17 Paul Gertner and I talk about what we think might be coming up this week at MAGIC Live! plus he talks about his current status of performing at trade shows and his blog.

00:26:13 - Steve Valentine

00:27:10 - Raj Madhok is glad to be at this year's convention

00:28:05 - C.J. Johnson gives kudos to The Magic Word Podcast

00:30:15 - Kayla Drescher will have asurprise up her sleeve for this convenbtion

00:31:30 - Chuck Jones talks about returning to tour New Zealand with his illusion show

00:32:40 - Lew Wymisner talks about the status of "Magic in the Rockies" and whether or not it will ever return

00:34:50 - Shawn Hull is a regular listener who is at this convention because he heard this podcast last year and decided to come to their first MAGIC Live!

00:36:47 - Katie Sokulski talks about the registration process

00:38:27 - Bro Gilbert talks about working with Murphy's Magic Supplies plus his experience working as a consultant for Criss Angel

00:48:00 - Christopher Hart and Don Wayne talk about illusion creativity

00:54:17 - panel discussion with Penn Jillette and Johnny Thompson answer questions from the audience after the screening of the film, "Gambler's Ballad"

01:03:01 - Johnny Thompson talks about his upcoming book.

01:07:23 Larry Hass shares some memories of Eugene Burger

01:18:25 - Stan Allen talks about his expectations for this convention

175: Ground Zero - Abbott's Get Together 2014

Lots of stuff to do on the day before the official opening of the 77th Get Together. Upon my afternoon arrival , we headed over to Shipshewana, Indiana for an "all you can eat" chicken dinner that as fantastic. Fifty people joined the group that was arranged by Michael Mode. After dinner we went to the farm home of Merle and Marlene Hostetler who invited many of their Amish neighbors and families to enjoy a magic show that was put on by about ten magicians. After the show they gave us buggy rides and had cake, ice cream and lots of food for us to enjoy. I was going to head over to David Seebach's party, but by the time I got back to Colon, Michigan, it was a little late in the evening plus I needed to get this podcast edited and uploaded. If it wasn't for the nice hospitality of Losander's son, Timothy Cripe, then I wouldn't have had access to wi-fi tonight. Thanks, Tim.

This podcast is a little shorter than the usual one I post. To help put you in the mood, I think you will enjoy a video I found that I recorded 30 years ago when I first attended the Get Together. I brought along my video camera and recorded some of the sights and sounds of the city. I really didn't know too many people back then so unfortunately I didn't record any interviews with the attendees; however, I did get a personal tour of Abbott's from a very young Greg Bordner.

Enjoy a trip to the past as I walk down the streets of Colon, Michigan and record all the sights and sounds on the street, at the cemetery, and the Magic Carpet restaurant plus a guided tour of Abbott's Magic Company by Greg Bordner. See some of the street vendors as well as the dealers in the gymnasium.

The end of the film is the tech rehearsal for Rick Walker, my very good friend who was an illusionist from Dallas, TX.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:02:36 - Mike Miller talks about his experience in China and working with the recent touring magicians over there. Jania Taylor, a long time attendee, tells why she never misses this week.

00:07:22 - Ken Dumm and his son Austin tell us what is most important about the Get Together...Family.

00:16:38 - Local Amish farmer, Merle Hostetler opened his home to us for a delightful evening of food and buggy rides as many of us performed magic for his family and neighbors.

00:20:50 - Michael Mode was the one who put together this Amish magic show. He talks about how it can to be.

00:23:09 - Enjoy the last few minutes of my buggy ride as you hear the "clip clop" of horses hooves along the trail.

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