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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428: Will Fern Brings It!

Will Fern is the life of any party. I have said it to his face and behind his back, he is my favorite close-up magician. He may not be as creative as Johnny Thompson nor have the manipulative skills of Lennart Green, but for my money, he always knows how to make people laugh in any situation. That's why he "brings it". I know this sounds like a promotional endorsement, but it's not intended to be. It's just that I love watching his audience. His enthusiasm in infectious and his quick wit is a compliment to his personality.

Will refers to himself as a "40 miler" meaning that he generally performs in a small radius from his home. That's good news for the rest of us because if others outside his New Jersey home saw him, then there would be less work for the rest of us!

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:08:41 - In this week's podcast, Will Fern talks about working at restaurants and strolling, corporate events. He has great advice on preparing to entertain and HOW to entertain by keeping the focus on the guests (volunteers) rather than on the magician's tricks.

01:16:24 - Product Review: Pierce by Jibrizy Taylor from SansMinds. A "straw-through-cap" of water bottle. Somewhat "angley" but for the street performer and someone wanting to make a good YouTube video and get good reactions, this one is recommended with reservations.

01:20:33 - Product Review: Untouched by Ryuhei Nakamura from SansMinds. Again, this one is for the street performer and could look great on YouTube videos. All in Japanese with English subtitles, this is the real work on hook-up of your ITR in full light. Recommended with reservations.

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.. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

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365: Day One - IBM/SAM Combined Convention 2017

This is the first of a five day series of podcasts from Louisville featuring conversations with convention talent, organizers, dealers and registrants. The intent is to bring you the sounds (and sights through the embedded videos and attached photos) of what's happening almost in "real time" so you have the next best experience of actually being there. .

This is not the "official" first day of the convention, but nonetheless, there were several "pre-convention" activities that happened and are worth recording for this episode which I will call "Day One".

IBM-SAM 2017 COMBINED CONVENTION SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, JULY 11
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Lance Burton Teen Magic Seminar - Jones
Ed Thomas Memorial Jr Magic Workshop - Beckham
2:00 PM - S.A.M. Endowment Fund Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - S.A.M. Magic Center Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Registration Opens - Registration Area
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - S.A.M. Caucus Meeting - Willis
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Registration Opens - Registration Area
6:00 PM - Red Carpet Event - Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
7:00 PM - Louisville Premere: Billy Topit - Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
9:30 PM - Midnight - Dealers Grand Opening / Autograph Session - Exhibit Hall

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:04:20 - David Salwak and Fielding West talk about the talent at this convention, both on the shows and the competition.

00:12:09 - Michael Perovich, from Los Angeles and a member of the Magic Castle, tells why he comes to the combined convention which allows him to see acts that aren't seen at the Magic Castle.

00:25:46 - Oscar Munoz, International President of the I.B.M. tells us about what he has accomplished over the past year as President and some of his highlights of what he has seen and done.

00:28:19 - Dal Sanders, past National President of the S.A.M., tells us what's going on with the S.A.M. Council.

00:33:08 - Richard Turner calls in to remind us of his debut on Penn & Teller Fool Us on July 13, 2017

00:34:57 - Q&A Panel discussion following the debut showing of "Billy Topit"

00:52:03 - Jeff Sikola, National President of the S.A.M., talks about what he feels were the highlights of the past year.

00:57:55 - Jason Andrews talks about the competitions that brought him to where he is today as well as his cruise ship work.

00:02:31 - Tommy Ellison (a Friend of The Magic Word) shares a story as an update from the podcast posted Feb. 27, 2014 and available by Clicking Here.