669: Mark Byrne - The Balloon Guy

Twisting balloons is an integral part of many magicians’ repertoires and a topic that has been overlooked far too long on this podcast. We remedy that this week with a conversation with Florida magician, Mark Byrne. In addition to magic and “themed” parties, Mark is a balloon twister/sculptor who has been regularly performing at local restaurants and parties in his area. There is so much more to know about balloons other than the “common” twists that many magicians use in their birthday parties.

An example of a way to make a theatrical presentation for a mathematical magic trick

In this episode, Mark Byrne tells more than I ever knew about balloons including some of the history of balloon twisting, some of the “names” in the balloon world (past and present), balloon conventions, care and feeding of balloons, and so much more. This episode is really a “graduate course” in balloon knowledge.

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473: Tom Vorjohan on Tipping, Tricking and Twisting

Tom Vorjohan has a world of experience and freely shares it with other magicians. Tom currently serves as a Board Member on the Board of Trustees for the I.B.M. But professionally he has worked as a restaurant magician for decades. He works at multiple venues each week that affords him with tons of experience. He knows how to entertain and knows the difference between “doing tricks” and “entertaining”. He really knows how to bring the FUN. In addition to magic, Tom is also an award winning balloon sculptor along with his balloon-atic partner, Daniel Herron who have twisted balloons for hotels, conventions and cruise ships. Tom had an ongoing column in M.U.M. for many years.

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.