850: David Williamson - RIngmaster and Headmaster

Many in our community consider themselves as “comedy magicians” but few achieve the level of David Williamson. Not only is he adept at sleight of hand (and in fact is the headmaster of Sleight School) but also he is a master of comedy as he directs children on stage to literally jump through hoops to achieve maximum laughter for all. He is the Ringmaster of “Circus 1903” and has toured with The Illusionists. Always a hit with local TV morning shows in the cities that host his shows, he makes everyone comfortable with laughing. He has authored books including the seminal “Williamson’s Wonders.” He has been recognized with top awards by the Academy of Magical Arts and The Magic Circle. This milestone episode #850 is one that I’m sure you will enjoy now and for years to come.

In this episode, David talks about his experience of traveling the world with touring companies as well as aboard cruise ships. He also discusses his passion: Sleight School. And for listeners of this podcast, David is offering the first month free to Sleight School by using the promo code: FEST when checking out at https://sleight.school

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Click on the graphic illustration above to visit the convention information site for the Yankee Gathering 2024.

849: MAGIC Live! 2024 Convention - Days One and Two Report

Sunday, August 4th

(Pre Convention Activities)
24 hours Mystque Lounge, Jackson Square
10:00 a.m. Registration, Bienville G (10:00 p.m.)

10:00 a.m. Photo Badges Dauphine F (10:00 p.m.)

LIVE Tonight!

7:30 - 11:30 p.m. Welcome Party, Esplanade

7:30 - 11:00 p.m. The Magic Shop, Mardi Gras

11:00 - 11:30 p.m. Grand Prize Giveaway, Esplanade

Monday, August 5th

24 hours Mystique Lounge, Jackson Square

9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk 11:00p

10:00 a.m. General Session for red lanyards, Showroom (Noon)

11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras (6:00p)

11:30 a.m. Out to Lunch, Esplanade (1:30p)

12:30 p.m. Close-up Experience, Bienville H (1:40p) (with show ticket or standby ticket)

2:15 p.m. Focus Sessions for red lanyards (3:15)

Carbone’s Creativity Class, French Quarter Angelo Carbone
Children Do Not Exist, St. Charles Maga Gaia
The Art of Shaping Perceptions, Bienville G Gabriel Werlen

3:30 p.m. Focus Sessions for red lanyards (4:30p) (see above) NOTE: no Children Do Not Exist session

Live Tonight!

Documentary Live: The Juniors, Dauphine 5:15, 7:50, 10:15 p.m.
The Little Big Show, Esplanade 5:35, 8:10, 10:35 p.m.
Close-up Experience, Bienville H 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 p.m.
In Concert: Tanto, Dauphine 6:30, 9:05, 11:30p

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – Scott Wells just finished attending Abbott’s Get Together and returned to nearby Chicago where he is catching his “Magic Carpet” to Las Vegas for the Sunday night party.

00:02:59 – Nancy Anderson, Nancy Gibson, and Ron Saylor are the first people I met up with at the costume party. They tell us why they attend this event each year; catching up with old friends and making new friends. We then run into Gene Anderson who tells us about why he didn’t attend Abbott’s but why he came to this convention.

00:09:53 – Chad Long, Karl Hein, and Dick Olson talk about how much they like they like this convention and MagiCuba Convention that Chad and I attended.

00:12:44 – Jason Michaels talks about the I.B.M. convention they just had in Tacoma, Washington.

00:15:13 – Michael Chaut, producer of Monday Night Magic, introduced me to James Harrison and Marina from Dubai who are scheduled to perform at Magic Texas with their two person mind reading act.

00:21:07 – Chris and Ryan Zubrick, illusionists from St. Petersburg, Florida, just left their home that luckily survived the current hurricane.

00:23:00 – Joel “Batman” Zaritsky, was here to fight crime and buy magic.

00:24:26 – Paul Gertner will be an emcee for one of the sessions but will not be lecturing nor performing here. He will be the Guest of Honor at TRICS in November.

00:28:07 – Bruce Averbook and Ron Anderson are both magic collectors and frequent attendees to MAGIC Live! Bruce talks about his expanding collection in his magic museum in Cleveland, Ohio, which rivals the David Copperfield collection.

00:33:15 – John Bannon talks about his regular magic meetings online that started in Chicago and his new book that is debuting here.

00:37:15 – Richard Trembly and Richard LeBlanc, both from Canada, have already visited the dealer room and purchased John Bannon’s book.

00:43:17 – Diamond Jim Tyler has been attending MAGIC Live! at least six times just hang out with friends and see new magic. He will be lecturing at Magic Texas.

00:47:21 – Bill Flanagan, from Houston, has enjoyed the activities and tells us some of what he has enjoyed the most so far, even though the convention has just started.

00:49:47 – Bob Gould talks about a great new printing system to individually print on cards rather than having to place a large order for multiple decks.

00:54:41 – Greg Wilson and Starr talk about this convention. Starr is a designer of many of the graphics that are used at MAGIC Live! as well as many illusions. They both come to hang out with friends. They discuss some of the things they have seen here this year.

847: Abbott's Get Together 2024 - Day Three Report

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND 2024
9:30AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant
9:30AM ABBOTT'S TALENT CONTEST at High School (Requires Registration)
10:00AM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS (Requires Registration)
11:00AM - 5:00PM COLON ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
11:30AM LECTURE TERRI COOK - Tannens Camp - (Requires Registration)
12:00PM FREE STREET PERFORMANCE - John Sturk @ Granny's Place
1:00PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott's Magic Showroom Theatre $5
2:00PM JAY BLACKWELL JUGGLING/FIRE EATING & MORE at Sterlini Magic & Theater $10
2:30PM ABBOTT'S CLOSEUP SHOW (Requires Registration)
     Featuring Clemens Ilgner, Axel Hecklau, Danny Archer, Chris Capehart
3:00PM FACE PAINTING till 6PM outside 5 Star Pizza by Award Winning Artist Carol Hendrix (Standard Fees)
3:00PM-5PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM is open
4:00PM FREE STREET PERFORMANCE - Gordon Russ @ Colon Library
4:30PM MAGIC SHOW at Abbott's Magic Showroom Theatre $5
5:00PM LIVE AT 5 WITH THE STERLINI'S at Sterlini Magic & Theater $10
5:30PM FREE STREET PERFORMANCE - Just Joe Chasney @ Curly's
6:00PM-7:45PM DINNER (on your own)
7:45PM PRESHOW LIVE ORGAN MUSIC - by John Sturk
8:00PM GET-TOGETHER STAGE SHOW - Friday Night Gala (Tannens Magic Camp Alumni)
     Requires Registration or Tickets (Floor / Bleachers)
     Featuring Ian Rich, The Evasons, John Reid, Alex Boyce
10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM RE-OPENS (Requires Registration)
10:30PM ABBOTT'S TALENT CONTEST AWARDS (Requires Registration)

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – Alex Boyce and his father, Alexander Boyce, join us to talk about the importance of family in supporting magic. Alex will be the emcee of tonight’s show and he is also involved with the Tannen’s Magic Camp presentation.

00:08:55 – Matt Schick, another of the presenters for the Tannen’s Magic Camp show. Matt travels with Michael Carbonaro and he talks about how he became associated with him.

00:19:17 – Robert Baxt is not involved at all with this year, but he is here to conduct a funeral service for Charles Windly. He tells us about Windley’s background and why we should remember him.

00:28:16 – we take a stroll through the dealers’ room where we stop to chat with Kurt Richy and John Shango who are working behind the Abbott’s counter and some of what’s new.

00:32:49 – Joel Hobson and Mac King and David Williamson and Mike Caveney talk about this convention and some of the good times they have shared together when they were all booked or attended previous Get Togethers.

00:38:10 – Another one of the dealers/lecturers/performers at this convention is Danny Archer who tells us about his onstage character, Geno Mozzarella, Smoke and Mirrors Theater and the MINDvention.

00:49:39 – in the dealers’ room, they talk about the flooded floor that was cleaned up before the awards were presented. Senior Stage second place went to Carl and Bill Raynes. Senior Stage first place Buddy August. We chat briefly with Buddy to see how excited he is and what he plans to do with his winnings. We also chat with Carl and Bill about their win.

00:56:17 – Jania Taylor at the Legion talk about her long association with the Get Together and some of her memories. She also talks about the American Museum of Magic in which she is very involved.