The final day of the four (plus) day convention draws to a close with even more stuff packed into the day. It started off with the annual Order of Merlin Breakfast. This is for those who have at least 25 consecutive years of membership in the I.B.M. Immediately following the breakfast was the third and final day of the Big Three Events.
In the afternoon, there were six, one hour events going on simultaneous with each other. It was repeated again one half hour later which meant that you could only choose two out of the six. Well, you can't do it all...but I tried. I slipped in and out of a couple events but the one that had everyone fascinated was the "Carney Knowledge" event by Todd Robbins. He taught us how to walk on glass and also how to hammer a nail in you nose ("Human Blockhead"). Wow! I can check that off my bucket list now. After the Six Pack Sessions, Diamond Jim Tyler lectured on close-up.
Before the show began and the general public was let into the theatre, the contest awards were presented and the transition of the Presidential medals was made. Here are the awards that were given out at the Awards presentation.
Recipient of the McBride Magic & Mystery School Scholarship
Tamer Qafiti from San Diego, Ca.
Recipients of the IBM Endowment and Development Scholarships to the Sorcerer's Summer Safari Magic Camp
Salvatori Adler
Jason Knight
IBM Close-Up Competition
Youth Winners
1st place - Drake Stanton- San Antonio. TX
2nd place - Tamer Qafiti- San Diego, CA
Adult Winners
1st place - Alberto Lorenzo- Miami FL
2nd place - Rune Carlsen - Norway
People's Choice Award - Close-Up and winner of the Obie 4F Close-Up Award
Alberto Lorenzo - Miami, FL
IBM Stage Competition
Youth Winners
1st place and winner of the FANTASMA Prize Package - Eli Portala - Toledo, OH
2nd place -"Smart Magic" Thirawat Kongnugul
Adult Winners
1st place- Ming Ya Liu - People's Republic of China
2nd place - Chris Randall - Las Vegas, NV
People's Choice Award
Ming Ya Liu - People's Republic of China
Karrell Fox Comedy Award
"Caramel Machine" Sadaharu Suzuki and Toshiharu Odjima - Japan
The evening show played to a nearly packed theatre with Todd Robbins doing an incomparable job as the Master of Ceremonies. The show began with Luna Shimada followed by Eugene Burger, Peter Samelson, Francis Tabary, Valerie and closing the show was David DaVinci. After the show ended most people retired to the hotel to say their final farewells at the "no host" bar in the ballroom.