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.

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 Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

744: Winter Carnival of Magic - Day Three

Saturday, March 11th

9:30 AM Lecture: Guy Bavli
10:00 AM Dealers Open (Closing at 3:30 PM)
11:00 AM Lecture: Christopher T. Magician
1:30 PM Lecture: Jonathan Neal
3:00 PM Lecture: Artem Shchukin
7:30 PM Contest Award Winners Announced on Stage
- Close-Up Winners
  - 1st Place - Adi Ramakrishna
  - 2nd Place - Dregon Hibbler
  - People’s Choice - Brandon Herring
- Open Mic Winner of People’s Choice
  - Buddy August
8:00 PM Magic All-Stars Show: Jonathan Neal, Michael Bloemeke, Christopher T. Magician, Jon Armstrong, and Artem Shchukin
10:00 PM Pizza Party for Registrants (at the Park Grove Inn)

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 - Don Wiberg talks about some of his magic career including him performing as a Magic Clown.

00:10:25- Alan Fisher talks about some of the lectures we have seen today

00:20:48 - Stephen Bargatze, Past International President of the I.B.M. is from Nashville and always attends this convention.

00:27:12 - Aaron Radatz from Branson, Missouri, was the illusionist who closed last night’s show. He has advice for traveling illusionists.

00:34:11 - Guy Bavli was a Dealer, Lecturer, and a Performer at this year’s Winter Carnival which was is one and only U.S. magic convention where he will be appearing this year.

00:41:39 - Jason Michaels, from Nashville, enjoyed this convention but he has also appeared on Penn & Teller Fool Us.

00:48:08 - Artem Shchukin closed the Winter Carnival and he talks about the many magic conventions around the world where he has performed and competed.

00:56:30 - Tom Vorjohan and Scott give a wrap-up of the convention

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..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

172: Part 5 - My Week at The Castle 2014

In this final installment from My Week at The Castle, we wrap up by giving blood...literally. The Magic Castle became "Castle Dracula" (my own moniker) where you left your blood. It was the first Red Cross blood donation drive at The Magic Castle. This was spurred by Paul Green who has been experiencing health issues that frequently require blood transfusions. I just came in for lunch but got so much more by giving back a little of myself. There were 31 people who gave the gift of life. Please consider donating in your community. The life you save may be someone you love.

While at the Castle this day, I ran into and chatted with Irene Larsen, matriarch of the Magic Castle and the International Ambassador of The Magic Castle. After lunch, I went next door to talk with Dale Hindman, Executive Director of Milt Larsen Enterprises, who helped unravel the mystery (to me) of the difference between the Academy of Magical Arts and the Magic Castle.

Back at the Castle after my last show of the evening, I sat down with President Bill Clinton impersonator and magician, Tim Smallwood. He has a unique act and character that takes him across the country where he performs magic and makes guest "celebrity" appearances. Later that evening I ran into Ray Kosby, former member of The Magic Castle Juniors, who talks about that organization and the early years. And to wrap up the night and this podcast, Jonathan Pendragon and his wife, West, talk about their new show and lives together.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:32 - Fellow corporate entertainer, Paul Green, is still experiencing some exhaustion due to his illness, but it doesn't deter his positive attitude. He is an obvious advocate of donating blood and organs plus t importance of giving your time to your community.

00:08:1 - Irene Larsen, The Magic Castle Ambassador, talks about some of the interesting people she has met and some of her memorable magic conventions she has attended.

00:12:18 - Dale Hindman, Executive Director for Milt Larsen Enterprises, talks about the full length feature film that is currently in production; licensing "The Magic Castle" brand; how to donate magic to The Magic Castle; the musical "Pizzazz"; the future of"It's Magic" shows; the succession of Castle Board and Director members; and, more.

00:20:49 - Tim Smallwood has been a magician for a long time, but once President Bill Clinton came into the public life, Tim's life changed. He has a resemblance to the President which propelled him in a completely different direction and opportunities for him to perform and meet new clients. However, it didn't just happen overnight. He pursued it with agents plus he tells and interesting story about "nearly" meeting the real President. But his comedy magic shows take him all across the country where he performs straight magic followed by a patriotic conclusion as a magical Bill Clinton.

00:28:53 - Ray Kosby, former member of the Magic Castle Juniors Society, talks about how he got into the group and how he moved from stage to close-up. He also talks about some of the Long Beach Mystics who were part of the Juniors Society. He also talks about the first trick that got him "hooked" in magic...the Red Snapper. He also talks about and recommends books for magic neophytes. He also talks about some of the tricks he has published over the years.

00:42:45 - Jonathan Pendragon and his wife, West, talk about the "new" direction his act has taken and how West is incorporated in the performance. West also tells a story about how Jonathan protected her by inserting himself into a dangerous situation and defending her from harm, thus exemplifying Jonathan's true loving and protective nature.

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. (please note: this RSS Feed subscription system may not work with Android systems). Remember, you can download it through iTunes. See the preview page by Clicking Here.