800: Jack Goldfinger - Yoda Man!

We have reached another important milestone with this episode #800. And as we often do with these milestones, we feature someone who is a major mover and shaker in our community. Jack “Goldfinger” Vaughan fits the bill perfectly as the Director of Entertainment for the Academy of Magical Arts, the Magic Castle. Prior to taking on that role, he and his lovely wife, Dove, have performed around the world on some of the greatest stages and on screen. He is sought out for his advice and wisdom in life lessons, not unlike “Yoda” from the epic movie saga, Star Wars.

This week, Jack shares some of his “Jack-isms” that are true gems that makes you really think. He talks about his predecessor, Max Maven, as well as some of those who have influenced his career along the way.

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729: David Goldrake - When His World Collapsed

On October 15, 2015 during a rehearsal overseas, David Goldrake’s double levitation illusion went horribly wrong. After his (now) ex-wife, Abbey, had levitated into the air, David then “floated” up behind her then suddenly he saw the floor rapidly moving toward his face.

In this episode and seven years after this accident, David feels a bit more comfortable talking about this life-changing moment, the things that led up to it, and suggestions to illusionists on how to be prepared and take necessary precautions.

We recorded this episode while in Atlanta, Georgia and attending the I.B.M. National convention this past summer. With so much other content that has been recorded and some that were broadcast due to their timely nature, our chat is a little late getting out, but the content and stories are timeless.

As we begin our chat, we talk about “video mapping.” David Goldrake was one of the first illusionists in Las Vegas to make use of “video mapping” which is in common use today. We chat about this before going into the story behind the tragic accident. David is quite frank and open about all the details including what happened, why it happened, the insurance for hospital bills, plus suggestions to others on why it is important to check your gear before a show and even rehearsals. David wanted to set the record straight because Joshua Jay reported Abbey’s point of view in his book, “How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters.” The story told in this podcast might be an alternate view of the accident and what followed.

695: I.B.M. 2022 Convention - Day Four Report

Saturday July 16th 2022

8 am Order of Merlin Breakfast Talk: Road to FISM with Stuart MacDonald Promenade

9 am - 1 pm Registration Open and 2023 Registration Chattooga Hallway

10 am Special Event - TALK MAGIC II
DAVID GOLDRAKE
TRIGG WATSON
LANCE RICH Grand Salon

11 am - 6 pm Dealers Open Chattahoochee Ballroom

11 am - Noon Lance Burton Teen Seminar Rabun 11 am Raffle Drawings in Dealer Room Chattahoochee Ballroom

12 noon Lunch Break (Cash Lunches Available) Promenade

1 pm - 3 pm Ring 2100 In-Person & Virtual JAM Session Grand Salon

3:30 pm Special Event - CLOSE UP SHOW
MC - DOC DIXON
ICE MCDONALD
ALYX HILSHEY
BRENT BRAUN
JOE M. TURNER Grand Salon

8 pm. Showtime - Grand Finale Show
MC - RAFAEL
TRIGG WATSON
JULIANA CHEN
RICHARD PRESTON
THE EVASONS
DAVID GOLDRAKE Grand Salon

10 pm Farewell Party Promenade

Contest Winners:

Close-Up Award Winners:

Youth Award of Merit: Jackson Oliver - Honolulu, Hawaii
Youth First Place: Anja Steyn, Cape Town, South Africa
Adult Award of Merit: Tetro - West Hollywood, California
Adult First Place: Micheal Bloemeke - Raleigh, North Carolina

Stage Award Winners:

Finalists:

Danny King - Garland, Texas
James Irwin - Arlington, Texas
Rena Cui - Fresh Meadows, New York
Anjya Steyn - Cape Town, South Africa
The Wushuong - People’s Republic of China
Artem Shchukin - Moscow, Russia

Youth Stage Award of Merit - Rena Cui - Fresh Meadows, New York

Youth Stage First Place - Anya Steyn - Cape Town, South Africa

Adult Stage Award of Merit: The Wushuong - The People’s Republic of China

Adult Stage First Place: Artum Shchunik - Moscow, Russia

Gold Medal: Artem Shchunik - Moscow, Russia

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Award winners names announced

00:03:22 - Stuart MacDonald talks to the Order of Merlin group with his speech on his Journey to FISM

00:24:18 - David Garrard and Tommy Ellison recap the previous evening’s contest show

00:35:33 - Jeff and Tessa Evason talk about this and other magic conventions they have performed in plus what they did during COVID

00:45:53 - Jeffrey Alan (an I.B.M Board member and American Museum of Magic Board Member) and his assistant, Angela, talk about this convention and the museum

00:52:54 - Trigg Watson was one of the evening’s performer who can now relax. He chats about his experience as well as part of what he talked about at the Youth Seminar

00:57:53 - Past International President of the I.B.M., David Sandy, has also chaired and produced several magic conventions. We recap this convention including the final night’s gala show.

800: Jack Goldfinger - Yoda Man!

729: David Goldrake - When His World Collapsed

695: I.B.M. 2022 Convention - Day Four Report

Contest Winners:

Time stamps for this episode:

The Magic Word