773: S.A.M. 2023 Convention in New Orleans - Day Three Report

Tuesday, July 25th

9:00 AM SAM EVENT 2: S.A.M. Life Members Reception: The Magic Castle 60 Years “Matinkas Back Room”

10:00 AM EXHIBITORS Open “Kellar Exhibitor Hall”

10:00 AM Registration Open Vieux Carre Foyer

10:30 AM SHOW 4: International Pro Close-Up Show: R. Paul Wilson and Friends. Featuring Jason England (USA), Paul Nardini (Scotland), Giancarlo Scalia (Spain/Italy), R. Paul Wilson (Scotland), and more - “Thurston Lecture Hall”

1:30 PM SAM EVENT 3: Convention Honoree: Tina and Friends – panel discussion “Matinkas Back Room”

2:00 PM Registration Close Vieux Carre Foyer

3:30 PM SAM EVENT 4: Magic in America: The Story of the Society of American Magicians by David Goodsell – discussion by Editor David Charvet “Matinkas Back Room”

5:00 PM Dealers Close “Kellar Exhibitor Hall” 6:00 PM PARTY 3: Cocktail Hour & Magic in the USA Book Release - Vieux Carre Foyer

7:30 PM SAM EVENT 5: SAM Banquet and Comedy Magic Show 5 “Thurston Lecture Hall”

10:30 PM SHOW 6: SAM LATE NITE: Masquerade Magic: magic by Michael Dardant and Dante; Minx Burlesque with Trixie Minx, Madame Mystere, and Mamie Dame; guest starring : Meadow Perry

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:18 – Past International President, Shawn Farquhar, tells us a bit about the I.B.M. convention last week and a preview of where it will be next year. But he talks extensively about his theater in Vancouver, Hidden Wonders.

00:11:09 – Past National President of the S.A.M., Vinnie Grosso, is the Contest Chairman for the convention and talks a bit about how that all came together.

00:25:52 – Harry Allen tells us what’s new and what’s hot in magic as we visit with him in the Dealer’s Room.

00:36:03 - Owner of the TrickSupply.com, Wolfgang Wollet, tells us what conventions he attended this year. He also shares with us what is new and hot in his shop.

00:38:53 - David Charvet is the author of the S.A.M. history book and tells us about completing the book after being handed down to him by David Goodsell.

00:43:53 – Arden James checks in with us and we also chats with the convention’s Guest of Honor, Tina Lennert.

00:47:00 – Christopher Hart and Mike Caveney talk a bit about their upcoming performances

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374: Day One - 2017 MAGIC Live!

In this report from the first day of MAGIC Live!, we chat with quite a few people in an effort to get around to as many attendees as possible since there are 1,600 attendees. We also chat with a couple people prior to the start of the convention since we arrived two days early and attended a few shows.

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:00:16 - Departing Houston as we discuss what the next week might hold for us.

00:02:32 - Mike Hammer talks about his show and audiences. We catch up since our last visit this past February.

00:04:58Po-Han Huang, from Taiwan, has been traveling and performing in the U.S. for the past couple months. We met at the Magic Castle when he dropped in to see my show after he had performed there for a week. Also, he gives us a quick review of several of the magic shows currently playing in Las Vegas because he has seen them all.

00:13:17 Paul Gertner and I talk about what we think might be coming up this week at MAGIC Live! plus he talks about his current status of performing at trade shows and his blog.

00:26:13 - Steve Valentine

00:27:10 - Raj Madhok is glad to be at this year's convention

00:28:05 - C.J. Johnson gives kudos to The Magic Word Podcast

00:30:15 - Kayla Drescher will have asurprise up her sleeve for this convenbtion

00:31:30 - Chuck Jones talks about returning to tour New Zealand with his illusion show

00:32:40 - Lew Wymisner talks about the status of "Magic in the Rockies" and whether or not it will ever return

00:34:50 - Shawn Hull is a regular listener who is at this convention because he heard this podcast last year and decided to come to their first MAGIC Live!

00:36:47 - Katie Sokulski talks about the registration process

00:38:27 - Bro Gilbert talks about working with Murphy's Magic Supplies plus his experience working as a consultant for Criss Angel

00:48:00 - Christopher Hart and Don Wayne talk about illusion creativity

00:54:17 - panel discussion with Penn Jillette and Johnny Thompson answer questions from the audience after the screening of the film, "Gambler's Ballad"

01:03:01 - Johnny Thompson talks about his upcoming book.

01:07:23 Larry Hass shares some memories of Eugene Burger

01:18:25 - Stan Allen talks about his expectations for this convention

261: Project Alpha with Mike Edwards

After viewing the highly acclaimed documentary, "An Honest Liar" about the career of James "The Amazing" Randi, I wanted to talk with Mike Edwards, the "psychic" who was "tested" along with Steve Shaw (Banachek) over a three year period in the late 70;s to the early 80;s. I have discussed Project Alpha with Banachek many times privately, on the podcast and on an L&L Video (Psi Series Volume 4 - Psychokenisis) but I had never met or spoken with, Mike Edwards, his partner on the project.

The stars aligned with my travel plans to Phoenix, Arizona and Mike's availability so we were able to find a relatively quiet corner in an otherwise busy restaurant and record this chat. It is a completely different perspective from the one I have heard from Banachek and the revelation during the last few minutes of our conversation figuratively "bowled me over". I was not expecting that news. You might be surprised and excited once you hear it, too.

Recorded: 5/27/2010 Original Alpha Kid, Michael Edwards pays a visit to the foundation and recalls some of the behind the scenes tricks that he and Steve Shaw (Banachek) did during the MacLab test. From Wikipedia: Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi.

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