826 - Mike Miller - Talent Booker

More than a magician, Mike Miller, Past National President of the S.A.M., also books talent for many magic conventions including the S.A.M. convention, Abbott’s Get Together, Super Sunday, and many others. He scours the world looking for unique acts to book. He has a good eye for spotting up-and-coming performers before they “hit it big” on the international scene. The best way to be seen by Mike is by competing and performing in other magic conventions. For several years, Mike also booked acts for a multi-city tour of China. Today he regularly performs at the Smoke & Mirrors Theater in Philadelphia while still searching for convention acts. As a result of his untiring efforts in helping magicians around the world, the Academy of Magical Arts will present a Special Fellowship to him at the awards banquet on May 17, 2024.

If you are more of a visual person, then perhaps you might enjoy watching our interaction during our Zoom conversation.

In this episode, Mike Miller talks about his career as a talent booker and how Hank Moorehouse shaped his life. He talks about how he goes about finding unique acts and how he learned to be a stage manager, too.

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419: 2018 Obie's F.F.F.F. Day Two

Thursday, April 26
10:00-5:00 Registration open (closed during lectures and shows)
10:00 Dealers’ Room opens (closed during lectures and shows)
10:00-11:00 4F Shop open
11:00 Edouard Boulanger Lecture
12:30 Lunch: on your own
1:30 2nd Show: Friends Old & New (MC: Gary Morton)
3:30 3rd Show: Magical Moments (MC: Joe M. Turner)
5:30 Supper: on your own
7:00-7:45 4F Shop is open
8:00 Pit Hartling Lecture
10:30 Hospitality Suite (Crystal Room) opens -- Free Donuts, Coffee, Soda
12:00 Dealers’ Room closes

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:17 - Friend of The Magic Word, Terry Greenwood, talks about this convention and we review yesterday's gala.

00:04:39 -Rick Wilcox and Erick Olson chat about their respective magic theaters, plus their different perspectives of this convention...this is Erick's first time here and Rick has been here 17 times.

00:13:11 - Denis Behr, from Munich Germany, talks about his recent award from the Academy of Magical Arts

00:19:20 - Glenn Brown is on the Board of Directors of Obie's 4F convention and he puts together the PDF eBook (electronic program) and acts as a registration person.

00:26:30 - Past National President of the S.A.M., Brad Jacobs, tells us about upcoming S.A>M. conventions and why he attends this one, too.

00:30:57 - Obie O'Brien, the "Head Forker", talks about some of the history of this convention.

00:49:53 - Rocco Silano, last year's Guest of Honor. talks about what makes this convention so special to him. And next year's Guest of Honor, Mike Powers, stops by for a brief chat, too.

01:00:11 - Bob Little talks about being the Guest of Honor for the recent S.A.M> Parent Assembly "Salute to Magic"

01:07:06 - Ricky Smith and Steve Himmel are a couple of the "young Turks" who talk about this convention plus Ricky talks about working with Bill Kalush.

391: The Evasons - Two Minds, One Thought

Jeff and Tessa Evason are of one mind.when it comes to...well, about everything. We sat down at the 2017 MAGIC Live! convention in Las Vegas for a wonderful chat about their experiences as a two-person mind reading duo. Since 1983, Jeff and Tessa have performed in over 35 countries across the globe and made numerous TV appearances on major networks like NBC, FOX, and Discovery Channel. The international Psychic Entertainers Association (P.E.A) gave them their most prestigious honor for distinguished professionalism. They were also the first recipients of "The Mentalism Award" from the Milbourne Christopher Foundation and the only mentalists ever to receive the "SARMOTI Award" which legendary magicians Siegfried and Roy present to their favorite act in Las Vegas.

Heartfelt endorsement from Penn & Teller for The World's Foremost Mentalist Duo and Telepathists - THE EVASONS. More at http://www.evason.com

See why FOX Television called The Evasons "The most amazing mind reading act you will ever see!"

Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:06:08- Jeff and Tessa talk about their former work aboard cruise ships performing magic and how they began, little at a time, to add mind reading to their show. Tess is a former fashion model (which should come as no surprise) and also has a background in fortune telling. Tessa also talk about being a female artist in a predominantly male industry. We also chat about the emotional presentation given by Abbey Goldrake given at the 2017 MAGIC Live!

01:07:38 - Product Review: "ESP By The Numbers" by John Bannon which includes the necessary ESP symbol cards and online instructions as to how to perform this effect. Also teaches you a card trick using the same "force" but applied to playing cards. Recommended.

01:14:40 - Product Review: "Liquid Killer" by Morgan Strebler explains how to twist forks (tines, neck and shaft) so it looks like it bends like liquid at your fingertips. I found this a little difficult for my hands to accomplish this little "miracle", but I'm certain that "younger fingers" could do it. Worth your consideration.

01:19:05 - Product Review: "Unlock" by Morgan Strebler gives you three different ideas on how to unlock a mobile phone. The DVD explains how to unlock iPhones but not with Android, though they should be similar. Recommended.