026: I.B.M. Day Four - A "Nearly Lost Episode" from Dallas, TX

Rudy Coby talks about the convention and his perspective as a performer and lecturer at this convention plus some of his previous performances including his New Vaudeville show from many years ago.

Ric Heath, from the cast of Le Grand David, talks about last night's show especially Argentina's Rey Ben and Quique Marduk (billed as "One and a Half Men") and their lecture. He also talks about some behind the scenes with the Le Grand David show, Cesareo's health and their future.

Although the picture above is out of focus, it shows the final curtain call from some of the performers from The Legends show. It included Michael Ammar and Hannah, Francis Willard, Walter "Zaney" Blaney and Becky Blaney, Gay Blackstone, Johnny "The Great Tomsoni" Thompson and Company (Pam), Tom Mullica and Jeff McBride. Not pictured but also on the bill was Max Maven and Darren Romeo.

We have a closing conversation with David Sandy giving his reflections on how he felt the convention went this year. Jeff McBride gives us his perspective of the convention just before he heads out to prepare for his midnight workshop. And what is a podcast from a convention without a chat with (and a joke from) Howie Schwartzman? It's near the end before I give a final wrap-up. 

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025: I.B.M. Day Three - A "Nearly Lost Episode" from Dallas, TX

Day Three opens in the morning with a chat with local Dallas magician, Mica Calfee, who gives us his perspective of this convention as a first-time attendee. While walking through the Dealers' Room we stop to talk with an old mate, Simon Lovell. We discuss the quality of the shows and some of the performers and critique their performances. He also gives a rundown of the John Calvert Tribute at the recent Fantasma Convention in New York City.

During the Merlin Breakfast (for I.B.M. members and spouses who have had 25 years or more of consecutive membership) we sit down with Past I.B.M. President, Obie O'Brien and Logistics Chairman, Tom Vorjahan. We talk about the last evening's dinner show, some of the Big Four activities and the preparations for the "black box" theatres for the intimate close-up shows.

Past I.B.M. President, Don Wiberg, hosted the evening's dinner show as he introduced the I.B.M. officers and their spouses. Then he introduced Oscar Munoz who was the emcee for the after dinner show.

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024: I.B.M. Day Two - A "Nearly Lost Episode" from Dallas, TX

We start this report talking with Robbie Wilmarth while we are seated at the theatre waiting for the opening night's show. Following the show we take a walk from the theatre with Joe Turner, Registration Chairman, and we talk about the entertainment on the evening's bill plus the registration numbers and the selection of the theatre itself. Back at the hotel we chat with I.B.M. Past President Roger Miller, co-chairman of the convention, who talks about the planning and promoting of the event and some of the activities we can look forward to experiencing.

The picture above was taken in the Dealers' Room and shows two of the young magicians who attended and were having fun showing off their dexterous moves with decks of cards. Extreme Card Manipulation (ECM) indeed. I didn't know their names, but thanks to comments (below) from Joe Turner and Avi Hoffman, the mystery is solved. The young man on the left is Arthur Chiu and Avi Hoffman is on the right. Thanks, guys. You're awesome.

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