The International Brotherhood of MagiciansWelcome to our Magic Web Portal. The I.B.M. is the world's largest organization for magicians and for people interested in the magical arts. Our Brotherhood is made up of nearly 12,000 members worldwide with over 300 local groups called Rings in more than 73 countries. The I.B.M. is considered to be the most respected organization for magic collectors, amateur, and professional magicians in the world! If you have a sincere interest in the art of magic, we invite you to learn more about our organization. There is plenty to see here so take your time and look around. You may be amazed!
Rolando Santos, International President
Coming magic events deserve your attention
by Dennis Schick, I.B.M. Portal Editor
With the annual conventions of the two major magic associations recently concluded, the magic community now can focus on the several major magic events which will take place over the next thirty days or so. Magicians from all over the country -- even the world -- will be going to one or more of them.
1. MAGIC EXHIBIT IN HOUSTON MUSEUM. Currently going on in Houston, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is a major exhibit called simply, "MAGIC." But this is no ordinary exhibit of old stuff to look at. Oh sure, there is the collection of artifacts you'd expect in a museum (Tayade Indian Cups, Doll's House, Houdini Milk Can, etc.). But this museum exhibit is unique in that it also includes performances by magicians, both on tape and live.
Baker making a career in restaurants
By Bobby Warren
Most magicians get their start from a father or grandfather who shows him a simple effect, and the magic bug bites. For Columbus, Ohio-area magician Carroll Baker, he got his start as a six-year-old after spending a day with Harry Blackstone Jr.Baker won a magic contest, which earned him the opportunity to carry Blackstone's bag of tricks as the legendary performer entertained children in what is now known as Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. Baker said he knew then he wanted to be a magician.
“I was fascinated with magic,” Baker said. “You could tell by the way people treated him that he was special. At the end of the day, I knew I wanted to be like that.”
King finds ways to stay busy in Amish Country
By Bobby WarrenIf Kevin King thought coming back to his Midwest roots would help him slow his life down just a little bit, then he was mistaken. Since returning to the Wooster, Ohio, area, King has been performing in a variety of venues, whether college campuses, summer festivals, or intimate settings.
King has helped put magic back on the map in Wooster and Wayne County, a city about 60 miles southwest of Cleveland, just like he did as an up-and-coming magician when he was a teenager at West Holmes High School in Millersburg, Ohio, a town nestled in Amish Country, about 20 miles south of Wooster.
People to thank for great convention. by Dennis Schick
Even though "Thank you notes" aren't in fashion any more, your mama still would tell you to send them to people who have done something nice for you. Now she probably didn't (or doesn't) know anything about "Thank you e-mails" -- and we don't know what Miss Manners says about them -- but still, a lot of people should be thanked for the recently-completed IBM Annual Convention, however you send them.
If you have never worked on a major event like an international convention, you have no idea of all the time and effort that hundreds -- yes hundreds -- of people put in to pull off a five day convention. It's nearly a year-long effort. At this year's convention, for instance, many commitments were made by advertisers, dealers, and performers for next year. Many magicians registered for next year's convention in Dallas, as well. And the hotel for next year -- The Sheraton Dallas -- was reserved a long time ago.
But back to this year. All the things which people did for this year's affair are often called "thank-less" jobs. But they won't be thankless if YOU and others take the time to thank those people responsible. So here's the list. At least we can thank them publicly.
Rachel's Story
By Bobby Warren
Rachel Colombini's attitude is positively infectious despite battling what can be a deadly infection. The magic performer, creator, manufacturer and retailer has an array of talents, but she has not yet figured how to make $200,000 appear out of thin air.Rachel and husband Aldo Colombini are reaching out to the magic community and beyond, hoping their hearts are moved to help the couple raise money for Rachel's medical procedure.
The Colombinis have established two ways for people to help. One is the website www.magic4miracles.com – it is set up to accept donations, and the other is their online store www.wildcolombini.com, where the couple are offering customers an incredible special when they purchase any of their effects, books, DVDs or ebooks.
Rachel was born with a congenital heart defect.
Shawn Farquhar encounters 'Approachable' magicians to learn about comedy magic
Award-winning magician Shawn Farquhar, a two-time I.B.M. World Champion of Magic and an Order of Merlin member, is reaching out to magic's youth with his I.B.M.-exclusive video blog titled Approachable.
For his latest entry, the popular Farquhar tapped some of magic's funniest performers to talk about how to be a comedy magician.
Farquhar said this edition was recorded live at the 4F convention in New York. To answer the question on comedy magic, he selected I.B.M. Close-up Champion and Gold Cups recipient Oscar Munoz, I.B.M. Close-up Champion Stephen Bargatze, I.B.M. Close-up Champion and FISM Grand Prix Champion Rick Merrill, and Geoff Williams.
"The answers are all great and their insight is knowledge to everyone who wants to pursue more comedy in their performance."
Extensive Online Database
Benefits Researchers and Others
By Dr. William E. SpoonerThe Conjuring Arts Research Center was established in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of magic and its allied arts. The Center, located at 11 West 30th Street in Manhattan, is the brainchild and creation of William Kalush who has amassed over 12,000 volumes of books and journals and rare documents. The rare book room contains an impressive collection of books dating back to the 15th century, including a number of variations of Reginald Scot’s Discovery of Witchcraft...
