I.B.M. / S.A.M. 2008
COMBINED CONVENTION
July 20 - July 27
Louisville, Kentucky
Yevgeniy Voronin has been added to the list of Gala Show performers. Originally from the Ukraine, Voronin now spends six months of the year in Seattle in an unusual Dinner Theatre and the other 6 months in variety theater in Europe. Also, for those arriving Sunday Afternoon, Paul Gertner, one of the top trade show performers in the world, will be giving a magical trade show presentation at 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 PM. Paul's' subject will be what you can expect to see and do during the 2008 Combined Convention. (read more)
The convention registration booth - located on the 2nd floor of the Galt House Suite Tower (the same building as check in) - will open on Sunday at 5:00 PM. Magic dealers will open for early birds at 7:00 PM.
PLEASE NOTE: Hotel space at both the Galt House and Marriott Courtyard Downtown are maxed out. There are other nearby hotels with space available at comparable rates.
Because of the number of registrations, we are able to put into motion a couple of special plans. It began over two years ago when Artistic Director, Hank Moorehouse, first saw the intimate Bomhard Theater. "This is exactly the venue we need for our Close-Up Gala!' But we had to put those plans on hold until we had a better idea of what our registration was going to be," said Hank.
The Close-up Gala will be held in the stadium-raked Bomhard Theater holding just 500 people. The semicircular layout of this repertory theater - within the same Kentucky Center Performing Arts complex adjacent to the Galt House Hotel headquarters - not only provides an intimate setting with excellent sight lines for close-up work, but also uses a mammoth video screen overhanging the close-up worker on stage to give everyone truly close-up image of each performance
The "East Meets West" Close-up Gala, starring Martin Eisle, Simo Aalto, Hiro Sakai, Dr. Sawa, Brian Gillis, Rick Merrill and hosted by David Williamson, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6 PM and 9 PM. Only 500 registrants will attend each performance. Reserved seat tickets will be in each registration package and the performance is not open to the general public.
While the Close-Up Gala will be enjoyed by 1000 people each night, the dress-up Gala Banquet will likewise be host to a separate 1000 guests each night at the same time. Those who attend the banquet on Wednesday will go to one of the Close-up Galas on Thursday; those who go to either Close-up Gala on Wednesday will go to the banquet on Thursday. Although banquet tickets will be provided in each registration package, there is no head table and no reserved seating. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy the evening with old and new friends in magic.
Starting with the Southern Hospitality Cocktail Party adjacent to the Grand Ballrooom at 6:30 PM, banquet attendees will have the opportunity to exchange the coins they received at registration for two free glasses of beer, wine or soft beverages while enjoying the sounds of the Double Vision Trio.
At 7:30 PM, attendees will proceed to the Grand Ballroom to enjoy a great party. Music for dancing will be provided by the Double Vision Orchestra. A seven course banquet will be served during the evening, interspersed by entertainment featuring Terry Seabrooke, Compere, music and magic by The King and Presto, and the antics of that incomparable banjo playing juggler, Todd Charles. Incoming and outgoing officers of both organizations will be there to greet you and the focus of the entire evening will be a hearty mixture of magic, music and conviviality.
The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pre-arrangement is advised. Parking is $9/day, unlimited in/out usage. Breakfast is serviced daily in the hotel Café, M - F 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and Sat - Sun. 7:00 a.m. to 12-noon. Full breakfast buffet is $8.95 and a continental breakfast is $6.95.
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For convention registration information, contact John or Virginia
Apperson at (618) 451-9749 or at ibmsam2008@appsmagic.com.
Click here for complete convention information
Schedule Revisions
- Registration will open Sunday evening, July 20 at 7 PM
- Dealers will also open Sunday night at 7 PM for early birds
- The first event will be the Opening Show on Monday, July 21 at 12:30 PM
- The first lecture will be Jim Steinmeyer's, Monday afternoon at 2:30 PM
- The Invisible Lodge will meet on Wednesday at midnight
- The Order of Merlin Breakfast will be held on Thursday at 8 AM
- A daily newsletter will be published with late breaking news
- The Convention LLC will hold the licensing rights to the design of anything pertaining to the 2008 Combined Convention sold in the Dealer Room.
- Contests and lectures will not be ticketed; most all other events in the theater will have reserved seating.
Another Event
It has just been announced that an auction of Jay Marshall magic memorabilia and ephemera will be held on Sunday, July 27, at the Galt House in Louisville immediately following our joint convention. Although a completely separate operational and financial venture not connected in any way with our convention, we believe this announcement demonstrates the attractiveness of our convention as a magnet for the auction and has the potential to enhance registration for our convention.
