January - Two Important
Announcements for the
2009 I.B.M. Convention
in Nashville, TN
by JACK WHITE

We have two new and important developments surrounding the International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) annual magic convention for June 30th to July 4th, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  Convention Chairman, Terry Richison, has decided to extend for one extra month the registration fee that was suppose to end on December 31, 2008. The price freeze means that the $210 dollar registration is good until the end of January 2009, saving you $40. (read more)  

On February 1st the registration jumps to $250 per person.  You can register on line Click Here. Or you can call the I.B.M. Office at (314) 845-9200. The convention opens June 30th and runs through July 4th

Our second special announcement about the convention is the talent line-up that has already been booked to appear on the stage of the historic old Ryman Theater and at the Grand Ole Opry Theater.   We will travel by bus to the downtown area and visit the Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry was broadcast live for many years as well as using the Grand Ole Opry Theater at the beautiful climate controlled Opryland complex 

The I.B.M. Convention Talent Chairman, Dale Salwak, has been busy lining up the best magic performers from around the world to present their skills and amazements for audiences attending this year's magic convention. 

On the International scene we have signed Jorge Blass the renowned illusionist from Spain.  At the age of 20 he has already achieved what many have only dreamed of doing.  He began his study of magic when he was 12 at the Juan Tamerez School of magic.  He has successfully traveled throughout Europe winning awards and the hearts of audiences wherever he has performed.   His unique Linking Ring routine was the hit of the recent tribute to Master Magician Marvyn Roy in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Speaking of the best of the best, LATIMER, F.I.S.M. World Champion Magician will be on stage with some of his latest illusions.  Here is an amazing talet in the world of magic and he has some surprises to share with the audiences at this year's convention.  Latimer's out of the box concepts for illusion design is redefining the field.   His physical and visual ability to build the impossible in everything from bending light, shaping water, levitating fire, rotating stages and his many other live effects have created a new and exciting reputation of pushing the craft of magic towards the future.

From Seoul, South Korea, An Ha Lim is the newly crowned International Champion of Magic.   At the combined 2008 IBM/SAM magic convention in Louisville, Kentucky, Lim won the stage competition with his astounding and endless card production routine.   Lim entertained, projected personality, and charm in the competition.   His routine was well structured and built to a crescendo, and his application of color cards was exquisite.  He may be the greatest card manipulator of all time.

Another international star on this year's bill will be Timo Marc from Germany, who performs an innovative act where he "paints" images on a blue screen TV monitor, and then pulls actual objects off the screen or lets them fly off by themselves.   Timo has won the Siegfried and Roy SARMOTI award for the most creative and entertaining magician at the World Magic Seminar.

Haruo Shimada, one of the world's greatest magicians, a light - hearted artist renowned for his dove-producing dexterity and his internationally acclaimed parasol act will be part of this convention this summer.  Those who have seen his act agree that it is one of the greatest magic acts they have ever seen.   He worked on a TV variety show with Slydini and worked on and off as a regular at the Magic Castle for three years.   Shimada is one of the masters of the craft and has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious 39th Annual Tannen's Magic Jubilee.   Shimada is a pioneer in the art of Dove magic.   Many of his techniques and theories are currently being used by all of the great dove acts in magic.

Another of the great performers at this year's convention comes from Germany,  Hayashi.  He is one of the most entertaining magicians and has been quite active in the European magic scene since 2003. The International Magic Champion is the first performer in the history of magic to win five European national titles as well as the prestigious MacMillan International Magic Competition in London.  He won these titles in less than two years with a card act, which he performed in four languages, earning him a reputation as an incredible versatile and powerfully charismatic magician.   The awards include; March 2003 1st place in the Austrian National Championships (Card Magic), October 2003, 1st place in the Italian National Championships (Card Magic), December 2003 1st place in the International Magic Competition in London, May 2004, 1st place in the Preliminary Eliminations for the German National Championships (Card Magic), He has performed at the Magic Circle in London, the Magic Castle in Hollywood, the Wizard's Inn in Tokyo, and at FFFF.

From England we have booked Marc Oberon who has been a professional magician since childhood, and has performed all over the world including for members of the aristocracy and celebrities as well as people from the business world.   The award winning Nottingham, England, based magician has won the 2008, close-up competition at the International Brotherhood of Magicians and Society of American Magicians Combined Convention in Kentucky.  Mark was also the winner of the European Magical Close-Up Championships held at the Blackpool Magic Convention.   He is a winner of the MacMillan International Award, and the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians competition.   As part of the Magic Circle's Centenary celebrations, Marc was one of five specially selected magicians representing the Magic Circle in Hollywood's famous Magic Castle venue.

These are but a few of the great acts that are set to be part of the big I.B.M. Convention this summer at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.   Next month, I will talk about other's who are set to entertain at the convention.   Remember to take advantage of the savings on registration and sign-up before January 31st. (Click Here)   We are going to have a grand time in the sunny south so plan now to be part of the fun at the 2009, I.B.M. Magic Convention.   I look forward to seeing you there!