By now you should have already registered for the I.B.M. Convention in Phoenix July 17-20, or are about to, and have started making your travel plans. It's less than two months away, you know? Many of you will just show up, attend most of the sessions and events, and will take home terrific memories of a fantastic experience. BUT, others of you want to get as much out of the convention as possible, which is smart. Since you might be starting a checklist of what to take to the convention, add to your list my list of things and stuff to maximize your magic and convention experience. (I am rewriting and updating a column I wrote a couple of years ago.)
Dennis Anyone? What to take to IBM Convention
Magic in Las Vegas for June 2013
Here is the latest on all the magic going on in Las Vegas -- just in time for all your summer vacation planning. It is compliments of friend David Neubauer. And since you are going all the way to Phoenix, Arizona for the I.B.M. Convention July 17-20, why not stop by Las Vegas before or after the convention? Many of you have not been that close to Las Vegas, ever. Here's your chance. Take a look at this June 2013 update.
Join Your Friends in Phoenix for the Annual I.B.M. Convention Where the Talent is HOT!
Congratulations to Shawn Farquhar, Talent Chairman of the Eighty-fifth Annual Phoenix I.B.M. Convention, for putting together an outstanding lineup. You won’t want to miss being part of this magical event.
For those of you showing up early, there will be several activities Tuesday evening, July 16. Registration will open at 6:00 p.m. so that you can get your badge and join us for these events. At 7:00 p.m., Make Believe, the first screening of the I.B.M. Magic Film Festival, will be shown. Join the teen magicians and watch this award-winning magical film. Immediately after the film, join Lance Burton, Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, and other stars from the film for a panel discussion. Tony Chris will also give an Early Bird lecture later that evening -- and that is just the beginning!
Magician in Residence proposed in the UK
Every now and then someone comes up with a neat idea, and shares it with the rest of us. And sometimes they even invite one or more of us to be a part of the idea. That's what we thought when we heard about what the Watershed program and the University of Bristol are proposing -- a Magician in Residence. What a fun idea and a terrific opportunity for one or more (group) magicians in the UK. Want to know more? Read on. But hurry; the deadline for applications is June 10, 2013.
Carnival of Illusion celebrates 250th performance
The Carnival of Illusion will celebrate its 250th performance of its blockbuster vaudeville-inspired show in April, 2013. The magic duo's milestone will be celebrated in Tucson on April 12th and 13th at the Doubletree Reid Park Hotel; and in Phoenix on Saturday, April 20th at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. "It is exciting to see a unique, fun, and dynamite nighttime atraction to highlight the creativity and expertise that we have in Arizona. We're ecstatic that Sarlot and Eyed created this audience generator in our state," one of the few female magicians in our state," said Reini Marsh, President of the Southern Arizona Attraction's Alliance.
Kevin Spencer needs your help to produce documentary
World-class magicians and illusionists, The Spencers -- Kevin and Cindy -- are currently working on an amazing new documentary about the power of simple magic tricks to make a significant change in the lives of people with disabilities. And you can be part of making it happen. First, start by going to the Website below and reading all the details. Then, please make a donation in the amount of what your heart says. Further, please SHARE this with your Facebook friends and LIKE their new Facebook page (BagOfTricksDocumentary) Please go to: http://igg.me/p/303770/x/2002156
Using the iPhone to create magic moments
Since I have an iPhone, recently I was asked to review a new magic trick which uses the iPhone, for "Hocus in Focus," the New Product section in The Linking Ring. I received the package, watched the DVD, have played with the included gimmick, and concluded that this is something that all magicians should have. More on that later. Then I read a conversation on the I.B.M. Group on Linked-in (<www.group-digests@linkedin.com>), and learned about some other uses of the iPhone by magicians. Here is some of that conversation, and my own thoughts:
What is Magic? Michael Ammar tells us.
What would you say if someone asked you what is magic? What would you say if you were asked to write an article or essay about magic? What would you say if a local civic club invited you to come to their next meeting, not to "perform" magic, but to talk about what this thing called magic is all about? Well, here is help. World class magic performer, teacher, and lecturer Michael Ammar thought about it and shares his ideas here. Thanks, Michael!
Dennis Anyone? Some one-liner questions for your patter
Not so long ago I devoted a column to one-liners which you could adopt for your patter, whether in a show or just to add to your already-quick wit. I simply passed on the list from one of those e-mails which all of us receive. (Scroll down several items under Blogs & Columns if you missed it.) Well, here is ANOTHER list for your repertoire, this time one-liners which are in the form of QUESTIONS -- which have no answers, of course. We can't give credit to the author (or authors) because most of these kinds of e-mails are anonymous. Enjoy and use them -- with only a little guilt. (Disclaimer: some are funnier than others.)
We're still looking for help with articles
Last Spring, we asked members of the I.B.M. to help submit information and ideas for several types of stories we were working on and thinking about. Two of those articles -- one on Magic Summer Camps and another on the Benevolence of Magic -- have been published. The Linking Ring and the I.B.M. Web Portal are both still looking for help in gathering information for several other topics about magic. The following are some of the stories we're still working on, and we would appreciate it if anyone with something to contribute on any or all of them, would get in touch with the person designated.
