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I am going to my first magic convention in April (Hank Lee's Cape Cod Conclave http://www.hanklee.org/conclave/conclave12.html ) and the lineup includes James Dimmare, Pilou, Johnny Thompson & Pam, Arthur Trace, Bob Cassidy, Chris Capehart, Tony Binarelli, Skilldini, Dirk Losander, Jon Allen, Al Lampkin, Nathan Kranzo, Helder Guimaraes and more.

Some of them I've heard of (Of course the Great Thompsoni, Nathan Kranzo, Bob Cassidy, etc...) but a few I haven’t. Those who I haven’t heard of I have googled but the only thing I can find on Pilou is that he won at FISM along with Rick Merrill.

If anyone knows more about him, please let me know or post a link to his website.

Thanks,
~David

I've only seen two of those names but can say that Chris Capeheart is a superb performer with years of experience in old style street magic - not the David Blaine type where he goes chasing after specs but the sort where he sets up a pitch and gently attracts a crowd to him. He is witty and comical but there's such a lot of knowledge with it, you'll be most impressed. Jon Allen is another excellent performer with several first class effects to his credit. Double Back and The Silent Treatment are just two of them and they've been reviewed/discussed here many times. Put the names into the Search function and you'll get a flavour of what you're going to experience.

Chris Capehart was at Blackpool last year, a top performer!

Pilou is a french stage magician. He won the stage Grand Prix at FISM, which should be enough to make him worth seeing. I didn't make FISM this time, but those I know who came back from it raved about Pilou's act.
Dirk Lossander lives in Las Vegas, he is best know for his levitating tables and floating wand. He also has a DVD out on levitation full of great ideas. Met him at WMS last year, was a really nice guy. I've never been to a lecture of his, but I think from our discussions he would give an excellent one, a very knowledgeable magician.

Hey David;

You should enjoy Hank's Conclave alot. My family and I have made it a regular April vacation. Lots of opportunities to meet and speak to the performers and lecturers, lots of opportunities to buy stuff. The theater is a middle school auditorium that seats about 800, nothing fancy but it works. The hotel was a fabulous place at one time, now it feels dated and a bit worn, and certainly very overpriced. We pass on the food package, used it one year, lots of heavy foods. We found the food to be just ok.

The lineups vary from year to year. I have not been disappointed often. (I was disappointed in Ayala's appearance last year, he seemed to want to be somewhere else. But the other artists and lecturers made up for him.)

I will try to keep my eye open for you, perhaps we can share a drink or two.

More on Pilou, saw him perform at WMS this year. His act was a manipulation act, producing cards and balls, very talented. His skill is very advanced. Was an excellent performance.