talkmagic.co.uk

Okay, I've just booked hotel, event ticket and trains to and fro.

Quite excited now! (c:

im going. happy days. its good every year, just bring enough music to listen to while Ken Dodd talks about s***.

shuffleshuffle wrote:im going. happy days. its good every year, just bring enough music to listen to while Ken Dodd talks about s***.

Ken is one of the things that sold it to me, I've a longstanding goal to see him live.

Ken Dodd not only talks s*** he is s***, it’s because of him that I never look forward to the Sunday night show.

Well, "De gustibus non est disputandum" as I'm sure Dr Porcelain-Pound would remind us... (:

Sadly Ken's sparkle at Blackpool seems to have declined a little over the last few years. It's a pity because, after people like Eric Sykes, Bob Monkhouse and a few others legends have moved on to higher plains, he's the last of a breed of comedians who were innovative, excellent value for money and always very, very funny. His stage shows still sell out so perhaps the Blackpool 'few words' section isn't a fair judge of what he can still do?

Im sorry for the fan(s?) of Kens, but i'd rather make an intricate carving of a tennis racket out of my johnson then listen to him again.

Even so, he is still not as bad a the KING of comedy (Thats what it says as the headline on George Kings website... 'kneel down for the KING of comedy...' No joke.

Dont you just love how a racist comedian was booked for an international gathering. Brilliant.

To be fair to Ken, hes been an important part of comedy, but growing up on modern comedians to compare him is like watching my geriatric nan with a duster trying to communicate with the shadows of her past.

Retire man!

More news courtesy of http://www.magicweek.co.uk:

Blackpool Magic Convention - updates: Michael Weber returns with a new lecture and will also take part in the "Magic Speed Dating", the Master Class and the International Close-up Show. Philip Hitchcock will present his prize winning Dove Act on the Saturday night Gala Show. Germany's Antje Pode will perform her sensational Foot Juggling Act on the Saturday night Gala Show and the Lasermen from France, along with Quick Change Act Natalie & Eli from Switzerland, will all add to a fantastic variety bill. Television producer Anthony Owen will present close-up magic and lecture, mentalist Colin McLeod together with Joe Monti, Simon Lovell, Mel Mellers, Michael J. Fitch and Wayne Dobson will entertain in the "Wayne Dobson and Friends Show". Star Australian comedy magician, Phil Cass will make his Blackpool debut, appearing in a number of events. The "Kidz'R'Us" lectures will be run by the very capable Gary Dunn and Michael J. Fitch on the Sunday, and on the Saturday the very popular British Children's Entertainers National Championships will take place, with Colonel Custard compering and Puzzling Paul, Zoobee, Captain Calamity, David Tricks, Mr. Bananahead and Colin Dymond as invited competitors.

Programme Blackpool Convention 2013

FRIDAY 22nd FEBRUARY

8.30am Registration Desk Opens

11.00am Dealers' Super Showcase Opens in the Empress Ballroom, Empress Ballroom Balcony and the Arena

11.00am Dealer Demonstration in the Pavilion Theatre

1.00pm to 2.00pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Nicholas Einhorn

1.30pm to 2.30pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Matthew Wright

2.30pm to 3.30pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Dirk Losander

3.00pm to 4.00pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Johan Stahl

4.00pm to 5.30pm International Close-Up Magic in the Pavilion Theatre. Compere: David Plant. Starring: Joe Monti, Simon Lovell, Patrick Lehnen, Mark Mason Jan Logemann, Nicholas Einhron, Zeki Yoo, Phil Cass

4.30pm To 5.30pm Star Lecture In The Spanish Hall By Jay Scott Berry

7.00pm To 10.00pm International Gala Show - The Magic Of Korea. Compere: Vittorio Marino. Starring: Yuji Yasuda, Yu Ho Jin, Ted Kim, Lukas, Kim Hyun Joon, Haon Gun, Lee Hun, Nicky Yang

8.00pm Dealers' Super Showcase Closes

10.00pm to 11.00pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Colin McLeod

10.00pm Registration Desk closes.


SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY

8.30am To 5.00pm Registration Desk Opens

9.00am To 5.30pm Dealers Super Showcase Opens in the Empress Ballroom, Empress Ballroom Balcony And The Arena

9.15am To 10.15am Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Yuji Yasud

10.00am To 11.00am Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Michael Weber

10.15am To 11.45am The British Children's Entertainers National Championships in the Opera House. Compere: Colonel Custard. Featuring: Puzzling Paul, Zoobee, Captain Calamity, David Tricks, Mr. Banana Head, Colin Dymond

10.45am To 11.45am Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Simon Lovell

11.30pm To 12.30pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Anthony Owen

12.30pm To 1.30pm Wayne Dobson and Friends Show in the Pavilion Theatre. Comperes: Michael J. Fitch and Wayne Dobson. Featuring Joe Monti, Simon Lovell, Colin McLeod, Mel Mellers

1.30pm To 2.30pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Zeki Yoo

2.00pm To 3.00pm Star Lecture on the Pavilion Theatre by Jan Logemann

4.00pm To 5.00pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre By David Merry

4.00pm To 5.30pm Magic Speed Dating in the Spanish Hall. Compere: Harry Robson. Featuring: Phil Cass, Joe Monti, Mark Mason, Jay Scott Berry, Simon Lovell, Johan Stahl, Colin McLeod, Michael Weber, David Williamson

5.30pm Dealers' Super Showcase Closes

5.30pm Registration Desk Closes

7.00pm To 10.00pm International Gala Show in the Opera House. Compere: Jay Scott Berry. Featuring: Antje Pode, Dirk Losander, Phil Cass, Natalie & Eli, Philip Hitchcock, Mel Mellers, The Lasermen, Prince of Illusions

11.00pm To 12.15am Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by David Williamson

11.00pm Andrew James and Magic Sam Present "Beat The Wand" Competition in the Theatre Bar of the Winter Gardens. Competition Open to approved Registrants


SUNDAY 24th FEBRUARY

8.30am To 5.00pm Registration Desk Opens

9.00am To 5.30pm Dealers Super Showcase Opens in the Empress Ballroom, Empress Ballroom Balcony and The Arena

10.00am To 11.30am Master Class in the Pavilion Theatre Featuring: Phil Cass, Mark Mason, Joe Monti, Michael Weber, Johan Stahl, Colin McLeod

10.45am To 12.45pm Two "Kidz R Uz" Lectures in the Ice Room Featuring Gary Dunn and Michael J. Fitch

11.00am To 12.00noon Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Mel Mellers

1.00pm To 2.00pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Mark Mason

1.00pm To 2.00pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Natalie & Eli

2.00pm To 3.30pm International Close-Up Magic in the Pavilion Theatre. Featuring: David Williamson, Matthew Wright, Michael Weber, Anthony Owen, Dirk Losander, Jay Scott Berry, Johan Stahl, David Merry

3.00pm To 4.00pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Patrick Lehnen

4.30pm To 5.30pm Star Lecture in the Spanish Hall by Joe Monti

4.30pm To 5.30pm Star Lecture in the Pavilion Theatre by Phil Cass

5.00pm Registration Desk closes

5.30pm Dealers Super Showcase closes

7.00pm To 10.30pm International Gala Show. Compere: David Merry. Featuring: Tony Frebourg, Les Chapeaux Blancs, David Williamson, Yann Frisch, Ken Dodd, Marc & Alex, Sonny Hayes & Co., Marko Karvo

10.45pm After Gala Show Party in the Spanish Hall and Theatre Bar. Compere: Karl K, Cabaret: Matthew Wright, George Kovari Junior, High Jinx. Food is not included in the Registration Fee. No ticket required. Six Close-Up Magicians will entertain you in the Theatre Bar whilst the Cabaret is taking place in the Spanish Hall

I didn't go to Blackpool last year and somehow missed that lectures now start quite early on Friday. This is a pity because I have made all of my arrangements including train tickets to arrive mid afternoon Friday.

And now it's Sunday and I've not yet gone over my budget!

Assuming we all got back safe, sound and reasonably sober let's have your thoughts and comments.

As fas as I'm concerned the Friday and Saturday shows were superb, especially the Saturday one - both well worth the cost of the weekend. Having said that the Friday show was almost a repeat of the one in 2012. Sunday's was, er, perhaps only half good - the first half. After that it mostly went very pear shaped IMHO. Les Chapeaux Blancs, David Williamson, Yann Frisch were the shining stars of the first half of Sunday's show along with the doves, budgerigar, parakeet and parrot of Marko Karvo in the second half. Yann's enhanced manic cup act was utterly superb with plenty of surprises which fooled us completely.

Thank goodness they pruned the awards presentations down to just a few, in previous years they lasted longer than the show itself.....

The claim was made that this year saw the largest ever attendance at over 3,400 - no idea how they worked that out but it certainly seemed less frantic than previous years, room to walk around the dealer hall with only occasional people jams. Noticeably there were several of the regular dealers not there this year but many new ones to take their places.

Clashes of lectures taking pace at the same times was far more apparent this year, surely it's possible to revamp things so there's the minimum of overlaps? It's not only annoying to the paying customers who miss out but somewhat disrespectful to the lecturers as well? The lectures I did get to were excellent and I certainly brought back plenty of ideas, with just a couple of sets of lecture notes. Apart from a couple of one way decks that's all I was tempted to buy.

I tried the after show party again this year.... oh dear. Very corny MC who seemed to be stuck in the 1960s with very tenuous links to justify singing the same stuff as in previous years. A vent act where the guy has a black hood over his head? Sorry Matt, you can do far better as was clearly shown in your magic acts. The escapologist did the usual stuff but when he was locked in the stocks, head down and four feet away from the microphone, nobody could hear was he was saying... no wonder people lost interest. I gave up and cleared off before High Jinx came on so can't comment on them.

Despite the negative facets, this was still perhaps the best Blackpool Convention I've seen in the last 10 years of going there and, yes, I've already booked for next year!

Have to agree that the dealer hall seemed easier to get round this year, which meant it was even easier to spend more than I had intended again. One of the highlights for me was the Magic Speed Dating because you were up very close to the magicians and could really talk to them. I arrived just in time to see the Nicholas Einhorn lecture which was excellent.

The close up show on Friday afternoon left me with a poor impression of Joe Monti who I had never seen before. But how wrong was I with that first impression. At the speed dating he was excellent and spent ten minutes talking to me afterwards when I asked an extra question.

I enjoyed all of the Wayne Dobson show, the warning that the show had adult content was fair enough. Having missed last years convention I was saddened to see how Wayne has gone down in two years. But his humour and timing are as sharp as ever.

Simon Lovell has been a bit of a hero from afar for me since I discovered his DVDs thanks to this site. Again his performance at the speed dating was really good and he did not disappoint at all.

Have to agree also with Mandrake about lecture clashes. I found myself on more than one occasion virtually having to toss a coin to make a decision.

Some of the compering was a bit amateur for such a high profile event, to my taste that is.

Overall it was an excellent convention. I am far to lightweight to throw myself in to the social side which I am sure is my loss. But in spite of this I really enjoyed myself again.

Complete agreement re lecture clashes - for me it was Weber and Lovell overlapping (we stayed with Weber and missed Lovell altogether).

Arrived late on Friday evening, in time for Colin McLeod who was brilliant everywhere he popped up over the weekend. But despite the registration desk being open until 10pm officially, they had packed up and had to dig out our stuff from their crates at just after 9:30.

I was impressed with Jay Scott Berry at the magic speed dating, but unimpressed both with him as compere (why the singing?) and the Sunday close-up show. Appearing near the end of the bill on the Sunday afternoon when everyone is tired and performing an extended routine of beautiful and skilful manipulations to a lullaby soundtrack was ill-advised.

Loved the magic speed dating format - I hope that returns, but with some tweaks. The tables need to be separated a bit more, and some of the performers could do with a bit more projection, and perhaps a couple more minutes each.

It was Adam's 12th birthday on Saturday - he wore an oversized birthday badge and I must mention some of the folks who were generous and gave him stuff for his birthday:
The Blackpool Magicians Club were selling what I assumed to be the FISM goody bag contents outside the dealer hall gave him what seemed to be one of each of their items and were very very encouraging.
Janette at Pat Page Magic, Wayne Fox at what is now Magic Direct and Johan Stahl all were very encouraging, wished him a happy birthday and each gifted him a DVD.
Others who were generous in spending some time with him chatting or coaching included Matthieu Bich, David Williamson and Mark Mason who spent a good few minutes refining the force he had covered in his lecture. It's great to see folks being so encouraging to the children.

Highlights for us were everything we saw either Colin McLeod or David Williamson doing, Michael Weber's ideas, particularly the laundry-related one. Also Mark Mason, Joe Monti and Prince of Illusion. Adam was in stitches at Mark M's stories about the scissors and ties.

We will be booking for next year very soon.

Ian

particularly the laundry-related one

Absolutely! I'm doing the rounds of the Indoor Markets/Primark/ALDI etc to buy a stack of socks and a laundry bag !