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It was great. The lectures were very good and the performers in the evening were great - except that they paled into insignificance before Paul Daniels, who really was the star of the convention . If you've never seen him perform before you really are missing out, he's an amazing performer.

*Some* people went a little overboard at the Card Collection stand. I only bought 2 decks. *Some* people bought TWELVE!!!

Kati

Well I successfully avoided CUPS and bought precisely nothing; quite a n achievement really!

I have to agree with Kati, the lectures were great, as were all the performers, but Daniels outshone them all in the gala show. He even went as far as to show us that it can happen to the best and fluffed a trick during the close-up; I think it may have been the fault of the woman he got up to help to be honest, but it still made me feel a bit better!

I liked all of the performances in the evening show, I can't choose one as a best one.

Matthew Edwards was hilarious, he is the magic Lee Evans. But I didn't like him using the Bill Bailey Gag of a giant snapping a twig.

"You have nice eyes, can I touch them". LOL!
He was brilliant at the ventriloquism.

Richard Wymarks comedy routine was brilliant.
"Whats the difference between Michael Jackson and a tescos bag?"
"Well one's made of plastic and unsafe for children, and the other holds your shopping"

Paul really did eat into the electrician he had on stage.
"You didn't look so bad when you was in the audience!"

Hehe, my folks don't mind me buying cards, they're just unsure about certain tricks and things. They love my PK Ring.

I now have around 50 decks of cards in my collection.

Bill Bailey, of course! I was trying to work out who he'd borrowed that one from; I assumed it was Lee Evans since he had a similar stage presence (if slightly less sweaty!).

His vent bit was brilliant, and the look he got from his 'volunteer' when he did the balloon swallow was great!

I was surprised at the level at which a number of the jokes in both Matthew Edwards and Richard Wymark’s act were pitched, considering the number of kids in the audience. Paul Daniels seemed to restrain himself though, and not say some of the things he clearly wanted to.

katrielalex wrote:*Some* people went a little overboard at the Card Collection stand. I only bought 2 decks. *Some* people bought TWELVE!!!

Kati

I would like to point out that it was only eleven! 10 and a dragon fanning pack!

I got:
2 * WPTs
1 * 1001 Aladdins
1 * 1002 Aladdins
2 * Bicycle Masters
1 * Bicycle Tactical Field
1 * Rambler
2 * Bicycle Vintage Fan Backs

Was an amazing day! I'll write more if I wasn't in a hurry but gotta go to Lakeside! .

Steve

I'm sure Simon will be posting a full review on the IMS website and also here on TM but until he does that it would be good to get feedback from all those who went.

I've seen Paul Daniels do his act several times and it's always fresh and hugely entertaining no matter where it's done or who he uses. The close up and lectures were enormously interesting - Roy Davenport was 'unusual' in his rambling style of lecture but still very informative. Oz was far better than I ever imagined and I'd happily pay to see him again any day. Paul Daniels gave one of the best lectures I've seen and I'm sure most people there are re-thinking parts of what they do and why/how they do it. The Gala Show was just superb - proof that where Magic is involved, live entertainment is streets ahead of any other medium. Roll on October 21st 2007!

I would just like to apologise to all the TM members at the convention that I didnt get a good chance to have a chat with. It really was my intention to do this. I also really wanted to try and get at least one group photo of you all, but there was some sort of continuum thing going on that meant that time went far too quickly. Frankly I am not sure where the day went at all.

As Mandrake predicted - I will at some point be doing a review and certainly I will be posting some of the many photos I took that day. I have some especially good ones of Darth Psycrow with Mr. Daniels, but meanwhile it is great to read your highlights (and indeed lowlights if any) of the day.

I too thoroughly enjoyed myself - apologies to those I met if I seemed a little unfriendly/out of it - I had to stay up fixing my parents' computer until 3am, then get up at 6am to set off - by lunchtime I was seriously flagging! But it was good to put a few names to faces.

I was very restrained in the dealers area, buying only a deluxe TT (which is actually a bit too soft for bill switches, but nevermind, great for silks) and the good old 3D sponge rabbits! I feel it is a necessary "fence painting" step to truly becoming a magician! I was very tempted by "wow", but at £40 I think I'll wait until my loan comes next term!

The acts were very good, but one thing I was actually very pleased about was that in a good few of the close-up acts etc. I could tell what was going on, despite being good performers. I guess this reinforced for me how important misdirection is - as a "trainee", I know what to look for, and when I'm looking for it, I see it - even with Oz Pearlman!

Still don't know how Paul did the nut in egg in lemon thing, and what was going on with those chairs?!

One downer - I'd run out of cash by the time I wanted to buy the "into the abyss" lecture notes, so if anyone has a spare copy they want to sell...!

Tom Hutley wrote:Paul really did eat into the electrician he had on stage.
"You didn't look so bad when you was in the audience!"

What an absolutly awsome event. Well I have obviously got to say, the evening show was unbelievable. I cannot believe I was there, doing magic with him infront of 300+ people. And before anybody asks, Mr Daniels asked me not to give anything we did away, so I'm not.

To have that much involvement with a legend like Paul, I feel so honored and will hold the memory of the night close to my heart for the rest of my days

THANK YOU PAUL, YOU'RE THE GREATEST.

Mandrake wrote:Oz was far better than I ever imagined and I'd happily pay to see him again any day.

I 1000% agree. His "Perfection" trick was the most baffling trick I've ever seen.

Paul's lecture, I enjoyed very much. Although in some parts, I almost fell asleep, it had nothing to do with the lecture. It was because I was sleeping over at my brothers and I had to sleep on his dirty floor... . Paul's tips were fantastic and I will take it in heart when performing and practising.

Roy Davenport is a good performer but I wasn't too fond of his style. A bit too fast paced for my liking.

The other close up magician guy, I'm not too sure of his name (I think it was Mark something) but he was a great performer. Very entertaining guy and I'm sure Tom Hutley will agree totally hehe.

I think I'll post up a vid of Oz's close up performance of one of the tricks (from Stealing Pips I believe) that I recorded.

Steve

Yea I got a video of Oz performing it to Paul and some other guys.

Michael J Fitch was the one Steve, I found him very entertaining, I mean he only performed in the close-up section for about 10-12 minutes but he was very funny indeed. Although his smoke device kept on going off every know and again. XD

I got a piccy of me and Oz.

Grr I suck at resizing images

I remember that pic! I was standing right behind Steve when he took it .

Kati

From comments here and there, it seems that there were just as many of us there incognito, or at least partially incognito, as there were proudly wearing the TM badges.

I had one on, but had it on my trouser pocket rather than next to the other badge. I'm not sure why really, I just feel slightly more comfortable not broadcasting who I am, though I still wore a normal name badge.

As far as I am aware, only Pcwizme identified me. Though I did speak to a couple of members and acknowledge a few more I had the constant feeling that I vaguely recognised people and they recognised me.

Did anyone else get that at all or is it just a feeling of paranoia? I guess that after more than five years on TM and its predecessor I was rather nervous of breaking some of the mental images I had of people and they of me.

Nickj tried to hide PAH i am a magician no one hides from me!
it was really nice to meet up with you lot and put some faces to some names, Nice to meet Darth P (and laugh my self silly) also nice to meet (in no real order): Bananafish, Katerex, Stevebo, Tom Hurtly, Ekozero,ummm some others oh and to see mandrake and Captin Fanstastic from a distance!

Seriously enjoyed me self kept cups undercontrol (only bought oz's lecture notes) and the Evening show was fab! paul was brill as was billiene (sp?) and Matt Edwards (amazing Venting)

Sarah (my GF) really enjoyed her self, so we are both wondering .... whens the next one??

Well it was good to see that those of you that made it had a great day. It does put a huge smile on our faces to see everyone enjoying the day. Gives us the impetus to do another.

I must say that big thanks go to Bananafish for getting P.D. and the extra effort he made in getting Oz in to the country (I think there might be some other societies who are thankful for Bananafish's efforts)

Once again thanks to all those that came for the day.

So who shall we have next year... Jeff Mc... Phil Goldst...