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HIGH POINTS

Lennart Green - He gave a great lecture and VIP close up show. The close up show I thought was really funny as well. He signed the lecture notes I bought off him and drew a charactature. The bad point is that now, I have to buy his dvds!!

Amythyst - I thought it made a change to see an escapology act (and not some 'comedy' strait jacket) in the show. The whole 'hair pin' stunt was a bit dumb though.

Trever Duffy - Took time out to explain thoroughly how to set up his 'smoke magic' effect when I didn't understand the instructions.

Alakazam - Performed 'Real Ghost' a few hundred times lol The demonstartions were far better than the rubbish demo video thats online IMHO

The baloon modeller in the saturday show - Really made me laugh

Rafael - The Dracula act, I love gothic magic!!!

The fact that BMC did away with the horrible and time consuming 'Pop Idol' type setup they used for the evening show last year.

LOW POINTS

The Wayne Dobson Q and A being in the early morning, so I had to miss it

Fukai - I dont think I need to say why!

The young lads in the evening show - Reminds me of a Butlins talent contest

The lack of bar staff in the Ruskin

The VIP close up shows overran the regular close up shows, so I missed out seeing some people

The lack of VIP 'extras' (just one close up show or lecture each day for Sat/Sun)

Purchases

Smoke Magic (Duffy)
Ten (Sanders)
various stuff from Black Cat/Amythyst
Purple sponge balls
Lennart Green lecture notes
'Circle Without End' book

graham lee wrote:Have to disagree about Bob Woodings act,
admittedly not many balloons are twisted on stage. Just the Dalek would take approx an hour to make, so it would'nt be too exciting to watch him twisting the whole act live on stage.

I guess if I could have seen more balloon twisting, then I agree I would have appriciated his talent more than what I could with what was condensed into 10-15 mins.

Having not seen him before, I would have enjoyed watching him make things before my eyes (even simple stuff - given the time) rather than poping behind the screen.

The comedy was good, but I think I just wanted to see more of the skill performed.

Miss.Demeanour wrote:

graham lee wrote: Just the Dalek would take approx an hour to make,

i was present when someone asked him how long to make the Dalek. He replied "About 15 hours"

I also enjoyed the baloon act and thought that it was a good opener.

I've not seen too many baloon acts but have seen some. From those I have seen this was up there as being most probably the best.

It was original and humourous.

So; here are my thoughts for what they're worth.

This was my second blackpool convention. I flew over from Holland and having already paid for my airfare and convention gold card, all I had to pay for was b&b and Goodies.
I got through 400 pounds!

Highs:
David Stone (fantastic)
Geoffrey Durham lecture
The excruciatingly funny Jon Archer & Eric
Graham Jolly
All the dealers stands (droooooollll)

Lows:
Nothing that really springs to mind. Maybe because it was only my second time attending, and It's all just too good for me.

Purchases:
Jerry O'Connell wallet
Ultimate egg bag
Double bladed paddle (I can take up canoeing again)
Magic colouring book
A top hat ('cause I thought I should have one)
A .22 blank firing pistol ("cause I'd just read a trick about "dead man's hand" that suggests a gun shot as the final revelation is made)
Colour changing cd's
Geoffrey drham's book
David Stones book
DVD "How to pull a table cloth from under the crockery

plus a load of other small stuff, cards, pocket tricks etc

I also came away with a lot of ideas and knowledge that's probably worth more than the 400 quid.

But I'm happy for now (though I'm finding there are things that I passed on and should have bought instead of some of the things I did.
Oh well. Such is life.

I also came away with a lot of ideas and knowledge that's probably worth more than the 400 quid.

Now that is just a GREAT statement that many will have overlooked.

I think it's pretty clear that Rafael was the highlight of the convention (Vampire Act, not the shoddy Sunday night performance!)

Gary

Hello,
having had my wisdom teeth extracted right after Blackpool this has been my first opportunity to get on Talk Magic!
My highlights of Blackpool were:
(1) Lennart Green wrapping tin foil around his head
(2) Shawn Fahquar; (Spelling prob incorrect) everything he did made me feel giggly and in awe.
(3) Rafael's gothic vampire performance
(4) accidently meeting the TM lot in Ruskins Sat and Sun night
(5) Meeting Max Somerset, who is so lovely(oh why doesn't the sorcerer pick me for an apprentice?)
(6) Talking to traders, esp those who have been coming every year since the great dawn of time
(7) watching the performance of the guy who won the children's ent. comp. SO seat wettingly funny(not that I did...), he absolutely rocked-and I have a fear(from childhood) of ventiloquist's dummies, the fact I stayed for the whole performance was a magical miracle all on it's own.
(8) Lawrence contact juggling ... I am inspired, and I WILL be there having a go next year. Thankyou lovely chap for all your help and advice )
(9) Walking back along the promenade in big fat moonlight at 4am, watching three lads so drunk they were forced to crawl along the pavement, being overtaken by three staggery young females; all crying and insisting they weren't drunk to one another.... classy!
(10) Ummm... everything else that happened ranks here! My 1st Blackpool experience was amazing, thankyou everyone who adopted me and saved me from being a big old Lindsey no mates ;o)

Aww, I like seeing my name come up in some of these kinds of posts.
They do all seems to be because of my juggling though, maybe next year I'll focus more on some magic...

Lawrence, your juggling was sheer magic !

I didn't get to stay for Sunday, but...

Highs
1. David Stone Lecture - HILARIOUS...even THE OPENING was funny! And the girls under the table
2. Lennart Green Lecture - I got to see this lecture twice, the second time, he came back to the British Magical Society!
3. Shawn Farquhar's "Shape of my Heart" trick - poetry in motion
4. Rafael's Dracula routine
5. John Archer and ERIC!!!!
6. Meeting loads of new people
7. Meeting some famous faces
8. Close-up in the Horseshoe Arena
9. Spending an entire weekend just obsessing about magic.

Lows
1. Having a conscience, and not allowing myself to spend any more money than I did
2. Fukai - "who knew tie a yellow ribbon had 713 verses?"
3. Stu Francis
4. Not being there for all the star lectures on Sunday
5. Not getting to go to Ruskins...will be there next year though !

I cannot wait for 20-22nd February 2009!!

lindseymagic wrote:(7) watching the performance of the guy who won the children's ent. comp. SO seat wettingly funny(not that I did...), he absolutely rocked-and I have a fear(from childhood) of ventiloquist's dummies, the fact I stayed for the whole performance was a magical miracle all on it's own.

Hey, thanks Lindsey!

Glad I helped you with your dummy phobia!!

John