talkmagic.co.uk

In line with the other posts here; this was our 5th Convention and, to echo previous comments - "The Worst" so far.

I did not like the format this year, especially the removal of the close-up sessions and "An audience with" sessions. I felt there was a lot less content and quality, and looking back over previous programmes, the 2011 was much thinner on the ground.

Having said that, I did enjoy the Saturday night show (* execption coming up) How refreshing to see new tallent from all over Europe, with some great material. And Yann Frisch was EXCELLENT! he completely deserved his awards and I hope to see him at conventions in the future

* I'm sorry, but I do feel a rant coming on: How on earth was George King booked for the convention????

Russpie - I totally agree with your comments that he was straight out of a 1970's working mens club. His dated, offensive and downright s**t material was completely innapropriate.

Did someone see him on a cruise ship (or local ferry trip) and think; hey this guy is racist, sexist, homaphobic, crass, rude and openly admits that conventions are not his bag - lets hire him for a European event where we are trying to make a fantastic impression!
Probably, the only thing he knew about Eurpoean culture was where to buy egg and chips near his villa. I was really offended by his world cup / Ethiopia gag - There is no funny side to famine!

Oh well, I guess he will go down on the ever growing list of Butlins circa 1980 compares; Stu francis and Mick Miller etc that we have had to endure at previous conventions.

I say BRING BACK DEREK SCOTT - I laughed til a little bit of wee came out.

However, by Sunday evening we where transported back to the traditional 17 card manipulation acts and another 3 hours of Ken Dodd. I'm sorry, but if I see another person fan a pack of cards and chuck them in a top hat - I will need a padded cell.

On the up side, as usual the Ruskin makes it all worthwhile. great to see old friends and make new ones - magic people are just the nicest!

For those posting their thoughts on Blackpool - be very careful.

You may find youself banned from attending by Derek Lever. Complaints are not taken kindly at Blackpool.

One good reason for posting under a weird username!

To be fair, none of these posts are nasty criticism but should be seen more in the light of constructive suggestions by those who pay good money to attend and may, if considered carefully, lead to improvements all round and thus increase the interest assuring of sellout conventions in future. Customer feedback is increasingly important and should be taken into account.

Blackpool is the way it is, and it is not going to change. There are plenty of fun alternatives out there.

mitchmagi wrote:You may find youself banned from attending by Derek Lever. Complaints are not taken kindly at Blackpool.

People have the right though to complain! As Mandrake says they should take it as constructive criticism and change what needs changing or not to do certain things again!

I have been going to Blackpool for more then ten years, and this was the worst by far.

There is nothing more that I can add to how appalling George King was,

but the blame lies with the person that booked him, I find it hard to believe that they did not know the content of his act, as it was obvious that it as not change in the last thirty years.

Miss.Demeanour wrote:Probably, the only thing he knew about Eurpoean culture was where to buy egg and chips near his villa.

Miss.Demeanour wrote:
However, by Sunday evening we where transported back to the traditional 17 card manipulation acts and another 3 hours of Ken Dodd. I'm sorry, but if I see another person fan a pack of cards and chuck them in a top hat - I will need a padded cell.

so true!!!

mitchmagi wrote:For those posting their thoughts on Blackpool - be very careful.

You may find youself banned from attending by Derek Lever. Complaints are not taken kindly at Blackpool.

so be it.
At the end of the day, this is constructive criticism.
I am actually considering complaining about the compere act of the Saturday.
I was hoping for an apology from someone on the Sunday night show, or some sort of comment on the previous night...
I think that all the comments above are justified, and if these mistakes are avoided, then the convention will become even better...

To be fair, none of these posts are nasty criticism but should be seen more in the light of constructive suggestions by those who pay good money to attend and may, if considered carefully, lead to improvements all round and thus increase the interest assuring of sellout conventions in future. Customer feedback is increasingly important and should be taken into account.

I agree with your point. I would hope that if any organisers do view this site, they are objective to opinions of others and use this to gather feedback for the benefit of planning future conventions.

It is the same with, Films, Music, TV, Restaurants, Holidays, Hotels etc - people review and give opionions which are then used to further buisness promotion.

I am very grateful to "Talkmagic" for hosting this dicussion. A much publicised UK Blackpool blogger site failed miserably; it consisted mainly of re-prints of the day's convention programme. This newsgroup conveys a real feeling of what it was like to be there (the good and the not so good).

I was gobsmacked to learn that Ken Dodd is still doing his 3 hours; the last Blackpool convention I went to was 20 years or more ago (and we had Ken Dodd then). He is a wonderful comedian but enough is surely enough?

As for the "buzzing off" of acts in the competion, why weren't the judges 'warned off'this practice beforehand? Bit too late for the organiser to complain on the day.


This doesn't bode well for next year's FISM


Petrus

The same thought occurred to me earlier today. Next year's FISM is a biggie and lasts far longer than the Blackpool/FISM Europe event. If the same criteria are used to eliminate acts then I'm glad I'm not going. OK, I can understand a sudden end if the acts go over their allotted 10 minutes or whatever but at least give them their full 10 minutes and don't short change them!
As things stand, people could be paying up to €550 to see a succession of truncated acts – even shows like Opportunity Knocks and New Faces didn’t do that... I blame BGT and other shows where the judges can buzz acts off before their time is up.

I enjoy the Blackpool Convention as much as anyone, it was my 3rd this year and like the previous two I now have some very fond memories.

Enough has been said about George King, I did not like his act, but, I do respect him for leaving instead of facing the torrent of abuse and potentially making the actual acts lives more difficult.

Key moments for me though are:
Chatting to Osterlind in the Ruskin and watching his coin bend inches away and catching nothing.
Finally meeting Eric Jones, we have been talking for a long time but it was great to meet him in person.
Being Wayne Dobson's helper for his lecture and keeping a break. (Though I got a very angry magician come up to me telling me that it was disgusting to try and upstage Wayne)
Another Osterlind moment where I saw his infamous spoon bend which he signed and I got to keep.
Yann Frish...need I say more, though watching him wind up the hostess in the Opera House was also great.
Making new friends and linking a Ninja Ring through a Chinese coin, whilst a little...unsober, to the amazement of people in the Ruskin (and mine).
Getting a Losander Table.

In all was a awesome experience, though I wish I did not have to choose between FISM and Blackpool next year.

Chris Tennant

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Chris Tennant wrote:I enjoy the Blackpool Convention as much as anyone, it was my 3rd this year and like the previous two I now have some very fond memories.

Enough has been said about George King, I did not like his act, but, I do respect him for leaving instead of facing the torrent of abuse and potentially making the actual acts lives more difficult.

Key moments for me though are:
Chatting to Osterlind in the Ruskin and watching his coin bend inches away and catching nothing.
Finally meeting Eric Jones, we have been talking for a long time but it was great to meet him in person.
Being Wayne Dobson's helper for his lecture and keeping a break. (Though I got a very angry magician come up to me telling me that it was disgusting to try and upstage Wayne)
Another Osterlind moment where I saw his infamous spoon bend which he signed and I got to keep.
Yann Frish...need I say more, though watching him wind up the hostess in the Opera House was also great.
Making new friends and linking a Ninja Ring through a Chinese coin, whilst a little...unsober, to the amazement of people in the Ruskin (and mine).
Getting a Losander Table.

In all was a awesome experience, though I wish I did not have to choose between FISM and Blackpool next year.

Chris Tennant

[/list]

you did not upstage Dobson in any way. This Angry magician was an imbecile.