talkmagic.co.uk

Are magical societies normally quite disorganised?

I have been attending my local magicial society for a couple of months but there seems to be little order to the nights proceedings. Although the nights and themes are pre-determined the actual evenings themselves seem to have little in the way of agenda.

The members themselves are all lovely people but I find I get more from sitting in the pub eating a burger after Tab Mentis than I do from attending society meetings.

I know that the people are volunteers and it is all run on a very informal basis, so perhaps it is just my obsessive need for order, I just wondered if all societies are the same?

Couldn't tell you if all societies are the same, but the Liverpool magic circle is.

The lecture nights are great, but if its a non-lecture night as you say a theme is set, but its normally just spent sat around a table with no agenda or goal

I'm sure it depends on the club but to be honest, I've been thinking the same about my main club but I go more for the friendly people now. They are a lovely bunch and I learn more from chatting with them before, after or when we meet up for a drink. It's a great way to get to know magicians in the local area to enthuse with.

If nothing else, this speaks volumes about the quality of TM attendees. Friendly, knowledgable and able to drink while creating. Win win win.

Ted wrote:If nothing else, this speaks volumes about the quality of TM attendees. Friendly, knowledgable and able to drink while creating. Win win win.

Exactly.

It's just for my annual subs and three hours attendance, I feel I could be doing something more useful.

The Pentacle Club is very organised.

We meet every two weeks and we meet in a school hall arranged for lectures/performances.

We have one pub social a year and one special Christmas meeting.

It's awesome.

Are other magical societies not like that?

-Stacy

Where is the Pentacle Club Stacy?

Is it in Cambridge as I do not think I could face the A14 for that far!

Yeah, it's in Cambridge.

http://pentaclemagic.co.uk/

-Stacy

I would have to travel past Bar Hill *shudders*.

Can anyone recommend anything similar to Tab Mentis I can attend?

Most magic societies are a bit disorganised. They also cater for so many different styles - close-up, kids workers, mentalists - and so many levels of skill from hobbiest up to pro, that they are fairly much diluted beyond usefulness. I go along to meet a couple of mates, and if those guys lived in the city and I met them regularly, I wouldn't be bothered going to the magic society.

Another problem I have seen with most societies is that their lectures seem to cater more for the hobbiests and the close-up guys than for the rest of us. I would love to see someone from the world of theatre come along and explain stage craft to us, or a comedian explain how to write a gag and how to time the delivery. But I know that won't happen, because the majority of magic club members are not workers.

Interesting view Tony.

I have moved around quite a bit and been a member of several societies. Very often members say they want meetings on stagecraft and similar but if they are arranged no one turns up or they complain there were no tricks. You are right - most societies cater for hobbyists.

Dave.

Www.madetomeasuremagic.co.uk

Ant.

I would thoroughly recommend the South Tyneside magic convention in March. Its only once per year but it is a full weekend of lectures and socialising.

lectures during the day.
magicians only midnight show.
Two full evening shows for the public (free to delegates)
friendly informal chats between lectures and late night chats in the bar.
Dealers room.
Optional [additional fee] master classes for advanced sessions.

Not sure how many tickets are left, but its only £65 for the whole weekend. (plus travel and accommodation)

http://www.magicconventionguide.com/201 ... announced/

2012 Line up (subject to contracts etc.)
David Regal ~ USA
Rob Torres ~ USA
Levent ~ USA
Christian Schenk ~ Germany
Mat Ricardo ~ UK
High Jinx ~ UK
Archini and Smith ~ UK
Ricky McLeod ~ UK

The Zodiac in Ealing (www.zodiacmagicalsociety.co.uk/) meets every week and is always highly organised. There is at least 1 outside lecturer per month as well as internal lectures and workshops from professional workers and amateurs alike. Every meeting has a theme or agenda and a vast range of subjects and tricks are covered for all levels of magician. There are full time professional workers in the club inluding Richard & Peter Pinner and some very strong 'amateurs' who have been placed well in Magic Circle competitions and are frankly better than a lot of 'professionals', as well as pure hobbyists.

It is also a very friendly club where people of all levels perform most weeks and don't get ridiculed if something goes wrong. A good place to learn and practise.

The Vancouver (BC Canada) club, both the IBM and SAM are incredibly organized. However in my experience, most are not. The local club here was in such bad shape at one point there was very little magic. The first hour of the meetings centered around the 'business portion' the entire meeting turned into a 'look at me meeting' for one person who pretty much always demands to be the center of attention. By the time they got around to the magic it was 9pm and I had to work the next day. It was fustrating because I was one of the founding members. I did the legwork for the club to be affiliated with the IBM. And in the end it was just a waste of time. I've heard that since it got rid of a few members it has been much better. And they keep asking me to attend again. But every time I do, it seems to be based around one person that nobody really has any respect for and they don't do anything about it. Although it has gotten better.

Hmm, that wasn't supposed to be a self indulgent rant. But hey, there it is.

Any club, in any interest, is only as good as the leaders, and the leaders are only good if they listen to the members, all of them, not just the "elder statesmen".
Notice I say "leaders" rather than "committee".
Magic clubs seem to have a lot of "older" members, (and I'm nearly knocking on the door of 50...) who seem to think they have a right to their voice just because of their age and "experience". Ego gets in the way and they do what suits them, not the membership.
Saying that, I have seen a couple of clubs that have really grown since getting their act together, and organising around what people actually find valuable rather than what the committee wanted.
Bruce