talkmagic.co.uk

well, what a journey. I left my place about 6.30 this morning, and got to my room about 6 this evening. All in all a looooong day, which is why I am afraid to say, After 1 pint, and pie & chips, Im sat here typing away in my room. I am Knackered!!!! and tomorow, is going to be quite a full day.

yes, i know that an early night at a convention, just isnt the done thing.. But It was a long trip up, and the pie & chips was just about the only thing i had eaten all day. so i thought for once, Id let my head rule my heart .
Running order for tomorow is as follows....

9am dealers open.
10-10.45, childrens show with tricky ricky
11-12 tricky ricky gives a lecture on children's magic.
break...
1-30, 2.15 voice workshop. simon raybould
1-30 4-10 close up sessions
featuring

David Regal, Levent & Christian Schenk

4-30 5-30 lecture by Markus Beldig

dealers close 6.pm

then gala show 8.30, followed by the midnight show with Robert Temple, & Andy Fury.... plus a pint or two of course.

ok.. forgive the rushed write up, But as usual I've got a little time before the Gala show.
Tricky Ricky.. great kids entertainer, who had the children in the palm of his hand from the start. He has a huge range of magic in his act, including linking ropes,Rabbit and hat silks, 20th cent pants, tells bells, 3 cup monte.. ect, ect. His choice, and use of music was perfect, and overall he was a very likeable man, who is, i gather very, very busy. And with good reason.. he is one of the best. I loved his dog puppet Bingo.His lecture afterwards conveyed much of his aproach to entertaining, and included a range of effects that he used in his act.


close up show.David Regal opened with his deck from box effect, this lead into a couple of card effects, he closed with his take on the cups & balls. starting with a childs plastic set, he told his history of the effect, moving on to a nice pro set, he concluded with his final load. from each cup, came the plastic cups he started with, beneath.. a ball. Magic!

levent.. star of today. Far to much magic to list. A whirlwind of delights!

Christian from cardshark ended, with a number of card effects, including the one that Barry & Stewart mucked up on the magicians... Its a graet effect if you practice.

Marcus Bleding.. Genius German mentalist, presented simple well known effects, with his own thoughts. I think his justification of the book test is the tip of the weekend..if not the year

oh.. and the building over the road from my digs, collapsed.
all fun!..
now.. Ill type more later...........

This is being done on my phone, after two pints. The gala show. Hosted by John Archer, was fantastic. First on was a splendid girl dance team who filled the stage with well choeographed numbers. We then had the pleasure of david regal. Nice tossed out deck, lovely bits of business. Second hi jinx, who entertained the full house , with some high class juggling. Next Levant. Words can't express how wonderfull this mans act is. Perfect in every way. More later...



The joys of this convention is you turn a corner and you discover a great conversation . Which is why i paused. Second half began with the dancers, then german mentalist sensation Markus Beldig. He wowed the audience with a string of slick easy to understand routines. Finaly, ROB TORRES..... In caps, because this man deserves to have his name shouted from the rooftops. A true genius, whos act is Incredible!!!! As was John archer. Simply the best compare in the business.

And, in a packed programme today......
10am, Dealers dem. Always worth going to these, just in case there is something you have missed.
11-15, Levent. His lecture will be one to watch, rather than take notes I am sure. A very clever guy!!
lunch at 1.
then
2.30, Christian Schenk, ( Cardshark) lectures.
half hour break, then
Robert Temple lecture.
I didnt see his midnight show by the way. Im not a great fan of that style of hypno show.Sometimes personal tastes get in the way of writing a review. But those that saw the show, seemed to enjoy it. I did see comedian Andy Fury. I have seen him on television at some time, He has a look that isnt easy to forget. He did cross the line on a couple of gags, and power to him, he realised this, and moved on to other material straight away. :

At the bar, i watched David Regal work a small crowd for a video. Its going to be very good, as the stuff he did was funny, and entertaining.

_________________

Would it be fair to say you're enjoying yourself?

indeed.

just wrote a looong review of the day, hit the wrong key and it vanished! Bummer!

suffice to say, Levant is the star of the convention, as is Rob Torres.
great dealers demo session. Technically magic, has some amazing smoke, fire, lighting and sound equipment on offer. I do like the flash cloth. so many uses.
Dave Regal had a good range of commercial stuff, including his Opus Approaching Magic, and his ultra clean, no switching examinable tossed out deck In Flight, and his ring on necklace,
merlins had a wide range of colourful magic from Tora, magic box, had some cool card magic, including ambidecktrous, and michael Murray's new one, the door.
and Mark Leverage had a few lovely bits including El Duco's no palm/palm wallet. lovely usefull bit of kit that
on to the lectures.....
LEVANT.
WHAT CAN I SAY?
In 90 mins we had the full history of coin matrix, misers dream, linking rings, half die hank, salt pour. plus what seemed like hundreds of hints, tips and secrets . this man is Genius!!!!
Card Sharks Christian Schenk followed with a talk on the history of his company, and the technical side of producing his range. A bit deep, for that afternoon after a session, but had some interesting bits.

now, i didnt go to the Rob Temple lecture,as it is just not my thing. But i gather that it covered the same material as his master class. If this is true, Thats naughty. after all People paid quite a bit of cash.
anyhow, tonights Gala show should be a goodun. archini & smith get back together after 15 years.. i still smile when i think of seeing it all those years ago.
more to come....

_________________
You're like Yoda.

sunday all ready? I had a reasonably early night last night, because of my long trip south today.

Any how, The Gala show.

As predicted, one of the best yet.
after the dance troup welcomed the audience in, with a skillfully choreographed number, Host for the evening David Regal welcomed on stage the first act of the evening, Archini & Smith. John and mikes character act has always held fond memories for me, and they came flooding back as John, in his edwardian bathing suuit and moustache, became the great Archini..Liberator extreme, and Mike Smith became his Barker. John & Mike ay thankyew for brining this act back.

Next we had a treat, as Rob Torres made his second apperence of the weekend, with his charmin character, and stunning audience management,and hat juggling. A truly great Clown.

The first half was closed with some amazing Illusions by Hi Jinx, and a great double straight jacket escape to dulling banjos.
a seriously good act, and this young couple deserve every second of sucess they get.

second hale opened with the amazing Mat Ricardo, who stunned the audience with his cigar boxes, and his signature effect, off and on table cloth. google him, Its fantastic... as was the last act...

LEVENT.

again, just indescribably amazing! Included tonight, the greatest Billiard ball manipulation act i have ever seen, and some pant wettingly funny business with a bunny. If you ever get the chance to see him......GO!

The fun & frollicks continues at the sea hotel into the wee small hours, but I am afraid, This lightweight just felt far to tired to stay for long. Knowing how long today will be, i chose to take the sensible option and have an early is night. ( still 2am mind you)

just 2 events today, david regals lecture, and Rob Torres. However i may have to miss out on Rob, as i have to start my trip back.

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Both David, and Robs lectures were inspiriring. Davids, inspiring because of his simple methods and easy to follow plot lines, and Rob, for his thoughts on character building, and creating a situation.

David demonstrated a wonderful routine with a simple Rush Mat, and a pint of beer that kept on appearing and dissapearing. card effects, am insanely good hook up for I.T , that I am sure Ill use, a coin vanish gaff, his Doggy a.c.r, and a great running prediction effect that will find its self into a show at some time.


Rob Tores then explained his background, and training which lead to the wonderful mime/juggling character he performed over the weekend. Thought provoking, funny, and memorable. A great way to end the convention.


and finaly.......

It was a long trip back. I finally got home at 11.40. being cooped up in a coach seat, with no food, or water, being poked in the ribs by a total stranger because he wants to read a news paper...I thought, why am i doing this? .

Why i did it, was simple. I did it because i will do anything to get to, and from the greatest convention the world of magic has ever, and will ever see.

So, once again, I have to voice my thanks to all the special people that make it happen. the sponsors, Magic box, and the customs house theatre, and the south shields council.... the Martin Duffy, Kari Prinn, and the rest of the team, to all the technical staff at the theatre, the sea hotel, the artists, fellow delegates, friends old and new, my land lady Jan, and yes, the chef that cooked the fantastic Indian meal i had on Saturday......... THANK YOU.

this weekend is one that MUST CONTINUE. It will continue, but only if YOU the potential delegate go.

so, what are you waiting for.. why not make enquires now! Make the magic happen in 2013.... and for the years after that.

RE:
"Why i did it, was simple. I did it because i will do anything to get to, and from the greatest convention the world of magic has ever, and will ever see."

Always nice to hear a convention can have so much impact on someone. The one that made me feel the same way was the first New York Magic Symposium. But I was lucky enough to be able to get to the first of the South Shields conventions and enjoyed them, the mix is just about right and I hope this convention IS able to continue.
Paul.