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No news from Buxton? Is the IBM Convention dying off? With the only real highlight mentioned in last weeks Magic Week being The Sooty Show things don't look promising.

I used to go every year, and look forward to it. I haven't been now for about three years.

well, next years is in Bournemouth so its not over yet.

Going by the limited comments on line, Mostly made by Adrian Heritage on the British rings FB page, it seems to be Oliver Tabors year.
The photos clearly show that attendance is way down this year, and that it looks more like a saga retirement do, than a magic convention.


https://www.facebook.com/IBM.BritishRin ... n=timeline

Managed to make a appearance yesterday as I am only 20 miles away.. I was expecting lots of people there, but sadly there wasn't But had a nice afternoon anyway.. And was better than being at work...

Thanks for the mention Dale (I'll forgive the spelling of my name). Attendance was down on what we had a few years ago, BUT it was always expected to be, otherwise we wouldn't have booked Buxton for the venue. It doesn't help that the IBM has had vaguely Northern conventions for 3 successive years now (Southport, then Gt Yarmouth, and Buxton this year). It's always had a higher age profile than some conventions, but that is partly due to the Wednesday through Friday days being in the school term. My view (based on attending every year for 34 conventions) is that the age profile is actually slightly lower at the moment - certainly I was chatting to a number of people a good few years younger than I am. All seemed to find that this relaxed convention was very friendly, and had something for everyone. As Dale has mentioned, there is a FaceBook page which has some good photos of the events. Next year the venue is a true southern one, Bournemouth, so it makes it easier for some to attend I suspect. I've already booked, and am already looking forward to it! As to highlights, Ali Cardabra and Bertie Pearce in the opening show - which was a REALLY good opening show too. Discounting the Compere (who I felt was the wrong man for the job as it was a family show) the entire closing show was great and well balanced - Richard Pinner for me was the highlight. Men in Coats probably stole the late show. Bob Hamiltons Nostalgia videos are always great, allowing us to either relive or see for the first time moments from previous conventions - with great memories of some sadly no longer with us. The Davenports talk and the Shaxon memorial show were both first rate. And Stars of the Future and Richard Cadells talk on Sunday were my personal highlights (though Diamond Jim's lecture was pretty good too, and I'm working on the ring routine!)

I have found over the last few years that the Saturday is actually the weakest day - not helped that I work FOH at the Childrens Show, which knocks out most of my day anyway - but this may account for the lack of people seen by Mr Invisible. It will be interesting to find out the official attendance figures, and how we came out of it financially - I DO know that the "real" people who attended both of Saturdays public shows thought they were excellent and we did seem to have pretty good crowds at both.

Thanks for the update, please feel free to post plenty of detail/advance publicity for the next and subsequent conventions.

Details so far are obviously few and far between - I do know that Sooty has been booked again for the Childrens show (remember, this is a public show aimed at the local children, and Sooty brings people in to the show). Registration at an early bird rate is already open - www.magicconvention.co.uk/registration/ ... ation.html at £120.00 for the full convention. The Ali Bongo Micro Magic Marathon (though it only runs for an hour!) is being held again (and entries have already been received for this fun event), and of course performers are requested for the special venue shows. You have plenty of time to get a competition standard act ready for the British Ring Shield (stage) competition and the Close-up competition. I'll try and post more news as and when I have it - the Budget (magazine of the British Ring) will have lots of reviews in the coming editions, and then we may start hearing more about Bournemouth (which is 24 to 28 September next year - back to it's more normal late September slot)