|
|
Rickfcm Veteran user lower Michigan 382 Posts |
To those that were fortunate enough to get to the conference, what were the highlights and lowlights of it. Wish I could have made it.
|
phill Veteran user Connecticut 365 Posts |
Yes, please do. It has been really quiet around here.......
peace, phill
Scripture, Sculptures & Surprises!
|
pastorclyde Special user 576 Posts |
I have to tell everyone up front that my wife and I are still smiling and giggling from our experience at the 2008 FCM convention! Though I attended the convention in years past, this was my wife’s first time. I had built up some pretty high expectations within her so I was anxious to hear her evaluation as we began our drive home. She stated that her experience there well surpassed her expectations! In the end, we found the fellowship to be very supportive of new ideas, a wonderfully welcome environment for Christian sharing and a tremendous wealth of resources for our own professional growth. If I might explain some of our experience…
As a professional escape artist team, my wife and I arrived at the FCM as a bit of an anomaly . As far as anyone could tell us, we were the first escape artist team to lecture at an FCM conference. I can’t say enough about the tremendous way that the FCM embraced our emphasis on escapology. Our lecture was well attended and the feedback was strongly supportive. We were also vendors and our products were widely received and we were met with a hunger for escape ideas. Our performance on the late night stage was actually by demand as we had not signed up to do so but after the strong insistence of others, we asked and were given a spot on that evening’s show. After our performance we were commended for presenting something new to the fellowship. In the end, we were invited to perform at next year’s convention on the evening stage- something we will look forward to with great excitement and humility. As the week advanced, we found ourselves meeting up with some of the most wonderful folks we have ever met. Our common interest in the performing arts, but even more so, our shared faith, brought us close very quickly. Such people included members of the Mystery Men, former/present/future FCM presidents, evangelists, pastors, missionaries, professional performers and many who are content simply to dabble in magic. I can’t remember when I have so enjoyed and laughed so much with other believers! Surely the Presence of God was in that place! We attended three lectures in performance areas that were new to us. Namely we attended lectures on clowning, developing humor and juggling. We had some ideas that we wanted to bring to our act but we lacked the expertise needed to fully develop our concepts. In each lecture, we found the specific information we were looking for and we were even given very gracious individual help from each of the instructors. With the cost of gas on the rise, I expected a low attendance but to everyone's surprise, it was up significantly! My only concern was that there was only one chalk drawing artist. I hope the art doesn't fade away since one such artist reached me through their art when I was a child. Face painting was an area of its own and even the Mystery Men ended up getting into the swing by having their faces painted just before a performance! The food was great and the meal lines were signficantly shorter than they were a few years back due to changes in the Caféteria layout. The weather was absolutely perfect with temperatures in the 80s with clear skies. The townhouse was a great improvement over the dorm room of the past. All in all, things are great and getting better at the FCM convention! The late night stage was hilarious with Joey Brummett and the stage crew keeping the laughter flowing through their creative skits. The evening stage was highlighted by the Townsends as well as many of the familiar performers. A former president had the place rolling in laughter with 16 baby rabbits, 3 dead (pretend) doves and a goose on the stage. In the end, all I can say is wow! What an experience! I can't wait for next year! We are already making plans. If possible, try to get there. You'll not be disappointed! Clyde and Sharon |
Mark005 Loyal user 212 Posts |
It was great meeting Pastor Clyde; It was wonderful to see a dealer table with escape items. I have always felt that was an underused part of magic (escapes) for Gospel work. The idea of sin and satan, chains and bondage, seems a natural.
Highlights? Duane's wonderful full evening show; Oz and Wilde are the Gold Standard of Gospel Magic, and it is always wonderful to see them. All of the magic performances are from good, to very very good. Lowlights? Well, I am wondering why there was no clown act, juggling act, or balloon act? Even if its the same people every year, and I don't see why that should be, the people of various talents at the convention need to see their talent represented on the main stage. It gives them something to aspire to. Many many acts were on too long. Most people on stage are used to doing an entire show with their talent. They need to remember less is more, and keep to the schedule. Finally, and I know many disagree. I will never understand why an entire evening of an international convention is given to a childrens contest, where kids are in most cases attempting to do magic. I understand the need to bring up and encourage the youth in the FCM. Why not have a "pre-contest" then have the top three compete on Thursday night? Why not take the late night show and do the same, with the top three acts from Mon, Tues, Wed, on the main stage Thurs competing for the top spot? Might also be a good time to award lecture of the year, dealer of the year, etc. Let's make it a night where we encourage everyone, but keep it a good show for those in the audience. Just me ranting, and its just one man's opinion, but there it is. |
Rickfcm Veteran user lower Michigan 382 Posts |
Mark, It is always good to give opinions. I like your ideas. If new ideas and opinion are not given we would be stuck in a sorry rut.
|
Signor Blitz Elite user 419 Posts |
Mark,
I could be wrong (which isn't an uncommon thing) but from my understanding is that youth night is to show the community and FCMer's what/who is coming up to watch (is Justin Flom sorry is I spelled you name wrong) What I have noticed is that all the years that I have been coming is that those that do not like youth night have a poor image of thee own minsistry. In other word that know that the kids are better or are on the right track of learning and performing. Even if an act on youth night is painful - I would wager that it is better by miles than the MAJORITY (I did not say all) of the presenters or want to be presenter in the audience. If WE as FCMer's do not promote the youth our club will with away as each member grows older and belly wines about "change" and "that is not how we use to always do it". The youth is the future and they should be applauded!! As for the late nighters-dealers-lectures - why make the FCM a contest?! Even though I have my personal critisism of the FCM convention - It should be a week of fellowship and NOT ANOTHER LAME CONVENTION!!! My personal opinion about seeing the different arts on the stage for the FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SHOWS is the same as Marks. But the sad truth is that there does not seen to be a pool of talent that will stick to the allotted time and can perform a quality act. What is good on the mission field in the middle of India or China does not work in Marion. And those that can present seemed to be chased away by back stage DIVAS that live for thier moment in the spotlight. And if this is something that you actually do as an occupation there is too much and no need for the goofy bull-hockey that must be tolerated. If you are giving a performance (which material will be lifted/stolen)and you as the performer are not receiving and $$$ in return for your efforts then there must be a certain amount of professionalism. Any way - If you had one to choose only 1 day at any 1 convention FCM is the way to go!! (And I have been to them all from IBM-SAM-FISM and many local gatherings in between) |
Gene "Oz" Oswald New user 99 Posts |
Love the talk, but wish it was on the FCM forum. Anyway, I love the idea of Thursday night! But I am a teacher. There needs to be improvement, you can always make it better. I liked the kids that performed Thursday night. I thought the puppet group that was made up THERE that week did a great job!
As an organization, we need to help kids get better, give them a venue on a stage to gain experience. As for the evening program... I think that there is a place for the kids on them. But I think that we can do a better job all the way around. But I'm not the only one. The leadership of the convention are working on it. I think that we will continually see improvements. Thanks to Barbara we have a great convention. Thanks to Ed Jarvis and his team we have a convention in the black that provides a great week of Spiritual uplift and training. The new team that takes over in a few days I KNOW will do a good job and plan to continue to make it better! Send them ideas, send them comments, but let's do it on the FCM Forums or send them emails. God bless, IJn HIS love & service |
Mark005 Loyal user 212 Posts |
Gosh, where to begin.
Lame convention? I would think rewarding excellence rather than enduring that which is mediocre, would be the best way to avoid that. Turn the FCM into a contest? Again, its about rewarding excellence. Better to aim at the moon and miss than to aim at the ground and hit. Talent pool? Perhaps, but there is a great deal of untapped talent that is sitting in that audience unused because of other "prima donnas". Because this is a public forum I will stop here and move it to the FCM forums. I will simply say that not only is there nothing wrong with rewarding excellence, there is a great deal right about it. |
Mark005 Loyal user 212 Posts |
That might have came off as harsh, and I ask forgiveness for that.
My sole idea is that people will return from the FCM convention better in every way, than when they got there. So much better, that everyone that sees them will think "I have got to make it there next year." We all might have different ideas how to do that; but I hope we all can understand we all want it to be the best it can be. |
Gary Barker New user Tampa, FL 70 Posts |
Mark,
I was a "first time" attender this year and also a dealer. I am friends with Duane and Mary and was thrilled to be next to them at the convention. I knew as a first time attender and dealer many may be curious as to who I was, what kind of person I was, etc...I was invited to several other FCM conventions and chapters to perform and/or lecture and I anticipate becoming more involved next year at the FCM in Marion. I met with Del briefly and am confident he and others in leadership are as interested as you seem to be in making FCM the best it can be. I took your words as a challenge for me to become more involved and to help us all raise the bar together. I didn't take your words as harsh, but rather passionate. Let's keep encouraging each other to raise the bar and to be committed to making a difference. Looking forward to meeting you next year! Gary |
MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
I posted my thoughts in another spot regarding the 2008 FCM convention, I thought it was EXCELLENT. Of course, I agree with some of the other web posters that Thursday night sometimes is "weaker" when the youth pretty much only are performing. But the puppet segment was second to none this year by the youngsters. Would prefer adults as well on Thursdays too, maybe the "best" youth from earlier pre-contests- a good idea. Wednesday night show could have been stronger obviously too, but I must say that if you are a longtime magician- you would have split a gut like I did laughing at the super "inside" material of the comedy magician, named "Normando" or whatever his name was. Funny stuff! For example, he borrowed a dollar, ripped off a corner, gave the spectator the piece to hold. Cut open a lemon, inside was a Jack of Spades with the corner ripped off- spectator's corner he was holding became a card piece somehow and matched the ripped Jack. All while doing Andre' Kole/John Travolta Saturday Night Fever type poster poses. Now, that is really bizzare, I loved it. On Friday was very excellent Gospel evening show with the Townsends, the 2nd half was very fresh and terrific I thought in particular with some real puzzler material including large illusions and "mentalism." Lectures: WOW- the BEST ANYWHERE! I too go to Abbott's every year, went to World Magic Seminar in Vegas a few months ago, etc.. FCM is the BEST--- non-stop--- packed with great information and either free or very affordable lecture notes. All A+++++, Duane, Barry, Tim, Hoby, Oz and Wilde, WOW. I did not go to all the late, late shows, I heard the ones I did not go to were also REALLY packed out this year, quality great. And the dealers--- seemed to have a TON of good ones this year, with more stuff than I could ever afford and much to chose from, including many wonderful children's items from Barry Mitchell and Tim Sonefelt. Of course, Duane Laflin's booth is always a must. Many great Gospel ideas/products you cannot get anywhere else under one roof. Caféteria added more lines, no real waiting at all this year. Even the dorm rooms are air conditioned. I think SuZie will be doing her super fast chalk art pictures again at the FCM in the future, one of the best anywhere as far as I am concerned. In short, Really enjoyed FCM convention this year! Will be back next year with hopefully more members from our FCM Chapter in SW Michigan: http://www.ChristianMagician.org
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The Fellowship of Christian Magicians! » » To those who got to go to the conference (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |