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magicjy New user Big Stone Gap, VA 61 Posts |
Michael and Richard….thanks for the kind words. IBM was a lot of fun hanging out with friends and making new friends. That is really what magic conventions are all about. Plus, the talent was great.
How do I really feel about most stage contests such as IBM? Personally, I think that the IBM convention needs to change the categories for the contest from stage and close-up. The contests could be called Theater Magic, Stage/Parlor Magic, and Stand-Up Magic (aka today’s close-up). Personally I think it is difficult to put over 30 different acts in a stage contest that ranges from small stage illusions, doves, comedy, theater acts, manipulation, and general magic all into one. I wonder if Dirk Arthur entered the IBM stage contest then they would have to allow him to make his helicopter appear. Heck, he may want to produce one of his tigers too. My point is that acts like that is a THEATER Act and not really stage/platform. The American Dictionary defines stage as a raised and level floor or platform. For example if you have a show for Company ABC Dinner Banquet in the Holiday Inn Conference Ballroom then the stage is usually an 8 by 8 feet platform that is raised 1 or 2 feet off the ground. There are no curtains or special theater lighting. WHAT DO I CONSIDER A REAL WORLD WORKING ACT? 1. Must be able to perform that act almost ANYWHERE and not just on a professional theater stage. Example: If Company ABC hires you to perform on the 8 by 8 platform then can you perform your act? 2. The act must be able to be reset in 10 – 15 for multiply shows. Example: You have two school programs at 9 AM and 10:15 AM. Can you perform your act and the rest of your show then reset in 15 minutes for the second show? 3. Act needs to be able to travel (fly or ship), play for most audiences, setup on stage quickly, leave the stage pretty clean, strike quickly, and perform for most audiences. All six of the Gold Medal finals were excellent acts. Heck, I feel anyone of the six acts could of won. Personally, there were three or four other good acts who did not make the finals that could of completed with the judges top six picks. However, only a few of them could meet the three above statements. I have notice over the years many awesome acts who has won several awards, but the performers usually does not perform that act for their clients because they are limited with stage size, setup time, reset time, etc. It is my personal opinion if a performer is hired to perform then they should perform their award-winning act for the client if the client has paid for it. Imagine if you when to see a concert by your favorite artist but they did not play their hit songs. As a performer I feel like I would be cheating my client and audience if I did not perform my best acts for them. Thanks for listening. Maybe one day IBM will re-vamp what they consider stage and close-up. Looking forward to hearing your feedback. Joseph
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MAGIC is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen. - Foka Gomez Joseph Young WWW.JOSEPHYOUNGMAGIC.COM |
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lair New user Michael P. Lair 44 Posts |
Thank you, Richard. Yes, Fantasio is the best! Very humble, approachable, honest, and kind. He has a few limited edition magic effects available now at his site. His Miracle Lighter and battery-operated candle are two winners that I highly recommend! He sold a lot of them at the IBM Convention.
Michael Lair |
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KyletheGreat Special user Georgia 560 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-09 09:21, magicjy wrote: LOL...this is why I don't advertise my show as an "award winning act" I just say "Award Winning Comedy Magic". My act changes constantly based on the audience I'm performing for....and some people discourage that (only magicians ironically)...but I don't care. I do what I feel the audience will enjoy most. This is why at conventions, I always seem to be able to pull "People's Choice" or extremely high entertainment value points. It's all about entertaining...personally I think the most entertaining act should win...but that can be argued heavily as well...it's all subjective. One problem with competitions is the mindset in the competitors that states "I'm performing for a group of magicians...I need to perform something different, unique, and amazing." I've seen acts that went over well at conventions and bombed in real world settings...and vice versa...a performer's act should depend more on the audience than its credit...after all, we are supposed to be entertaining THEM and not OURSELVES. CONGRATS Michael! Haven't seen you in a while, hope all is well! |
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lair New user Michael P. Lair 44 Posts |
Thank you, Kyle! I hope to see you and your excellent magic again sometime soon. You don't just make the audience laugh...you own us! Always hilarious! Maybe at some upcoming magic convention we'll get to talk.
Michael Lair |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
No Del Ray's table was not 250#. Actually, it was 80#. Del used the electronics to compliment his sleight of hand and personality. He did not have to use them but it was part of making thim the best he was.
Del understood how to handle and respect audience members. I was fortunate to have known Del somewhat and also know some people that know him quite well outside the normal magic circles. All of the closeup guys I mentioned really knew how to interact with an audience and involve them instead of just presenting effects for them to watch. That was my point on mentioning them all. Why do you think David Blaine is so successful. Most of his magic is very old but he truly involves the people. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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magicjy New user Big Stone Gap, VA 61 Posts |
Kyle....I agree with you 100%. We are simply using magic, comedy, and sleight of hand to entertain. That is why I perform my act for different venues. Plus I perform the same act that you see me perform at magic conventions that I use on lay audience.
Richard...wish I was going to Colon, MI to see you perform this year. You know I have never seen your flower act. Keep the Magic Going! Joseph
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MAGIC is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen. - Foka Gomez Joseph Young WWW.JOSEPHYOUNGMAGIC.COM |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I thought you saw it in Bristol. It's just a bunch of rags and flowers.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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magicjy New user Big Stone Gap, VA 61 Posts |
Richard,
I only came to the Saturday show in Bristol two years ago. Sure it is old rags and flowers. I just have a bunch of old blocks in my act. lol Actually, my act has changed so much that would would not believe it is the same act from three years ago. Joseph
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MAGIC is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen. - Foka Gomez Joseph Young WWW.JOSEPHYOUNGMAGIC.COM |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
As Dale Salwak said "Isn't nice to have an act that you can work with instead of starting from scratch". I am always tinkering with mine.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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revmike Special user Annville, PA 646 Posts |
I have a few comments about the IBM convention, but these are comments coming from someone who had never been to a national IBM or SAM convention.
I was a little disappointed in the lack of communication and explanation given to us "first time" attendees. I went to the First Time Attendees party expecting to be given at least some information, but nothing was really given. Just a party, which is fine, but I didn't know what to expect, didn't know what all the abbreviations meant in the program/schedule guide, etc. There were a lot of things which were new to me. Also, logistics were a nightmare at the hotel. It could have been planned better. My wife is partially handicapped and walking is difficult but she does not use a wheel chair. This hotel was too large and way too much walking for her to have any type of enjoyment out of it. The Friday night show was poorly planned. Having all of us wait around for over half an hour while votes were tabulated to announce the stage winners to me seemed lucicrous. The Close-Up winners should have been announced at the beginning of the Friday show and the stage winners should have been announced at the beginning of the Saturday show. That way, at the close of Friday's show, we could have turned in our "people's choice" paper and gone back to the hotel. Instead we sat around for what seemed an eternity, and in my opinion, in many ways made anticlimatic the announcement of the winners. Now don't get me wrong. I am glad I went. I enjoyed the magic, most of which was very good. I enjoyed the excellent dealers that were there. These are just points as somebody who was new felt could have been done better and I have been to a lot of conventions and gatherings as part of my ministry so I am not unfamiliar with the workings of conventions. Overall, glad I went. Many enjoyable points. But some things could be improved. I really don't know enough about convention politics to comment on the judging or other matters. My only point is I was really getting tired of "manipulation" magic. I saw very little interactive, participatory magic at the convention. There ought to be a way for that type of magic to be represented at the highest levels, not just those who can manipulate cards or balls the best. Magic is much more than just that, although I have the greatest respect and admiration for those who are skillful at that craft. For instance I thorougly enjoyed Juliana Chen's lecture.
The magic is not in our sleights and illusions, but instead in our ability to bring love and joy.
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Steve Hart Veteran user Cocoa, FL 388 Posts |
I had a blast at the I.B.M. Nashville Convention this year....thanks to all who enjoyed it with me.
Steve Hart
www.SteveHartSpeaks.com
www.magic2motivate.com "Motivational Magicians are some of the highest paid magicians, find out why?" |
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