MINDvention 2012 Pictures from Days 1&2

Danny and Robert really know how to arrange a convention schedule. The first event of the day didn't begin until 10:00 a.m. which left plenty of time to sleep in after a late night to early morning session. I finally retired to my room around 2:00 to work on an upload the podcast (which, BTW, I hope you enjoyed) and as I left the bar, there sat about 15 of the top mentalists in the world huddled around a table talking about the next best thing that I know I must soon have in my show...and probably yours, too.

But to go back in time a bit (which we mentalists are wont to do), Danny Archer hosted a fascinating interview with Eric Dittleman, finalist on America's Got Talent. I hope to grab him for a few words here on The Magic Word, too. Then followed a panel discussion on TV mentalism featuring a variety of international performers. From left to right in the picture below: Eric Dittleman (U.S.), Sartori (Germany), Haim Goldberg (Canada), and Lior Suchard (Israel).

Paul Draper hosted the Attendee Show which essentially is anyone who wants to perform before their peers. Although it is a scheduled show, the performers are gathered from the registrants who tell Danny that they want to perform. There is a wide variety of performers and performances and personalities from this international group.

Due to a technical error while trying to video record a first day lecture, Allison Campbell repeated her lecture on the "Do's and Don'ts of Corporate Mentalism". Essentially it was a short marketing course on getting work and doing work on the exhibitor floor. It was a fascinating presentation from a professional trade show worker. Not just another viewpoint from the distaff side, but an introspective look at what and how those interested in getting the work can get it.

One fascinating point of view tip was to look at other trade show performers as friends and business associates and not as competition. Look at the pie being larger...not someone else trying to get a piece of your pie. The picture below is a phone number prediction taken direct from her act and sold after her lecture.

Danny Archer - Hitting the Mark

Danny Archer passed through Houston on what may be his last lecture tour of the U.S. While in town, he sat down with Scott Wells to chat about all things magic. Enjoy a short podcast (about 45 minutes) here on The Magic Word. You can listen online or download it on The Magic Word or through iTunes. Just search the iTunes podcast store for "The Magic Word".

072: Danny Archer - On Target

Danny Archer sat down for a nice chat during his recent lecture tour.  Danny is another one of the really nice guys in magic who has a  creative mind and an excellent head for business. Here he talks about  his Magicians' Lecture Network that he used to run. Danny and his  business partner, Robert Allen, were the ones who also put together LVMI  (Las Vegas Magic Invitational) and later the Coin-vention (a one time  event) which were the progenitors to the MINDvention (which will be coming up in Las Vegas on November 11-13, 2012).

Danny  regularly performs at two high end restaurants in Vail, Colorado. He  alternates with magician Dan Fleshman appearing one week at the Vail Chophouse and the following week at the Beaver Creek Chophouse. He talked a little about how he and Dan Fleshman got that engagement.

Danny  talked about the development of his performing character, Gino  Mozzarella, and how important it is to have a separate character so you  can book additional shows. The insight he shares on this subject are  fascinating and a "must hear" for any magician who is looking tor an  additional stream of revenue.

At around 38 minutes into this  podcast, Danny also shared the secret of a great little impromptu  mentalism effect using your business cards. This drawing duplication  effect is called "Drawn Again" that is straight from his lecture and  explained here on The Magic Word.

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