Magic & Martinis Thursday - Sep. 5, 2013

The memory of last weekend's T.A.O.M. convention in Dallas is still present in my mind. Perhaps the best thing about that convention, like most, is the opportunity to see old friends and to make new ones. But those who attend regional conventions usually just attend just that one convention each year. That means we can't see certain friends at other events, only the regional. And that makes our time together only that much more special. And the more often one attends a specific convention, you become more than friends to the point that they almost become family. Such is the case with the T.A.O.M.

I love every convention I attend (and I attend about a half dozen a year) and I enjoy seeing everyone. But the problem becomes having "quality time" with these friends. When there are so many people at an event (like MAGIC Live! with 1,500 people), it becomes downright impossible to do. You are "ships passing in the night" saying "hello" and making promises that will be broken. For example, there were some people I only saw briefly in passing in the hall or at the elevator, such as Giovanni Livera, Chuck Jones and Kostya Kimlat, whom I promised to "get together" with later that never happened. I never saw them again. And then there are those friends whom I only heard were in attendance but never saw.

I like spending time with friends from my local area, but when at a magic convention, I try to spend time with those whom I see less often. So I try to have a drink or a meal with my "out of town" friends. My friend, David Hira has a good idea. He suggests contacting certain friends before a convention and making plans to meet or dine at a certain place, date and time during the event.  I like this idea, but the best laid plans...well, you know, things get in the way. There are surprises, changes to the schedule or other people who you didn't know were going to attend whom you want to see that create other demands on your time.

I guess what I'm saying is twofold: first, attend conventions regularly, even just one a year. You'll be glad you did.  And second, make time to spend "quality time" with a few friends.

And while I'm doling out free advice (and worth every penny), I received a note from my Scottish friend, Peter MacLanachan. I am coordinating a Spring 2014 lecture tour through Florida. He made the following observation and suggestion:

 "I really enjoy listening to The Magic Word podcasts as I am able to get some of the atmosphere of the conventions I cannot attend. They also help me bring back happy memories from F.F.F.F. I did attend.  However, I think that Rory Johnston's comments at the start of the second podcast from MAGIC Live! should be heard and read by EVERY magician - hobbyist and professional performer, young and old, newbie and veteran.  I bet you're wishing you had hit the record button sooner! ;-)  Seriously though, what you captured is gold and it should make magicians do something very important - think - something I wish more magicians (myself included) would do more of."

Thanks, Peter, for listening and for your thoughts. I appreciate the feedback.

I performed a strolling show on Thursday that had a gambling theme. They also had food, drink, music, and...oh yeah, Marilyn Monroe.

I performed a strolling show on Thursday that had a gambling theme. They also had food, drink, music, and...oh yeah, Marilyn Monroe.

I thought it would be appropriate to have a little Houdini memorabilia in the background since he died in the same year that Marilyn Monroe was born: 1926. Also, her initials remind me of the same acronym for Magic & Martinis. 

074: Part 2 - The "Official" Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth, Texas 2012

The “Night of Nights” finally arrived. The table was set and the cast of characters were in readiness. The usual group expected to sit at the séance included; William Radner, Séance Director; from Springfield, MA; Thomas J. Boldt, Séance Director and Houdinite from Appleton, WI; John Cox, Screenwriter and Houdini Historian from Los Angeles; Robert Somerdin, Houdini Collector from Deerfield Beach, FL; Fred Pittella, Houdini Historian and Handcuff Authority from Queens, NY, and: Larry Weeks, Houdini Historian from Brooklyn, NY.

Unfortunately this year due to Hurricane Sandy, Fred Pittella and Larry Weeks could not escape the severe weather. So their replacements came from the Ft. Worth area: Ash Adams, Collector and MC for the evening, and; Kathy Tayefeh, Houdini Enthusiast. Rounding out the Inner  Séance Circle were: Derek Kennedy, Magic Collector and Historian from Ft. Worth; Arthur Moses, Houdini Collector, Archivist, Biographer and Historian from Ft.  Worth, and; Scott Wells, Medium.

There were two levels of tickets for this seminal event. The “regular” tickets went for $35 who received a commemorative, 3 ½” custom-made padlock emblazoned with a special Ft. Worth Houdini Séance logo. The “VIP” tickets sold for $100 each. They received the padlock, too, but also a pair of metal bookends shaped like large padlocks. They also enjoyed a social hour talking with other devotees while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and wine.

At the appointed hour everyone was ushered into the Commandry of the Ft. Worth Masonic  Center. The ushers were appropriately attired in turn of the 20th century clothing complete with top hat and white gloves. Built in the 1930’s, this creepy old building has enough of its own ghosts to wade through to find Harry Houdini.

You can download the evening’s program here to enjoy reading an outline of the evening’s planned activities plus other interesting information about Houdini’s earlier visits to Texas.

The first clip in this podcast features a Keynote® presentation on Houdini which covered a lot of territory with 90 slides in the brief time allotted him. I was seated in the back of the room so the sound quality is not the best, but you will have the feeling you were there.

Next is an audio clip of Bill Radner’s presentation who brought the famed “Séance Handcuffs”. He introduced a short video of his father, Sid Radner. Then finally is the complete Houdini Séance featuring me, Scott Wells, as the Medium. You will hear the Master of Ceremonies, Ash Adams give the “Rules of the Séance” before introducing me.

Following the séance, I sat down with Tom Boldt who discussed his involvement and participation in the Houdini Séance over the past 25 years. The following morning during  breakfast in the home of Arthur Moses, we recorded a recap of the whole experience with him as well as with Jamie Salinas, Houston magician who performed the straight jacket escape as part of the evening’s entertainment; and John Cox, Houdini historian and blogger about “all things Houdini” at http://www.WildAboutHoudini.com/ and also with Joe Notaro who blogs about Houdini’s film, “The Grim Game” at http://harryhoudinicircumstantialevidence.com/

Part 2 - The 2012 "Official" Houdini Seance in Ft. Worth, TX
Scott Wells
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