767: Randy Wakeman - I've Been Around for a Long, Long Years

Randy Wakeman has been around for many decades and was often seen lecturing and performing at magic conventions. Nonetheless, I have always seen him as an “underground” magician who appeals to the true sleight-of-hand experts. He is one of those guys who has “been there, done that, has the t-shirt” as he was one of the regular performers about the Chicago Bar Magic Scene before the turn of the last century. He has written several books on magic (card magic mostly) and is still relevant in our community as a performer, teacher and author.

While at the recent Senior Tour close-up convention in St. Louis, The Magic Word spoke with Randy as part of the convention report content. He was preparing for a workshop, so we didn’t get a chance to go in-depth as I had wanted. But we agreed to get together at the 4F convention in Buffalo a couple months later. True to his word, we sat down to complete our chat which results in this episode. The content of our chat in both places was a little disjunctive, so the editing required us to put the second conversation first then plug in the chat in St. Louis and finish with our talk while in Buffalo. This sounds more confusing that it actually is, but I know you will understand and enjoy our chat.

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706: Abbott's Get Together 2022 - Day Four Report

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH 2022

9:30AM REGISTRATION OPENS at the Abbott Plant Purchase Registration/Tickets

10:00AM-12:45PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:00AM LECTURE - Duane Laflin "Magic For The Gospel Magician" at Laflin's Grand Magic Theater Free

11:00AM LECTURE - John Bundy at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

11:00AM - 5:00PM COLON ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Craft Show/Vendor Info on Canal street next to the library

12:00PM STREET PERFORMER - John Sturk (Magic Capital Grill, by bridge)

12:00PM GHOST SHOW Q&A/BOOK SIGN - Dr. Morbios, Seebach, & Scream Dealers Room Requires Registration

1:00PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with Brynn Cummings at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

2:00 PM JAY BLACKWELL JUGGLING/FIRE EATING & MORE at Sterlini Magic & Theater

2:00PM LECTURE - Lance Burton at High School Requires Abbott's Registration

3:00PM-5PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS' ROOM at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

3:00PM STREET PERFORMER - Thom Bedlam (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

3:00PM-5PM COLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM is open (Colon Museum Webpage)

3:00PM-6PM FACE PAINTING with Award Winning Artist Carol Hendrix

4:00PM GRAND MAGIC CLASSIC SHOW - 4 PM at the Laflin's Grand Magic Theater - $14.95 adult, $6.95 child

4:30PM OLD FASHION MAGIC SHOW with John Shango at Abbott's Magic Theatre $5

5:00 PM LIVE AT 5 WITH THE STERLINI'S at Sterlini Magic & Theater $10

5:30PM STREET PERFORMER - Thom Bedlam (Colon Twp Library Lawn, by Craft Show)

6:00PM-7:45PM DINNER on your own

7:45PM PRESHOW LIVE ORGAN MUSIC - by John Sturk Requires Abbott's Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)

8:00PM ABBOTT'S STAGE SHOW Requires Abbott's Registration or Ticket ($30/$45)
Featuring Reynold Alexander, Artem Shchukin, Hansel Kreutzberger, Michael Goudeau, David Seebach, Handsome Jack, BJ Mallen MC
NOTE: Tickets for the Abbott evening Stage Show must be purchased in advance at the Abbott Plant or online before 5pm that day.
You will be able to pick up tickets at a will call window at the show, but Abbotts will not be able to sell any at the door.

8:00PM GRAND MAGIC CLASSIC SHOW - 8 PM at the Laflin's Grand Magic Theater - $14.95 adult, $6.95 child

10:00PM ABBOTT'S DEALERS ROOM OPENS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

10:30PM ABBOTT'S PERFORMER AWARDS at Colon High School Requires Abbott's Registration

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:16 - Brandon Ivy talks about this being his second year attending the Get Together and reviews the morning lecture by John Bundy who talked about customizing tricks for seasonal magic (i.e. Halloween, etc.)

00:06:36 - President Elect of the I.B.M., Chuck Arkin (a Friend of the Magic Word) chats about why he returns to this convention from year to year.

00:12:53 - One of the managing partners of Vanishing, Inc., Andi Gladwin, came to this convention after FISM and filled in because some of the planned talent couldn’t get here.

00:21:37 - 11 year old Brynn Cummings was a previous winner of the Get Together and is an incredible ventriloquist as well as recognized at the National Championship for Juniors at the national vent convention.

00:32:44 - From Las Vegas, Bizzaro, chats about the Escape Rooms that he works with now across the country.

00:43:25 - at the awards ceremony, we chat with Bill Smith who talk about his first time at this convention in 1977 with the Long Beach Mystics that inspired Kevin James to move to California and join their group. Bill also attended because he wanted to work with Harry Blackstone, Jr. as a prop man.. And he was hired then and there.

00:50:44 - Board of Directors of the American Magic Museum, Jeffrey Alan, and his assistant, Angel, talk about doing walk-around using an assistant.

00:54:06 - BJ Mallen presents the names of award winners.

00:59:46 - Jack Gwyn award winner, Carissa “Lucy Darling” Hendrix, talks about filling in as an alternate performer to this convention.

636: 2021 Austin T.A.O.M. - Day Three Report

Sunday September 5, 2021

8am-9am: Gospel Magic Service

9am-5pm: Registration Desk Open

9am-12pm: Dealer Rooms Open

9am-9.30: TAOM General Meeting

9.30am-5pm: Next TAOM Registrations open- Visit https://taom.org/2022 to register for next year’s convention

10am-11.30am: Close-up Contest

10am-11am: Lecture: Bizzaro

12pm: Dealer Show 8

11.30am-12.30pm: Lecture: Cody Fisher

12.30pm-1.30pm: Lunch Break

1pm-5pm: Dealer Rooms Open

1.30pm-2.30pm: Lecture: Carisa Hendrix

2.30pm: Dealer Show 9

3.00pm-4.00pm: Lecture: Paul Prater

3.00pm-4.00pm: Lecture: Cody Fisher 2

4pm-7pm: Cocktail on your own

7pm-10pm: Banquet

7pm-7:30pm: Award Presentation & Gift Drawing. Contest winners were:

James Irwin (Sr. Stage)
Richard Blake (Sr. Close-Up)
Bill Winters (Comedy)

7pm-8.30pm: Dinner

8.30pm-9.30pm: Banquet Gala Show: Sterling

11.30pm-12.30am: Saul Ravencraft’s “TAOM after Dark” – Séance Show: Vince Wilson

Time stamps for this episode:

00:00:17 - Dal Sanders provides “color” and an overview of last night’s gala show

00:09:01 - Daryl Howard reports on the “TAOM After Dark” show with Paul Prader

00:15:07 - Carisa Hendrix was just signed by the William Morris Agency and things are looking up for her

00:34:36 - Harry Allen has been a long time dealer attending the T.A.O.M. convention over the years and gives us his perspective of brick and mortar shops

00:40:00 - Bizzaro is from Texas and chats about renewing old friendships here

00:50:29 - Magical Mystical Michael was on the gala show last night and talks about his street and Renaissance performances.

00:59:45 - Judy and Scott Hollingsworth are two past Presidents of the T.A.O.M. and talk about this convention in comparison with this one.