After seeing David Williamson at the IBM convention, I’ve searched for a few videos of his performances on YouTube. This is his classic Rocky Raccoon routine. The magic is secondary, which is part of the reason why I think he’s a great magician!
I had a great few days at the IBM Convention in Southport and have returned with a head full of new ideas and a significantly lighter wallet! I only stayed for three days (I had gigs over the weekend), but that included lectures by Bill Malone, David Williamson, Rocco, Bob Sheets and Lennart Green which were all excellent.
I took something from every lecture: Skullcracker, a bill change by Bob Sheets is the no-gaff version of this effect that I’ve been looking for to add to one of my routines; The possibilities and power of using your sleeves from Rocco (magicians don’t really do that do they?!); and some interesting self working (!) card tricks from Lennart Green. (At one point in Lennart Green’s lecture he produced the wrong card. He then proceeded to change the wrong card into the right one by simultaneously flicking the correct card out of the pack with his left hand, catching it in his right hand and lapping the incorrect card. His explanation of how to do this wasn’t mush longer than the previous sentence! I think he concentrated on the self-working card tricks because explaining just one of his special moves would probably take an hour.)
The main thing that struck me about the top close-up magicians such as Bill Malone and David Williamson is that they are entertaining even when they aren’t performing magic. Of course, their magic is stunning as well.
Steve Dela won the close-up magic competition with Alex Moffat second and Will Gray third. Both Alex and Will are originally from the Leicester Magic Circle which shows the quality coming out of our club.
My performances went well (although obviously not well enough!) and from what the judges said, the marks were very close so I think I was a contender. Of course, it’s not much consolation because I enter it to win it, but there you go. I’m not bitter. Honest.
You can read a lot more about the convention at http://opusmagazine.blogspot.com/ . JJ was actually posting while at the convention - there’s dedication for you!
In a couple of weeks I will be joining hundreds of magicians at the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in Southport.
I’m really looking forward to it. What with moving house and the arrival of my son, I haven’t attended a magic convention since the IBM in 2005. This year, like in 2005, I have entered the close-up magic competition, so I am busy practicing and tinkering with my routine.
Details of the convention can be found on the IBM website. I am particularly looking forward to lectures by Bill Malone and Lennart Green who I haven’t seen perform live before. And the David Williamson Experience is bound to be brilliant.
As you can see, there have been a few changes to the design of the site.
I wanted to get a bit more space for extra bits and pieces on the right so I’ve expanded the width of the layout.
I hope this doesn’t hamper anyone’s viewing of the site. It should fit nicely in any screen resolution above 800×600 and hopefully no-one has their screen that small…. (famous last words? Let me know!)
I’m also going to add a contact form, email notification and other subscription options. When I have a moment.
One of my favorite magical effects is ‘Holey Moley’ by Jay Sankey.
For those who don’t know it, you show two washers (metal discs with a hole in the middle of each) the spectator chooses one to hold in their closed hand, you take the other and magically remove the hole. The spectator opens their hand to find their washer now has two holes.
It doesn’t form part of a big routine, it’s just a quick bit of magic that I show people when they want to see ‘just one more’.
So, I performed it for a couple towards the end of a gig last night. They were suitably stunned, so much so that the man (who was the booker) said it alone ‘was worth the fee’.
Maybe I’ll drop all my other material! I’ll just walk in, perform Holey Moley, pick up my cheque and go home……