July 16, 2015

238: I.B.M. 2015 Convention - Day One

1 hour 9 minutes

The I.B.M. convention opened the first day with a bang. The first of two days of stage contests began plus an opening night party that featured Fantasio and Storm Troopers from Star Wars. How often can you see those two things in the same sentence? I.B.M. International Presiden, Shawn Farquhar, was introduced with fanfare and with a local group of Storm Troopers for his processional. I remember in New Orleans, Louisiana when then International President Earl Christenberry had a Creole Jazz Band parade in his processional throwing bead to the registrants as if we were in a Mardi Gras parade. Shawn's parade was quite different.

Fantasio was honored at the evening show as we enjoyed a performance by a troupe of performers from Argentina who delighted the audience with their magic, mind-reading, manipulation and comedy ending with a hand shadow act. Another nice feature at I.B.M. conventions is the "Autograph Party" where the performers are all lined up sitting at a table and signing free posters that feature their photos. Lectures of the day included Boris Wild and Soma.

In the "Night Before" party, those who arrived early enjoyed a double feature of magic films: one by Kevin Spencer on his "Healing of Magic" program and the second with Christian Cagigal called, "Now And At The Hour" which was a documentary about his one man show. The well-attended ate night lecture was with Kozmo.

Christian Cagigal brings an illusion from his show "Now and at the Hour" to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA. The show played in San Francisco June 5th to August 15, 2009 as well in in New York in February 2009.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:03:05 - Obie O'Brien talks FISM 2015 and IBM conventions he's attended.

00:21:34 - Ken Scott, Talent Chairman, talks about booking the acts for this convention and how he selected the performers.

00:33:09 - Steven Kline talks about how important good sound is for your show.

00:46:39 - Garrett Thomas talks about creativity.

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