The Genii Forum

Special Event at World Magic Seminar 2009
Roberto Giobbi's Homage to Dai Vernon

On Saturday, February 28, 2009, the day before the 2009 WMS begins, noted magic authority Roberto Giobbi will present a special 3 hour seminar/workshop entitled Homage to Dai Vernon. This remarkable event has only been presented once in North America at a special event in Canada earlier this year. Mr. Giobbis presentation received rave reviews from the 25 people who attended the sold out event. Each session of this special presentation will be limited to 30 attendees. Once the first session is sold out, we will take admissions to the second session which will also be limited to 30 people. Both sessions will take place on Saturday, February 28 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas.

Everyone admitted to the Homage to Dai Vernon session will receive a special 80-page set of lecture notes signed by Mr. Giobbi. In addition, each attendee will receive a pass giving them admission to a special one hour Card College workshop to be presented by Roberto during the World Magic Seminar which begins on Sunday, March 1. The Card College workshops will not be open to anyone except those attending the Homage to Vernon sessions.

Admission to the Homage to Vernon sessions including the special notes and the Card College workshop pass must be made in advance. You may register for the Homage sessions and find addition details on the content at our website http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com. Click on Special Events.

You may also find information there if you would rather register by telephone or mail. Information on the WMS can also be found on the website.

Please dont delay in making your registration to this very special presentation. It is strictly limited to 60 people and we will not be able to add any extra sessions.

Thank you - Bill

He did the same seminar in Toronto a few months ago. I was out of the city at the time and missed it, but heard nothing but rave reviews.

James - Thanks for your comment - Bill

I tried to use the "special events" link, but it came back with an error.
Joe

Joe -

Thanks for telling me. I will get the webmaster on it right away.

Here is the information that is on the special events page:

Homage to DAI VERNON

A practical seminar on his techniques, effects, presentations
and theories, performed and commented by Roberto Giobbi


Dai Vernon was one of the most important magicians in history and he has influenced more people and invented more magical concepts than anybody else. What these ground-breaking practical and conceptional principles are, which can be found in the repertoire of past and present Masters of magic, will be detailed and demonstrated intelligently and capably by Roberto Giobbi in this varied and captivating Homage to one of the greatest geniuses in magic.

Besides examining the subtle card magic of Dai Vernon, Roberto Giobbi will also discuss:

The original Cups & Balls routine by Dai Vernon, with a detailed analysis of his revolutionary loading sequence and the Vernon concept of naturalness.

Tricks and techniques with coins as they were used by Fred Kaps in his legendary FISM act which won him the Grand Prix.

The dice routine that Dai Vernon performed before the Queen of Belgium and had to repeat on her Majestys command.

The most important and influential practical and conceptional contributions of Dai Vernon to magic.

The famous gambling demonstration, which Dai Vernon would never have released, had he not lost a game of chess against Jay Marshall.

A commented overview of the literary and pictorial documentation about Dai Vernon.

The trick with the bananas, which he performed in his famous lecture in Munich in 1981 on the occasion it brought down the house and in the ensuing years was a bestselling item with magic dealers.

Many amusing and serious stories from Dai Vernons life, which palpably demonstrate, why he was such a genius.

An analysis of his Linking Ring Routine, which has influenced every ring routine since.

As a bonus will be shown numerous rare films, some from private collections, where Dai Vernon performs some of his most famous creations.

Duration of the seminar (including a short pause): min. 3 hours.

Everyone admitted to the Homage to Dai Vernon will receive a special 80-page set of lecture notes signed by Mr. Giobbi. In addition, each attendee will receive a pass giving them admission to a special one hour Card College workshop to be presented by Roberto during the World Magic Seminar which begins on Sunday, March 1. The Card College workshops will not be open to anyone except those attending the Homage to Vernon sessions.

Admission to the Homage to Vernon sessions including the special notes and the Card College workshop pass must be made in advance. You may register for the Homage sessions at our website http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com.

Bill

Bill, What is the cost of the seminar?
Thanks, Joe

Joe -

The cost of the seminar is $100. As is mentioned above each attendee gets an autographed set of the 80 page lecture notes (which retail for $30) and admission to a one hour Card College Workshop which will be presented during the WMS.

Plus - Howie Schwarzman and Johnny Thompson - both of whom knew Vernon for many years will also be on hand to offer comment and anecdotes.

By the way - the Special Events link on the website has now been "fixed".

Thanks - Bill

Cheap at twice the price.

Hey guys,
Just wondering about this Gambling routine that he released due to losing the chess game, where can i find it? or what's it called?
would it happen to be the one that's taught by michael ammar in easy to master card magic by any chance? requires a full deck setup i think.. or close to it.. can't remember.

Wow, i'm so jealous. I live in Singapore and i'd die to see this!! i'd easily pay 200$ just to watch this.. sadly the flight ticket to vegas would cost a lot more lol.
any chance that this will be done in other parts of the world too? Dying to see videos of his performances!

Exciting News - World Magic Seminar 2009

RUDY COBY has agreed to appear. He will host the Monday afternoon show and perform his famous legs act. The same act he introduced to the magic world at a Seminar many years ago. Rudy will also lecture on new visual material he has been working on the past few years - he will show people how to create their own original acts using methods he has developed.

His lecture will explain what he has been doing recently with Marilyn Manson, etc - material that most magicians have never seen.

Appearing with Rudy on the Monday show will be David Kaplan, the hit of the combined convention, and Jason Latimer with 45 minutes of new illusions never seen before at a magic convention.

... and there will be more exciting acts and events to come at this, the 32nd World Magic Seminar - March 1 -4 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.

I hope the Vernon lecture is recorded and released later to all of us that would kill to be there and can't be.

Michael -

The Homage to Vernon Lecture is the sole property of Roberto Giobbi and the WMS will not be taping it. I don't know of any plans Roberto may have to record the presentation. At this point, I would suspect he may be more interested in presenting it live. This will be the first presentation in the US. There has been one in Canada. I don't know of any other presentations that are scheduled for North America at this time.

I regret that you are unable to be with us on February 28.

Bill

If you want to see the Homage to Vernon lecture, you will have to go wherever Roberto is: he is not going to make a DVD of it. He will perform it in other places in the future.

This year's WMS will feature a mini-symposium on magic's oldest effect - The Cups and Balls. Here is a tentative schedule for the sumposium which is being hosted by Bill Palmer and Pete Biro and is dedicated to the memory of Bob Read - one of magic's most devoted students of the Cups and Balls:

Welcome and presentation on the History of the Cups and Balls by Bill Palmer - Bill will also be bringing selected Cups from his world famous Cups and Balls collection.

A slide presentation of Selections from the Bob Read collection of Cups and Balls prints. This presentation is being prepared by Pete Biro and is being shown thanks to the courtesy of Bob's widow, Pauline.

Signature performances by:

Johnny Thompson - doing his famous recreatiion of Pop Krieger, Max Malini, Dai Vernon, etc.

Rafael Benatar - elegance and class in the presentation of a classic

Antonio Romero - "Cubiletes Transparentes"

Jason Latimer - The FISM award winning routine.

A Round Table discussion and Qs & As by symposium participants

This is the schedule as it stands at the moment. We may tweak it a bit or add something else during the symposium or at some other time. Hopefully, this will lay the groudwork for someone to present a weekend get-together on the Cups and Balls at some other time and place. Until then, come to Las Vegas on March 1-4, 2009 and be part of this exclusive event.

You may find additional information about the WMS as well as register online and reserve your hotel room at www.theworldmagicseminar.com

Thanks - Bill

The World Magic Seminar has reached Facebook - be sure to join the group here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58955730859

New act just added:


MIKE CLOSE will be Master of Ceremonies for the Welcome Party Show on Sunday night! JAMES DIMMARE will be presenting his new act on the same show.

New Event just added:

A Special Late Night Double Session with Kam and Gunn

CURTIS KAM and KENT GUNN will be co-hosting a double session where Curtis will talk about his variation of the John Ramsay Coins and Cylinder and Kent will talk about his Fun Shop Cups and Balls. Two masters of routine contruction talking about two of close-up magic's greater routines in an WMS exclusive event!!

Don't miss it!

Thanks - Bill

Bill, you're making it VERY difficult for me to miss this one!

Tough... c'mon Genii boss.. you can drive and sleep on someone's floor... :)

Drive to Las Vegas from Washington DC?
At the age of 50, I'm long past the point of sleeping on the floor! :)

Richard - it isn't going to be the same without you. Show up and I will put you in the seat next to the Genii photographer!

I am particularly excited about the line up for the International Stage Contest:

1. Luis Manuel - Spain
2. Yo Kato - Japan
3. Han Seol-Hui - Korea
4. Eduardo El mago - Argentina
5. Soma - Hungary
6. Alana - Germany
7. Nestor Hato - France
8. David Sousa - Portugal

... and we haven't decided on the American entry yet.

M-U-M and MAGIC are going to have booths. GENII needs to have a presence there! ... or maybe you are going to have to move to Vegas like those editors have done. :)

Bill

If there was a DISNEYLAND in Las Vegas, RK would be there!

And there I thought Vegas was the adult disneyland ...

Bill Wells wrote:Richard - it isn't going to be the same without you. Show up and I will put you in the seat next to the Genii photographer!

I am particularly excited about the line up for the International Stage Contest:

1. Luis Manuel - Spain
2. Yo Kato - Japan
3. Han Seol-Hui - Korea
4. Eduardo El mago - Argentina
5. Soma - Hungary
6. Alana - Germany
7. Nestor Hato - France
8. David Sousa - Portugal

... and we haven't decided on the American entry yet.

M-U-M and MAGIC are going to have booths. GENII needs to have a presence there! ... or maybe you are going to have to move to Vegas like those editors have done. :)

Bill

Sll -

Please note:

"Eduardo El mago" should be billed as "Eduardo Galeano" - my mistake - regardless of the billing still one of eight great acts!!

Bill

Eight is enough.

Update from WMS...

"Hotel rates have plummeted in Las Vegas ... so if you're still contemplating attending the WMS, now is the best time ever !

The WMS Convention rate is being adjusted to match the new lower rates - stay tuned for all the details from Bill & Becki ...

For those of you who have already booked your room under the WMS Group rate, you will not need to do anything, the hotel will adjust your rate automatically ! More cash for the dealers' room ;-)

For those of you who booked online directly and didn't use the WMS Group Code - please contact the hotel and let them know that you should be counted as part of the WMS group. This helps the WMS meet their group quota which makes for that much better a convention !"

Looking at the latest rates - The Orleans is now averaging less than $60 a night incl. tax over the WMS

Thanks for getting the word out Craig ... actually the rooms are less than $40 incl. tax and fees for some of the nights. We are looking at 30 and 40% reductions in the room rate. I will be meeting with the Orleans next Friday (1/23)to iron out the last few details and will post the reduced rates on our website www.theworldmagicseminar.com and the WMS FaceBook page as soon as possible.

As Pete would say "... stay tuned!"

... and as Craig advises, this is one you don't want to miss!

Bill

I'm wondering, if with these new low room rates and a dynamic World Magic Seminar coming up soon, if the Chief Genii Richard Kaufman is going to reconsider attending or not? This one is going to be hard to miss!

Unfortunately the Chief Genii already has tickets on United airlines to go to LA on Sat. the 7th for the Academy of Magical Arts award show, and spend a few days in LA after that. I can't go a full week earlier to attend the convention.

I also just signed a contract to write a magic book for the public and will be hellishly busy during that period!
In fact, I have to go and start writing it NOW ...

Richard -

I find long airplane trips are great for getting work done (as long as you don't get seated next to a talker). If you take your laptop you could probably get the book written on the roundtrip to Vegas and then the roundtrip to LA :)

Bill

And at hotel prices going for a song - its probably cheaper to go to Vegas than stay at home ;-)

Flash!!

GREG FREWIN has just been booked to appear on the Wednesday Afternoon Awards Show.

Be sure to register and also to book your room at the all time low bargain rate at the Orleans before our WMS room block is released!

Bill Wells wrote:Richard - it isn't going to be the same without you. Show up and I will put you in the seat next to the Genii photographer!

I am particularly excited about the line up for the International Stage Contest:

1. Luis Manuel - Spain
2. Yo Kato - Japan
3. Han Seol-Hui - Korea
4. Eduardo El mago - Argentina
5. Soma - Hungary
6. Alana - Germany
7. Nestor Hato - France
8. David Sousa - Portugal

... and we haven't decided on the American entry yet.

M-U-M and MAGIC are going to have booths. GENII needs to have a presence there! ... or maybe you are going to have to move to Vegas like those editors have done. :)

Bill

Unfortunately, Nestor Hato of France has had to withdraw from the International Competition. Hopefully, he will be able to compete in the 2010 contest at WMS 33 next February 28 - March 3.

Another contestant to fill the vacancy left by Nestor's withdrawal will be announced very shortly.

Thanks - Bill

If you are thinking about attending the WMS in Vegas - March 1-4 - don't delay booking your room. Our room block at the Orleans will be released in a couple of weeks. Be sure to give the WMS code when booking your room (go to www.theworldmagicseminar.com or any of our ads in GENII for the code and other info. If booking online at the Orleans site, be sure to go to group bookings and then enter the code. WMS Rates are $67 for Sunday, $38 for Monday, $32 for Tuesday, and $38 for Wednesday. These are bargain rates for Vegas! Don't miss out on a great convention and great room rates.

FLASH!

We only have a couple of seats left for the Roberto Giobbi "Homage to Dai Vernon" seminar on Saturday, February 28 at the Orleans in Las Vegas - the day before the World Magic Seminar. The session begins at 10:30 AM and ends at 1:30 PM. There will not be a second session. After a break for lunch, the attendees will reconvene for a special one hour Card College Workshop at 4:30.

Fee is $100 which includes the Homage to Vernon seminar, a set of the special updated 80 page notes which retails for $30 and attendance at the one hour Card College Workshop.

Go to our website www.theworldmagicseminar.com for information or to register for the special seminar.

Thanks - Bill

For those who are attending the upcoming WMS, here is a list of the dealers who will be displaying:

ALVO
Agile Inc.
BJW Magical Jewelers
Mike Close M-U-M
Dancing Spring Magic
Dante
Dean Dill
Charles Gauci
Andy Greget
JPS Magic Studios
Kengo
Kozmo
MAGIC Magazine
Rick Marcelli
Mark Mason
Nielsen Magic
Joe Porper
Antonio Romero
Nick Ruggiero
Bill Smith Illusions
Stevens Magic Emporium
U-G-M
Auke Van Dokkum
Lynetta Welch

Bring some extra cash for magic goodies from the dealers!

Here are the Teen Contestants who will be competing in the preliminaries to select the eight finalists for the Final Teen Stage Contest in the Orleans Showroom on Wednesday morning at the 32nd World Magic Seminar:


Shari Ariel Nelson - Pennsylvania
Vincent Villamonte - Nebraska
Cho Minho - Korea
Yamagami Brothers - Japan
Trigg Burrage - Louisiana
Krystyn Lambert - California
Derek McGee - Colorado
Hiroki Hara - Japan
Narek Petrosyan - California
Nicholas Andrews - South Africa
Siphiwe Fangase - South Africa
Bill Koch - Chicago
C. J. Walker - Wyoming
Ken DeNight - Illinois
Eric Gilam - Alaska

Another great international lineup for the Teen Competition. It certainly looks like another Great Competition. These kids are amazing!!!

Very exciting!!
Can't wait to see everybody there......and get a set of Van Dokkum cups and balls....

You know...
Reading through this topic I just realized, I may very well have THE best seat in the house for these shows !
Although I am usually reading tech sheets and lighting cues - I am VERY excited to be working with all of these great acts !
See you all soon !
Steven

Anthony Rais - an extraordinary puppeteer has been booked to appear on the Welcome Party Show on Sunday night at the WMS, along with Charlie Fenn - Sinatra impersonator, and James Dimmare with a new act. Rich Bloch will be the Master of Ceremonies.