Magic Collectors Weekend in May

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Richard Kaufman
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Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 6th, 2012, 1:58 pm

Folks, if you look to the right you'll likely see an ad for the MCW, or Magic Collector's Weekend (if not, then refresh your screen once or twice). I always go and have a great time. It's reasonably priced, and located a few minutes from Chicago's O'Hare airport. If you join the MCA, you'll receive the great magazine Magicol. No better value for your money.
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SquareCircle
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby SquareCircle » January 6th, 2012, 7:50 pm

Who are they honoring this year?? :D

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 6th, 2012, 9:07 pm

they haven't announced it yet.

they did move up the weekend to the 2nd
(as it was in the past)
because of the G8 summit taking place
in Chicago.

I won't be able to attend, and not sure
if I will even be able to drop in this year.
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Bill McFadden » January 6th, 2012, 9:16 pm

Uh, they have announced the guests of honor, but I'm not telling who.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby David Stahl » January 6th, 2012, 9:45 pm

David Ben has been doing a wonderful job hosting the MCA weekend. I agree with Richard that there is no better value for your dollar. Even if you possess just the smallest interest in magic history, you would be doing yourself a BIG favor by attending. The cream of the crop in the field of magic history attends every year and the dealer's room is always packed with real magical collectables.

David Ben has also done a wonderful job negotiating a bargain rate at a wonderful first-rate hotel. There must be 50 wonderful restaurants within walking distance in addition to the hotel restaurant & bar, and with a complimentary shuttle to/from OHare airport it couldn't be any easier or more reasonably priced.

David's assistant - the extremely talented and always present Julie Eng ensures everything runs smoothly from morning until the wee hours of the night. She is a class act, and so is the MCA convention.

It is one of the conventions I make a point to always attend.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 7th, 2012, 10:23 am

My only complaint is that I wish they
would offer one day passes and even
the option to "buy" tickets to the
dealer room.

So last year I dropped in on a Friday, to
have my banjo strung. I couldn't make it to
the weekend because I had concerts.
My goal to have a photo taken
with Doctor Mossey and Jack Kodell with Dad.
The last of the survivng Magic Round Table
members. But that got debunked because we
couldn't go into the dealers room.

My father isn't interested in going to
lectures, just seeing his good old friends
and to look around the dealers room.
Which he never had problem since the first one.
They were always welcoming.

He was never a collector... maybe now
considered a collectible. Anyhow, it's really
difficult for me to buy a weekend and
still be able to keep an eye on my father
when he isn't in the room with me.

In the past two years I have felt a shift
in the way the weekend now feels...To be
honest, I feel extremely uncomfortable
attending the weekend. Partially the
reason why I won't be attending this year.

I will say that MAGICOL has really
made a change and I do like the newer
format. Not to take away from David Meyer,
he also did fantastic job in the past.
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Bill Mullins » January 7th, 2012, 10:44 am

SquareCircle wrote:Who are they honoring this year?? :D


Announced HERE

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 7th, 2012, 11:21 am

Bill, I think that's the wrong link!
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Bill Mullins » January 7th, 2012, 11:30 am

So it is. Cool picture, though.


Try this one instead. (and congratulations, Richard!)

(And for another group shot of Jamy, Michael, Mark, Eric and Jim: LINK. And doesn't Jamy seem pleased that his fig leaf is largest? )

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 7th, 2012, 11:49 am

They're great photos, taken for the EG Conference, which charges $4000 for a convention registration! Makes the $350 we're asking for seem pretty reasonable. :)
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 7th, 2012, 11:58 am

Congrats Richard on this honor...
Maybe I will drop in just to shake your hand
This year and see
Your Disney jacket again.

:)
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby magicam » January 8th, 2012, 6:29 am

mai-ling wrote:My only complaint is that I wish they would offer one day passes and even the option to "buy" tickets to the dealer room. ...

Frances, I think those are good ideas, but there may be good reasons why they aren't available. And for what it's worth, the L.A. Conference on Magic History has the same policy as the MCA Weekend apparently has -- if you're not a registered attendee, you're not allowed in places like the dealer's room.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Gordon Meyer » January 8th, 2012, 4:08 pm

I understand why it's a bummer, Frances, and I'll miss seeing you. But I think the practice in the past was a real anomaly. The only conferences that I'm aware of that sell day passes are Macworld and Comic-Con. Both obviously have much bigger budgets and staff.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 8th, 2012, 7:20 pm

The previous organizers have always
sold day passes and dealer room tickets
for the 40 years prior.

Even for the banquet dinners.
you will remember my name

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Kevin Connolly
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Kevin Connolly » January 8th, 2012, 7:34 pm

You may want to consider going this year, as it may be two years for you to have a chance again.
Please visit my website.
http://houdinihimself.com/
I buy,sell + trade Houdini, Hardeen items.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 8th, 2012, 7:44 pm

I'm definitely going!
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 9th, 2012, 4:30 pm

Kevin Connolly wrote:You may want to consider going this year, as it may be two years for you to have a chance again.


what are you meaning Kevin?
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby David Ben » January 9th, 2012, 4:55 pm

Frances, we announced in the last Magicol that we will be hosting the MCW every two years, rather than on an annual basis. So, after this one in May, the next one will be in 2014.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 10th, 2012, 10:08 am

I just got mine and haven't had the opportunity
to read it. I am looking forward in reading
about Socar. As my father met him when he visited
India.
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Bill Mullins » January 10th, 2012, 11:38 am

mai-ling wrote:My only complaint is that I wish they would offer one day passes and even the option to "buy" tickets to the dealer room.


I've helped put on a couple of small conventions. One of the problems with offering day passes is that everyone who buys a day pass doesn't buy a full pass, and thus represents less income for the convention

The fixed costs to the convention management are the same whether you show up for one day or the whole weekend. If, by buying a Friday only pass, you are taking the place of someone else who would get the whole weekend, it is a loss to the convention's bottom line. (And I don't know how the MCA runs the Weekend, but for the ones I worked on, we didn't know until the final receipts were in if we were going to have to make up some costs out of our own perosnal pockets. Every dollar counted.)

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Dustin Stinett » January 10th, 2012, 4:36 pm

Do any conventions have one-day passes anymore?

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 10th, 2012, 8:41 pm

Bill, I understand what you are saying...
however, if I'm performing or even someone
who is working can not get the time off.
Especially working magicians who do enjoy
popping in to see a lecture or someone they
know lecturing as well get a glimpse of the
dealers room.

Paying $220 for an entire weekend is silly.
Where as paying for a one day seems more
feesible.

Most people who know they can go will book
pay for the entire weekend. Especially those
who are flying in. So I would think those
who can commit will commit.

The MCA weekend in Chicago has always had
the history of welcoming their own since
the first one. It wasn't ever meant to be
a exclusive convention. From the days when
Walter organized the first one, to Frances,
Ken and David M...it's always been good their
Chicago folk. It's where it began and
where a lot of history is presented that
made it's home where it is.

I am fortunate enough to experience that
for the years I've gone. It wonderful to
see this organization grow and blossom.

Personally for me, since my mom passed away,
I don't feel the excitement I once found
in going. She passed on the enthusiasm that
she had going back to the very first Collector's
Weekend that she and my father were invited
too when it was in the little theater.

There's also the fact, many of my father's
generations friends,that I grew up with,
are long gone. Knowing they are no longer there
really makes it difficult to not think about them
and miss them greatly.

Maybe in two years, things will change for me.
But for now, I have too many other things
going on. That going doesn't seem possible
at this time.
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Jeff Pierce Magic » January 11th, 2012, 8:53 am

Dustin Stinett wrote:Do any conventions have one-day passes anymore?



Dustin, the Daytona Magic Convention still offers a one day pass.

Jeff

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby David Ben » January 11th, 2012, 9:45 am

The MCW has certainly changed over the years, and with it the cost of hosting the conference and the expectations of those attending. When Jay and Fran hosted it in the back of Magic Inc, the attendance was much, much smaller, the facilities non-existent, and there was not much in the way of logistics to manage.

I think the LA Conference raised the bar significantly in terms of content, production and accommodation. I believe that the Yankee Gathering and the MCW have tried to meet those challenges. Now, each conference (LA, New England and MCW) has its own strengths in terms of programming, facilities and accommodation.

From our point of view, everyone - the dealers, the attendees, and the hotel - benefits from the sale of complete conference registrations. In order to obtain great facilities, one has to pay the hotel, and the price is dependent on the room "pick-up". If a certain number of attendees do not stay at the hotel, the organizers are on the hook for the additional costs.

One-day attendees do not contribute to that "pick up". Rarely do you see a one -day pass priced at the point where it carries its cost commensurate with what other delegates are paying for staging the convention. (None of these conventions make money, and organizers are not remunerated for their time or talent, and they carry the financial risk associated with organizing the event. It is all done for the love of magic.) One-day pass holders generally add little to the conference other than a small spike in dollars.

One of the main attractions at magic conventions are the people who attend them, and the conversations that they have, and the new people that are brought into those conversations. Attendees are more likely to mingle, meet new people, and develop new relationships if they are there over the course of a few days rather than just one day.

As an organization, this is one of the things we try to encourage. We do that with conservation tables stationed in the dealers room, with the wine and cheese reception on the first night, with the dessert reception on the closing night, and ample time to enjoy a meal on-site or in one of the neighboring restaurants.

Also, we have tried in the past to sell timed passes to the Dealers Room, as we wanted to generate more sales for the dealers. From our experience, it created more work for all concerned, and was not worth the effort given only one or two people actually took advantage of the opportunity.

The MCW is very inclusive. No invitation is required and there is no waiting list. It cannot return, however, to the back room of Magic, Inc. Jay and Frances are gone, the space was limited (making it less inclusive), and convention delegates now expect more.

I am disappointed, Frances, that you and your family cannot attend the conference. Even though many of your family's friends, particularly of your father's vintage, are no longer with us, I know that many still do attend.

You can always come by to see them. The hotel has a nice restaurant and bar where one can meet, and it has many comfortable chairs and couches in the lobby area where relationships can be renewed. These are open to anybody.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Gordon Meyer » January 11th, 2012, 12:15 pm

David, I want to chime in here and thank you for continuing to have the MCW in Chicago. As a local, it's the least expensive conference I attend, since I don't have to pay significant transportation costs or a hotel. (Which doesn't help your room guarantee, ha!) I know that those who attend from out of town are paying out significantly more that I do, all things considered.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Bill McFadden » January 11th, 2012, 2:41 pm

What amazes me is this long thread over making an exception to MCA procedure. If the convention were held in my town, and I didn't have the dough, then I couldn't go. Tough, but no big deal. Too many folks out there insist on maintaining that good ol' "the rules are for other people" mentality. Give it up, already.

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 11th, 2012, 2:59 pm

I think the question of one-day registrations has come up because they used to be sold at the MCA, and I believe they still sell them at other magic conventions. As a dealer I often look at peoples' badges, and notice "Friday only" or "dealer's room only," however these are at conventions which are many times the size of the MCA convention which I think are probably more able to absorb the different types of economics that entails.

And I would say that ALL conventions are struggling to maintain their attendance. The economics of that play into it as well. I have always had to travel to a convention, and the idea of buying a day pass has never entered my mind because of that.
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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby George Olson » January 11th, 2012, 5:27 pm

Mai-ling wrote:

"My goal to have a photo taken
with Doctor Mossey and Jack Kodell with Dad.
The last of the survivng Magic Round Table
members."

I'm not gone yet! Even at 75 with cancer and emphysema,radiation and Chemo therapy I'm hanging in there. I'm sitting at my desk looking at Salla's "The Chicago Round Table" right now. (I'm not in it, I was living in San Diego in the 1960's.)



GO

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby mai-ling » January 11th, 2012, 8:04 pm

David, I appreciate your comments and I hope you know
that I commend you on what you have been doing for
the Collectors Association.

I also appreciate your respect with everything I mentioned.
And understand where I am coming from.
As well know and understand your position when it
comes to organizing an event.

With dad's generation dwindling (he turned 86 on 12/31)
it is harder for the newer generation to have that
opportunity to be able to interact with those who
are connected to such amazing magicians like Blackstone,Sr.,
Dante and Okito (to name a few).

I would like to stop in, but like I mentioned,
am not sure at this time I can.
There are some things that are on my
plate that is making is quite full. And until I get
closer, will I know if I will be able to pop in.

The hardest part about with dad, is that he really
really likes going into the dealers room more than
anything. And he doesn't understand when I tell him we can't.
He's quite stubbern, but what old fashioned magician isn't?

I know that a lot of the reason he does, is that
it really stimulates his mind and he begins to
talk about stories and things that I never heard.

I'll say that it's good for my book...

..................


George, I apologize that I did not know you were
part of the Roundtable... and I am going by the Salla
print. I was fortunate enough to receive this as a gift
from the Marshall family that Uncle Jay had when they
were organizing everything after he passed.
We have it sitting in our dinning area and
I look at it every day still, trying to name
each magician that was drawn.

If we come down, we'll get a photo of you Dr. Mossey
and dad together. There aren't many of you left. Aunt Betty
is obviously in it, and she is in MN (and doing well
I'll say). But I know she was never interested in
attending anything magic. I believe the only reason
Salla included her had to do with the photo he used
of Uncle Geroge and her. Which is what everyone sketch
is based off of.

So if possible...it's nice to have that moment and
hold on to while we can. And maybe you have some
stories on dad you can contribute for my book and
the chapter that is for memories of him.
you will remember my name

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Re: Magic Collectors Weekend in May

Postby David Ben » January 11th, 2012, 9:34 pm

Yes, Frances, I understand completely, and I thank you for your response. I'm sure we'll be in touch closer to the event.


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