FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Discuss the latest news and rumors in the magic world.
User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Q. Kumber » July 19th, 2012, 2:54 pm

Ted M wrote:
FISM is quite internal and private.


So scruffiness is acceptable onstage?

Ted M
Posts: 1186
Joined: January 24th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Dani DaOrtiz
Location: Madison, WI

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Ted M » July 19th, 2012, 3:06 pm

As Jonathan Lethem writes to open his novel Motherless Brooklyn:

Context is everything.

Who is the audience, what is the director's desired effect on that audience, what is the resulting actual effect, and what are the stakes?

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 19th, 2012, 3:56 pm

Quentin, Craig: you sound like a pair of old ladies. Do you think time has reverted to 1960? Did you miss the 1960s and 1970s?

Jeans and sneakers and open collar shirts, and even T-shirts, have been acceptable attire for decades. Seriously ... what are you guys thinking?
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Q. Kumber » July 19th, 2012, 4:00 pm

Ted M wrote:As Jonathan Lethem writes to open his novel Motherless Brooklyn:

Context is everything.

Who is the audience, what is the director's desired effect on that audience, what is the resulting actual effect, and what are the stakes?


Who is the audience?
In our case over 2,000 magicians who are watching the olympics of magic.

What is the director's desired effect on that audience?
Hopefully a touch of class.

what is the resulting actual effect?
Scruffy magicians who couldn't be bothered to dress up to receive the highest awards in magic.

What are the stakes?
They can hardly use the awards' photos in their publicity, especially if they want to get high class bookings. Who wants to book a scruffy magician? It also shows the recipients don't have much respect for the awards.

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Q. Kumber » July 19th, 2012, 4:04 pm

Richard, if you think it would be acceptable to turn up in jeans, sneakers and T-shirt for your best friend's wedding or for your invitation to The White House to receive a presidential honour for publishing the best magazine in magic, then I accept your point.

mehtas
Posts: 292
Joined: January 23rd, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: UK

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby mehtas » July 19th, 2012, 4:06 pm

Q. Kumber wrote:
What are the stakes?
They can hardly use the awards' photos in their publicity, especially if they want to get high class bookings. Who wants to book a scruffy magician? It also shows the recipients don't have much respect for the awards.




You hit the nail on the head there Q.



:cool:

Jonathan Townsend
Posts: 8704
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Westchester, NY
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Jonathan Townsend » July 19th, 2012, 11:26 pm

Ted M wrote:As Jonathan Lethem writes to open his novel Motherless Brooklyn:

Context is everything.

...


From The Handmaid's Tale?
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 20th, 2012, 12:27 am

Scruffy is my middle name!
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Matthew Field
Posts: 2846
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Slydini
Location: Hastings, England, UK

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Matthew Field » July 20th, 2012, 5:19 am

The times they are a changin'. Go to a first class restaurant and you'll often find people in jeans and no tie.

Some of this is an age thing, which is closely related to fashion trends. The Magic Circle relaxed its dress code a few years ago and, lo and behold, younger members started showing up. There, the rule is now smart informal.

One man's scruffy is another's acceptible. Long hair, shaved heads, mini-skirts, bustiers, tattoos -- these are part of the changing world of fashion.

How do you know what Yann Frisch wants his image to be? Maybe he doesn't want to be photographed in a tux. I don't wear a tie. Maybe I don't want to be photographed with the President (or Queen, or any politician) with or without a tie.

Maybe I don't care to attend the Magic Castle if I have to wear a tie and jacket.

I've got to be true to myself, not to your definition of probity.

Does the Dalai Lama wear a tie?

Matt Field

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Q. Kumber » July 20th, 2012, 6:23 am

Matthew Field wrote:
Does the Dalai Lama wear a tie?


No he doesn't but he always dresses like the Dali Lama. Matt, I don't recall ever meeting you that you didn't look smart casual.

But that is not the point. People can dress any way they want, though I do find arses sticking out the top of jeans offputting.

As I understand it, the original point made by Craig, was that the prizwinners and prizegivers simply turned up in their street clothes, thereby diminishing the sense of occasion that surrounds the highest awards in magic (apart from the Merlin Awards, of course).

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 20th, 2012, 8:56 am

Quentin wrote: "... I do find arses sticking out the top of jeans offputting."

DITTO!
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 20th, 2012, 8:58 am

I received Alan Watson's excellent Magic New Zealand e-zine in my inbox this morning and there's an extensive report on Blackpool FISM by Walt Lees.

Did anyone else attend the same convention that Walt Lees writes about? (It should be noted that Walt Lees also wrote the official daily update sheets that were handed out at the convention, and his opinion has thus been sanctioned by Derek Lever.)
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Matthew Field
Posts: 2846
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Slydini
Location: Hastings, England, UK

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Matthew Field » July 20th, 2012, 9:21 am

Walt Lees is a nice guy, but this report simply ignores the low points, like the naked fat woman suit and the quality of the food at the banquet. Someone should tell him how to spell Michael Weber's last name (misspelled in the FISM daily reports at least 3 times, and again here).

It's an "official" Blackpool report, as it should be seeing that's who hired Walt.

Matt Field

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 20th, 2012, 9:41 am

He also misspelled Grand Prix winner Yu Ho Jin's name as Yu Ho Min every time he wrote it in those daily reports.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Jeff Eline
Posts: 647
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Jeff Eline » July 20th, 2012, 9:47 am

Richard Kaufman wrote:Quentin wrote: "... I do find arses sticking out the top of jeans offputting."

DITTO!


Depends on the arse. Context, remember.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 20th, 2012, 9:50 am

Jeff, you haven't been to Blackpool.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Dustin Stinett
Posts: 7248
Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Sometimes
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Dustin Stinett » July 20th, 2012, 5:01 pm

The best description Ive heard of Blackpool:

Its where carnies go on vacation.

Ian Kendall
Posts: 2631
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Ian Kendall » July 20th, 2012, 5:04 pm

I was working at a wedding today where half the group were from the Preston/Blackpool area. Even they weren't too enthusiastic about the place...

Then again, they were in Inverness, which is about as far away from home as they could get and still have running water.

User avatar
Pete Biro
Posts: 7124
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Hollyweird
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Pete Biro » July 20th, 2012, 5:43 pm

The Dali Lama wouldn't get in the Castle in the evenings.
Stay tooned.

User avatar
Kevin Connolly
Posts: 2437
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Kevin Connolly » July 20th, 2012, 5:51 pm

[img:left]http://slantmouth.com/articles/enterTheDragon/images/dalaiLama.jpg[/img]

Mr. Lama might just get in.
Please visit my website.
http://houdinihimself.com/
I buy,sell + trade Houdini, Hardeen items.

Rolf Reiner
Posts: 22
Joined: July 28th, 2009, 6:59 am

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Rolf Reiner » July 21st, 2012, 6:38 pm

I have been seeing tons of photos from the convention in Facebook. This one, from a Portuguese magician, caught my eye... seems to be a Blackpool classic:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

hugmagic
Posts: 288
Joined: January 20th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: OHIO
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby hugmagic » July 21st, 2012, 7:34 pm

I am so glad I missed this memorable (?) moment of magic history. What the hell were they thinking?

Richard
Richard Hughes
www.hughesmagic.com

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Richard Kaufman » July 21st, 2012, 7:45 pm

... they were not thinking. And there was an even more grotesque moment IN one of the gala shows.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Pete Biro
Posts: 7124
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Hollyweird
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Pete Biro » July 21st, 2012, 7:54 pm

Aha.... cool
Stay tooned.

Rolf Reiner
Posts: 22
Joined: July 28th, 2009, 6:59 am

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Rolf Reiner » July 22nd, 2012, 9:20 am

"Doble Mandoble unfortunately failed to live up to first place expectations for me and pales in comparison to the true hilarity of comedy conductor, Mikael Szaniel, who placed 2nd."

I am a great fan of this act, and continue to be amazed to find it described as a "conductor" by many. Mikael is obviously playing the part of a singer.

User avatar
Q. Kumber
Posts: 1851
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Tom Whitestone

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Q. Kumber » July 22nd, 2012, 1:58 pm

I only saw them in the prizewinners show and found them humourous more than funny but they are a good commercial act.

I couldn't follow the second part of the act which won first prize for card magic, nor could anyone else I asked, even Mandy Davis who was onstage helping. I know someone in the audience picked and signed a card and it eventually ended up in a sealed solid glass, but it is what happened in between that left me confused.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Richard Kaufman » August 9th, 2012, 7:31 pm

Now here's a guy who seems to be completely unaware of the experience most people had at FISM:

Image

And he's really going to enjoy my FISM report in the September issue of Genii.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Roger M.
Posts: 1598
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six

Postby Roger M. » August 9th, 2012, 10:48 pm

The guy's in complete denial, that can't be healthy.

He seems to be wallowing in his own "mess", perhaps not knowing what else to do.

Ultimately though, these types of chaps simply don't have a clue.

User avatar
CraigMitchell
Posts: 1788
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Magic
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby CraigMitchell » August 10th, 2012, 2:52 am

"I anticipated their venom by publicly exposing them in my Presidential (sic) in the FISM programme."

It seems that someone more accurately anticipated that 2500+ magicians were not going to be happy campers :grin:

Perhaps there is a medical name for such delusions of grandeur.

Brad Henderson
Posts: 4546
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: austin, tx

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Brad Henderson » August 10th, 2012, 4:14 am

I love magic.

One Way Ticket
Posts: 5
Joined: July 16th, 2012, 8:21 am

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby One Way Ticket » August 10th, 2012, 5:14 am

A Legend In Your Own Time.

User avatar
Francesca Moffet
Posts: 153
Joined: August 26th, 2008, 7:25 am
Location: The Emerald Isle
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Francesca Moffet » August 10th, 2012, 7:33 am

'He is in for a rough ride'. I'm sure the Managing Director is quaking in his boots....not!

I am restraining myself a lot by not making the obligatory smutty jokes that could be associated with Lever's comment.
Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, and they both take practice.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27047
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Richard Kaufman » August 10th, 2012, 10:45 am

Their "new close up set up" was in the Winter Gardens old garage. It was not even remotely a success with one screen that was totally inadequate.

You'll notice that he congratulates President Domenico Dante, as well as Gerrit Brengman, but NOT new Vice President Peter Din (to whom Lever lost in his bid).

It's as if this was written by someone in an alternate universe, who attended a different convention than the rest of us.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
CraigMitchell
Posts: 1788
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Magic
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby CraigMitchell » August 10th, 2012, 11:34 am

Richard Kaufman wrote:It's as if this was written by someone in an alternate universe, who attended a different convention than the rest of us.


... and that universe is called Blackpool.

Sorry, couldn't resist ;-)

Bill Mullins
Posts: 5911
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Huntsville, AL
Contact:

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Bill Mullins » November 22nd, 2015, 12:14 pm

I just read this report of the World Fantasy Convention of 2013, held in Brighton. It's a long read, but it's pretty clear that Lever isn't the only man in England who can host a bad convention.

Leo Garet
Posts: 617
Joined: March 14th, 2015, 9:14 am
Favorite Magician: Nobody In Particular

Re: FISM 2012 - Day Six ...fism 2015 goes to italy

Postby Leo Garet » November 22nd, 2015, 12:34 pm

Bill Mullins wrote:I just read this report of the World Fantasy Convention of 2013, held in Brighton. It's a long read, but it's pretty clear that Lever isn't the only man in England who can host a bad convention.

Phew. It is a long read and sorry Bill, it wore me down. I didn't get to the end.
But I thought this was interesting:
"The official World Fantasy website is still mired in the 20th Century....".
At least it's the 20th century. :)


Return to “Buzz”