The Genii Forum

Does anyone know if any of the Inaugural Balls had magicians performing this year?

Kostya Kimlat, Eric Jones and Francis Menotti were at the Salute to Heroes Ball.

Pictures are on Eric Jones' Facebook page.

Tres cool!

The Salute to Heroes Ball had at least twenty-five (not all are listed and they are in no particular order):

Michael Ammar, Kostya Kimlat, Alain Nu, Aaron Fisher, Garrett Thomas, Arian Black, Eric Jones, Darwin Ortiz, Eric Henning, Francis Menotti, Alain Nu, George A. Bradley, Malcolm "Puck" Puckering, Randy Shine, Jon Armstrong, Ken Trombly, Karen Beriss, Mark Phillips, Josh Jay, Scott Alexander, & Andi Gladwin.

Thanks, guys!

(Just did some reading on the Salute to Heroes Ball--that's quite a special group of people they are honoring (MOH recipients). I wonder if any of the magicians got to show Biden a trick...)

erdnasephile wrote: I wonder if any of the magicians got to show Biden a trick...)

Joe was busy waxing his Trans-Am:
LINK

I missed a couple of performers (my apologies). Looking through the photographs I also see:

Scott Hitchcock, Nathan Kranzo, Heather Rogers (was she performing?), & juggler Michael Rosman.

Can anyone else finish filling in the gaps?

Josh just posted the following pic on Facebook via Twitter

Brendan:
Thanks for posting that--looks very cool.

(Josh's Facebook page has several other pix/comments regarding the Inauguration experience)

https://www.facebook.com/joshuajaymagician

Also Richard Tuckerman (to the right of Ammar in the photo, i.e., on Ammar's left just behind him).

Does anyone know who organized/booked this gig? Will there be a story in Genii? (Pretty Please? :) )

I suspect Ken Trombly was the prime mover organizing this.

There seems to be a nice tradition that magicians get to work these affairs, for both Democratic and Republican Presidents.

It was an absolutely wonderful event. Four years ago, after we produced an Obama fundraiser featuring close-up magicians, - an evening of "A-Barack-Cadabra" - I was offered the chance to put together a group of 20 magicians to do strolling magic at the American Legion's Salute to Heroes Ball (honoring the living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients), I reached out to my buddy, Alain Nu, who had arranged for much of the talent for the fundraiser, we invited some of the best names around...and the Legion loved it. So this year, the Legion asked for 25 magicians to entertain their 800 guests, and you can see from Andrew Pinard's list, the amazing quality of the group. Given the diversity of styles, and the high level of the magic, it was like a dream magician's convention. With an appearance by Joe Biden, and a heartfelt speech by Tom Brokaw, it was an amazing night. Kudos to Alain for assembling this amazing cadre of conjurers, and to all of the fine performers, who came to DC on their own dime and did themselves proud.

Thanks, Mr. Trombly!

I was wondering: I don't recognize everyone in the picture, and obviously not every performer is pictured. I was wondering if anyone can fill in the blanks for me please?:

Back Row (on stairs from L to R):
Black, _____, Ortiz, Alexander,______, Fisher, _____, _____,Jones, Ammar, Tuckerman, Puck.

Front Row (L to R):
____, _____, Jay, ______, Nu

Joshua's FB page has an uncropped version of the photo, with tags.
link

Thanks, Bill!

Were they paid?

Ken Trombly wrote:... who came to DC on their own dime ...

When Ken asked me if I wanted to participate four years ago, I asked the same question. It was communicated to me that this was a volunteer event... I presume the case was true this year as well.

That being said, there is something to be said for a priceless experience....

Does anyone know if Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Clarkston, or any of the other entertainers got their expenses covered?

If so, it's a bit inequitable that the magicians didn't.

I should clarify-- I in no way mean to criticize Mr. Trombly or Mr. Nu--it is a GREAT opportunity for all concerned.

I was just expressing the naive wish that the inaugural ball organizers would have seen fit to cover the expenses of the magician group if other inaugural ball performers were covered. After all, these are working pros, and are some of the best in the business.

Yeah, but the best magician in the group (and I wouldn't presume to say who that is -- many fine magicians there) doesn't have 1% of the name recognition of Stevie Wonder or Beyonce.