FISM

[AJM]

I've followed all the recent FISM threads with interest although I have to admit being somewhat confused.

FISM
What or who is FISM?
Who runs it?
Who selects the venue for the FISM event
What is the purpose of the FISM event - Convention or Competition or TV Special?
Who can apply to host the event?
Why don't FISM organise the event themselves (whoever they are)?
Why would anyone (apart from Derek Lever) want to organise the event.

ICC
What is this and how is it connected to FISM?

World Championship of Magic
What is its relationship to FISM?
Does it have priority over FISM?

Attendees
Everybody who attends seem to complain about how it has been organised yet wouldn't miss it for the world.
I've often considered attending an event but, yet again, have my doubts - should I sign up for South Korea?

Confused.

Scotland

[Richard Kaufman]

Andrew, it would require a book to answer most of your questions. Have you Googled and looked at the official FISM website? It will answer a good number of your questions.

[Marco Pusterla]

Indeed, a book about FISM and its history has just been published.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/FISM-The ... 2561034427

The book (a coffee table book) replies to most questions and examines all previous issues of the World Championship of Magic as well, with numerous photos.

[Brad Henderson]

In what language(s) is it written?

[AJM]

Think I've learned more from Tim Ellis' recent post on the other thread than I would from reading the FISM book or checking out its website.

Seems to me someone or some 'body' owns the rights to FISM but takes no interest in how the event is run or how the FISM name is used, which makes no sense from a business perspective.

Andrew

[Richard Kaufman]

The book is in English. It's a beautiful full color coffee table style volume.

[CraigMitchell]

FISM
What or who is FISM?

--> it is an international body bringing together the world's magic societies

Who runs it?

--> There is a general assembly ( made up of member societies ) who elects a board of directors ( 3 persons ). There is also an Executive Board made up of the heads of the various continents

Who selects the venue for the FISM event

--> The General Assembly

What is the purpose of the FISM event - Convention or Competition or TV Special?

--> The World Championships of Magic contest.

Who can apply to host the event?

--> Any member society

Why don't FISM organise the event themselves (whoever they are)?

--> Historically, financial risk ... and lack of expertise.

Why would anyone (apart from Derek Lever) want to organise the event.

--> National pride ... and the opportunity of bringing 2000+ magicians to your home country

ICC
What is this and how is it connected to FISM?

--> A group of magicians appointed by the organiser to "consult" on the event. According to Richard - the "consulting" appears to have been very limited. Perhaps more for "show"

World Championship of Magic
What is its relationship to FISM?

--> This is the primary objective of the organisation - to ensure that a WCM is hosted

Does it have priority over FISM?

--> The WCM is the main means through which FISM achieves it objectives.

Attendees

I've often considered attending an event but, yet again, have my doubts - should I sign up for South Korea?

--> If you love magic, enjoy exploring the world - and enjoy the inspiration of seeing what is happening in magic around the globe ... then aboslutely, yes!

[Richard Kaufman]

Craig wrote, "A group of magicians appointed by the organiser to "consult" on the event. According to Richard - the "consulting" appears to have been very limited. Perhaps more for "show"

The ICC wasn't done for "show." We had two very substantive meetings, one of which involved sorting through about 100 acts who'd applied to perform.

However, we were simply not consulted after January (with the exception of Max, who made a trip to Rimini in advance). I don't know which of us knew how the convention was going organized, and about the TV specials. I certainly was not consulted on any of that.

Without Max working tirelessly all day and then backstage during the shows, it would been a real clusterf*ck.

[AJM]

There you go Richard, I think your THIRD Genii Convention should also be a FISM!

The 2018 date would work out just right.

I mean it's not as if you have much on the go at the minute...

Andrew

[Richard Kaufman]

I think I can say with certainty that we will not be doing a Genii convention in 2018.

[Q. Kumber]

I've heard that Paul Daniels was a great help behind the scenes, especially with the gala show acts having to do band call between midnight and four in the morning. I'm not surprised that he ended up having an onstage rant (though it would have been better if he hadn't).

[Orlan]

I think I can say with certainty that we will not be doing a Genii convention in 2018.

Déjà vu?

[Richard Kaufman]

No, not saying I won't do another convention, but pretty sure there won't be one in 2018.