The Genii Forum

The S.A.M. is at the Golden Nugget ($45/night!) July 23-26. Register at http://www.magicsam.com/SAM2012/index.asp.

Here is the latest list of activities:

SUNDAY, JULY 22
9:00 p.m., Fergus Roy Lecture, The Davenport Story Early Bird event.
MONDAY, JULY 23
9:30 a.m., Convention Orientation
10:00 a.m., David Copperfield tribute program and interview with Stan Allen
1:00 p.m., The Paul Critelli Close-Up Contest
3:00 p.m., Boris Wild Lecture
8:30 p.m., SAMtalk Tech Magic with Bruce Kalver
10:00 p.m., Magic Duets: Roland Sarlot & Susan Eyed; Christian & Katalina Painter
TUESDAY, JULY 24
9:30 a.m., Mathieu Bich Lecture
11:00 a.m., David Stone Lecture
3:00 p.m., Mac King Show at Harrahs Casino
4:00 p.m., Copperfield Show at MGM Grand.
9:00 p.m., Fr. Cyprian Murray Stage Contest Show
11:00 p.m., Jason Baney Lecture
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25
8:00 a.m., Life Member Breakfast with Johnny Thompson
9:30 a.m., Fielding West Lecture
12:00 p.m., Stars of Tomorrow Show
3:00 p.m., Mac King Show at Harrahs Casino
4:00 p.m., Copperfield Show at MGM Grand.
8:30 p.m., THE LAS VEGAS MAGIC EXPERIENCE stage show at the Smith Center, Fielding West, Luna Shimada, Sonny Fontana,
Jason Baney , Losander, Ayala and Tanya.
11:00 p.m., Stuart Schneider presentation, The Magic of Ghosts in the Cemetery
THURSDAY, JULY 26
9:00 a.m., Johnny Thompson Lecture
11:00 a.m., Close-Up Show, Ali Shelley, Mathieu Bich, David Stone, Boris Wild, Yann Frisch
1:30 p.m., Contest awards, honors, installation of officers
3:00 p.m., Chris Kenners Observations
4:00 p.m., S.A.M. Banquet, Milbourne Christopher Awards, Entertainment by Steve Daly/Tiny Bubbles
8:30 p.m., AN INTERNATIONAL MAGIC SPECTACULAR gala stage show at the Smith Center, RG Smith, Kim Hyun-Joon, Funtasio, John Cassidy,Chris Kenner, The Great Tomsoni and Company, Nathan
Burton
11:00 p.m., THE FREMONT STREET MAGIC EXPERIENCE: Join us on Fremont street right outside the hotel for the sights, sounds, and final farewells. Bring your own magic, work the crowd, make a few bucks, and watch others perform.Everyone is invited.

Warning! If you plan to register as a walk-in: we are approaching the maximum number of seats available to see the Mac King Show. Once this is reached, we will continue to take registrations, but without this show included.

We will announce here when we reach that point, but avoid disappointment, register now!

Mark Weidhaas, SAM Convention Registrar
www.Magicsam.com/sam2012/index.asp

Don't leave the convention without saying goodbye:

After the final show at the Smith Center on Thursday night, July 26, everyone is invited to a farewell party.

The party will be thrown just outside the Golden Nugget at the Fremont Street Experience (FSE). The FSE is 4 blocks long and offers free nightly shows featuring 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of amazing sound, concerts, food and beverage. Flightlinez takes you soaring on a zipline above the crowds for a once-in-a-lifetime experience under the lights.
The S.A.M.s Fremont Street Magic Experience (FSME) is our last chance to say goodbye to friends with a twist Street Magic. Everyone is invited to bring their street magic routines and perform live for the Las Vegas tourists and the S.A.M. magicians. You can even pass a hat and make some extra cash. Go back home and say I performed in Vegas, baby.

Hi! If you are a Vegas local or really know the city, how about some tips for us who are attending:
1. Best and most economic ways from airport to the Golden Nugget downtown
2. Where to eat at or close to the Golden Nugget
3 Any good and fair priced buffets
4. Recommendations for extra entertainment
5.Best way to get to the strip without a car
6. At night how safe is it around the Golden Nugget area of town
7. How much do you get hassled by panhandlers outside in the Fairmont Exp.
Any other advice?? Peace...Fred (Reisz)

I'll take a shot, Fred. Not a Las Vegan, but a fairly frequent visitor.

1. Best and most economic ways from airport to the Golden Nugget downtown.
Well, I always rent a car, cause Im a wanderer. Downtown is at the far end of Vegas from McCarran, so cabs will be pricey, but dead simple. There are airport shuttles (at a cost) but you will be at the end of the line - could be a long and frustrating way to start your trip. Many folks recommend arranging for a Limo. Apparently similar to a cab, price wise (with enough people I suppose) and a lot classier. Sorry I am not much help here.


2. Where to eat at or close to the Golden Nugget
There are 5 or 6 hotels right on top of each other downtown, each with a large number of food options, from food courts, to buffets, to sit down to fancy joints. There are probably 4 or 5 inside the GN alone. Food should NOT be a problem. I have enjoyed the Grotto at the GN for Italian, and Oscar's (steaks) at the Plaza. Both are towards the upper range of hoity-toity.

3 Any good and fair priced buffets
Downtown, the best seem to be the buffet at the GN and the buffet at Main Street Station. As a rule, EVERYTHING downtown is cheap compared to the Strip.

4. Recommendations for extra entertainment. I think downtown suffers a little on this front. PLENTY of recommendations if you are willing to go stripside. KA at MGM is pure spectacle. Blue Man Group, if you have not seen it, is pure joy. Kinda depends on what you are in the mood for - want to see preserved, flayed BODIES? (thats at Luxor). Want to shoot a machine gun? (the Gun Store, $50 a clip). Want to go to the Pinball Hall of Fame? (bring quarters) - Ridiculous options, so you need to narrow this one down a bit...

5.Best way to get to the strip without a car
There are buses, but if your wallet is larger than your patience, cab it.

6. At night how safe is it around the Golden Nugget area of town
Downtown is downscale... but on the Fremont Street Experience you will be surrounded by hundreds (thousands?) of folks. So, im sure there are pickpockets and other effuvia floating around, but easy to avoid quiet, dark areas.

7. How much do you get hassled by panhandlers outside in the Fairmont Exp.
You'll see them. But hassled? Next to never. what Fremont street has are buskers - jugglers, musicians, costumed characters working for tips. Many dont like them, but I have no issue. I see them as harmless enough. And no hassling that ive ever seen. Now, the losers pushing time shares? Thats a whole different story.


Any other advice?? Peace...Fred (Reisz)
Vegas is awesome. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you and remember that nothing in life is free, and you'll love it.

Cabs are NOT dead simple from the airport in Las Vegas. In fact, it's the worst airport in the US from with to catch a taxi. The line for a taxi is often an hour or more, standing out in the hot sun (over 100 degrees). It's a damn nightmare.

Even if you can book a private cab, the airport provides NO PLACE for private cabs to pick up passengers.

The whole thing STINKS.

The only way to avoid it is to either rent a car or beg a friend to pick you up. Or, you can pay $100 for a limo to pick you up (the airport does provide a limo pick up area). Bastards.

I can't say I've waited for more than 10 minutes for a Vegas cab at the airport in the past 4 years - and I'm there 4 or 5 times a year. Maybe I just have lucky timing

I have seen waits of over an hour for a taxi, but would trust Brad's sampling more than mine. I generally rent a car, which is very convenient as all the car rental companies are centralized in one location. ONE style of bus picks up everyone, so no waiting for a specific Avis, Herz, etc. van to show up. The weekly rates (if you book sufficiently in advance) compare favorably to taxi usage.

Thanks for the info. I'll pass it along to our members on our facebook page, SAM Annual Conference.

Brad, I have no idea what time of the day or night you've managed to find a 10 minute wait at the taxi line at the Vegas airport. I have NEVER seen a wait of less than 45 minutes.

The Vegas airport seems to have peak times. I have noticed this especially when flying out. There are times when the security line will wrap around the building, practically, and other times when it is both short and fairly fast moving (realizing that with the tsa 'fast' is a relative term).

I'm not talking about the security line.

We were discussing the taxi line.

I will give you $100 (yes, Brad, that's $100) if I wait less than 45 minutes when I arrive for the convention. I invite you to meet me at the airport to confirm the length of the taxi line, AND THEN PLEASE GIVE ME A LIFT BACK TO THE HOTEL IN YOUR RENTED CAR (after also giving me $100, which I'll take in the form of a nice dinner).

Unless I arrive in time to pick you up, then Brad can take us both to dinner. (The last time I was there sans car, the wait for a taxi was an hour and a half.)

Just trying to provide info to those not accustomed to flying In and out of Vegas. I learned the hard way that security lines vary tremendously depending on time and day of the week.

And yes, my Vegas cab experiences have been better than yours. Im sorry??

I am working all summer and will not be at the convention. I sincerely hope your wait is minimal, not because of any bet - just because I don't wish the hellish nightmare of waiting in the heat on anyone.

And I would be happy to join (and even take) both you and Dustin to dinner regardless of your taxi experiences.

fredreisz wrote:Any other advice?? Peace...Fred (Reisz)

Yes:

Ask the cab driver to stop by In-N-Out on the way from the airport and order a "4 X 4, Animal Style!"

Take a shuttle instead of a taxi. You will get there faster at a lower cost.

Keep in mind that city shuttles will likely make multiple stops along the strip while heading toward downtown, so don't be in a hurry (and unless you get lucky, there's generally a wait for them as well). Here's what the Golden Nugget has posted on their site regarding transportation:

Unfortunately, we do not provide any type of hotel transportation. There are city shuttles provided outside of baggage claim. The city shuttles run about $10 per person per direction. Our bell desk can also set up a shuttle for your return trip to the airport, but they do need a 24 hour notification. There are also taxi cabs that can drop you off at the front doors of the Golden Nugget. A cab would run about $40 for up to 4 people.

If you arrive on Saturday, Steve Daly has offered to pick up any conventioneer. He lives nearby, and is just a nice guy. More info on the SAM FaceBook page.

What about Sunday? :)

His offer is for those getting in on Saturday (must have a show on Sunday). Richard - if the cab line is long, go to the front and look for a magician to share the ride. :)

Mark, I'm from New York: I always look for someone ahead of me in line that I know. :)

Steve is offering to pick people up on Sunday too, but it is filling up fast. Go to his Facebook page: "Steve Daly" or "SAM Annual Conference"

I think I am just going to opt for the shuttle. I found $15 round trip on line. I will get there when I get there.
I just worry what time I will have to get up to take the shuttle back for a 7:30 flight.

Richard

For a 7:30 flight you need to be at the airport at 5:30 (a.m., I assume). Taxi? Should be no problem going from the hotel to the airport.

Richard is right about the cab lines. I hate 'em.

Cab from hotel to airport is easy.

Im here with the Chief Genii in Las Vegas at the SAM National Convention and have many people ask why I havent been posting about it (as I have in the past).

Its because Im no longer completely insane (read: the meds are working).

I will, however, post some blurbs that some people here might get and that will give me great satisfaction.

>Oh yeah, thats right, Las Vegas is FREAKIN HOT!!!

>Your events, sir, are all in the Rush Tower.

>Your events, sir, are all in the Gold Tower.

>If you dont like where they put your table, just move.

>Hotel floor plan in the program? We dont need no stinkin floor plan in the program.

>Lets rename the theater from what it is on the hotel directories.

>Hey, theres the pool. (Well, I like Las Vegas.)

>David Copperfield: Mensch.

>David Copperfield: Proud Papa.

>its kinda funny doin this stuff for people whove seen it all before. Mac King

>Mac Kings funny even when youve see him before.

>Have you seen our waiter?

>Just hangin here on Lonely Street.

>Its a fake White Castle.

>Who the hell waits in a long line in 100-degree heat to go into a pawn shop???

>Gamblers General Store and Spinettis: Card Guy Disneylands. (And no lines.)

>Leaving? What do you mean youre leaving? Say it aint so, Mark! (Lonely Street is going to get lonelier.)

>We only have two hours to eat, so we better get something quick.

Thats all for now. I only have two hours to eat

Dustin

LOL! Maybe you should have went the IBM convention. Only 400 people and 10 dealers. That's for a National convention.

1,000 people here. Lots of dealers. Great show with Mac King. Just got back from seeing Copperfield (best I've ever seen him and a couple new things, one of which KILLS me--no clue!). Outstanding dinner with great people. And the night is young!

Last day ... most curious about how many bath mats John S. has in his room now.

I think there was a staff change today as all seems to be righted...

After being up to three bath mats, I'm back down to one.
And THE face cloth is gone.
Plus I have clean glasses.

At the airport waiting to board my plane back home to NYC.

The S.A.M. 2012 Top Ten highlights for me were:

1. The David Copperfield Show
2. The Mac King Comedy Magic Show
3. Chris Kenner's "Observations" talk
4. The French Close Up show hosted by Ali Shelly and starring: David Stone,
Matthew Bich, Boris Wild and Yann Frisch
5. John Cassidy and Johnny Thompson on Thursday nights closing show
6. The SAM Paul Critelli Close Up contest
7. Penn & Teller Show (Outside Event)
8. Sessioning with the Spanish Magicians (Pipo Villanueva & Hugo)... AMAZING
talented magis
9. Johnny Thompson lecture & The David Copperfield interview with Stan Allen
10. Last but certainly NOT least, seeing so many good friends. Many of which I have not seen in a loooong time. :-)

Eric DeCamps
.

Eric:

Did Johnny Thompson say how his book is coming along?

Thanks!

I don't know what Eric saw that I missed, but some of the things he mentions as good were awful. I can't say more than that.

Johnny told me that his book is almost finished.

Richard:

With all do respect, the following all received standing ovations:

Tuesday David Copperfield Show
Wednesday The Mac King Show
Chris Kenner's talk
Boris Wild & Yann Frisch
Copperfield Interview
Johnny Thompson's talk at the Life Members Breakfast

In addition, David Stone's lecture & performance were wonderful and the audience loved him and gave him a tremendous ovation. John Cassidy, after his mic problems were fixed, had the Smith Center in stitches.

Penn & Teller also received a standing ovation the night I was there.

In regards to your comments on another thread regarding an hour+ wait for a taxi at the airport. It took me no longer than 20 minutes to wait online and get into a taxi. There was a line but it moved very quickly.

Eric DeCamps

My friend picked me up at the airport, so I was spared the taxi line this time.

Sooo, how long did the line end up being? After that build up, now enquiring minds want to know...

I know it was over 100 degrees Sunday afternoon.

The morning I was there to pick someone up, the line was already quite long but it was moving along (I was waiting in short term parking looking out at Terminal 1). I was about an hour early, so I got to watch the "action." Though the line was moving at an okay pace, there were only three or four taxis loading at any one time with space for more; don't know why there weren't more lined up moving the line faster. The limos were stacked up not going anywhere. I saw only one pick someone up. I suspect that they get busy when the line gets out of hand. The bus loading area was right below me and the wait there was about was about 15 or 20 minutes.

Though the only time I saw it happen was during the closing show, forced standing ovations don't count in my book. Having the MC say, "Don't be afraid to stand" and also having him gesture with his hands asking for the audience to stand is garbage. A standing ovation should come from the collective heart of he audience. Johnny Thompson deserved his not because of his act that night, which was not his best turn ever, but because he's Johnny and we love him no matter what.

John Cassidy's mic being off at the beginning was fixed, but it was under his tie for virtually the rest of his act making the sound muddy and difficult to hear; and I was in a lower box seat close to the stage. He delivers his lines in a rapid-fire manner, so it was hard to keep up with him with the less than perfect sound. That said, he was terrific, but it could have been so much better. But hey, stuff happens.

All in all it was a great convention. Having the opportunity to see Penn & Teller, Mac King, and David Copperfield within one week is something that can only happen in Las Vegas. That the SAM provided two of those three shows as part of their conference deserves a tip of the hat and a great big THANK YOU to the organizers and the artists.

THANK YOU!!!
Dustin

The only time the MC ask for a standing O was after Kim Hyunjoon not John Cassidy. They stood up on their own and it was well deserved.

Mike Miller