The Genii Forum

Scott Wells

Perhaps one of the best known children's magic entertainers in the world, "Silly Billy" (aka David Kaye), is the guest on this week's podcast. In this episode David shares the basics from his lecture and his book, "Seriously Silly." David gives us a mini-lecture on what tricks wo...

Scott Wells

This past week on The Magic Word Podcast, Harry Lorayne talked about how he developed his super memory and subsequently his memory course. He talked about his appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson", working in his early years in "Billy Reed's Little Club" and perfor...

Scott Wells

The Magicians' Relief Project has come to a close. This was a ten week project that grew as the weeks went on. Ultimately we selected the names of 13 magicians who had submitted their names for consideration. Thanks to the benevolent donation from Betty and Gene Protas, we began with giving $50.00 o...

Scott Wells

There is so much to say about our guest this week and he has so much to say, too. Michael Close is an undisputed champ of close-up magic with several books and DVDs to his name (Workers series), plus he has been the house magician at Illusions restaurant in Indiana and in the Monte Carlo casino and ...

Scott Wells

We are near the finish line with this ambitious project with only two more weeks to go. I am pleased to share a "thank you" reply received from a recent beneficiary: "With my stroke in November and the Covid virus, things have been kinda tight. I have come a long way with the stroke a...

Scott Wells

Many of you know Marc as an award winning magician, author, historian, collector and musician. But no doubt there are some other sides to his personality that you haven't seen. On this week's episode of The Magic Word Podcast, Marc talks about all of that, but he also talks about his first Star Trek...

Scott Wells

Chris Randall had a rough road to reach the stage of the World Championships of Magic (F.I.S.M.) in 2018 only to find disappointment and heartache that led to a near mental breakdown. This week we listen to the thrill of victory of winning multiple awards, performing in casino showrooms, on televisi...

Scott Wells

I am so thrilled with the support and encouragement we have received for this Project. The donations of $73 per week was "rounded up" to $100 by this week's selected magic shop. So even in this time when they may be hurting, too, they are trying to help magicians who need some relief, some...

Scott Wells

I received an unsolicited email from Alton Sharpe's daughter who is trying to locate her step-siblings. I know that he passed away in 2004. If you have any knowledge of where she can go or whom she can contact, then please drop her an email (with a cc to me at scott@themagicwordpodcast.com so I know...

Scott Wells

We selected a different brick and mortar magic shop through which we presented $60.00 to our second magician under the Magicians' Relief Project. We never know what another person's situation is, but we are so glad when we can help someone who really needs it. I received a nice note from the recipie...

Scott Wells

To steal a paraphrase from David Devant, Darryl Rose does magic with kindness. Darryl sits on the Council of The Magic Circle in London and is a "champion" of their weekly online lectures that post on their "member's only" Facebook page. This has been a real help for out of city ...

Scott Wells

Whenever I attend magic conventions, like most o of us, one of the first places I go is to the magic dealer room. There you will not only find all your friends, but also all of the newest magic stuff. The room is nearly always filled, but despite how many dealers are in the room, the one that always...

Scott Wells

We just randomly drew and presented the first of the anonymous beneficiaries of Magicians' Relief Project. I want to share the thank you note that I received: ------------------ Wow, unbelievable. Thank you for organizing and hosting this. I am not in a position to be spending money on magic during ...

Scott Wells

I have had one person reply through a PM regarding this project asking for more details on how they can help. They anonymously gave $100 towards this project. If you would like to help, then please read the following on how this Project works: Each week, beginning on Thursday April 30 and continuing...

Scott Wells

We are all going through a bad time to some degree or another, some better and some worse. There are some magicians who are having financially difficult times right now and their concern is for basics: food, clothing and shelter. We don't know how long this will last nor who is the most impacted in ...

Scott Wells

This week on The Magic Word Podcast, we kick off with some topical jokes from Norman Beck. Norm puts a smile on our face when we really need it during this difficult time. Typically, The Magic Word Podcast posts daily updates from conventions; however, with magic conventions canceled at least for th...

Scott Wells

Who would have envisioned just a few short weeks ago that when "The Illusionists" touring show passed through Houston, Texas, that it would be one of their last for a while. That is what makes this week's episode of The Magic Word Podcast even more special. I am so thankful that I could go...

Scott Wells

In this week's podcast, meet my friend, Daniel Summers. Many of you already know and love him and perhaps even own an illusion built by him. We had a few martinis and Dan opened up to tell about his career that started as a builder in his basement in high school. From there he learned ventriloquism ...

Scott Wells

None of us are immune to the effects of the novel Coronavirus, regardless of age, nationality, sex, creed, or ethnicity. With 5.8MM employees in the U.S. alone depending upon "gig" income, the worldwide community is at risk. This week on The Magic Word Podcast, we talk about the impact the...

Scott Wells

Known around the world by magicians for his sleight-of-hand skills and five star Penguin lecture, Diamond Jim Tyler is known outside our community as the author of the three book series, "Bamboozlers", pocket-sized books containing bar bets and fun puzzles and cons. Diamond Jim is also a p...

Scott Wells

To paraphrase Mark Twain, "Reports of Mercer Helms' death are exaggerated." I am glad to report that he is alive, healthy, lucid and active, as evidenced by our conversation this week on The Magic Word Podcast. I have received the occasional text or email asking about the health of Mercer ...

Scott Wells

Due to some personal performing and family obligations, I was unable to attend the Blackpool convention this year. I hope to make it next year for my second time since 2010. But during the holiday "break" between Christmas and New Year's Day, U.K. iMagician, Jamie Allan, performed at one o...

Scott Wells

Richard Kaufman always hosts some of the best talent in the world of magic, and I truly mean the "world" because of all the international acts that we get to learn from and to see at the Genii conventions. In late January I posted an episode of a conversation I had at the Genii convention ...

Scott Wells

It is always a joy to sit with a professional magician who considers you a peer when you know, in fact, that your chops (though good) are pale in comparison to your guest. Such was the case when I spent a delightful night with Christian Engblom. Also at the table was Chip Romero and a couple other l...

Scott Wells

Orson talks about his name change, magic, comedy and other stories on the podcast I recorded with him in 2017. You can listen to it here, plus get links to a couple of his videos and candid photos taken during our chat: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... orson-bean

Scott Wells

In case you have been away from being a regular listener to The Magic Word Podcast, this week's episode might be an inducement to dig in and catch up on listening, including the daily updates from the S.A.M. National Convention in Las Vegas. But this week we talk with Stan Allen, organizer (and impr...

Scott Wells

If you've been away from the Magic Word Podcast for a few weeks, now would be a good time to return for a listen to this week's guest. Dan Fleshman offers some great tips, advice and stories about working in restaurants plus, as a former manager of comedy clubs, he has some great stories about those...

Scott Wells

Thanks for all the great info. I made my reservations and suggest that before your book yours, you ask to compare the FISM rate against their rack rate, particularly if you are a member of one of the hotel chains (i.e. Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors, etc.) and you might be surprised to receive a be...

Scott Wells

There was a numbering problem with a few of the podcasts. Here are the links that work: Day One: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/521-2019-genii-convention-day-one Day Two: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/522-2019-genii-convention-day-two Day Three: https://www...

Scott Wells

Final day update: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... n-day-four

Scott Wells

In case you have missed the first three days of updates on the podcast and you want to know what's been going on, you can find them on The Magic Word Podcast And of course, you can always download the episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Just subscribe to The Magic Word Podcast. But the first th...

Scott Wells

Something just came up so it looks like I’ll be attending and posting daily podcasts. I have a registration and flight but need to share a room. I’ve sent a request to join the Facebook group, but time’s growing short. Anybody have an opening in the convention hotel room to share that might not mind...

Scott Wells

This week we finally catch up with John Bannon. Our paths have crossed several times over the past three years with promises to sit down and record a chat. This week on The Magic Word Podcast John talks about his experience inn recording his DVD's from the old VHS days with A-1 to his appearances on...

Scott Wells

Magic books and tricks come out so very often, but there are precious few books written that feature magicians doing real sleight-of-hand and not fairy tale, Harry Potter-type magic. Such is the case with two suggestions for mystery novels released this month. Both authors join me this week on The M...

Scott Wells

Leading up to the epic 500th episode of The Magic Word Podcast, I don't want listeners to miss out on the 499th episode featuring the incomparable David Regal that debuted a few weeks ago. Since that episode was released, many more followed but I didn't get a chance to tell you about it. It has alre...

Scott Wells

Thank you, Scott--fine job as always! <snip >- Scott, do you have any attendance figures on the convention and do you know whether or not we broke even? Thanks! I was told that they had a little less than 500 attendees thanks to "walk-ins" and day passes. That includes organizers, youth, ...

Scott Wells

If you were unable to attend this year's I.B.M. convention, or you did attend and would like to hear some perspectives of other registrants, then be sure to listen to the four daily updates from the convention hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Overall, it was a good convention attended by nearly 500 peo...

Scott Wells

The Magic Word Podcast recently reached a significant milestone of 500 episodes. The epic 500th featured the celebrated and controversial Israeli Phenomenon, Uri Geller. Uri seldom grants interviews for print, video or audio so this was significant. He granted unlimited access to ask any question wi...

Scott Wells

Congratulations, my friend. Well deserved...again.

Scott Wells

Pat Hazell starts off saying that he may be one of my most obscure guests. I disagree. I know that many of you remember him from his offerings in the Adam Fleischer books, "New York Magic Symposium" (Collection 4 & 5), his multiple appearances in comedy clubs and on late night TV "...

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