Blackpool 2011 - Schedule

[naquada]

Schedule of events for blackpool 2011

http://www.magicconventionguide.com/201 ... of-events/

also available via blackpool main site - http://www.blackpoolmagic.com/convention-2011

or all the other 'bits' - http://www.magicconventionguide.com/cat ... tion-2011/

[Q. Kumber]

Here's a few pieces of useful information for those going to Blackpool.

If you are flying into Manchester airport, a train runs every hour (about 29 minutes past the hour)from the airport direct to Blackpool North train station. Another train runs on the hour but you have to change at Preston. www.thetrainline.com If you know your times and book in advance you can save a lot of money on long distance trains.

Saturday morning: Jimmy Tamley as Jungle Jim. Jimmy is a talented ventriloquist and his one hour show seems to be replacing the children's entertainer competition on the Saturday morning. You can read about his show here http://www.junglejim.co.uk/about.php

Showzam 2011 starts the same weekend as the convention and runs for ten days. Two events well worth keeping in mind are Jon Marshall's Sideshow illusions(Showzam Central), a recreation of the fifties and sixties fairground illusions, such as Girl in Fishbowl, The Mummy, The Girl With No Head etc. This is free and is also in The Winter Gardens complex but not accessible from the convention area. Exit the front door of The Winter Gardens and turn left and left again onto Coronation Street and the entrance is on your left. Details: http://www.showzam.co.uk/whatson/calendar/
The other event is Clive Webb and Danny Adams' (compering the Sunday Gala Show) Circus Hilarious on the Monday afternoon at 2.30pm in The Opera House.

Magician Martin Scott Price has recently bought a hotel in Blackpool, three minutes walk from the Winter Gardens. I've been to have a look. As it stands, it is the same standard as the better Blackpool boarding houses. Good sized rooms and bathrooms. Martin is planning a complete refurbishmnet of the hotel and will be turning the basement into a Punch & Judy and puppet museum. He's already installed free Wi-Fi. I believe he has a few rooms still available: http://pelhamlodge.co.uk/Welcome.html

[Jolly Roger]

Hey Quentin.........I have to ask you. Is that the same Martin Scott Price who was in the young magician of the year competion years ago with an illusion act? I have been living in the US for so long, but I seem to recall the name. Look forward to seeing you in the Ruskin!!! Roger

[Q. Kumber]

I phoned to check. Roger, you are right and he also won the British Ring Shield.

[Q. Kumber]

Bella Italia have two restaurants within a short walk from The Winter Gardens, Blackpool and are very popular with conventioneers. Here's a link to discounted vouchers for these restaurants. Please note the vouchers are not valid on Fridays or Saturdays but they are for all other days including Sunday.
http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/bellaitalia.co.uk

[Matthew Field]

Thanks, Quentin. It's where the elite meet. (That or McDonalds.)

[Richard Kaufman]

I usually eat at Bell Italia all three evenings! :)

[Ian Kendall]

To be fair, the Chinese restaurant I found wasn't all bad...

[Jolly Roger]

The last couple of years I have always stayed at The Belverdere on Albert Road which is just a few doors up from The Ruskin. They have a buffet breakfast from I think 8.30am. to 9.30am. which I like. I have also started taking their evening meal at the hotel, which is at 5pm. which I know is early. The meal is adequate, and I have several friends who stay there that we rabbit with over dinner. However, I find that if I eat out at places like the Bell Italia, it can take a long time to get served and there is barely time to get back to my hotel and freshen up before the evening events which usually start at 7pm. JR

[Q. Kumber]

According to this week's www.magicweek.co.uk this year's convention is now sold out. Your best chance of getting a ticket is the "For Sale" or "Wanted" pages of magicweek.

[Q. Kumber]

Earlier in this thread I mentioned Showzam Central, which is held at the side of the Winter Gardens complex (entrance opp Bella Italia). Turns out that Andrew Van Buren is performing a one hour magic and illusion show there every day, and it is free admission.

Showzam Central is nothing to do with the convention but well worth a visit at least once over your Blackpool weekend, especially if you are interested in old style fairground illusions and sideshows.