Blackpool updates

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mrgoat
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Blackpool updates

Postby mrgoat » February 19th, 2012, 5:09 am

some information here for those interested

http://blackpoolmagic2012.blogspot.com/

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 19th, 2012, 12:06 pm

Sounds like a typical Blackpool convention. I spoke with David Roth the other day and he said that he had never signed the contract and wasn't going to be there, so I don't know why he was listed as appearing.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tom Gilbert » February 19th, 2012, 12:33 pm

Odd, but for such a big convention that is supposed to be revealing so many new magic releases, lectures, and of course the
Penn/Dobson issue, there's hardly anything being posted at all.

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Tim Ellis
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » February 19th, 2012, 4:27 pm

My thoughts exactly Tom. Other than that one blog, nothing on Genii, Talk Magic or The Cafe... what happened to the days of live podcasts, minute by minute blogging, and Craig Mitchell ;)

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 19th, 2012, 4:46 pm

Craig Mitchell is banned from Blackpool, so he's not going to post anything.

After a while, the constant blogging grows tiresome. The novelty of moment by moment updating loses its interest. Also, it takes a lot of energy to keep doing something, and folks often run out of steam. That's one of the reasons why doing Genii is tough. Anyone could put out a magazine for a few months, but to do it every month for years snd years is quite difficult. I am amazed at how Bill Larsen did it every time I reflect on this, all the while running the Magic Castle as well.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby billmccloskey » February 19th, 2012, 4:54 pm

"Anyone could put out a magazine for a few months, but to do it every month for years snd years is quite difficult. "

This is so true. I know from experience. I wrote a weekly column on a very narrow nitch of digital marketing for 8 years. Having to come up with something new every week is a real challenge. Nothing like a deadline to get you motivated though.

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Tim Ellis
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » February 19th, 2012, 4:56 pm

I don't mind blogging, but I ended my blog when my personal situation changed.

Most of my net output is now channeled through Facebook.

With the technology currently available with smart phones, it's not hard at all to post a few lines now and then during the breaks between acts at a convention...

In 1997 I did my first FISM report before handing them over to Sue-Anne to do. http://fismreports.blogspot.com.au/ I'd love to do an "act by act" report LIVE via smart phone from FISM one day.

During the Melbourne Magic Festival we encourage participants and audience members to go to our site and post their comments. Keeps the buzz going for those who can't attend.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Devious » February 19th, 2012, 5:49 pm


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Tim Ellis
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » February 19th, 2012, 6:20 pm

Interesting. The first episode showed promise with vision of the bizarre-ness that Blackpool is, but episodes 2 and 3 ended up as nothing more than product plugs for stuff they sell on The Magic Place... :(

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Scott M. » February 19th, 2012, 6:49 pm

I agree, the video updates are pretty bad.

Speaking from experience -- although not in the field of magic -- it's really hard to blog while attending events. Days are long, wi-fi is often bad, often you decide to wait until you get back to the hotel... and then you do, and you've had a few drinks and are too tired. And then there's Twitter, which makes it easy for you to do quick updates on the fly. There seems to be a fair amount of tweets about Blackpool at #blackpoolmagic and #blackpool2012.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Pete Biro » February 19th, 2012, 7:12 pm

I used to write convention reports each evening but got totally tired of doing it... needed more sleep... made errors, etc. It is not easy.
Stay tooned.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Timothy Hyde » February 19th, 2012, 7:18 pm

I miss the guy who would post a photo of his breakfast each morning.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » February 19th, 2012, 7:24 pm

The tweets tell it all! But it's like seeing a massive jigsaw puzzle in pieces. Hope someone can put it all together on line

Looks like the Koreans were the highlight (as expected) and Aaron Crow was a talking point for all the wrong reasons

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Joe Pecore » February 19th, 2012, 8:08 pm

Here is a combined Twitter search for Blackpool tweets
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 19th, 2012, 8:31 pm

Yikes, a lot of jibber-jabber.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Pete Biro » February 20th, 2012, 12:47 am

Twitter [censored], Richard.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby mrgoat » February 20th, 2012, 3:35 am

Twitter is going full on slating the gala show. Very funny.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby CraigMitchell » February 20th, 2012, 3:51 am

One thing everyone is certain about is that Yu Ho Jin was the undeniable highlight ...

"I think it's time to start talking about Yu Ho Jin as the
greatest card manipulator of all time. #blackpool2012"

"Yu Ho Jin just provided a 'Marko Karvo at the Palladium' moment. A standing ovation from 3000 people. Worth the trip alone."

"Second gala show was a mixed bag but undeniable highlight was Yu Ho Jin - unbelievable Korean card manipulator. "

"Yu Ho Jin at #blackpoolmagic doesn't get any better than that. Outstanding."

"Yu Ho Jin ovation 2. Captivating & superbly orchestrated magic of the highest standard! #blackpoolmagic best thing I've seen in 21years"

"Yu Ho Jin beyond words #blackpool2012 #blackpoolmagic"

"Yu Ho Jin. OMG! Now that's what I call a flawless manip act. Elegant and masterful in its execution. Bought me to tears "

"Theatre doesn't get much better than Yu Ho Jin #Blackpool2012 #blackpoolmagic"

"Yu Ho Jin just brought me to tears"


See the FISM Asia Grand Prix Champion live at IMX 2012 ;-)

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mrgoat
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby mrgoat » February 20th, 2012, 5:09 am

Indeed. And Ken Dodd appears to be a low-light.

Again.

Along with the bad vent.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » February 20th, 2012, 7:12 am

Russ Stevens got the Murray Award - then proposed on stage.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Ian Kendall » February 20th, 2012, 9:15 am

I just got home. It was a fun convention - seemed better than other years - but the evenings in the Ruskin seems flatter than usual (which might just have been me).

There were some annoying overlaps; I missed Mike Weber's lecture because it clashed with Charlie Frye, and a chunk of the close up because Greg Wilson was still going.

The dealer's hall was same old, same old. Nothing really jumped out at me, although iLogo seemed to be popular.

I'm too tired to comment more right now. But at least we survived.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby IrishMagicNews » February 20th, 2012, 3:42 pm

Not long in.

So pleased to have been in the audience for Yu ho jin performance on Saturday night. It is a strange feeling, as happened to me, when as a grown man, your lip starts to quiver and tears fall from your eyes at the end of a magic act.

It was also beautiful to see how a young man can be so genuinley moved by the adoration of his peers. I think it was a very special moment for everyone there.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby John Archer » February 20th, 2012, 3:51 pm

You were missed Richard, well by me anyway ;-)
A slightly quieter Blackpool, possibly because of the forthcoming FISM.
The stand out highlight for all being Yu Ho Jin I guess.
For me, I loved seeing what Chad Long and Michael Weber had to offer. It was a fun weekend.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Pete Biro » February 20th, 2012, 8:24 pm

Yu Ho Jin will be at IMX in Las Vegas May 21-23... be there.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Matthew Field » February 21st, 2012, 7:18 am

Yu Ho Jin was just great, as was just about all of the Friday "Magic of the Orient" gala show. Highlights for me were Michael Weber, Axel Hecklau, Andy Nyman, Charlie Frye and Garrett Thomas, plus seeing old friends Meir Yedid, Tony Miller, Rosie Rings, Paul Wilson, Eireann Leverett, and Ian Kendall, among others.

"Magic Page by Page" was selling briskly, in part to great reviews in Genii (the on-line version, and thank you Jamy!) and MagicSeen.

I had a great time, but post-convention recovery takes longer the older I get.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 21st, 2012, 10:23 am

I just watch Yu Jo Jin's video on YouTube. He is great, and oddly, he's using one of my sleights right out of my book CardMagic (1979), the JellyRoll Change, for that paddlewheel effect when the color of the card changes and it swirls through his hand.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Dale Shrimpton » February 21st, 2012, 12:20 pm

ive just seen his video too. Simply beautifull work... But lordy he does leave the stage in a mess. :)

I would hate to be the guy clearing up afterwards, because i am guessing you have to pick all of them up. No sweeping it into the corner for somebody else.:grin:

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby IrishMagicNews » February 21st, 2012, 12:31 pm

He stands on a large circular rug while doing the act. I thought it was just for aesthetics but now thinking he has even thought of the clean up.

BTW That Jellyroll Change is cool.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Dale Shrimpton » February 22nd, 2012, 12:05 pm

you know,i have much respect for the guy.
So many manipulators over the years have smothered the stage in tons of crap, taken their bows, and left the mess for the stage hands to deal with.
Clearly he has worked out how to keep the back stage staff happy.Which is always rule one in my book. Always find out what the S.M drinks, and wether they smoke.. :)

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Roger M. » February 22nd, 2012, 12:11 pm

Does anybody happen to have a link to the YouTube performance?

Searching seems only to bring up a Korean actor.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby oskar » February 22nd, 2012, 12:22 pm


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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby mrgoat » February 22nd, 2012, 12:47 pm

Roger M. wrote:Does anybody happen to have a link to the YouTube performance?

Searching seems only to bring up a Korean actor.


Here ya go

http://bit.ly/xnfD5K

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby IrishMagicNews » February 22nd, 2012, 12:52 pm

LMGTFY is a beautiful thing lol.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Doomo » February 22nd, 2012, 9:23 pm

It was great seeing Matt Field. Lots of others that I had never met...But had talked with many times...

I was a dealer so I only saw the one room. But it was great seeing the Page Family. And Pats wallet. That has a bit more resonance with me than perhaps any other prop.

Lots of gossip... But not for public consumption.

Wow... The Brits can really drink!
RFA Productions yeah... It is cool stuff.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Meir Yedid » February 24th, 2012, 12:09 am

Being a close-up enthusiast a highlight was watching Yoo Hyun Min perform live. I pick him to win FISM close-up this year. What he does is much more impressive live -- but for a sampling you can watch him on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMnga8cDcfI

This is not the act he performed at Blackpool but the techniques and plots he used were similar. Most European magicians are expecting Yann Frisch to win but I have always been a contrarian.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Paul Gordon » February 24th, 2012, 12:13 am

Yu Jo Jin was on the bill at Monte Carlo All Stars a few years ago when i was lecturing there. My wife took a photo of, literally, 500 dropped jaws. Funny. What a nice guy, too. The Korean 'party' told us that they worked 24/7 to perfect their act but had struggled with 'character' and so on. They admired the western approach to character, emotion and humour. Well, i think they've licked that, too. :)

As for Blackpool, we did very well in the dealer hall (total 30 hours non stop energetic demming is getting harder these days)...but it was quieter than usual. Pending FISM? Recession? Both?

Highlight for me was the charming welcome from our hotel landlady who said (with a grunt) as we arrived after a 6-hour drive; and as we struggled to find the doorbell, "Don't they have doorbells in your town? Look it's there. Ring it in future!"

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 24th, 2012, 12:48 am

The locals in Blackpool are graced with such endless charm.
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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Q. Kumber » February 27th, 2012, 10:38 am

Charlie Frye was another highlight of the weekend, doing a terrific spot on the Saturday night show. I think he too would have received a standing ovation if the MC, Jimmy Tamley hadn't stepped in on his applause.

For me it was a great weekend, seventeen lectures, two competitions, three close-up shows, 120 dealers and three gala shows plus sessioning in The Ruskin.

There are reviews at Duncan Trillo's www.magicweek.co.uk

I also noticed that on the registration form for next year you are invited to name any acts you would like to see at the 2013 convention.

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Tim Ellis » March 1st, 2012, 12:47 am

Charlie certainly got a standing O at FISM Asia - I know - I had to follow him!

I agree with Meir re Yoo Hyun Min, if he doesn't take out Card Magic I'll be shocked.

The Korean approach of 24/7 practice is astonishing. I just got back from Seoul where I did a spot on Lee Eun Gyeol's TV show... a 60 min spot!

Eun Gyeol has been FILLING an 800 seat+ theatre twice a day for the last 4 weeks with a show which is (dare I say) better than Copperfield's.

On his one day off he films his TV show then, at midnight when filming is over, he does a radio show from 12-2am!

There is a certain work ethic in Korea that makes even the most dedicated magicians feel shockingly inadequate

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Re: Blackpool updates

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 1st, 2012, 11:09 am

We do have lives, though.
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