Hold On! Second Genii Convention Coming in Oct. 2015

[Richard Kaufman]

I said it wouldn't happen, but the Genii grants all wishes—sometimes even my own. Thus I am pleased (thrilled, actually) to announce that you should put a check mark on your calendar for October 2015 for Genii: The Conjurors' Convention, to be held in the same wonderful venue, The Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida. I have been extraordinary fortunate to enlist the duo of Andi Gladwin and Joshua Jay—organizers of both The Session in the U.K. and the Columbus Magi-Fest in Ohio—to do the heavy lifting with their expertise in putting on successful conventions. This will allow us to bring you a great, not-to-be-missed Genii convention without killing myself in the process (and without my lovely wife divorcing me). So put a big check on your calendar and mark off October 2015 when the three of us will bring you another never-to-be-forgotten event.

[Ian Kendall]

[Dustin Stinett]

So apparently there are "chances" in hell, because I recall someone answering that question with, "Not a chance in hell."
And...
...Hell has reached 32 degrees.
...Wonders have ceased.
...Pigs are flying.

And what are those flying out of my arse? Why I do believe that they are angels!

And October 2015 has been checked.

[mrgoat]

Woop Woop! Brilliant news!

[PickaCard]

My wife thanks you Richard... I can no longer blame her for making me miss the one and only Genii convention (long story).

I have marked my calendar. When can we register?

Also, could you tell me how young was the youngest attendee last Genii convention? I am wondering if my son who will be almost 7 by October 2015 will be too young to enjoy this.

Thanks for making this happen.

[AJM]

Remind me to pick up a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates for Mrs AJM on the way home this evening...

[Steve Bryant]

Whoa! A Magi-fest, a MAGIC Live!, AND a Genii bash in the same year! Awesome.

[Bill Wells]

So apparently there are "chances" in hell, because I recall someone answering that question with, "Not a chance in hell."
And...
...Hell has reached 32 degrees.
...Wonders have ceased.
...Pigs are flying.

And what are those flying out of my arse? Why I do believe that they are angels!

And October 2015 has been checked.

Dustin -

I was also a witness to that most definitive statement - I recall as well something along the lines of "I always wanted to present exactly the kind of convention I would want to go to - now I have done it and I don't need to do it again!"

I tried to warn him that it is an addictive drug !

"The most difficult part of attaining perfection is finding something to do for an encore." ~Author Unknown

[Dustin Stinett]

Whoa! A Magi-fest, a MAGIC Live!, AND a Genii bash in the same year! Awesome.

And FISM as well (and of course the IBM and SAM national events).
It'll be a big year! It reminds me of the old days when this kind of thing was pretty common and the late-summer and fall issues of Genii (all dated spring months of course) would be filled with Bill Larsen's convention coverage.

[CraigOusterling]

Just last week I was planning a vacation with my wife for October 2015 to go see the new Fantasyland and Harry Potter attractions at the Florida theme parks.

I'll have to add going to the 2nd Genii bash to the the vacation list!

[Rick Ruhl]

I live in Tampa now , let me know if I can help you.. Orlando is only an hour away.

[Doug Thornton]

What the WHAT?!?! (Thank you, Tina Fey.) This is exciting news. Genii: The Conjurors' Convention...Can we still call it the Genii Bash?

[Richard Kaufman]

Not the "Genii Bash" this time. That was a 75th birthday party.
New title ... coming soon.

[Larry Horowitz]

A Genii grants three wishes.

If the Genii Bash was our first.

Shouldn't we call this next event, The Second Wish.

[brianarudolph]

If another Genii-sponsored convention is our second wish, let's make our third wish for another 10 wishes - and guess what the 10th wish will be? Yes, we could wish for infinite wishes, but why be greedy? (At least all at once?)

The entire month of OCTOBER 2015 has just been blocked out on my calendar.

Thank you Richard! And Andi! And Josh!

[Steve Bryant]

Too soon! I still haven't gone through all the swag from the previous Genii party.

[Richard Kaufman]

Steve, do you know anyone who has gone through all the swag in our giftbag? As far as I can tell, no one but me.

This time the swag will be more manageable all the way around.

[Dustin Stinett]

This time the swag will be more manageable all the way around.

My brain and back—as well as those of the Swag Bag Team—thank you.

[Bill Mullins]

Who do we want to appear?

(I've made my suggestion already . . .)

[Robert Meisch]

This is very exciting! I could not attend the first one but have marked the calendar.
Any more specifics on When in October?


Also, Could this be the debut party for Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy?

That would be too cool but another Genii convention is awesome enough by itself.

-Robert

[PapaG]

Also, Could this be the debut party for Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy?
-Robert

I like your thinking.

[Ian Kendall]

I've been through about 90% of my swag bag. Some of the DVDs are yet to be watched.

[Greg Edmonds]

That is great news!

Richard, do you have any idea of dates yet? Also, what might a dealer's table rate be?

We missed the last "bash" because of my undergoing surgery at the same time; I'd love to make this one!

Thanks,

Greg

[Richard Kaufman]

Have to sign a contract with the hotel before dates are announced. But I always take a vacation in Japan in the second half of October, and I don't expect that to change in 2015.

We will announce all the details in good time. The Genii asks all to please be patient.

[Richard Kaufman]

Debut for "Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy"? Not a bad idea.

[PapaG]

....and 'Tough' - you are writing them simultaneously, right?

[MagiChrisMitch]

Any idea on specific dates?

[Richard Kaufman]

Please reread my last post.

As far as Jennings, I am not writing the books simultaneously. "EZ" has been 99% written for several years. Only about 150 page of "Tough" have been written.

[Larry Horowitz]

At the next event could Breakfast with Ian Kendall be scheduled for lunch?

[PapaG]

As far as Jennings, I am not writing the books simultaneously. "EZ" has been 99% written for several years. Only about 150 page of "Tough" have been written.

Sorry, my mistake. I thought I remembered you saying in an an older post that working on 'Takes It Easy' inevitably leads to work on the 'Jennings Takes It Tough' so it makes sense to do the two together.

[GlennWest]

I hope there's another gift bag! That thing was great fun!

[Evan Shuster]

Yippee!! Count me in!

[Richard Kaufman]

There will never, in the history of magic, be another gift bag like the one we did for the 75th. Never happened before, will never happen again. But you'll get some cool stuff.

[brianarudolph]

While that may very be true, I sure hope I'm around to see what happens for the 100th!

[Bill Marquardt]

I am excited at the news, but certainly the the third bash in 2018 could be held on the West Coast? Or how about giving Reno an economic boost? I know Orlando has a lot to offer but it's a long way to travel for those of us who do not like to fly.

[AJM]

It's a long way to travel for anyone who doesn't live in the United States - and I intend to be there.

Andrew

[Richard Kaufman]

Third? Oy. Let's just think about the second one at this moment. Sorry, Bill.

[Doomo]

I am excited at the news, but certainly the the third bash in 2018 could be held on the West Coast? Or how about giving Reno an economic boost? I know Orlando has a lot to offer but it's a long way to travel for those of us who do not like to fly.

Sorry but there are many west coast magic gatherings already.

[Richard Kaufman]

Bill, I should mention that both times I attended the IBM conventions in Reno I had terrible altitude sickness. Thought someone was drilling into my head!

I've had quite a few friends overcome their fear of flying by taking classes designed to help with that. Or, you can take a scenic trip across the US by Amtrak. There was an article about it not too long ago in either the New York Times or Washington Post. Sounded relaxing and like something I might try. Amtrak goes right to Orlando.

I also have friends who are afraid to fly and just take a tranquilizer a few minutes before boarding the plane. They take their sit, buckle the seatbelt, and fall asleep!

[Dustin Stinett]

I can attest to Richard's problems in Reno.

I love Reno. I wanted to transfer there, but my plans—along with my job—went down in flames.

BUT, the hotel that the Genii Convention is held at is the BEST venue I have ever been at for a magic convention; ever. You exit the elevator right at the convention facilities.

There is an enormous food court, attached to a HUGE shopping mall, steps from the hotel. You never have to go outside if you don't want to.

There are several "hiding places" to go off and session in if that's your thing.

The restaurant inside the hotel is very good (and accommodating: they changed their hours to suit the convention's needs); and it is reasonably priced. The rooms are excellent as well. And there are flight attendants all over the place (wait; did I say that out loud?).

I love airplanes and flying, but hate the business of commercial air transportation. It is like being stuffed into a cattle car, and over-paying for that abuse as well.

Trains are fun. I took Amtrak to Oregon many years ago. The dining car was great. The other travelers were friendlier than those who fly. And after connecting in L.A., I met and spent time with a grifter who immediately noticed my card work. (He subsequently taught me how to do pull through shuffles on a smooth-topped table—and not at the edge of the table.)

After meeting him, we never paid for a meal—and neither did he (in fact, he was paid to eat in the dining car, but that's another story). In that 24 hours, he had three or four different names. You never know who you might encounter on a train!

Bottom line: find a way to get there because it's worth it!

Dustin