SAMS Convention, May 1st - 3rd 2015
Posted: May 4th, 2015, 6:17 am
It is with disappointment that I review the Scottish Association of Magical Societies (SAMS) Convention, 2015 (Perth, May 1st – 3rd).
It is a shocking indictment of the SAMS organisers that the convention was as poorly organised, attended and executed as it was. That said, the blame does not fall solely at their feet, with the apathy of the Scottish magic circles being blatantly obvious over the course of the weekend also.
From the incredibly low standards set in the various competitions (close-up, stage and kids), to the diverse level of (in)competency in some of the lectures, to the embarrassment of a gala show, to the twice re-scheduling of some performers acts; there was one disappointingly sad moment after another.
This is not to say the weekend was an entire waste of time – several performers did their respective societies (and their country) proud and my hat comes off to you, gentlemen. One of the saving graces was Doc Eason who not only performed wonderfully in his lecture and close-up session, but was highly professional and personable throughout the weekend, taking his time to talk with all attendees and share stories. But the fact that this attendee overheard several people apologise to him / commend him on managing to sit though the various performances, gives a real reflection of the weekend as a whole.
The aforementioned performer mentioned during one of his shows that looking out to the audience there seemed to be only three family names filling the seats. This is what SAMS has come to – it appears to be incestuously created by a certain group of people, for a certain group of people. If you’re not in, then you’re out, and far from being made to feel welcome it was apparent that several people were made to feel distinctly the opposite over the course of the weekend.
It does appear this lack of ambition shown by SAMS is endemic in the various Scottish magical societies too. My plea- If you’re a local club, use your wisdom and experience (there does seem to be a lot) to start supporting and mentoring your younger members in the art of magic – don’t let them embarrass themselves on a stage that they have no right to be on having not been given the guidance they need. If you’re billing yourself as a professional magician, for god’s sake know your limits, have some respect for your craft and for your peers around you. And if you’re on the SAMS committee please take note - that there’s a reason that SAMS attendance is declining, that there’s a severe waning of interest, and why this writer will not be attending one of your events again.
There is a lot of hard work that goes into producing any event on this scale and I recognise that many people have put much time and effort into this past weekend. However, you have a lot of work ahead of you and I really don’t envy the task you have at hand.
It is this writer’s prediction that the SAMS will be no more in as little as 10 years’ time – at least, not in its current form. It seems to be rooted 20 years in the past and I’d urge the members of the various affiliated Scottish members to push yourselves forward, and not to settle for this sub-standard embarrassment any longer. Scotland has a myriad of fantastic close-up performers, parlour entertainers and story-tellers. I encourage the committee members to reach out past your “inner circle” and use the talent local to Scotland in your future conventions. If you do this I’m confident your convention will start to edge its way forward into the 21st century.
It is a shocking indictment of the SAMS organisers that the convention was as poorly organised, attended and executed as it was. That said, the blame does not fall solely at their feet, with the apathy of the Scottish magic circles being blatantly obvious over the course of the weekend also.
From the incredibly low standards set in the various competitions (close-up, stage and kids), to the diverse level of (in)competency in some of the lectures, to the embarrassment of a gala show, to the twice re-scheduling of some performers acts; there was one disappointingly sad moment after another.
This is not to say the weekend was an entire waste of time – several performers did their respective societies (and their country) proud and my hat comes off to you, gentlemen. One of the saving graces was Doc Eason who not only performed wonderfully in his lecture and close-up session, but was highly professional and personable throughout the weekend, taking his time to talk with all attendees and share stories. But the fact that this attendee overheard several people apologise to him / commend him on managing to sit though the various performances, gives a real reflection of the weekend as a whole.
The aforementioned performer mentioned during one of his shows that looking out to the audience there seemed to be only three family names filling the seats. This is what SAMS has come to – it appears to be incestuously created by a certain group of people, for a certain group of people. If you’re not in, then you’re out, and far from being made to feel welcome it was apparent that several people were made to feel distinctly the opposite over the course of the weekend.
It does appear this lack of ambition shown by SAMS is endemic in the various Scottish magical societies too. My plea- If you’re a local club, use your wisdom and experience (there does seem to be a lot) to start supporting and mentoring your younger members in the art of magic – don’t let them embarrass themselves on a stage that they have no right to be on having not been given the guidance they need. If you’re billing yourself as a professional magician, for god’s sake know your limits, have some respect for your craft and for your peers around you. And if you’re on the SAMS committee please take note - that there’s a reason that SAMS attendance is declining, that there’s a severe waning of interest, and why this writer will not be attending one of your events again.
There is a lot of hard work that goes into producing any event on this scale and I recognise that many people have put much time and effort into this past weekend. However, you have a lot of work ahead of you and I really don’t envy the task you have at hand.
It is this writer’s prediction that the SAMS will be no more in as little as 10 years’ time – at least, not in its current form. It seems to be rooted 20 years in the past and I’d urge the members of the various affiliated Scottish members to push yourselves forward, and not to settle for this sub-standard embarrassment any longer. Scotland has a myriad of fantastic close-up performers, parlour entertainers and story-tellers. I encourage the committee members to reach out past your “inner circle” and use the talent local to Scotland in your future conventions. If you do this I’m confident your convention will start to edge its way forward into the 21st century.