Message from the President

CONVENTION TIME !!!

Magic — fun — and more magic.

Welcome to Fort Worth from Fort Worth!

     The count down is on, but we aren’t slowing down as we prepare to see you at the 69th Annual TAOM Convention. As of this writing, most of the room block has been taken, but we can always squeeze you in.

     With an array of AWARD WINNING PERFORMERS for both STAGE and CLOSE-UP, the performances and lectures will be stellar. Most notable of the selection is that most are full-time professionals that do not generally make the convention rounds, but instead, these pros work day to day for the paying public. Are you ready to add to your REAL WORLD working repertoire with REAL WORLD MAGIC!!!!!

     In addition to OVER 20 PERFORMERS, NEW DEALERS, NEW BOOKS, NEW ROUTINES and NEW LECTURES which will be introduced at the TAOM, we have some wonderful SIGNATURE PIECES you will not want to miss. Master Payne’s PowerPoint Presentations (2), Dana Daniel’s Magic Castle Lecture AND Stage Act, Kevin James’ and his talented lunatics, and Dr. Steven Bedwell’s Gold Cups presence. Topping this list will be Max Howard’s The War Wizard and his incomparable How Checkers Were Made.

     To fully experience the convention, you will also need to go outside the confines of the hotel walls. Door to door service for two evening shows at CASA MANANA (I am told Hardeen may have performed here), exploring the new SUNDANCE SQUARE, and experiencing the ESPN experience on Friday. In conjunction with the convention, a few of our registrants will have the unique pleasure of leaving the convention to become guests of Arthur Moses. Arthur is one of the premier Houdini experts in the country and this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a select few.

     Unique experiences will also be found. Syd Beckman will bring his collection of MINIATURE ILLUSIONS and kids 7-12 will have the opportunity to experience the TAOM 2014 MAGIC CAMP with all the benefits of the convention, plus t-shirts, tricks, lectures, performing and autograph opportunities just for them. There will also be a display of the beloved creations of Doug Wilson, with an opportunity for a couple attendees to leave with the last of his hand carved creations.

     There is still so much more I would love to tell you, but to experience the TAOM you must register. Prices will go up on the first day of the convention.

     It has been a pleasure serving as your TAOM 2014 President, and I wish to thank the Magic Posse in Fort Worth for creating an amazing convention experience, these last months have been wonderful working with you.

                                                                                 Bill Irwin
2014 President

What a Line-up!

COLLECTORS AND FANS WILL LOVE THE SURPRISES !!!

NOW CONFIRMED!! Claude Crowe and the Collectors will share the history of Magic in the Collectors’ event.
Collectors will also have the pleasure of seeing the Miniatures Exhibit, as well as receiving a DVD of over 750 images from 10 years of TAOM performances. To top that, we honor our own historical encyclopedia, Arthur Emerson, and attendees will get additional historically significant gifts created JUST FOR 2014.

Come see miniature, magical marvels.

This is a performance, a lecture, some history and an exhibition of some of the finest miniature illusions created by master craftsmen from the United States, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.These fine illusions are rarely, if ever, seen at a traditional magic convention. You will be astounded at some of these mechanical marvels. See a chair that can perform predictions – and it’s only four inches tall. See swords penetrate solid glass – and they are only three inches long. See a tall solid clear cylinder filled with water; no way out – top, bottom or sides and yet the contents completely disappear. See solid cubes magically penetrate solid steel blades. The blades – only an inch wide. See a ghost magically move a die to the spectator’s chosen number – with no cover of any kind.

Syd Beckman has been collecting magic for over twenty years and has been crafting magic for about eight years. He specializes in creating high-end tricks and magic wands in the form of writing implements. In 2002 he won first place in close-up at TAOM for his performance of a miniature illusion show. He crafted each illusion by hand.

Midnight Madness…..
returns (but earlier than midnight), and will feature performers not seen during the rest of the convention — all adding more fun and magic to a convention with more acts, more lectures, more GIFTS and more EXTRA events.

Convention Schedule — Want to know what’s happening when?? Click here for the schedule.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

1. CASA MANANA is a beautiful theater and the location of the Saturday and Sunday Night Shows.

2. No need to DRIVE! WE have a short ride arranged for you to the theater. Curb to Curb service.

3. Magic Camp still has a couple spaces left! This is only available to our young kids 7-12. Nothing additional is needed: Campers get everything a regular registration allows PLUS events only for them, a chance to perform with other kids, t-shirts, and a bag of tricks.

4. ESPN and Sundance Square have invited YOU to attend their special events on Friday and Saturday….Are you coming in early, the events start NOON Friday to 6 and you can join the PARTY!! More to come!!

5. Saturday and Sunday Evening performance tickets for friends and family can be purchased NOW. Go to CASAMANANA.ORG (make sure you use org), select TICKETS and Special Events to order through Ticket Master. As readers of MAT, here are two discount codes that will be used over the next couple weeks ‘ABRA’ and ‘MAGIC’. The sooner you order, the higher the discount.

But Wait… There’s More!

KEVIN JAMES – Kevin’s style of performance is anything but conventional. His unique comedy and magic has gained him a reputation as a world-class visual artist. His fresh approach has allowed him to headline in some of the world’s top showrooms and theatres. He has performed on television in 89 countries. Some of his past performances include starring at the Crazy Horse in Paris, a Royal Command Performance for the Prince of Monaco, headlining in Splash at the Riveria in Las Vegas, Caesar’s Palace, Tropicana and Bally’s just to name a few. Recently he did a Command Performance at the White House.

DAVE CHANDLER

Classy, smooth, and amazing! This is how many people have  described Dave Chandler’s award winning manipulation act. Imagine stepping back to the big band sound and the golden age of Vaudeville when some of the greatest magicians in history emerged. Dave’s act Uncommonly Classic will h fit right in.

WHO ELSE WILL BE THERE??

Derek Kennedy will introduce you to the man, the
magician, and the history of Arthur Emerson FRIDAY NIGHT’S GUEST OF HONOR

DR. STEVEN BEDWELL

IBM Gold Cups Award of Excellence, Author, Inventor, Speaker, MD, and Corporate Entertainer.

Steven’s clients include IBM, HBO, MPI, IKON, Alcon, and the rest of the Fortune 500. You have seen his products coming back into the market, and NOW Dr. Steven Bedwell will make a rare appearance at the TAOM 2014 Convention.

AND MANY, MANY MORE — TOO MANY TO MENTION! Take a scroll through the TAOM website for information about so much more!

PLUS…
FREE LECTURE TO TAKE HOME! That’s right — in January of 2013 a lecture was recorded that captured history you will want to see. And it will be yours FREE!

But wait… there’s still more!
Your convention experience will begin with an unbelievably limited collection of souvenirs that are only available for 2014 registrants.

Monday Morning Gems by Diamond Jim

DJT has performed magic professionally since 1986. He specializes in close-up and stand-up magic. He’s written many books, published several DVDs and marketed dozens of effects. He is a regular guest star on Scam School. He’s entertained for such celebrities as Katy Perry, John Mayer, Scarlett Johansson and opened for Jay Leno. He’s played The Magic Circle in London twice and several times at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. DJT has toured the globe and performed in 44 of the states plus 21 other countries. Attend his lecture and you will see why.

All in attendance will get a FREE gift valued at $20.

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August 29 – September 1, Fort Worth – TAOM Convention For details, go to www.taom.org Don’t miss it!

September 18, Austin – John Carney Lecture. 7:15 at IHOP, 1101 S. MoPac Expressway.

September 25, San Antonio – Dan Fleshman Lecture. Contact Doug Gorman at douggorman@att.net for details.

Second Saturday Magic Sale at Magic, Etc., 9:00 a.m., Forest Park Blvd. at I-30 in Fort Worth.

Monday Night Magic, The Humperdink’s Restaurant at Six Flags of Arlington, La Quinta Inn & Suites, 6 North Six Flags Drive in Arlington. All magic aficionados are invited to attend these informal gatherings that meet in the back meeting room each Monday evening. Bring your cards and props and practice your “chops”!

Comedy and Magic for All Ages at the Arlington Improv every Sunday at 2:00. This show is designed to have you in awe no matter your age! With a combination of comedy and magic, the FUN doesn’t stop. Go to http://arlington.improv.com/ for more details or call 817-635-5555.

Magic at the Houston Improv – Magical entertainers Ted Schwank and Carter Blackburn take you on a high-energy adventure of magic, illusion, and comedy. Details at http://www.improvhouston.com

The South Austin Card Group meets on the last Saturday of each month, usually at the home of Ron Cartlidge. Get in touch with Lou Hornung at lhurnung@sbcglobal.net for details and to be added to the meeting notice distribution list.

Bronson Chadwick’s Magic Dinner Theatre plays every Saturday night at Jorge’s Mexican Cafe in Midland, with shows at 6 and 8 p.m. For details and tickets, go to http://www.bronsonchadwick.com/tickets.html

Scott Hollingsworth was honored by Houston IBM members on August 25, 2014, when they voted overwhelmingly to re-name IBM Ring 39  “The Scott Hollingsworth Ring”.  Several members talked about the difference Scott had made in their magic careers and in their lives.  Guest lecturer Ben Jackson recounted the ten most important magic guidelines he learned from Scott.

Club President Dick Olson said it was a fitting recognition of the vast contributions Scott has made over many years to promote magic worldwide as well as his unending support and work with all of Houston’s magic clubs.

Geneva Foerster, wife of TAOM Past President Ken Foerster, passed away on July 29. Geneva was a cheery soul who pitched in to help any time she was called on. Despite being confined to a wheel chair, she was actively involved the the Corpus Christi magic scene for many years. She will be missed.

Past President and long time member of The Fort Worth Magicians Club, Luther P. Adkins died on August 13, 2014. He was the senior vice president of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 1965 to 1992 when he officially retired. He had a vast career in newspaper/radio/television broadcasting that spanned his entire life. He had a great voice and presence when he performed magic. He was 87 years old.

Joanie Spina, former lead dancer, choreographer, and artistic director for David Copperfield, died August 17 in Houston while awaiting transplant surgery.

Needless to say, I am over-the-moon happy and pleased about the honor bestowed on my husband, Scott Hollingsworth, by the members of Houston IBM 39.  To have a magic club named in one’s honor is truly an accolade that few deserve and fewer receive.  I believe the officers and membership did their due diligence in confirming that this name change was well-deserved and timely.  So often, recognition of this sort comes when it’s too late for the honoree to know that his peers held him in such high esteem.
From a purely personal standpoint, I can confirm that magic is Scott’s life.  He eats, sleeps, and dreams about ways to improve his own performances and how to advance the art of magic in all his endeavors.
Here’s an example:  earlier this month, we drove to McAllen where I made a pitch for TAOM convention attendance and Scott gave a free lecture to one of the largest crowds IBM Ring 269 has enjoyed in quite some time.  The next day we were in Corpus Christi for the monthly show, meeting, and workshop for IBM Ring 157.  Scott was recently elected president of that club and has worked hard to help it grow.
We will be in Fort Worth and look forward to seeing YOU there!  I’d love to talk to you.

Judy Hollingsworth
TAOM Club Coordinator