The Magicians Alliance of the Eastern States held its 58th annual gathering at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center (formerly the Embers) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on September 8 and 9th. The convention sported its highest number of registrants in the last 10 years, topping out at 204.
Festivities commenced at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, with a dealer's show by the eight registered dealers. After a brief lunch break, Todd Robbins delivered the first lecture of the convention on Side Show Feats. Todd began by reciting a traditional carnival barker spiel, the "Ballyhoo," that lasted 5 minutes on little more than one breath. Todd proceeded to demonstrate classic side show feats, with explanations: Fire eating, the Beartrap, the Bed of Nails, walking on broken glass, eating a light bulb. Todd was explicit in describing the dangers associated with each of the tricks, and was adamant that they should not be attempted without the proper training and precautions.
The next scheduled event was the close-up show, with the audience divided into four groups and 4 performers doing round robin in the room. Simon Lovell performed three card routines, including a four ace routine which culminated in Ambitious Card, to the delight of the audience who reveled in his signature droll humor. Joseph Anthony performed an original act which involved mentalism and board games. One spectator joined him to play "Barrel of Monkeys," linking together plastic monkeys; the number of monkeys linked in the chain matched the prediction number on the bottom of the monkey barrel. Another spectator played Scrabble with tiles drawn at random, and spelled a word that matched another prediction. Four spectators assisted in playing Clue, with Anthony able to divine the murderer, room and weapon to solve the crime. Jeff Ballew dazzled with outstanding card magic, including cutting to the 4 aces by following a spectator's instructions, card transpositions involving a signed card with another of the same color but different suit and different colored back, and finishing with Collectors. Richard Mangiacarne followed, packing an hours' worth of magic into a ten minute routine. His "opener" was a production of a bottle opener and a bottle of beer. Effects also included torn and restored card, a very nice coin and card routine with a copper/silver effect that segued into Matrix, a ring and rope routine, and a cups and balls finale.
The final lecture of the day was presented by Simon Lovell, who kept the audience in stitches while delivering highly detailed and elucidating explanations of his intricate card work, including Brain Reversal, Packed Wallet, Murder Mystery, and Ambitious Card. The lecture concluded to a rousing ovation.
The William H. Endlich Memorial Show was emceed by Todd Robbins. Marc DeSouza opened the show featuring classic manipulation in a series of vignettes with a romantic theme of women and roses. Billiard balls, coins, linking rings and zombie were performed to the delight of the crowd. Todd's spot was next; featuring fire eating, pounding a nail into his nostril, and eating a light bulb, among others. Simon Lovell closed the show with his trademark off-beat hilarity, highlighted by a straight-jacket escape.
After a brief hiatus, a very successful magic auction was held, with Marc DeSouza as auctioneer. Coming in at close to 3 hours, a wide variety of props, including stage illusions, were put on the block, and sold to very tired, but satisfied, individuals.
Saturday kicked off with the Stage Competition at 9:00 a.m. Ten Competitors, including both Jr. and Senior categories, vied for a host of coveted trophies in numerous categories.
The action resumed at 11:30, with our featured event of the convention, a lecture by world renowned magician Mark Wilson. Wilson's lecture featured video tape of his many television appearances, with the focus, of course, on the Magic Land of Allakazam. A new line of instructional video tapes which explain the construction of many of the illusions used on the show provided the basis for the heart of the talk. Liberally sprinkled with anecdotes of a performing career spanning 4 decades, Wilson charmed and entertained as well as instructed. Following the lecture, he graciously met with the audience one-on-one for almost 75 minutes, signing autographs. Everyone was thoroughly enthralled.
Close-up competition followed in short order, with 7 contestants, while the ladies' event, an arts and crafts seminar hosted by Pat Fowler, rounded out the activity list.
After a break for the business meeting and election of officers, the final lecture of the convention was delivered by Denny Haney on the business of magic. Denny deftly described his experience proven methods for deciding on a stage persona, building an act, marketing yourself, working with agents, and every imaginable facet of the performing business.
After the dinner break, the Awards Ceremony was held immediately before the start of the evening show. The awards presented were:
On to the show, the final event of the convention. Emcee Mark Wilson kept everything moving with witty repartee and well timed filler effects. The show was opened by Puck, who performed elegant candle manipulations and Dove magic. Next on the bill, Para-realist Joseph Anthony performed astonishing mental effects, including successfully identifying three cards chosen at random from the audience by spectators, identifying the name of a spectator's "First Crush," finding "Synchronicity" with a married couple in the time set at random on a wrist watch and the time appearing on the bottom of a Magic 8 Ball, and identifying the markings and serial number on a signed dollar bill retained in a sealed envelope in the possession of a spectator for over an hour prior to the show. The next performer was Denny Haney, opening with the Andersen Newspaper Tear and progressing through expert card manipulations, and Houdini's eating razor blades. The final act of the show were the Dreamakers, a husband and wife team who performed very unique and ultra modern illusions.
The evening shows for the convention, open to the public, also sold quite well. Registrations were taken for next year, and the organization looks forward to another successful outing in 2001. For information about lifetime membership in the M.A.E.S., click here, and for information about the 2001 convention, click here.