#magic contests

Keith Fields and his wife, The Lady Sarah, are award-winning performers, each in their own right. They co-chair the Contest Committee for the I.B. M. and also host their own weekly productions of “The Magic Soiree” that features not only their magic, but that of local magicians as well.

As we enter the season of magic conventions, it is not too late to consider preparing an act for competition. This week Keith Fields and Lady Sarah offer great ideas, tips, advice, and perspectives on getting your act together for a contest. Keith also shares ideas from his own award-winning act on the reasons that you should consider competing. Keith and Sarah also perform their own weekly show, “The Magic Soiree” near Detroit, Michigan, and share ideas on how you can find venues to present your act on a regular basis in your own town.

During a recent trip from Houston, Texas, to Michigan, I had the opportunity to sit down for an in-depth conversation with one of magic’s creative thinkers, Sean Bogunia. Although he might be best known to you as the creator of the Ultimate Dancing Hank (in a Bottle), he prefers for that not to be his seminal legacy. He has many other creations to his credit that are in the working repertoires of professional magicians and he has even more that he is working on to bring to the magic community. He is a performer and creator who has consulted with many top magicians.

In this week’s episode, Sean talks about a pivotal moment in his life that led him to follow magic as a full time professional and never look back. He also tells many “behind the scenes” stories about some of his creations and the people he worked with and some of those whom he showed his ideas. A usually quiet and reserved person, Sean opened his heart and soul in this podcast unlike he had ever done before. In fact, he states that this is only the second interview that he has ever given. This episode contains perhaps more stories than any other that we have broadcast. I am certain that you will get a lot out of this week’s “longer than usual” episode.

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Looking for a book to read while under lockdown? How about enjoying the travels and travails of John-Ivan Palmer, son of the late “Master of Deception”, Jack Pyle. In this book, John (aka Jack Junior) reminisces about the post World War II days in the back of the car as they pulled their trailer back and forth across the country in search of the next gig. John talks about the many colorful characters who performed with his late father, Jack Pyle, and his adventures moving from one new school to another.

But the underlying theme of this book “Master of Deception” is John’s search for understanding his father’s undying love and passion of magic. Jack gained some level of fame (however you might describe that word) after being in several newspapers, appearing on television, in a cover article of TOPS Magazine, but most importantly, “earning his bones” on the road by traveling great distances just to keep his family alive and his passion intact.

Ultimately Jack ended his final years in the Chicago land area and communing with friends like Ed Marlo and others in the Chicago Magic Roundtable. He performed in the Magic Castle and later in life found success as a trade show magician during the heydays with Dick Ryan and others. If you would like to take a peek at a “life on the road” from the perspective of a traveling magician of the 1940’s and 50’s era, then you may want to check out this book.

In response to another listener’s request, this week we try to demystify the judging process for the World Championships of Magic, F.I.S.M. To do so, we make a visit with three leading proponents who may hold the keys. First up is Noel Britten, President of The Magic Circle in London, England. He gives great advice on what one should consider before even entering a competition. And from Las Vegas, Nevada, Past National President of the S.A.M. and Contest Chairman, Vinny Grosso, tells us about the preliminaries that one must hurdle to compete in the world championships. Then from Paris, France, Boris Wild, a F.I.S.M. winner himself and current head of the F..I.S.M. jury, sheds some light on the subject.

F.I.S.M. has gone through changes to its judging rules and requirements for competing. In this week’s episode we try to learn what has changed and what contestants should expect the jury (judges) to look for in the competitions. Moreover, the suggestions made by Noel Britten should be required listening for anyone considering entering any magic competition regardless of how far you want to take it.

Shawn Farquhar is indeed a man with a million stories. It is so much fun to sit and chat with Shawn. I know you enjoyed Part One of our chat. This could have easily gone on for many more hours and Parts Three, Four and more. But I will leave your imagination whetted for more engaging conversation when you next meet Shawn.

Leaving the cinema behind, Shawn Farquhar continues with his non-stop stories of competing in contests, working in comedy clubs, performing on cruise ships, traveling the world, being a magic dealer and manufacturer, the I.B.M. and more.