#trigg watson

While at this year’s Magic At The Beach convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, one of the magicians who performed was my friend Trigg Watson. Trigg has performed on America’s Got Talent [sic], Penn & Teller Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, just to mention a few of the television shows where he has appeared. He prefers performing in theaters where he has access to a large stage, a stage crew, and a strong Wi-Fi. He is best known for his avant garde performances employing high tech that is on the leading edge. He finds ways to present new technology in an entertaining way that looks like real magic. Throughout the ages, magicians have been in the forefront of using “modern” technology in their magic acts, but it is getting increasingly more difficult in today’s world with our rapid communication. Everyone is getting “up to speed” much faster than in earlier times.

This week Trigg Watson shares his philosophy behind his act and how he keeps up with modern trends. He also discusses social trends and how media and magic has (and will) change. He always seems to keep his magic “fresh” meaning that he has to keep on the leading edge of technology before the rest of his audience has gotten there.

Monday, May 16, 2022

9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Registration open

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - General Session for YELLOW lanyard

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Focus Sessions for GREEN lanyards

Talk About Tricks: Very Best of by Joshua Jay

A Perilous Tightrope by Christopher T. Magician

Rediscovering Wonder with Michael Weber

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - The Magic Shop (Dealers) Open

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Focus Session for GREEN Lanyards

12:30 - 1:40 p.m. The Close-up Experience

2:15 - 4:15 p.m. General Session for GREEN Lanyards

2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Focus Session for YELLOW Lanyards

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Focus Session for YELLOW Lanyards

LIVE Tonight!

Documentary Live 70 minutes: 6:00, 8:00, 10:30 p.m.

The Close-Up Experience 70 minutes: 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 p.m.

In Concert: The Historie of Magic 60 minutes: 6:00 7:45 9:45 p.m.

Time stamps for this episode: Time stamps will be posted after I get some sleep

00:00:16 - Trigg Watson and Matthew O’Niell

Diamond Jim Tyler

Joseph Daniels

Chris Philpott

Ben Dentika

Earl Chaney

Several magicians have wanted to or tried to create their own one-man show. Few have succeeded in our community and even fewer have had “legs” that allowed them to continue their shows on an ongoing basis. Of course one of the key ingredients is to live in a metropolitan area with high traffic from local patrons as well as tourists. So, for example, it would be harder to sustain a long-running show in Wichita Falls, Texas as it would be in New York City. Next…you must have talent, patience, fortitude, and…well, you need to listen to this week’s episode to find the “secret sauce” that Ben Jackson uses to create a market for his truly unique brand of magic.

In this episode, Ben talks about entering and winning several magic competitions (including F.I.S.M.), performing on the NBC Today Show with David Copperfield, working and consulting for television and movie projects, plus other corporate work. But Ben also shares how he has developed his successful one-man magic show that has run for over five years in Houston.

Imagine yourself, you are having a challenging week at work, bae is not acting right, seems like you have more month than money, you feel fat, you miss your family… you are just in a bad mood! Well, this was my exact situation! I was in a serious funk and didn’t know what to do!

I was invited to check out Trigg’s Wine and Magic and excitedly I agreed. The day finally came and I almost backed out because of the funk I was in. My date got sick so I was alone to experience Trigg’s show!

I head to this place called Checkered Past Winery in this cute area Downtown Dallas. I entered and immediately fell in love. You walk down these stairs and it is a cute and cozy wine bar. I will be back! I ordered the Froze and it was AMAZING! 

Fast forward, I was seated in the front front front… I was nervous! I was like, magic and me in the front, oh my! Trigg begins his show with WINE… and if only I knew how to magically make wine appear, I wouldn’t be in such a funk so often 🙂

Let me tell you, watching magic shows on tv and in person with front row action, are totally different experiences, I was floored… my jaw literally hit the floor at least 10 times. The way he incorporated technology (IPAD, cameras etc) in with his tricks created these dope illusions. He brought up random people from the audience to participate and it was so engaging! Bringing people on stage allowed Trigg to connect with EVERYONE making it the most unique experience I have ever had.

PLEASE NOTE: You will laugh your butt off! I thought I was only getting wine and magic but a comedy show as well! Who would have thought! Trigg is a very funny guy, the humor he uses amplifies the magic. Within the first 5 minutes… my funk MAGICALLY disappeared! Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the magic but I know for sure… laughter is great medicine.

If you are looking for a great evening alone, with your bae, your boys or your girls! This is definitely something worth checking out! HOWEVER!!!!

There are only two more dates here in Dallas! June 9th and July 14th with LIMITED seating! Only 45 people per show! Find out more about Trigg and his Wine and Magic Show!

On the third day, magicians created more magical moments. More stage competitions and the last of the close-up contests. That means tomorrow, I'll get to attend some lectures since there will not be any afternoon close-up contests to watch. 

But today, between contests, we talked with friends and made new ones as I chatted with some of the talent from the gala shows plus a perspective from a competitor. We also chat with the new SAM National President, Dave Bowers. 

the evening broke up the registrants into two groups. While one was at the Close-Up Gala, the other attended the "White Dinner" where everyone was encouraged to wear at least one white item, whether a white scarf, pants, Hat or carnation. The performers in the Close-Up Gala included: the Fat Brothers, Guy Hollingworth, David Williamson, Eugene Burger, and Armando Lucero with David Stone as the Master of Ceremonies.

the midnight show was actually a lecture by Dan Sperry on "the dark side of magic" And the midnight bar session featured Luke Jermay, Tony Montana and Juan Tamariz.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:01:33 - Dave Bowers, National President of the Society of American Magician

00:05:28 - Trigg Watson

00:12:08 - David Kaye, aka Silly Billy

00:23:03 - Topas

00:36:05 - "Mecki" Ludwig Gantner and Peter Pudill, from Vienna, Austria