July 2014

Oh, boy! Oh, boy!  Anticipation grows…  Excitement builds… Tension mounts…  It’s just a little over a month until FABULOUS TAOM 2014!  The terrific lineup of performers continues to grow.  Contestants are expected from Japan, Singapore, and California — but there’s still room for more.  Come on, Texans!  Deadline to register for the contest is August 14.  Contact Ash Adams, Contest Chairman, contest@taom2014.com . Kids’ Magic Camp is a must for the younger crowd.  (See last month’s Magic Across Texas or email president@taom.org for details).

The deadline is fast approaching to secure your hotel room at the unbelievable rate of $100.00 per night at the luxurious Fort Worth Worthington Renaissance Hotel.  That rate is not guaranteed after August 7.  Make your reservations NOW.  800-433-5677

I cannot imagine the regret you’ll feel if you miss this convention!

Bill Irwin
2013 President

ASSEMBLE THESE INGREDIENTS FOR A SUPER SERVING OF FUN AND MAGIC:

AWARD WINNING PARLOUR, CLOSE-UP AND STAGE MAGIC

• Gold Cups Winner Dr. STEVEN BEDWELL
• Emmy Winner MAX HOWARD
• P.C.A.M Grand Prix Winner, Most Original, and Parlour Magician of the Year (and you saw him on AGT) KEVIN JAMES
• FISM Award Winner SONNY FONTANA
• AMA Comedy and Stage Magician of the Year, Two Time Magic Castle Parlour Magician of the Year DANA DANIELS
• P.C.A.M Pro Challenge and Hugo Award Winner MASTER PAYNE
• 2014 Battle of Magicians Winner DAVE CHANDLER

ADD SPICE AND VARIETY:

• Over 15 more performers for Professional Stage and Close-up Shows that we can announce. (a few surprises still remain)
• Some of the best FULL TIME performers in the country. Working material from working magicians!
• Street, Restaurant, Vaudeville, and Theater are all represented.

You can travel to Boston, Washington State, Arizona, Florida, California and North Carolina to see these acts or REGISTER NOW FOR TAOM!

MIX IT ALL TOGETHER WITH THESE ADDED ATTRACTIONS:

• Magic Camp – will take your kid and jump start his/her magic! No boring lecture or sitting next to you while you figure out that new card trick. Campers will have their own events, receive new magic tricks, and perform for their peers (and possibly on the Sunday night show)! And, most important of all, make new friends in Magic.
• Houdini Tour – for the historian or collector, this is a one-time offer to see one of the best collections in magic. In addition, you get to ask one of the leading Houdini historians those questions you still have about one of the most amazing characters in the world.
• Doug Wilson Memorial display of some of the most interesting hand carved wands and canes you will ever see. Doug passed away shortly after the Dallas convention, but has left a gift of wonder for you to see. There will also be one beautiful piece of art that he created just for the 2014 convention.
• Sundance Square – New stores, restaurants, theaters, and an entertainment square have been completed in the last year which offer a wonderful opportunity to walk around downtown and see fountains, art and more restaurants than you can count. To make this more interesting you can SHOW YOUR CONVENTION BADGE and receive discounts or free items from restaurants and retailers! Right now the list has 30 restaurants and retail stores for you to present your TAOM Badge.
• MIDNIGHT MADNESS is back, with Klause protégé Dan Strange and a cast of performers we CAN’T announce, but CAN tell you this will be a highlight.
• THE FRIDAY NIGHT RECEPTION – brings back the amazing ARTHUR EMERSON, with special gifts for our registrants ONLY!
• THE WAR WIZARD will also be presented for possibly one of the last performances. The performance will also throw a spotlight on a NEW BOOK that will be introduced at the convention.
• Collectors’, as well as our general registrants will love this. We are working out arrangements to have a very special ‘miniature illusions’ display.

       THERE — You have created the perfect magic convention.

       BUT WAIT… THERE’S STILL MORE

• Evening shows will be in the beautiful Casa Manana Theater
• Dealers, Contests, and all the other stuff you have come to expect.
• The community has also been engaged, and you will be invited to participate in events benefiting Cook Children’s Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER! Save $25.00 per person by registering before August 28.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

1. Hotel Reservations need to be made before August 7 to get the $100 a night rate! the hotel registration page. A link is available from the HOTEL tab on the TAOM2014.com site or you can jump to TAOM 2014 from the TAOM.org site. You say you don’t want to reserve your room online?? Call Glenn Nance at 817-882-1628 and he can assist you with your reservations.
2. Want to get tickets for the Saturday and Sunday night shows! www.casamanana.orgis your site for tickets (use the discount code ‘magic’ when you are directed to order in TicketMaster). Tickets may also be purchased from the box office at 817-332-2272, or if you need assistance
3. I KNOW, I KNOW — YOU DON’T DO FACEBOOK. At least that is what I hear from many of you, but check out TAOM CONVENTION and you will get more information.
4. HOUDINI tour seats may still be available if you send me an e-mail at president@taom2014.org with the word ‘HOUDINI’ in the subject line. (you can also use this for sponsorship or advertising information.
5. Registration is easy on-line and you can go to the TAOM.org site (you need to do this anyway to see what is going on in the TAOM), and select the TAOM 2014 tab.
6. If you have questions about registration or you don’t want to register on-line, contact Geoff at 972-740-3125 (non-texting) and he will help. (if you want to send an e-mail, use registration@taom.org)

Deadline is August 1 for souvenir program advertising. Please support Fort Worth by inserting your ad in this ground-breaking edition of TAOM programs. With your paid program ad, you will get this bonus:

BONUS! Send a 30 second or less video to program@taom2014.com and copy president@taom.org and, at no additional cost, YOUR VIDEO MESSAGE can be part of the Souvenir Program. (It’s like Harry Potter…)

Advertising Specifications

1. All ads must be photo-ready. All copy must be acceptable for publication.

2. Original advertising will be returned only by prior agreement.

3. Inclusion and placement of all advertising will be the sole discretion of the Program Chairman.

4. Each advertiser will receive one (1) complimentary copy of the printed program. Advertisers may not reproduce or use any portion of the program, with the exception of their own advertisement, without consent of the Program Chairman.

5. Advertising copy and payment should be sent to the Program Chairman no later than July 15, 2014. (Any later requires consent of Program Chairman) Program@taom.org

6. Advertising rates are as follows:

Personal notes <= 15 words (well wishes to Honoree, etc) $25.00*

Full Page: $ 175.00*

½ Page : $ 125.00*

¼ Page : $ 85.00*

1/8 Page : $ 45.00*

Back Page: $ 225.00 * (first offer to next years’ convention)

Inside Back Page: $200.00*

Inside Front Cover: $200.00*

7. Make payment to TAOM 2014 and mail to TAOM 2014, PO Box 211127, Dallas, Texas 75211. PayPal may also be used –  treasurertaom2014@gmail.com (please copy a note to president@taom.org and program@taom.org to expect payment either way for confirmation of receipt).

July 26 – Austin – Kent Cummins’ One-Day Magic Workshop as part of the University of Texas informal classes at the Thompson Conference Center. Details at www.informalclasses.org

July 26 – August 1 – Galveston – Curt Miller Magic & Comedy Show at Moody Gardens. Go to www.MagicComedyShow.com for details and tickets.

July 26 – New Orleans – Wayne Houchin “No Blessings” Lecture. 1:30 p.m. at the home of Gary Hughes, 10109 Walden Drive in River Ridge, Louisiana. Contact Westley Annis for details.

July 27 – Dallas – Dal and Cinde Sanders’ SUMMER SPLASH. 3316 Northaven. To RSVP, call 214-902-9200 or email SummerSplash@amazingattractions.com

July 28 – Houston IBM 39 FLEA MARKET at Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood. Tons of fun and great opportunity to buy and sell magic. Contact David Hinkin at 281-419-1159 for details.

August 8 – Austin- Card and Close-Up Magic SIG, 7 p.m. at Albert Lucio’s. Email him at alucio@deceptiveworks.com for details. (This group meets on the second Friday every month.)

August 9 – Lewisville – David and Kylie Knight perform their extravagant illusion show at the Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater. Tickets and details available at KnightIllusions.eventbrite.com

August 18 – McAllen – Scott Hollingsworth Strolling Magic Lecture. 7:00 p.m. at the McAllen Creative Incubator, 601 North Main in McAllen. Contact Scott or George Robinson.

Wayne Houchin “No Blessings” Lecture Tour –

August 16, Saturday – Fort Worth
August 17, Sunday – Dallas
August 18, Monday – Lake Charles, LA
August 19, Tuesday – Houston
August 21, Thursday – Austin
August 22, Friday – McAllen
August 24, Sunday – Lubbock

Bronson Chadwick’s Magic Dinner Theater 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

Free Summer Magic Shows at Highland Mall in Austin. Monday through Thursday at 2:00 p.m., June 9 through August 21.

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

Lubbock magicians meet on the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at 1414 Avenue K in Lubbock. You are most welcome to join us. Contact Rick Honea at drh@ricksmagic.com

Summer Magic Camps for Kids – June and July each week at Main Street Magic and Fun Company in McKinney. For details and times, go to www.mainstreetmagicandfun.com

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.

FREE BOOKS??Yes, really

The Conjuring Arts Research Center is offering a weekly free magic book pdf download.Go to http://conjuringarts.org/ to sign up for the summer reading program. You will be able to download a different magic book pdf every week. The subject vary, but it’s a great opportunity to download some classics of magic. What a deal!

Magic at the Rain Forrest Cafe in GalvestonAward-winning Houston Magician Jamie Salinas will perform from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday evenings at the Rain Forrest Cafe at 5310 Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.
Shows are scheduled for Sundays — July 20 and 27, and August 2. Come on down for some fun in the sun on the beaches along the famous Galveston seawall and enjoy Jamie’s magic at with your meal at the Rain Forrest Cafe.

Congratulations to Mike Squires. He was named TAOM Board of Directors representative from Dallas I.B.M. Ring 174.
Scott Well’s podcast, The Magic Word, is for magicians, about magicians, hosted by a professional magician. The website is updated weekly and features interviews with magicians (many of whom are lecturers traveling through our area) plus daily updates from magic conventions. So even if you don’t attend the conventions, you can see and hear what went on as if you were there. In addition to the podcasts, which are also available on iTunes in the Podcast shop, you can view photos, see videos, get show notes, time stamps for the podcast, links and more. All this is free and available at http://TheMagicWordPodcast.com

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE S.A.M. MAGIC SUMMIT IN LAS VEGAS IN NOVEMBER.