After the show was Blackpool Magicians Conventions first ‘Fringe’ event.

Magic Sam and Andrew James had organised an event for the theatre bar to bring some extra fun to the evening.

Imagine a number of variety performers from the attendees, a crowd of about 300 magicians, three ‘voting wands’ and a fight for survival on stage against the inpending exist that three raised wands signaled.

Each act took to the stage and started their set, the three random judges (who changed with each act and were randomly selected from the watching audience) would raise thei wand if they wanted the act to stop, if you got past a certain time with your act, you’d come back for the final.

The quality of acts were every ‘fringe’ but this was part of the fun, anyone from the attendees at the convention could enter, and it was designed as Sam and Andrew said, to present magic differently, and given the convention goers something that really anyone could enter. The final acts came back on to compete in a ‘clap-omitor’ to decide the final winner, who received a trophy, and VIP tickets for next years Blackpool Convention!

The bar was packed proving that there was great interest in the event, and it was a hillarious evening, ending with the winning act standing on stage, in his pants and socks, wrapped in cling film trying to escape.

For a first run at the event it was fantastic, and hopefully somethign we’ll see again next year, as it really added to the saturday evening events.

Its wonderful to see that Blackpool Convention understand how things can grow, and change over time, and it’s great that Derek and the team have allowed a ‘younger brother’, fringe type event to take place, Both Magic Sam and Andrew James, along with all those who took part and organised it, should be proud of starting Blackpool into its next phase, and lets hope the saturday evening fringe event grows next year, and is even better.