Day three of FISM 2009 and once again it was an early start to see the Stage Competition. It was worth getting up early as once again there were an interesting selection of acts. We had our first act “flashed off” today. A Norwegian Manipulator failed to persuade the judges he was of FISM standard within 5 minutes. He got the usual cheer as the red lights flashed and the curtains closed!

The opening Chinese Illusion act used a combination of projected video and front and back lighting to have items from the video appear on the stage. It looked more like a special effects sequence from a west end show than an illusion act! We saw 3 mentalists, the strangest of which had a set up video and demonstrated voodoo on a captured “creature”. He also used a “shocking chair” with same victim as a parlour contestant shocked yesterday (Sue Ann Webster).

Interestingly 2 of the acts were sponsored by one of the judges! This is an anomaly of the FISM sponsorship system as the name of the president of the sponsoring society is shown. A manipulator from Japan who worked with thimbles and wands probably got the strongest reaction.

It was necessary to queue for around an hour to get into the close-up, as the organisers decided to limit numbers to comply with fire regulations. Yesterday people were sitting in the isles. Of note was a performer from Korea with underwater cups and balls, using goldfish as the final load. Other performers had a nice signed card to ice lolly, and a curious presentation centred around magicians fees.

Charlie Caper who won Sweden’s Got Talent was very strong with a cups and balls and glass to hat. His on stage volunteer was two times shock victim Sue Ann Webster. After seating her, he got a big laugh by showing a flex attached to her chair and explaining “it’s ok - it’s not plugged in”

A mentalist combined a version of the dynamite illusion with a chair test and scored strongly with the audience.

The Close Up Show for this evening was staged in the theatre to an audience of 2000! Hank Moorhouse took to the stage to say they’d not rehearsed with Chinese TV, who were doing the big screens. Considering this, they did a good job. David Williamson was MC and introduced Henry Evans, Shoot Ogawa, Miguel Puga, Lennert Green, Hernan Maccagno and Rick Merrill, the winner from the last FISM. Considering the performing conditions, it was a god show.

Today’s lectures were by Victor Voitko and Juan Tamariz. Tomorrow, Mark Oberon, our only UK contestant performs in the Close Up “Micro Magic” category. A number of us are planning to queue nice and early to ensure we’re there to support him!